HOME GROWN
February 2012 - Issue #7
Volume 2
Parenting in the North
Stephanie McLarty HG Interview with
705.264.0232 136 Claimpost Trail Schumacher Timmins On 2 www.sweetface.ca
Dry mornings are happy mornings. Wake up happy with Barnyard Bummz available at Sweet Face
Inside: Pg 7 ZEN ZONE
Product Review Pg 14
Attached Mama Pg 10
Annie’s Homegrown Pasta.
What is Attachment Parenting?
Bellies and Babies Pg 18 PostPartum Depression
Pg 21 Double Check ! winter bucket list
Living Green: Household Efficiency
Pg 22
Lady of the House
Pg 26
Overcoming Laundry (Make Your Laundry Room Work Harder for You!)
Interview With Pg 30 Stephanie McLarty
HOME GROWN Parenting in the North
A FREE Magazine For Northern Parents Make Sure You Never Miss An Issue http://eepurl.com/e8ktY
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TAX TIPS
Pg 37
Travelling by Public Transit
Make Your Own
Pg 40
Chocolate and Caramel Sauces
TOP TEN
Things to do on Family Day
BE MINEO
Pg 7
Valentines day Secrets
Sew Simply
Pg 42
The
y p p a r Sc Zippy Pillow Natures Recipes Your Little Picaso
Pg 46
Valentines Day Recipe
Pg 47
Stuffed French Toast
Pg 38
Editors Notes Take the Time Welcome everyone to the new year, 2012 is sure to be a wonderful year for all of us here at Home Grown. This month Love is in the air with both Valentines Day as well as Family Day right around the corner. This February make sure to put away the time for your family. I look forward to hearing your comments on this months issue.
-Kayleigh May
Kayleigh May, As a Photographer, Mother, Wife, and the Editor of Homegrown- Parenting in the North. Kayleigh has many hobbies that include sewing, writing, photography and running after her two young boys.
Editor in Chief : Kayleigh May De Cecco Editor: Chantal Warren
Writers Top Ten - Christine South Christine.homegrown@gmail.com Lady of the House - Julie-Anne Mauno Julieanne.homegrown@gmail.com Living Green - Chantal Warren Chantal.homegrown@gmail.com Attached Mama - Sarah Blackwell sblackwell@cogeco.ca
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Love And Learning - Tessa Morrissette Tessa.homegrown@gmail.com Sew Cool -Pamela Pilon pamelapilon.homegrown@gmail.com Bellies and Babies - Kayleigh May De Cecco Kayleighmay.homegrown@gmail.com
Interested in writing? Here at Home Grown we are always looking for Writers. If you have an interesting topic that you think would benefit the magazine please email either Kayleigh May or Chantal and we will be happy to review your idea.
ď ˇZEN ZONEď ”
Meditations by: Natalie Rocheleau
MWhite Swan MeditationN Duration for this meditation can be 1 minute to 11 minutes. This meditation can be done in bed, before you are about to go to sleep or Great meditation to do before bed or when if you woke up in the middle of the night.. feeling very stressed. Sitting in a cross legged position, lengthen your spine, relax your This is also a great shoulders, relax your jaw. meditation for those Begin to breathe long and deep in and out through your nose. with High blood Bring your hands up to eye level, create fists with your hands and pressure. press your thumb tips together firmly. When you see the tips of your thumbs turn white, close your eyes and picture the Sat Nam is a white tips of your thumbs in your mind. Now with every sanskrit mantra inhale (through your nose) repeat the word "Sat" (pronounced S-uh-t, meaning Truth is like the word Hut) in your mind. With every exhale (through your nose) my Identity. repeat the word "Nam" (pronounced with a long A Naaaam) in your mind. Continue for 1-3 minutes.
Meet This Months Writers Chantal is an eco-conscious entrepreneur who splits her time between being a mom
to two and operating a natural baby boutique in the City of Timmins. Her desires to live a more natural life have provided her the knowledge, experience and contacts to
reduce her family’s carbon footprint on the planet.
Chantal Warren Assistant Editor
Julie-Anne is a stay-at-home mom to six beautiful children in rural Northern Ontario. Her adventures include large family mothering, homeschooling, and rural living. As an experienced childbirth educator and doula, she desires to encourage other mothers, especially through the childbearing years. She also writes at www.fruitfulvines.blogspot.com.
Julie-Anne Mauno
Pamela is a mom of one who juggles her work as a Graphic Designer with
her hobby as a seamstress. She is the face behind Bibmababy - an
online boutique that brings chic, funky and unique styles to babies and toddlers.
Pamela Pilon
Sarah Blackwell, M.H.S., B.A. (CYC) is a Parenting Consultant who lives in North Bay with her partner and 3 children. Sarah is a trained facilitator of the Make the Connection parenting class series and offers parenting classes, support circles, and individual parent coaching based on an approach to parenting that empowers both children and parents. Sarah is an activist, child advocate, homeschooling mother, breastfeeding advocate, knitter and yogi.
Sarah Blackwell
Would You Like to Advertise in
HOME GROWN Parenting in the North
? We Offer Inexpensive Options And A Growing Readership Throughout The North Two Page Spread Available Great Deals on Full Page Ads 1/2 Page 1/4 Page E-mail info.homegrown@gmail.com For more information. 9
Attached Mama What is Attachment Parenting? By Sarah Blackwell
“Attachment parenting is an approach practiced by parents, grandparents and extended family in caring for children through a lens of connection that responds to children’s needs in a way that is instinctual, natural, fluid and balanced”, -Sarah Blackwell
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Figure 1: Attachment Parenting Wheel
What is Attachment Parenting? Attachment parenting can be practiced by any parent or caregiver that has a desire to raise happy, healthy, confident, caring, and accomplished children. It can be practiced by a parent, grandparent, auntie, uncle or cousin, and by a man or a woman.
