Freedom

 


I've decided to focus my blog on my new passion- Scrapbooking. I'm going to post my latest Layouts and explain what type of techniques I have used. I just started "scrappin'" in November 2005, and I think I've really found the creative outlet I've been searching for. I've never seen myself as a crafty or artistic person before, but maybe I've always had it in me?

This first layout I've posted is one I did for my Step-dad Gearry. He loves all things American, he has a US flag hung on his shed a flag sticker on the car even a yellow & red white and blue "Supprt our Troops" Ribbon on his car!

His passion years ago were his 17 motorcycles that he had over the years. I managed to sneak some photos out of the house, scan and them touch up and create this page for him.

The original page is a red background, then I mounted the corner of a a blue page with a paper tearing technique, I use a wet Q-Tip and "draw" on the paper where I want to tear this makes for a better controlled tear. I then flipped the blue page over to expose a white back and used this as the flags stripes with the same paper tearing effect.

The stars I drew freehand so not one is alike, and I mounted them on the blue with pop-dots. I then mounted the flag-style ribbon I found in the Michael's discount bin on the righthand side so I could affix the "Freedom" title. I used ColorBok precut letters and created stickers with my new Xyron 150 (LOVE IT!!!) I felt that the letters didn't quite stand out enough, so I outlined them in black and dazzled them up with some "Glossy Accents" and very fine glitter dust.

I gave this to Gearry for Christmas and he absolutely loved it, what I hadn't realized when I chose the photos I did, was that I actually managed to capture his first and last bikes he owned.

Let me know what you all think... 

Who's Offended More?

[here] pulls this cover off shelves - replaces with clipart cover



OK, now it's my turn to get this off my chest, no pun intended :oP As a 32 yr old mother of 3 with 48 months and counting of breastfeeding under her shirt, I'm deeply offended and saddened that this cover was pulled.

The actual article- Breast Assured was really well written (thank you Brent MacDonald). It brought to light that New Brunswick Mothers are just not breastfeeding at the same levels as other Canadian Mothers.

Only 64 per cent of NB mothers who had a baby between 1998 and 2003 breastfed, says a council report titled Reproductive Health, published in May 2005. The national average between 1998 and 2003 was 85 per cent.

Further in the article it's also stated...

The Reproductive Health report by the council says that only 26 per cent of breastfeeding mothers in NB breastfed for at least four months. Past six months, only 17 per cent of mothers' breastfed. These numbers are in stark contrast to national numbers, detailing that 48 per cent of mothers' breastfeed for at least four months, and 39 per cent of mothers for at least six months.

I think a big part of that is that mother's are not feeling comfortable breastfeeding in public. I will quote another portion of the article...

"In Vancouver, people breastfeeding in malls and the public is common," she says. "In NB, it's not." C. Taylor, a 31 year old mother of two who is currently nursing a five and a half month old, says she has a friend who found some trouble in an NB mall.

"She was in a food court in a mall," she says.

"She had a lady tell her she should feed her baby in the bathroom. She was feeding her baby in a place where everybody else was feeding."

This was me!!! I was at McAllister Place Food Court, when this cranky lady with her plate of greasy Deluxe fish and chips came over to my table where I was eating my lunch and simultaneously nursing my 3 month old daughter. Now you can ask any of my friends I don't drape a blanket over me or wear a nursing shawl or canopy, but I'm discreet, I don't make a big production out of it. Well this woman had the audacity to say to me, "You should be doing that in the washroom!!" At first I was in shock but quickly asked her, "OK, why don't you bring your fish and chips and join me?" She just huffed a huge sigh and walked off.

Last Week Dr Phil had 2 women debating Public Breastfeeding. The woman that was against nursing in public, kept saying that she didn't think that a woman taking her shirt off in public appropriate and that breastfeeding in general "was just not attractive or natural"! My 9 year was watching this, and was getting upset with this woman's ignorance, she said to me, "Come on mom the baby completely covers your boobs, you can't even tell that your shirt is lifted a little!" She then went on to say something that I hadn't thought of. "Mom everyone on earth is breastfed!" I didn't see where she was going with this so I let her go on... " I mean that, little kittens & puppies drink their moms milk until their big and strong enough, baby cows drink cows milk, were all mammals so it's only natural that babies should drink their mothers milk as well!" This from a 9 yr old! Why is it that the most intelligent mammal on earth started to give their babies artificial milk? Don't get me wrong I'm not anti-formula, but why waste your money on it when your body was designed to feed and nourish your child, it's just that simple a 9 yr old can see it that way.



Breastfeeding is a lifestyle choice but also must be made as a health choice.Breastfeeding takes commitment, support, patience, oh and did I say support? In order for New Brunswick to get their percentages of breastfeeding mothers up it needs to support them. Formula companies can throw so-called "baby-showers" for expectant moms, showing powerpoint slide shows on the benefits of their brand being the "closest ever to breastmilk". Why can't the Province do the same thing monthly and throw in a $300 "deluxe travel system car seat combo stroller" as an incentive to get expectant moms to attend, and show the benefits of breastfeeding. Wouldn't this be a small cost upfront to the potentional savings of thousands on the healthcare system?

