Lola

Le quatorze juillet

Bastille Day! Hapinness to all who celebrate and heck to anyone reading!

I awoke today with a spring in my step and thought to myself, it's time to add some cheery things to my blog. 

So here you go some inspiration to use during your daily procrastination:

 

A peapod for your sweetpea! This is so adorable, even if you don't have a baby in the works, or know someone who does, it's almost difficult not to buy it!

I have of course linked it through the image, as usual so that those of you in love can get one.

 

This beautiful print is so soothing to my eyes. I can imagine sailing away in this hotair balloon until, like those on this wonderful ride have done, I forgot where I came from. A wonderful print for a child's room, a quiet reading corner, or a paceful familyroom.

Dahl loves Owls. I love owls. If Lola saw this, I am sure that she too would love owls. What's not to love? The colorful wiseguy won't make you feel dumb, even though he's, you know, an owl and super bright. pun intended. 

He's got an army of owly friends waiting for some lover of wonderful frivolity to come and adopt them. 

People! Please, make a line and wait your turn.

 

And last stationery. I think everyone, young and old should have a stash of blank cards for written notes. Thank you notes and a simple hello really are much more appreciated when written in your own hand. While there are many beautiful choices have a looksey at these adorable Learn to Print notes. Perfect for anyone from a young child to a highschool graduate.   With these in your stationery arsenal you might not even misspell your name! And it will be, if nothing else in the note follows suit, written neatly.

Now go on and get back to whatever else you were doing. I'll get back to finding more goodies.

Talk soon, LD

And they say they don't come with instructions....

Technically they are right (I don't know how I feel about they, they come across as knowitalls, but sometimes, just sometimes, I want to be one of the theys....) but I've found a mighty good set I think every parent should have!

While many of you may think these are not very comprehensive, ie, the feeding of the breastfed baby, mum or dad, where they don't include bottle fed babies, to me it's clear. They're saying it's best if Mum breastfeeds but before a bottle, give Dad a go.

Got it?

Aight then. Get your thinking caps on, pen and paper, whatever and get ready to be amazed.

Oh yes, but before you go finish that glass of milk. No need to have it come out your nose now.

I have to say that some of the don'ts have worked wonders for me. When J, Lola or Dahl refused to calm down, a bit o whiskey and placing one finger in each corner of their mouths and lifting into a smile certainly calmed me down. And made me smile.                                                                           

Bonding with baby, or your child over a hot cup of coffee is a FABULOUS idea.

I have, on numerous occasions, tested my children milk bottles by sticking my tongue in to them. This method works incredibly well. In fact, I do it when serving coffee to a friend, or dinner to a dinner guest. Can't be too safe these days with all of those lawsuits flying left and right! 

While this is a beginning please do not allow the donts to disuade you from trying them. Only you know your baby, and let's face it, with desperate times come desperate measures. 

Honey! It's dinner time, whip out that man nipple!

Love, peace and we've hit the gold mine in parenting answers!

LD

Notice*****LD is not advocating use of any of these parenting techniques. Merely displaying them for your viewing pleasure. ( Those attorneys make me say that. Soooo don't do the donts. Okay? Unless you have and it's work, then leave me a message because I've got to hear this.)

How to go green....I want to know

  I've been reading a lot about going green. I actually tried being a 'green mum' when my twins were born. Had no idea about it when my J was born just 8 years ago. Seems I wisened up a bit in just 5 short years, yet not enough! hehehe

I bought a whole stash of cloth diapers. I mean a stash! About $1000 worth, and tried 2 of them. Twice.

I just didn't really understand the intricate details of how to use them, what to buy, how to launder, etc. etc. and I fell prey to the fancy shmancy marketing. All of the websites touting,' These diapers are so easy your husband will love'em!

Really?
Wow!
I'll take 300!

I rememeber getting my numerous boxes and showing my grandmum after telling her I planned on CD Dahl and Lola and she told me they were like any CD she'd ever seen! hehehe

Oh their bums did look particularly yummy! All full and padded. They looked like if you dropped them on their bums they'd bounce strait up and possibly hit the ceiling like a basketball for certain.

I adored the look. I adored the feel. Yet I felt very lost.

So I joined the many others and filled the landfills with yet thousand and thousand of disposables that will outlive many generations
Probably the only thing that will be around when my childrens' great x5 grandchildren are adults.

I want to get to the heart of what you ladies and any gents, consider being green. What do you do, things great or small, on a daily, weekly, monthly basis, that you feel would be easily incorporated by others, to keep the world a healthier enviornment for our children and future generations in general.