It is an approach to parenting that is flexible and allows parents to learn alongside their child, rather than conventional parenting methods that have a strict code to follow, and often instil fear into parents that if they don’t follow the proper “steps”, their child will turn out to be a drain on society. Attachment parents may breastfeed, wear their babies in a carrier, sleep safely together, and practice positive discipline. These are tools that parents may use to achieve positive outcomes that attachment parenting is grounded in. However, it is more than the actions we take with our children that facilitate an attachment parenting style. It is also a mindset; a way of thinking about pregnancy, childhood, and beyond the teen years. In this article I will highlight my own beliefs about how attachment parenting is defined, and the approach that I take when working with families in my consulting business. In Figure 1: the Attachment Parenting Wheel represents the four principles in defining attachment parenting. The wheel represents the continuous growth of a child and that it is cyclical in nature. Each quadrant represents a portion of the definition, which is described in some detail below.
Instinctual Parenting: Attachment parenting is about trusting yourself; your instincts. Your instinct is the involuntary reaction to something that requires no conscious decision; it is primitive and innate in us. From the moment your baby is placed in your arms your mothering instinct kicks in. Your body starts this process by creating hormones that elicit the making of milk, as soon as the placenta is separated from the wall of your uterus. These are involuntary reactions that your body undergoes when you become a mother. As a mother, you also have instinctual parenting responses. Unfortunately, all women by the time they reach motherhood have had an entire lifetime of media influences that forms our ideas about motherhood and parenting. This overexposure interrupts our ability to parent children from an instinctual framework. Therefore, attachment parenting is not easy, since it often requires a willingness to change and challenge methods of parenting that we’ve been exposed to through the media, and also probable extended family members. Attachment parenting allows us the freedom and opportunity to connect again with our innate responses to our child. This response is primitive in the way that we must return to thinking the way that our ancestors once did. In a time when there weren’t any parenting books or television shows highlighting the
best way to ‘deal’ with negative behaviour. Instead, attachment parenting encourages you to trust yourself, and your ‘gut’ feeling when it comes to your children. For example, one of the most common questions among new parents is if your child is sleeping through the night yet. This is a ‘milestone’ that so many parents have been tricked into believing is crucial to child development, and yet parents leave children to cry in the night, alone and in the dark. I’ve heard so many parents talk about how hard it is on them to listen to their child cry, and yet they do it because they read it in a book – they trusted someone else’s opinion. Instinctual parenting is when you listen and trust yourself for what is good for you and the relationship you have with your child.
Natural Parenting: Attachment parenting is sometimes used interchangeable with the term natural parenting. In this quadrant of natural parenting, it includes: natural products, returning to nature and understanding what is natural. There are many natural parenting stores that have been popping up all over the internet and in the homes of many women wishing to work from home. In this type of store you will see commercial products like natural soaps and salves, cloth diapers, baby carriers and any product that is created to be healthier for you and your family. Although these may be items you use to achieve a closer attachment with your children, they are not pre-requisites, nor will it automatically create an attachment if you use these products. These products have been developed to make attachment parenting easier in today’s society, but they have existed in societies for millions of years prior to industrialization. Natural parenting is also about returning to nature and promoting it within your family. Allowing children to explore nature and spend time with them outdoors playing in the splendour of all the seasons. It may work for you and your family that instead of purchasing natural soap, you make it together. Or maybe you learn about herbs and flowers, or birds and track animals in the winter together. It is about connecting with your children through nature and teaching them about life by being
IN nature. In a technological world, being in nature will help create a balance in your child’s life. Lastly, parenting from this quadrant means being aware of the natural needs we have as humans, but also understanding that your child is a product of nature. The innate needs that all human beings have including children are; love, attention, affection, relationship and most of all the need for a connection with the people around us. These natural needs are at the forefront of a parent who guides their child from this style of parenting. It is an understanding that every child has an unmet need when they display negative behaviour and that is just a natural part of being human.
Fluid
Balance
Attachment parenting is fluid in that it is flexible and forgiving. As parents, we do not need another method of parenting to sink us into a pool of guilt because we didn’t follow the proper steps. Attachment parenting allows parents to make mistakes, for making mistakes is a natural part of being human. This also applies to our children, and accepting when they make mistakes. Children will make mistakes as well, and as parents, it is our job to guide them through the fluidity of life.
This final piece of the Attachment Parenting Wheel is about balance. Life is about balance, and so is parenting. As a parent, you must seek out balance in your life for you and your family. You must also balance the ways in which you connect with your children. For example, if co-sleeping does not work for you and your family, then it won’t make you a bad parent if you don’t practice it, (remember fluidity?). As a parent you need to make the decisions that will work for you and your children.
Parenting in this quadrant is also about learning to reflect on your parenting strengths and weaknesses and to seek out understanding. When I think of fluidity, I think of water. Water will take on any shape that it is placed into. As a parent, your understanding of your child will change as they grow older and their needs change. This requires the ability to reflect on where you’ve been in your parenting journey, and where you are headed in your relationship with your child.
You also need to find a balance between connecting with your children and maintaining your own health and relationships with friends, family and your partner.
Being fluid also means being flexible enough to try out new things, no matter how scary it may be. There may be family members and people in your life that question your ability to parent, or even question your parenting decisions. Maybe you and your partner don’t see eye to eye on certain issues, but remember that attachment parenting is about being fluid. Learning about being a parent is a lifelong journey, but you cannot do it without reflecting on what works and what doesn’t work for your family.
This article just touches on the philosophy behind attachment parenting used in my business. I provide coaching/consulting sessions to parents that are grounded in this approach and am available to provide a more in-depth presentation at conferences or for training purposes.
