Oh, No! First Snow (and other firsts)

View Full Album

What do you think of this new photo feature (above) that I’ve been experimenting with this winter week? (I have winter on the brain…duh!) I think it looks sort of neat and at any time you can click on the “view album” to see the photos in full size view.

Thursday was the first day of snow. Actually, it was such a sad little snow that it didn’t even show up on the photos. Anyway, Chloe was beside herself with excitement to get outside. Out came her new boots, winter coat and mitties….oh what fun!

We had walked a couple driveways she looked up at me with her little red nose and exclaimed, “Mommy, I so freezing!” Jaiden piped up too. We finished our walk (2 blocks there, two back) to the mailbox and came in for some yummy hot chocolate. (and no, sadly, there wasn’t anything great in the mail).

Our church sends gifts to an orphanage in the Philippines each year around this time. We purchased gifts for a little boy and a little girl this year. Chloe helped pick them out. We talked about how some children do not have mommies and daddies. We wrapped the first presents of the season. Chloe made cards and helped put the tape on the packages. She told me, “everybody will be so happy, Mommy”. She’s so happy to give :)

The first cold of the season arrived at our place yesterday. Poor John-John is having a rough time. I’ve stocked up on lots of tissues!

 

Heinz Nurture Samples for Canadians

Sign up for the Heinz Baby Club and receive information and special offers throughout the first year of your baby’s life. Information and offers are customized for each stage of your baby’s development, and arrive right to your front door.

Home Mailings
Our Mailings are delivered every couple of months starting when your baby is about four months old. Our Mailings include valuable coupons, detailed information about our wide variety of jarred foods and cereals, feeding suggestions and guides, and tips on what to expect as your little one gets older. Also, you'll receive samples and additional special offers right to your front door.

FREE Eco-Friendly Reusable Shopping Bag
Once you sign up for either the Home Mailing or e-newsletter, you are eligible to receive a free Heinz Nurture woven reusable shopping bag! Just check the box below! Each bag includes a Newborn information pamphlet, a growth chart, and a sample of Heinz Nurture infant formula.

Shared compliments of Amy from  Amy Loves It!

Character is the Key: Review and Giveaway

I have always been an avid reader; that is until I became the mother of little ones. Though I still love to read, my time is limited and therefore I choose my books with greater care and caution. It also takes me longer to read them, with many sweet little interruptions.  I have always had a passion for well written, encouraging and motivating “self-help” books as my husband calls them.  In the past three years, I have read a great number of parenting books and, while I can’t say that it is the best parenting book I have ever read, I can say with sincerity that Character is The Key is a must read for parents.

I was privileged to receive a copy of Character is the Key: How to Unlock the Best in Our Children and Ourselves for review. It was written by Sara Dimerman, a therapist, parent educator, author and above all, a mother of two daughters: 9 years and 17 years old. That is a very important point for me when choosing a parenting book!

Character is the Key is broken down into three main parts:

1. Part One introduces the reader to the program, helping them to understand the purpose, the desired outcomes and the importance of character; reminding the reader that, intentional or not, they are modeling character already.
   
2. Part Two introduces the family meeting, provides some ideas for setting up the readers’ own family core values (printable worksheets available online) and gives plenty of tips to help make this program work.
   
3. Part Three is putting it all together; walking through each of the 10 core values, introducing the once a month meeting (printable worksheets available online) and providing an activity to work on as a group to reinforce each trait.

There is a is also a “short & sweet” summary at the end of each chapter as a refresher with the ‘important’ parts for the spouse who dislikes reading.

Of course most of us know that we want our children to be respectful, polite, honest etc. but sometimes it helps to have some ideas of how to put it teaching these traits into practice. The book contained many practical examples of how to model character. It  gives some great ideas for how to interject a discussion of specific values into real life situations as well. The family building activities help to reinforce the traits that the reader’s family is learning together and hopefully helps to strengthen the family bond as well. Now since my little ones are one and two, we didn’t put any of the family activities into practice just yet, but I am sure that we will when able.

There was a very interesting exercise for the reader that involved circling traits from a list that you want your children to display, then circling traits from another list that you hoped they would have as adults. Sara pointed out that some of the traits that you wouldn’t necessarily choose to have in a child can lead to positive traits in an adult and vice versa. Very thought provoking!

