Preparations...

OH, it's gonna be another BIG party!!

 I believe I said last year's party was big as we were making up for missed birthdays. Well, I have no rhyme or reason now, other than she deserves it, and we have so much fun doing it!

Stay tuned, we have some awesome plans in store for her

CARNIVAL SPECTACULAR!

Black Beauty

I'm sure you all know Lupita Nyong'o, a Kenyan actress who just won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in her role of Patsy in 12 Years a Slave?

If not, it's time to put her on your radar. This young woman is not only an amazing inspiration to women around the world, but an incredible role model for our Kenyan daughters and African daughters in general.

Lupita recently gave an acceptance speech on Beauty at the 7th annual Black Women in Hollywood Luncheon that left the audience speechless. 

A must watch. 

Sibling Love

Waldorf doll... my latest obsession.

You may know that I love homemade, and natural things. Seriously then, what is not to love about this?

With sweet little options like 'freckles'...

Hair that is made from natural yarns, often hand dyed and spun...

'Dread yarn'

'Curly' Yarn

Fluffy

'Nubby' Yarn

Wefted Fur

Most all these photos are from Dragon's Fly Hollow. Look for them on Facebook, as most of their activity takes place there.

These dolls are not cheap however. The patterns are made, natural cloth cut and sewn, stuffed with wool, shaped, faces sewn on, cheeks colored and hair that is sewn or crocheted on. That's a lot of work... and of course they wouldn't be complete without homemade underwear and an outfit! These dolls are all over $200, and they are very hard to get. Only limited amounts are made, and the demand is very large.

Dragon's Fly Hollow has developed the Mama Made. The body of the doll that you can purchase for $85, and then you can sew your own face and hair on.

So... I took the plunge and ordered a brown skin body, and am currently having some yarn dyed and spun for me! So exciting!!

Sneak Peak..

Secrets...

... that I will share with you.

Yesterday... I was fooling around and made some cool things.

I am not a graphic designer by any means - in fact, I can't even figure out Photo Shop!! (what a waste of $100!!) But picmonkey made me look like a pro!! So easy to use!!!

And yes - please go ahead and steal those Kenya map photos... there isn't any floating around the world wide web... so it's about time some were made accessible. I don't mind sharing!! ;)

Read a book - give a book - all for FREE!

Adding to the family requires preparation. Adding an adopted child of color requires even more preparation.

You become sensitive not only to the fact that this child will be joining our family by way of adoption, but also that this child will come from a different culture and race. We look at the toys and the books. Is there a good representation of cultural and racial diversity? What about books with adopted children, interracial families - families that may resemble ours? Do we have dolls that will resemble our child?

It is part of our white privilege to never have to think about these things when having 'white' children. If you have never had to think about it - you certainly have never tried to locate a black doll in small town Canada either! It's almost worse than trying to find the remote in my house!

SO... to get back on track... I was looking online for books targeted for the younger audience that fit the above description. Luckily, there are some amazing books out there - so my list is growing quite large. (Yes, you'll know what to get us for birthdays and Christmas! ;)

BUT... I stumbled on a very cool website that allows you to register for free, and read books online for free! And if that isn't good enough - every single time you read one book, they donate a book to a child in need! FOR FREE! Does it get any better? Not really - so you should head on over to We Give Books and start reading! ;)

*If you too are an adoptive parent looking for reading material to add to your library, you may find the video "The Danger of a Single Story" enlightening!

Croc SALE alert!!

Yes! Zulily now ships to Canada!!

My lil shopping advisor has alerted me to the wonderful news that Crocs will be featured tomorrow. We need some for Kenya... and getting them at more than 50% off appeals to my frugal ways! I believe the last sale they had listed them starting at $9.99. Crocs are a must in Kenya... light weight, water proof and easy to wash off!

Of course if you are in the market for VERY cute clothes for yourself or your kids - that can be accomplished there as well! (and other wonderful great finds!)

If you are new to Zulily - Check it out!!

