tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70294629287414288022024-03-05T03:06:18.666-04:00like a hamster on a wheelalways spinninglindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05662598658778630530noreply@blogger.comBlogger551125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029462928741428802.post-40538599306892063742012-06-21T07:02:00.000-03:002012-06-21T12:24:19.755-03:00and so ...An overwhelming feeling came over me yesterday. It might not have been the first time I'd considered it, but this instinct was for real. I decided to sleep on it.<br />
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Now, it's Thursday. And I'm still feeling the same thing.<br />
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I think the little hamster on his wheel has come full circle. It's time to take a break from the blog.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">Three years and 750 posts later.</span><br />
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The thing is, I'm busy. All the time. Not surprised, I know. When I'm not expending time and energy wrangling the most amazing toddler ever, I'm hard at work growing his new sibling. There's house work to be done, meals to be made, projects to enjoy, family and friend time to savour. It's all part of the chaos that I really, truly love.<br />
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I'm not fitting the blogging thing in very well anymore (shocker). I neglect it, feel guilty, throw posts together, and I'm not satisfied. This blog isn't reflecting what I had originally hoped and intended. I'm not sharing as many how-tos or before and afters as I once did, and it's not even a sample of my best writing (not that it was ever meant to be Pulitzer-worthy, but you know what I mean).<br />
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I'm not saying I'm gone forever, but definitely for now. Who knows what will happen a month or a year or five years from now, or what iteration my online writing will take in the future. Who knows, I might miss it horribly and come back sooner than I expect, or this may be it for good. Only time will tell.<br />
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But I wanted to say thank you, so much, for reading, commenting and making this fun for me. It's been a truly unique experience.<br />
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<i>Love, </i><br />
<i>Lindsey</i><br />
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P.S. I'll still be writing about <a href="http://www.thechronicleherald.ca/author/lindsey-bunin-my-hectic-home" target="_blank">My Hectic Home</a> and I'm sure I'll be seeing you on <a href="http://pinterest.com/lbunin/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a>.lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05662598658778630530noreply@blogger.com104tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029462928741428802.post-4811904913826762652012-06-17T12:52:00.003-03:002012-06-17T12:53:37.404-03:00our #1<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFlZ5XbXKKh3v1qn2l-FMwhQTnffTydKdirwz8aIYMKrDlxdvT2CwTNdj0-uR1nzJUkyz81t24eBKn_f96K8B16HuCVQSLt3tIoMemOzO_pz4_8VwLqZlMmfom5oQJRJEQzAV8CmN1Ts0K/s1600/DSCN0103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFlZ5XbXKKh3v1qn2l-FMwhQTnffTydKdirwz8aIYMKrDlxdvT2CwTNdj0-uR1nzJUkyz81t24eBKn_f96K8B16HuCVQSLt3tIoMemOzO_pz4_8VwLqZlMmfom5oQJRJEQzAV8CmN1Ts0K/s320/DSCN0103.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
To the very best dad & husband,<br />
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We can't imagine spending our everydays without you to take care of us, keep us safe, love us and hug us.<br />
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Thank you for all that you are and all that you do, today and always.<br />
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We three love you more than you know xo<br />
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(Pictured: a pretty perfect way to spend a lazy father's day afternoon, don't you think?)lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05662598658778630530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029462928741428802.post-29557924974388520082012-06-13T07:11:00.000-03:002012-06-21T15:53:49.756-03:00the difference a year makes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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One year ago today, I ended my maternity leave early and went back to work full-time. The job was, and still is, <i>the </i>job. Through my excitement at the time, there was apprehension. I wondered then if I would look back and regret leaving Jacob with Husband for the summer, when I could've been home with them for two months of family freedom.<br />
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One year later, I can honestly say that I don't. My work is a part of who I am, and I would have regretted passing up the opportunity to find a comfortable place <a href="http://newlyb.blogspot.ca/2011/02/3-years.html" target="_blank">in my field again</a>.<br />
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Now, I'm in a settled groove at work, taking on new projects and I genuinely look forward to going to the office each morning. And I know how insanely lucky I am.<br />
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On this day last year, Jacob was a still-nursing, not-yet-walking, rolly-polly babe. Now, he's an energy-filled, running-and-jumping, hilarious and sweet toddler that I just can't get enough of. We are beyond fortunate to have a wonderful home to leave him at each day, with the sweetest caregiver and her loving family. He's made many new friends and learned so much. Even now, I have butterflies every day as I make the short trip from my office to the door where I pick him up. I am thrilled to see him at the end of a busy day and relish the moment he screams "Mummy!" and jumps into my arms.<br />
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What a difference a year makes. It feels like I've come full-circle in many ways. I'm expecting again. I'm in the planning stages of another maternity leave, anticipating some time to spend all of my energy on my family.<br />
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Here's to the past year, everything it's meant to me, and knock on wood that the next is just as lucky.lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05662598658778630530noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029462928741428802.post-11363402451672834892012-06-07T19:18:00.000-03:002012-06-07T21:19:13.608-03:00to dos for June<b>Ten to-dos in June:</b><br />
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1) Finish the flower beds, with the help of my "gardening lesson" tomorrow ... more on that later.<br />
2) Walk. Walk. Walk. Get out for exercise as much as possible.<br />
3) Try three new recipes.<br />
4) Read three books. Nearly half-way through our latest book club selection, <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9736930-before-i-go-to-sleep" target="_blank">Before I Go to Sleep</a>.<br />
5) Bake at least once a week. Started this last weekend with chocolate chip muffins.<br />
6) Sew and hang J's big-boy room curtains.<br />
7) Have friends over for a backyard summer barbecue, provided the weather eventually cooperates.<br />
8) Return our digital box and start living cable free, for at least the summer. We've enjoyed so little TV lately that it just doesn't seem worth the money. I'll report back on this later.<br />
