Uncategorized – Page 103 – Mom on the go in Holy Toledo

Perfect Alternative to Elf on the Shelf?

December 1, 2015December 2, 2015momonthegoinholytoledo

As many of you know I sent the Elf on the Shelf packing last year. My reasons were many, click here to read more. Though, I must admit, it did feel like something was missing last year. I missed the added enthusiasm the children displayed; their eager eyes every morning, and that extra dose of magic that added to the already exciting anticipation of the birth of our King. I wanted a tradition that centered on the true meaning of Christmas. I really despised the whole idea of; if you are good you will get something…um, hello, what about the overflowing joy that fills your heart when you give? I want to be able to ask my children, how are you coming along on your Christmas list? And their response to be something along the lines of, good, I just have Nana and daddy’s gifts left to buy, not, I have narrowed it down to 12 things I want! I figured there was nothing like that out there and then I happened upon a kit in the clearance section of the local Family Christian Bookstore, The Christmas Angel kit.

The kit came with a book, toy stuffed angel, golden dust, and tin for storage. Book & stuffed animal combo sound familiar? The basic idea is that the Christmas Angel comes in the evening when the children sleep and writes a message, an act of kindness to complete, in the golden dust (glitter that is spread in the bottom of the tin).Hmmm….I was totally skeptical!

I stood there in the clearance section for a lengthy amount of time having a conversation with myself. (I am really hoping I am not the only one who does this…always keeping it real, no matter how embarrassing).

I asked myself the following questions:

If I purchase this am I simply replacing one ridiculous tradition with another? Will this tradition encourage a selfless Christmas or foster selfishness? Is it about the receiving or the giving? Is this tradition practical, will we be taking on too much during an already very busy season?

My responses to my own questions (I know, I am a total dork):

If I purchase the Christmas Angel kit I will have more flexibility and control over the tradition since I would be the one writing the messages, the acts of kindness, in the gold dust. I could also alter the messages if need be, if we do not have time to complete an act of kindness one day I could instead leave a message expressing affirmation for a random act of kindness a child facilitated the day before (it is so important we acknowledge and praise a child when they do good, far too often we only focus on punishing them when they do something bad). This tradition would definitely be focusing on the giving, making someone else’s day brighter, and fostering a selfless Christmas. Conclusion, this new tradition would not be ridiculous, this tradition would fill our hearts with the joy of giving, and this new tradition would center on something real, the Christmas Angel.

So I bought it!! And the day after Thanksgiving we read the book and I introduced the children to our new tradition!

How was it received by the children?

The children were beyond elated. We read the book and all three of them, including our 10 year old, were enthralled. They even decided on a schedule of who shall sleep with the stuffed angel each night. Then they made a special request before they went to bed, they asked if they could write the angel a thank you note in the golden dust, it melted my heart to hear them request such a beautiful thing. Thus began their communication with the Christmas Angel.

CLICK HERE to purchase your own Christmas Angel Kit and checkout some fun activities!

Need some acts of kindness ideas:

Examples of what we will be doing include, make an invitation inviting our neighbor to dinner, donate toys & books, decorate cookies at a nursing home, sing carols with friends, let a sibling go first, help mom without being asked, take stuffed animals to the children’s hospital, make a thank you note & treat for local firefighter and police, thank your guardian angel, etc. Keep it as simple as possible; remember this is supposed to add to your joy not take away from it. And don’t forget to entwine some messages of affirmation and praise for those random acts of kindness you children do.

What are some acts of kindness you do as a family during Christmas? What traditions do you have during this joyous time of year? Please share.

LEGO Bricks & No Brakes!! I was a nervous wreck!

November 23, 2015momonthegoinholytoledo

You know those childhood memories that come up around the Thanksgiving table? The ones that have everyone laughing till they practically cry? Like when the van door fell off in Bar Harbor, Maine or when the Taurus broke down on the way to Chicago and the entire family had to squeeze into the tow truck cab, (both are one of many of my childhood travel memories). Well, we made one of those for our kiddos this past weekend. It was the classic tale of two vehicles going somewhere and only one returning home.