Product Review Annie’s Homegrown By: Kayleigh May De Cecco
We have all eaten the popular very inexpensive brand of macaroni and cheese growing up. The one that contains colours yellow #5 and yellow #6. The thing is; we love that it is easy to make , fairly tasty and filling.
cheese pasta that claimed to be organic... We’ve heard many companies make the claim of organic and natural and it usually turns out that 1-5% of the product is actually organic and natural. I decided to do some investigating
Last year I was looking in the organic isle of my local Loblaws store and found a macaroni and
Home Grown- Parenting in the North
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Product Review
Annie’s Homegrown Pasta. THE BOX Looking at the box of Annie’s pasta, a few things will jump out at you; 1.No Artificial Anything - Thats right no artificial flavours or colours, nothing in this pasta is made in a lab. 2. 0% Trans Fat
And thats just what you learn from looking at the front of the box. INGREDIENTS: I read the ingredients on the cheddar cheese box expecting to find colour of some sort listed since the cheese was orange, only to find that there was a letter from Annie herself explaining that the colour came from the annatto seed. I brought this pasta home to investigate it a little further. Tartrazine, a main ingredient in other popular brands of cheddar pasta..........was absent much to my delight
3.Naturally Good Source of Calcium - Unlike other companies who add calcium to their products Annie’s mac and cheese has calcium in their product naturally, this is before you add the milk. 4. No Pesticides or Hormones - Annie’s farm is hormone and pesticide free, this is great news for our children, who can now easily grow up without so many additional hormones and poisonous pesticides.
TASTE: When it comes to Macaroni and Cheese that is stove top ready, Annie’s wins in flavour. The cheese tastes real, and the white cheddar is so full of flavour. Realizing that when it comes to taste , I am not the one who is the final judge, I gave each of my children a bowl full of Annie’s Rice Pasta and Cheddar. They ate more than their share of pasta and enjoyed every bite. I am happy to say that the Annie’s pasta truly did win the taste test. My sons favorite is the “Bunny Pasta” these cute bunny shaped pasta’s make it easy for kids to love to eat.
5. 100% REAL CHEESE - Thats where they get the calcium... Annie assures you in each of her personal letters on the back of her boxes, that she uses real cheese. More natural goodness. 6. USA Organic/Certified Organic - There are so many companies out there that will add an organic something, making less than 1% of their product organic and they claim organic status. If you look on Annies website you will notice the videos of her farm. That is where your pasta comes from... and the Cheese..... Thats from organic valley. www.annies.com/ farmers
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Product Review
Annie’s Homegrown Pasta. PRICE:
When it comes to organic goodness, we have to expect higher prices, as with anything that is quality made. If you can pay for that quality name brand make-up that you know won’t irritate your skin, or that name brand purse that wont break in a month, then it shouldn’t be hard to pay a little extra for quality food that won’t upset your children’s system. Annie’s is more expensive as apposed to our popular 99 cent brand, however unlike our 99 cent brand Annie’s takes so much care when making their pasta. It is not produced in a major factory setting. The cheese really is REAL. I have to think if its 99c , do I really want my children consuming it? I feel this is value for money, and $ 3.49 is not to much to pay to feed two children a meal. On Annie’s website www.annies.com you will find recipes on with things to add to Annie’s pasta. Annie encourages you to add your own ingredients and make your Annie’s your own.
Find interesting recipes, Kids colouring pages and activities: http://www.annies.com/fun-activities Shop Online at http://annies.elsstore.com/
Home Grown- Parenting in the North
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TUPPERWARE February Sales: January 28th - February 24
Pasta Lovers Set (see right) $138.50 value for $75! Limited Sale Items up to 50% off include: Small Serving Set (veggie tray) $16.50 Kids Mini pitcher & tumblers Set $16.00
Mega 18 pc. Mini Containers Set! (smidgets, midgets & snack cups) $23.50 Thatsa Bowl Jr. (12 cup) $12.50 Thatsa Bowl Mini (6 cup) $8.75 Keep Tabs 3 Pc. Set $12.00 And SO Much More! Get ready for weddings, birthdays, and Mother’s Day!
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Bellies and Babies PostPartum Depression What is it? Having a new baby in the home is often a wonderful but challenging time. A new baby brings with it many different physical and emotional challenges as well as the joys and happiness to the whole family. It is normal for a woman to feel overwhelmed and saddened within the first 10 days of delivery, these feelings are known as baby blues and are brought on my strong emotions of being both in love with the newest addition to your home, as well as being sleep deprived and over worked. It is important however to seek help if you find that these feelings are not going away. Baby blues can easily turn into postpartum if ongoing depression is not treated. Women who are suffering from postpartum depression will
often feel as if they are a bad mother or incompetent of simple tasks. These women may be embarrassed and are reluctant to seek the help that they need.
There are three stages of postpartum depression; The first stage is the baby blues, this is the most common among woman and most women will experience some form of the baby blues. The second stage is postpartum depression, this is more serious than the baby blues. Postpartum depression is known to kick in anytime between delivery and when the child is 2 years of age, and may last for up to a year. The third and most serious form is postpartum psychosis, this is a very rare form of PPD Studies indicate that it may only affect 1 in 1000 births.
U N D E R S TA N D I N G W H Y ? When it comes to having a new baby, there are so many unforeseen changes that happen very quickly in your life and can affect you and your spouse. Physical Changes: Your body has just gone through a major change, and when you look in the mirror you may not find your pre-baby self. Your nipples may be cracked and sore from breastfeeding. You have stretch marks that you never had before, and clothing may just not fit. Sleep is Affected: With a new baby waking up every two hours, and you being the only source of nourishment for your baby lack of sleep may affect your judgment and your mood. Hormones: So you know that you should be happy, you have given birth to this beautiful baby.... right... but now you aren’t happy... this makes you sad... It is a spiraling circle of hormones ups and downs, making you a little crazier than normal. Lack of Socialization: Being stuck in the home while your partner gets to leave the house can attribute to your mood. Spouse/Partner: Your spouse is not feeling the same, you may even get jealous of him, he gets to sleep 8 hour nights after all... This jealousy may lead to a disconnect in your relationship.
Postpartum Depression is more common than you may think. Home Grown- Parenting in the North
You are not alone!
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I’m at risk if? You are more at risk of postpartum depression if: • You have previously suffered from depression • You have a family history of depression.
born, if these last longer than a few weeks it may be a larger problem. Please speak to your healthcare provider. Postpartum Disorder Experienced by 10-15% of women. • You are tired all of the time.
