~ A blog for the citizens of Durham Region and others to enjoy, Bowmanville, Newcastle, Ajax,Whitby, Pickering, Clarington. This blog is about Food, Life, Culture
Our trendspotting team of moms has noticed that the once common-place at-home birthday party has gone the way of the dodo bird and we’re hearing kids clamouring to bring it back. Don’t fret. Thanks to submissions from our very savvy readers, we have some great ideas. They’re sure to keep the troops happy and smiling so you can relax and look like the savvy mom that you are.
From Carol McNutt, Owen Sound – Walk Like an Egyptian Party Do up the invitations on parchment paper, inviting the kids to Pharoah [insert your child’s name]’s Pyramid. Play themed games (for fun ideas, click here) and wrap the children up in white toilet paper or crepe paper to make them into mummies. For the loot bag, a copy of ‘Mummies in the Morning’ Magic Treehouse book, some gold-wrapped chocolate coins and a bookmark with their name written in hieroglyphics (with some help from websites like this one).
From Jordie Barker, Toronto – Celebrate Spring Party For springtime birthday parties, tell the guests to come ready for planting. Gather all the children outside or in the garage to paint flowerpots before playing some outdoor games. Afterwards (when the paint has had time to dry), plant some seeds or a small plant in the pots for each child to take home and grow. Flower-decorated cupcakes or digging through vanilla ice cream covered with mud (aka Oreo cookie crumbs) for gummy worms make a great dessert.
From Becky Whitten, Orangeville – A Tinkerbell and Peter Pan Story Take the plastic swimming pool from the garage, put a board over it and bingo, walk the plank. Make a treasure map and send the children on their way—indoor or outdoor—to find the treasure (aka the loot bags, golden coins work well here too). Invite the boys to dress as pirates and the girls as pretty damsels, and the birthday child as Peter Pan, Captain Hook or Tinkerbell. The cake? Make it the clock the alligator ate.
From Jolie Armstrong, Toronto – A Miniature Party Small on décor but large on fun, have a mini party where everything is small. Serve drinks in 1 ounce shot glasses, mini cupcakes and mini sandwiches complete the feast. Make party hats from coned cups (the water cooler kind) and streamers from string and paper punched circles.
From Kathleen Chin, Etobicoke – A Super Superhero Party Invite your guests to come as their favourite superhero—everyone loves to dress up. Set up a series of games such as egg toss, water balloon toss, pin the tail on the donkey and statue, telling the kids they are games to demonstrate their superhero powers. Give prizes from the dollar store so everyone wins. Add in a themed cake with the birthday child’s favourite superhero. Make sure you have help—ask other moms or local babysitters in your neighbourhood to help with each super-station.
From Karen Vermeeren, Calgary – Almost a Sleepover Party For the ‘too young for a sleepover’ set, invite the children to come over (in their pyjamas) from 5 – 8 pm with their pillows, sleeping bags, and stuffed animals. Have pizza, popcorn and watch a movie in the dark (give every kid a dollar-store flashlight). Play freeze dance with some fun pop music (I Like to Move It from Madagascar is a fave). Best part—you won’t be up all night!
So stay home and party. It might be a bit messier but there’s no better way to add character to your home than hosting a children’s birthday party.
Our parents did it all the time. Surely we can too.
God does not command that we do great things, only little things with great love.—-Mother Theresa
God does not expects us to incorporate prayer daily in our lives from morning until afternoon, neither does he expects us to read and rehearse the bible cover to cover nor does he wants’ us to be holier than thou, so to speak. Based on my experience with God over the years, God simple just wants’ us to be ourselves, but to also not try to be him because we can’t be him—but to just simply follow in his shadow. In other words, try to be kind of heart and kind in spirit. If others around you have less than you and does not live abundantly as you do, it doesn’t mean that they are less worthy and so we as humans need to show respect and kindness to others, and that comes from within, from the heart. Show compassion to others, give from your heart not from your head, do not commit crimes against others such as bodily harm or commit crimes against yourself. Love the way you are, the way that God made you. For example, many of us watch television almost everyday and we see many women now doing plastic surgery when it is not necessary.
When we decide to do dramatic surgery on ourselves it is in my opinion another way of saying to God, “I don’t appreciate the way you made me, you could have done a better job God.” Showing God respect is saying that I love the way you made me God, and I accept who I am. If you are healthy, and you have no major scars and your life is not threatened due to a physical defect on your body that requires surgery then I believe it’s not necessary. We are spiritual beings on a human plane and so when we learn to appreciate the way God made us then it allows us to move closer to God.
According to Rick Warren author of the Purpose Driven Bible:
“If God is going to do his deepest work in you, it will begin with you handing over: your past regrets, your present problems, your future ambitions, your fears, dreams, weaknesses, habits, hurts, and hang-ups. Put God in the driver’s seat of your life and take your hands off the steering wheel. Don’t be afraid; nothing under his control can ever be out of control.”
