Can you Believe Who Has Turned Two.5 Years Young?

It was two and a half years ago that the kids were born (December 11, 2009). I don't think that I've ever published their birth story but if you want a little information, you can catch up on the (new) "About" page.

Where has the time gone?


I know that everyone says that but seriously, I don't remember the first 1.5 years (luckily I kept a detailed journal and this blog). Breastfeeding for two and missing Alexander kept me pretty busy and I can count the number of times that I left the house on one hand (not including our four month trip to Mexico).

Just to give you a baseline as to what the kids are doing, I thought that I'd include a copy of the milestones for 30-monthers issued by Nipissing District.

Top Ten (in our Books), Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day!

Besos, The Zoo

Kitchenaid Mixer {Giveaway}, US Only, 06/30

Are you looking to "mix" up some great recipes for summer BBQ's and picnics? Journeys of The Zoo is excited to be a part of a great giveaway that will help you cook up a great time!

I've teamed up with 2 Kids and a Coupon and a great group of bloggers to bring you the "Mix It Up!" giveaway. One lucky winner will win the Kitchenaid Mixer shown above (ARV $350 at Bloomingdales) provided by American Family.

Enter to win using the Rafflecopter form below. Join the "American Family" and get they'll give you a free e-cookbook of gourmet brownie recipes!

Sorry, this giveaway is only open to legal residents of the United States. Please read the "Terms and Conditions" section of the Rafflecopter form for more details.

THE RAFFLECOPTER FORM HAS BEEN REMOVED

This giveaway is listed on Blog Giveaway Directory and Contest Girl.

Good Luck!

  Besos, The Zoo

Vintage Baby Revival Keeps Legs warm {Review}

You know how I always talk about how I appreciate it when people send me a personalized note with their gift. Well, Melissa from Vintage Baby Revival has really outdone herself. Opening up her package made me feel like a "kid in a candy shop". There were so many little items and each one was thought out and functional. And of course, she included a personalized note.

My prize, two legwarmers knitted by Melissa herself. The yarn (colours) were so beautiful and unique that it was difficult to pick. But, sacrifice myself I did and chose green and reeces pieces.

Each of the legwarmers came in their own owl "burlap like" drawstring bag (with logo/name stamped on the front) and a shipping tag attached (with removable string) that contained her name on one side and washing instructions/material content on the back.

Seeing as these are 75% wool and 25% nylon, she suggests machine wash cold and dry low. I love that it's so easy. I don't know about you but if something says "dry clean only or hand wash" I either don't buy it or throw it in the washing machine anyways and hope for the best.

Also included was a business card with an owl on it (I'm sensing a theme), one of her creations on the front (an owl) and balls of yarns on the back. The little personalized note came on card stock (love that too) with an owl stamp and a little strip of (wallpaper like) paper.

I absolutely loved the owl theme and DIY-like feel throughout.

Summer might be just around the corner, but around here, we can wear leg warmers all but two months of the year. Besides, it's a fashion statement and we know our fashion (tee, hee).

The only problem was that the package arrived when Nanna was here (I'll have to time things better) and the leg warmers were too cute (totally Melissa's fault!). In turn, one pair was stolen traded (for a not so nice pair). Before you go and feel sorry for me, did I mention that Melissa threw in an extra pair of warmers. Yes, that makes three pairs in total. Her excuse was that I'd had to wait too long to receive them. I think that she's just like that. Truth be told, I can't even remember how long they took to arrive (maybe a few weeks) and besides, I'd told her that there wasn't any rush (apparently that was my fault, smile).

To top it off, Melissa is Canadian and you all know how I heart Canadians. Save yourself the hassle of searching for the perfect gift and just check out Melissa's shop, Vintage Baby Revival. There's something for everyone and if you have a baby in your future, she has some one-of-a-kind items for your little nugget!

Support Canadian!

  Besos, The Zoo

It's Not My Fault. You Should Blame Lysol.

I did the unthinkable.

I posted not one but three pictures of the inside of my toilet.

It's not my fault.

Wait, don't hit that little "x" up in the top right corner yet. Hear me out. Your toilet might just thank you...

Now before you think what a wack job or I would never do that how brave I am. Let me assure you, bravery would have been taking a picture BEFORE I cleaned it.

We live out in Boonyville, Population: 12 (people that is, one of which is "The Sheriff"), 31 horses and 2,678,932 mosquitos (at last count). We take our water from a well so it's hard. Like really hard. Not sure if you've ever seen a toilet after four years of "torture by hard water" (and you won't see one from me, I'm not that crazy, truth be told, I forgot to take a picture, I would totally have posted a picture of that) but it's not pretty.

I'm sure you're thinking, why not just get a water softener and be done with it. First of all, then I wouldn't be able to blog about it, secondly, I love the taste of our water (I love the taste of most water, if you think that water doesn't taste different, well, that's a whole other post), thirdly, have you ever showered with soft water, might as well have a shower in slime and last but not least, it costs money and I'm frugal.

Over the years, we have tried everything. Well, we thought we'd tried everything. We'd even gone into Ottawa to purchase several products from specialty stores (at over $20 a flush). None of them worked. And not for lack of elbow grease. We pretty near sprained joints that I didn't know existed trying to get the bowl clean.

It was so bad that people would ask us "what's up with your toilet". In the back of their minds, I'm sure that they were dreading the response, I mean, what if I said it was well, you know.

That was until we found this.

It all started when Uncle Eric showed up and handed me this blue bottle and told me to try it. "It can't hurt to try" he says, "besides, it's on sale". Three days later (I'm sure you're thinking, four days, two weeks, who cares, besides, we wouldn't even know anyways, well, the timing matters), I managed to coordinate the application of said product before bedtime and in the morning, presto, half the stains were gone and I hadn't even torn a rotator cuff. The next night, I drained out some of the water and applied again. Almost gone. And the next night, you guessed it, it was as new as the day we bought it (I won't go and say "as clean as" or "clean enough to eat out" of because well, that's gross).

Don't listen to me, you be the judge.

Pretty clean huh! Can you see my reflection in the third picture? Gross Neat huh!

Note that although I live in Canada and therefore do not have to disclose when I've been paid and or sponsored for a post. I was not compensated for this post in anyway (unless those coupons that I cut out of the paper count). I think the fact that there's a sticker across the brands name (which I didn't place there), says it all but just in case. Not that I wouldn't be open to the idea...

Special Note. Since I was able to determine (within one week) that the product worked like a charm, I was able to take advantage of the weekly sale to stock up. But not before I received a "two-for-one" coupon in the mail the day before. Priceless.

I just wrote 3,861 words related to my toilet. Got a problem with that?

Blame Lysol!

  Besos, The Zoo