• You have a hormonal imbalance.
• You have a hard time sleeping.
• You have had a difficult or unplanned pregnancy.
• You may cry a lot.
• You have had a difficult delivery or a c-section. • Your partner works away from home quite often. • You have marital or relationship tension. • You feel unsupported by your partner or spouse.
• You have trouble remembering simple things. • You may have a hard time concentrating or feel confused often.
25-50% of women will suffer from the “Baby Blues” • You cannot sleep well. • You may cry a lot, over simple things. • You experience mood swings. • You don’t fell like “yourself” • You are irritated easily. • You feel vulnerable or inadequate. • You may start showing these signs 2-5 days after your baby has been Home Grown- Parenting in the North
• You seem confused. • You have severe mood swings. • You feel hopeless and ashamed. • You talk about hurting the baby, or harming yourself. • You feel hyperactive, or manic. • You speak quickly or incoherently.
• You have hallucinations or might hear voices.
• You are anxious.
• If you feel any of the above please consult your healthcare provider.
• You don’t show much interest in the baby.
• Baby Blues
• You don’t want to eat.
• You are easily irritated, and easily become hostile.
• You have recently moved.
• You are under a lot of stress.
• You may seem to be tired all the time.
• You feel suspicious of everyone around you.
• You feel like you cannot cope.
• You usually spend most of your time outside the home
Experienced by 0.1-0.2% of women.
• You have feelings of guilt.
• Someone who is close to you is ill or has recently died.
• You recently lost your job or was fired.
Postpartum psychosis
• You worry you may harm yourself or the baby. • You feel overly concerned for the baby. • You have frequent headaches or chest pains. • You no longer feel like “yourself” • You have lost interest in your looks. • You don’t want to leave the house. • You no longer find your hobbies enjoyable. • You are no longer interested in intimacy or sex. • You may start showing these signs six to twelve weeks after the baby is born, and they may last up to two years. Please speak with your healthcare provider.
What about Dad? There is new research that shows that it is possible for dads to suffer from baby blues, or PPD, Dads may feel left out, sad, anxious, and even jealous of the time that their spouse is spending with a new baby. Here are some things that might help dad out. • Don’t criticize everything he does with the baby. (If he changes a diaper the wrong way let it be.) • Show him that you still love him too, husbands can often get jealous of the baby as you are showing no affection to him anymore. • Let him have one-on-one time with the baby. • Help dad develop a routine such as night time routine.
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Childbirth Resources
Books
Websites
Other
www.inamay.com
Husband-Coached Childbirth - Robert http://www.mybestbirth.com A. Bradley, MD http://spinningbabies.com/
Natural Childbirth the Bradley® Way http://www.givingbirthnaturally.com/ Susan McCutcheon Active Birth The New Approach to Giving Birth Naturally - Janet Balaskas
http://www.choicesinchildbirth.org/ choices/birth/labor
Movies The Business of Being Born Gentle Birth Choices
www.powertopush.ca
Your Best Birth- Rikki Lake and Abby Epstein Gentle Birth Choices - Barbara Harper R.N. Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth - Ina May Gaskin Silent Knife - Nancy Wainer Cohen
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The Unnecesarean
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I had a VBAC in Canada
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Your Birth Coach Dr. Nancy Birth Source Inc.
Double Check !
By: Chantal Warren
Rodin Schimper, 12:00am January 1st 2012
winter bucket list I’ve recently heard someone say: “you live up North, that’s 8 months of winter, you better get used to the snow.” That got me thinking about all those people who love winter and wish it lasted longer, what do they know about the season that the rest of us seem to be overlooking? Here is a checklist of winter activities to not only help the season go by faster, but to help you enjoy what the colder months have to offer.
Cold weather nature walk
Road hockey
Cross country skiing
Skating
Curling
Sliding
Dog sledding
Snow angels
Downhill skiing
Snow boarding
Horse drawn sleigh ride
Snowshoeing
Horseback riding
Snowmobiling
Ice fishing
Visit a sugar shack
Make a snow man
Winter campfire
Polar bear dip
Print out
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Living Green: Household Efficiency By: Chantal Warren
The government’s eco grant program is coming to an end but that doesn’t mean it’s too late to make upgrades to your house and reap the rewards of having a more efficient home. Not only will upgrades and retrofits make your house more efficient and conserve energy, but you can easily save $1000.00 every year on your energy bills. There are many simple and inexpensive things that can be easily done to improve your home`s efficiency and save you money. The easiest changes are habits that you and your family should adopt and do on a regular basis: • HEAT. Turning down the thermostat a degree •
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LIGHTS. Ensuring that lights are turned off when leaving a room is the easiest change to adopt. Do you have kids who regularly ‘forget’ to turn them off ? Using a sensor that will automatically turn lights off may be a good investment, saving you about $250 per year. Major energy hogs that you may be overlooking are incandescent light bulbs. Replacing all the bulbs in your house with compact florescent bulbs can save you about $100 per year on your energy bill. You’ll save even more when you consider that you will not need to replace these bulbs, on average, for 4-7 years. ELECTRICITY. Unplugging unused electronics will reduce ‘phantom’ energy consumption and easily save you $250 per year. Simplify this task by investing in power bars and plugs that stop the drain of electricity without having to sort through a mess of electrical cords. Using the sleep function on your home computer will also save you nearly $200 per year as well as extend the life of the components in your computer. When washing your clothes, turn your washer settings to cold. Cold water cleans just as well as warm or hot and will use nearly 85% less energy than a hot wash uses. This will save you another $100 per year on your energy bill.
or two when you leave the house is a perfect way to save on the heating bill. Turning down your heat by 2-3 degrees will save you about 2-3% on your heating bill every month. That will save you an easy $50-100 per year. Installing programmable thermostats automates this task and ensures you don’t forget to save you even more dollars. Dressing appropriately for the weather will help to lower your heating costs even more. •
WATER. Water is a resource that we often take for granted, but, for just a few dollars, you can install low flow faucets and shower heads without sacrificing any water pressure. Using grey water (the water pulled in from your dehumidifier or the water left after the kids’ bath) to water plants or flower beds is also a great way to conserve this precious resource. Encouraging your family to take short showers rather than soaking in a tub will save, on average, 1700 gallons of water per year, per family member. Moving to the kitchen, a surprisingly efficient appliance when it comes to water usage is your dishwasher. Running a full load uses significantly less water than washing by hand. Reduce energy usage by allowing the dishes to air dry rather than using the washer’s drying feature.
