New Site

Hey folks! I've rolled out the new site. Head on over to www.jiggleymommy.com from now on to keep up to date on all the happenings in my world.
Don't forget to check out The Jiggley Mommy Facebook page, as well!
xo

Updating and Revamping

Well folk - The Jiggley Mommy Blog has gotten a little stale. Soooo... I'm updating things and revamping what my page will look like. I'm hoping that the majority of this will be done by the end of the month, but some updates (like getting pretty new pictures of me and the Jiggley Boys) will probably take another month or so. So please be patient as I'm building (pretty much) from scratch and trying to make The Jiggley Mommy into a cozy little spot you'd like to visit while sipping your tea.
~Tina

Sausage in a Swimsuit

The only thing I hate more than swimsuit shopping is actually wearing a swimsuit. When you are completely self-conscious about your size or how you look, wearing swim wear can be an anxiety envoking event. No matter the suit, I almost always end up feeling like an overstuffed sausage. Feeling like this then results in two things; the entire time I'm at the pool I feel like every single person there is looking (and laughing) at me, and/or I just don't get in the water.
This second result, is sad. I'm practically a single mother to two amazing little boys. They LOVE swimming. THEY don't care if I'm a size 6 or 16 in a swimsuit. When they are in their thirties, they aren't going to be remember that I didn't like to go to the pool because I felt awkward in a swimsuit. No! They're going to remember that Mommy didn't take them swimming.
<insert a lightbulb here>
How many things have I NOT done, because I let my size or shape negative self image get in the way? How many beach days? Or picnics at the park? How many bike rides? How many times did I just not feel pretty enough or fun enough or small enough or... enough enough? ENOUGH!
Tonight after supper I'm taking the boys swimming. I'm going to stuff myself into my bathing suit. And yes, I'll be uncomfortable, but my boys won't know that. I'm going to splash with them and blow bubbles with them and it's going to be awesome. And when they're in their thirties and trying to figure out what kind of parent they want to be, I hope they'll remember all the times that Mummy did fun things like take them to the pool, or on bike rides, or on picnics at the park.

A Disappearing Act

For the last year - well, longer than a year - I have been slipping away. I have had fewer playdates/coffee dates. I've texted more than called. I've pictures or updates, but haven't been there for those pictures, or events, or updates. I thought a big part of that was the baby, and maybe it is/was. Either a nap routine, or screamy infant, or just the thought of loading an unhappy baby into a carseat and going anywhere, kept me at home more. I also thought it could be that some of the people who I wished to hang out with, reconnect with, started back to work or got busy or moved. So I sat at home, trapped under the weight of a baby who wouldn't sleep or eat well, under the weight of practically being a single mother, under the weight of not having a regular sitter or family around that can help take a little of the pressure off me. I felt myself starting to disappear. This girl woman who I had barely started to get to know, before the arrival of the JiggleyBaby, was slipping away. Her goals, her dreams, her ideas, not mattering under the pile of laundry and pumped breastmilk and missed phone calls.
I don't want to disappear anymore. I want to be a friend and a woman and a photographer and a writer AND a mommy AND a housewife. I can be all. I need to start taking care of ME. I need ME to become a priority again. I have amazing ideas swirling around my brain - it's time to try to make those ideas come alive. I am a great friend - it's time to spread my love around a bit. I have vision and imagination and drive... I can do anything. It's time to figure out what I want to be when I grow up - and I'm not talking about a career. I mean, it's time to figure out who I want to stand next to me in my life. Who I want to celebrate my successes with and who will mourn my failed attempts with me. It's time to see what I want to devote my extra time to, because there really isn't a whole lot of it - so whatever it is, needs to be AWESOME. It's time to love the person I am, embrace the inner me and find out what she loves in this world. It's time to stop disappearing.

Resolutions

Searching through the interwebs, I came across a little article about New Years Resolution statistics. Now, I don't believe that these statistics can be truly quantified, because many people do not share their resolutions and many many many more people don't share if they don't succeed at their resolution. I did find it interesting though, and even if not completely scientifically accurate, I think it does show the trends, the ups and the downs of New Years Resolutions (NYR).
The number one NYR is, unsurprisingly, to lose weight. This is followed by getting organized, spend less/save more, living life to the fullest and staying fit and healthy. In this particular study, spending more time with family ranks way down at the bottom in the number 10 slot. Now the interesting numbers; according to this study only 8% of people who make NYR have (complete) success. Another 49% of those who make NYR have infrequent success. It also states that those who make explicit resolutions are 10 times more likely to obtain their goals, than those who make broader resolutions.
So what does this all mean? It means that your New Years Resolution doesn't mean anything unless you are SPECIFIC about what you want to achieve and you are always working towards it. I do not buy into making New Years Resolutions. In my past, a NYR was just something that I dove into for the first part of the new year, all or nothing, only to come up sputtering and flailing. Always. Failure. So why set yourself an unattainable, lofty goal on this one special magical day? Is it because this day follows on the heels of all the holiday guilt surrounding food and laziness (oh blissful post Christmas pajama days!) and over spending? Exactly.
You don't need a magical one day of the year to start something. You don't need a January 1st, or a 1st of any month. You don't need a Monday to start. You don't need a morning either. You can start something... anytime you want. You can also start and restart the very next day.
If you are a Resolution setter - make your resolution specific. Know how you will attack this goal and make it your bitch. If you plan on spending less, how are you going to go about doing that? Budgets, savings accounts, coupons? If you plan on living life to the fullest, what does that mean to you? Travelling to exotic places, volunteering more, spending quality time with the people you love? If you resolve yourself to losing weight, how will you do it? Join a gym, start running, start going to yoga weekly, change the way you eat, join a program? Just be specific.
As for me - there are a few things I'd like to see happen in the New Year. I'd like to spend more one on one, quality, time with all of my boys; date nights with the husbeast and time alone with my little monsters. I'd like to travel somewhere this year, whether for a weekend or longer, I'd like to take a vacation that isn't just centered on visiting our family members who live out of province. And my most important goal; I'd like to continue my work of learning to love myself. And that means taking more time for me, not letting the demons in my head win every time I slip up, reaching out to friends and always telling myself that I AM worth it.

