Elfred - The Elf on the Shelf

A New Family Holiday Tradition

This year, we had a new special visitor to our home.  He is an elf, and we adopted him.  We named him "Elfred".  He is a special scout elf sent from the North Pole.  He watches the kids during the daytime to see if they are being good, and magically returns back to the North Pole every evening to report back to Santa Claus.  He returns back to us every morning.  Sometimes he gets back early, and surprises us.  We can't touch him, or else the magic may not work.  

Here is Elfred with his little girlfriend.  ♥

He had been chumming with the Nutcracker and Mistletoad 

the previous days.  He looks very happy.

Last night, Elfred wanted to do something a little special for us. 

Today (Dec. 24th) was the last day he spent with us before returning to the North Pole.  

He won't be back until next year.  He has to report back to Santa one last time

 and help him get ready for his big trip tonight.  Here he is working on a special surprise.

 He must have worked hard early this morning.  

He put toilet paper streamers and ties all over the dining room lights

 and he even put it on some appliances and door knobs!

He even coloured the milk a lovely shade of purple!

When we woke up, we found the kitchen decorated so nicely 

with toilet paper streamers and ties! What a delight! 

You can see Elfred in the top left hand corner.  

That's the empty toilet paper roll beside him.  

His clothes are hung up to dry on a line in the top right corner.

 Here are the decorations from Elfred's point of view.

We have to say good-bye to Elfred, he leaves us tonight.  

Until next year!

Have a very merry Christmas and all the best for the new year!!

- Angela G. Gentile

Big Geek Daddy

I came across a website called, Big Geek Daddy, and I found a couple of videos that were just amazing.  I wanted to share one of the videos with you.

5-year-old piano player (prodigy) plays a piano for a woman who is 101.  It is so moving.  I love to see interactions between older and younger generations.  It warms my heart and brought tears to my eyes.  This little boy is very talented.  His name is Ryan Wang, and he plays for Dorothy Landry.  Dorothy is so appreciative and grateful.  Ryan appears to be moved as well.

Have an awesome day!

Angela G. Gentile

My Wish for You (Lyrics Video)

Graduations, moving out, moving away, growing up...these are times that we reflect on the person who is moving on and we want to wish them well.  We love them and these times are bittersweet;  the son who's graduating high school, the daughter who's moving out, the friend who's moving far away. This song, by American country music group Rascal Flatts, called, "My Wish for You"(2006), is a song that is ideal for these transitions.  This version comes with the lyrics.  Enjoy.

Have an awesome day!

-- Angela G. Gentile

Without You (Cover) by Simone and Lorenzo

Just imagine my delight, when my kids wanted to show me a video they had made for me:  I sit down in front of the computer, hit "play", and to my surprise, a music video, dedicated to me!  What an awesome Mother's Day present.  I asked if I could share this video, and they agreed.  It's based on the original song by David Guetta, Without You, featuring Usher (2011).

It's a bit of a tear-jerker for some.  Makes me proud.  Enjoy!



Click on the arrow above, or go to this YouTube link:  http://youtu.be/FhCzj6A506I

Have a great day!

Angela G. Gentile

Once a Mother, Always a Mother

When I was 12, I learned about how grueling and painful childbirth can be.  I remember saying to my mom, "I don't want kids".  It was because of the fear of childbirth.  As I got older, I started to realize how important it was to me to have children of my own one day.  I started fantasizing about the ideal family - a boy and a girl.  I wanted them at the same time.  Twins.  How perfect would that be.

I got a puppy when I was about 16.  It was my trial run at being a mother.  I had enjoyed babysitting, but I had never really taken it that seriously.  Kids were cute, but I really didn't know what to do with them when they were crying.  Raising that little puppy was fun.  I learned about responsibility.

I moved away from home, to attend university.  It was about a 4 hour drive from home.  Soon after, I fell in love with a man who I could see being my husband and father of my children one day.  We married in 1990, and started planning our future together.

Unfortunately, I couldn't get pregnant.  It took visits to the specialists to find out what was wrong.  I started to come to the conclusion that I was not going to have children of my own.  I applied to go back to Graduate school.  Although I was devastated, I had considered other options such as adoption.  I still felt it was in my future to have children one day.

