From Hog Town to Cow Town!

Do you live in Calgary or anywhere close by? Aw heck, even if you live in Edmonton it's worth the drive to Calgary tomorrow, (November 6th) to visit Andrea Trail and her fab Eliza Perry jewellery at the Christmas Trunk Show at Cooper Memorial Hall.   Looks like some fun shopping...wish I were there!

Next week I'm picking up my fab Mommy X pendant, made espically for me by Andrea. Can't wait to share it with you!

On my way to where the air is sweet!

I'm happy to tell you that I'm slightly younger than Sesame Street. Today, my favourite show from childhood (well to be honest, Mr. Rogers was right up there, loved his cardi and sneakers) turns 40 years old. 

I loved Ernie and Bert long before celebrities started making appearances.  And I'm pretty sure that when I was a youngster, Snffaluffagus was simply a figment of crazy ol' Big Bird's imagination. The songs were fab.  C Is For Cookie, Doin' The Pigeon and Rubber Ducky would certainly make it on a Mommy Music MiX today!

Let's celebrate Sesame Street by watching the original opening from the 1970's!

Happy Birthday Sesame Street!!!

Wrap me up!

Some people have a comfort food that they turn to in stressful times. I have comfort fabric; cashmere! You're probably thinking "pppfff, of course she likes cashmere...it's expensive"! But it doesn't always have to be. There are some fab cashmere pieces that you can find for decent prices.

My first cashmere sweater remains my fave. It's a grey Lord and Taylor brand, cross over style. I checked out their web site, but it doesn't look like they have that particular style available anymore. That's too bad or I would buy one in every colour.  I also love the cashmere zip-up hoodie. Too cute. My cashmere lasts. I usually dry clean it every two or three wears. If you're wearing a tee underneath, then you can go even long. My neighbour D swears by hand washing her L&T cashmere, but I'm too much of a chicken to try that. And I hate hand washing.  When the sweaters are on sale they range in price for $79.99 to $119.00 USD. Right now the green back is almost on par with the Canadian dollar. Unfortunatly L&T doesn't deliver to Canada, but it worth the drive down to the Walden Galleria in Buffalo.

I also happen to love cashmere scarves and gloves. This is the perfect time of year for cashmere gloves or mittens. It's not too cold that you need your thermal ski mitts, but it's cool enough that your little fingers will get a tich icy if not covered up.  I found these cute medium weight, long cashmere scarves at another US retailer called Garnet Hill.  I love the black/dusty plum stripped scarf. So cute. And it would look just right with my black Pea Jacket.  These scarves are luxuriously long so they can be wrapped around a couple of times. Love that.  I personally am not into matching gloves and scarves, but if you are then you'll adore the cashmere gloves. I like them because they are long. I love gloves that sneak up my arm. Perfect!

The scarves from Garnet Hill retail for $68.00 US and the gloves are $40.00 US.

If I were a boy...I'd read this!

I know for a fact that there are a few boys who visit my site regularly. First off, thank you. I'm happy you like Mommy X. Secondly, I have something for you today. One of my fave blogs, Beauty Geekwrote a fab post on manly grooming. Check it out here. After you read it, haul out your clippers, your mini scissors and your nose hair trimmers, if you haven't already! You will thank me (for directing you to it), and Janine (for writing it) afterwards.  Girls, you will thank us too!

They blinded me with science!

Every once in awhile I take off my 'administrative mommy' hat and put on my 'get down and really help with the kids mommy' hat.  That day was today. The boys school supports a fabulous Ontario based science program for elementary school children (K-8) called Scientists in School.

Scientists In School is a non-profit charitable organization that fosters childrens interest in science and technology. The students in our school are lucky enough to have this program brought into their classrooms at least twice a year per class. Scientists is funded by our volunteer run Home & School Association.  Every topic explored in class is in line with the Ontario Elementary Science Curriculum. This year is the 20th Anniversary for the Scientists in School program. 

I have been lucky enough to volunteer at least once a year in each of my son's classes. To be honest with you, sometimes I walk out of the class feeling like the school board should cut me a cheque. It's a little like work. Fun, enjoyable work that is.  Today was the exception. Our topic this morning was Kitchen Chemistry. I heard that this was a fun topic, but had hadn't had the chance to volunteer for this one yet.  The kiddies were wee chemists exploring liquids, solids and gasses (no toot jokes, save those for grade 4). Two of the experiments were particularly fun. One was adding two table spoons of baking soda a balloon (through a funnel) and then putting the balloon over a plastic bottle half filled with vinegar. When you empty the baking soda into the vinegar it neutralizes the vinegar and the gas created causes the balloon to blow up. The kiddies, and the parent volunteers loved it! 

The other experiment that was very popular was creating Magic Mud. Magic Mud is a substance created out of cornstarch and water that behaves like both a liquid and a solid. A little messy, but tons of fun. Here is the recipe, but be warned, lay down lots of newspaper and be prepared for a mess. But hey, what's a little mess in the name of science?

Magic Mud

You need:

A medium bagggie

5 tablespoons of water

1/2 cup cornstarch

Plate or container to pour the minxutre into.

What to do:

In a baggie, mix together the cornstarch and water. Seal the baggie and squish it all together. Dump the contents of the baggie and watch the magic happen.

Have fun!