cvegnad, Author at Working Mommy Journal

October 24, 2013

Conquering My Fears #findlumia

I was going to wait to share these photos with you but I was so proud of myself that I had to share them with you early!

I am terrified of heights. I start to shake and become light headed whenever I get too high or even too close to a balcony or a ledge. I wanted to challenge myself and reach out of my comfort zone to capture a trail area that I have always been afraid to head over to. I took my Nokia Lumia 1020 in hand and headed out there yesterday to explore the hiking trail and hopefully capture some great nature shots.

Here is what I was able to capture while battling my personal fears.

I was shaking here but this small waterfall was so breath taking and so unexpected!

This is where my journey started! A lovely little park area that dogs were running around in.

I was passing underneath the towers when I noticed how spectacular the moon looked outlined against them. So I had to take a photo looking up!

I think the colours in this one say it all!

It was well worth the trip to me! Between the waterfall and the beautiful fall colours – I was in my glory!

What is a fear you would like to conquer?

Disclosure: I received the Nokia Lumia 1020 to participate in the Story Within The Story Challenge.

October 23, 2013

Burlington Skyway #WW

If you have ever driven across the Burlington Skyway you know how congested and awful the drive can be! We went on a hike a few weeks ago and I just fell in love with how beautiful it looks from the ground. It is hard to picture it as the mess of traffic it can become during rush hour!

October 23, 2013

A New Look for PTPA!

I am so proud to be a member of the PTPA blogaholics! This community of parents means so much to me. I found the Parent Tested Parent Approved Community while I was on maternity leave with my second son. Maternity leave was not easy on me – I felt so alone and isolated. It took us a long time to conceive our second child (not by choice!) so I was very anxious when it came to purchasing items for him or even just trying out new brands. Overall I was a mess of nerves!

PTPA became more than just a website to me. I was able to talk with other parents during their chats online which helped ease my loneliness and I was able to read fantastic reviews on products tested by other parents! Not to mention the fabulous blog posts that I still sit through and read through my morning coffee time.

PTPA has welcomed their new website specifically designed with you in mind!

The website is clear and easy to navigate. It still contains all the same great information and the products we love but the layout is a lot easier to follow.

Have you signed up to join the Parent Community yet? By signing up you will have the chance to test and review products before they ever make it to the winners circle. You have the chance to help out other parents! If you would like to sign up you can do so here.

To celebrate the new website, PTPA is having a fantastic twitter party on October 25th from 12pm to 2 pm. Make sure to RSVP so that you can be entered to win some great prizes.

October 21, 2013

Banana Apple Bread

I decided to play around with my Dad’s Banana Cinnamon Bread recipe (gasp! If he knew….) and throw in some apples and a pear. It turned out so well – very soft and moist. The recipe is very similar to the Banana Cinnamon Bread recipe posted with some new tweeks.

Ingredients

3 ripe bananas, mashed
1/3 cup melted butter
1 cup of sugar
1 egg beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon of cinnamon

3 medium apples

1 pear

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350F.

2. Peel and core the apples and pear. Soften the apples and pear by cooking them on low heat in a small amount of butter. Once softened enough to be able to mash with a fork, combine them with the bananas and melted butter.

3. Add the sugar, beaten egg, vanilla and mix.

4. Add the baking soda and salt, mix.

5. Add the flour, mix.

6. Sprinkle the cinnamon on top (add more if you love the taste of the cinnamon – I’m sure I added more than a teaspoon!!) and mix thoroughly.

7. Pour the mix into a buttered 4×9 loaf pan. Bake for roughly forty five minutes to an hour. Always make sure to use a toothpick to check if it is cooked in the centre! Allow to cool and then serve.

October 21, 2013

Finding Small Moments of Peace #findlumia

Life is busy. There is no way to get around it – our days are cemented in the daily routines of school and daycare runs, work, after school activities, last minute grocery stops and so on!

Sometimes it is important to stop, take a deep breath and just absorb in the beauty and calm that surrounds us. It helps to centre me and find inner peace. It provides me with the inner strength that I need to carry on my day.

Sometimes it is as easy as stopping by a neighbour’s garden.

Or stopping to take in the view from a hill top.

Heading down to the beaches of Lake Ontario is always important to our family. It gives us time to really be in each others presence and enjoy our time together. There is nothing more calming then the sound of the waves along the beach.

Not to mention being able to toss rocks into the waves!

The beauty of the sun in the sky as it warms your face is always soothing.

How do you find ways to create inner peace in your hectic lifestyle? Do you find you have enough of these moments?