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What I Learned in April 2013

Amber on May 1, 2013 8 Comments

Monthly reviews are one of my favourite traditions. Here’s how it works – every month I come up with some things I learned, and not always the easy way. Then, I ask you all to join in with some recent revelations of your own. And we all learn and grow and what-not. Or at least share a laugh at our own expense, because some of these lessons are both hard-fought and funny. Sound good?

So, without further ado, here is what I learned in April – or some of it, anyway.

What I Learned This Month

1. I learned that while you never forget how to ride a bike – hence the expression just like riding a bike – that doesn’t meant that getting back on that bike after 20 years will be easy. I had the muscle pain to attest to it.

2. Following my second gum graft, I found solace in Pride and Prejudice on DVD, re-affirming my belief that a good costume drama can help with almost anything. Especially if said costume drama features a young Mr. Colin Firth.

3. I had my first fancy salon haircut in years, and I re-discovered just how lovely it is to be pampered like that.

4. I lived with a pirate for the second half of the month, when my son Jacob decided that he would spend a few weeks wearing a pirate costume.

5. I put an offer on a house (which wasn’t accepted), and arranged for some quotes on home renovations. In the process, I re-discovered the stress of real estate, whether buying or owning.

6. I’ve listened to the score of Seussical the Musical on repeat for the past few weeks, as my daughter Hannah practices for the school play.

7. I was delighted by my sister-in-law’s dessert sushi.

8. I mowed the lawn for the first time this year, and re-discovered just how much I love the smell of fresh-cut grass.

9. I learned that while being on live TV can be stressful, having a pro do your makeup is really kind of awesome.

10. I celebrated many birthdays – my mother’s, my mother-in-law’s, and my niece’s. And I confirmed once again that few things are quite as good as birthday cake.

I’ve shared what I learned – what did you learn in April? Leave a comment and tell me! Or, if you’d like to play along by writing a review post of your own, link to it in the comments. And please feel free to grab the button from the top of this post.

Filed Under: Monthly Reviews Tagged With: Monthly Review, Navel Gazing

What I Learned in March 2013

Amber on April 2, 2013 Leave a Comment

So, without further ado, here is what I learned in March – or some of it, anyway.

What I Learned This Month

1. I discovered that my iPad isn’t only great for reading, it also makes a whiz-bang in-flight entertainment system for kids.

2. I said good-bye to a dear friend of eight years, who just moved to Stockholm, and found out just how sad that made me.

3. I finished a sewing project, and learned once again just how satisfying that feels.

4. My daughter hosted her first sleep over, and I discovered that “stay” over would be a more accurate term, as no one sleeps at all.

5. I started my seeds, and observed the miracle of tiny little seedlings once again.

The garden gnome is guarding our seed starts

6. I discovered that almost anything can be terrifying to a four-year-old, when my son decided that pretty much everything at Disneyland was too scary.

7. I learned that my daughter has what it takes to take on Darth Maul.

8. I tried Dr. Pepper for the first time in some 25 years, and confirmed that I still really don’t like it. Then, in discussing my Dr. Pepper aversion with others, I found out that very few people are neutral on the subject. It seems you either love or hate Dr. Pepper.

9. I discovered that few things are cuter than a four-year-old in a Mozart wig.

Channeling his inner Mozart at music class

10. I learned that when you visit Disneyland in March, you should bring more than two sweaters with you. I also learned that telling children to try to keep their two sweaters clean is an exercise in futility.

I’ve shared what I learned – what did you learn in March? Leave a comment and tell me! Or, if you’d like to play along by writing a review post of your own, link to it in the comments. And please feel free to grab the button from the top of this post.

Filed Under: Monthly Reviews Tagged With: Monthly Review, Navel Gazing

What I Learned in February 2013

Amber on March 4, 2013 8 Comments

So, without further ado, here is what I learned in February – or some of it, anyway.

What I Learned This Month

1. I became the mother of an eight-year-old, and learned what that is like.

2. I learned that it’s surprisingly quick and easy to make my own deodorant.

3. I discovered that while my tea stash is considerable, the real kudos go to former podcast guest Shanna Katz.

4. I became an aunt for the fourth time, when Jon’s sister welcomed baby Daniel. Hannah was immensely relieved that he was not born on her birthday, so she won’t have to share.