If you are a part of the JiggleyMommy facebook page - stay tuned. This year I want to try to have more contests, more games and challenges, and more recipes.

Kale Chips - Yay Chipster!

Lately I've heard a lot of "ohh kale chips and sooooo good!" and "oh yeah! Kale chips are my totally guilt-free guilty pleasure" and "omnomnomnom". To be honest, I wasn't sure I could get on board with kale chips. It's crunchy leaves, how exactly can that be a satisfying snack food?!

So when Donna loaned me her Chipster and asked me to review it, I thought this might be a good chance to give them a try. I bought a small batch of kale and chucked it into my crisper. A week went by and I looked at the bunch of slowly wilting leaves and again thought "how can this leafy crap make a decent snack?!" Finally, the kale was on it's last legs. It was getting droopy and sad looking and needed be used or tossed. So what the hey, I ripped off some leaves, put them on the Epicure Selections Chipster, and popped them in the microwave for 3 minutes. When it beeped, the leaves didn't outright look very different, but when I picked one up I was surprised at just how crisp it had become. Down the hatch! I popped it in my mouth and... it wasn't bad. It wasn't a potato chip good, but it was a light, crunchy, not too bad, sort of good. I ate another and then all of them, and thought to myself, maybe I could get on board with kale chips. And really, if you don't add a crazy amount of salt or extras, they really are a guilt-free snack. I just ordered my very own Chipster and I can't wait to make kale chips again... the next test will be if either of the JiggleyBoys will eat them.
Oh and just a heads up - they can be a bit crumbly, and they aren't really the greatest for dunking in thick or heavy dips.

Do you want your own Chipster to experiment with? Remember that November's #JiggleyMommysFavThings is EPICURE! You can place your order HERE with Donna, and remember to add your order to the Jiggley party so that you can be entered into some great draws at the end of the month

Jiggley Mommy Gift-Giving Guide for the Christmas Challenged

Every year I am a bit under-whelmed by my husbands gift giving abilities. It's not that he isn't generous and thoughtful; it's that he usually can't get shopping until days before Christmas. He's usually rushed and agitated by the holiday crowds. Usually, after an hour or two, he'll throw his hands up in the air and just grab me a giftcard to La Senza (partly hoping that I'll trade in my comfies for something he'll enjoy a bit more, I'm sure!) or Chapters. I'm almost positive that I am not the only woman, the only wife, the only mom, out there who goes through this every year. "Oh yay! Another housecoat and book store gift card! Thank you family", as they tear into gifts that you have lovingly thought about, purchased and wrapped, knowing it would be cherished.

So how about a little help? Most, if not all, of these products and services are available locally in Red Deer and Central Alberta, unless there is noted shipping within Canada.
Whether you want a little something extra to fluff up a stocking or you are completely clueless as to what to put under the tree this year - here are a few ideas that should please the Mommy, the Wifey, the Woman (or even some men) in your life!