Living Green: Household Efficiency By: Chantal Warren
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WEATHERPROOFING. One of the biggest drains of energy is having a house that is not properly sealed. These drafts can account for up to 30% of the heat loss in your home and there are some relatively simple ways to reduce and eliminate this loss. When it comes to tracking the source of these drafts, you may find that having a home energy audit completed is the best way to find leaks that would otherwise go unnoticed. Check doors and windows to see if cold air is entering along the edges; where cold air enters, hot air escapes. Also plugs, crawl spaces and baseboards are often culprits of leaks. Seal any air leaks using caulking and weatherstripping. You can also cover windows and unused patio doors with plastic during colder weather.
Some slightly more involved or expensive retrofits can save you bigger bucks on a regular basis. In no way would I suggest replacing perfectly good furniture with the more eco-friendly options that are now available, however, replacing older model, inefficient appliances (even if they are still working) is another thing. Replacing old appliances with HE Energy Star products reduce the amount of energy consumed to use the appliance by as much as 80% in some cases. •
HEAT. Upgrade electric baseboards to HE, space saving baseboard HEATERS that are easily swapped out. If you have a forced air system, ensure that there are no leaks and insulate your ducts wherever possible. This will ensure that energy being used to run your furnace or air conditioner isn’t being wasted through holes within your walls and ceilings.
Living Green: Household Efficiency By: Chantal Warren
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WEATHERPROOFING. Is your roof snow covered? It should be. If you have a bare roof in spots, it means you have heat loss through your roof. Adding insulation, laid in or blown in, will help you keep your heat in during the winter and out during the summer.
If you are willing to invest some serious money into increasing your home’s efficiency, there are some major renovations that will not only help you save energy, but also help you create your own. A major benefit that you can expect to see following these investments is an increase in your home’s resale value. •
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ELECTRICITY. Change your large water tank to a tank-less, on demand hot water system or install a ‘drain-water heat recovery’ (DWHR) system. A DWHR uses the heat from draining shower or bath water to preheat water going into your water tank. This system will save you up to 40% on your water heating costs and don’t worry, the new water never mixes with the old water. Another option for assisting with heating water is having a solar assisted hot water system. Harnessing the power of the sun is a more costly addition however, you will HEAT. Replace an old, energy sucking furnace with a new, HE gas furnace. Natural gas is the cheaper method of heating and will save money to keep your home warm, however, you cannot select individual temperatures for rooms based on use. A good habit to use with a forced air heat and air system is to close vents in the basement if using a/c and close vents in rooms rarely used during the winter. Another investment that will conserve energy is to install Energy Star windows, doors and skylights. Depending on how many windows you have in your home,
you can expect about a 12% savings on your energy bill. Energy Star products help reduce heat loss during the winter and reduce the sun’s rays from penetrating and heating up rooms during the summer. Conserving energy is an easy way to ‘go green’. It’s an activity that the whole family can take part in and you will reap instant rewards. Get your kids involved; make them Energy Conservation Police. Encourage your children to conserve energy by turning off lights, taking shorter showers and making sure they don’t leave the fridge and freezer doors open unnecessarily. Teaching your kids about your efforts to reduce energy consumption is also a great way to instil good habits, so explain to your children why hanging clothes on a clothesline is better for the environment than using the dryer all the time. •
TIP: Before embarking on upgrading, you may want consider having a home energy audit completed. The report will advise you of the energy trouble spots in your home as well as give you suggestions on which retrofits will give you the biggest bang for your buck, once you complete your upgrades, a follow up audit will provide you with measurable results following your upgrades. Other resources: National Geographics “How Green is your Home?” test: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/everyday/ greenhouse/index.html Laundry Cost Calculator: http://michaelbluejay.com/ electricity/laundry.html Natural Resources Canada: http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/ home Ontario Power Authority: www.saveonenergy.ca NRC Kid’s Club (some great resources to teach kids about the importance of saving energy): http:// oee.nrcan.gc.ca/calendar-club/activity/17105
Should have used a bib.
Available online and at Sweet Face
www.bibmababy.com use code
HOMEGROWN
for 10% off
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Overcoming Laundry
(Make Your Laundry Room Work Harder for You!)
by: Julie-Anne Mauno
I’ve been doing laundry for as long as I can remember! Over the years, it has been a struggle to keep laundry under control and find ways to simplify. Having 6 children has really motivated me to find tricks and shortcuts to help deal with the enormous chore that managing clothing for a family of 8 involves! I find that laundry is really at the heart of keeping a home. If it’s running smoothly, everything else seems so much easier to handle! Every mom
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has to deal with laundry. However, as mountain. Here are some of my a stay-at-home mom, it’s in my face all favourite tips and tricks to keep the the time. laundry running smoothly: Wouldn’t it be great to finish the laundry and be done with it? At least for a while? The thing about laundry is that, as the clever saying goes, it’s a never ending cycle! Like so many house-keeping tasks, it’s an ongoing chore. But it doesn’t have to be an impossible
Home Grown - Parenting in the North
1-Simplify: I turned my laundry room into a clothes room. We have cubbies in our laundry room where I keep our 4 youngest boys’ clothes. I labelled each of the cubbies with their names. For example, they each have 3 cubbies. The labels would be something like: “Luuki’s P.J.’s”, “Luuki’s shirts”, “Luuki’s pants”. I also have a small dresser in there for baby clothes. I have a big basket for all the boys’ socks and one for their underwear. I keep two huge laundry hampers in there too. So, every morning and at bedtime, the boys get changed in the laundry room. I love that I can sort, wash, fold and put away most of the children’s clothing in one place! It has really made laundry easier for us. My teenage daughter and teenage son keep their clothes in their room but they use the family hampers in the laundry room. Clothes still ends up on their bedroom floors from time to time but it’s not nearly as bad as it used to be when everyone had their clothing and hampers in their bedrooms. I would love to have a hamper for “lights” and one for “darks” but these days I am happy enough if the dirty laundry actually makes it into the hampers. I also keep one separate hamper for towels, tablecloths etc (what I call “house” laundry). 2-Location, location, location: Our current home has a laundry room upstairs with the bedrooms. What a blessing it has been to our family to be able to manage our clothes all on one floor! Consider relocating your laundry room closer to your bedrooms. If this isn’t possible, don’t sweat it. Main floor laundry rooms and even basement laundry rooms have potential. Think of ways that you can manage more of your family’s clothing in one place!