Just one or two things. Even if you haven't yet begun. If it's only something you've read. By sharing it, perhaps, maybe, just maybe, someone else will be inspired to begin this very day and you will, unknowingly have positively affected Mother Earth.

Now how's that for a start to the week!
(Please note I may use some of your submissions on my blog, or on another forum I belong to so to help spread the word on small ways anyone can help to change or diminish their own carbon footprint)

As Kermit always says, it's not easy being Green, but hey, nothing spectacular ever comes easily.

LD

The worst part is not knowing....

You know when a show ends, say Friends, Seinfeld, things of that sort,and you don't really know what happens to the characters? You kind of have to imagine it? I hate that. I want to be told. I don't like wondering. This is why this next story upsets me. Read on, if you can handle the torment. If not, read on anyway. Misery loves company.

Subject: Pussycat

One hot July day we found an old straggly cat at our door. She was a
sorry sight. Starving, dirty, smelled terrible, skinny and hair all
matted down. We felt sorry for her, put her in a carrier  and took her
to the vet. We didn't know what to call her, so we named her
"Pussycat."


The vet decided to keep her for a day or so. He said he would let us
know when we could come and get  her. My husband (the complainer)
said, "OK, but don't forget to wash her, she stinks." He reminded the vet
that  it  was  his WIFE that wanted the dirty cat, not him. 

My husband and my vet don't see eye to eye. He calls my husband "El-Cheap-O," my
husband calls him "El-Take-O."  They love to hate each other and constantly "snipe" at each other, with my husband getting in the last word on this occasion.

The next day my husband had an appointment with his doctor, who is
located next door to the vet.

The doctor's  office was full of people
waiting to see him. A side door opened  and in leaned the vet; he had
obviously seen my husband arrive.  He looked straight at my husband
and in a loud voice said, "Your wife's pussy is finally clean and shaved
and she now smells like a rose. Oh,  and, by the way, I think she's
pregnant. God knows who the father is!"  And he closed the door.
Now that, my friends, is getting even!!!!

Wonderful. Cute little story if you're the 'Oh I like to laugh type and all'. Great fun I'm sure. Yet do you see what I mean? What happened to the cat?  Is anyone worried about the cat?!

LD

Britney Britney Britney!

She can't sing. She can't dance. She can't parent. She can't exercise, but boy does she apparently eat!

Sheesh. I wake this morning to I don't know how many news stories, blogs,blurbs and blips of what a trainwreck Britney Spears performace at the MTV awards was. Um, so what?

Things to note:

      

• She's had 2 pregnancies within a very close timeframe
• She's not been taking care of herself
• She's just gone through a divorce
• She's having familial problems
• She's trying to make a comeback of her career after having 2 children
• She's probably feeling self concious - not unlike many of us who have had children feel on a day to day basis let alone on stage in a two piece outfit in front of only goodness knows how many people watching in the audience and then in tvland. Ah yes. Lest we forget. Add to that an ex.

So let's give her a break girls. Let's lift her up a bit. Pull in the claws. Let's show the world that women can and choose to be kind and caring and refute the animalistic ways the media would love us to adopt. They only corrupt our own minds and plant the seed so that next time we're out of the shower and catch a glimpse of out selves we'll know just a bit how Britney may have felt. Hopefully by doing this enough, we'll not only change our outlook on the world but help others to do the same by discontinuing this gossip about misfortunes people have. Lets instead pass along stories of hope and gladness. Let our children and our neighbors hear us spreading warmth upon one anothers' hearts and minds so that they inturn learn to do the same and the chain becomes stronger. So that less of these blog posts become about Britney and and the like and more about improving our lives.

Join me?

Please make a pledge to write something inspiring and ask others that you know to do the same.

LD

For your eyes only....

well, I guess you can share. It is the stuff of fantasy. I've been busy working on some things for my friend Cheryl. I hope she loves them. I'll post a peek tomorrie for you all but be sure not to say anything to her.

For now I leave you with some porn for women. A friend of mine, Allison of Sugarplumsllc, sent this to me. I think it's a real pick me up and hope you'll pass it along. Perhaps even save it to your puter and have a looksie every now and then. Some of us are lucky enough to have men who are truly like this. If not....these guys are available. - LD

Go on. Roll over and sleep.

Beautifying your child's space

If you're looking for ideas on sprousing up your child's room, don't ask your child! ...Instead head on over to Serena and Lily's. The have a wonderful selection of beddings, headboards, and room accessories sure to please almost any shopper. (And if you like the wall colours in the rooms pictured guess what? They'll see you the paint!) And all of their rooms are named. You can choose from rooms like,  the Anna,Charlotte, and Lulu.