Throughout the book, Sara also reminded us that character is practiced and becomes a habit…it isn’t necessarily something that comes naturally to us at first. She also pointed out that character building is a journey and that we must persevere, keeping tomorrow in  mind and not just doing what will make today easier. That is something that I need to remind myself of each day as I teach, discipline and encourage my little ones.

So I am sure you are all anxious to have a copy for yourself so let’s get on with it!

To Enter:

• Leave a comment telling us what character trait(s) are most important to your family or how you model good character to your children.
• Follow Beautiful Calling (two entries
• Blog about this giveaway

Open to Canadian and USA friends. Closes October 22, 2009

"I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Character Is the Key: How to Unlock the Best in Our Children and Ourselves and received a gift certificate to thank me for taking the time to participate."

TUT: Un-Inspired

View Full Album

A Google search of 'Tune Up' revealed the following definition:
An Adjustment for Better Functioning
A search of 'Adjustment' revealed the following:
A Small Change, A Minor Correction, A Modification

What is Tune-Up Tuesday? Find out more HERE!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I know today is supposed to be TUT but, well, I don’t have a post to post. It is Wednesday night, I’m not at church, John-John has a cold, we’ve had a busy week; DH has been home on vacation- yippee! I’m sitting here trying to think of what I’ve been working on this week and really, nothing springs to mind. What do I want to work on in this coming week? I don’t know. I just want to enjoy DH’s week off with him.

I started going through some recent pictures to see if anything inspired a post and alas, I remain rather uninspired. As I type this, I suddenly am thinking; it’s ok to be uninspired sometimes. Though I think that we need to constantly be striving, higher, better, to be more Christ-like…there are times when it’s OK to just rest; to just just take time to stop and smell the roses (or pick the mums!)

So this week’s tune up for me is simply to enjoy life; DH, my littles, the last of fall…

Do you ever find yourself uninspired? Are you enjoying your fall? Two unrelated questions that I’d love to hear the answers to :)

(A special thank you to Uncle Keith, Aunty Jazz and baby Irelynn who live in Australia and send us a wonderful package full of gifts. As you can see in the picture, Chloe’s Australian sweater fits wonderfully. It is still quite big and she should be able to get another year or two out of it! Thank you! We love you!!)______________________________________________________________________________

Often I get overwhelmed when there are too many steps or things to work on all at once. That is why I use TUT. One simple thing that becomes my focus.

Do you have a tune-up you are working on or completed? Link up (directly to your post) or share a comment! If you could mention TUT and link back so others can join in too, that would be appreciated!

The ULTIMATE Spice Cupboard

View Full Album

Spices are essential in cooking. They make everything so much more flavorful. They are also expensive!

We have the coolest spice cupboard ever and it cost a fraction of what you would think. How did we do it?

• The Bulk Barn (or equivalent) is your best friend. See those little teeny jars in the upper right corner of the first picture. Those (jars*) were mine from my apartment when we first were married. They cost anywhere from $3 to $7 for a little jar in the grocery store. I can fill a mason jar for a fraction of the cost at the bulk store. Sometimes, depending on the spice, it is pennies for the amount I want to purchase!

• Invest in mason jars. Depending on the number of spices you stock and the quantities you go through, you can get the 125, 250, 500ml containers or of course, 1 and 1.5L. These are easy to see into and easy to label. They are more customizable, wash better and are much cheaper than dollar store plastics and will last you much longer.

• Label, Label, Label. Do you ever look at something wondering. “what is this?!?”. We’ve done that a lot, whether it be freezer items or cupboard items. Whatever it is, label it. Paper with tape over it, permanent marker or a professional labeler all do the job. My DH bought me a labeler for Christmas one year. At first I thought he was a little crazy but I have used it for so much. He also got it for an unbelievable price using a sale and coupons.

Spicy Tips:

Proper storage extends the life of your spices!

 Air tight is right!

Cool, Dark Place – heat humidity and light can all contribute to flavor loss. Avoid storing above your stove or in the fridge.

Shelf Life - Ground spices last about a year. Whole spices about 3-5 years. These are just ‘recommended’ time frames. With proper storage (sealed, cool, dry place), I’ve used my spices much longer. They don’t go ‘bad’, they simply loose flavor.

If possible, grind your own spices just prior to use. They’ll be fresher and more flavorful!

Now I would like to take credit for this fabulous cupboard but, alas, it was my incredibly brilliant husband who came up with and implemented it. I do, however, take full credit for the fabulous labels on everything! What a dynamic duo we make!

