Sara is So Cinnamon-Sweet (a word from our sponsors)

Hi friendly friends! I want to take a moment to introduce you to Sara, awesome-sauce sponsor of The Bird's Nest. Her blog, Cinnamon Bubbles, is full of personality and vibrancy - go check it out!

Hiya The Bird's Nest readers! I'm Sara and I'm the Evil Mastermind...I mean writer behind Cinnamon Bubbles. I'm 24 and I live in New Jersey with M & D & my giant furbaby, an Akita called The Intimidator (or Dator for short.) Trust me, he lives up to his name but he is a big sweetie. I am the other half of Sarah. (Sara & Sarah, imagine that. YES it does get confusing after a while.) and we've been together for a little over a month now. I'm a nerdy, geeky girl and I'm not afraid to show it. What about the blog, you ask? Cinnamon Bubbles is a lifestyle blog, that has been running for about ten years now. Of course, it went though a lot of transformations to get to where it is now and I really enjoy sharing a window into my life with the world. You meet so many fabulous people! (and some not-so-fabulous, just like anything else!) I'd love for you to come along and join me too! I don't bite....hard!

Manic Monday - Piercing bumps and Babies and Puppies

I call Mondays "Manic Mondays" because I plan to be ALL OVER THE MAP and bounce from tidbit to tidbit.

• I got my nose pierced a few months ago, and now I totally have "the bump" beside the piercing. I accidentally yanked it about half out when wiping a runny nose a few weeks ago. After picking up some tea tree oil (which I was secretly just wanting a reason to buy for years), it seems to be improving. There will be no photo of the bump, and for that, you're welcome.

• Baby Bird loves laying on a blanket outdoors and feeling the breeze. He smiles up a storm out there. 

How adorable is this piggy blanket! It was a hand-me-down which I fell in love with. 

• Hubby and I were supposed to see the new Batman movie yesterday, but due to some illness we were out babysitting. So, K went with a friend (which I'm happy about - he totally deserves to go out without me and Bird but never does) while I went shopping with Bird.  I only half wanted to see the movie anyway, since such movies aren't really my thing.

• Baby Bird got some new toys today! He didn't have much that is age-appropriate before 6 months. Does anyone listen to those age thingies on the boxes? I totally do, but I can't always understand the difference between why something is appropriate for 3+ months or 6+ months.

This little guy is Jacques the Peacock.

I have been obsessed with getting Jacques for Baby Bird for about a month now. Don't ask me why I NEEDED to buy him this toy, but I did.

A cute piano-thinger for Baby Bird

I wanted to get Baby Bird something for tummy time, because he is just so bored of everything else.

• Funny story about Jacques the Peacock - I bought him, along with a Pepsi - at a department store yesterday. When the cashier rang it up, I wasn't really paying attention, but it sounded like she said $2.09. Jacques was a solid $22 toy, so I had no idea what happened and I wasn't thinking fast - like I said, wasn't paying attention. So I paid, left (thinking if it really didn't ring up, it would set off the theft sensors at the door, which is didn't), and looked at the receipt only to find that the peacock didn't scan. Why she didn't catch her error, I have no idea. I pondered for a few minutes - I got out free and clear with a free toy, through no fault of my own. Do we keep it and say nothing? So I texted my sister-in-law with a "What would you do?". As soon as I hit send, it struck me that if I even had to ask what I should do, then I should clearly take it back and pay. So I did - otherwise I'd have felt terrible.

• K and I took Baby Bird to church yesterday - an Anglican parish in our neighbourhood. We aren't really church-going folks, but Baby Bird needs to be baptized, and I also believe he should be raised going to church so that he learns about the faith he will be raised in, and later on in life he can decide for himself whether church is for him (or synagogue, or temple, or whatever he chooses). We went to the 8:30am service, and apparently that is the "sedate" service (otherwise known as the senior's service, judging by the other parishioners in attendance). We were welcomed warmly and I plan to return.

• Baby Bird met a puppy on Friday! The puppy is a Golden Retriever - Nova Scotia Duck Toller mix, and he belongs to my friend Erin.

Baby Bird with Brooks

Sunday Social Link-Up

I'm participating in Ashley's and Neely's Sunday Social link-up, and guess what? It's my first EVER link-up! How exciting!

1. What is your dream job?

I want to be a career counselor, and my ultimate goal is to have my own business doing just that. I start my post-graduate college program in September (Squeeeeee....so nervous/excited!)

2. If you had just won the lottery and didn't need to work for money, what would you do with your time?

I'd spend oodles of time with my family, volunteer as a career counsellor part-time, travel, decorate and re-decorate, and generally be completely fabulous all of the time.

Trip to London 2009. If I won the lottery, I'd spend lots of time here.

3. When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?

The first thing I remember actually really wanting to be was a pilot, and I didn't get that idea until Grade Six. It's the reason I joined Air Cadets, and actually, I did end up getting a private pilot's license. Ultimately, I decided that flying for a career would not be a wise choice because I was always just a little too nervous.