9) Celebrate father's day with Husband and J (which includes thinking up something special to do for him).<br />
10) Find out the sex of our newest bundle!<br />
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Thanks, as always, to <a href="http://www.mamakatslosinit.com/2012/06/writing-prompts-117/" target="_blank">Mama Kat</a> for the writers' prompt.lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05662598658778630530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029462928741428802.post-87260400980083166222012-06-05T20:30:00.000-03:002012-06-21T11:46:27.364-03:00the old-fashioned wayAs you may or may not know, because I never actually published Jacob's birth story, I was fortunate to give birth naturally last time. I say fortunate only because it's what I really wanted. With the help of acupuncture from a naturopathic doctor, I was able to go into labour on my own at 10 days overdue, and was relieved to avoid the induction process (which <a href="http://www.laptopstolullabies.com/" target="_blank">friends</a> have said is really horrible).<br />
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And by naturally, I must preface that I had a dose of morphine around the six-cm mark, and went to town on some laughing gas while I pushed. Worth noting: everyone I know who has asked for the gas agrees, there's nothing worth laughing about. In childbirth, the stuff serves no purpose, unless it's to encourage you to inhale like a maniac.<br />
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This time, I'm planning and hoping to do it the same way, but hopefully with less yelling. I'm not even joking. I know there are lots of mamas out there who call me crazy. What about an epidural, you ask? Frankly, I am absolutely terrified of the thought of that needle, which far outweighs the pain of the alternative. That's just me.<br />
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This time, I want to learn more relaxation and focusing techniques to help manage the contractions and make for a smooth, stress-free experience. I know that birthing babies is an extremely unpredictable process, and while I thoughtfully wrote my birth plan last time, I wasn't married to it. I know that unforeseen circumstances arise all the time that warrant sudden changes. That's partially why I'm more comfortable birthing in a hospital setting. No matter what the outcome, I'd like to do a bit of advanced preparation to help guide the process as much as I'm able.<br />
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But all of this blabber brings me to my main question, what are the best resources for this sort of thing? And by thing, I mean natural ways to manage pain and promote/facilitate easier child birth. I just got <a href="http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/Official-Lamaze-Guide-Rev-Expanded-Judith-Lothian/9780881665666-item.html?ikwid=lamaze&ikwsec=Books" target="_blank">"The Official Lamaze Guide"</a> from the library as a start. I haven't started reading it yet, but the table of contents looks promising. Have you or someone you know taken a Lamaze class? All I know is that they seem expensive ($300 for a two-day session)? What about the Bradley Method? Any others?lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05662598658778630530noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029462928741428802.post-82124750504916915952012-06-04T14:17:00.000-03:002012-06-04T14:18:18.779-03:00dreaming nursery dreamsIn case you're not following me on <a href="http://pinterest.com/lbunin/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a>, I thought I'd throw together some nursery thoughts to share ... I'd love to know what you think. It's a fairly unisex scheme, even though we should know if it's dude or dudette by the end of this month!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhszTX408r-aL8svN7p0qAi3rWxecxY-O15VM0n9NuNEMLp9hnFv8lsZFdEQ8auSEYSCkOg0NHvYIz4VJoAguOj-cm919pbV0fV8dhQ3FtqRQiLSNofKg55Izg79w4Wu7GNe9Fl836Ei8P6/s1600/nursery-board.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhszTX408r-aL8svN7p0qAi3rWxecxY-O15VM0n9NuNEMLp9hnFv8lsZFdEQ8auSEYSCkOg0NHvYIz4VJoAguOj-cm919pbV0fV8dhQ3FtqRQiLSNofKg55Izg79w4Wu7GNe9Fl836Ei8P6/s400/nursery-board.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05662598658778630530noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029462928741428802.post-33711431437954461692012-05-29T07:47:00.000-03:002012-05-29T11:03:33.844-03:00pinned it and did it<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm-AHL4fpWpSO5LbkU0wwdyvy6-EHY-vz0aCcDOEQqa3LlMHAbaR7HYzPwIwz4vKid6LJJ2vE4u4nsNDAxmkYDVjaZblyBQlNbrx_WeXKFaz3XxM87Amh-3bM7ObgqIGbP9DbpHbYKfpVA/s1600/IMAG0087.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm-AHL4fpWpSO5LbkU0wwdyvy6-EHY-vz0aCcDOEQqa3LlMHAbaR7HYzPwIwz4vKid6LJJ2vE4u4nsNDAxmkYDVjaZblyBQlNbrx_WeXKFaz3XxM87Amh-3bM7ObgqIGbP9DbpHbYKfpVA/s320/IMAG0087.jpg" width="191" /></a>The more <a href="http://pinterest.com/lbunin/" target="_blank">I pin</a> and the less I do, I more I start to feel stressed. I'm finally entering that second-trimester phase of must-get-everything-done-immediately energy, which means I'm irrational and certainly not accomplishing enough to suit my inner, overly-ambitious freak.<br />
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That said, I'm not completely sedentary and I have pinned it and done it a few times of late. </div>
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First up, our new family fave: <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/283515739012235696/" target="_blank">pumpkin pancakes</a>. This is a Martha Stewart recipe (how can you go wrong?) and I've doubled it both times I've made it. Such a delicious twist on a weekend staple, plus some added veggies in our breakfast. I'm thinking of trying <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/283515739012222954/" target="_blank">sweet potato pancakes</a> next week.<br />
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I pinned a list, <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/283515739012219205/" target="_blank">17 ways to make your life easier</a>, and I've already put a couple into practice, like #14 (shave legs with conditioner -- works so well and I always end up with a surplus of conditioner when the shampoo is gone, so this makes perfect sense), #16 (using cornmeal to get rid of ants, results TBA), and #17 (washing out dryer filters regularly). </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhopWtZ4X6umhkgqTACiumNcZvGXCo28hMwzfTUEk-8gYQZBndad0Z0HbcsIDqJTvy65VyA8AesclO3KHYv1BMHXKKsaMAQfWJppOSwTgP3dD09EAI0fk-K7toO_8PLwTOm_DBMV5zw4hG6/s1600/16x20LOVEABOUTHOMEgreenblu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhopWtZ4X6umhkgqTACiumNcZvGXCo28hMwzfTUEk-8gYQZBndad0Z0HbcsIDqJTvy65VyA8AesclO3KHYv1BMHXKKsaMAQfWJppOSwTgP3dD09EAI0fk-K7toO_8PLwTOm_DBMV5zw4hG6/s320/16x20LOVEABOUTHOMEgreenblu.jpg" width="256" /></a></div>
<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/283515739012145743/" target="_blank">I loved this</a> image (right) so much that I printed it, framed it and put it on our mantel.</div>
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We've had organizational issues in our bathroom drawers since we moved. I loved this idea, to house all our dental hygiene items in one, labeled place. So I picked up a <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/283515739012209753/" target="_blank">silverware tray</a> at the dollar store and turned the before into the after. Will show you the results later this week! </div>