This post links to This post links to  Tasty Tuesday, Tempt My Tummy Tuesday, and Works for Me Wednesday.

Transporter by Mutsy: A Product of Interest

photo by chillgreg

Last week my husband and I drove past an older woman pushing a baby in an old fashion pram. A rare sight!! I love the beauty of old fashioned prams. I love that baby can stretch out comfortably and enjoy long walks. I love that when baby is awake, they see mommy’s face smiling down at them. Alas, a big, bulky pram is certainly not practical in today’s world is it?

Someone recently mentioned the Transporter to me recently and I popped online to check it out.. It can be classic pram for those nostalgic people like me, you can pop your baby car seat on it and yet it looks to convert easily into a portable, lightweight stroller which is essential for me!It also appears to have larger wheels for those not so smooth' surfaces that you may encounter.

It is definitely a stroller of interest for me (and I do love strollers!) Anyway, I have never owned a Mutsy stroller, and have no idea what their price point is but according to them, it is their lightest weight, most affordable stroller.

Disclosure: This is not a paid post nor any type of compensation. I did not receive a stroller to review so my thoughts are simply that; thoughts! Enjoy :)

Weekly Plans & Menu: Week of October 11th

Weekly Focus: Spending time with my DH who has the week off!

Breakfasts:

• Oatmeal
• Home Made Hashbrowns (yum!)
• Bacon & Eggs
• Toast with Peanut Butter
• Yogurt (Peach or Berry)
• Cereal (Raisin Bran, Honey Bunches of Oats, Honeycombs)

Snacks:

• Gherkin Pickles
• Cheese, goldfish crackers, raisins
• Peaches & Apples

Dinners:

Monday

• Menu:  Potato Wedges & Hotdogs, Thanksgiving Turkey
• Plans: Tidying mom’s place as a surprise since she is away. Also, it is THANKSGIVING!
• Blog: Menu Plan Monday

Tuesday

• Menu: Leftovers, Shepherd’s Pie

Wednesday

• Menu: Grilled Cheese, Roasty Stew
• Plans: Church tonight!

Thursday

• Menu: Leftovers, DADDY’S Culinary Creation Night (yum!)

Friday

• Menu: Leftovers, DH’s Home Made Sausage

Weekends

We’re heading out to a friend’s farm for some pig butchering on Saturday. Actually, DH will be out there helping…I’ll be visiting my friend. Chloe and their son enjoy playing together so it will be fun! I’m not planning for weekends since they are full of spontaneity and BBQ time! We generally shop on Saturday mornings at the farmers market.

• Visit Menu Plan Monday for more planning inspiration!

Bucket Head: Silly Photo Contest Entry

5 Minutes for Mom has partnered with Hasbro to bring you the Silly Kids Photo Contest.

I am sure that I could find something sillier that would go better with their theme: silly on purpose. But when I heard about the contest, it made me think of this photo here. I have posted it before because every time I see this photo I laugh out loud. I guess it isn’t just the photo (DH doesn’t think it is that funny) but the fact that I looked out the window one day and saw Chloe wandering around the yard banging into things with this on her head. I watched for a few minutes and then got the camera. She was still at it when I came back to snap the picture. As soon as I began thinking of this photo, it made me start to giggle.

I’m sure you have a silly photo you can submit too. If not, there is still time to take one because the deadline isn’t until October 19th!

Splat Mat Review & Giveaway

The Baby Boutique is a very neat shop in Kitchener, Ontario. Don't live nearby? Don't worry, they have a great online store. Easy to navigate, great layout and filled to the brim with fun baby products.

I had the privilege of reviewing the Baby Jogger Switchback Hybrid but I also purchased a few other items while I was there. How can you not with a store chock full of useful and cute baby items? I bought the Sugar Booger Floor Splat Mat as well as their Sugar Booger Wipes Pouch.

I have started using cloth wipes and was searching for something that would enable me to transport them in my diaper bag without being bulky. I thought that the wipes pouch would be the perfect solution. I used it for about a week and gave up in frustration because the zipper kept splitting. I immediately contacted ORE, the company who makes Sugar Booger products. I explained my problem to them and they promptly sent me a reply stating that they had redesigned this product with the zipper on top. They sent me out one of the new designs which I received a few days later. It works beautifully. A really great alternative to the hard plastic wipes cases! I was impressed by ORE's customer service and their concern with customer satisfaction. They have a ton of fabulous diaper bag organizational tools. Diaper bag organization something we can all use! (or at least those of us with diaper bags LOL)

 
Splat Mats make cleaning spills easy, and craft time cleanup a snap!