Once I had relaxed about trying to get pregnant, and changed my focus onto other things, I became pregnant!  My 2 and a half year journey of infertility was ended when we did a home pregnancy test.  Oh, the joy!

My pregnancy was uneventful, but the labour was very difficult.  It ended in a Cesarean section, and a beautiful baby boy.  Motherhood was all that I had dreamed of.  I was very happy.

My second baby came sooner than we had expected.  With the difficulty of conceiving the first time, I thought for sure it may take another 4 years or so.  2 years and 4 months later, our beautiful baby girl was born.  Again, an uneventful pregnancy, but a difficult delivery.  This time it was a forceps delivery.  I had said that I didn't want any more children, because for sure, the third one would kill me.

Raising two children has taught me so much about how tough it is to be a mom.  I have also learned that if you put forth a lot of time and effort in the beginning, it really pays off in the end.  I have two amazing children (now teenagers), and I love them both so dearly.  The intensity of looking after little children is now gone.  Watching my children mature and plan for their own futures is such a joy to watch.  These two special people have been given to me (and my husband) for only a short time, to help nurture them and raise them into responsible, wonderful adults.  Then they will move on to build lives and families of their own.

Almost 18 years later, after my first child was born, I am preparing for my son's grade 12 graduation.  It is amazing how the time flies.  Before you know it, your precious little baby is a man.  He will start university in the fall.

One thing I know for sure, is that once you are a mother, you are always a mother.  I work with older adults and I see 80 and 90-year-old women who still speak highly and fondly of their adult children.  Family is so important, and keeping those relationship and ties strong as we age is even more important.  Being a mother is one of the most important, sometimes difficult, and rewarding jobs that I know of.  I hope you, too, are able to enjoy all that motherhood has to offer.

Wishing all of the mothers out there a Happy Mother's Day, today and always.  And let us not forget all those who have come before us.

And thanks, Mom.  You are the greatest!

~ Angela G. Gentile

Sam and Michael - Feeling Good

I couldn't help but smile when I saw this video.  I love Canadian singer, Michael Buble, and he encouraged a 15-year-old boy named Sam join him on stage.   Enjoy!



Have an awesome day!

Angela G. Gentile

The Five Keys to Raising Great Kids

Photo source:  http://www.sonjababic.com/Kids.htm

The Five Keys to Raising Great Kids

I have been asked a few times to share what I think is the key to raising well-adjusted, and well-behaved kids. I have received many compliments from people regarding my children and I feel I am blessed with having such great kids. I would like to give my opinion about what I think it takes. I have a son who is 17 and a daughter who is on the verge of 15. 

1. Nature versus nurture. That's the big debate. First, you have to believe that your child is inherently good.  She has been loaned to you for a short time. She is her own person and you are there to provide her with guidance, love and discipline. Each person comes into this world with their own personality, strengths and weaknesses. It is a parent's job to help bring out the best and ignore the rest. What you focus on expands, so it is best to focus on the positive. 

2. Parents need to be united in the way they raise their children. Kids will pick up on any conflict between their parents and learn quickly how to play one against the other. If Mom and Dad don't agree on how to discipline little Johnny, he'll learn quickly how to conquer and divide, meanwhile getting his way while Mom and Dad fight it out. Communication between the parents is key, and NEVER argue in front of the kids about this. 

3. If you want well-behaved teenagers, you have to have to start with well-behaved children. Setting limits, following through with consequences and knowing who their friends are, are very important aspects of guiding them on the right path. Know where your kids are. Start with these key concepts, and you can't go wrong. 

4. Learn from your mistakes. Your child and your partner will tell you when you have done something wrong in the parenting department. For example, if your child tells you that another child mistreated them at school, don't overreact. They may not feel like sharing with you again if you threaten to call the other child's parents and the school principal. Instead, let him tell you what he'd like done about it. Get advice from good books and from people you respect.