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I made these <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/283515739012156051/" target="_blank">parmesan hash brown cups</a> as an appetizer for a couple friends a few weeks ago. When I make them again, and I will, I'll add less oil, or maybe none at all, and I'll add some chopped veggies, like peppers, to make them more interesting. I would definitely use them as a side dish for brunch.<br />
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<i>What have you pinned and done lately<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">?</span></i></div>lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05662598658778630530noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029462928741428802.post-61885742765201166182012-05-26T21:53:00.004-03:002012-05-26T21:53:55.052-03:00t minus five minutes until snack time108 days. That's how long I was able to hold out before sending my husband on a somewhat emergency French fry run at 9:45 p.m. 108 days.<br />
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Does a gal get any credit for that?lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05662598658778630530noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029462928741428802.post-83376911551356371262012-05-24T07:56:00.000-03:002012-06-21T11:46:48.677-03:00reading by the dayI've decided that the only way I can read everything that I need and want to read in the time that I have is by sticking to a schedule. It sounds crazy, I know. Something I do for pleasure is really starting to take over my life a little. But I'm OK with that. I just need a plan.<br />
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It starts with the book club books. And I'm not complaining. I genuinely want to read them. The trick is that we've been slacking a little of late and we want to pickup the pace to an every-three-weeks meeting routine. And these are good books (mostly), I might add, so it shouldn't take nearly three weeks to read one, which should provide downtime for reading other books.<br />
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Admittedly, I was practically narcoleptic for the first three months of this pregnancy, so any and all reading time was unceremoniously dumped in favour of sleep. This set me a little behind. So, I was relieved when the last book club meeting was postponed and I had a little more time to finish <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/14891.A_Tree_Grows_in_Brooklyn" target="_blank">A Tree Grows in Brooklyn</a>. Confession: I still haven't finished. Next on the LitWits roster is <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16059.The_Dive_From_Clausen_s_Pier" target="_blank">A Dive From Clausen's Pier</a>. Haven't cracked it. In fact, I lent my library copy to another club member because I knew she would read it faster and then she'd give it back to me to read myself. *In fact, since I started drafting this post, she already finished it and returned it to me and I have yet to crack the cover. I am the biggest book club failure. I have six days to complete it before our next meeting.<br />
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On my own, I have a few books on the go. I was about half-way through the second Hunger Games book, <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6148028-catching-fire" target="_blank">Catching Fire</a>, when I had to put it down in favour of a time-sensitive book-club read and failed to pick it up again. I want to get back to that soon.<br />
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I've also been bitten by the 50 Shades of Grey bug. I'm about half-way through that one, too.<br />
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And <i>then</i>, a co-worker lent me a copy of <a href="http://thebloggess.com/lets-pretend-this-never-happened-a-mostly-true-memoir/" target="_blank">Let's Pretend This Never Happened: A Mostly True Memoir</a> by The Bloggess Jenny Lawson. If you read <a href="http://thebloggess.com/" target="_blank">The Bloggess</a>, you have to know why her book made it to the top of the New York Times Bestseller List ... this gal is hysterical. I can't wait to dive into her book. But, where to find the time?<br />
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So here's the plan: Book club books at night before bed. Every night. Even if it's only two or three pages before I'm nodding off. I've got to be in the habit. My personal book picks<b> </b>on weekends or in spare time. This is often hard to come by, but for the right book, I'll make the time. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.<br />
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<i>And now I'm now thinking about the sewing projects that need to be completed, scrapbooks that need to be updated ... the list goes on. How do you find time for "me" stuff, like reading or hobbies? </i>lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05662598658778630530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029462928741428802.post-3425108003277521852012-05-23T07:22:00.000-03:002012-05-23T15:26:32.995-03:00a letter to the little one<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMGMtZdnjC3AG58Nz8OkYFhpl8zTiU3oLC1m66_uKNT4NeG1RVdSPWpbKI45HYr16mr_ul7ZnN2K17S91VBaB5ULan5nQt6FuisjTxi6saiNo0O6dvTFJMIIuzTnCSjiNnpu6TEYwQm6aK/s1600/11.5weeks(pregnancy2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMGMtZdnjC3AG58Nz8OkYFhpl8zTiU3oLC1m66_uKNT4NeG1RVdSPWpbKI45HYr16mr_ul7ZnN2K17S91VBaB5ULan5nQt6FuisjTxi6saiNo0O6dvTFJMIIuzTnCSjiNnpu6TEYwQm6aK/s320/11.5weeks(pregnancy2).jpg" width="240" /></a>Dear sweet baby,<br />
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Being pregnant with you is nothing like it was when I was carrying your older brother. Last time, I was reading the prenatal books week by week, keeping track of all the tiny milestones that are happening in there by the minute.<br />
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This time, I'm not. And it's not because I don't care or don't wonder how your doing. I just trust that you're OK. I'm keeping care of you on the outside so you can do your thing on the inside. And you are already doing so well. Last week, at my first prenatal appointment, I got to hear the familiar <i>chugga chugga chugga</i> of your strong baby heartbeat. It warmed my heart and made you feel much more present in my life. This week, you've really started to move around, reminding me now and then that you're there. I almost forgot how much absolutely love that feeling.<br />
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The first few months were rougher than I expected they'd be; you must be a little fire cracker! Now that I'm getting my energy back, I'm daydreaming more and more about who you are and what you'll be like.<br />
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Since we're starting to get more acquainted, let me fill you in on a few things. Your dad is, in my humble opinion, the best one around. He's going to take you outside to play and make sure you get lots of yummy healthy snacks and he'll pretty much always read you an extra book at bedtime if you ask super nicely. Your brother is smart and caring and hilarious, and you are going to love him as much as we do. He will teach you how to get into all kinds of trouble, but I'm OK with that. And me? Well, I'm already your biggest fan. I'll bake you cookies and snuggle you at any hour and tickle you for days. I can't wait.<br />
