Is Content King or An Afterthought?

Back when I started blogging (ahem...2009...feels like forever ago!) content was king. It was the only thing that drew people to your blog. Even though blogging was not as popular as it is today, the market was still there and quite saturated with similar voices and similar experiences. So, as is reasonable, your blog content mattered more than anything. 

I know I am speaking for many other bloggers from that time period when I say that we were all spending hours on the WORDS we wrote. We would write and write and write and edit and edit and edit. The work we put out was personal, built community and was often pretty darn good! Personally, I would write for hours before I felt happy with a post. I would pour my heart out on the page and let it just lay out for people to read. It was probably why people commented and shared and felt connected to me even if they had never met me before.

Content was king. 

How to make a paper snowflake

Ever wanted to learn to make a paper snowflake?

My son is pretty sure you do! And so, to meet your paper snowflake making needs, he created a how-to video Step by step instructions from a 6 year old on making the "perfect" paper snowflake.

Watch it, learn it, love it! (and leave Zach a comment because he is feeling CRAZY proud of himself right about now!)

Midweek Confessions

I'm back with midweek confessions!

• I must admit that this week I have been beyond irritated with human beings in general, but I've been particularly annoyed with a group of (I'm sure very sweet and well meaning) teenage girls who were going on and on at the nail salon about how hard their life is because they have exams. EXAMS. That's what was sooooo awful about their lives. Before you get all sanctimonious on me, YES, I am sure I thought the same when I was that age. I'm sure I complained obnoxiously about exams. But I'm sitting over here in my 30s with a husband and two kids and a job, trying to get my nails done and juggle it all and {often} doing a crappy job, so hearing them complain about EXAMS in HIGH SCHOOL had me all like  
  

The ONLY Crepe Recipe You'll Ever Need

I used to be crazy intimidated by the mere thought of making crepes at home. 

Yes, I realize how ridiculous that sounds, but it's the truth. 

Crepes scare me. They're foreign and French and thin and delicate. They are delicious, however, and I order crepes each and every time I go out for breakfast (sweet only, thankyouverymuch). 

But despite the fact that I'm pretty handy in the kitchen, crepes have been my nemesis. They seem so easy to destroy, burn, decimate, and ruin. However, one day I bit the bullet and decided to try my hand at the ever illusive crepes. And guess what? I discovered a secret that made me want to make crepes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. 

So you- the one who loves a good crepe but is terrified of trying your hand at it- never fear, because I am here to show you just how easy it is for you, too, to become a crepe master like yours truly!

I have mastered the art of making crepes at home without the use of any special gadgets (crepe pan? I scoff at you!) or ingredients, and now I want to pass that on to you!

Ready to become a sweet crepe master? Here's what you'll need:

First, gather the essentials:

A small frying pan (I use the smallest one in my kitchen, which is a 4" mini pan)

Silicone spatula (this is the secret to the perfect flip!! DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CREPE WITHOUT A SILICONE SPATULA!)

Mixing bowl

Ladle or large spoon


What you need:

2 eggs (room temperature)
3/4 cup 2% milk
1/2 cup water
3 tbsp melted butter
1 cup flour
1 tsp vanilla extract 
1 tbsp white sugar 
Cooking spray or spray olive oil to coat the pan

What to do:

Whisk eggs, milk, water, vanilla, and melted butter together.

Fold in flour and sugar and whisk until all ingredients are thoroughly mixed. If the mixture bubbles while mixing, allow it to rest for a few minutes before cooking. Remember, you want your crepe batter to be thin and runny!

Spray pan thoroughly with cooking spray or oil. Warm pan on medium to low heat. DO NOT pour crepe mixture into pan until it is warmed.

Ladle in a thin layer of your crepe batter into the middle of your pan and tilt your pan until the batter reachers all edges. Cook until the edges are golden (this will happen quite quickly). Gently flip your crepe using your silicone spatula. When the edges lift slightly, remove the crepe from the pan.

Repeat this process (including cooking spray) each time until you have a delicious stack of crepes!

How to fill:

A crepe is really useless unless it is filled with something delicious! My personal favourite filling has to be Devon custard (out of the can!), Raspberry pie filling and fresh raspberries. It is the perfect combination of sweet and tart without overwhelming the palate.

Look at that perfection! Now, I don't want to brag (yes I do) but this is a picture from my FIRST attempt at making crepes. FIRST! That's how foolproof my crepe-mastering plan is!
You will not fail!

However, if for some completely unknown reason you don't enjoy raspberries or devon custard, well don't worry!  The sky is the limit when it comes to filling your sweet crepes and I want you to go crazy on this one. 

