Friday Favourites

Linking up with Andrea, Erika and Narci for Friday Favourites.

Let's dive in! 

One morning this week we were up relatively early and had time to spare before going to school and work.  So E asked me to help him make a paper Star Wars ship.  I got him to do the cutting and some of the folding.

This week was my last week at prenatal yoga.  I have a couple of weeks left before the baby is born but I am going to take it easy and skip the remaining weeks of yoga.  It has been fun and I am looking forward to going back for mama and baby yoga. 

On my way home from yoga I decided to pick up my first Pumpkin Spice Latte (decaf!) of the year.   Then I panicked and thought, if you have a PSL but don't take a picture of it, did you really drink it?  So I decided I needed to commemorate it with a photo (with the Blue Jays in the background). 

This meme is a favourite, and oh so true!

This video is of my province, Nova Scotia. It is so beautiful, and it really does look like this.  You should visit!

Thanks for stopping by!

Packing for the hospital

I have seen multiple lists about what to pack for the hospital, and they are all different, so here is mine to add to the mix!

Because I am having a scheduled c-section, I know exactly when I am going in, how long I will be there, and what the process will be.  This helps to streamline what will go into my hospital bag.

This is my bag, a lululemon gym bag.  I've had this for a few years and it is a good size for a weekend with lots of extra pockets.

Things that will be going into this bag:

Minimal toiletries - contact lenses and solution, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrush, shampoo and conditioner, brush, lip gloss, cream, hair elastics.  I don't need makeup, extra hair products, or much else besides the basics.  I did shower once at the hospital because I was there for two nights.

Comfy clothes - I will wear yoga pants and sweater to the hospital in the morning, and I will probably wear the same thing home.  I just wore the hospital gown and housecoat while I was there, and I didn't need my own pyjamas, although some people may feel more comfortable in those.  And of course I'll need a scarf!  You don't need to bring underwear because they hospital gives you the stretchy ones that you'll want to wear home (and try to grab a few extra pairs to bring with you!).

Nursing supplies - bra, pads, lanolin.  That's really it.  The hospital has pillows for you to use, you don't need the cover (trust me, all modesty goes out the window when you have nurses helping you breastfeed), and your milk doesn't really come in until after you leave, so the pump isn't necessary, but the hospital has pumps if you really need one.

Baby stuff - going home outfit, extra blanket, car seat, hat.  You don't need a lot of clothes because the baby is wrapped in a blanket most of the time (which the hospital has plenty of).  They also have lots of diapers, wipes and cream.  Some lists say to bring a soother but when you're breastfeeding, it is recommended you don't use a soother for about a month, so you certainly don't need a soother in your hospital bag.

Other - Camera, phone charger, health card, ID.  Leave rings and other jewelry at home.  You won't need any reading material or other things to keep you busy.   I happen to like hospital food so I probably won't bring a lot of snacks with me, but my hospital has a Second Cup so I will be able to get a good cup of coffee at some point.

Stranded With...

Today we are stranded with movies.  I had a really hard time narrowing this down to three movies, but finally decided on these ones.

Almost Famous

This movie has a lot of great elements, great music, comedy, a touching story, and good character development.  I like this movie more every time I watch it.  

Dirty Dancing

Another movie that I don't think I could ever be sick of, and I already know most of the dialogue off by heart.  Maybe I could actually learn the dance if I saw it enough times, and had unlimited time to learn it. 

Ever After

This is sort of an obscure choice but I can never resist this movie when I see it on TV.  I used to own it in VHS and I remember it always made me feel better.  There is beautiful dialogue and the music is also very lovely.  I'm not a huge fan of Drew Barrymore, but I love her in this movie.  

Thanks for stopping by!

Linking up with Shay and Erika.

Weekend Recap

We all survived the first week back at school and back to a regular schedule, we thrived in fact, but still, Friday was a welcome sight.  We built some furniture for the baby's room on Friday night, and  then I was up early on Saturday for Toronto Rec sign up at 7:00 am.  They have improved the system since I have started using it and I had no problem getting the programs I wanted.  E will be doing swimming and t-ball this fall.  

Then we went over to some friends' to visit and have breakfast.  They made us steak and eggs (and fruit, baked goods and coffee) which was a treat for us.  E had a good time playing with their little boy.  

After our breakfast we headed home and then jumped on the subway to go to High Park for E's last soccer game of the season.  It was a little damp but the rain held off for his game.  