Sale starts tomorrow at 6am P/T - (UGG!) they go fast though.... so make sure your on time!!
***It appears as they are up to 70% off and going fast - a huge selection, not just the regular clog type!!! Go now!!

The best Valentine's gifts!!

Yesterday we received notification that our Dossier was returned from being authenticated at Foreign Affairs and is being sent to the Kenyan embassy for legalization. Yay... another step completed. (I often envision myself climbing Chichen itza, one step at a time... )

My hubby also surprised me with a fixed pandora bracelet that I broke 18 months ago during a soccer game with Mister. I so love gifts of the heart. Gifts that require some thought are so much more meaningful to me than a last minute gift purchase. So extra points for this one!!

Then the kids surprised me with this Pandora charm (picked out by Daddy while they were in school)... Every Pandora charm is to symbolize something, and this obviously symbolizes our journey to Kenya. Love it!

And if that wasn't enough... hubby also gave me a poem he had written. It's too sweet not to share. ;)

My Valentine

You are the woman 

Who's making it happen

The winds of change

Are at our door rapp'n

We all have our dreams

That sit and get dusty

Most never followed

Until they're too musty

Buy you are a woman 

Of unparalleled drive

That takes all our dreams

And makes them alive

Now we, as a family

Will soon be expanded

Because of commitment

You yourself have demanded

One or two children 

Brought into our fold

More love and more children

To have and to hold

A much richer life

We all will now live

Because of the effort

That you selflessly give

But it isn't just us 

That your work has helped out

Your saving a child

Whose future's in doubt

Through some difficult times

We've had a dream you've provided

And towards that great goal

It's by you we've been guided

Your are beautiful woman

Both inside and out

The fact that I'm lucky

Of that there's no doubt

And now we embark

On the next stage of life

With an adventure I've longed for

To share with my wife

We'll travel and live 

In a strange foreign land

We'll offer the needy 

A strong helping hand

To do this together

Fulfilling my dream

Of adventure and helping

As a family team

To know that a child

Will be pulled from such strife

To be loved by a Mother

For the rest of her life

It really is not

Just some simple task

You've leaped all the hurdles

How one might ask?

Through love and commitment

With passion and drive

The powerful queen bee

Who tends to our hive

You make it happen

With grace and with style

Keeping us happy and content

All the while

So on Valentine's day

Here I sit and reflect

How the woman I married

Is close to perfect

Yes it's true

We may not always agree

But you are the core

of our happy family

I'll live life to the fullest

With you by my side

Who you were, who you are

Fills me with pride!

Isn't that sweet!? I am just so thankful that Valentine's was not 2 weeks ago... or I'd still be crying! Ha. Hope you all had a fantastic day!!

A Friday Pick Me Up!

Waka Waka (This time for Africa)



LOVE this song! I think it's going to be my new theme song... to keep me going! There are some lyrics in there that speak to me.

We are the first family to enter the Kenya program with our agency (just found out about another family who signed on though!! ;)... making us 1 of 3 Canandians families adopting from Kenya since 2008 and the Hague. We are pioneers... paving the way. 'Pick yourself up, dust yourself off' - geez, how many times do you have to do that in the adoption journey? 'Don't wait in line'... ha, after almost 2 years - I'm read to push way to the front! 'You paved the way'. - I hope too!! etc... i think you get the idea. ;)
Waka Waka means - Do It - and the other lyrics are in Fang -a Central African language. Lyrics from a song that was sung for the freedom in Africa in the 70's and 80's.

*I edited this post to add the version with the lyrics.

My wish list... (Bogs Riders)

Christmas that is. (Honey your off the hook - I'm not publishing the 'honey do' wishlist. ;)

I have told you how gifting has changed in my house, and I think this list will hopefully follow suit. (Especially since I only have one item on my list!!)