Based on my experience God does not put limitations on our lives—We do. Simple put, God already knows that we cannot and will not be able to fully as humans be “Supreme Beings” or “Angels.” We were not put on earth for this purpose. Everything around us is spiritual the air we breathe, the sun that shines, the food we eat, the things we do with our lives is what shapes our spiritual lives. We move closer to God, when we become humble and we acknowledge the lessons that God tries to teach us everyday whether the lessons make us uncomfortable or not.
God does not seek perfection from us, what he really seeks is, “our limitations and our journey through life to get over our limitations.” God already knows that we are imperfect beings, he made us that way, so we can grow into the kind of person we were meant to become on this earth. “How else can we learn the lessons that God wants’ us to learn?”
When we as humans come to realize that what God really wants from us is for us to be happy and for us to have the ability to make others happy, which in my opinion is one of the best gifts we could give ourselves, then we are able to live simpler lives.
My spirituality and faith in God will always remain with me because God has touched my life so many times and in so many ways over the years. Particularly though when I was just a baby and also when I was 10 yrs.old in a very profound way, so my devotion to God will always go on. I do not try to be quote an quote “holier than thou.” Basically, I just try to keep God as close to me as possible everyday, that’s all and it doesn’t hurt, it feels really good to do this.
I allow God to do his job in my life, especially now that I am on a new path, a new journey and about to start a new chapter in my life, I have already handed my life over to God and ask him to take care of the things that I can’t manage. Currently, I am going through a separation phase and would like things to move a wee bit faster but I am happy that I am way pass the stage where my Separation Agreement has been signed for several months now, and I am now unto the next phase filing for Divorce and this phase will take some time but the sooner I can get this done the better. I recently, spoke to someone who is actually going through a divorce and they said the cost can sometimes add up with lawyers fees, but everyone’s divorce is different, so the cost is always different. My situation is pretty straightforward and will be simple to process. Apparently, filing for Divorce in Ontario it is better to wait a year then file however, filing early could speed things up before your full year of separation and it’s nearly a year for me. At some point my address will change, I will need to live somewhere else. I can hear my Grandmother saying to me if she were here “well, you will cross that bridge when you get there.” Everything takes time but I am happy that I am half-way there so to speak. I know the word, divorce doesn’t sound appetizing, but God has been preparing me for a longtime now, this new chapter of my life is blessed by God, no doubt about it, he knows I needed to do this—and I feel at peace.
Wow! nearly a year, time goes by so fast. That is why I always write on my blog and tell others, “Life is way too short to be anything but happy.” Time moves so fast and before you know it, you have no idea where it went. I don’t ever want to spend another day of my life thinking about the past it’s gone, it’s so gone I can’t see it in the rearview mirror. The sooner I get on with my new life the better, that way I have more time to focus on my new life. All I am concentrating on right now is my two wonderful children, my spiritual life, my physical well-being and the next phase, the next chapter of my life.
I know God is working behind the scenes like he always does, trying to help me with this new chapter of my life. In life if you find yourself where one door closes then at some point in time God will open another door for you. Try to remember that God never gives us more than what we can bear. Whatever you might be going through right now know that you can handle it, because he gave you what you could bear. Just ask God to stand by you and he will. “Every problem or major decisions we face in life can be solved we just need to trust ourselves, trust our gut feelings and don’t forget to ask God for guidance and know that God is there every step of the way no matter how difficult a situation gets, God is always present you just need t0 trust him even though you can’t see him.” Always try to find the lessons behind the trial, then it becomes easier and clearer to see.
What I try to create though in my daily life is try to maintain balance. This I do by the things I do to reflect God in the right way, and most of all, “Trusting God completely.” Spirituality comes from within first, and you can only improve and grow your own spiritual faith by been your own authentic version of you not been a version of someone else. Previously I added “Danny Gokey’s Song to my Blog, but here is the song again as a form of inspiration to you if you are going through a difficult time, remember “Your Best Days are ahead of You.” Visit video link here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qqus079lUz8
There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle—Albert Einstein
Lord, help me to not bring condemnation into my life by the words I speak. I don’t want to bring judgment upon myself by foolish or careless things I say. Instead, help me to speak words that bring salvation, love, and gladness to others. Teach me to speak positive words about myself and my own life as well. Help me to never speak words that are not glorifying to You or that grieve Your Spirit. Put a guard over my heart and mouth so that my words bring life to me and to others who hear me.
By your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.
Matthew 12:37
This week I am back to Country Music, can’t live without it—Enjoy the songs below.