I am particularly fond of the Ruby room. The bedding is yummy and the floral motif on the bumper is placed so that it faces out and therefore the crib looks more than just a functional piece, more a thing of beauty. For your little beauty. 

And if you have a sonshine, like I do, they have some classic inspired yet modern boys rooms. And really, the boys often get overlooked when it comes to the design world. And I understand that pink, flowers, and glitter are very alluring but if done right, a boy's room can be almost as much fun.

No scratchy Spiderman sheets for your second grader. No Winnie the Pooh for your infant - WTP has me ill. I know he's a nice bear and all and we aren't supposed to make fun of his teensy brain but bleugh. He's everywhere! Like a bad rash. Get yourself some benadyl, some cortizone and get that skin all cleared up. Here you'll find bold creme and red stripes, chocolate browns and chambray blues. If your interest has been peaked you should look into the Asher. As the site says, the look is sporty, bold and smart.

Go on and spruce up the place :)

You have my permission.

LD

Whew! That's a weight off... my cervix.

  Amazing. A woman has delivered what is said to be only the 50th set of identical quadruplets. Ever.  Right here in Great Falls, Montana.  Her name is Karen Jepp, she is from  Calgary, Alberta and this is the second miracle for her and her husband JP. They have an older child, Simon, who I am sure has prepared them for the sleepless nights and general all round fatigue of having a newborn. Having had two babies at once I can say the first 18 months were a blurr. And this is doubled. Sure their hands are full, but imagine their hearts.

   

He loves me, he loves me not, maybe a baby will help?

I love babies. As much as the next person. And definitely more than you. I know this because I love them best. And I simply adore the idea of them and romanticize it like any other wistful red- blooded woman.

I know a gal whom I will call Lucy. A few months back we discovered a friend of ours, Ethel, was expecting. Ethel had just had some issues with Ethels husband, aka likeshimselfalot. Ethel happened to get pregnant again and for about 312 seconds Lucy and I were jealous. We got over it. Easy to do when your husband flat out would rather give up intimacy with you than bring home another blackhole of financial responsibility. No matter how adorable that blackhole may be at times, it is, and forever will be, a blackhole, sucking whatever life you have to give, from you.

Fast forward 6 months. Lucy and her husband, Mickey, developed a few issues of their own. Lucy gets me on the phone and says,' LD, I told Mickey I wanted another baby. I think it will help us to become closer.'

I laughed inside. I would never laugh aloud at someone telling me something serious and to Luce, well this was a turning point in her life.  Apparently, Ethel and likeshimselfalot were doing well. This gave Lucy hope that this would be a good avenue to travel with her own brood. They would be happy once again. Unified by this new helpless never needing sleep being. I talked her out of it. I explained that although it was a fantastic idea, I didn't think that one child alone should be burdened with saving his parent's marriage.  Look into invitro and try for more than one, I joked. Then they can together shoulder the burden. Much more managable. We laughed and laughed, and laughed and cackled, snorted like pigs, and laughed again then agreed that no it wasn't such a fabulous idea.  That was that, and the phone call ended.

Some time passed. I have a thousand things to do and on top of that have to go shopping for a gift. Lucy's baby shower is this weekend. I am sensing my talk wasn't as mind changing as I thought it was.  And she and Mickey are still having problems. Of course the baby isn't here just yet, so I can't say if things will better themselves for them. I just think it's too risky. I'm not a betting girl.  And because I have a mind sharp as a tack have given this issue much thought, careful considertion and I am saving my pennies for something more reliable.

Plastic surgery. 

A new take on wearing birthday cake

I've never been one for wearing cake. Not wedding, not birthday, not dessert at a restaurant yet my children seem to think this is a fun and good idea.  In comes genius Cheryl Dack of Sew Sweet. She took this idea and cleaned it up a bit. Prettied it up if you will,with her new birthday shirt line. This isn't some cheesy shirt with that says I'm insert a huge number, This is a tasteful top, hand embroidered with a vintage cake. Perfect for your little one to wear to school as she brings in a batch of cupcakes baked fresh in her honour by your local bakery Mommy dearest. Adorable with a flouncy skirt, leggins layered underneath, a tutu, or simply shorts. Just plain adorable.  And just like your little one, just plain SEW SWEET.

Sew Sweet is a division of DOLL.

Tell her Lola sent you and she'll use real butter.