Canada Shared by Canadians – Keep Exploring

November 29, 2012 By

My bestestest Canadian friend Stacey sent me this video she found on YouTube. The editors asked Canadians to “share their Canada” and they received over 65 hours of footage, which they condensed down to a 2-minute video.

It made me proud, awestruck and homesick for all of the beauties of my northern paradise, especially the dolphin scene (at the 1:42 mark) and winter shots of skating on ponds and the Northern Lights.
Dear Colorado: 65 degrees in December is NOT acceptable.

Signed,
The Forever Canuck

Filed Under: Canada, travel

Let the crazies begin!

November 28, 2012 By

We’re just back from a few days at The Broadmoor (and I still need to work on my official write-up), I leave for our annual Snowmamas summit at Park City Mountain Resort tomorrow and the following week I am doing a 9News segment on holiday gifts along with a secret trip for the kids that will require a lot of work. All good things but the next three weeks are going to be so crazy I feel like I can’t keep up.

Case in point: 9New interviewed me for a story about work opportunities for at-home homes that I completely forgot about until the reporter emailed me yesterday to tell me it was airing.

Bonus.

CLICK TO WATCH THE 9NEWS VIDEO

CLICK TO READ ON AT 9NEWS!

Filed Under: 9News

The lies parents tell their kids

November 27, 2012 By

This one is a bit belated (photo taken a month ago) but never outdated.

“Hey Bode, I have something fun for you to do with me!”

“What is it, Daddy?”

“You can help me mow the lawn!”

“No thanks.”

“C’mon, Buddy. It’s fun. You can help me push the lawn mower.”

And so it begins.

Filed Under: Bode, Humor, Jamie

Denver Post Holiday Feature!

November 26, 2012 By

I’ve been working like a madwoman compiling all my top picks for the holiday season and I was delighted when the Denver Post made it their feature story. I’ve included some of my favorite brands and a few new discoveries so be sure to scroll down to “What Mama Wants for Christmas.” Read the article here.

Denver Post print article, page 1

Denver Post, Page 3

I’ll also be doing a segment on 9News showcasing a few of these gifts next Monday. My column and the segment were supposed to run concurrently but the newspaper wanted to bump it up to today. Worked fine for me but not the kids who are bitter they haven’t appeared on 9News since their back-to-school special.

Next time, they’ll be demanding an agent.

Filed Under: 9News, holidays Tagged With:

Broadmoor Bode

November 25, 2012 By

We have just spent the most magical, whimsical weekend at The Broadmoor, Colorado Springs’ iconic AAA Five-Diamond resort. I will have many more details but between the White Lights Ceremony where 250,000 lights came to life, cookie painting, gingerbread house making, Build a Broadmoor Bear, real reindeer, Santa and so much more you could say our Christmas spirit has been ignited.

Bode’s canopy bed

You could also say Bode has adjusted rather well to his glimpse at the good life.

Filed Under: Bode, Family travel, holidays

Untraditional Thanksgiving Traditions and Bathroom Habit Relevations

November 23, 2012 By

I’ll admit it: Thanksgiving is starting to grow on me. Traditionally, it has been my least favorite holiday and the reason revolved around football (a sport I don’t like) and slaving all day in the kitchen for a meal I don’t really like, only to be rewarded with more football.

This year’s festivities were partially the same but a lot different. Our tradition has been to drag our butterball butts up the Turkey Trot trail at Mount Falcon Park since 2005. My, how times have changed. Especially for the fact my kiddos can rock this really steep hike. As a side note, Bode is holding up his pant leg because early in the hike he started running, tripped and skinned his knee. He brushed himself off and appeared to be fine until I made a Rookie Mom error: I asked if he was bleeding. Sure enough, he had a nice scrape and he then dramatically limped the rest of the way. Until we reached the summit and he forgot he was supposed to be injured as he raced around.

The weather was gorgeous and in the 50s. Everyone ditched their outer layers and I stuffed them in my backpack. I noticed something hard in Jamie’s pocket so pulled it out. Glasses. And not just any glasses but 3D glasses. Because you’ll never know when you’ll need ‘em on a mountaintop.

My favorite activity with my favorite guy

And what would hiking be without a great game of hide ‘n go seek around precipitous ledges? Can you spot expert hider Jamie? He’s going pro next year.

Usually our hike is rushed because we race back to cook but this year, I’m not sure who came up with the brilliant plan to ditch the traditional meal and instead serve everyone’s favorite foods. Best of all, prep and clean-up were minimal and we took the informality one step further by grazing as we watched football.
Sorry, Mom. We’ll use all that fancy china next year.

