Tuesday, March 29, 2011
My Favorite Canadian
Just in case I ruffled anyone's feathers, remember that I've got a Canadian to look out for now!
Monday, March 28, 2011
More Thoughts about This Continent
Okay, so more thoughts have been tumbling around in my noggin since the last post about buying American or North American products. The thoughts land on both sides of the coin, errrr border, so I'll write them as such.
Remember, these are generalizations. And while I hate generalizations, sometimes you just can't talk about anything without them.
1) In my opinion, one reason why the whole "Buy American" campaign bothers Canadians is because it's another thing that shows how Americans only think about the U.S. That's how many Canadians feel: Americans are extremely nation-centered in that they don't even know anything about other countries, especially the neighboring country that shares a huge border, namely Canada. Yet Canada is the United States' biggest partner. Again, let me quote the U.S. Department of State Diplomacy in Action website: "The relationship between the United States and Canada is the closest and most extensive in the world." And they don't just partner in trade. The two countries also work closely together in defense arrangements, in military actions in Afghanistan, in environmental issues, in energy, and in investments.
2) Sometimes I am really bothered by this Canadian opinion of the United States because I find Canada/Canadians to be extremely self-promoting and self-centered. There are constantly advertisements and commercials stating that the product is 100% Canadian. There are many award ceremonies only for Canadian artists, yet if you look at the award ceremonies in the States, people from all over the world - Canada included - can win. We read a newspaper article once about a music competition in Austria. The author very clearly pointed out that a Canadian got fourth place which was higher than any American had ever placed. Was this the highest a Canadian had ever placed? We don't know but it was higher than any American had!
So what I'm saying is that it seems like Canadians can't believe how Americans don't realize they are so self-centered yet Canadians are blatantly so!
Enough. The purpose of the previous blog post was to make Americans aware of how nation-centered the U.S. can be. But now you've heard a lot more.
Remember, these are generalizations. And while I hate generalizations, sometimes you just can't talk about anything without them.
1) In my opinion, one reason why the whole "Buy American" campaign bothers Canadians is because it's another thing that shows how Americans only think about the U.S. That's how many Canadians feel: Americans are extremely nation-centered in that they don't even know anything about other countries, especially the neighboring country that shares a huge border, namely Canada. Yet Canada is the United States' biggest partner. Again, let me quote the U.S. Department of State Diplomacy in Action website: "The relationship between the United States and Canada is the closest and most extensive in the world." And they don't just partner in trade. The two countries also work closely together in defense arrangements, in military actions in Afghanistan, in environmental issues, in energy, and in investments.
2) Sometimes I am really bothered by this Canadian opinion of the United States because I find Canada/Canadians to be extremely self-promoting and self-centered. There are constantly advertisements and commercials stating that the product is 100% Canadian. There are many award ceremonies only for Canadian artists, yet if you look at the award ceremonies in the States, people from all over the world - Canada included - can win. We read a newspaper article once about a music competition in Austria. The author very clearly pointed out that a Canadian got fourth place which was higher than any American had ever placed. Was this the highest a Canadian had ever placed? We don't know but it was higher than any American had!
So what I'm saying is that it seems like Canadians can't believe how Americans don't realize they are so self-centered yet Canadians are blatantly so!
Enough. The purpose of the previous blog post was to make Americans aware of how nation-centered the U.S. can be. But now you've heard a lot more.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Learning
This past week has been full of Helena learning how to read and write. As you can see, she is very good at spelling her name.
Isn't she advanced?
Actually, this week has been full of smiles and conversations. It's so much fun! Helena greets us with grins and sometimes just wants to lie on the ground and talk to her parents. She also likes to talk with things around the apartment, like today she found the light on the ceiling incredibly chatty. But her favorite conversation partner is Mr. Turtle!
Sorry about the silent video. We're thinking about doing something about that.
A Fun Side Story: I sent this video to my dad last night. He emailed this morning saying he got so caught up in watching Helena that he almost let the water completely fill the sink and overflow on the floor. Oh Papa!
Isn't she advanced?
Actually, this week has been full of smiles and conversations. It's so much fun! Helena greets us with grins and sometimes just wants to lie on the ground and talk to her parents. She also likes to talk with things around the apartment, like today she found the light on the ceiling incredibly chatty. But her favorite conversation partner is Mr. Turtle!