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I'm very much looking forward to the next 25(ish) weeks, and even more to meeting you.<br />
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Love,<br />
Mumlindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05662598658778630530noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029462928741428802.post-71874585894185235402012-05-22T11:48:00.002-03:002012-05-22T22:11:17.390-03:00a first for us<b>Write about a time your child embarrassed you in public.</b><br />
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It was mother's day of all days, and in the library of all places.<br />
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Part of my mama-chosen fun for the day was a family trip to the library. Jacob loves it there - checking out the toys and books and talking to new kids. I love browsing, especially when I have extra hands to keep an eye on our roving toddler.<br />
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About 10 minutes before we were set to leave, Husband gave J a five-minute warning, to which J stomped and squealed a bit, but he became tight lipped after we both gave him the stink eye and told him to behave nicely.<br />
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So, I wandered off for my last few moments of browsing in the parenting and pregnancy section, and I swear no sooner had I picked up a book about toddler discipline, when I heard the ruckus coming from the children's section. Someone was very unhappy about having to clean up and get ready to leave.<br />
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But this went beyond the normal realm of J expressing his unhappy feelings. He freaked. Full-tilt screaming. Huge tears. Meltdown. No, he was not going to clean up the toys. No, he was not going to leave the library. No, No, No.<br />
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Colour me crimson. The silent library was not so quiet as he continued to lose it while Husband insisted that he return his toys to the shelf before we left. He did so, and at the end of the 30-second tidy that felt like 30 hours, I sent them out to the car while I checked out our selections at the front desk.<br />
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I felt rotten. Not because he was loud in the library. Not because he'd thrown an utter tantrum in public. Not because I was embarrassed, though I was. It was more so because I couldn't reach him. I was talking to him, holding him, looking him in the eye, but he wasn't seeing me or hearing me. All he knew was that he was not happy about what was taking place and he was going to let us know, damnit.<br />
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It was a first for us, and certainly not the last, I know. I hopped in the backseat and chatted with J during the ride home. Once he was calm, we talked about what happened and why it wasn't nice. I'm sure he'd long-since forgotten about it by the time we reached our house, but I felt a little better, having done my due-diligence in explaining right and wrong. But it still bothered me for the rest of the day, knowing that he really does have that toddler side to him, and even though I knew it would one day make its appearance, it was still surprising and kind of sad. Sigh.<br />
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Come on, mamas, share your moments, too. We've all been there!<br />
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Thanks, as always, to <a href="http://www.mamakatslosinit.com/2012/05/writing-prompts-115/" target="_blank">Mama Kat</a> for the writer's prompt.lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05662598658778630530noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029462928741428802.post-82420665530710177352012-05-16T06:19:00.000-03:002012-05-16T06:19:00.318-03:00pregnancy #2: 9 weeks<b>9 weeks (week 10): April 11 to 18</b><br />
<br />
I am tired. Tireddd. Like, lay down on the kitchen floor while I wait for the cookies to bake for 9 minutes tired. Yeah, I'm not kidding. I did that. This is basically pregnancy, as I knew it, on steroids. The nausea is full-on cookie woofing, the fatigue is falling asleep while M is putting J down for the night (yes, I'm sleeping as long as the toddler), and the belly ... just don't even get me started. Where did that thing come from? I walked up the driveway to the backyard at J's daycare yesterday and his wonderful daycare provider (my lovely friend) says, "Umm, how long do you think you're going to keep <i>that </i>a secret?"<br />
<br />
Come onnn, second trimester!<br />
<br />
<i>It's not all bad, of course. Just look at this<a href="http://blogs.babble.com/being-pregnant/2012/05/15/10-things-that-are-better-during-pregnancy/" target="_blank"> list of very-true pregnancy perks</a>.</i>lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05662598658778630530noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029462928741428802.post-34340131697054150052012-05-15T07:58:00.000-03:002012-05-15T09:40:00.855-03:00pregnancy #2: 6 weeks<b>6 weeks (Week 7) - March 21 to March 28</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnfGp0tyeAbKv0HgZzJzyMe8J7SlWajTc-s_ysDPVgYJmf5R3PgFcKLCZd3OvzyZJsEm81p9N3mIt7T5lp4VcxhPzq55Cw5eDoGDPmR7P4R-jNX7CoCDSFnzEapwurT6tgmcaB2bNfSc70/s1600/morningsickness.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnfGp0tyeAbKv0HgZzJzyMe8J7SlWajTc-s_ysDPVgYJmf5R3PgFcKLCZd3OvzyZJsEm81p9N3mIt7T5lp4VcxhPzq55Cw5eDoGDPmR7P4R-jNX7CoCDSFnzEapwurT6tgmcaB2bNfSc70/s320/morningsickness.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
So far, this pregnancy is nothing like the last one. Not at all. So, instead of going into it with all the confidence of a seasoned veteran, I'm a little bewildered and trying to keep up with the bevy of symptoms that are assaulting me from every direction. Here's a list:<br />
<br />
<b>Whoa morning-noon-night sickness</b>. What the? At this point last time, I was three weeks away from running a half marathon, which meant training runs five days a week. And not just little runs; 14, 16, 18k, and I had no problems. This time, the only place I'm running is to the toilet. Woof.<br />
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<b>Aversions</b>. I remember being somewhat grossed out by a few things here and there throughout my last pregnancy. This time, there's already a substantial list of must-not-eats: veggie burgers (made by me at home; I can handle some restaurant ones), perogies, butter, ginger (perhaps from ODing on ginger everything in an attempt to quell symptom #1), and many others.<br />
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<b>Fatigue</b>. Was I this tired last time? Maybe. I can't really remember, but I'm managing a solid nine hours a night and it doesn't feel like nearly enough. I'm absolutely wiped.<br />
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<b>Bloat</b>. Aww, what a cute little bloat baby. Not. Where did that belly come from? It can't be the real deal yet, can it?<br />
<br />