• Cool Beans Bus gift cards! Cool Beans does specialty coffees and paninis AND is a really cool place to just hang out. We #LoveTheBus!
• Angel Faces Make up Artistry - Jamie does Ah-MAZING makeup, plus she does MOBILE waxing and pedicures! How perfect is that for the busy mom who can't wrangle a sitter and get out of the house for a little pampering?!? Gift cards and prepaid services are available - check out her facebook page for prices.
• Pampered Chef - for the foodie in your life, PC makes high quality cook and bake ware and pretty much ANYTHING else your kitchen might need. Their stoneware is top-notch and I highly recommend it to anyone who will listen (if you are on my personal facebook page, then you are probably tired of me touting the awesomeness of my stoneware). PC ships anywhere in Canada. Order before December 8th, to make sure it gets to you in enough time for Christmas.
• Epicure - Another for the foodie in your life. You know what I hate? I hate those baskets/boxes of super processed cheese and mustards and what-have-you, that are kicking around during the holiday season. Epicure is all high quality ingredients, many of which are low to no sodium. There are gift packages available or order up a bunch of different spices and make your own yummy gift basket! The Hipster Chipster Collection is on my wishlist this year (hint hint, nudge nudge) - If you are ordering right now, you can attach your order to the Jiggley 'party' and be entered to win a prize this month! Epicure can ship anywhere in Canada! 
• Goodbye My Muffintop - ok, this is a tricky one. They are a small, weight release business. But they are WAY more than just a diet company. Not only do they offer a program for releasing extra weight, they have supporting suppliments (I currently take their Adrenal Support which helps flip "the bitch switch" as Kelly has so lovingly stated), and they are amazing supportive women. Their aim is for embracing the beauty that is you, in all shapes and sizes. You release way more than just weight with this company, you release your preconceived ideas of beauty and food relationships and how your body works. This is not the kind of gift that you can just get and put under the tree (just imagine the "ohh, so you think I'm fat?!" surprise reaction), but it's a wonderful gift for someone who has maybe been thinking about it, but hasn't taken the next step to actually purchasing the products. 
• The Art of Lauren Cowles - if you are looking for a one of a kind, statement piece - check her out! Lauren's mixed medium artwork is beautiful and original. She also plays host to a wonderful Be-YOU-tiful Art retreat. Check out her facebook page or website for info on her available pieces (I recently saw some awesome stamped leather bracelets on her page!) and when she's got shows or retreats in the works. 
• Photography Package - Most mum's have a bazillion pictures of their kid(s) and or their families, but just how many of those pictures are they actually in? Once in awhile I'll get my hubby to snap a picture of me or me and the boys and I'm always disapointed with it. He'll snap a few quick shots and I'm either getting into position, my eyes are closed or his angle is just flat out WRONG for me. So why not gift your lovely with a photo package, where she can not only be in front of the camera, but she can get photos captured by a professional who knows how to highlight what needs to be highlighted and diminish areas that she might be a little more sensitive to? (Like for real I never thought of myself as having a second chin or such an amazingly stubby neck before my hubby clicked a few pictures of me) I highly recommend Amber Bourett Photography, for fun, easy-going, family portraits (She's done our last 2!) - She's also amazing for birth and newborn photography. 
• The Gift of Giving - Something that touches my heart, is if my hubby pays enough attention to things that I am passionate about. Lots of those things include helping other people, or trying to brighten someones day, somehow. You could make a donation in someones name to a charity or to a cause that is meaningful to them. There are a ton of different organizations that you can do this with. Two that are close to my heart right now are: Tales for Tots - Each $5 donation gets a book for a child spending time on the PEDS unit in Red Deer, and Cystic Fibrosis Canada

**None of these companies, services or people have paid or compensated me in anyway to endorse or sell their products/services. They are people/services/products that I, personally, believe in and stand behind. 

Operation; No More Boob To Bed (2 week update)

Tomorrow will mark two weeks since I finally threw my hands up in the air and declared our house a sleeping house. Things have gone really well. JiggleyBaby was waking up most days at around 5, but I would resettle him and he'd go back to sleep until somewhere between 6-6:20am. And although, I didn't really want to be getting up then, I thought it was a relatively small sacrifice since I was getting about 6 hours of uninterrupted sleep in one swoop. Then one morning at the beginning of the second week, he wouldn't go back to sleep with a lay down and bum pat. He wouldn't even go back to sleep after I picked him up for a hug and kiss or for a little snuggle and rock in the glider. Since the clock was creeping closer and closer to his 6am wake up, I decided just to feed him, but make sure he stayed awake. So I turned on the night light and I nursed... and he was HUNGRY! He gulped. He snuggled in and drank and drank and drank. After 20 minutes (one of the longest nursing sessions he's done lately), he pointed to his crib. I turned off the night light, gave him a hug and a kiss and laid him back down. HE SLEPT UNTIL 7:40AM!!!!!!!!!
It was totally understandable! In the months leading up to our sleeptraining, he was awake and nursing (or at least snacking) 4+ times a night. Of course he was hungry! That's like announcing after breakfast, that there will be nothing for you to eat or drink until supper. So I started feeding him at 5am, and he's been sleeping until 7-7:30 most mornings.
Last night was our worst night yet, and it wasn't nearly as painful of nights past. He fussed at around 1am, but went back to sleep on his own. Then woke crying and upset at 2. I left him for 10 minutes to see if he'd slowly gear down and maybe fall asleep, but he was getting louder and more upset. I tried to give him a cuddle, but that didn't help much, so I gave him a little (awake!) snack and tucked him back in. He was up again briefly at 4:45am, but settled himself, and up for the day at 6:10am. He's got two teeth that are just about through the gum and because JiggleyBoy had Beaver Scouts last night, our bedtime routine was really off. So either of those things could have contributed to the off night.
This week we've got immunizations and likely will be getting our flu shots (flu nasal sprays for the boys), so my fingers are crossed that we can get back on track and have as few bumps in the sleep-training road as possible. Stay tuned for the one month update!