It all started Friday afterschool. Kiddos and I packed up the Yukon with the road trip essentials: LEGO bricks, dolls, Floam, music, snacks, etc. and we headed to Troy, Ohio to meet up with my husband who had been there for work. It was going to be a blast, kiddos could swim, we could relax, spend the night, then the next morning, (which just so happened to be our eldest birthday), we would head into Columbus for the LEGO Creativity Tour!! The drive down was so smooth; my 2001 Yukon drove like a champ that day! We arrived, had dinner, swam, watched cable (our house is cable free, so this is an added hotel perk), went to bed, and the next morning the REAL adventure began!

My husband and I both had to drive from Troy to Columbus because we would be going home after the LEGO Creativity Tour. So we headed out, it was a gorgeous day, sun was shining, a few clouds in the sky, traffic wasn’t too bad especially considering Ohio State played that day. On our way into town the car made a weird noise, right around Plain City, Ohio, then it seemed fine. We got into Columbus and suddenly the dash flashed the low fuel sign & anti-lock brake sign pair that with the fact that I had no idea where any gas stations were & no access online and I became one slightly nervous momma. So I did the only logical thing, prayed & we got our LEGO on! Woot! Woot!!

LEGO Creativity Tour!!!

As we walked in we were greeted by these awesome Lego bricks sculptures! They we absolutely fascinating! The time, energy, effort, and creativity that went into those was inspiring!

Then our eldest wanted to check out the YouthDigital booth that offered kiddos aged 8-14 the opportunity to make their own sword and then use it in the Minecraft world, it was kinda the coolest!!

Kids Learn to Code, Program & Create!

Highly Interactive, Effective and Fun Learning Platform

Youth Digital’s breakthrough learning platform provides kids and teens — between the ages of 8 and 14 — a comprehensive learning experience that is amazingly fun, highly interactive and extremely effective. Students watch videos, respond to questions, earn badges, complete quizzes, and attempt challenging assignments as they step toward mastering critical technology skills and professional-level software. Kids learn to code, program in Java, make Mods for Minecraft®,

animate their own movies, design and print in 3D, develop their own mobile apps, create video games, and more. Source

Our next stop, LEGO Friends!!! The girls absolutely adore LEGO friends, they know all the girls names and have practically all the sets.

They were quite eager to build a house for Heartlake City. The coolest part was once they turned in their house to the LEGO person in charge in return they received a small LEGO kit. I was extremely thankful for that since I know our preschool has a tough time parting with her creations.

They literally had something for everyone, including video games. All 3 of the kiddos lost their minds when we boarded a truck that was filled with huge screens, video game consoles and sweet games. They had the option of playing Minecraft or LEGO and they chose LEGO. Even our youngest got in on the fun, and she has not stopped talking about it since, lol!

We stopped by the Art Gallery…..

Built more SWEET things with LEGO bricks…

Became LEGO Club members….join today, it is free, get FREE magazines, and other fun activities for kiddos! CLICK HERE TO JOIN!

Sadly, we did not get to everything, our time expired. But no worries, just means we will have to go checkout LEGO KidsFest 2016 in Cleveland!! For tour dates and cities, CLICK HERE for info.

We headed out of the parking garage and with every turn the Yukon seemed to get worse and worse, the grinding, loss of anti-lock brakes, eventually it felt like the wheel was literally going to fall off…pair that with the inclement weather and semis and this mommas was a nervous wreck!! We made it as far as Waldo, Ohio. I officially know where Waldo is, lol! (Sorry, I couldn’t resist!). We stopped for dinner at an adorable little spot known for their bologna sandwiches, G & R Tavern and then called AAA. The Tavern had huge pieces of pie and since it was our daughter’s 10^th birthday and I just so happened to have candles in my purse we made certain we sang Happy Birthday….this is one birthday she will never forget.

This will be one of those stories that comes up at the Thanksgiving table for years to come and I am certain we will laugh till we cry (perhaps not this Thanksgiving, the wounds are still fresh, but next year for sure).

FYI-AAA is another MUST HAVE membership for ALL families on the go! They came to our rescue within 45 minutes and towed us back to Toledo (100 miles!…covered under the Gold Membership). AAA membership makes a great Christmas Gift…CLICK HERE for more info.

Keto Pasta!