On the sunny side of the street, it has been really fun to think about what we will all be like as a family of four. We have already been explaining to Jacob that we're going to be bringing home a new baby. He loves to lift up my shirt and kiss my belly. He says "Hi, baby" and "Bye bye, baby" when he does it. It's pretty adorable. He's not quite understanding fully, since he lifts his own shirt and says baby, and does the same to daddy. But he only kisses and talks to my belly, so maybe he senses a difference.<br />
<br />
So, if you're keeping track, my official guess for this little peanut is girl, because my boy didn't cause me any of the aforementioned issues. Any guesses?<br />
<br />
(<a href="http://myvegetablebaby.com/tag/morning-sickness/" target="_blank">Photo credit</a>)lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05662598658778630530noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029462928741428802.post-11140106949414181872012-05-14T07:19:00.000-03:002012-05-14T09:44:34.076-03:00gahhh<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSWDBxm6Xz7yZZla8xL2fI-QB93nppxjE7n5XbzqPE_WZafQ7zypB72gi6BXIDZVunyj7b5JQSh5XsylcPZ7K7Qw2BLXLXbsnxOru_kCLCTm6T1kjzGv17loEHrVlh6hFVXsU2hiog2VNm/s1600/bacon_and_eggs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSWDBxm6Xz7yZZla8xL2fI-QB93nppxjE7n5XbzqPE_WZafQ7zypB72gi6BXIDZVunyj7b5JQSh5XsylcPZ7K7Qw2BLXLXbsnxOru_kCLCTm6T1kjzGv17loEHrVlh6hFVXsU2hiog2VNm/s200/bacon_and_eggs.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
I hate eggs, always have.<br />
I'm a vegetarian, so I don't eat bacon.<br />
But I wanttt them! I craveee them!<br />
For the love of God, whyyy?!lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05662598658778630530noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029462928741428802.post-28937864387495037282012-05-13T12:24:00.006-03:002012-06-21T15:54:13.199-03:00on being a mama<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's just been one of those weeks. The wonderful kind.<br />
<br />
On Monday, I got a massage. Ahhh.<br />
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On Tuesday, lovely friend A surprised me with a shellac pedicure, early for Mother's Day, which was such a relaxing treat.<br />
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On Thursday, I got my hair cut. It's not something I do too often, so it feels like a special occasion.<br />
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On Saturday morning, Jacob slept for an extra hour, giving us an extra restful night. We got up and I made bacon and eggs for my boys. Then, we threw on our sweats and went out to the yard, scooping leaves, pulling weeds and acting silly. It was already warm for a May morning, and we stayed out for nearly four hours. We visited with family, did some home repairs, and last night, Mike and I got out for a date. It wasn't extravagant -- we went to Swiss Chalet and to see The Avengers -- but it was perfect.<br />
<br />
I took my boy to swimming lessons today, as I do each Sunday morning. I looked at the other mums at the pool and smiled, hoping they were having the same kind of day, and week, that I've been having.<br />
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I'm sure you'd agree that it's not about the things or the gestures, it's just about being a mum. With my sweet boy and another little one on the way, I am busting, today and every day, that I have this life.<br />
<br />
<i style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">Happy Mother's Day to my beautiful Mum, my lovely mother-in-law, and all of my dear friends who are celebrating today with their families xo</span></i><br />
<br />
(<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/283515739012145743/" target="_blank">photo credit</a>)lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05662598658778630530noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029462928741428802.post-23744242028208295072012-05-10T21:16:00.002-03:002012-05-10T21:16:42.506-03:003 + 1 = 4<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjnBFHEYD85qN831IxzwLXuAMaIoGba5QNmi07RRh4uoDejZ4Yg4MsLPnydHISxugwDwTYm-27XAfjGDnNRvgmqd4kga362IfTgUeS3flb3qRy6hUJugv94vhBzs5bxQqIIohP7dZpEv9z/s1600/secret1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjnBFHEYD85qN831IxzwLXuAMaIoGba5QNmi07RRh4uoDejZ4Yg4MsLPnydHISxugwDwTYm-27XAfjGDnNRvgmqd4kga362IfTgUeS3flb3qRy6hUJugv94vhBzs5bxQqIIohP7dZpEv9z/s400/secret1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7FU0G64qvgulrWrY_8yXMF07J805i7W_2BAf-xbnKdDWAkGxtTidLX8ca-qXwX1zUwq9CF9Tn-vwXATl0JcfZ-Fwio6b_Bo9KrgA-aOWWZp9SEkqKyPgOERAB4jIy6CgVA_gwvL6ZZBfh/s1600/secret2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7FU0G64qvgulrWrY_8yXMF07J805i7W_2BAf-xbnKdDWAkGxtTidLX8ca-qXwX1zUwq9CF9Tn-vwXATl0JcfZ-Fwio6b_Bo9KrgA-aOWWZp9SEkqKyPgOERAB4jIy6CgVA_gwvL6ZZBfh/s400/secret2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05662598658778630530noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029462928741428802.post-87483164130110274852012-05-08T07:33:00.000-03:002012-05-08T15:36:18.965-03:00i'm not giving you my money for free<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2FpMItuaqSUZX5Bvzl3zSUXeriQ-hZCUCTj8G0toeF-n0NCELzSdeTEbUmvScpCGYqb5mzBu8-_TtLx0Lhrn67b-7aMNPFcBKoEShu7XRf00EpQWF34iRpgLQEdsNWS1zQXnFTWV-S1hK/s1600/IMAG0071.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2FpMItuaqSUZX5Bvzl3zSUXeriQ-hZCUCTj8G0toeF-n0NCELzSdeTEbUmvScpCGYqb5mzBu8-_TtLx0Lhrn67b-7aMNPFcBKoEShu7XRf00EpQWF34iRpgLQEdsNWS1zQXnFTWV-S1hK/s320/IMAG0071.jpg" width="191" /></a></div>
I'm about to release my inner geek. Actually, it's not really inner, since I just had a 10 minute conversation with a co-worker all about this, and others listened in. It's pretty much public knowledge that I'm a geek, but I'm a money-saving geek. So there.<br />
<br />
Yesterday, I made a list of a bunch of groceries we needed at home, and noticed that several items would be more cost effective if purchased at Costco. So, I reviewed the Superstore flyer, wrote down prices, and headed to Costco, determined to get the best deals. Here's what went down (items marked with the * are the ones that I purchased):<br />
<br />
*Costco: 4 kg box of frozen chicken breasts - $29.99 ($7.50 per kg)<br />
Superstore: 3 kg box of frozen chicken breasts - $31.99 ($10.66 per kg)<br />
<span style="color: red;">Savings: $12.65</span><br />
<br />
*Costco: 1 litre of coffee cream - $2.59<br />
Superstore: 1 litre of coffee cream - $3.69<br />
<span style="color: red;">Savings: $1.10</span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><br /></span><br />
*Costco: Folgers coffee (1.39 kg) - $9.99 (on sale for $3 off) ($7.18/kg)<br />
Superstore: Folgers coffee (584 g) - $7.99 ($13.68/kg)<br />
<span style="color: red;">Savings: $9.04 ($6.50/kg)</span><br />
<br />
*Costco: Kirkland marinara sauce (the best ever), 3 one-litre jars - $6.79 ($2.26/litre)<br />
Superstore: Ragu (640 ml) - $2.59 each ($7.77 for 3) ($4.04/litre)<br />
<span style="color: red;">Savings: $5.34 ($1.78/litre)</span><br />
<br />
*Costco: 3 loaves of Ben's Smart bread - $7.39<br />
Superstore: Wonderbread (on sale) - $2.22 ($6.66 for 3)<br />
<span style="color: blue;">Deduction: $0.73</span><br />
<br />
*Costco: Kraft parmesan cheese, 500 g - $10.99<br />
Superstore: Kraft parmesan cheese, 250 g - $7.19 ($14.38 for an equal quantity)<br />
<span style="color: red;">Savings: $3.39</span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><br /></span><br />
*Costco: 4 litre Baxters milk - $5.19<br />
Superstore: 2 litre Baxters milk (SS doesn't carry gallons in Baxters) - $3.99 ($7.98 for equal quantity)<br />
<span style="color: red;">Savings: $2.79</span><br />