4. What piece career advice would you give to someone just starting out in your field?


Could this link-up BE any more perfect for me? I work in Human Resources, and I would tell anyone to be sure you are prepared to do your company's bidding when you get into this line of work. It's definitely difficult sometimes to tow the company line when it's against your personal values or opinion to take certain actions. This can include dismissing employees, giving or withholding bonuses/raises, and more.

5. Biggest Pet Peeves either in life or in blogging or at work


My biggest pet peeve in the entire world is one-sided friendship. These are the people who make sure that every interaction is all about them.


More typical pet peeves include people who can't figure out how three- and four-way stop intersections work (the one at the end of my street is particularly bad), and women with under groomed, over groomed, or poorly shaped eyebrows.

6. Biggest Fears


Since becoming a mother, my biggest fear is anything that could tear my family apart. Illness, death, or any other event. And of course the pinnacle of this is if anything were to happen to my Baby Bird.

Liebster Award

Tiffanie over at Life with the Little Man bestowed a blog award upon me! Hop on over and show her blog some love, folks; she is great.

What is the Liebster Award you might ask? Liebster means "dearest, beloved, or favorite" in German.  This award is awarded from one blogger to another as a way to give a shout-out, of sorts, to up and coming blogs of 200 or fewer followers.


When accepting the award, I am asked to:

• Post 11 random facts about myself
• Choose 11 deserving bloggers and tag them in my post.
• Tell the chosen bloggers that I’ve tagged them.
• Answer 11 questions the tagger has asked me, and give 11 questions to the people I’ve tagged. I'm not allowed to tag back the blogger who chose me

11 Random Facts about Moi:

My Baby Bird Tattoo

(1) I'm from a fishing village outside of Halifax, Nova Scotia, and I really didn't enjoy growing up there. I moved out as soon as I could.

(2)  I have two tattoos (one is memorial, another is for Baby Bird) and my nose pierced. 

(3)  I absolutely love McDonald's cheeseburgers, but I hate all other types of burgers, including homemade. Gross, I know, but I really enjoy the delicious grease. 

(4)  I started taking ballet lessons in January 2011, stopped in June, and will be returning in September. 

(5)  I used to play the piano and the clarinet. I say "used to" because I never make the time to do so anymore. 

(6)  I got my private pilot's license in 2003, but didn't continue flying due to the cost of renting planes. 

(7)  I was in Air Cadets as a teenager, and was terribly shy before I joined the program. Now I love public speaking (weird, right?).

(8)   I'm an only child - as a child, it didn't bother me at all, but as an adult, I wish I had a sibling. 

(9)  I love swimming and water sports. 

(10)  I have travelled to the United States, England, the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, and France. So far, London, England is my favourite city. 

(11)  I am absolutely terrified of death - funeral homes and all things funeral-related creep me out.

The 11 Questions that Tiffanie at Life with the Little Man has asked of her recipients:

(1.) Why did you start blogging? 
I'm always drafting written words in my mind, so blogging seemed like the perfect outlet for all that. I find blogging instead of keeping a personal journal helps me to frame everything in a more positive and constructive way, and if I just happen to help out someone else going through similar struggles, all the better.

(2.) Pop or Coke.... or just soda? 
Pop! 

(3.) Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 
I'd like to be a business owner and have two children in five years.

(4.) What state are you from? Do you like living there? 
I'm Canadian, and from Nova Scotia. I love Nova Scotia for so many reasons, but I'm starting to feel like I could use a change. K. is in the Royal Canadian Air Force, so forced change in surroundings is never too far in the future. If only I could transplant all my family and friends when the time comes to move.

(5.) Favorite song your digging right now?
 I really like Loveless by Said The Whale

(6.) What was your favorite vacation?
 So far, our whirlwind 48 hour trip to London, England to see U2 is my favourite. It was a surprise trip for me (K. is the best hubby ever. Believe that.), an incredible city, and the whole experience was amazing.

(7.) Are you a crafty person? 
No. I try from time to time, but something almost always goes poorly and looks sloppy.

(8.) What type of things do you blog about?
 I blog about my little boy and family, life as a mama, and do the occassional product review when the urge strikes.

(9.) Do you have any social media spots for your blog? 
I can be found on Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest - all the links are over the right-hand side.

(10.) Do you prefer to read the book or wait for the movie? 
It depends. If I knew about the movie first, I like to watch it and then read the book (because the book is ALWAYS better, except in the case of Nicholas Sparks books). 

(11.) Favorite snack? 
I like all of the snacks. Nom nom nom.