Miranda Leigh Lambert is 27 yrs. old is an American country music artist. Miranda is Married to Blake Shelton. Miranda Leigh Lambert was born in Longview, Texas and raised in Lindale, Texas. Her father, Richard Lee "Rick" Lambert, is a retired police officer who in later life became a private investigator in partnership with her mother, Beverly June Lambert (née Hughes). Miranda was taught about guns by her father at an early age and later became an avid deer hunter. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miranda_Lambert
What this song means to me…
*I love this song by Miranda because I grew on the farm in my Grandparents home in the country part of Jamaica and just like the song, I grew up in the house that built me. This song brings back lots of memories for me. I have so many memories of that house it’s unbelievable. I can picture every room and what I did growing up. I remember Hurricane Gilbert that we all survived http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Gilbert including the house, thanks to my Grandfather over the years, he had the entire house surrounded by trees so when the hurricane hit, the trees got damaged but not the house, we were fortunate but many people loss their homes including our neighbours. Oh…too many memories to talk about.
I spoke to my Grandfather recently, and that house I grew up in is still there and is rented out, because several years ago he built himself another home on the main road, but my old home that I grew up in is still there, one day I will take my kids back to see the house. Lots, of love in that house. Beautiful song, and just like me I know many of my blog readers can agree that they too, grew up in a house that built them or shaped their lives as well.
—Enjoy the song ……It brought back many memories for me.
Lady Antebellum is a country music group formed in Nashville, Tennessee in 2006. The trio is composed of Charles Kelley29 yrs. old (lead and background vocals), Dave Haywood (background vocals, guitar, piano, mandolin) and Hillary Scott24 yrs.old (lead and background vocals).
One of my favourite country music group, I love this song—Enjoy!
Rodney Allan Atkins is 41 yrs.old in Knoxville, Tennessee) is an American country music artist. Rodney Atkins was born in Tennessee, and put up for adoption not long after his birth. As an infant at the Holston Methodist Home for Children in Greeneville, Tennessee, he was so sick that two couples who had taken him home returned him a few days later. A third couple, Margaret and Allan Atkins from Cumberland Gap, Tennessee, adopted him as well and, even though his ailments worsened, refused to give him up. Great story, you can read more about Rodney here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rodney_Atkins
Great Song, reminds of farm life alot….Enjoy!
Movie Watched Previously:
After a very busy 2010 I am now playing catch up when it comes to movies. About a month or so ago I watched “Possession” and forgot to put it on my blog. I put my movies here on my blog so I can remember what I watched previously. See Movie details below.
“Possession 2002”
If you don’t enjoy Poetry and the period during the 19th Century, then you probably won’t enjoy the movie because you might get bored really fast. However, if your a lover of poetry like me, then you will enjoy this movie. The movie took place during the “Victorian Era” The Victorian Era falls somewhere between 1837-1900. I love poetry and any movies made around the 18th-19th century and the costumes that are depicted in the movies, so I enjoyed this movie immensely. The movie starts out approximately for the first 40mins-1 hour of the movie it’s all filled with the letters written by Ash and Cristabel that reads like poetry, in actual fact some were poetry and the mystery that surrounds the depth of passion and romance that develops between the two.
The poetry though is quite beautiful, then the second half of the movie you begin to feel the strong chemistry that develops between the two people that eventually falls deeply in love with each other after a series of letters to each other. To me this is what real romance is all about, people now in the 21st century don’t write love letters to each other much anymore and if they do, it doesn’t sound as good as the letters written between Ash and Cristabel. It’s an art form really but we can enjoy it in the movie.
Synopsis
A pair of literary sleuths unearth the amorous secret of two Victorian poets who find themselves falling in love after a series of letters between each other.
Possession’ earns points automatically simply by providing us with a unique storyline and a fascinating glimpse into a world we have rarely if ever seen portrayed on screen – the world of literary investigation.
It’s refreshing to see a romantic drama that manages to generate some actual chemistry between its two on-screen lovers. In the case of `Possession,’ our pleasure is thereby doubled, since the film accomplishes this with not merely one couple but two.
The film tells the story of two scholars, Roland Michell (played by Aaron Eckhart) and Maud Bailey (Gwyneth Paltrow), who investigate the affair of fictional Victorian era poet Randolph Henry Ash (Jeremy Northam), described in letters between him and another fictional poet, Christabel LaMotte (Jennifer Ehle).
Michelle Siwy is a bit of an anomaly: she’s half-Vietnamese and half-Polish; she’s a designer who’s even hotter than her models; and, perhaps most strikingly, she’s a woman in the male-dominated field of denim. In fact, she’s the only female denim designer based in New York. Since she began her line, Siwy Jeans, in the spring of 2005, the 34-year-old Rhode Island native’s jeans have been embraced by the likes of Kate Moss and Sienna Miller as well as everyday women in search of jeans that embody a tough, downtown aesthetic with a flattering, feminine cut.
