A new season is born

Jalen opened the door yesterday before we ventured outside to the park and shouted, "Mommy, Daddy! Look! Spring is here!" We weren't sure what it was exactly that signalled spring to his 4 year old mind but somehow he felt it. The breeze was a bit warmer, the snow on our lawn had pretty much melted away and poking out of our garden was this tiny little purple crocus. Since Jalen was very very young he was able to understand concepts that some grown adults can't understand. I'm not saying he's a genius, but he's intuitive and he sensed something had changed. Just like that, a new season is born.

So we headed to a recently built playground in our community, and it felt amazing to be in the sun. It was a beautiful day.

Welcoming Spring with open arms,

Happy St. Patricks Day

photo courtesy of: flickr -Jun Acullador

“May flowers always line your path and sunshine light your day. May songbirds serenade you every step along the way. May a rainbow run beside you in a sky that's always blue. And may happiness fill your heart each day your whole life through.” (~ Irish Blessing)

Blogs I LOVE this week

With baby number 3 on the way, I've begun to get alot more serious about simple living. I don't know if it's my nesting instinct but I'm suddenly becoming super budget conscious and ec0-conscious of all 5 of our footprints. I'm considering things I've not considered before perhaps it's pure fear of the fact that I will soon be responsible for the lives of 3 human beings, 4 fury beings as well as my own being and a husband like being.

For those reasons I am loving a Simple blog with Simple tips for Simple living, so that's why I am loving Simple Mom http://simplemom.net/. This blog has articles on anything from how to live more green or more frugal, to organizing and taking care of your home. Although the blog is clearly geared to mom's, I think anyone can enjoy this website with hints for living more simply. There are healthy recipes you can make on a budget and ideas for going greener at home. Sub-catagories of blog will lead you to Simple Kids, Simple Organic, Simple Bites and Simple Homeschool. Love this Blog!

How to help victims in Japan

I am overwhelmed when I look at images capturing the pure devastation that has struck in Japan. I'm not sure how much weight my little prayer here in London, Ontario can have on how many people have lost their lives or their lives as they once knew it. If you feel helpless like me here are some ways you can do your part.

http://www.worldvision.org/ World Vision are planning to distribute relief supplies to meet the daily needs of quake and tsunami survivors and responding to the emotional needs of children, who are the most impacted after such a traumatic event.

Text-message donations of $10 to the Red Cross. Text the letters REDCROSS to 90999 to make the $10 donation, or visit their website

http://www.savethechildren.org/ Save the Children has sent emergency response teams to assess the needs of children and their families in the worst affected tsunami areas between Miyagi Prefecature and Tokyo in Japan. Go to their website to see how you can help.

Sending love and prayers...Tammy

More than just a name

"Words have meaning and names have power." ~Author Unknown

(Photo: Celebrity Chef Jamie Oliver just named his baby boy Buddy Bear)

Henry...nope, Finn...no....Atticus...no way....Rufus...are you kidding me?!? Thus begins the baby name debate. We are looking for the perfect name for our baby boy that is not too popular, not too strange, strong but not sounding outrageous. If we were having a little girl I would be just fine, we'd settle in happily with a pretty name like Lila Rose or Maliyah Grace and move on. Boys are more tricky in my personal opinion. Just like with clothing for boys. Shopping for my daughter Ruby is a breeze, you can't go wrong with girls clothes. Girls stuff is pretty with polka dots, stripes, flowers, bright colours and pastels.

Then I head over to the boys section for Jalen and they do stupid things with the clothes like stick a skull and cross bones graphic on it or a shark on a surfboard or something.

Gap Kids

Jalen's name was found easily when we looked through a baby name book standing in the aisle at Chapter's. We had a lightbulb go off as soon as we heard the name and we knew our baby boy would be Jalen. Finding Ruby was a breeze, my only debate was whether I wanted to name her Adeline which we settled on for her middle name. I decided not to name her Adeline because I was worried that she would be just another "Addy," funny because my nickname for her has somehow evolved to "Miss Addy" anyways!

So, No lightbulb's have gone off for this little baby boy due in July. I certainly wasn't inspired by Jamie Oliver's choice. However, here is our little collection we have acquired over the months. I think I've narrowed it down but then I stumble across a new name and start to wonder. So here's what I got:

Isaiah-a strong name, not too popular yet not too unique that it's wierd

Miles-we liked this name back when were pregnant with Jalen, it seems strong maybe even cool, like Miles Davis.

Nate-Not Nathan, Just Nate

Terrence-This might have something to do with my slight celebrity crush on Terrence Howard, however I very much dislike the shortened version of Terry.

Maverick- I love this name, I think it's a great name however I just can't get this out of my head...

However, Top Gun is one of my favourite movies of all time so is that so bad?

Carter-A new one to the list as of yesterday. I don't have anything clever to remark about except I think its a good solid name.

Middle names ideas thus far:

Reid

Alexander- after daddy of course

Zane

Leroy-after Papa (Chase) and great papa

Lanny-after Papa's brother that died as a child, also my brother's middle name

William-Grandpa's (Pollard) name

Anthony- Battaglia family name

Whew...glad I got that off my chest. Until next time....

Blogs I LOVE this week

I found this blog and immediately I found "home." When visiting http://www.dreamywhites.blogspot.com/ Every photo made my heart thump, and my mind could only process "wow", "omg, I LOVE this." Then I started stressing because I immediately wanted to jump up from my chair and redecorate. This is how the house of my dreams looks, this blog inspires me. Here are some pics that made my heart beat just a little faster.

Dreamy....

Awaiting Spring

"March arrives, the last hurrah of winter and the first whisper of spring. Slowly our spirits reawaken, along with the natural world, from the long winter's slumber."
-Sarah Ban Breathnach

It's raining today, and I looked outside the window to see a glimpse of grass! Who knew a tiny patch of grass in my backyard could be cause for such elation. I anxiously await springs arrival like a child waiting for Santa on Christmas Eve. That first gale of warm breeze in March is eagerly anticipated and a late spring will surely send me into misery. I'm planning to greet the season with open arms and here are some ideas for this month to savour the seasonal spleandours.

Check out your front yard or back, or your friends, find some bare branches to start forcing. Good options are: forsythia, flowering quince, cherry, plum, pear, magnolia and pussy willow Read more at Marthastewart.com: Forcing Branches - Martha Stewart Home and Garden

Make yourself a bright new spring wreath for your front door, I made this one last year however I have some ideas developing for a new one this year! Blog to come!

Get out your Martha Stewart Homekeeping book and your cleaning bucket, I have this book and there is a list of spring cleaning ideas among thousands of other ideas to caring for your home. Make room for spring, organize closets, scrub the salt stains of winter away. Or, simply check out this link for some ideas.

http://www.marthastewart.com/article/spring-cleaning-checklist


Host a spring dinner party for friends or just for your family serving something seasonal like this recipe for Individual Lasagnas with Asparagus & Prosciutto that I found on http://www.williams-sonoma.com/ and then for dessert...this fruity Pig Cake I found on my favourite pioneer woman websitehttp://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2011/01/pig-cake/

Create a beautiful spring centre piece like this one using some simple daffodils in a hurricane vase. Lovely! (source: entertain exchange)