Sorry about the silent video. We're thinking about doing something about that.
A Fun Side Story: I sent this video to my dad last night. He emailed this morning saying he got so caught up in watching Helena that he almost let the water completely fill the sink and overflow on the floor. Oh Papa!
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Mango Season!
I love a good mango.
At first, I didn't. My first trip to Bangladesh had me leaving thinking mangoes taste slightly pine-y and my interest was gone. But the next time I went, oh my goodness. It was high mango season, and one day three of us decided we'd only eat mangoes all day. By the time dinner came around, we all had had enough, but my love for mangoes had not ended.
But what is a good mango? Sorry, but it's not one of those greenish-reddish Haden mangoes you find at grocery stores throughout the year. Of all those mangoes that I've bought, there was only one that was good.
No, the kind of mango you want is this - an Ataulfo Mango. (There are actually hundreds of kinds of mangoes in the world, but I've only seen a few sold in the North American grocery stores I've been to, and these are definitely the best.) It's sweet and no mango strings can be found within.
The way I determine if it's nice and ripe is by the look and feel. I go for a yellow without brown spots mango that has a little give but not much.
photo courtsey of the blog lipsmacking
We call this the porcupine cut. It's a very easy but nice-looking way to serve mango. Or you can cut it in thirds, slice up the mango from the two sides, and chew on the seed!
For those of you who share my love for the mango, here's an amazingly simple and delicious recipe for a mango coconut sorbet from Moosewood's cookbook Simple Suppers:
Slice up 2 mangos and put in blender. Add 1 cup coconut milk (I used light since it was in our cupboard) and 1/4 cup sugar. Blend. Pour into 2 ice cube trays and freeze. When ready to eat, let thaw for 5-10 minutes. Then blend so it's a bit chunky. Enjoy!
At first, I didn't. My first trip to Bangladesh had me leaving thinking mangoes taste slightly pine-y and my interest was gone. But the next time I went, oh my goodness. It was high mango season, and one day three of us decided we'd only eat mangoes all day. By the time dinner came around, we all had had enough, but my love for mangoes had not ended.
But what is a good mango? Sorry, but it's not one of those greenish-reddish Haden mangoes you find at grocery stores throughout the year. Of all those mangoes that I've bought, there was only one that was good.
No, the kind of mango you want is this - an Ataulfo Mango. (There are actually hundreds of kinds of mangoes in the world, but I've only seen a few sold in the North American grocery stores I've been to, and these are definitely the best.) It's sweet and no mango strings can be found within.
The way I determine if it's nice and ripe is by the look and feel. I go for a yellow without brown spots mango that has a little give but not much.
photo courtsey of the blog lipsmackingWe call this the porcupine cut. It's a very easy but nice-looking way to serve mango. Or you can cut it in thirds, slice up the mango from the two sides, and chew on the seed!
For those of you who share my love for the mango, here's an amazingly simple and delicious recipe for a mango coconut sorbet from Moosewood's cookbook Simple Suppers:
Slice up 2 mangos and put in blender. Add 1 cup coconut milk (I used light since it was in our cupboard) and 1/4 cup sugar. Blend. Pour into 2 ice cube trays and freeze. When ready to eat, let thaw for 5-10 minutes. Then blend so it's a bit chunky. Enjoy!
Friday, March 18, 2011
Thoughts on the "Buy American" Campaign
Have you heard about the Made in America challenge that Diane Sawyer and ABC are currently doing? They're trying to teach people to buy more American-made items, which will in turn help create more jobs in the United States.
I would have thought this was a great campaign before. We should be trying to support jobs here rather than in places like China. But since living in Canada, I've heard comments from various people against such American-centric ideas. These thoughts are not directed against the idea of the U.S. helping its economy. No, the thoughts are against these ideas that can really hurt the Canadian economy.
Did you know that the U.S. imported $347.9 billion worth of merchandise in 2010?* Canada imported merchandise worth $264.2 billion from the U.S. That's huge. How huge?
"The relationship between the United States and Canada is the closest and most extensive in the world. It is reflected in the staggering volume of bilateral trade--the equivalent of $1.6 billion a day in goods..."
No wonder some Canadians get a bit frustrated when they hear "Buy American." The U.S. and Canada are each others most important trade partners, and yet Canada is hung out to dry when it's time to help America.
