Take a look at this photo by Cheil Worldwide agency in South Korea. Do you find it offensive?

Recently, Oreo has been getting a lot of backlash and praise for this new campaign. Although, an ad like this would never be released in Canada, it is creating mixed reactions everywhere. Advocates of breastfeeding are hoping to see more of this in campaigns, while others are appalled by the image. Personally, I love the image (besides the airbrushing) I don't however like that Oreo is simply using the campaign as a sales tactic for the 'wow' factor and gossip. I think it is about time that people get used to the fact that breastfeeding is both beautiful and healthy--well, when it doesn't accompany Oreo cookies that is ;)


What do you think of the ad, appropriate or inappropriate?

Billie WILL dress like a Girl. 

Billie thinks she is a boy. 

I realized the chances of her being a tomboy were quite high, what with two older brothers and all. I have absolutely no issue with that, except for where clothing is concerned. I want her to be a tomboy in girlie clothing, is there such a thing? I was hoping she would want to run around, get dirty, climb trees and wrestle all the while wearing a cute dress with her hair in beautiful pigtails. It would seem, she has a different plan. Last summer I could dress her in anything and she was down with it; it was actually a point of pride as I could hold it against Leigh (who at the time was having trouble getting Stella to cooperate with certain items). 

Now, Stella is walking around in gingham blazers and chinos, while Billie has taken on the more stubborn approach her cousin formely adhered to. I am not giving in. I just purchased her a new spring coat; it's girlie but not over the top. I also grabbed a few rompers in floral fabrics - we will see how she handles those. As I type this she is watching Transformers in her Optimus Prime costume. We went shoe shopping last week and she had the audacity to pick out these bad boys: {INSERT PIC HERE} She knows where I stand on licensed goods: undies and pyjamas only. 

I had to talk her off the ledge when she realized we were leaving the store and her Super Hero Squad Crocs were staying put. On a postive note, she did want to wear a hairband last week; but she also spends the majority of her nights playing mini-sticks with brothers - that's a whole other can of worms. Bottom line, I'm not ready for her to dress like a boy. CHeers, Meg Wismer

If you are anything like me, you are absolutely enamoured by these adorable creatures! So, when I was contacted by Disneynature about their new film 'Chimpanzee' i was eager to help!  Not only is the movie educational, fun and inspiring the cause is much deeper. 

Disney Studios has vowed to adopt 2 orphaned chimpanzees through the Jane Goodall Institute of Canada's Chimp Program if their page reaches 22,000 'Likes' by Earth Day (April 22nd) A great way of protecting a species that is very much in trouble if left without a hand.

What can we do to help?
“Like” Walt Disney Studios Canada’s Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/WaltDisneyStudiosCanada.
“Share” the post on their page about the “’Like’ Us, Save Chimps” campaign.

Be sure to spread the word to help promote our campaign.  And of course, be sure to see CHIMPANZEE in theatres on April 20th.

A little love can go a long way if we let it, it's our future, lets help! 

Meg
meandmeg.com

Jax and I were alone in the car the other day when he exclaimed "mom I just saw a castle up on that hill, it was blue." Knowing the area I knew he was referring to a church. I said to him, "I know what you are talking about, it is actually a church." I paused and then thought "I wonder if he knows what people do at church?"  Obviously I asked him. "Jax what do you think goes on at church?"
 "When people die you go to church for the funeral" he responded. Hmm.

Clearly, Wizz and I do not frequent church. When I was little we attended Sunday school, but from the age of six, I have probably gone to church (for service) maybe a dozen times. Every once in a while our dad would make some proclamation about being a failure as a father for not instilling the importance of attending church, so we would be dragged off. We would attend once and then that would be it for another year or so. That suited me fine. I am not one for organized religion. This also angered my father. How could I make such a statement when I had not read the bible? I was uneducated.

I'm a bit ambivalent about it. Part of me feels like I have a responsibility to take him to church so he can experience it and see what he thinks. At least that way he would know what goes on. I don't need him asking "who died" every time someone says they went to church. What I've realized is I have to open up the religion discussion. I am going to shop around, maybe we will hit temple this weekend and head over to the synagogue next.
With Easter coming I have an opportunity here; our kids think Easter is when the Easter bunny comes and we eat chocolate, that's it. The fact that Jesus rose again (I think, right?) is not even on their radar.  Not sure yet if I care.....

M.

I know we don't all have the time, nor the energy to put into decorating Easter eggs. So, I have compiled a list of 3 simple solutions to achieving posh Easter Eggs, made easy! PLUS If you have a little extra time, or want to get more ideas, each of these links will bring you to an array of ideas and fun projects!

Bubble Packaging Technique:

This one looks like fun! The best part is, even a toddler can do it!
Consists of simply rolling an egg onto bubble-wrap with paint!First, coat a piece of bubble packaging with acrylic paint, then roll your egg over the paint, repeat with another colour once dried.