November 20, 2015November 20, 2015momonthegoinholytoledo

My latest obsession, the Spiral Slicer!! Why? Because sometimes a girl has a real hankering for pasta! I have enjoyed all the splendors the Ketogenic lifestyle offers, the clear-headedness, weight loss, rich delicious foods, clearer complexion, etc. However the one thing I miss more than Reese’s Pieces, merlot, and maple syrup is PASTA!! Angel hair, linguine, and good old-fashioned spaghetti!!! But with all those carbs what’s a girl to do!?! Get her Zoodle on! ( the name even has me chuckling, zoodles, lol!).

What are zoodles? Zucchini that has gone through a spiral slicer and produces long strands that resemble pasta. You’re probably thinking, yeah right!? Let me tell you, I was skeptical too. But then I tasted it and it was amazing! The key is to cook the zoodles so that they are al dente then the texture is perfect.

So how does one prepare zoodles?

Directions:

Rinse off/clean zucchini (If you wish you can remove the green so that it resembles the look of noodles more).
Place zucchini in spiral slicer and slice
Once the entire zucchini has been sliced get out a pan, place on range on medium heat, drizzle olive oil in pan place zoodles in pan and heat for roughly 4 minutes turning frequently.
Add your “goodies” to your pasta…pesto, marinara sauce (watch for sugar!), shrimp, meatballs, etc.
Enjoy!

Do you have a Spiral Slicer? Any favorite recipes? Please share.

Keto Sushi

November 16, 2015November 16, 2015momonthegoinholytoledo

Hi y’all, hope you are making it a great one today! So, I have received a lot of messages from you awesome followers expressing an interest in the ketogenic diet, more specifically requesting that I share what I eat on a daily basis. First off let me say congrats to all of you, the first step towards a new journey is research and gaining knowledge and that is precisely what you are doing, thus, you totally rock!! Second, I am more than happy to share what I eat however, since this is not strictly a food blog I don’t want to bombard the blog with food thus; I will try my best to incorporate at least one or two post on Ketogenic foods a week, and I will start with lunch today, I made what I like to call Keto Sushi! It is so good that I literally started eating it while photographing it, lol!

So, the mains staples for the Keto Sushi are seaweed wraps and cream cheese. You can add whatever you like to the center; things I enjoy include cucumbers, avocados, and my all-time favorite, and what I included in it for lunch today, smoked salmon. It should be noted that you can use any type of salmon, filet or canned, you can use any fish, even meat if you like, or keep it simple and just have seaweed and cream cheese.

So, how do you make the sushi? Lay the seaweed wrap on the plate, place the cream cheese in the center (you will need to cut a slice and place it in the center, DO NOT try to spread, it will not spread) then layer the remaining items on top, and then simply roll it up. I like to cut mine in two but you don’t have to, whichever way is easiest for you, there really is no right or wrong way, just enjoy!

This is a real simple to prep meal, so much so that my son and daughter like to make this for lunch the night before school. It travels nicely in a container; just make certain you keep it refrigerated or put an ice pack in your lunch bag.

Feel free to post any questions, suggestions, and/or advice in the comments. I so enjoy hearing your feedback! Cheers!!

Ladies Night Out Recap & Giveaway

November 14, 2015momonthegoinholytoledo

Last night marked the first ever Mom on the go in Holy Toledo Ladies Night Out!!! And it was an absolute blast!!!

The evening started with a fun little game that got the ladies mingling. Everyone had an index card pinned to their back with a name of a popular chick flick written on it. The object of the game was to mingle around the room and ask others yes or no questions in order to receive clues to help solve the mystery of the movie title pinned on their back. The titles included, The Notebook, Thelma & Louise, Dirty Dancing, Footloose, You’ve got Mail, etc. And the best part, the winner received a prize!

Then everyone grabbed refreshments and the lovely Tricia shared this new, awesome, trendy meets classic jewelry line KEEP Collective.

I was so impressed with both the style and quality of this personalized jewelry. The concept of KEEP is so simple. You pick a bracelet or necklace (she called them Keepers), and then you slide charms (she called them Keys) on that represent the “things” that matter to you — family, faith, friendship, hobbies, etc. I am always on the lookout for awesome, quality, customizable gifts and KEEP Collective is PERFECT!!

