The Science of Marketing to Men vs Women

Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus, John Gray is right, the male and female brain are physically and biologically different.

Thought this was an interesting article on how these differences are recognized in the ways products are marketed to men and women.

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100 Exposures of Me {& My Top Blog Posts}

This is my 100th blog post since I started in October. 

Some of you asked me why I started blogging, lots of reasons (creative outlet, a journal for myself, to share with other moms, get a conversation going) but mostly its cause I’m geeky like that.   

I can tell you though that putting your thoughts, emotions, daily life out there for the world to see, comment on and judge has been a cocktail of terrifying and gratifying. 

Thank you to those of you who have written me personally and shared your stories, whether it be about becoming a mom, your delivery, great recipes, home reno ideas and so on.  

This is also an invite to any moms out there interested in blogging – I say GO FOR IT! Even if you aren’t sure yet, and think its something you might like, please message me about guest posting – I’d love to be a platform for your thoughts and confessions in motherhood, style, relationships, food, anything - real life!

I thought I would share with you some of my most-popular blog posts:

Motherhood

Giving Up My Career to Raise the Kid(s)

Advice For New Parents | What's Yours? |

Let Me Feel My Feelings {But Don't Act on Them}

Mom’s Let’s Be Honest With Each Other {Sometimes It’s Sucky}

Mama Must Haves

Mama Must Haves | Cloth Diapering Mama| 

Mama's Style Shortcuts

Gifts For the New Dad & Dad-to-Be

Labour & Delivery

My C-Section & The Feelings I Was Ashamed to Admit

And It Hit Me - WE ARE HAVING A BABY! Time To Pack The Hospital Bag

Recipes

Green Chicken {Avocado Lime Chicken} 

Slow Cooker Refried Beans

Organizing Life

The Family Binder

My Top Meal Planning Tips 

Feeding Baby

Feeding Baby | Solid Food Suggestions |

Some Baby Food Meal Ideas

Picture Taken by Amber Muller Photography

Pregnancy

Pregnant With Number Two

Faith& Fertility {My Story}

How Our Names Affect Us

Please Don’t Take the Cheese {Foods To Avoid During Pregnancy}

Health

Baby Monitors vs Smart Meters

Sanitizing Toys with Vinegar   

Low Glycemic Eating

Thank you to everyone who follows me and shares my page with other moms.
If you haven't already, please feel free to follow my Facebook Page 

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And It Hit Me - WE ARE HAVING A BABY! Time To Pack The Hospital Bag

I don’t know if it was the ‘to do’ list, the realization of the shrinking timeline to get ish done, the increase in more painful BH contractions I didn't have the first time round, or my husband mentioning “your belly used to be there, and now it’s here, it’s crazy you don’t have WAY MORE stretch marks” (yup, I could pen the book ‘what NOT to say to your pregnant wife) – either way it hit me hard last night – we are having another baby.

It snuck up on me, I’m coming up on 34 weeks, it could be any day!! And something makes me feel certain this baby is like me; impatient when there is something that needs to be done (like get out into the world). 

I am excited and terrified and just can’t wait to meet this little person and give them their name that we’ve been holding in our hearts and on the tip of our tongues for 8 months.   

I feel so much more prepared for labour and delivery and have really good vibes around having a VBAC, but acceptance that it may end up in C-Section again. 

I’m ready to go pack my hospital bag (yes, I think it’s happening THAT soon!). Last time we were a little unprepared when we ended up with a four day stay in the hospital post-delivery - so here is what I’m gonna make sure to pack:

IPhone, charger and headphones

Gotta have something to fill the time, take pics, send emails, watch some shows, listen to music....

Water bottle

At my son's birth my sister was an impromptu support that we were blessed to have.  After delivery she had lent me the one she brought, as I had to have a constant supply of ice water by the bed

Snacks

If not for the breastfeeding mama in the middle of the night, your partner will get hungry too and hospital food only goes so far

Maternity clothes

You will still look pregnant so if you want to get out of the hospital gown and maximum security underwear make sure to have clothes that will fit your size (not pregnant, but not pre-pregnant size)

§  Comfy pants

§  Extra shirts

§  Underwear

Warm socks or slippers

I know I’m not the only woman with ridiculously cold feet – enough said

Nursing Swag

You’ll have visitors and a hungry baby so I recommend having a nursing Bra, nursing tank and if you prefer (as I do), a nursing cover

Camera with charged batteries

Clothes for baby

They seem to provide you with some baby clothes the first day and plenty of diapers for your stay – but you will need onesies/sleepers for baby  - if its warmer I’d also pack some toque, mitts and something warm to put over baby when you bring them home

Blanket and swaddle

It’s just nice to have your baby wrapped up in his own blankets and a swaddle that velcros shut keeps the thinking to a minimum in the middle of the night

The necessities

Brush, toothbrush, razor, lip-gloss and mascara, etc.

Pillow

The hospital ones we like burlap sacks stuffed with old socks

Small nursing pillow

To help hold up that tiny little baby, especially nice for post c-section when you can’t readjust and move without pain.

I would love to you hear your must haves that you pack in your hospital bag for the ‘big day’, please share!

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Let Me Feel My Feelings {But Don't Act On Them}

During our premarital counseling we were told 'always question your feelings'. I quickly learned that the day you decide you can't live life or make decisions based on how you FEEL you become free.  Free in your friendships - in your reactions - in your marriage - in dealing with rude clients in your job (just saying)  - you are free from the irrationality that comes with FEELINGS.  