 I asked for a smile, and this is what I got. 

My view from the sidelines (E is at the back)

We spent the rest of the afternoon doing stuff in the baby's room, washing up some of the things that had been in storage, and doing a bit of relaxing.  

Oh yeah, and on Friday our new fireplace was installed.  It is obviously still a work in progress, but this photo shows you what it will look like.  We need to choose a stone, probably a white or light grey.   Then when that is done, we will put the TV on the wall.  

On Saturday night we watched Cooked, it's a documentary series by Michael Pollan (he wrote The Omnivore's Dilemma, among other books).  We love watching things about food, and this was really neat.  

On Sunday, E and I went back to church after taking the summer off.  We were in luck because there was cake after the service to welcome a couple of new people. 

I cleaned up in the afternoon and got groceries, Dave painted the doors in the baby's room, and then we all watched the movie Rudy. 

Other highlights from the weekend were Green Bay's win, almost completing the baby's room (or at least feeling a lot more comfortable with it), and this banana bread.  

Office Tour

In honour of my last day of work coming up, I thought I would show you my office where I spend most of week.  

The photo does not do my view justice, but I get to see the skyline of Toronto and Lake Ontario.  This side of the building has the best view in the office. 

A few signs on the wall

The top of my filing cabinet.  Photos and a basket for ongoing files.

Bulletin board with phone numbers and photos

My law school graduating class photo and some of my textbooks and printed legislation that I use often

Yes, that's a bowling trophy.  I won highest female score a few years ago at our annual bowling night, I have yet to defend this title. 

I will be going to work after my maternity leave, and I will look forward to it.  I don't think I am meant to stay at home, but I will enjoy my time off while I have it.

Friday Favourites

Linking up for Friday Favourites, as usual.  Check out the hostesses Andrea, Erika and Narci.

A big favourite of this week was the first day of school!  E has started French Immersion and has already picked up a couple of words, they are supposed to say "ici" (here) for attendance, and they sing a song "Bonjour mes amis, bonjour" (hello, my friends, hello).  Hopefully he will continue to enjoy learning a new language.  His teacher seems great too, and he has some old friends in his class and is meeting new ones. 

We have been watching Season 2 of Narcos.  I think I like it more this season, no matter how violent the show is, I have no problem with it, just like in Sopranos and Breaking Bad. 

I love a good rain storm and on Wednesday night we had one.  The pictures never do it justice but I snapped one anyway.

With fall just around the corner (I swear it's coming despite our high temperatures this week), I am excited to try some apple recipes, like these ones from Shay.

Have a nice weekend everyone!

Lunch Box Ideas

School has begun and that means a packed lunch is required (not that we really got a break from that since E had four weeks of summer camp where we needed to make him a lunch). 

Last year, E's lunch featured a lot of ham and cheese sandwiches.  This year he has informed me that he wants less sandwiches, and definitely no cheese ones.  I've also been informed he is not interested in the same thing two days in a row. So I am searching for some more exciting ideas. 

We are very lucky because E is not a picky eater (except for his current stance on the sandwiches), and he eats well so usually whatever we pack gets eaten. 

Some ideas I have come up with so far:

- Pizza pasta salad
- Chick pea, feta and tomato salad
- Mini-quiches (I can make these ahead and freeze them)
- Quesadillas
- Leftovers that can be kept warm in his thermos
- Hummus spread on a wrap with vegetables rolled up
- Sunflower seed butter and banana
- Falafel and pitas with tzatziki sauce

Also, aside from the usual fruit and cut up vegetables, I want to make more fun (and healthy) cookies, breads, and muffins that he can take.  I also bought a bunch of different dried fruit and seeds (and added coconut flakes and chocolate chips) for our own nut-free trail mix.  We combined it all in a big container so it will be easy to grab.

This cookie was a special treat for the first day of school, baked by Bake Sale.

I really try to avoid crackers, pretzels, apple sauce, granola bars and other processed foods, but sometimes they are an easy addition to the lunch bag when you are running low on fresh whole foods.  I have heard that there is a milk program at the school so I'm hoping to order some milk for E.  We also have the Lunch Lady program on Fridays. Some of his favourites include the Farm Plate, Pierogies, Baked Chicken Fingers, Pancakes with Yoghurt and Berries, Grilled Cheese Sandwich, and Macaroni and Cheese.  We will be participating in this program again this year.

Good luck with your lunch boxes, parents!! Leave any other ideas in the comments.