And you won’t be able to resist designing something for yourself, too. She has some great ideas on a beautiful Mom Bracelet that is so different than what you’ve seen before. (So, tell your husbands to call Trish! Trust me; you will thank me for that tip!) You can place an order anytime through this link: https://www.keep-collective.com/soc/x5cz7

You could be the Mystery Hostess…….

Want to know the best part of all of this? If you weren’t able to make it to Ladies Night Out you can still participate in the Mystery Hostess party. If you place an order using the link above, you (yes, you!!) could possibly win the Hostess Rewards for the entire party! Tricia told us that she works hard to help her “hostesses” raise $1000 in retail sales, so that means at least $250 in Hostess Rewards (you read correctly, you could purchase one bracelet and if your name is pulled you could receive $250 in rewards….all you have to do to be entered in the hostess pool is buy one product). Who couldn’t use an extra $250 to spend at Christmas time?! If you want to see some design ideas, check out the pictures on her business Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/TriciaDzierwaJourney/. I am simply in love with KEEP Collective!!!

After our love affair with KEEP Collective I had a little surprise for the ladies, a pop quiz on chocolate, Ireland, and even a few random questions. And I do believe I stumped them on a few, the winner, the person with the highest score, which was 8/12 won one of the beautiful painted wine glass samples that Uncork the Artist provided. Which transitioned us into the final event that evening, we painted wine glasses!!

Let me tell you, painting a wine glass is much harder than it looks! But it was a challenge the ladies happily accepted and nearly all accelerated their skill (I was not one of them, lol!) we have some very talented artist in the bunch, check these out…..

And the cherry on this legendary ladies night out sundae, we each received massages throughout the evening by the beautiful Joy at Rey Sunshine Massage

I left feeling so refreshed, rejuvenated, and so blessed to have had the pleasure of meeting so many amazing ladies! But I am slightly bummed that everyone wasn’t able to make it, so in an effort to extend the spirit of the Ladies Night Out I am inviting all of you to participate in this SWEET giveaway!!!

WIN $25 to KEEP Collective…..

To Enter:

Click here and show Tricia from KEEP Collective some love
Request a mock up from Tricia…she has a virtual design tool where she can design something for you
Comment with your answer to this trivia question: On average, what do you do 15 times a day? a. Laugh b. Burp c. Break wind d. Lick your lips

Winner will be randomly selected November 23^rd @ 11:59pm.

Disney On Ice presents Dare to Dream WIN Family 4 pack Tickets

November 12, 2015November 24, 2015momonthegoinholytoledo

Classic meets contemporary in Disney On Ice presents Dare to Dream! Join your favorite Disney Princesses in a celebration of 75 years of Disney Princess stories, including two-modern day princesses, Rapunzel and Tiana; the always elegant Cinderella; and the princess who started it all, Snow White. Laugh at Disney’s hilarious hair-raising escapade, Tangled, as Rapunzel; her unlikely companion, Flynn; and Maximus, the Captain of the Guard’s determined horse; embark on an uproarious journey that takes adventure to new lengths!

Travel to the enchanted forest with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs as Snow White escapes from the Evil Queen in her search for her one true love. Watch as fanciful dreams become reality as Cinderella meets her Prince Charming, with a glass slipper fit for an unforgettable fantasy come true. And boogie to the beat of the bayou in a magical, musical journey that celebrates the story of The Princess and the Frog with Princess Tiana and Prince Naveen.

All your favorite princesses take to the ice in a spectacular finale at the ultimate Disney Princess event of a lifetime! Experience the beauty, sparkle, and spirit when Disney On Ice presents Dare to Dream comes to your hometown!

Show Times Schedule: At Huntington Center Toledo, OH

Date Morning Afternoon Late Afternoon Evening

Thursday, Dec. 3 7:00 PM

Friday, Dec. 4 7:00 PM

Saturday, Dec. 5 11:00 AM 3:00 PM 7:00 PM

Sunday, Dec. 6 1:00 PM 5:00 PM

Exclusive Savings:

Opening Night tickets are just $12 – No code needed! Kid’s tickets start at just $12! – no code needed

(Discount does not apply to Rinkside, Front Row, or VIP seats. No double discounts. Service charges, handling, and facility fees may apply. Child discount applies for ages 2-12).