<br />
Costco: Eggs (18) - $3.79<br />
*Superstore: Eggs (12) - $2.50 ($3.75 for 18)<br />
<span style="color: blue;">Deduction: $0.04</span><br />
<br />
Costco: Cracker Barrell cheese, 1 kg - $10.99<br />
*Superstore: Cracker Barrell cheese, 500 g - $4.44 (I bought two for $8.88)<br />
<span style="color: red;">Savings: $2.11</span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><br /></span><br />
TOTAL SAVINGS:<span style="color: red;"> $35.65</span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><br /></span><br />
It pays to pay attention to prices. In this case, I didn't even use coupons. I just made a quick note of the prices of the items on my list, and compared as I shopped. Going to two stores, organized with a list, is just as quick as going to one store without a plan.<br />
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Have you scored any great deals lately? Do tell!lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05662598658778630530noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029462928741428802.post-50883914530745642252012-05-04T12:40:00.000-03:002012-05-04T12:40:00.194-03:00a few favourites for fridayFor lack of a better topic of conversation, here are some of my favourite pins from the week:<br />
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How cute is this (?!) idea to honour your favourite dates, which I stole from <a href="http://rainysaturday.blogspot.ca/" target="_blank">Amy</a> just this morning.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrhsOeEiSbhSxYgB2V-Kz3jmkyc6CRRwSP3cLT-UN37KMvQPCo0HDz5AYAn1XBuVaj200rONGx3SEu_MhczpGKKdtnfxuS8mewG3MMcyN1ykVneX3S5jyGV_4GWYcPlFN6U9zFKwvYcf5L/s1600/27443878949114096_rJvF7Cxt_f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrhsOeEiSbhSxYgB2V-Kz3jmkyc6CRRwSP3cLT-UN37KMvQPCo0HDz5AYAn1XBuVaj200rONGx3SEu_MhczpGKKdtnfxuS8mewG3MMcyN1ykVneX3S5jyGV_4GWYcPlFN6U9zFKwvYcf5L/s320/27443878949114096_rJvF7Cxt_f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/283515739012126459/" target="_blank">*</a></div>
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This veggie pot pie recipe popped in from my latest Today's Parent email ... doesn't it look drool-worthy?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQFFYKee_aNnRluhE7kkTI-mdYam4x1E_1ttgYYIAwHQVbLupjLT8Hrx9X9rGw216we6IYPJt6tZlGgcfMpPEXkBJZqR5j2a8zxXQp7TTY5x4unMRZtJYK2GjOpZw_T93Hl_RV53UwIAUK/s1600/283515739012126405_LDcs4AI4_f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQFFYKee_aNnRluhE7kkTI-mdYam4x1E_1ttgYYIAwHQVbLupjLT8Hrx9X9rGw216we6IYPJt6tZlGgcfMpPEXkBJZqR5j2a8zxXQp7TTY5x4unMRZtJYK2GjOpZw_T93Hl_RV53UwIAUK/s320/283515739012126405_LDcs4AI4_f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/283515739012126405/" target="_blank">*</a></div>
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I love the feel of this room. I'm thinking green might be a perfect colour to cover our pull-out couch.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_z5nmoxluPkjpKkr0Xg6OA1VZayX45gu38v35NUAg8Bu-XHOEjyQk5y1E1quOSIs1XRQ-rVvaU7iFHjzbycztcS63UslS7ME9GpWAKtDiJH3Y_0xJ1EmltkyRzJpMb0GfJvA1zKV3py6J/s1600/283515739012114797_wTvDv4U0_f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_z5nmoxluPkjpKkr0Xg6OA1VZayX45gu38v35NUAg8Bu-XHOEjyQk5y1E1quOSIs1XRQ-rVvaU7iFHjzbycztcS63UslS7ME9GpWAKtDiJH3Y_0xJ1EmltkyRzJpMb0GfJvA1zKV3py6J/s320/283515739012114797_wTvDv4U0_f.jpg" width="243" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/283515739012114797/" target="_blank">*</a></div>
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I bought a body pillow last week with the least-offensive cover for it, and it turns out that its inspired us to re-do our bedroom in this sort of scheme ... do you like?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDqbF23uwr6tLzAtDQEl-0b5gW0DvTUeytznzu18bDzXWYxaTypR8eULgmgU3Uliktck9NHZ9-Y0ICvtHvo7Focw_4UweV-6tx-Tn7vhymz_WeOk0mV33xDI7Xp3OqfHzfOZkNG_S1Y3kt/s1600/175640454187558234_NY5EeRx3_f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDqbF23uwr6tLzAtDQEl-0b5gW0DvTUeytznzu18bDzXWYxaTypR8eULgmgU3Uliktck9NHZ9-Y0ICvtHvo7Focw_4UweV-6tx-Tn7vhymz_WeOk0mV33xDI7Xp3OqfHzfOZkNG_S1Y3kt/s320/175640454187558234_NY5EeRx3_f.jpg" width="216" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/283515739012103633/" target="_blank">*</a></div>
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And a little Cinco de Mayo eve deliciousness:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP2NDXZDah9VHpeON9pTlo-BIcncVH4hCWTRJdBvbF-XjRKTfxQc_xrfAEYIM1O-4KC71eRXkYMRE1THu0JTvc_6ICNGAL3sEBQewD_pKc6dJ1p8hlpDuG-SVmTICHWnPehTwEx4wJ3I3p/s1600/180425528791698894_KWTv2ME5_f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP2NDXZDah9VHpeON9pTlo-BIcncVH4hCWTRJdBvbF-XjRKTfxQc_xrfAEYIM1O-4KC71eRXkYMRE1THu0JTvc_6ICNGAL3sEBQewD_pKc6dJ1p8hlpDuG-SVmTICHWnPehTwEx4wJ3I3p/s320/180425528791698894_KWTv2ME5_f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Share some links -- what are your favourite pins of the week?</b></div>lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05662598658778630530noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029462928741428802.post-9859921158671733552012-05-03T07:10:00.000-03:002012-06-21T14:44:27.017-03:00mama's day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b style="background-color: white;">The perfect Mother's Day consists of ...</b></div>
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Quality time with my boys, of course. Early morning snuggles, hot breakfast (not in bed), hours of silliness in pajamas.<br />
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Yard work. The tulips are starting to make their appearance in the backyard, so it's time to weed and rake and get our little yard ready for spring.<br />
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A trip to the farmers' market. Buying fresh fruits, veggies and bread, and maybe a bouquet of flowers for the house.<br />
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Dinner that I don't have to plan or make.<br />
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Thanks, as always, to <a href="http://www.mamakatslosinit.com/2012/04/writing-prompts-112/" target="_blank">Mama Kat</a> for the writer's prompt.lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05662598658778630530noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029462928741428802.post-3913167490697043172012-05-01T07:22:00.000-03:002012-05-01T11:27:14.581-03:00things I loveWith our new house, came a whole lot of new space. Now that we're several months into home ownershop, and mostly settled, here are a few things that I can't believe I previously did without.<br />
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<b>A designated place for gift-a-palooza. </b><br />
At any given time, I usually have a least a half dozen miscellaneous gifts stashed for upcoming events and occasions. Plus, there are cards, wrapping materials and the like. In my apartment life, this stuff was spread everywhere, stuck in baskets, cabinets and drawers all over the place. Now, I've taken our former laundry cabinet and turned it into present central. Awesome.<br />
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<b>A laundry room, complete with storage.</b><br />
I was able to give my lovely white laundry cabinet a new life because I have a built-in laundry nook with cabinets. Honestly though, I was over the moon about this area until we moved and I realized that ... wait a minute, what else am I going to put in here besides detergent? But since then, I've included our iron, some stain remover, a basket for rags, and some downstairs cleaning supplies. The middle cabinet below also hides the garbage can, which I love.<br />