The other product that I purchased was the Splat Mat. I LOVE it! Sometimes I have it in the kitchen underneath the highchair. Though we have tile, this mat wipes off much easier than the floor. Or if it is a serious mess, I scoop it up, and toss it into the washing machine. How great is that? While we usually eat in the kitchen, on occasion we eat in the dining room. We bought and built our home before having children and for some reason thought that light colored carpet in the dining room would be nice. This mat has been a lifesaver in there too. It also comes in handy for indoor picnics, play-doh playing and craft time!

Would you like to own one of these fantastic mats? Or is there something else that The Baby Boutique carries that has caught your eye? We’re having a giveaway! Hurray! Your choice: Splat Mat or Gift Card.

How to enter:

1. Visit The Baby Boutique and tell me what pattern you’d like your mat in or what you would spend your gift card on.
2. Subscribe to Beautiful Calling (2 entries)
3. Blog about this giveaway and link back to here and The Baby Boutique.
4. Subscribe to The Baby Boutique’s email newsletter (left hand column half way down the main page).

• Open to all. (Those living outside Canada or the USA will receive the gift card option only).
• Closes October 23, 2009
• Visit Heavenly Homemakers for more neat giveaways!

Choosing a Silly Picture: Which One?

 5 Minutes for Mom has partnered with Hasbro to bring you the Silly Kids Photo Contest.

I scrolled through my pictures this year and pulled out a couple. Since you can only enter one….which one would you choose? Leave a comment in this post and it will count for an extra entry into the next giveaway (tomorrow).

Picture #1 (below)

Picture #2 (below) 

Picture #3 (below)

Picture #4 Below

Picture #5 Below

Picture #6 (below)

One minute they were super heros and the next minute they were using their tea-towel capes as veils and they were getting married.

Picture #7 (below)

Speaking of Mary. We read about Mary in morning bible reading. In the afternoon she came out of her room with John’s receiving blanket on her head (it happened to match her dress!) and told me she was Mary. Hmmm…upgraded the donkey to a Tonka huh?

Picture #8 (below)

Sometimes I wonder what on earth they are doing. LOL. They must have jumped in this tub for 10 minutes giggling!

Picture #9 (below)

This is one of my favorite pictures. I’ve shared it before. I can never look at it without laughing. I was washing dishes and looked out the window to see her wearing a bucket on her head. She was walking around banging into things. I watched her for several minutes before grabbing my camera. Should I be concerned about this kind of behavior? LOL

TUT: Are You Listening?!? One Simple Step!

A Google search of 'Tune Up' revealed the following definition:
An Adjustment for Better Functioning
A search of 'Adjustment' revealed the following:
A Small Change, A Minor Correction, A Modification

What is Tune-Up Tuesday? Find out more HERE!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Every time I tried to say something, she jumped right in with her own story. No matter what I said, she turned the conversation back to herself. After a short visit with my friend the other day, I came home slightly annoyed at her. Not once did I get the impression that she had listened to anything I said.

Then a light went on. I don’t always listen to others when I am “listening”!

Why Don’t I Listen?

Distractions: Sometimes we are too busy thinking about something else, or there is a lot going on around us. Maybe the littles are acting up or we’re trying to multitask.

Self-Absorption: It is all about Me right? Of course we have a story to share that may (or may not) relate to something they are saying and we’re busy looking for a time to insert that into the conversation, turning the conversation onto ourselves.

Impatience: Either due to impatience or a time constraint, sometimes we try to jump ahead, to figure out where it is all going, to speed things along.

No Interest in the Topic: Either it isn’t a topic that is interesting to us or it could be that the person drags it out and ‘beats a dead horse’ so to speak. (Though if the person speaking is interesting and important to you then you had best try to learn to be interested I think)

Desire to Fix: We want to fix things rather than just listen. We’re busy mentally preparing our answer, rebuttal or our advice before the person has finished speaking.

In King of Our Castle, I reluctantly shared that at times I asked my DH how his day was just so I could talk about my day. That isn’t listening is it?

Simple Mom posted a great article last month entitled, The Art of Listening in Relationships. If you missed it, you will definitely want to read it.

Tune Up Time: Talk Less!