Actually, I have always been pretty good about not wanting exessive or overly expensive things. I have always loved clothing, appliances and other household useful stuff for gifts. I know some people believe that you should never receive clothing, or a pot etc. for Christmas. I know people who would never buy my children clothing as a gift because they didn't feel that was right. (Pfft... my kids love clothing gifts!)

But if we were to analyze this a little closer... why the heck not? 2 years ago, my Christmas gift was a knife. Yes, a knife. May seem strange to some of you... but this is not something I would have ever normally purchase because it was too expensive. This was a $150 Wusthof Classic Cook's Knife, 8-inch . And I LOVE THIS KNIFE! I am so glad I decided to get it. (I choose my Christmas gifts out and sometimes just purchase them myself.) Slicing and dicing has never been so easy and enjoyable with this knife! (Seriously!)

Last year, my dryer conveniently pooched out 2 weeks before Christmas. So guess what I got for Christmas?! A Santa Red (or so I call it!) Samsung front loader washer and dryer! I was in laundry heaven! This gift has allowed me to compress my laundry time. I can now fit in 2.5 standard loads into one load! Seriously, what could make a Mom more happy?

Four years ago, I got a pair of Pajar boots. I had a hard time swallowing the $220 price tag, but they were made in Canada with a durable suede and soft, fuzzy wool lining with a promise to keep my feet warm. Feet that have never been warm in any boot. This boot more than fulfilled it's promised! My feet are always toasty now. (If anyone knows how to make a warm boot - it would be Canada!!) Well, I am now a firm believer in 'You pay for what you get!' I am on the 5th winter with this boot, and when I asked my local shoe store when they would be getting in more Pajar boots, I was told only every 4 years or so because they just last too long that they don't need replacing! I suspect that doesn't make for very good business in a small town, so I doubt I will see them here again.

As I mentioned... this is my 5th winter now in my Pajar boots. They are still in great condition... and I really feel guilty about this - but I am ready for a new boot. Styles have changed and I would like a change... Here is my christmas wish list for this year, and I think you will agree that it is a modest request.

I am dreaming of a pair of Bogs Rider Boots.

They would be very suitable for our winters. Living on a mountain, at times we have up to 4 feet of snow in our back yard, while down town has just a bit of slush. What better of a boot to handle wet slush and deep snow!? This is my justification anyway... as my pajars will get wet (suede only resists moisture, but eventually succumb to it!) after a period of time.

I tried a pair on in the store yesterday and fell in love. People... try them on! Just try them on! SO COMFY and SO WARM! AND, the nice thing is - this year they have many more fashionable options! These are the ones I want... They are very cute on!! (Not to mention good to -40 C/F !!!)

The unfortunate thing is that they didn't have my size. :( Which means that my only hope is that they are able to get more in, or I order online (which is not very easy in Canada) or I go shopping across the border.

Perhaps Santa will hear my pleas and drop a pair down my chimney? Surely those elves know how to make them, or have 'connections'!

Great things are meant to be shared...

And this is one of them!

Africam is live safari cams. So you can feel like your right there in Africa! One of the greatest things about these cameras is there is audio too... so you can hear all the amazing birds!

Last night we watched a herd of Zebras come down to the watering hole. Very cool! There are a few different cameras to chose from, all from different locations. You can also find a great deal of info, blogs, forums, maps and favorite clips. AND... if you 'like' them on FB, or register on the main site, they will notify you when there is animal action! My kids love this!! I love this!! Check it out...

Welcome back to my heart Ju-Ju-Be!

Remember when I hinted about my Mother's Day gift here?

Well, I never did update this because it did not arrive until this last Monday. Yes, that's right.... 4.5 months. I won't bore you with the details, but I had been given a new back order date 4 times and never rec'd it any of those times. I sent some emails off to get to the bottom of it, and in the end it was taken care of that same day. They drop shipped it to me from the warehouse and included some gifts.