How about trying out:
+Nutella and banana slices
+Fresh strawberries and whipped cream
+Peach slices and vanilla pudding 
+Peanut butter and jam with a sprinkle of chocolate chips

Feeling inspired? Yup, me too {and hungry!}. So go! Get in your kitchen and try your hand at crepes. Be unafraid and be creative and let me know how it goes! I'm here, holding your hand, as you become an {unofficial} crepe master like yours truly!

A Medieval Times GIVEAWAY!!!!!!

I just want to put this out there to begin with...

We love Medieval Times! 

Last weekend marked our THIRD visit to Medieval Times in Toronto and, dare I say, we are not done yet! My boys are 4 and 6 years old and cannot get enough of Medieival Times. I'll be honest, I was a little concerned that my kids wouldn't have as much fun this time. I mean, they had seen the show 2 times already and I was worried that the magic of the show might not be there. I was wrong. 

SO WRONG.

I think the third time was just as good as the first time because Medieval Times is consistently awesome. The actors never break character (even before the show!), there is audience interaction, there's food (oh, the food!!!!!), and there is non-stop excitement! 

Now, make sure you get all the way to the end of this post because I am giving away TWO TICKETS to MEDIEVAL TIMES TORONTO! But first, here's what I've learned over my 3 visits to the castle:

• Come hungry- Not starving, but the food is out of this world delicious mostly (I assume) because you eat with your hands. Don't worry, they have wet wipes for your post-meal clean-up, but pack a few extra wipes if you have particularly young children (they'll get messy!). You're going to be chowing down on soup, garlic bread, a massive portion of chicken, roasted potatoes, buttery corn and a dessert. You will be feasting like a king, I swear.

• Pay the extra money for the King's Royalty Package- It is worth it to sit front row and see that action really up close! There's no such thing as a bad seat in the castle, but prime seats add to the magic of the show.

• Arrive at least half an hour early!- The show actually begins the moment you arrive at the castle. There are squires and knights and pomp and pageantry. You get your picture taken (with a king if you have the upgraded package!), you get to look around the castle, see the horses and really get into the right mood for the show!

• Bring your cheering voice- This show is totally interactive. Wear your crown, yell loud, wave your flag, and have fun! This is the time to let loose:)
  
  

• Grownups: It's a GREAT date place!- We did not indulge personally (kids and such) but there was a couple on a date beside us that ordered a bottle of wine to split during the show and they had a blast. I may have *overheard* (ahem, eavesdropping) that it was their second date and I dare say it was going really well;) I would highly suggest a grown-up night out at Medieval Times - it's not just for kids!!!!

• Kids: Be prepared for a FAB time!- There was not a kid in the place that did not have a BLAST!!! They'll be so engaged in the show that, parents, you'll be wondering why you didn't go sooner!
  
  

And now, for the giveaway!

Thanks to Medieval Times Toronto, I am giving away TWO TICKETS to a {Toronto-only} show of your choosing!  I am so excited for one of my readers to win these passes! 
Enter below with Rafflecopter and GOOD LUCK!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Midweek Confessions

Remember years ago when I used to do a midweek confession post? Well, I do... and I'm going to bring them back. Without more preamble...

++ I told people a few months ago that I was quitting Diet Coke. Like, I made a HUGE deal out of it {oh, I HATE additives and aspartame and I just want to be all natural}. But I lied, because I think I went one full day without Diet Coke (or DC as I lovingly call it) before going insane, deciding life without DC wasn't worth it and guzzling that lovely liquid gold again on the daily. #DCforlife

++ I am currently watching HGTV upstairs while typing my confessions. My husband is watching HGTV downstairs in our living room. Exact same show, exact same house, exact same time. And texting each other about it. #marriedlife #househunters

++ I'm ridiculously awful at spread sheets. I always thought I was great at them (I mean, someone told me I was one time) until I started a job when I had to use spread sheets regularly and I'm just like WHATTTTTTT  all the time. #excel

++ I have spent an inordinate amount of time reading up on podcasting lately. I'm thinking that Sleeping is for Losers: The Podcast might be in my near future. Anyone want to be a guest?

++ I sent my youngest son to school last week with a sandwich made on mouldy bread. In my defence, it was a brand new loaf of bread so it didn't dawn on me that it may be mouldy. He made a big deal about telling his teacher, who told him to toss it out... I can only imagine what she thinks of me:) #bestparentever #momfail

++ I made two pacts with myself: read a book each month and work out three times a week. I really am doubting my ability to do either because honestly, this is me:

AHHHHH! It felt good to get back into the confession mode:)

When a friend dies...

A friend died this weekend. 

She was in her early 30s. She was {as far as we knew} healthy. She died while working at a job she loved and was passionate about.

We don't know exactly why or how she died. We might never know.

But we do know that she is gone. 

