February 2014 - Forever In Mom Genes

iCloudy With A Chance Of Sweet Potato Quinoa Chili

Feb 26 2014

I HATE GROCERY SHOPPING. It’s exhausting, boring, requires pants and possibly brushed hair, and it’s mind numbingly repetitive — buy food, make food, family eats food, repeat… Something I’ve found to help get me in and out of the grocery store quickly, thus getting this chore done as fast as possible is a clear and precise shopping list. I’ve tried them all—basic pen and paper lists, cutesy notepads and all kinds of grocery apps. Some of have been good-ish, but I’ve recently started using something new that is easy and effective. The video below is a ridiculous demo of me explaining (in a disgusting head cold, post nasal drip voice…sorry) how to use the FREE iCal Reminder folder on your iPhone to make an organized and easily updatable and revisable grocery list. Why is this brilliant? You can sync your list via iCLOUD to the other iDevices in your home so everyone can view and make changes to the current version of the family grocery list. Soooo, if your husband drinks the last of the coffee he can quickly update the list on his phone. This is much more pleasant (and less violent) than finding out there’s no coffee[…]

Feb 24 2014

One of the best and somewhat unexpected benefits of being a parent is the comic relief. Parenting is hilarious. Kids have an exceptional sense of comedic timing that I think we lose as we get older. Maybe the funny moments come easier to them because they are free of inhibitions or they aren’t weighed down by the worries that are pinned to adulthood. It’s difficult to feel blue when your youngest child tugs at the hem of your coat and you turn around to see this… Yes little girl, you do amuse me. To my silly son who took this “somewhat” altered photo of me and called it Fat Pinocchio. I howled. Seems I’ve given birth to two Court Jesters.

Feb 21 2014

Warning: There is an X-rated-ish photo at the end of this post. I try not to whine too much online and most of the stories I share here on this blog have {hopefully} a silver lining kind of message. But man, sometimes a gal just has to vent. It probably doesn’t help that I’ve had a rough week culminating in an awful head cold and have slept with wads of Kleenex shoved up both nostrils for the past two nights. So if I may, I’m going to vent freely. Feel free to read or not. Here are ten things that got stuck in my craw today. If not dealt with promptly, this will result in a festering craw blister. Ouch. 1.The line up at the Tim Horton’s drive-thru this morning was at least twenty cars long backed up into the street. Get out of your car you bunch of laziess and go inside to get your damn coffee. The only one who should be idling, is Billy. 2. Traffic circles… please learn how to use them. The yield sign is not a suggestion. If I’m entering the circle first, I have the right of way. This means you not[…]

Feb 17 2014

My brother made the drive from Michigan to Ontario to be with us for my mother-in-law’s memorial service. Before he left he called to see what I’d like him to bring. I asked for my favourite flour—whole wheat but made from white wheat kernels—perfect for bread and pancakes, but I can’t seem to find it here in Canada. When he arrived and offered his condolences, I hugged him as he passed me the two bags of King Arthur. “Thanks for the flours.” I said through tears. And then we laughed. The ridiculousness of this statement brought some much needed levity to an otherwise somber situation. My brother-in-law flew home from overseas last week and he’s been making us laugh since he got home. His stories about his mom and all the good times has brought both laughter and tears — honouring her this way is helping us begin to heal. My son is having a difficult time accepting that his “Grandie” is really gone. But talking about her and remembering the special moments is helping him cope. He has vowed to keep her memory alive for his younger cousins and little sister. My daughter knows her Grandie is[…]

Feb 13 2014

Archive - February 2014

iCloudy With A Chance Of Sweet Potato Quinoa Chili

(Eye) Glasses Half Full

This Post Is Nothing But Negativity. Sorry In Advance.

Levity During Loss—thank you for the flours

Goodbyes Are Never Easy