5. Help build your child's self-esteem and confidence by offering praise only when it is genuinely deserved. Too much praise can give a child a false sense of mastery. Encourage them to do better, no matter what level they are at. Teach them it's okay to receive criticism. Help them grow by giving them new challenges and greater responsibilities. Give them privacy. Trust them. Listen. Tell them you love them. Tell them when you feel proud. Give them hugs and kisses.

I could go on and on, but I'll stop here. 

What do you think it takes to have great kids?

Have an awesome day,

Angela G. Gentile

The Best Therapy - Best Friends

Source:  http://www.picmonkey.com/p/N1SWMYyStsm

Sometimes talking to your best friend 

is the only therapy you need...

can't imagine life without you.

Have a wonderful day!

~ Angela G. Gentile

Children's Hospital Book Market - Children's Books

Children's Hospital Foundation of Manitoba Book Market

I had the pleasure of volunteering for the Children's Hospital Book Market this past weekend.  Over the past 3 years my station has always been in the adult fiction section.  For the first time I had my shift in the "Children's Books" section. 

I was eager to help (my job was "bagger" which is to read off the price of the book for the cash-person and bag the books for the customer) and I soon realized how different the shoppers were in the Children's section versus the adult fiction section. I'd like to give you a little snapshot of some of the shoppers I encountered during my four-hour shift.

The big spenders by far were teachers.  Teachers need books to help their students learn how to read.  Some teachers spent over $100 on books!  Some were educational books, some were for pleasure reading.  One teacher was excited to show her friend she was getting a "Magic Eye" book for her students.

The most popular shoppers were parents with children.  A young boy and his mom came by, with a stack of vintage "Archie" comic books for his sister.  She was apparently a fan of Archie, and he was proud to say that he was giving his sister these comics for a Christmas present.  He was happy to know that he had "done" his shopping for her.  He also bought a couple of books for himself.

A mother and her young son came by and purchased about 12 books her son could read.  These were small paperback novel-types.  She said he likes to read, and because she doesn't let her kids watch TV this was a good activity for him.

Another mother and her two young children came by to purchase a couple of books each.  It was a lesson in how to budget, and how to "purchase" something.  The mother instructed first her daughter, then her son to give the books to us, and once the total was given, she instructed them to get out their money and hand it to us.  It was so sweet to see these young children "learn" how to buy something.

A few grandparents were out with their grandchildren.  I mentioned to a young boy as his grandpa is paying for his books, "Grandpa's spoiling you today!".  The older man replied, "Oh, it's not spoiling when it comes to books".  I guess I should have said, "Grandpa's treating you today!".  Another teenaged girl was out with her grandmother, and I told her, "Get whatever you want, Grandma's buying!".  I looked over to the older woman and she was smiling, and it made the young girl smile.  She ended up getting about 5 books.

Some of the more popular books sold were Harry Potter, Dear Dumb Diary, Captain Underpants, and Goosebumps.  Most books were priced between around $1.00-$1.50.  Some were as low as 25 cents!

It was a great, fun-filled time and I look forward to the next sale in February.  I enjoy my volunteer work.  All proceeds go towards the Children's Hospital Foundation of Manitoba. You can "Like" them on facebook, at https://www.facebook.com/#!/childrenshospitalfoundation

Have an awesome day!

Angela G. Gentile

Cuteness Overload

Watch as these 11-month-old twin girls react to their daddy's guitar playing.  It makes me happy.  Nice to see how music can bring so much joy to these little ones and their parents.



Click on the arrow above, or go to this link on YouTube, to see 11 Month Old Twins Dancing to Daddy's Guitar:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=to7uIG8KYhg&feature=player_embedded

Have an awesome day!

Angela G. Gentile

Up - The movie

Up - The movie by Pixar (2009)

It's so refreshing to see a movie that portrays an older adult (Carl) in a positive way.  Russell's fierce determination to get his last badge, "Assisting the elderly" is an underlying theme that is a great positive message for our society in terms of helping others who are older and needing help.  Pixar does a great job with "Up".  A great family movie with funny, sad, scary and touching moments.



Click on the arrow above to see the movie trailer, or go to the following YouTube link:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkqzFUhGPJg

Have an awesome day!

