Wha’ Happened? – aka why it’s been ages since a post…

You caught us slacking on the job…

Well, actually. We were kinda busy. More on that below.

But I can’t believe it’s the 2nd of October.

That’s just one month shy of being a year since I last wrote. Crikey.

I look back at how our family has grown and changed in the last year, and how little I’ve worked on my beloved blog, and I feel pretty pooped. But then again there have been major changes.

Out on our own

We (finally) moved out of my mother-in-law’s home to a nice little two bedroom apartment back in March/April. It’s a cozy little place and we still have boxes in the corner that need to be unpacked, but for the most part, we’re settled. There are parks nearby for the kiddo, and we’re no more than 15 minutes from all our regular activities and work.

So, what happened between November and March, you ask? The usual pre- and post holiday shenanigans. Christmas party overload followed by New Year’s resolutions that are broken by the end of February. Then there was the other big news…

Then we had a baby!

Yuppers! Aranka Sarolta made her appearance on July 18 at four something in the morning. I say “four something” because I still don’t know exactly. But, boy was it an unplanned party! And Zsombi slept through the whole thing (thank God!). More on that story in a future post.

So, now that Babuka (baby) is two months old already, we’re slowly getting our groove back. And that’s when we really realized just how broke we are. So, this mama turns back to her blog. I’ll be honest, I have big plans for this blog and I need it to make money if I want to keep investing time in this.

Here’s a quick visual of the past year:

So, what’s next?

Well, since babies are still very much on the brain here, I’ve got a series planned about being preggo in the golden days before tv, internet, and walk-in clinics. Back when birthing was a women’s thing and your mothers, sisters and neighbours were the ones helping you out and you likely had your baby at home.

I’ll also let you in on how we’re helping Little Z get accustomed to his new sister and how I’m dealing with being at home with an (almost) three year old and a baby (bang head against wall here). I’ll also be updating our Facebook page and winding up the Pinterest.

I’m also working on some new designs for jewellery, but I have a feeling that it’ll be a while before I carve some time out to make anything. As for all my other business ideas? Well, my biggest challenge right now is accepting that I’m not a supermom who can do everything all at once. So, baby steps for now!

What about you?

Is there something folk  you’ve always wanted to know about? Is there some long lost craft you’ve always wanted to learn? How do you and you’re family deal with major life changes? Let me know in the comments below. Who knows, maybe it’ll turn into a blog post down the line!

An Ode to Frozen Peas

They’re round and froggy green. They have a tendency to roll off your plate. They can be sweet like summer or starchy – the perfect winter food. You can buy them fresh, but most people go frozen.

They are peas. And they are my friends.

For the mom of a picky eater (what toddler isn’t), they are a Godsend. Little Z pretty much eschews all meat, unless we can get creative with some dipping sauce. And even then you run the danger of said sauce becoming more enticing than the meat. Watching your toddler try and drink the dipping sauce instead of the meat it’s supposed to “enhance” is my top food related frustration.

And yes, drink. The whole bowl.

But have no fear! Peas are here!

Peas are a great source of vegetarian protein, so much so, that I’ve noticed many protein powders and shakes out there have begun using them. They are rich in vitamins C and K, manganese, and have pretty good Omega-3 fats to boot. They help regulate blood sugar, too, because their high fiber and protein ratios slow down how fast sugars are digested.

While fresh is always best, most frozen peas have been harvested at optimal ripeness and flash frozen, so you still get great bang for your buck when fresh is unavailable.

And what about  that good ol’ bag of frozen peas in your freezer? As any mama knows – best ice pack in the world. We even have a some frozen peas in a small baggie for kiddie size boo-boos.

And did you know that Canada is the largest producer of peas in the world? O Canada! Our home and native peas!

Peas please!

And then there’s the other night. They definitely saved my sanity when Little Z couldn’t fall asleep after a nightmare. We tried everything to get him to nod off again. Bupkis. That’s when he decided that 2 am was the best time for a snack and there was no talking him out of it. (You try arguing with a 21 month old when you’re barely awake!)