I'm having a really hard time processing all of this. It doesn't feel real; it feels like I'm floating in some weird dream that I'm going to wake up from, with nothing in life changed. But I know that's not reality, because she is actually gone. In a literal blink of an eye, she was taken from this world and there was nothing any of us - those who are left here in numbness and shock - could have done to prepare ourselves. In fact, there is nothing she could have done to prepare - she was just gone.

I don't really know the right way to grieve. I don't even know the right way to think right now. 
My mind is muddled. 

I should have checked in with her more often and just chatted (even on Facebook). How can she really be dead? I should have taken up her offer to go for a day trip with her so we could catch up. What if she was sick and none of us knew? I should have, I should have, I should have. What if it was me? She is gone. 

What I know is that she was and is loved. She was bright and fun and shiny. She had a sharp mind, she loved to camp and travel, and she was so excited about her future. She was an awesome aunt, a fantastic co-worker, and a great friend.  She made a difference in more lives than she will ever know. 

And, as incomprehensible as it is to type this let alone think it, she is gone.

Give your kid a camera, see what kind of magic can happen...

My sons got a VTech Kiddie Zoom Action Cam from my sister for Christmas.  

It's pretty cool and perfect for their ages (6 & 4 years) because they can finally do what they are always begging to do: take pictures and video on their own! 

I will admit to being a bit of an annoying "wait I need to get my phone so I can take a picture" mom (in my defence, it's often for my blog or Instagram so...). It's probably why my kids want to capture their own lives and experiences so often. And now they can.

And parents, let me tell you, it is so amazing to see things through your child's perspective. 

We went on a walk through a local conservation area, with the kids sharing the camera. They captured things in a way and at a level that I just wouldn't think of. We've walked this particular path over and over again and yet it seems that they saw something different this time. They were engaged in looking for the perfect picture (whatever that was in their mind) and intrigued with capturing moments that I usually capture. 

The photos were mostly blurry (you try telling a 4 year old to hold a tiny camera still) but they were also spectacular. Take a peek:

School Lunch Ideas

School lunches.

How did you feel when you read those two words?

If you’re anything like me, then the phrase school lunches strikes fear into the core of your very being.  Day after day after day, packing those lunches can feel like a never-ending (and rarely thankful) chore!

Although time is always a factor for me, my biggest issue has always been coming up with new school lunch ideas that fit my criteria of a good lunch:

• Filling: I have hungry boys that gulp down food – no small, snack-filled, ‘picking’ lunches will do!
• Delicious: Ok, maybe I’m overstating “delicious” but at the very least they need to be something my kids will eat! 
• Nutritious: When I’m looking to feed my kids, I challenge myself to choose a variety of options in order to offer the most nutrition. I also include organic choices wherever I can fit them into my budget

I know I’m not alone in my school lunch loathing, so I have compiled a few tips and tricks to make lunches delicious and filling (I also have a few recipes so make sure you read all the way to the end!).

When buying pre-packaged, buy organic – I strongly believe that purchasing and consuming organic foods is so important but the cost of organics can be prohibitive. If you’re like me, then you are constantly weighing the cost of a product and trying to make the best choices you can. Families are all on budgets, and that’s why I’m so excited about Walmart’s new line of Great Value Organic products. They’re certified Canadian organic and – here’s my favourite part – I can afford them!!!  My kids get to eat their favourite lunch foods, but I get the satisfaction of knowing that they are eating pesticide free, organic options that don’t break my bank account. It’s a win-win.

Cook extras – I cook dinner for my family every evening and, although it takes a bit of pre-planning, cooking extras makes school lunch packing so easy! Both of my boys are obsessed with noodles, so I always cook extra pasta (I love the Great Value Organic Spaghetti - it cooks in 10 minutes). Once cooked, I place it in the fridge so it is ready to throw into a lunch with some leftover chicken or bacon at a moment’s notice.

Keep it simple – Use my three “must haves” (filling, delicious, nutritious) as a mental checklist when packing lunches but don’t make it hard on yourself.  Keep healthy, easy-to-grab lunch essentials on hand (I love Great Value Organic’s Apple Cranberry Chewy Granola Bars – they have 12g of whole grains per bar!), and have them ready to toss into a lunch bag.

Variety {is the spice of life!} – Don’t get stuck in a sandwich-only rut! Think outside the bread and come up with a few easy lunch ideas that are sure to be gobbled up (check out my recipe for Overnight Oats below). Rotate lunches and keep your kids guessing! Even better, get them to help you pack their lunch bag by giving them healthy options and choices.

Now for some of my no-fail lunch box ideas that you can start using today.

Try either of these main (non-sandwich!) lunch ideas, along with some of my favourite snack options, a piece of fresh fruit and some whole grain crackers and your lunch box is good to go!