Angela Gentile

Sisterly Love

Ace and Archie

Here is a very touching video from Godvine.com called "Little Girl Makes a Beautiful Video for her Brother with Down Syndrome".  It's about a girl (Ace) who has a brother (Archie) with Down Syndrome.  She obviously loves her little brother so much, and wants everyone else to know it.

Guaranteed to make you smile, and warm your heart.

"Who wouldn't want this precious little boy?", says Ace as she closes the video with a loving kiss on her brother's cheek.

Click here to see the video:  http://www.godvine.com/Little-Girl-Makes-a-Beautiful-Video-for-her-Brother-with-Down-Syndrome-1333.html

Have an awesome day,

Angela Gentile

Remembering Long Lost Childhood Friends

Jennifer Wilson and Me, 1982.  King City, Ontario

I have been thinking a lot about two of my childhood friends that I lost contact with when I moved from Oak Ridges, Ontario to Fort Frances, Ontario in 1978.  My two very best friends at the time were Jennifer Leigh Wilson and Robin Craig.  I traveled back to see them a couple times after I moved in the early 1980's.  I often think of them and wonder how they are doing.  I have tried looking for them on Facebook and Google, but when I look up their names, many people with those same names come up on the list so I am discouraged and not sure where to begin.

I went to a webpage called, How to Find a Childhood Friend and I have already exhausted those options. It's been over 30 years since I last saw them, so their names may have changed.  Maybe they are now married with different names, maybe they moved.  I am not sure where to go from here.  I'd like to tell you a little bit about Robin and Jennifer, and maybe, one day, they will search their own name on Google and this post will pop up!

Robin Craig
 Late 1970's Early 1980's, Oak Ridges, Ontario

I first met Robin when she babysat my brothers and I.  We quickly became very close friends.  The fondest memories I have of Robin (who was about 3 years older than me) was that she lived so close (I lived on Maple Grove) and we practically spent every free moment together.  She didn't live far, and all I had to do was go down the street a ways and cross over to another short street.  In the winter there was a small skating rink really close to her house.  I remember looking forward to reading "Jaws" together, which made an exciting time for our sleepovers.  We enjoyed recording music on cassette tapes from the radio and writing down the lyrics.  We also really loved playing Monopoly together.  Robin introduced me to french fries and gravy at the local mall.  She made me fall in love with music, and we enjoyed singing and dancing with "The Defranco Family".  We loved the song, Heartbeat, It's a Lovebeat.  Click here to hear that song - from 1974!  She and I both loved making scrapbooks, my favourites were Charlie's Angels and John Travolta.

Jennifer Wilson
 Late 1970's Early 1980's Oak Ridges, Ontario.

The greatest thing about Jennifer was that we were the same age and we had the same last name. I remember practicing how we might sign our names, using big swirly "W"s.   We used to ride our bikes all around the neighbourhood. She lived across Young Street, near a lake, and she had a nice, big dog.  I remember if her dog Riley was outside, and he was supposed to go back in the house, she would call out, "Dad, call Riley" and her dog would run back inside even if her dad wasn't home.  Jennifer had a big brother.  I had two little brothers.  We enjoyed riding our bikes around the neighbourhood on garbage day, looking for treasures.

Robin Craig, August 1982 (Ontario)

I hope that one day I can reconnect with my two childhood friends. They have a special place in my heart and they are like family to me. I'd love to know what they are doing now.  I hope they are well and enjoying a happy, healthy life.  Is there anyone from your childhood that you wonder about?

(If it so happens that Robin or Jennifer are looking for me, my maiden name is Angela Wilson, and I went to school at Oak Ridges Public School.)  

Here's to wonderful childhood memories!

Angela Gentile

Mr. Girl

Photo from:
http://www.jetwithkids.com/blog/do-we-really-need-to-travel-with-a-stroller

I was browsing in a store the other day, and there were two little kids with their mom shopping in the same area of the store as myself.  The kids were sitting in a double stroller (similar to the picture above).  I had given them a warm smile, because they looked so cute.  They were even giggling at one point.   The girl was about 3 years and the boy was about 1.  He was holding a sippy cup in his hands.  Their mom was looking at some books on a shelf, with her back to the children, and suddenly I heard something hard and plastic fall to the floor, close to my feet.  I looked down, and saw that the little boys cup had fallen onto the floor.  I turned back to what I was doing, assuming that the mother would pick up the cup.