Ticketing Information:

Price Level Price

Rinkside $55.00

VIP $32.00

3rd $20.00

4th $15.00

Order Tickets Here: http://www.ticketmaster.com/venueartist/65566/1599972

CONTEST!

Mom on the go in Holy Toledo is giving away a family 4 pack of tickets

To be entered complete the following steps:

ONE- must complete 3 of the following, you can decide which 3:

1.Share this post on Facebook. (simply click on button at the bottom of page)

2.Share this post on Twitter #DisneyOnIce (button at bottom of page)

3.Show Disney On Ice Facebook page some love

4.Follow Disney On Ice on Twitter

5.Share this post on Pinterest (button at bottom of page)

TWO- Comment below expressing what your favorite Princess/favorite Disney Movie is.

Winner will be randomly selected November 20th @ 11:59pm. Winners name will be announced the 21st on this blog post thread and on Mom on the go in Holy Toledo’s Facebook page.

Why the obsession with Pork Rinds? (Includes 3 crowd pleasing Keto recipes!)

November 3, 2015November 4, 2015momonthegoinholytoledo

If you would have asked me last year at this time if I would eat Pork Rinds let alone do a segment about Pork Rinds my answer would have been heck no! My reasoning would have been because of all the fat. Back then I was a fat hater, I wouldn’t eat anything with fat, fat was the enemy, fat was what made you, well, fat! Right!? Wrong! (Here is a clip of the segment)

Fast forward a year and I have gone Keto, (the Ketogenic Diet…when your body becomes a fat burner instead of burning off sugar)! Which means fat is what consumes most of my diet. That’s right, 80% of my diet comes from fat, and the remainder is protein, fiber, and net carbs. Notice something missing from my diet? Sugar! Sugar is a thing of the past for me. It wasn’t an easy path but one I am so glad I went down, the results have been astonishing. I didn’t realize what a hold sugar had over me, over my brain, and my body. I will NEVER go back. I am pleased to announce that the side effects of a sugar free, low carb, high fat diet has been weight loss, 15 pounds lost thus far, I have more energy, and my mind is so much sharper.

Eating low carb, high fat, and often high calorie deliciousness was tough at first. Sure it was easy for me to consume the healthy “normal” foods so to speak, like salmon, pork, spinach, eggs, avocadoes, smashed cauliflower, etc. The tough part was when we would have pizza night, spaghetti & meatballs, when guest would bring chips and dip, or basically anything that involved bread, bun, or breading. Solution to the problem, Pork Rinds!!

Here are 3 AWESOME Low Carb High Fat recipes that have really helped me feed my cravings

Faux Fried Chicken

Ingredients:

8 chicken legs (drumsticks seem to be everyone’s favorite but you can use thighs, wings, breast, etc.)

1 bag Rudolph’s Pork Rinds crushed (hot & spicy if you are serving adults or regular for kiddos)

3 eggs, beaten

1 Tablespoon hot sauce

Directions:

Place eggs, hot sauce, and chicken in bag or bowl for 10 minutes. Remove legs one at a time and roll around in crushed Pork Rinds. Grease pan, place legs on pan, and bake at 400 for 15 minutes on each side.

BBQ Pork Rinds Pizza Crust (can use regular Pork Rinds for a pizza with pizza sauce, I just have a tough time finding sauce with no sugar thus this has become my fav pizza!! And it is great to serve to guests too!)

Ingredients:

1 bag Rudolph’s BBQ Pork Rinds crushed

1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

3 eggs, beaten

Directions: Mix all the ingredients well, press into a nonstick greased pan. Bake at 350°F for about 8 minutes. Add your toppings, I mix a cup of shredded chicken with a cup of ranch dressing (I make my own so I have control over what’s in it), about a cup of shredded chedder cheese, and slices of bacon on top then re-bake until cheese and toppings are hot. This recipe can easily be doubled but just bear in mind that it is VERY filling!

This is a good one for Homegating/Tailgating or on a Tuesday afternoon, lol!!

