Tag: lifestyle

baby giraffe, giraffe lifestyle, The baby blogs, the view from above

Scratch that, let’s go local: How to party like a parent

by Arden Jobling-Hey1 Comment on Scratch that, let’s go local: How to party like a parent

Step 1. Don’t waste the babysitter on something that may not be epic. You only get a handful of nights off – they must ALL be epic.

wpid-img_20141004_121651.jpgSo recently, as in, over the course of the last year or so, my husband and I haven’t exactly had a lot of one on one time. I don’t mean to divulge under the cover kind of information here, I’m talking dinners out, movie nights, that kind of thing. I mean, we’ve been super fortunate to escape for a weekend getaway as well as a wedding or birthday celebration here and there, but the getaways are few and far between, and the craziness of the far between part can often make nights out seem a whole lot more stressful than they might be worth.

This past weekend, we were all set to celebrate my husband’s German heritage by breaking out the Dirndl and Lederhosen and take part in the second largest Oktoberfest outside of Munich located in Kitchener, Waterloo (fun fact, Kitchener, until 1916, was actually called Berlin). We’ve done this a few times in the past and had a riot. This year however, we sort of spoiled ourselves by gathering a group of friends and trying out the Toronto Oktoberfest which was, in my opinion, far better and equally as authentic. Decked out in our (my husband hates it when I use this word) “costumes” we enjoyed a grand choice of German beer, Bavarian music and an all round good time! Compared to the Canadian beer offered up at the Oktoberfdest Kitchener, the Weihenstephan went down super smoothly and had this typical non-beer drinker running for more! The food was great too, with the choice of schnitzel, sausages, sauerkraut and big yummy pretzels with delicious grainy mustard to top it off. Continue reading “Scratch that, let’s go local: How to party like a parent” →

baby giraffe, giraffe lifestyle, The baby blogs, the view from above

Supermom: Ensuring the survival of the human race (literally)

by Arden Jobling-Hey2 Comments on Supermom: Ensuring the survival of the human race (literally)

She runs with the speed of light at the sound of  a cry. She heals all wounds and comforts without the use of magical powers. She can prepare dinner, keep a social calendar and return the house to normal at the end of the day all while ensuring the survival of a little human. She’s not superwoman, oh no, she’s much more than that; she’s SUPERMOM.

Supermom

Talk about ensuring the survival of the human race. Okay, so Super-man, woman, whatever, can scale buildings, fly, rescue people in distress and monitor the general well-being of society. Reality check: If it weren’t for Supermoms the world over, there would be no one rescue. Who do you think makes sure that the little tots causing havoc become well-adjusted adults who get themselves in to stupid situations that require saving? Oh poor Superman, flying around the city saving people and squeezing into telephone booths to keep his disguise a secret. What a diva. Supermom has one outfit that is guaranteed to get stained, spat on, and generally mistreated throughout the day. There’s no changing this, or hemming that. In fact, shoulder stains and little tears are all part of what protects Supermom from the threat of good looking men who lurk around grocery stores or take long casual walks during their lunch break. These men may look to initiate conversation at places like the playground, the coffee shop or the doctor’s office, but thanks to looking like a complete and utter bum, Supermom maintains her honour and is able to focus on the task at hand; preservation of the species. Continue reading “Supermom: Ensuring the survival of the human race (literally)” →

giraffe lifestyle, the view from above

The Origins of Groundhog Day

by Arden Jobling-Hey1 Comment on The Origins of Groundhog Day

As a stay at home mom, nothing puts a damper in my day as much as bad weather and to say that this winter empty nesthas been “harsh” would be a huge understatement – it has been absolutely brutal. Following one of the rainiest summers I can remember, Ontario residents are now enjoying one of the coldest and iciest winters in recent history. In fact, according to CityNews, Toronto is well on its way to experiencing its 2ndcoldest winter in 25 years. After moving back to Canada nearly three years ago, I can’t tell you how thrilled my husband and I are to be part of history in the making (shudder).

This horrible wintery weather has Canadians everywhere bundling up, staying indoors, and crossing their fingers and toes in the hopes that Wiarton Willie, Canada’s legendary groundhog will, after weeks of hibernation, emerge from his den without casting a shadow. Every year, it’s the same scene: When February 2nd rolls around, thousands of Canucks wait to hear whether or not we can look forward to signs of an early spring. If Willie sees his shadow, legend has it that you better pull up your socks (make them woolen socks), because it’s going to be a long time before we see some balmy weather! Poor Willie, that’s a lot of hope riding on the shadow of one little groundhog, don’t you think?

Read the entire blog, published on momstown Milton!