A few seconds later, I heard in a very small, sweet female voice,

"Mr. Girl, he dropped his cup".

My heart just melted when I heard this faint, polite plea for assistance.  I willingly bent down to pick up the cup and returned it to the little boy, smiling at both of the children.

Their Mom noticed what had occurred, and smiled back and said, "Thank you".

That's the first time I have ever been called "Mr. Girl".  It was so sweet.

Have a great day!

~ Angela Gentile

It's A Girl!

One of the sweetest joys in life is the much anticipated arrival of a new baby.

A new baby has come into my life, and I am overjoyed!  My brother and his wife have given birth to a beautiful little baby girl.  Although I have a lot of nieces and nephews on my husband's side, I have never had one on my side of the family until now.  This baby is different because I am related to her, by blood.  Funny how I see a resemblance of myself in her.  It is so exciting to have a new family member.  I am one proud Auntie and I love her to pieces already (and I haven't even met her yet).  I have seen pictures and we have video-chatted on Skype, and I'll get to meet her in person really soon.  I went shopping for baby clothes, and it is so much fun picking out little outfits for her.  She makes me happy.

Here are some of my favourite baby sayings:

Children reinvent the world for you. - Susan Sarandon

Making the decision to have a child is momentous.  It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body. - Elizabeth Stone

Babies are such a nice way to start people. - Don Herold

A baby will be much more work than you could have ever expected, but it will bring you much more joy than you could have ever imagined. - Angela Gentile

I'll leave you with this - Top 10 Funny Baby Videos on YouTube:



Enjoy!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWHpcKXt-qQ&feature=related

Have a great day!

~ Angela Gentile

Life is Good

Life is good wheel cover

I was sitting in my car one day, and I noticed this wheel cover on the back of a Jeep.  It was so bright and cheerful, that it made me wonder what this "Life is good" trademark stood for.  I went to the "Life is Good" website, and I was quite impressed with their products and services.  Not only do they carry great looking merchandise, their website was full of quick, upbeat sayings like,

The Art of optimism, and

Laughter has no foreign accent.

They even have a Life is Good radio station.

What most impressed me was their "Playmakers" program.  This is a program that is dedicated to training caregivers to teach children how to discover joy, although they may have gone through some very difficult times in their lives.  Here is a great video that you should check out so that you can see what they are doing, and that Life is Good.

You can click on the arrow above, or to to this YouTube link:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=yfd_Kn-SXd0

You can even enter a raffle to win $50 Life is Good online Gift Certificate for subscribing - http://www.lifeisgood.com/customer-service/monday.aspx

Have a great day, and I hope your Life is Good!

~ Angela Gentile

From Good to Great: 21 Tips for a Great Family Life

♥ 21 Simple Ways to be a Great Family ♥

I found this list of things we can do to improve our family connection. I found it on beliefnet.com.  I think it's a great reminder of all the things we can do as a family to improve, cherish and maintain connections between parents and children.  I would recommend sitting down with your family and going through the list and discussing each point.  Families provide the foundation of life for our children, and making that foundation healthy and strong is so important for the sake of our kids.  I love how grandparents and elders are also included in this list. 


What does it take to be a great family, where members love and support each other? Each family has their own unique struggles, but what makes them stronger are the ways in which they overcome burdens and celebrate the joys -- together. Use these 21 tips to bring every member of your family closer.


1. Honor your elders. Our elders have collected a lifetime of experiences, both good and bad. Learn from their mistakes and cherish their wisdom. Show them your gratitude and you will reap the rewards.

2. Engage in constant dialog. Communication is key when it comes to family. Converse often to avoid any mix-ups or family feuds. Talk about topics both big and small. And remember, you don’t always have to agree.