Why can't the challenge be "Buy North American"?
*Stats and quotes come from the U.S. Department of State Diplomacy in Action website.
I would have thought this was a great campaign before. We should be trying to support jobs here rather than in places like China. But since living in Canada, I've heard comments from various people against such American-centric ideas. These thoughts are not directed against the idea of the U.S. helping its economy. No, the thoughts are against these ideas that can really hurt the Canadian economy.
Did you know that the U.S. imported $347.9 billion worth of merchandise in 2010?* Canada imported merchandise worth $264.2 billion from the U.S. That's huge. How huge?
"The relationship between the United States and Canada is the closest and most extensive in the world. It is reflected in the staggering volume of bilateral trade--the equivalent of $1.6 billion a day in goods..."
No wonder some Canadians get a bit frustrated when they hear "Buy American." The U.S. and Canada are each others most important trade partners, and yet Canada is hung out to dry when it's time to help America.
Why can't the challenge be "Buy North American"?
*Stats and quotes come from the U.S. Department of State Diplomacy in Action website.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Birthday Food
Ever put something inside something else and then realize you're going to have a horrible time getting it out? That's what I did with my birthday cake.
I love cheesecake, and it's not really an everyday quick whip-up dessert. So it's my tradition (as of last year) to make a new kind of cheesecake for my birthdays. Last year was Cheesecake Cockaigne - absolutely divine.
This year a Fresh Raspberry Water Bath Cheesecake was on the menu. The cheesecake baked in a springform pan, which is surrounded by boiling water. The water makes the middle and the edges bake evenly, thus making the entire cake deliciously creamy. Plus, there's really no crust.
So, after mixing the ingredients up, baking them, and letting them cool, I decided to put the cake in a plastic container that was just the right size.
Well, the right size to put the cake in. Talk about a hard time getting it out. Luckily, the look of a piece of cake does not determine the taste of the first few pieces, so we were able to still enjoy all of it.
Besides the cheesecake, we went out for brunch at a local creperie to celebrate.
Birthday Mom & Babe with Strawberry Crepes
John's Crepe Omelette
I love cheesecake, and it's not really an everyday quick whip-up dessert. So it's my tradition (as of last year) to make a new kind of cheesecake for my birthdays. Last year was Cheesecake Cockaigne - absolutely divine.
This year a Fresh Raspberry Water Bath Cheesecake was on the menu. The cheesecake baked in a springform pan, which is surrounded by boiling water. The water makes the middle and the edges bake evenly, thus making the entire cake deliciously creamy. Plus, there's really no crust.
So, after mixing the ingredients up, baking them, and letting them cool, I decided to put the cake in a plastic container that was just the right size.
Well, the right size to put the cake in. Talk about a hard time getting it out. Luckily, the look of a piece of cake does not determine the taste of the first few pieces, so we were able to still enjoy all of it.
Besides the cheesecake, we went out for brunch at a local creperie to celebrate.
Birthday Mom & Babe with Strawberry Crepes
John's Crepe OmeletteWednesday, March 9, 2011
More Important Visitors!
Helena is quite the attention catcher! Everywhere we go - at a Polish restaurant, in an elevator, on a walk outside - people look at her and ask questions. I have to say it's some of the most fun attention that I've ever gotten :)
Well, in the past two weeks Helena has gotten a lot of attention from her Dad's side of the family. Grandma came up and was happy to hold her at any time of the day or night. Besides cuddling with her granddaughter, she found time to help with laundry, visit the Art Gallery of Ontario, play Ticket to Ride, wash dishes, go antiquing, finish three books, and more.
Helena not only receives a lot of attention, but she gets a lot of mail too. This is also a lot of fun for her parents, as their mailbox is normally pretty empty, but now there are cards and packages regularly!
Thank you for this very coordinated gift, Great Aunt Fran and Great Uncle Mutz. Everyone was amazed when we saw the pink with brown hearts sleeper matched the pink with brown heart blanket which both matched the pink card which pictured the exact same pink bear. Wow!
Uncle Mutz even came to visit and see Helena in her new outfit! He was quite good with her - she stayed content for quite awhile in his arms.
Anyone else want to visit? We're actually going to be in the Midwest in April!