As a business owner, I realize that mistakes can happen. What is really important is how a company is able to correct the mistake and maintain their reputation and clientele. I do a great deal of purchasing online and have had some really terrible service and delivery problems in the past. In all these times, I have walked away with a bad taste in my mouth. One time I was sent a lens cloth as an apology gift on a $200 purchase. Another time I was sent a promotional pen! Needless to say, I have never purchased from these businesses again.

This company however, did go out of their way to make it right. They made me feel like a valued customer... and I appreciate that!! Okay, time to spill the beans... The hint was "...it is going to be 'Major'." with a photo of jube jubes. If you haven't gotten it, then perhaps you are not familiar with this brand... let me have the honours of introducing to you, my favorite bag brand... Ju-Ju-Be. Your life will never be the same...

I had a couple of their bags already and have been absolutely in love with this make. These ladies think of everything a Mom may need when designing these bags! The Mother's day gift I ordered was a Ju-Ju-Be Major - wallet. I thought I loved my green leather fossil wallet, but this is the icing on the cake!! Check it out...

FINALLY! A wallet large enough to be carried without my purse, and I can add a purse strap and carry it as a purse if necessary. I have a large purse which is great for long outings, but typically I run around with just my wallet... so this is perfect for me!!

... and the cherry on top is that it matches my ubber lovely 'BFF' diaper bag that is silently waiting in my closet ... waiting for Kenya. Here is my original purchase post.

(Did I mention it has a crumb tray... a crumb tray! - check out all the wonders here..)

And not to be forgotten are all the lovely gifts they sent me...

A tote bag, Fuel Cell (lunch kit), Paci Pod (for pacifiers), and a change purse. 

Ju-Ju-Be - you rock!

My new BFF...

I am in love. Again. I know... spring must be in the air!

This time it's with a smart, snazzy, stylish bag that will with no doubt be my BFF! It is a Ju Ju Be BFF... and it is the bomb!

Isn't she pretty?

And that's not all... she has functionality too! She is a work horse... check it out...



You can find her website here - but I have a great tip that someone passed on to me to today that I will share with all of you. http://www.mamabargains.com/ is a great bargain site that features one product at a time with deep, discounted prices. It operates similar to the shopping channel. Apparently this bag has been known to appear on this site for over 50% off!

I really want her and would like to pair her with the Be Quick... so I'm on the hunt for a good deal.

I love my Toms!

Look what the Easter Bunny brought me! (EB gift to myself!!)

I have wanted a pair of Toms for a while now. I am leery about purchasing shoes online though. So, when I went shopping with my sister this weekend - I saw Toms everywhere! The great thing about Toms that sold me years ago is that when you purchase a pair of shoes, one pair is donated to a child in need in a third world country! One for One. How great is that! They do come with a fairly hefty price tag at $55, but they are very comfortable and you have to remember that you are indeed purchasing 2 for the price of one!

The size fits true. I am a solid 7... sometimes I can squeeze into a 6.5. I initially purchased a size 7.5, cause they felt a bit tight, but sure enough - as soon as I walked out, the backs started to slip off! They are supposed to fit snug because the fabric stretches. The size 7 was stretched out comfortably after wearing them for a day.

Please check out their website... http://www.tomsshoes.ca/ or http://www.toms.com/
Here is a great video of their mission...


 

Ingenious baby inventions!

Back in my baby days....

these were my favorite baby inventions:

 

I don't think my children went a day without their Robeez!

They kept socks on,

and were soft and flexible - perfect for learning to walk!

The Bumbo chair!

Keeping babies upright, happy and stuck!

The Sleep Slack

Reducing risk of SIDS, and keeping babies warm!
.

but now...

they have these...
.

Tummy Tub

Soothing and replicates the comfort of the womb!

Milk-Saver

Fits discretely in your bra to catch all the milk

leaked from the side that is not being nursed from.

Saving your precious milk!

bumgenious elemental cloth diapers

The average disposable diaper takes 500 years to decompose!!!

One size, easy, comfortable, gentle, eco friendly, convenient and STYLISH!
... not to mention much more affordable!