I talk a lot. I know it. If I was less concerned with getting my thoughts heard, I would be less disgruntled when a friend displays poor listening skills. I would also be a better listener because I wouldn’t be so concerned about getting my voice, thoughts and stories out there. That is what I have a blog for right? LOL.

Ecclesiastes 5:2 Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.

Psalm 39:1 …I will keep my mouth with a bridle,

I find (in my life anyway) that though I may get the victory over one area, it is often not a single battle and that I will struggle with it again at some point. Many things, for me, are a recurring battle. Speech, whether it be the amount or quality of it, is often a battle for us isn’t it? Proverbs is full of reminders to control our tongue. You know the neat thing about Proverbs? There are 31 chapters. I have often read through Proverbs on months that have 31 days. It isn’t too late to start for October! Proverbs is actually one of my favorite books because it is such a treasure trove; filled with practical insights, guidelines, examples and even some humor.

How are your listening skills?

______________________________________________________________________________

Often I get overwhelmed when there are too many steps or things to work on all at once. That is why I use TUT. One simple thing that becomes my focus.

Do you have a tune-up you are working on or completed? Link up (directly to your post) or share a comment! If you could mention TUT and link back so others can join in too, that would be appreciated!

Demanding a Change: Inappropriate Halloween Decorations

Photo by Darwin Bell

Do you think that horror movies and such are appropriate for children? I think most of us would (and should!) give a resounding, “No!”

Friday night I went into our local HomeSense with Chloe (2 1/2). After browsing around, we took our items up towards the cash register. We were still a ways away when I noticed the whole display behind the cashiers along the window and exit door. It was a Halloween display but not your cutesy black cat, friendly ghost type. It was a scary display, inappropriate for my daughter to see! We left our purchases right there and I redirected my daughter back to the entrance where I pushed the automatic door in the wrong direction so we could exit the entrance.

During October there are several streets that I do not drive or walk down because the decorations are just depraved. It isn’t uncommon to see a hearse parked on a lawn with ‘bodies’ strewn about, open and closed coffins with appendages hanging out or even lawns the have been set up to resemble crime scenes or horrific accidents.

We are very careful what we expose our little ones to whether it is television, music, books etc. I was very angry at this store and I’m also angry at these foolish people. They’re adults and they should know better!

If it is inappropriate (and illegal) to take littles to a horror movie, why would people think it appropriate for them to see the same types of things in person during the month of October in stores and on front lawns? What is this world coming to? We can not have prayer in the schools because it may offend someone but who is concerned about whether or not I am offended by the bombardment of disgusting decorations in the name of “fun”. Any sort of public decorations need to be family friendly!!

Now this is not a rant against Halloween but rather against the inappropriateness of the Halloween decor I’m seeing and how it doesn’t work for me! Maybe I will share my personal thoughts on Halloween at some point to this month but for now I want to ask you all to take a stand!

I’m going to be writing two of the stores in my area whom I feel need to reconsider their decorating strategy.  I urge you to do the same if and when you encounter something that is inappropriate. There will be no change until those of us who desire it make our wishes known! Demanding a change Works for Me!

Fresh Pressed Apple Cider (I’m a Bee Swatter)

Saturday we went to an apple cider bee hosted by friends at our church. They host it every year at their farm and all the church family is invited! Apple Cider parties are definitely a Finer Thing!

What fun it. Chloe was able to help put the apples into the grinder and was very excited to ‘help’! DH got right in there too! After grinding they go into a big press. The liquid comes out and then the ladies strained it into the containers. With a wiggly John-John in the sling I wasn’t really able to help in that capacity. Instead, I was the official bee swatter. It’s amazing how may bees there were at our bee LOL.

In hind sight it maybe wasn’t so nice of me to kill the very bees who pollinated the trees enabling the apples to grow for the cider we were making. But there was a lady there who was allergic to bees so it was kind of necessary.

Anyway, I am thankful for bees, apples, wonderful fall weather and fabulous friends who open their hearts, homes and cider presses :)

 

We came home with our bounty, drank some and pasteurized the rest. Today I froze some as well as canned some. I visited this website to see how to do it. I’m going to pull some out at Christmas and New Years. A little mulling spice and some cinnamon; what a special holiday treat!

 

• This post links to This post links to Gratituesday,  Tasty Tuesday, Tempt My Tummy Tuesday, Works for Me Wednesday and Finer Things Friday.