5. For the longest time I had a fantasy of moving away to Salt Spring Island. In February I learned that while it really is beautiful, for now my roots are here in the Vancouver suburbs.

6. I experienced the stress of having two kids in back-to-back swimming lessons. That is one busy hour for me.

7. I bought a new camera, and became acquainted for it. In the process I discovered the difference a good lens can make.

8. I discovered, once again, the joy of wearing a perfectly fuzzy sweater on a cold, rainy day.

9. I learned that the most sure-fire way into my son’s heart involves an Angry Birds Star Wars-themed play set. Now he can catapult birds into pigs in real life.

10. I tried coconut flour, and made the world’s best pancakes. I am smitten with coconut flour.

I’ve shared what I learned – what did you learn in February? Leave a comment and tell me! Or, if you’d like to play along by writing a review post of your own, link to it in the comments. And please feel free to grab the button from the top of this post.

Filed Under: Monthly Reviews Tagged With: Monthly Review, Navel Gazing

What I Learned in January 2013

Amber on February 4, 2013 9 Comments

So, without further ado, here is what I learned in January – or some of it, anyway.

What I Learned This Month

1. I discovered that it is very sad, indeed, when you head out in search of cheese and the cheese shop is closed for a much-needed post-holiday rest.

I came in search of cheese, but the shop is closed for the holidays

2. I learned that you can take your four-year-old to the planetarium, but you can’t make him watch the film when he digs in his heels and declares the theatre too scary.

3. I got in touch with my roots when I took my kids for a Sunday afternoon hike.

4. I finally caved in and read the Twilight books. They annoyed me, but I finished all of them in very short order without putting them down, so make of that what you will.

5. I was inspired by the beauty of sun sparkling on frost-covered branches.

6. My professional world expanded when I agreed to take on a new role.

7. I observed Mexican street food popping up everywhere, and I have come to believe that the next big food trend, at least here in Vancouver, is tacos. Remember when cupcakes were all the rage? This has taken their place.

8. I re-immersed myself in the world of books, and joined Goodreads. It felt good.

9. I discovered, yet again, that my efforts at keeping my floors clean amount to shoveling in a snow storm as long as I have young children.

10. I re-learned the joys of having a guinea pig in my home when my friend’s family went out of town and their pet came to stay with us.

I’ve shared what I learned – what did you learn in January? Leave a comment and tell me! Or, if you’d like to play along by writing a review post of your own, link to it in the comments. And please feel free to grab the button from the top of this post.

Filed Under: Monthly Reviews Tagged With: Monthly Review, Navel Gazing

What I Learned in December 2012

Amber on January 2, 2013 2 Comments

So, without further ado, here is what I learned in December – or some of it, anyway.

What I Learned This Month

1. I discovered the joy of having a dedicated sewing area – and craft shelf – once again. My hope is that this will lead to lots of finished projects in 2013.

2. I re-learned the universal truth of knitting for other people at Christmas time, which is that it’s going to take you longer than expected, when I found myself putting the finishing touches on a couple of hats in the car as my husband drove to my in-laws’ house.

3. I managed to wear a pair of high heels for more than 45 minutes at a stretch. I even danced, and while there was some minor wincing, I didn’t even get any blisters.

All dressed up for the work Christmas party and standing on top of an Olympic medal podium

4. I fell in love with my new iPad Mini (a Christmas gift from my husband), and discovered the joy of e-books. While I definitely have a soft spot for paper, I have to admit the electronic version is much lighter and more portable.

5. I learned that no snow day is complete for my kids until we’ve built a snow person.

Someone took a bite out of the snow person's nose

6. I re-discovered the intense feeling of powerlessness that comes with having a sick child, when my son took ill with a violent stomach bug. It only lasted for 48 hours, but those were 48 long hours.

7. I felt immense parental pride when both of my kids knocked their spoken parts in the Christmas pageant out of the park. It seems my inner ham lives on in my offspring.

Wearing their costumes, waiting for the pageant to start

8. I discovered that Chipotle opened in Vancouver, and when I was downtown I made a point of eating there. I do adore guacamole, in pretty much any shape or form that I can get it.

9. I helped children make reindeer headbands at a local Breakfast with Santa event, and got back in touch with my inner Brownie leader. I do great work with scissors and glue, yo.

10. As I sat in front of the Christmas tree, candles flickering in the fireplace, reading Christmas stories to my children on Christmas Eve, I felt that magical feeling wash over me. That moment made up for the rest of the holiday-related agony.