I attended one of these baby showers thrown by Enfalac back in 1996 when I was expecting Mackenzie. They really had me convinced that they had the best formula, and I wanted the best for my child, yes their "formula" was a little costlier, but my child was worth it, right? I hadn't really ever considered breastfeeding, I wasn't breastfed, my best friend who just had a baby a few months before hadn't even attempted. Still I was curious, so I attended a La Leche League meeting 3 weeks before my due date. I can honestly say this was the best decision I have ever made. For the past 9 yrs (off and on) I have been a member of this "Mothers, Supporting Mothers" non-profit support group. Thank you La Leche League! I also want to say thank you to Carolyn Goodaire from AHSC-Reg 2 SJRH. I was young and single when I had Mackenzie which I'm sure normally is a disastrous combination to a breastfeeding relationship. She encouraged me, answered my questions when I had difficulties, and saw me through nursing my daughter into toddlerhood. I know a lot of people saw her passion for mothers to succeed as arrogance, I for one saw it as a challenge, and I want to personally thank her, and hope to do so soon face to face, but if you've managed to find this Carolyn.."Thank you for your support!"

Back to the original reason for this entry today, [here] has been completely hippocritical pulling this cover. I realize it's not censorship as it's their publication and they can do what they please with it, but this came down to dollars and cents. Supposedly advertisers and storefront distributors of the paper threatened to pull advertising and not distribute the paper if the "offensive cover" was not changed. I'd love to know which advertisers and distributors threatened to pull [here], but we'll never find out who "they" were so maybe I'll just boycott [here] in the meantime? I don't get it? They're publishing an article on how more support is needed to elevate NB's numbers, but a baby can't be shown breastfeeding on the cover? How are we to normalize and encourage breastfeeding in this province, when [here] is sending this mixed message?

My Baby Girl is 9 years Old!

Mackenzie at 10 months and Mackenzie at 9yrs!

Wow the years have really flown by! We had a nice get together at Andrew's parents yesterday and dinner at East Side Marios. Sunday's are definitely the night to go with kids as they eat free. Every single table was a family, this made it not as embarrasing chasing Liam down across the restaurant for the 3rd time! After we got home my Mom called and came over for a visit as well. She's been on the South Beach Diet and has lost a bunch so I dug through my closet and gave her about 6 or 7 pairs of pants, I've been trying for ages to get her into lower waisted pants, maybe this was just the way!

I must get started on my Shephard's Pie for supper this evening, Kenz will be home from school soon and as hungry as a bear!

Here goes nothing......

So this is my first attempt at a blog. I've been reading Joanne's Blog with great enthusiasm and decided I would give it a try! Thanks Joanne!

So on to today's events. Major deals at Canadian Tire, of course they were the door crashers (ie. "if you don't get your ass out of bed you can fogeddaboudit"). So I hauled my butt out of bed and headed over East at 8am. Surprisingly-well maybe not so surprising as he's a miser like me and can't refuse a good deal- I ran into my Dad. We both picked up the 40pc screwdriver set for $20 (regularly priced at $89.99), some Mr Clean Liquid Laudry Detergent for $3.99 (BTW anyone try this yet?), some of the energy efficient bulbs 6 for $11.99 (normally $17.99) and as well we both got a set of 3 stainless steel mixing bowls with rubber bottoms that were $9.99 half price!! Man I love a good deal!!!

Then off to the Superstore to look for some new Windsor chairs for the kitchen table, they no longer carry them, big bummer! I did manage to get the appointment we wanted at the portrait studio. My SIL and BIL will be down for the Thanksgiving Weekend so were going to take all of the kids in for photos in their matching sweaters.

Arrived home to a whining Ciaran, he's been very high maintenance this week. Gave him a quick feed and baked 3 dozen oatmeal chip cookies. I should mention- I've been on a bit of a baking kick. Yesterday it was bran chocolate chip muffins, (I know the chocolate kind of cancels out the healthiness of the bran- but it's the only way you'll get me eating bran).

After lunch it was family trip to the big blue bins or as Liam likes to call it "The recycle yard!" to get rid of our newspapers and cardboard boxes. Then off to Giant Tiger to pick up a household essential Pizza! After we arrive home the doorbell rand and it was the little girl from across the street. Andrew answered the door and I could here the anxiousness in her voice. She was quite upset, in front of her house there was a Rottweiler loose on the sidewalk, walking up and down the block. I was pissed! I got right on the phone and called animal control, right after I got off the phone with them the chick that owns or watches this beast calls out to him. I went right over to her, which may have been a mistake as it well known that drugs are being dealt in this building. I asked if the dog was hers, she said, "It's a friends, he snuck out the back door we didn't even notice." I told her, "I better not see him loose again and if I do I'll put him in my back yard until animal control picks him up! I have 3 young kids and I don't want to see him loose again! "

That's all for now! How'd I do?