Beer Dip with Pork Rinds

Ingredients:

2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese softened

2Cups Shredded Cheddar Cheese

1 packet ranch dressing mix

½ cup beer (or more…depends on how many carbs you want in it and how thick you want it)

Directions:

Toss everything in the food processor and puree!! After a few minutes check the thickness and if need be add a bit more beer, once it is to your liking remove and place in bowl. Grab a pork rind, spoon dip on the pork rind and enjoy! It gives you that same satisfaction as a chip, the crunch and crispiness is perfect!

Interested in learning more about the Ketogenic Diet? Here are a few resources I found quite useful.

https://www.drberg.com/ketosis

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_434ERRbkj8

http://mariamindbodyhealth.com/why-you-should-consider-a-ketogenic-diet/

A Harvest Birthday Bash!! You won’t believe what brought me to tears!

October 23, 2015October 23, 2015momonthegoinholytoledo

A special little lady turned 5 back in August, yes, I said August. Haha! Funny, I always thought it would be awesome having a birthday in August mostly because mine is in freezing cold winter, January! Well, it turns out that the week before school starts is a bad time to have a birthday. Our budget was blown on back-to-school clothes and supplies and to be honest I didn’t have it in me to plan a party during that hectic time of year. We seemed to add an afterschool activity as each week progressed. Thus 8 weeks later and we are finally having that party and that is the story of how an August baby celebrated her birthday in October. I suppose it is better late than never!

Total confession, I have always wanted to have a Fall Harvest gathering, it always looks so romantic in the magazines, the colors, the activities, etc. so my wish came true! And let me tell you, it was everything I thought it would be and more!! I could not have asked for a more beautiful day, it was sunny, temps in the mid-70s, and just a nice light breeze, it was perfect!! It should be noted that I was a bit concerned when I was literally wearing my winter coat and gloves while we prepared for the party the week before.

I had inquired what our little Gracie girl would like to do as the craft for her party. Her response was one that while exciting and fun would require some thinking on my part. She requested that we make pumpkins into Cinderella carriages. Let me tell you, those pumpkin carriages were a challenge, one I graciously accepted. 5 trips to Hobby Lobby, 3 returns, 2 trips to the Dollar Store, a lot of trial & error, and 1 quick stop at Jo-Ann Fabrics later and we had all the supplies we needed to make the pumpkin carriages!!

I ended up locating the Styrofoam pumpkins at the Dollar Store, SCORE!!! It was a good thing they were only a dollar because I ended up eating away at the Styrofoam of the first few with spray-paint. FYI, when spray-painting Styrofoam do make certain that the can is at least 8 inches away, it will require you purchase more paint because you will have to apply more coats/layers but at least your project will not be destroyed. The doll rods, wheels, and most everything else was purchased at Hobby Lobby, I did have to make a stop in at Jo-Ann Fabrics on a Sunday to get more spray paint after my little mishaps. But it all turned out well in the end, challenge accepted, completed, and I gained some knowledge along the way, total a win-win!

As I stated the day of the party was gorgeous!!! All her friends arrived, we chatted, kids played, and then the festivities began!

The children assembled and decorated their Cinderella carriages……

We played fun games….

And then it was time for the cake!! The birthday girl requested that each child make their own cupcake. I have to admit my first reaction when I heard this was one of disappointment, how could we not have a beautiful cake? I had this glorious image in my head of her in front of a perfectly adorned cake and all her friends gathered around singing. I suggested to her that we have cupcakes to decorate and a cake to blow out the candles. And her response literally brought me to tears!!! She looked up at me with those big baby blue eyes and exclaimed “Mom, it goes God, others, then yourself. God would want me to give everyone their own special cupcake. And can we please get everyone a candle because I am excited for the day they were born too!!” And that sealed the deal, plain cupcakes decorated by a bunch of 4 & 5 year olds it would be!! There isn’t a cake fancy enough in this world that would have meant more to me than those words that came out of her little five year old mouth. So everyone decorated their cupcakes and received a birthday candle!

Then it was time for gifts. I have noticed that gifts have become a sensitive topic. There are those who request a donation instead, and I think that is a wonderful option, and we might do that one day too.