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<b>The workshop ...</b><br />
... in which there's a place for everything and everything's in its place. Sort of. OK, I lie. This space is still a disaster of unpack boxes, unorganized tools and miscellaneous stuff that doesn't belong anywhere else. Dealing with this space is on my to-do list every weekend, and once it's eventually taken care of, we'll never have to hunt for a tape measure or the perfect-sized screw again.<br />
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<b>Our cozy rec room.</b><br />
It wasn't always an easy process, but now that the rec room is complete, I can't imagine life without it. It's a warm, snugly place (thanks to the wood stove) to read, watch TV, think and play. It's also great, and I mean this in the nicest way of course, to have more than one living area, so when you need some time to yourself, you don't have to retreat to the bedroom or the shower.<br />
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<b>Our growing yard. </b><br />
Every day, more flowers, plants and lush blades of grass are popping up all over our yard. Jacob loves being outside and we're so happy to have the space to let him run and play. It's going to be such a great summer outside in the sun.<br />
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<i>What are your home's best characteristics? </i>lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05662598658778630530noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029462928741428802.post-4143854265105729872012-04-24T10:01:00.005-03:002012-06-21T11:47:22.828-03:00warning: don't read when hungry<b>If you had one day to eat anything you want and not gain a single ounce what would it be?</b><br />
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Well now, that's my kind of writer's prompt. I love food. I've never been able to deprive myself of something I really truly wanted. Moderation, sure, and exercise to balance these indulgences. Logical, no? So, since we're momentarily living in a world where calories don't count, let's make a list, shall we?<br />
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1) A huge heap of hot, crispy, homemade fries. With salt and Heinz ketchup. And a tall, ice-cold Pepsi.<br />
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2) I was going to say pasta in general, but that's not true. I point to the trifecta of deliciousness: fettuccine alfredo, homemade mac and cheese, and tortellini with marinara sauce. Any of the above with a healthy unhealthy portion of salty garlic bread.<br />
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3) A veggie burger. Not just any veggie burger either. The one piled high with sauteed mushrooms and grated cheddar on a delicious onion-y bun at Jack Astor's. It is the best.<br />
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4) Anything vegetarian and Mexican, especially burritos, with lots of fresh salsa and guacamole. An icy margarita on the side doesn't hurt, either.<br />
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5) Fresh-from-the-oven, homemade chocolate chip cookies with a huge mug of hot coffee with milk.<br />
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6) Homemade falafel with homemade tortillas. I don't make the latter often, but the former is so easy and delicious. Topped with tatziki, naturally.<br />
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7) A perfect sandwich. That means a lightly toasted ciabatta bun, or the like, with lettuce, tomato, cucumber, red onion, avocado, lots of cheese (I don't play favourites with cheese) and sweet-with-heat mustard.<br />
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8) Garlic fingers. With lots of garlic and cheese. And unlimited donair sauce. This must also be accompanied with a carbonated beverage.<br />
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9) Turkey dinner sans turkey. I love a hot plate of all the fixins ... whipped potatoes, carrots, corn, green bean casserole, squash casserole, stuffing and gravy.<br />
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10) Homemade baked beans, with a generous side of hash-brown bake, and hot brown bread toast with butter.<br />
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Hungry now? You're welcome.<br />
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Thanks, as always, to <a href="http://www.mamakatslosinit.com/" target="_blank">Mama Kat</a> for the Writer's Prompt.lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05662598658778630530noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029462928741428802.post-88530474134430291772012-04-18T09:57:00.000-03:002012-04-18T09:57:46.184-03:00our house this morningOur sweet toddler prefers to go to the potty in private. Can you blame him? I do too, don't you?<br />
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So this morning, we heard the patter of little feet in the bathroom, before he called out "Mommy, Daddy, I done!" Husband opened the door to discover that he had, indeed, got up off the potty and started walking around, when he wasn't ... umm ... finished, leaving a trail of ... well, you know.<br />
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Then, I came around the corner, into the hallway.<br />
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<b>Me:</b> Oh my God.<br />
<b>Husband: </b>What now?<br />
<b>Me: </b>[Examining a foreign object on the carpet] ... oh, nevermind, it's just a raisin.<br />
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Ahh. Never a dull moment.lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05662598658778630530noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029462928741428802.post-5660916314928916902012-04-13T10:39:00.002-03:002012-04-13T10:39:39.327-03:00friday the 13thIt's Friday the 13th. How does that make you feel? My co-worker is flying out today, on Friday the 13th, for vacation and he'll catch a cruise that sets sail tomorrow ... on the 100th anniversary of the day the Titanic sunk. If he were superstitious, I'm thinking he might have reconsidered.<br />
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For me, today means pizza, of course. It's Pizza Friday and that's all I need to know. I'm not on the lookout for black cats or broken mirrors. Rather, I'm considering the bevy of pizza options at my disposal in Sackvegas. <i>Tell me locals, what's you're preferred pizza place?</i><br />
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And just so you're not like, WTF kind of post was that?! Here are a few Friday links for your perusal.<br />
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A few posts from <a href="http://www.thechronicleherald.ca/author/lindsey-bunin-my-hectic-home" target="_blank">My Hectic Home</a>:<br />
<a href="http://www.thechronicleherald.ca/homesnews/83534-the-mum-approved-easter-dinner" target="_blank">Mum-approved Easter dinner</a><br />
<a href="http://www.thechronicleherald.ca/homesnews/82419-when-kids-say-darndest-things" target="_blank">When kids say the darndest things</a><br />
<a href="http://www.thechronicleherald.ca/homesnews/80969-pinching-pennies" target="_blank">Pinching pennies</a><br />