Well, in the past two weeks Helena has gotten a lot of attention from her Dad's side of the family. Grandma came up and was happy to hold her at any time of the day or night. Besides cuddling with her granddaughter, she found time to help with laundry, visit the Art Gallery of Ontario, play Ticket to Ride, wash dishes, go antiquing, finish three books, and more.
Helena not only receives a lot of attention, but she gets a lot of mail too. This is also a lot of fun for her parents, as their mailbox is normally pretty empty, but now there are cards and packages regularly!
Thank you for this very coordinated gift, Great Aunt Fran and Great Uncle Mutz. Everyone was amazed when we saw the pink with brown hearts sleeper matched the pink with brown heart blanket which both matched the pink card which pictured the exact same pink bear. Wow!
Uncle Mutz even came to visit and see Helena in her new outfit! He was quite good with her - she stayed content for quite awhile in his arms.
Anyone else want to visit? We're actually going to be in the Midwest in April!
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Our Ongoing Saga
To say that breastfeeding has not been easy would be the biggest understatement of my life. Helena started life sucking on her tongue, so she received most of her nutrition the first week of her life through finger-feeding.
Little Lena Finger-Feeding
During that time I was also nursing with a shield, which meant that her second week of life was spent weaning her off the shield. Thankfully she was able to wean off of it fairly easily, which is the opposite of the warnings in all the books.
Then the torture began, but I thought it was just me getting used to nursing. After a week and a half of it, I was walking away from my hungry daughter due to my fear of the pain.
With research, we discovered I was suffering from Raynaud's Phenomenon caused by breastfeeding. Think 24/7 burning. Started taking meds and the pain while not nursing began to decrease. We also learned she had a tight tongue, so we chose to have it released. A horrible thing to experience with your babe, but the pain during nursing began to decrease.
Things were going so well until two nights ago. The pain started to begin again and got stronger through the day. Then last night Helena absolutely would not latch.
Despite of this, I am blessed:
-to be surrounded with nursing resources. It's amazing to think Helena & I have spent four hours with lactation consultants working on breastfeeding and not spent a dime.
-to be in Toronto where the famous Jack Newman Breastfeeding Clinic is located, that they were able to see us so quickly, and that they released her tongue. [Their website is a great resource!]
-to have a sister-in-law who lent me an electric pump.
-to have two parents who have not only been praying for me non-stop for a few weeks now but also who have spent hours on Skype with me as I bawled about the pain, my feelings of failure, and my fears.
-to have a baby who is growing healthily despite all the complications with her food.
-to have a wonderful husband who set aside his homework and own personal desires during his reading break and focused every moment of it on breastfeeding.
Who knows what will happen today...I'm not looking forward to finding out. But I can say that I am incredibly blessed.
Little Lena Finger-FeedingDuring that time I was also nursing with a shield, which meant that her second week of life was spent weaning her off the shield. Thankfully she was able to wean off of it fairly easily, which is the opposite of the warnings in all the books.
Then the torture began, but I thought it was just me getting used to nursing. After a week and a half of it, I was walking away from my hungry daughter due to my fear of the pain.
With research, we discovered I was suffering from Raynaud's Phenomenon caused by breastfeeding. Think 24/7 burning. Started taking meds and the pain while not nursing began to decrease. We also learned she had a tight tongue, so we chose to have it released. A horrible thing to experience with your babe, but the pain during nursing began to decrease.
A tongue-tied baby's mouth
Things were going so well until two nights ago. The pain started to begin again and got stronger through the day. Then last night Helena absolutely would not latch.
Despite of this, I am blessed:
-to be surrounded with nursing resources. It's amazing to think Helena & I have spent four hours with lactation consultants working on breastfeeding and not spent a dime.
-to be in Toronto where the famous Jack Newman Breastfeeding Clinic is located, that they were able to see us so quickly, and that they released her tongue. [Their website is a great resource!]
-to have a sister-in-law who lent me an electric pump.
-to have two parents who have not only been praying for me non-stop for a few weeks now but also who have spent hours on Skype with me as I bawled about the pain, my feelings of failure, and my fears.
-to have a baby who is growing healthily despite all the complications with her food.
-to have a wonderful husband who set aside his homework and own personal desires during his reading break and focused every moment of it on breastfeeding.
Who knows what will happen today...I'm not looking forward to finding out. But I can say that I am incredibly blessed.
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