11 Fabulous blogger to whom I'm passing along the Liebster award:


Ang @ Juggling Act
Lacey @ ...And They Call Me Mommy
Jennifer @ Grits and Moxie
Nadette @ Eat, Read, Rant!
Natasha @ Bridges Freeze First
Sarah @ A Cat-Like Curiosity 
Sinead @ Sinead in the Sun
Kendra @ Loose Leaf Dreams
Jess @ Jess and the Boys
Sami @ The Lotus Thrives Away
Caitlin @ The Little Mama



And finally, the 11 Questions you need to answer if you're receiving the Liebster Blog Award from me:

1. What is your favourite blog post that you've written so far? Link it here.
2. If you could re-live your high school years, would you?
3. Sweet or salty foods?
4. Did your family have pets when you were growing up?
5. What is your number one can't-live-without item while travelling?
6. Do you prefer to fly or drive when taking trips?
7. What is the square root of 81? (Haha..the real question is do you like math?)
8. When did you write your first blog post ever (even if it was a blog before this one)?
9. Do you enjoy working out, or is it something you have to make yourself do?
10. What is your favourite meal?
11. Have you ever visited my home turf, Nova Scotia?

What Having a Baby Taught Me About Risk Taking

I was adamant that I would be a terrible mother. I had no experience with babies, no motherly instinct or inclination, and considered myself to be terribly selfish. I spent my pregnancy grieving the life I was leaving behind, and terrified of the role I was about to take on. I felt that bringing a child into this world was a huge risk, and one I was terrified to be taking.

When the baby came one glorious day in March, my entire world lit up. Motherhood is nothing if not demanding, but pays dividends. The risk I took to bring Baby Bird into the world was more than worth it. Even if it hadn't quite worked out perfectly (if Baby Bird had been born with an illness or disability), I certainly could never have regretted bringing him into the world.

The best risk-reward scenario I ever took

It seems that I get ideas of what I might want to do in life from time to time, and that when they don't happen, it's almost certainly because I am too scared to take the risk. This ranges from the simple:

"I would like to get my nose pierced, but no, I can't (can I?)"

..to the difficult:

"I would like to start my own business" (This is terrifying on so many levels).

So what is it, exactly, that being a mother has taught me about taking risks?

• Taking risks is hard. Once you take the plunge, it can take a lot of time, loving care, and hard work.
• If you put all of yourself into an endeavour, and you listen to that inner voice, you will not be disappointed in yourself.
• The outcome can be wonderful and fulfilling beyond your wildest hopes and dreams

I still have to remind myself nearly constantly that, without risk, there can be little reward.

• I'm taking a risk and returning to ballet classes. This is a low risk, but I'm afraid that I'll be the most out of shape and the largest person in the class. The plus is that I've been in the class before, I know how much I love it, and I know how little it matters what size/shape I am. Added bonus: I get to play the "I recently had a baby" card.
• I'm taking a risk and starting a full-time college program in September. The risks are that it will take some financial finagling to make it work (already done), and that once graduated, I'll have trouble finding work in this field to gain experience. The payoff is that I will one step closer to doing something I am passionate about for a living, and one step closer to being able to own my own business.
• I'm taking a risk by planning to be a business owner in the not-so-distant future. This is a high-risk endeavour, financially and personally. The payoff will be autonomy, doing something I am passionate about, and having a flexible working arrangement. 

Why not adapt this thinking to other situations to which we don't often attribute any degree of "risk"?

• Living a healthy lifestyle - I put this on hold so often that I've recently come to understand I must interpret some kind of risk, or else why would I let myself down so often? Risk - failing, or even scarier, SUCCEEDING. Sometimes we fear success simply because it means the unknown. This was the case with motherhood for me. I was terrified of losing my old status quo.
• Living more generously - this is risky because there is a tendency to believe that I will give, give, give and never reap any reward. However, I have only to look at the wonderful people in my life - who are generous, kind, and always there for me - to know that I am already receiving the payback. 

Tell me about the biggest risk you've taken and how it worked out for you. What did you learn from taking risks in your life?

It's Ok Thursday

Today is Neely and Amber's one-year-anniversary of It's Ok Thursdays! They have a fantastic giveaway going on for those who link up. I'm excited to participate for the first time in this link-up. Congrats, Amber and Neely!

It's OK..

..to lay around in the bed with the baby most of the morning.

..to never make my bed

..to have eaten convenience foods every day for the last three weeks. I'm so looking forward to a good home-cooked meal.

..to wear my hair in a pony tail every day because if I don't, the baby will pull it. Side note: every morning I scoop up Baby Bird, completely forgetting my hair is not tied back, and spend the next two minutes trying to untangle hair from baby fingers while wincing.

..to go window shopping a few times a week but never actually buy anything, despite wanting all of the things.

..to drink decaf at night simply because you're dying for a cup of coffee just for the taste. K. would disagree - he thinks drinking the juice from burnt beans is a nasty habit.

..to have my pedicure half grown out but be too lazy to remove the rest of it properly

..to hand the baby to the husband as soon as his boots are off after work

..to have an unhealthy addiction to Goldfish honey grahams.

..to have baby fever again, even though that's virtually insane and SO NOT HAPPENING until Baby Bird is about three. So glad I know a few preggos so there will be new babes around in not too long.

Wordless Wednesday

Finger-moustache knit by my Mother-in-Law