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4. Use a universal basket for clean
underwear. 5. Keep a basket for stray socks so you
can pull it out to find matches when you need to. 6. Keep a garbage can in your laundry
room for dryer lint and old dryer sheets.
7. Put a counter-top or small table in
your laundry room for folding clothes. 8. Having a sink in the laundry room is
ideal for removing stains and hand washing clothes. 3-Methodology: I have come up with a few tricks to help keep the mess down in our laundry/clothes room while making it easier for little boys to come and choose their own clothes from their cubbies. 1. Roll pyjama tops and bottoms
together. 2. Fold clothes so that the design or
picture shows. This way, little ones can easily see and choose what they want to wear. This avoids them taking out five shirts and unfolding them to see if it’s their favourite Lightning McQueen shirt. 3. Use a universal basket for clean socks
for little ones. This works well when you have children of the same gender but you could always use a basket each for the girls and the boys.
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9. Keep a catch-all basket for lego
pieces found in pockets and any other small items that make their way into the laundry room. 10. Keep a basket or container for loose
change found in pockets. 11. Keep hampers for dirty laundry. 12. Install a closet rod for hanging shirts,
dresses and anything else that needs hanging to dry. Ours is made of an old hockey stick that my husband repurposed. It works! 13. Consider getting front-loaders. I used
to think that my old machines worked just fine. When we got front-loaders on a Boxing Day sale, I was amazed at how it cut my laundry time in half. They are more energy efficient too. You can find front-loaders secondhand as well.
Home Grown - Parenting in the North
4. Make it pretty: The laundry room is often the room that gets the least attention when it comes to home decor. But, we spend so much time there. Making your laundry room a bit more beautiful will help motivate you to face the laundry day after day. Our laundry room already had a cute laundry-themed border. I added pretty lace curtains and framed family photos. Consider painting your laundry room a light color to brighten it up and give it a peaceful atmosphere, especially if your laundry room is in the basement. 5. Make it fit into your own routine:
If the week has been really busy, I try and catch up on Saturdays. I love to reserve Sundays as a day of rest and relaxation so most Sundays I don’t do laundry. If you invest a little time and thought into making your laundry room work harder for you, you will be surprised at how much easier the mountainous task of laundry becomes. There will always be days when life takes over and the laundry piles up. Just remember that on those days, you can shut the laundry room door and start fresh tomorrow!
Some families have one laundry day a week where. Others prefer to do a load or two almost daily. With the time-ofuse pricing for hydro and an average of 12 laundry loads a week, I’ve had to get creative with how I do laundry. I usually run a load or two after the young boys are in bed. That way I can keep an eye on little boys sneaking out of bedrooms too.
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Name: Stephanie McLarty Home Town: Ottawa, ON What brought you to Timmins? My husband’s career. What is your favourite thing about living in the North? The fresh air.
Stephanie McLarty Photography By: All Things That Grow Photography
Work: Your recent work experience involved working with new moms, can you explain what you did. I was working as a public health nurse providing support to families in our area primarily regarding prenatal education, breastfeeding issues, and transition into parenthood. I took a lead in the prenatal education of young parents and was always amazed at the courage and dedication parents possess, especially in the face of adversity.
Any little known advice you’d like to share with our readers? (maybe a breastfeeding tip, or something you would advise new moms...) Patterned shirts will hide the evidence of your leaky boobs. You have recently gone back to school, what are you taking? I am completing a Masters in Public Health through Lakehead University. I started 2 months before my son was born, carried on parttime until he was 11 months old, then I decided to jump right in on a full-time basis. (He is now only 15 months) As a trade-off I have had to quit my job, which was a difficult decision, but unfortunately they were not flexible in supporting my educational leave. However, this will allow me to complete the program this spring instead of continuing parttime for the next 2-3 years. What made you choose nursing? I chose nursing because it fit with my academic strengths in health and
science but also because I was drawn to the personal aspect of the profession. Another great thing is that there is so much choice in nursing – you can work in hospitals, clinics, public health units, homecare, outposts, summer camps, internationally…you can even work on cruise ships or at ski resorts. When I first started nursing I worked for a health consulting firm and assisted with the development and implementation of the electronic health record for the Canadian Forces. As part of my job, I travelled to just about every military base in Canada. It was so much fun!
What advice would you give to a parent who is thinking about going back to school? Before you pick your program figure out what type of job you want in the end. I would recommend calling a school with a program of interest and talking with an academic advisor about what you can expect upon graduation. Also, try to find someone who is currently working in the job you are interested in and ask them about their career. Most people are surprisingly willing to share their experience. And best of all, many schools now offer programs which are flexible for busy parents that allow you to participate online from your home and watch the recorded session of any
classes you missed. This feature saves me for when baby boy needs some extra cuddling on a school night.
Family: What ‘style’ of parent would you say you are? I feel that my style is continually evolving. In general, though, I tend to keep things simple and follow my instincts.