Baby Jogger Switchback Hybrid Jogger & Bike Trailer Review

  

I mentioned the other day that I love Fall. I love to be surrounded by the colors, sights and sounds of fall. The vibrant reds, oranges and yellows are stunning, the falling leaves swirling overhead and the crunch they make under the wheels of my super-cool Baby Jogger Switchback Hybrid. LOL.

I love to be outdoors, especially in the fall. I really enjoy bike riding but with a one year old and a two year old, it’s a little more difficult. We purchased a Wee Ride from Toys R Us. It was great, light, economical but it was small and hardly held my two little ones at the age of 1 and 2. There was not enough leg room, the ceiling was too low, it wasn’t wide enough…but oh, how my little ones loved the rides! We live near several really great trails for biking so we’re pretty fortunate.

 

Our Wee Ride. Economical but very small. Best for one young (1-2 years) rider.

We sold the Wee Ride on Kijiji and began looking in earnest for something that would suit our needs.

The Baby Boutique had our perfect solution! The Switchback Hybrid is made by Baby Jogger, the original designer and manufacturer of all terrain three wheeled jogging strollers. They know how to make them!

 

Chloe and John (Yes, we always have our Thermos drinks with us!)

 

As a stroller this gets an A+++. It pushes like a dream and it is roomy with room to grow! My little ones are actually fairly tall for their ages (DH is 6’8”) and they have loads of leg room. On a recent visit to the zoo , I had my nephews (see below) in the stroller and they fit well. There is plenty of head room and leg room as well. Though I am sure that Baby Jogger didn’t design it for this, I did have Chloe and John in the stroller and actually fit Jaiden in the front on the floor on a blanket! (two x 2 1/2 year olds and a 1 year old). Sadly, I didn’t take a picture of that but they were all quite happy.

Testing Crew: Toby ( 6 in Nov), Aaron (4 in Nov), Chloe (3 in Jan), John (12 months) and Baby Lucas (7 months). I don’t recall what the age limitations were on this stroller but we had several combinations of the above in the stroller with great success.

The interior has a full 2 person seat and both have five point completely adjustable harnesses. Because of the neat way they are designed, if you are using it in stroller mode and your little one is too old to fuss with the 5pt harness, you can simply pull them through the holes in the seat and tuck them round back to just use the lap belt! I found with the 5 pt harness that my nephew did well in it as well and he was only 7 months. I do find the shoulder strap hooks to be a little tricky to click on and off but overall am very happy with the harness system and seat design. There is also a little mesh pocket on either side on the interior. Handy for littles sippy cups, snacks or other essentials.

 
The handle is sturdy and has an adjustable height which is fantastic for my DH who is 6’ 8”. Though our other stroller does have an adjustable handle, his stride is still too long, but with this, it not only has comforable handles but enables him to continue his regular (big) stride). I was able to hook my diaper bag onto the handle (above) just fine.  It also has a front break which is pretty neat too. The wrist strap is great for those who jog and it also makes a nice strap for walking tots to hold onto so they don’t stray to far (like Chloe at the zoo).  I like the clear top which enables me to peek into the top and see what is going on inside. With tots, one never knows! LOL

 

Me looking at them looking at me!

It coverts into a bike trailer very simply and easily. The bike trailer was the primary reason for this purchase. To convert it you simply pop off the front wheel and stow it in the back pocket. The front forks fold back and the trailer hitch slides forward. Everything is self-storing and easy to use and assemble!
It’s fairly portable. The back wheels pop off literally at the touch of a button. The entire thing folds down pretty flat by simply pulling two handles and is held closed by a velcro strap. That being said, it still is quite wide. We have a larger car and it fits great in our trunk.

  

Lots of side windows with both screen and zippered rain coverings. It should be nice and warm in winter, yet lots of ventilation for summer! If you look closely you can see John-John peeking out at you :)

As a stroller, this is the most amazing all terrain stroller I have ever tried!! On trails, the sidewalk etc…simply amazing. The only complaint I have about it in this mode is simply that the main back brake is terribly inconvenient to reach. If you have anything at all in the back pocket then you can’t even see the brake and you really have to reach around with your foot to locate it. It’s very annoying. Had it been placed on either side closer to the wheel, it would have been much easier to access and engage.