He took one bite of everything offered and refused more. That’s when this mama clued in and remembered the bag of  peas in the freezer.

Snack for the little man. Sleep for mama. Peas for all!

Time to get your crazy on!

What a week!

I’ve gone and done it again. I’ve taken on too much, and in response, I completely shut down over the long Labour Day weekend. There was so much going on last week and in the next coming weeks that I don’t know which way is up.

We’re looking for a new place to live, Little Z has been working on some molars so there’s been little sleep the past week, some exciting, yet scary personal changes came to light, and we took off to visit a much loved friend at his cottage with some of our folk buddies. Only once I was happily ensconced on a blanket by the lake, with a good book, good friends, and my family around me, did I realize that I completely forgot to work on this week’s Weekend Links and set the Folk Calendar I wanted to start in September in motion!

Ooops!

But the weekend was well worth it. I polished off the second book in the Game of Thrones series, got to spend some times with friends I’ve barely seen all summer, had some great new experiences with Little Z in the wilds of cottage country. And now… I’m no longer the fire-breathing dragon lady. I’m now the patient praying mantis, about to strike at it’s next prey.

So, while things are still going to get a little crazy in the near future, I have a few blog posts that I’ve been working on that I (hopefully) will be able to post shortly.

Wish me luck!

How do you deal with stress? Any apartment hunting with small children tips?

 

A day for thinking…

Today, I’m thinking of all the big events that are happening in my life and in my friends’ lives right now. Little Z is just over a year and a half old, and we are hardcore into potty training. What a big change for him, to go from the comfort and convenience of diapers, the only thing he’s known since birth, to a cold, hard plastic potty. And it’s just not happening. I feel like I don’t have the time to devote to him and to stay by his side so that he clues in on what’s happening, before “it” happens. It makes me feel like I’m also missing out on this time.

I’m thinking of my friend, who’s getting married in Hungary tomorrow. What a huge turning point in one’s life to devote yourself to another human being, let alone all the planning that goes into pulling off a wedding. I hope all their wishes and dreams come true, not just on their wedding day, but in their life together.

I’m thinking of two of our friends who live nearby. Their little boy just celebrated his six month birthday. I haven’t seen him in so long – apparently he’s huge! I feel like we should be in closer contact with them. We’ve completely lost touch with them and there are so many stories we could share! Little Z should be growing up with Little M as a playmate.

I’m thinking of friends of ours who recently became a family of five! Our house is full of chaos with only one little munchkin, how are they doing it with three kids? How are the older two taking to their new little sister? I hope they’re adjusting and not losing too much sleep while still taking the time to enjoy each other.

I’m thinking of my girlfriend from college. New hubby, new house, and baby on the way all within the last six months! We (almost) share the same birthday and really, we only see each other around August each year to catch up and exchange presents. Now that they’ve moved to the next town over, I’m kicking myself in the butt that I didn’t get together with them while they lived just up the street.

Big changes.

In my inbox this morning was a moving article from Megan at Simple Mom, using the metaphor of “molting” from one skin to another to describe how we shed our old selves as we move through life’s profound changes (It seems that whatever is going on in my life, Simple Mom always posts a very relevant article that makes me stop and reflect). What kind of new creature is going to emerge once we all shed off the skins of our lives up to this point? What will this new wife or new mommy look like? How will she be stronger?

So on this day, as I escape from home for a few hours to sip my Starbucks and browse through the library without a toddler who likes to pull all the books off the shelves, I think of all my friends, whether they are married, have kids, or just a really rambunctious dog named Domi. I wish them all time to sit down, take a step back and recognize just how awesome they all are as they take a closer look at this new creature that’s taking flight.

Táncház & Workshop Teaser

It’s almost táncház time! Here’s a little teaser featuring Zoltán Zsuráfszki Jr. And his lovely partner Judit Szabó. Did I mention they’re teaching workshops in the afternoon before the táncház? Come dust your boots off before you get down and boogie!