What benefits do you think you`re giving your children by living in the North? The affordability of living allows us to enjoy a comfortable life. We have been able to start saving for his education without having to sacrifice our family vacations. And we love to travel! You have a pretty busy schedule, how do you balance your schooling and family life? I set aside dedicated school time that doesn’t include house stuff or surfing the internet and I ensure to plan a few special activities for my son each week, such as swimming lessons, playdates, library visits, etc. It’s harder in the winter months, but usually we go for an evening walk as a family. It’s a great time to get away from the stress and have a nice talk with my husband as we go along.
You and husband have chosen to bedshare with your child. This is often a controversial choice, why does this sleeping arrangement work for you? Bottom line is that we all get more quality sleep. I think the controversy is mostly due to a misunderstanding of safe sleeping arrangements. What we like the most is that when you are nursing, the baby is right there; when they are fussing we are right there; when you want to just sneak a peak of your lovely sleeping baby, they are right there.
How does bedsharing affect your relationship with your husband? Actually, my husband is more dedicated to bed sharing than I am. I think for him, since he is at work most days, it’s his way of connecting with our son at night. Also, an intimate relationship goes beyond the bedroom and once you practice that, you will see that your bed can become family friendly. How do you keep the love alive? As you transition into parenthood, your life is unpredictable and as a result it affects the routines you had a couple. For us,
it’s about being spontaneous and playful and not getting stuck in what we “used” to do. Many people recommended that we needed to keep a regular date night – well who has time for that! We don’t have any family up here, so it’s just us. So, instead of feeling bad about not having date nights, we just try to sneak in special moments at random times. In one way, it brought some new excitement into our relationship as we now have to be more creative in how we are going to spend our couple time. Any more kids in your future? Yes, we hope sooner than later.
Other: If you could meet any person, past or present, who would it be and why? It would have to be Margaret Meade since she has such a holistic yet precise vision of the human species and suggests that the ‘civilized’ world has much to learn from the ‘primitive’ world. One of my favorite quotes of hers is “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” I think it’s especially relevant to the Lovely Lotus Ladies group and this magazine. Who inspires you? Why? There are so many people within my own circle of family and friends that inspire me in different ways. For me one attribute that always stands out is courage. The courage to decide what’s right for your family, to leave an unhealthy relationship, to start a business adventure or to follow your dreams. Sometimes we get stuck in the routines of life and are too scared to even stop and think if it’s all worth it. Have you read any good books lately that you’d recommend? I am really into the outlander series by Diana Gabaldon. They are written with such historical depth and adventure. Also, I like reading just about anything from Maeve Binchy.
All Things That Grow% Photography( By Kayleigh May
www.allthingsthatgrow.smugmug.com
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E-Mail: dececco.km@gmail.com
6 week yoga classes beginning in February for prenatal yoga, parent and baby yoga & beginners yoga. Contact Natalie for more details Location; 46 pine St. South, Timmins On Number. 705 465 5432 email. Northern_lotus@yahoo.ca Website. www.nlys.ca
TAX TIPS Travelling by Public Transit
By Suzanne Lafond
Travelling By Public Transit Has Its Tax Advantages. Transit Pass Credit • You can claim the cost of monthly transit passes or passes of longer duration for public transportation, which includes local bus service, streetcar, subway, commuter train, commuter bus and local ferry. • The cost of passes for shorter duration may also be claimed if each pass allows you unlimited travel for at least five consecutive days and you purchase four consecutive weeks. • Passes for students can be claimed by either parent. • To get the maximum benefit, combine the cost incurred for you, your spouse or common-law partner and dependent children under the age of 19. • Don't forget- keep your receipts and passes to support your claim.
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Things to do on Family Day
Outdoor Activities
Monday February 20th
Skating
Many communities will host free
skate times. Check out your local paper to see if your community has a free skate.
Build a Fort
Get your inner child out and enjoy
building a fort outside with the chi ldren. Have snowball fights, and don’t forget to dish out hot chocolate to all who participate.
Snow Shoeing
Go snowshoeing, On the trails, or can snowshoe.
Ice fishing anyone? There will be
in your backyard, Anywhere the
re is snow you
Fishing an Ice fishing derby in Timmins
hosted by the Timmins Fur Counci
l, Open to kids 16 and younger
at Gilles Lake
Play Some Street Hockey
Get the kiddies tired by playing som
e good old fashioned street hockey .
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Things to do on Family Day
Indoor Activities
Make a Family Breakfast
Make Pancakes, French toast, or
waffles, Let the kids get involved
master piece with additions of fru it to
their delicious breakfast.
and help create a
Make a Famdu Dinner
Get together and have fondu, aro
und the dinner table is the best pla ce to talk and catch up with each other. Kids just love the finger food ide a.
Do a Family Craft
Make something for the home as
a family. Try Handprint wall art
with the children, frame it and han g it up.
Check out a Family Flick
Check your local theatre for a fam ily
flick. Let the kids choose the show.
Create Your Own Theatre
Find a box and make your own pup fun creating their very own show.
pet theatre, the kids can have so
much
Kids have such a creative imagin ation.
Make Your Own Chocolate and Caramel Sauces
Simply
Chocolate
Creamy
Caramel This creamy caramel takes a while to cook, But it is sure to satisfy any sweet tooth!
Ingredients: 2 Tbsp Cocoa powder 250 ml whipping cream 1/2 cup icing Sugar Directions: Whip the whipping cream and add the icing sugar When nice and thick add your cocoa powder. And you now have a quick chocolate sauce.
Above - Condensed milk boiled in the can will turn to caramel after 3 hours
Ingredients: 1 can sweetened condensed milk 250ml whipping cream Directions: Place unopened can of condensed milk into large pot of water, make sure the can is fully submerged. Boil for 3 - 4 hours depending on how dark you want your caramel to be. It is important that you do not open the can until it is completely cool or the very hot insides will volcano out. Leave for 1 hour in pot to cool. Remove from pot and place in refrigerator for another hour. Open can to find Caramel. You can use this caramel as is or; Whip the whipping cream. Add Caramel. This caramel is a great cake topper, Fruit dip, and can also work as a body paint.