I'll say it - I'm lazy, oversensitive, judgy and if I made daily choices based on how I feel I would lay in bed watching Millionaire Matchmaker eating donuts dipped in peanut butter and freaking at my husband over every sarcastic comment he made. I don't do this - cause it's obvious but the FACTS are I have chores, have to take care of my health, be a productive member of society and my husband is trying to make me laugh and smile - I'm just shooting him down. 

I read this article by a family psychologist who points out that " feelings are functional only when they are under intellectual control". He also points out that our emphasis to make our children FEEL good, and express their feelings rather than their thoughts can hold them back in learning how to separate the fact from the feeling and make more informed, responsible decisions. 

I never thought about it this way (maybe cause my kid is still a baby) however the author also points out that how we praise our children can have an effect on this.  To sum up, he says that praising a kid's ABILITIES rather than EFFORTS can actually worsen their performance as they will feel entitled to positive outcomes.

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Top Baby Names of 2011

Info on the top baby names in the US for 2011 has just been released. Looks like our Southern neighbours are hitting it old school (at least for girls names).

Top Five Names for US Baby Girls

1. Sophia - means ''wisdom"

2. Isabella - means "my God is bountiful, God of plenty"

3. Emma - means "whole, complete"

4. Olivia - means "olive tree" or "bringer of peace"

5. Ava - means "bright"

Fastest Growing Girl's Name: Briella

Top Five Names for US Baby Boys

1. Jacob - means "supplanter"

2. Mason - means "stone worker" (as a surname)

3. William - means "resolute protector"

4. Jayden - means "heard by God"

5. Noah - means "comfort"

Most are amazed to see the name Micheal dropping out of the top 5 for boys names since 1948

Fastest Growing Boy's Name: Brantley

Interestingly enough, the top 2011 baby names showed a slight difference for us Canucks (maybe a bit more je ne sais quoi?). Check out the complete list here, with break-down by province too

Top Five Names for Canadian Baby Girls

1. Olivia - means "olive tree" or "bringer of peace"

2. Maya/Mia/Mya - means "close to God"

3. Sophia/Sofia - means ''wisdom"

4. Emma - means "whole, complete"

5. Emile/Emily - means "hard worker" or "industrious"

Top Five Names for Canadian Baby Boys

1. William - means "resolute protector"

2. Jacob - means "supplanter"

3. Nathan - means "gift of God"

4. Liam - means "determined guardian"

5. Ethan- means "firm, strong"

Also check out HOW OUR NAMES AFFECT US

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What To Eat This Week? Some Of Our Weekly Meal Plan Ideas

If you are like us you hate grocery-shopping day mainly because our brains melt when we try to think of a meal plan for the whole week (I know, life is tough eh).  Some tools we like to use are:

1.      This list we've compiled over time of meal ideas (check out this page for Our Monster Meal List)

2.     This wonderful app with all the recipes/ingredients we normally make (you choose your meals and it compiles shopping lists for you!)

3.     Some weekly templates we can defer to of meals we like to eat and make often.

 And if you need some inspiration filling out those templates, here are some of ours.....

MON	Pork Loin w/ Caramelized Onion l Roasted Squash l Rice
TUES	Baked Beans (from Company's Coming Cookbook)
WED	Squash Soup
THURS	Pork Chops l Rice l Smashed Potatoes
FRI	Tortilla Shell Quiche
SAT	Frozen Pizza
SUN	Leftovers

MON	Los Ninos Wraps
TUES	Pork Chops l Roasted Green Beans l Mashed Potatoes
WED	Pesto Pasta with Mushroom, Red Pepper & Spinach
THURS	Marrakesh Curry Vegetable Bowl
FRI	Pasta with Sausage & Roasted Tomatoes
SAT	Turkey Dinner
SUN	Baked Black Beans l Baked Squash l Cornbread

MON	Teriyaki Salmon* l Rice l Baked Squash
TUES	Tofu Pizza* l Squash Soup
WED	Pitas l Tzatziki* l Falafel
THURS	Bean & Spinach Enchiladas
FRI	Leftovers
SAT	Coconut Curry Stir-fry with Chicken
SUN	Vegetarian Chili l Roasted Squash

MON	Ham & Egg Cups l Pecan Whole Wheat Waffles
TUES	Avocado Lime Chicken l Coconut Rice
WED	Pasta Salad l Grilled Cheese Bagels w/ Avocado & Spinach
THURS	Baked Beans l Roasted Cabbage l Homemade Bread
FRI	Leftovers
SAT	Baked Vegetarian Penne
SUN	Falafel Pitas l Tzatziki* l Greek Salad

MON	Bean & Spinach Enchiladas
TUES	Sausage & White Bean Soup
WED	Homemade Pot Pie l Mashed Potatoes l Roasted Yams
THURS	Homemade Mushroom Soup l Grilled Cheese
FRI	Ham l Rice l Roasted Veggies
SAT	Baked Vegetarian Penne
SUN	Leftovers

MON	Pasta with Sausage & Roasted Tomatoes
TUES	Burrito Stacks
WED	Basmati Rice Quiche* & Homemade Salsa
THURS	Tenderloin l Roasted Green Beans l Mashed Potatoes
FRI	Leftovers
SAT	Grilled Sandwiches with Avocado, Bacon, Cheese & Spinach l Awesome Nachos
SUN	Leftover Soup from the Freezer

MON	Chili
TUES	Bean Burritos* & Salsa*
WED	Curried Chicken & Apple Salad* l Herbalicious Sweet Potato Pizza
THURS	Tatertot Casserole
FRI	Baked Beans
SAT	Falafel Pitas l Tzatziki* l Greek Salad
SUN	Leftovers

* Recipe from Meals in Minutes Low Glycemic Cookbook.  

What is Low Glycemic Eating? 

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