For her spring/summer collection, titled "Strange as Angels," Siwy was inspired by the constant movement of gypsy life. "As icons of freedom, gypsies travel to faraway places, adopting native styles that mix and cross cultures," she says. "This is not only an aesthetic but also, a way of life and state of mind." The collection, which includes the full spectrum of fits from super-skinny to super-wide leg, features soft, sun-faded colors that Siwy says evoke vintage beach colors.
HuffPost caught up with Siwy to talk about the collection, her design process, her life in New York, and what it’s like being a girl in the boys’ club.
HuffPost: Tell HuffPost readers a little more about Siwy jeans and what makes them unique in the premium denim market.
Michelle Siwy:Each jean is adorned with a signature label, limited edition derived from vintage feed-sack material from the turn of the century though the 1940′s. Side seams are gently pushed forward and edge stitched to slightly give the allusion of slimness in the thighs. The signature pockets are quilted in a trapunto style that raises design for the purpose of capturing the subtleties in wash detail and aging with beauty. A work of art is developed over time. The rounded signature pockets are strategically placed and add to give the illusion of lift while giving a nod to traditional vintage styling, look and feel of the 70′s. The curved back yoke works with the curves of a woman by providing the ultimate fit and lift with a flattering and feminine look.
HuffPost: How long have you lived in New York City? How has it influenced your work?
Michelle Siwy: I moved to New York City in 1996 to attend FIT. I started off living in the dorms, but then moved out to the Hotel Chelsea, where I had a new appreciation for the city. Meeting and living amongst iconic New Yorkers really made me dream big. For the first time in my life, I never felt alone because there is a silent understanding of what drew us here. New York is the type of place that attracts people from around the world who are in search of something greater, something bigger than they are or to find themselves. The rich cultural history of this city and the interaction with people from around the world exposes you to new ways of thinking minute by minute. There is never a boring day in the city.You can meet the most fascinating people and have great conversation just walking your dog or meeting through other friends. HuffPost: Where in the city do you live/work/spend your time? What local spots inspire you? Michelle Siwy: I have been living on the Lower East Side for the past 12 years. I tend to stay below 14th Street but since I’ve been traveling so much, I have a new appreciation for the city. I split my time in Los Angeles and with the amount of driving I do there, taking a subway to 23rd Street or anywhere else in the city doesn’t seem so far anymore! I love checking out young, new designers and artists. They are so hungry and talented that it keeps me on my top game. We are dealing with the best of the best in this city.
Story continues below
HuffPost: How does your process work? How long does it take you to conceive each new design?
Michelle Siwy: In denim the general inspiration for design works the same, where I conceptualize a mood and start to develop the line in two separate ways and then unite them. I have to first take my concept and apply it to the actual washing of the denim, to produce as many new shades that are not only beautiful, but technical and also flattering on the female body.
Denim is an emotional fabric that can translate into millions of different shades and the only fabric that can handle the extremes. Then the next part is coming up with new silhouettes that are not only beautiful but functional as well. In denim, it’s the subtleties that can completely transform your body for the better. It’s something I have to spend a lot of time designing measure by measure to perfect for the best possible fit, style and flair.
HuffPost: What are you thinking/planning for Fall/Winter?
Michelle Siwy: The most exciting part is that we are expanding into a full sportswear collection with knits, wovens, sweaters, leathers, furs and lots of sophisticated rock n’ roll style!
HuffPost: What’s it like being a female designer in New York — particularly in the male-crowded denim field? Do you think it puts you at an advantage or a disadvantage?
Michelle Siwy: I always tease my male colleagues that a man may know what they think a woman should look like, but only a woman can tell you that and how you should feel in the denim. I try on each and every single style right before we ship. I know what to hide and what to flaunt!
It can only be an advantage as far as design and detailing. I get a ton of fan mail, with very personal questions about how people want their denim to fit and feel. I don’t know if they would ask those same questions to a male and yes, I almost always try to respond with personal guidance on selecting your Siwy’s. It’s like having one of the girls (me) help you look your best.
I don’t feel one bit intimidated because male or female, because really, what has staying power is the love of design and the talent to produce beautiful works of art with denim.
Below, watch a video from Siwy’s Spring/Summer 2011 shoot:
God does not seek perfection from us, what he really seeks is, “our limitations and our journey through life to get over our limitations.” God already knows that we are imperfect beings, he made us that way, so we can grow into the kind of person we were meant to become on this earth. “How else can we learn the lessons that God wants’ us to learn?”
Miranda Leigh Lambert is 27 yrs. old is an American country music artist. Miranda is Married to 
Lady Antebellum is a country music group formed in 
Rodney Allan Atkins is 41 yrs.old in 