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BE MINEO Valentines day Secrets
Love Notes Remember the days when you used to write those secret love notes? Try writing notes and hiding them in places that your spouse is sure to find. Like in his jean pockets when he is at work, or in his lunchpail. 14 Days of Love Coupons. We’ve all seen them in the stores, But an even better Idea is to make your own. Add things like a Free romantic dinner, and a night of passion. Spice it Up Try making a spicy dinner, such as Indian, or Mexican food. That aught to give your loved one the spicy kick they need. Ten Reasons Why I LOVE You Each take a pen and paper and write out Ten reasons why I love you... Try to be original.
Home Grown- Parenting in the North
Create a Romantic Lunchtime Picnic What can be more romantic than a lunchtime picnic? Include chocolate and caramel dipping sauce, with a variety of fruit. Buy New Underwear and Pajamas Those old underwear and old PJ’s can really kill the mood. Men will often whimper when they see that pair of raggedy sweat pants that you have been wearing since college, or that comfortable Robe that only you appreciate. Try buy something for you both.
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Sew Simply by Pamela Pilon
The
y p p a r Sc Zippy Pillow PREPARATION TIME Finished Blocks: Approximately 1 hour Unfinished Blocks: Approximately 3 hours These pillows are a fantastic simple project that can be made from start to finish in no time! Gather up some fabric scraps, and some zipper lying around, and you can easily make a pillow by stuffing it with a pillow form. This is a great way to practice sewing in zippers. Use as many or as few zippers as you’d lie. It’s completely up to you! This pillow has a quilting concept, without any real guidelines. Once your blocks are finished, in a few simple steps, you can easily finish the pillow within an hour.
WHAT YOU NEED • Enough scraps to make two 14.5” x 14.5” squares • Rotary Cutter or Scissors • Seam Ripper • Thread • Zippers (random sizes, but at least one 16” zipper) • Zipper Foot • 14 inch Pillow Form
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Sew Simply by Pamela Pilon
HOW TO MAKE A BASIC P ILLOW * Unless otherwise noted, all seam allowances are Ÿ inch. 1. For my pillow I started with piecing together fabric scraps in random order with a ½ inch seam allowance. 2. Stitch random pieces together horizontally to reach at least 14.5 inches. 3. Finger Press seam allowances open. Cut the strip to have a straight edge on all sides. 4. Sew another horizontal strip. Press open, but do not iron. Sew both strips together horizontally. Press seam open again. Continue this process until you have achieved two blocks measuring minimum 14.5 x 14.5 inches. 5. Once both of your blocks are finished, Press flat and trim to 14.5 inch square.
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Sew Simply by Pamela Pilon
INSERT ING T HE ZIPPER * This is the same process used for the zipper sewn into the pillow blocks. 6. With fabrics facing right sides together, Stitch a 1 inch seam allowance on the longest stitch setting you have, on one side of the pillow cover. 7. Iron the seam allowance open, and place the zipper (closed, and tab face down) centered on the seam. Pin in place. 8.With a zipper foot sew on both sides of the zipper, and across both ends. Make sure to Backstitch several times on the ends of the zipper. 9.Trim the zipper to the width of the fabric. 10.Turn the fabric over, and carefully use a seam ripper to uncover the zipper.
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Sew Simply by Pamela Pilon
F INISHING T HE P ILLOW 11. Close the zipper and stitch both fabric pieces with a Âź inch seam allowance closed using a straight stitch with fabrics facing each other. 12. Stop sewing when you get Âź inch away from the corner, carefully pivot the fabric sandwich. 13. One the square is finished, sew the corners at a 45 degree angle. 14. Clip the excess bulk in the corners to facilitate corner turning. 15. Remove all of the pins and turn the pillow cover right side out. 16. Insert the pillow form, and ensuring a tight fit. 17. Close the zipper, and you are done!
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Natures Recipes If you are a parent to a toddler, you’ve no doubt been blessed by budding talents in the arts and crafts department, however, if your little Picaso has taken their medium of choice to your walls, that’s where most parents “draw the line”. Here are some household items that you can use to clean off that canvas;
Pen Pencil
– spray with hairspray, rub off.
– scrub with white toothpaste.
Crayon
– apply heat using hairdryer and then scrub with white toothpaste.
Marker - make a paste with oxy cleaner, scrub and wash off.
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Print out
Valentines Day Recipe
HG
Stuffed French Toast
Ingredients • • • • • • • • •
1 (1 pound) loaf French bread 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese 4 eggs 1/4 cup Irish cream liqueur 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg 2 tablespoons butter 1/3 cup orange marmalade
Directions 1. 2. 3.
Slice the French bread on a slant, giving each side of the slice a nice surface area. Slice the brick of cream cheese into 1/2 inch thick slices. Make a slit in each slice of French bread through the crust to form a pocket. Place a slice of cream cheese in each pocket; set aside. In a small bowl, beat together eggs, Irish cream liqueur, cinnamon and nutmeg. Melt butter in a griddle or frying pan over medium-low heat. Briefly dip the bread slices in the egg mixture and place on the griddle. Brown on both sides and serve warm with a dollop of orange marmalade on top.
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Our Treasure Box Of Links
http://www.preschoollearningonline.com/preschoolkidsongs.html www.inamay.com http://www.mybestbirth.com
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/easy-stuffing/detail.aspx
http://www.dinnertool.com/article?id=654
http://spinningbabies.com/
http://southernfood.about.com/od/sweetpotatodess/r/bl1109d.htm www.divinedinnerparty.com
http://www.givingbirthnaturally.com/
http://www.marthastewart.com
http://www.choicesinchildbirth.org/
www.familyfun.go.com
http://www.nheri.org/Latest/Homeschooling-Across-America-Academic-Achievement-and-Demographic-characteristics.html
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Birth Announcement Wall
Maksim would like to introduce his new little brother:
FĂŠliks
born Nov 30, 2011 at 6:15pm weighing 7lbs 6oz
Proud parents, Rachel and Patrick Gervais
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Home Grown Parenting in the North
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