I’ve shared what I learned – what did you learn in December? I want to know! If you’d like to play along by writing a review post of your own, link to it in the comments. Since we’re just finishing off a year, you can link to your year-in-review post instead, if you have one of those. And please feel free to grab the button from the top of this post.

Filed Under: Monthly Reviews Tagged With: Monthly Review, Navel Gazing

What I Learned in November 2012

Amber on December 3, 2012 1 Comment

So, without further ado, here is what I learned in November – or some of it, anyway.

What I Learned This Month

1. Years after we turned the pilot light off in our gas fireplace as a safety measure for our kids I fired it up again, and discovered just how lovely a fireplace is on a cold and wet late autumn day.

It felt like a good day to fire up the fireplace

2. I attended a massive local wine tasting event, and enjoyed it immensely. Did I really learn anything? Maybe not, but wine is always worth a mention.

3. I learned that sometimes it’s worth jumping the gun on the holidays just a little, with a mid-November batch of peppermint bark.

I jumped the gun and made some peppermint bark

4. I started re-reading the Harry Potter series, and discovered that even on my fourth (fifth? sixth?) go-around I can’t put them down. Few things are better than a good book.

5. Following my Halloween costume success, I did some more sewing, and re-discovered what I love about it so much. Holding something I made myself, with my own hands – something I can wear. It’s like magic. Plus, I get a chance to use my old labels again.

The biz went kaput years ago, but I'm still working my way through all the labels

6. I learned that the best way to make sure you don’t lose your poppy is to put the pin through the edge of one of the petals. I got this tip only after I complained on Twitter about losing my first poppy less than 24 hours after buying it, even though I bent the end up.

7. I went off in search of cheese, and lo, I found it. I found it, indeed.

8. I saw the world’s best fitting rooms, ever, when I went to a holiday shopping event with some friends. Seriously, words can’t even begin to describe them. And they were in the last place I would have expected – the Art Knapp Plantland and Florist in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia.

9. I met up with my fabulous VancouverMom.ca teammates Christine and Bianca for a trip to the Nicole Bridger warehouse sale, and scored two dresses, a skirt and a jacket. Eco-friendly fashion for a steal? It was like I found heaven.

10. I once again learned that a four-year-old can watch the same movie 20 times in a row and not tire of it, when my son Jacob became infatuated with Tarzan. Unfortunately, seven-year-olds like a little more variety, so I got to referee disputes over which movie to watch on movie days many times this month.

I’ve shared what I learned – what did you learn in November? I want to know! If you’d like to play along by writing a review post of your own, link to it in the comments. And please feel free to grab the button from the top of this post.

Filed Under: Monthly Reviews Tagged With: Monthly Review, Navel Gazing

What I Learned in October 2012

Amber on November 5, 2012 4 Comments

So, without further ado, here is what I learned in October – or some of it, anyway.

What I Learned This Month

1. Once again I learned that fewer things are more adorable than children in Halloween costumes.

What I Learned in October - Getting ready for trick-or-treating

2. I moved the printer and gave up my old desktop computer, and in the process discovered a whole lot more space on, around, and under my desk.

3. I watched salmon fight the current as they return home to lay their eggs, and was in awe of their tenacity.

4. The rains came, and I re-learned why so many people affectionately refer to the Pacific Northwest as the ‘wet coast’.

5. I drove by my childhood home, and I found that it looks much bigger in my memory.

6. That Princess Leia dress my daughter is wearing? I made it, and I re-discovered just how much I enjoy sewing.

7. I kissed a cod, and was ‘screeched in‘. In the process I learned just how awful rum can taste, and I became an honourary Newfoundlander.

8. I had a moment of clarity about my patchwork pie crusts, when I realized that it’s okay if I’m not an expert at absolutely everything. Perfectionism, be gone!

9. After a six-month hiatus, Hannah and I re-visited knitting lessons, and I felt my heart swell with a very pleased sort of feeling as I watched her.

10. I learned that when someone hurts a child, I am so filled maternal rage that I lose my capacity for sympathy.

I’ve shared what I learned – what did you learn in October? I want to know! If you’d like to play along by writing a review post of your own, link to it in the comments. And please feel free to grab the button from the top of this post.

Filed Under: Monthly Reviews Tagged With: Monthly Review, Navel Gazing