The reason why I allow gifts now is because I believe it helps the children learn how to politely accept a gift, to truly value the thought behind the gift, and to learn how to graciously respond to receiving a gift they may already own or perhaps do not favor. It is my hope that they learn these qualities when they are young so as adults they can appreciate every person’s gift, no matter the monetary value, because let’s be honest some of the best gifts are the ones that hold no monetary value!! Speaking of gifts, it would be amiss if I did not mention the amazing moms who attended, they helped out so much, taking pics, cleaning, being on piñata duty, etc. they allowed me to enjoy the party too, I am so blessed to have them in my life.

I have to admit, I was a little sad to see the day end. It wasn’t like one of those romantic Fall Harvest gatherings you see in the magazines, with the colors, the activities, etc. it was better!!

Modern Day Life from the Perspective of a Pilgrim…where did we go wrong?

October 19, 2015October 19, 2015momonthegoinholytoledo

This past weekend, thanks to Netflix, the History Channel, and 3 loads of laundry I had the opportunity to watch an episode of, America the Story of Us. The first episode discusses the establishments of the American colonies. I have to admit, it was nice for my mommy brain to have a refresher course on the establishments of Jamestown and Plymouth Colonies, especially before Thanksgiving. I have a feeling the kiddos will have a lot of exceptional questions for me, it’s wise that I start reviewing now.

As I sat there folding laundry I found myself being drawn to one particular character, Susanne Winslow. The episode addressed all the hardships the Pilgrims faced, the famine, disease, and the brutal winter when more than half the passenger that made the pilgrimage died in an epidemic referred to as “The First Sickness”. Susanna Winslow’s husband, William White, was one of the passengers who died the first winter; she remarried to Edward Winslow, whose wife Elizabeth had also died the first winter. Susanne and Edward’s was the first wedding in the new colony. They had 5 children, although only 2 lived to adulthood. It is said that roughly 10% of the US population can trace their lineage back to Susanne & Edward Winslow. I found this to be quite interesting and it got me thinking, what if Susanne Winslow could see us now? What would she think of our modern ways, of our modern women in comparison to the colonial women?

If Susanne Winslow could see us now…..

I think she would be absolutely blown away by the inventions of electricity, heat, indoor plumbing, cars, and all the awesome modern day appliances. I have a feeling she would be particularly fond of the idea of not having to empty chamber pots! I am certain she would be mesmerized by the conveniences we have like ovens, range, refrigerator, washer, & dryer. Considering the fact that most colonial women spent practically their entire days’ worth of time preparing fires, cooking, making candles, washing clothes, etc. one would think that us modern day women would really appreciate these conveniences but sadly we still complain about the amount of laundry, having to cook, and having to go shopping. Speaking of shopping, I do believe Mrs. Winslow would pass out when she saw ALL the options we have in terms of grocery stores and the abundance of food available. Food that we didn’t have to raise, tend, kill, and clean!

Famine is definitely not a problem like it was that first winter in Plymouth. Though Mrs. Winslow might be surprised to find out that with all this food we are a nation that suffers from malnourishment. That we have too many processed foods in our diets, that we have genetically modified our food, that we are consuming so many calories yet they are lacking in the nutrients, vitamins and minerals our bodies need. Our relationship with food has dramatically changed since the first colonist. We have become so obsessed with it; we no longer eat to live but rather live to eat. We are destroying our organs with these convenience foods. We are making ourselves sick.

Speaking of sick, sadly only 2 of the 5 children Mrs. Winslow had survived to adulthood. She might be overjoyed to find out that we now have immunizations against various diseases that would have wiped out generations in the past. Though, she might also be surprised to find that some Americans choose not to vaccinate their children from these diseases. She might also be staggered to find that American woman now have the option to homebirth or birth at a hospital. And yet we forget what a blessing a hospital can be if mother or baby is in distress. We have also forgotten that there are some mothers who cannot breastfeed and how fortunate we are to live during a time when fortified formula is available.

I do believe Mrs. Winslow would think that thanks to all these modern day conveniences like appliances, grocery stores, electricity, plumbing, etc. that we would have so much wonderful free time to spend with our families, playing music together, telling stories, playing games, etc. She would be extremely disappointed to find that this is not true. That we have instead overscheduled our children’s free time with organized sports and activities, that screens have become our focus, television screens, gaming systems, phones etc. that families may physically be in the same room but they are far too often not spending the time together. The quality family time that one would assume all these modern day conveniences would offer us is not so, we have lost our focus somewhere along the way.