   

Toby, Chloe & Toby, Baby Lucas

As a bike trailer, I am very happy with it. My only complaint in this mode is that the trailer is heavy when going up hills. With the Wee Ride, I could hardly tell it was behind the bike. With the hybrid, it is fine around the neighborhood or on flat trails however, on any sort on incline, it is a little difficult with two little ones in the trailer. A better work out I suppose. If the choice is heavy to pull with a roomy interior vs light to pull and small, I would definitely go with heavy but roomy. It would be great if Baby Jogger could find a way to make it a little more lightweight.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this stroller. Though a bit pricey, it is worth it in my opinion. I know that there are cheaper models but in my experience, when it comes to strollers, you often get what you pay for. If you jog, walk a lot, like to bike, have toddler or older little ones then this is for you. If you are looking for quality that will last and still retain a decent resale value, buy a Swtichback Hybrid.

Though the retail price for this stroller is $899.00 for a limited time Beautiful Calling readers can purchase it for $569.00 (527.77 USD).

But you know the Switchback Hybrid isn’t the only neat product that The Baby Boutique carries. Stay tuned for a neat giveaway!

Weekly Plans & Menu: October 4th

Weekly Focus: Using what we have! Last week I mentioned our family was trying a new savings plan. Our grocery budget for the week is $25 during the month of October. This is going to be a bit interesting for us since we haven’t really had a budget before. Well, we’ve had an idea of what we would like to spend but never worried too much about sticking to it. I think the most important way for us to stick to our plan for the month is to have a MENU PLAN each week. Tricia at Handfuls of Purpose is actually hosting a Like Merchant Ships: Mastering Your Menu Challenge. The timing couldn’t be better! Make sure you pop by!

Breakfasts:

• Oatmeal
• Home Made Hashbrowns (yum!)
• Bacon & Eggs
• Toast with Peanut Butter
• Yogurt
• Cereal (Raisin Bran, Honey Bunches of Oats, Honeycombs)

Snacks:

• Gherkin Pickles
• Cheese, goldfish crackers, raisins
• Peaches & Apples

Lunch:

• Hotdogs
• Pasta with leftover meatball sauce
• Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
• Leftovers are a huge thing for lunches too!

Dinners:

Monday

• Menu:  Pirogues (frozen) with bacon and onions
• Plans: DH is in Toronto today so we’re on our own for dinner since he has no idea how long his day will be.
• Blog: Menu Plan Monday

Tuesday

• Menu: Chicken Stew (thighs) with potatoes and biscuits
• Plans: Scott has choir practice
• Blog: Pasteurizing & Canning Apple Cider

Wednesday

• Menu: Home Made BBQ’d Sausages
• Plans: Church tonight!
• Blog: THEY should Know Better!

Thursday

• Menu: Home Made Cabbage Rolls
• Plan: Making cabbage rolls obviously LOL
• Blog:

Friday

• Menu: Home Made Pizza
• Blog: Bike Trailer Review  with Giveaway

Weekends

I’m not planning for weekends since they are full of spontaneity and BBQ time! We generally shop on Saturday mornings at the farmers market.

• Visit Menu Plan Monday for more planning inspiration!

Fall: Apple Bees, Cozy Sweaters, Colorful Leaves (and a home made hash brown recipe :)

I love Fall! It is one of the finer things in life! I was a lucky winner of a fall related giveaway earlier this week at Amy’s Finer Things. Hurray!

Fall is my favorite time of year. I love crisp, fresh temperatures and cozy sweaters. I love the smell of fall, the brilliant colors of falling leaves and the crunchy sound they make beneath your feet as you head out on a fall adventure.

 

Home Made Hash Browns: We had breakfast for dinner; eating at 4:30pm today. It was yummy. DH made pancakes, eggs, bacon and homemade hash browns. I’ve always loved the hash browns at Denny’s but our hash browns tonight rivaled theirs! Simply grate potatoes, ring them out well in a cloth to rid them of extra water and then fry, pushing them down in the pan to get rid of the last of the moisture. Add cheese and/or ketchup.

 

Tonight I am curled up on our sheepskin rug (purchased from a sheep farm near my home town during a visit a couple years ago). DH lit the pilot light on the fireplace tonight and I just turned it on. Mmm…toasty!

Saturday morning a friend is hosting an apple cider bee at their farm. How fun. I know that Chloe will love it. I hope we have wonderfully sunny, crisp, clear day for it.

What is your favorite thing about fall?  What is your favorite fall activity?

• This post is linked to Finer Things Friday