The ‘Noodley’ Lunch

If you have little (or big) noodle monsters in your house, this is a fantastic lunch box option that is sure to fill hungry bellies and make you feel great about feeding your family with quality, organic, homemade food!  

What you need: 

½ package Great Value Organic Spaghetti 

½ cup Great Value Organic Tomato Basil Pasta Sauce 

2 fresh basil leaves, finely chopped 

Cheddar cheese, grated (optional) 

Frozen corn or peas (optional)                                                                                                                                   

 

          What to do: 

Cook spaghetti according to package directions. Drain and set aside. 

In a small saucepan, add spaghetti sauce and the finely chopped basil leaves. Warm on medium heat until simmering. 

Add the cooked pasta into the sauce until the pasta is coated. Do not over sauce the noodles (remember: this will be in your child’s lunch and you don’t want them to come home covered in tomato sauce).  

If desired, add one handful of frozen corn or peas. 

Remove from heat and place in a thermos or lunch container. 

Garnish with grated cheddar cheese. 

Tip: Use this as an opportunity to add in your child’s favourite veggie. If they don’t enjoy peas or corn, add some lightly steamed broccoli, cherry tomatoes or a handful of spinach leaves. Switch up the cheddar for baby bocconcini or grated parm. Once you have the base of this recipe down, the sky’s the limit

Yum, Yum, Yum!

The ‘Breakfast for Lunch’ Lunch 

This is amazingly wholesome, unbelievably delicious and oh-so-easy to make! Your kids will love it and you will love how easy it is to make for school lunches. 

 What you need: 

½ cup Great Value Organic Steel Cut Oats 

½ cup milk (any dairy or non-dairy milk will do) 

1 cup Greek yogurt (plain or vanilla) 

2 tbsp shredded coconut (sweetened or unsweetened) 

Mango 

Mason jar with lid 

What to do: 

In a mason jar, stir together uncooked steel cut oats, milk, and Greek yogurt.  

Seal lid tightly and place in fridge for at least 4-6 hours or (preferably) overnight.

In the morning, remove lid and add mango chunks and shredded coconut on top.   

Reseal the lid and pack in your lunch bag!  

Tip: Don’t like mango or coconut? No problem! Any topping that your child enjoys is fair game. We love berries, bananas, mini chocolate chips, pineapple or mandarin orange slices.

Wholesome and delicious!

Add It In!

Now that you have some new ideas for scrumptious school lunch main dishes, take the time to stock your pantry with delicious add-ins.

Remember to keep tasty and filling snacks on hand to compliment your child’s lunch and keep them satisfied all day long. I am particularly in love with the affordable options from Walmart’s exclusive Great Value Organic line. Pop some organic popcorn (and sprinkle it with a teaspoon of cinnamon and sugar for an extra special lunch treat!) and include an apple cranberry chewy granola bar or two chocolate chip cookies (they’re peanut free!). All are great additions to any school lunch and they are easy and affordable for parents. Head to your nearest Walmart or visit www.walmart.ca/greatvalue to see these great products!

Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Walmart Canada, as part of the Great Value Organics program. In exchange for this review, I have received special perks in the form of products and/or compensation. All opinions on this blog are my own.

The Year of the Blog

I can't wait for this new year.

2016.

It's a fresh start with renewed focus and refreshed and revised goals.

One of those goals I'm going to share with you, my online community.

I'm making 2016 the Year of the Blog.

Ok, let's backtrack a bit. In 2009, I began Sleeping is for Losers. As a new mom it was the most amazing creative and emotional outlet. This corner of the internet grew and provided me with so many opportunities. But I lost focus somewhere along the way. I began to shift my attention from this blog to other people's spaces. I wrote for others (and it was amazing!!!!) again and again and in doing that I left this space - the one I had lovingly created and grew - to wither and almost die.

I love writing for others. I love the opportunities that this space has afforded me. I've been a columnist and television host. I've written for online and print publications that I admire (I still can't believe that I've had those opportunities!!!) and been paid for it. But it has also stripped me of my passion for writing about my thoughts, my experiences, my dreams and my hopes. It has stopped me from growing this space and exploring opportunities that will come from simply being me!

And so, 2016 is the year I commit myself to growing this blog. To writing regularly in this space again, to sharing my thoughts and experiences, to engaging, to simply allowing myself to explore what can come when you focus a goal and have a strong vision.

In the next months you'll see the look of this blog change (yeah!), you'll see the introduction of some vlogs (video blogs), and you'll see some synergistic partnerships that I am committing to embracing.

I hope you'll stick with me and help me grow. Tell me what you like, tell me what you don't like, be honest and open (just like I promise to be with you!). Even better, keep me accountable - if you don't see me writing or making changes, call me out on it! 

I'm so excited to see what this year will bring! HERE WE GO!