3. Teach young kids early. Establish family dynamics and ground rules while children are young.

4. Have respect for grandparents. Ask them to share their stories and tell your family history to give children a better understanding.

5. Give gifts – both physical and emotional. Surprise a family member with a small gift that makes you think of them, or give the gift of patience or humor.

6. Be honest. When a confrontation is needed, be sure to do it in a respectful, level-headed way.

7. Address bumps in the road. If your family is experiencing tough times, hold a family meeting to clear the air and talk about it.

8. Children have a voice, too. It’s important to remember that grown children are adults with a unique voice, opinion and perspective.

9. Talk about life changes. Big changes ahead? Ask your family for support and the insights they can off¬er from their own experiences.

10. Eat together. Break bread together regularly to foster togetherness and let you catch up on one another’s lives.

11. Appreciate parents. Remember that parents have one of the most difficult jobs out there.

12. Accepting different perspectives. You may never see eye to eye with a member of your family. Accept this and embrace their feedback.

13. Ask one another tough questions. Family members need to rely on one another to probe the hard questions and get down to the important issues in life.

14. Plan activities. Try to schedule events – like family 5K runs, or a coffee shop outing – to ensure that you stay connected.

15. Create something together. Bond by creating something beautiful for your home or yourselves. Try gardening or decorating for a party.

16. Offer supportive words. Even if you don’t agree with a family member, make sure your words are supportive and constructive, never hurtful.

17. Take time for yourself. In order to be a positive, loving member of every family, it’s important that we all take some “me” time.

18. Act as a caregiver. If a parent, child or sibling is in need, offer to care for them.

19. Help out with daily tasks. Even the smallest things, like putting away dishes, show that you are committed to your family’s well-being.

20. Cherish memories. Be sure to keep old photos and home movies on hand so that you can take a walk down memory lane every once in a while.

21. Be a shoulder to lean on. The best thing about families is that they can be a phenomenal support system. Be sure to support, console and encourage family members in good times and bad.

Check out this link for more information: http://responsibility-project.libertymutual.com/infographics/21-simple-ways-to-be-a-great-family#fbid=wzDK1n--aXZ

Have a wonderful day!

~ Angela Gentile

Back to School

This is the time of year when all the students go back to school.  New beginnings - new clothes, new teachers, new classmates.  Many of us welcome the familiar feeling of routines after a summer of relaxing and having time for vacations and time with family and friends.  Change can be hard for some, but change is inevitable in life.  Learning how to deal with new situations and new challenges can help us grow both personally and spiritually.

"Back to School" time may mean back to organized sports, back to music lessons, back to a new season of our favourite television shows.  Back to learning.  It means all our friends are back from vacation. 

Back to school in our household is welcomed and we look forward to both the familiar and newness that this time of year brings.  Bring it on!

Have a great day.

~ Angela Gentile

First Kiss

Do you remember when you had your first kiss?  On the lips?!!  Here's a cute video where a little boy and girl's first kiss is so innocently captured on video.  It's so sweet, and it's called, "High Five for First Kiss (original)".




Click on the arrow above, if that doesn't work, go to this link:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEN-kHe5o_Y&feature=aso

Have a great day!

~ Angela Gentile

Punch Buggy

I was thinking about a game we used to play when we were kids, called Punch Buggy. If we saw a Volkswagen Beetle, those little, cute compact cars, we would call out, "Punch Buggy", name the colour it was, and "punch" the person next to us. In addition, if you were fast enough, we could say, "no returns" or "no punch backs".

Just the other day, I was driving my daughter and some of her friends to their volleyball practice. To my surprise, I heard one of the girls say, "Punch Buggy Blue" as a VW Beetle drove by. It was so cute to hear that this game is still played. My Uncle used to have a Beetle, and I always thought the Beetle was a cute car. I see small cars on the road now all the time. The Smart Car is cute, too. I also noticed the Mini and the Fiat 500. The VW Beetle has come out with a newer model, and it looks much the same as the old style. Everything old is new again. Here's the new style for 2012. Still cute I say!

Have a fun day, and don't punch too hard!

~ Angela Gentile