Channeling the life of Susanne Winslow, one of the first Pilgrims has really opened my eyes to how far we have come and yet how much we have lost along our journey. We have come so far and have been blessed with so much and yet we still complain, find the negative, argue, etc.

It is fascinating how quickly our modern day lives can be put into perspective when comparing them to the hardships of colonial women. From now on I am making a valiant effort to be grateful for all my modern day conveniences and will be using my time more wisely, I kinda feel like I owe it to those strong, hardworking, persevering, determined, and amazing colonial women.

Toledo Museum of Art did it again! This FREE Exhibition will have you Dancing!

October 16, 2015October 16, 2015momonthegoinholytoledo

When one hears the word Ballerina what comes to mind? Elegance, grace, and beauty!? That is precisely what is displayed in the Toledo Museum of Art’s latest exhibition Degas & the Dance!

As my little ballerina and I entered the Canaday Gallery we were greeted by Degas’s Little Dancer of Fourteen Years. The 38-inch tall figure cast in bronze depicts Marie van Goethem, a student in the ballet school of the Paris Opéra and it sets the perfect tone for the exhibition.

We enjoyed walking around and admiring the sculptures, painting, and pastels (especially my favorite, The Dancers which just so happens to be located in my favorite Museum, wink, wink) but what really captivated my little ballerina’s attention was the section of the exhibition that illustrated archival material and gorgeous costumes from the Toledo Ballet’s “Nutcracker” productions.

And finally the pièce de résistance of the exhibition, in an adjacent gallery there is an actual dance studio!! Complete with music, ballet barre, dance floor and mirrors, the only thing missing is YOU!!

That’s right; you get to be a ballerina! Don’t know the moves? Have no fear; there are instructions on the wall. And you can even try to pose as Degas’s bronze sculptures. My little ballerina had an absolute blast!!

But the fun didn’t stop there! Afterward we made our way downstairs and happened upon this awesome little artistic interlude.

Then we were off to the TMA Family Center where they offer FREE art projects for children 1-12 that coincide with certain programs and exhibits at the Museum as well as an awesome cognitive play area! (Click here for days open, hours, and themes for the Toledo Museum of Art’s Family Center). Degas must have really inspired her because she chose to paint a ballerina.

After all that painting she was a bit parched and thankfully since the exhibition was FREE and the Family Center was FREE we didn’t feel the least bit guilty stopping for lunch at the Toledo Museum of Art’s Café.

And we might have hit up the gift shop and I might have purchased an adorable little ballerina for my adorable little ballerina, I couldn’t help myself, the price was right!!

Since we got a taste we can’t wait to go back for more!

We are marking our calendar for….

The Toledo Ballet Open Rehearsal (Admission is FREE)

(Oct. 16^th, Oct. 23^rd, Nov. 6^th, Nov. 20^th, Dec. 4^th, Dec. 18^th, & Jan. 1^st)

6:45pm-8:30pm in the Canaday Gallery

Watch dancers from the Toledo Ballet rehearse excerpts from one of the upcoming productions including, “The Nutcracker”!

The Great Art Escape: Dance in the Peristyle (Admission is FREE)

Dec. 26-Jan. 3, 2016: 2 p.m., Peristyle

The Toledo Museum of Art comes alive during its annual winter celebration The Great Art Escape, including the following dance performances at 2 p.m. in the Peristyle:

Dec. 26: Ardan Academy of Irish Dance

Dec. 27: El Corazon de Mexico Ballet Folkloric

Dec. 31: Aegela Centers for Middle Eastern Dance

Jan. 1, 2016: Aha! Indian Dance

Jan. 2, 2016: Toledo Jazz Orchestra with swing dancers

Jan. 3, 2016: Toledo Ballet, Awkward Girl

And last but not least The Toledo Ballet’s, The Nutcracker ($49 and up, Perfect Christmas Gift for all ballerinas at heart!) at Stranahan

Dec. 12th 2:00pm

Dec. 12th 7:00pm

Dec. 13th 2:00pm

“Art is not what you see, but what you make others see”. Edgar Degas

What will you see? Please share via #DegasatTMA