We cuddled up to The Amazing Spider-man…

With Aunt Lisa and Uncle Chris

…and wrapped Thanksgiving up with the kids’ first-ever game of charades. They loved it and I’m sure it will become a family staple. I’d show pictures of the antics but they are not blog-approved.

Suffice it to say in addition to great food and family, the mental image of Lisa acting out “toilet paper” will forever live on in our memories.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Filed Under: Bode, Colorado, hiking, holidays

Thanksgiving Gratitude: My Favorite Time of the Day

November 22, 2012 By

I have so much for which to be grateful but this Thanksgiving, it’s about my little family.

I feel like we’ve hit the golden age with both of our kids. A few things I appreciate:

  • They are becoming independent (Haddie made me apple-cinnamon pancakes with caramel sea salt butter completely by herself and Bode is rocking the shoe-tying).
  • They are coming into their own spiritually (sweet Bode gives the most insightful prayers and Hadley sometimes brings her scriptures to school for her reading block).
  • They love to travel and are learning that exploring our world is not something we do, it is the essence of who we are. I love snuggling up to them on Sunday nights as we watch the Amazing Race. We bring out Haddie’s globe, chart their worldwide course and dream of our own adventures together.
  • They would rather spend time with Jamie and me than any of their friends (believe me, I know that gift is fleeting).

    Razor racing over Thanksgiving break

My favorite time of the day with them is bedtime. After they have showered, changed into their PJs and brushed their teeth, we snuggle up into our king-sized bed to talk about our day, read the scriptures and a book. Last month, we finished off the Wizard of Oz, 100th Anniversary Edition that I bought in Coronado. This month, we’re tackling the Fairy Tales from the Brothers Grimm.

After we read, we kneel in prayer and immediately following the “amen,” the kids wrestle with Jamie. Giggling and screaming, he scoops them up and gives them both a piggy-back ride to their bedrooms where they say their own prayers before we tuck them in. On Monday night, I sentimentally snapped a picture.

This is my favorite moment because despite what kind of a day we had–whether there were arguments or stress or frustrations or chaos–life’s imperfections are finally made perfect as we come together. Jamie won’t be able to carry them to bed forever and figuratively, someday they will be carrying us.

But it’s my little reminder that there is magic in ordinary days and life sure is golden.

Filed Under: Bode, Hadley, holidays, Jamie, LDS

Thanksgiving Service and the Woman’s Shelter Take-down

November 21, 2012 By

Happy Thanksgiving!

If there is one cause I feel passionate about, it is fighting child hunger. One out of every four children in Colorado goes hungry…a very daunting statistic and I commend those who are working so closely to fight this battle. A couple of weeks ago, I met with the Food Bank of the Rockies to brainstorm a new initiative they hope to launch for educating kids about it. I’m so excited to be a part of the new program!

A couple of weeks ago, I had a chance to join our Young Women at our local food bank to sort food for Thanksgiving.

Though she’s a few years too young for YW, Haddie begged me to come. No complaints here if she wants to help!

Then, last weekend our family signed up through Volunteers of America to serve Thanksgiving dinner at a local woman’s shelter. This is the second year we’ve done it and I’m grateful for the learning experience it is for my kids. I hope to make it an annual tradition.
All the volunteers sign up to bring various items of a Thanksgiving meal. We then dined with the residents, made cards for VOA’s annual Basket of Joy fundraiser where they deliver baskets to seniors and then the apex of the event: BINGO. We’re highly competitive but only Jamie got the win, which he will never let me forget.

For the kids, the highlight is being The Caller. They patiently waited and when it was their turn, I accompanied them. “Why do you always have to come with us?” Miss Independence whined.

The reason is evidenced in what unfolded next.

I told the kids they needed to take turns pulling the numbers from the BINGO cage, call out the number and place it on the tally board.

At least that’s how it would happen in a Perfect BINGO World.

But alas, both kids fought as they jockeyed for position and I seethed threats at both of them. As they furiously spun the cage, BINGO balls were flying everywhere off the table and I subtly tried to retrieve them as I smiled sweetly at the residents. “Look at us! Just one big, happy, BINGO-calling family!”

Lies. All lies. I breathed a sigh of relief when our turn was over, though I had serious doubts I had recovered all the wayward balls.

Next year’s gift for the shelter: a new BINGO set.