More on this technique as well as many more ideas here: www.familyfungo.com

Washi Tape Easter Eggs

These don’t require any dye at all, simply eggs, washi tape, and scissors!

Boil eggs, let cool and go crazy cutting out patterns and designs with Washi Tape, stick to the egg and voila!!

Easy for older children, and adults....may just try this one myself ;)

For more on this technique visit www.lovelyindeed.com 

Thread Wrapped Easter Eggs!

Ok, we all know Martha Stewart has it going on when it comes to crafting, but could the simplicity and beauty of these eggs be any more AMAZING?

Simply boil and dye eggs and wrap with neon string. May be easy for the kids to colour the eggs, but parental involvement is needed for the string! 


Here is the link to Martha's gallery of eggs....warning, you will fall in love!

www.marthastewart.com

Not from drinking. I'm hung over from my trip. Maybe it's jet lag. But I think I'm hung over from being alone and having freedom. I returned from South Africa last night and the harsh reality that climbed all over me was extremely jarring. I wasn't in the house twenty minutes and Malone thought she had gas, then looked at me and said "I think I pooped a bit in my pants". At the same time Freya took off her diaper and peed on the couch while Stella laid crying on the floor because I trying to get her to take a Hello Kitty costume off and put her pajamas on. 

 I stopped right there. I looked to the heavens and said to myself: "what the f*ck is wrong with me"? I couldn't believe the chaos. The major issue is I felt like somehow my energy, my presence alone was responsible for the girls behaviour. It would have been deeply upsetting to a person who has half a brain; luckily I'm too stupid to get terribly upset or hard on myself. I simply opened up a bottle of champagne (that I promised I wouldn't open until Stella's birthday, I also said no drinking for at least a couple of days) and toasted my return to my spazzed-out life.

 I've had the t.v on all morning; I have got to ease myself back into this mothering thing. Freya woke up at 7:30. She was the last one up. That is unprecedented. If I think about, I bet not one of my siblings will ask me to watch their kids when they go away; I think they're all too scared I will screw them up. I may be the smartest person after all. 

 Cheers, cheers.
 L

 P.S. Go to Cape Town.

Meg Wismer 
meandmeg.com 

It was this way before she stayed with us (incase you don't know, Leigh has gone to South Africa on vacation and left me with her children). The kids always seem to blame Stella for every little thing that goes wrong around here. All of them do it. This is how it went down at breakfast the other day: 

Billie: Mom, my finger is sore. 
Me: Why is it sore? 
Billie: Stella scratched it. She slapped my face and my bum. She's bad. 

A few minutes later I noticed there was ripped paper on the floor. I asked who did it and to clean it up. 

Billie: Stella did it. 
Me: No she didn't 
Billie. Stella isn't even here. 
Kai: No, I did it. 
Billie: Oh. Kai, you're bad. 

That evening I was reading a book to them, the last page was ripped out. 

Me: Who ripped this book?
Billie: Stella did it. 
Me: Billie, Stella doesn't do all the bad stuff around here. 
Billie: Yes. She's bad. She hit my head. Any ripped book in this house is blamed on Stella. 

I have started to ask them really random stuff now, like "Who left the barbecue cover off?" Guess what? It's always Stella. Now that she is staying with us, I realize why they use her so frequently as their scapegoat. Last night my husband asked me "How did dinner get so burnt?" I responded: "Stella did it." 
 
M. 

Me and Meg
meandmeg.com

So, I want a new bag. More specifically I would like a tan coloured bag that I can wear; lately I have really been wanting to be hands free. After a little shopping around I think I found something I like. Now the problemo is, how do I get it? I don't know how things run around your parts, but if I come home with a purchase over twenty dollars I usually have some explaining to do and said bag runs well over twenty dollars. I am not complaining, I love my life;I just love buying clothes too, but Wizzy likes saving and worrying about tomorrow. He's so silly. 

I think I have come up with the perfect solution. I am going to take a page out of the kids book and ask for it five thousand times until Wizz has no option except to relent. It's perfect. I started the campaign yesterday, here is a little snippet of how I have been implementing my plan thus far: 

Wizz: "Hey babe, do you want me to grab Jax from the bus?" 
Me: "Yeah, thanks. Oh and buy me that bag I want while you are at it. Thanks." 
Wizz: "What time do you have to leave tonight?" 
Me: "Well since you want me to go buy myself that bag, I need to leave around 5 pm." 
Me: "Can you grab a few things on your way home?" 
Wizz: "Sure, what do you need?" 
Me: "Fresh rosemary, lemons, 2% milk, and that new bag I emailed you. Just pop over to the mall for that." 

I have high hopes for this plan. Kids are really successful with it, so I think I can harness some of their power and get what I want.



M.