<a href="http://www.thechronicleherald.ca/homesnews/80316-idea-sharer" target="_blank">The idea sharer</a><br />
<a href="http://www.thechronicleherald.ca/homesnews/78322-her-own-way-paint" target="_blank">Her own way to paint</a><br />
<a href="http://www.thechronicleherald.ca/homesnews/77670-doing-potty-dance" target="_blank">Doing the potty dance</a><br />
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And a few things I've starred, pinned and bookmarked of late:<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbVUVXdI0SVBycMBTbxQd0ruqcu8dcge_dQD-spzDjcK_y1AqTrPrUbGq-Y0sHj0bjFewQ1ANtmukGMyG4kxfKcms-J0J9dlP0cJ7JT0JdrURAG740ZdeaWA-8cJjWXJWLE3JcgExpZ7lt/s1600/toddler-room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbVUVXdI0SVBycMBTbxQd0ruqcu8dcge_dQD-spzDjcK_y1AqTrPrUbGq-Y0sHj0bjFewQ1ANtmukGMyG4kxfKcms-J0J9dlP0cJ7JT0JdrURAG740ZdeaWA-8cJjWXJWLE3JcgExpZ7lt/s320/toddler-room.jpg" width="213" /></a><br />
We're working on compiling ideas for Jacob's big-boy room. Given that he is obsessed with balls, it only makes sense that we incorporate as many as we can into his new digs. Like <a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/283515739012009546/" target="_blank">this</a>, from <a href="http://pinterest.com/lbunin" target="_blank">Pinterest</a> >><br />
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I'm intrigued by <a href="http://ourlittleapartment.com/2012/04/my-33-item-wardrobe/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+OurLittleApartment+%28Our+Little+Apartment%29&utm_content=Google+International" target="_blank">Ashley's Project 333</a>, where she's cut down her wardrobe to just 33 items. Think it's doable?<br />
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If you feel the same way about The Hunger Games that I do, you may also be interested in this recipe for <a href="http://www.ourbestbites.com/2012/04/district-11-bread/" target="_blank">District 11 bread</a>.<br />
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Speaking of delicious, I tried <a href="http://suziethefoodie.blogspot.ca/2012/03/janes-subway-chocolate-chip-cookies.html" target="_blank">Suzie the Foodie's recipe for Subway cookies</a> last week (opting for mini eggs instead of chocolate chips) and they were delish! Definitely worth a try.<br />
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Happy Friday!lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05662598658778630530noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029462928741428802.post-14255103371986917902012-04-10T07:53:00.000-03:002012-04-10T13:54:33.820-03:00winter pinterest challengeI originally wrote this post a couple weeks ago, but just as I was ready to hit publish, I managed to close it, accidentally losing the whole thing. I'm just now getting over it enough to start again.<br />
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Some of my favourite bloggers (like <a href="http://www.bowerpowerblog.com/" target="_blank">this gal</a> and <a href="http://www.younghouselove.com/" target="_blank">this gal</a>) have created a fun little <a href="http://pinterest.com/lbunin/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a> Challenge, which encourages us to actually try the things we pin. This is a great concept because I am one of those people who pins like mad and rarely follows through.<br />
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I decided to try out a <a href="http://www.fullmeasureofhappiness.com/2011/03/15/mexican-quinoa-casserole/" target="_blank">Mexican Quinoa Casserole</a> I had pinned, which would work perfectly for our vegetarian family meal swap.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsDpRlnwCIA7XtnaXhr9vCt5cDfq07t7_E3R9VZzQeKYFolB09R-Jz5RJiozUWhanKvd9WKDkvJbsZYnQD2vhxxAsIbYK67C9bC1EmhaktBuqvKy5YIjrkgETCX4sqsU22qiitFpqBH6s2/s1600/DSC_0018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsDpRlnwCIA7XtnaXhr9vCt5cDfq07t7_E3R9VZzQeKYFolB09R-Jz5RJiozUWhanKvd9WKDkvJbsZYnQD2vhxxAsIbYK67C9bC1EmhaktBuqvKy5YIjrkgETCX4sqsU22qiitFpqBH6s2/s320/DSC_0018.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The thing that really makes you go "Mmmm, what is that?" is the grated sweet potato. Mixed with cooked quinoa, black beans, and combined with a sauce of salsa, cheese, egg, and cumin, it makes a delicious combo.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzf0xz1TfmI-AY5Cp1Gw3vq5zzyk9DnJh4yPpJeCVZ_87vKrwvjzOu5gxc-WYXzUan_33-I8YEDjhfGoT6bWfrYuBRWBRB9Z0xhDVXOFIdCxNdGzM3ZAIwO5hEH6bYiXqI8Cutud4btMVs/s1600/DSC_0019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzf0xz1TfmI-AY5Cp1Gw3vq5zzyk9DnJh4yPpJeCVZ_87vKrwvjzOu5gxc-WYXzUan_33-I8YEDjhfGoT6bWfrYuBRWBRB9Z0xhDVXOFIdCxNdGzM3ZAIwO5hEH6bYiXqI8Cutud4btMVs/s320/DSC_0019.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Then, if you're smart like lovely friend A, you'll think to scoop it with nacho chips. Then we got really crazy and filled tortillas with the casserole and grilled them for tasty quinoa burritos. This is really a versatile and super simple supper.<br />
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It also appears that, after losing the original version of this post, I also lost the "after" photo of this delicious dish. Take my word for it; it's awesome.<br />
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<i>What have you made from Pinterest lately?</i>lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05662598658778630530noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7029462928741428802.post-19625454037166428632012-03-27T07:53:00.000-03:002012-03-27T11:54:43.843-03:00it works!Who knew? I'm married to Mr. Fix-it. <br />
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Last week, the unthinkable happened. Our dryer ceased to dry. Well, it decided not to turn on at all. Not good for an already <a href="http://www.thechronicleherald.ca/homesnews/65781-laundry-loop" target="_blank">laundry-challenged household</a> such as ours.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcwC51kQ6PpAnJLsoEsNCcQ7gWxlaiDSDWdJsFDSdy0rwrCwkRdY4lPp4XsAjzPBmajaptz-9Q_Joy09So7Lm0s65Uqjt_zpEJ1l3cOvBjL-SWm6MCEQPGZ1WaIkBZQy-fvNgPFVTIePGL/s1600/Dryer-controls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcwC51kQ6PpAnJLsoEsNCcQ7gWxlaiDSDWdJsFDSdy0rwrCwkRdY4lPp4XsAjzPBmajaptz-9Q_Joy09So7Lm0s65Uqjt_zpEJ1l3cOvBjL-SWm6MCEQPGZ1WaIkBZQy-fvNgPFVTIePGL/s320/Dryer-controls.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Basically, the spring-loaded start switch on our Frigidaire Gallery dryer wasn't starting the cycle. It wasn't doing anything. I called around to a few local appliance repair places, to find that to have a serviceman come to the house would cost $50 to start. Then, once you get into the parts and additional visit for the fix, it can get pricey. For an appliance that can be replaced entirely for $400, we wanted to keep repair costs as low as possible.<br />
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Enter Mr. Fix-it. He opened up the dryer, looked it all over, and started Googling. He read forums for similar problems, and, using our model number, was able to pin-point the exact part he thought we'd need to fix the issue. I picked up the part for $25, and with the help of an online video, he swapped out the old for the new.<br />
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The moment he turned the knob was very Frankenstein ... it's ALIVE! And thankfully, we all have clean undies once again.lindseyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05662598658778630530noreply@blogger.com9