And a better BINGO-calling attitude. :-)

Filed Under: Bode, Hadley, holidays, Humor, LDS

It’s Christmastime (NOW) In This City–Confessions of a Rebel

November 20, 2012 By

I’m on the cusp of four really crazy weeks. My in-laws arrived yesterday and we’re going to spend a  few glorious days at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs. Next week, I’m off to Park City Mountain Resort and right after I return, I will be speaking at a single adult fireside and will also MC a “What Not to Wear” event for Young Women in Excellence (don’t ask me if I’ve ever watched the show). Oh, and then I’m appearing on 9News with all my holiday picks (and still need to wrap up the gift guide), and we’re then whisking the kiddos off for a surprise four-day trip, which will result in a lot of subsequent writing deadlines.

Oh yeah, and don’t forget all the holiday shopping that goes with it.

So, I’m kinda busy.

I am not a procrastinator and hate leaving things until the last minute. If I were to wait until the week before Christmas to shop or put up decorations, it wouldn’t happen. This year, I have taken a now-or-never approach and last week was dedicated to getting Christmas cards ready. Traditionally, we set-up our Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving but since we’ll be MIA, I announced we’d do it on Sunday. Yes, for you stalwart DO NOT DECORATE UNTIL AFTER THANKSGIVING-TYPES, this was four days before T-day. And with the amount of decorations we have, it takes hours.

This isn’t even including our outdoor decorations, which we’ll hold off on for another week.

Jamie is a  Grinch when it comes to decorating and limits his efforts to the outdoor lights. But this year when I hesitatingly asked if he and Bode could be in charge of putting up the tree, I was shocked when he agreed. I’ve been a longtime advocate of real trees but after several years of choosing ones that lose their needles mere days after purchase, we went artificial (it helped when my in-laws gifted us their old tree). There’s a definite system to putting on the branches and I usually organize them in piles and systematically start from the bottom (longest) and work my way up.

The boys had a different system, which is a nice way of saying they had no system at all.  A half-hour later, I walked into the room to find the mostly-completed tree with a large gaping hole in the middle and several small branches still on the ground. Problem was all the slots at the top were taken.

Wives everywhere know this is the ultimate dilemma. How do you handle it when you FINALLY get your husband to do something and it is not done correctly? The answer: you tread very lightly with your criticism otherwise they’ll never do it again. Ultimately they figured it out.

We got in the Christmas spirit by baking this snickerdoodle bread with cinnamon chips and blasted Josh Groban’s CD “Noel.” I’m relieved the bulk of the work is done and to the naysayers like Jamie who say we’re not allowed to decorate until Thanksgiving, this Canuck says IT ALREADY HAPPENED IN OCT.

The end.

Filed Under: holidays, Humor, Jamie

Scrumptious Snickerdoodle Bread with Cinnamon Chips Recipe

November 19, 2012 By

I first stumbled upon a recipe for Snickerdoodle Bread on Pinterest several months ago. As a lover of all-things snickerdoodle and cinnamon, I was dying to try this recipe.

The problem was I couldn’t find the requisite Hershey’s cinnamon chips. Anywhere.

Now, here’s a lesson for all you Walmart haters: don’t look a gift horse in the mouth. Though I can’t say I’m a regular Walmart shopper, I swung by the other day looking for (what else) cheap Christmas gifts and there on the holiday baking end cap were cinnamon chips. A lot of them!

On Sunday, we prematurely set-up our holiday decorations and to celebrate the season, I made this bread. We’ve declared it our new kick-off-to-the-holiday tradition. Even my husband (who is not a fan of snickerdoodles) is a fan.

Snickerdoodle Bread

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups flour (high-altitude add 1/4 cup)
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
2.5 tsp. cinnamon
1 cup butter softened
2 cups sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
3/4 cup sour cream (next time I’m going to substitute a bit of cream cheese)
1 pkg. Hershey’s cinnamon chips

Topping:
3 Tbsp sugar
3 tsp. cinnamon

Instructions

Cream the butter and sugar until fluffy. Add the eggs
Add the vanilla and sour cream and mix well.
Mix flour and with the dry ingredients in a separate bowl. Add to wet ingredients and mix until all combined.
Add cinnamon chips and stir into batter.
Spoon batter into mini loaf pans or cupcake tins until about 2/3 full.
Mix 3 T. sugar and 3 t. cinnamon in a bowl and sprinkle over the batter in each loaf pan.
Bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes. Let cool before removing from pan.P.S. And yes, I do have a cinnamon-chip hoarding problem.

Filed Under: Foodie, holidays
« Older Posts