Escape to Paradise

WARNING: Reading the following may cause you to feel jealous of or happy for me, or a combination of the two, depending on your natural disposition. Last weekend I had a rendez-vous with my sisters, the beach, and my inner child in an alternate reality located in Clearwater Beach, Florida. We got to escape the cold weather and responsibilities of normal life for a few days. It took a miracle to make it happen, working with budgets and schedules of three very busy families, but miracles are more common than you might think. This was one I won't soon forget. And yes, I actually took this picture with my own camera from a 5th floor window of the hotel.

Friday, February 15
We were all scheduled to meet in the Tampa airport within a few hours of each other, around midday. I secretly relished in being dropped off at LaGuardia by Ed and the girls and waving bye-bye as they drove off. Before boarding I even bought an actual newspaper and even actually read it on the plane. When I arrived in Tampa I had a message from Maren that her flights were all screwed up and she wouldn't come in until later that night. Major bummer. But I met Tona and we loaded into our little "economy" rental car and drove over two awesome causeways to get to the Sandpearl Resort, our home for the next 3 days.

As if the sunshine, warm green-smelling air and palm trees weren't enough, things just got more surreal as our car was whisked off by a pith-helmet-donning valet, and we were brought goblets of non-alcoholic champagne with pomegranate seeds while we waited to check in. An exploration of the hotel and grounds confirmed we were no longer on planet earth.

We had 3:30 spa appointments so we made our way to that wing after wandering the beach, pool, and numerous outdoor corridors. After changing to chenille robes and sipping cucumber water we had massages. What a way to start the trip. I could write a whole post on that massage. Next we had manicures and retired to our room to savor the moments. We had a quick dinner at a beach cafe best known for their grouper sandwich, then headed back to Tampa to pick up Maren, who had waited 4 hours in Burlington and 7 hours in Cleveland to reach us, 17 hours after she had woken up that morning.

Saturday, February 16
I slept like the dead. No dreams, no stirring. I don't even think I moved for 10 hours. Maren and Tona rose early but I slept in until 9am - it was heaven. Maren had rescheduled her spa appointments for Saturday so while she got pampered Tona and I swam in the pool and then went to a local Italian festival at a park, where we got lunch and watched Italian folk dancers. I also got my main souvenir of the trip, a Venetian glass necklace. After meeting back up we went to the beach. I've never been on sand like that - it felt like powdered sugar and was almost as white - so white that it didn't get hot even in the afternoon sun.

We each had a few must-do's on the trip, and one of mine was going to a movie, preferably a chick flick. Saturday afternoon we saw Definitely, Maybe, a perfect 3-star romantic comedy for the occasion. Then we had dinner at the hotel's beachside grill cafe, each of us opting for one of their delectable salads. Saturday night was a facial extravaganza back in our room, where we pooled our skin care products and performed full facial regimes, complete with cucumber slices on the eyes. We also looked through Maren's blog book created on Blurb.com, which was amazing and reinspired me to make one of my own. That night I again slept like the dead.

Sunday, February 17
We got up early and went shell hunting on the beach. Maren found some amazing shells Saturday morning - see her blog post for details -, so I went with her the next day to gather some for myself. I could really get used to a morning walk on the beach as part of my daily routine - talk about a serene start.

We attended church at a local ward. It was their ward conference and we heard awesome and inspiring talks from the Bishop and Stake President. The Stake President had blessed his new baby boy earlier in the meeting so he based his talk on names - choosing his own children's names and also us as a people taking the name of Christ upon us. We all glanced at each other - kind of spooky since we had spent part of the trip trying to name Maren's baby (due in May.)

Not complete gluttons for luxury, we did improve our minds and cultural competence on the trip as well. After church we visited Weedon Island Preserve, where we toured an awesome visitor center and walked around the grounds and up an observation tower. Sunday night we ate at a popular panasian/seafood place called the Island Way Grill, where we sat on the deck overlooking the water and sunset. I could have died. But I still had to eat my seared scallops over sesame lime noodles followed by ginger creme brulee, so I snapped out of it. After dinner we took a final dip in the hotel pool, which by the way is treated with ozone instead of chlorine and geothermally heated.

Monday, February 18
Poor Tona had a cruelly early flight so we said our goodbyes at night. When the sun rose Maren and I ventured out for a final shell comb on the beach, then returned to pack up and head out. The rest of the day is not much to mention, though flying alone was a luxury in itself. Ed was quite late picking me up, which only attests to some of the important lessons he learned over the weekend, among them being how nearly impossible it is to get out the door with the kids, especially on a deadline. Another was how much he loves and appreciates me, which was nice to hear. Another was that doing Hazel's hair is harder than it looks. But everyone was alive and well so it was a success all around.

Telling what we did is the easy part. But it was what I saw and felt, and the conversations we shared, that made it such a meaningful trip for me. And that's what is hard to put into words. All I can do is use my notes and pictures to bring it back. The most important determination of the weekend was that we are not waiting another ten years before the next sisters' getaway.

I'm already doing research.

Momono's Going Out of Business!

In this January post I mentioned the Momono (mom-kimono) as a product I thought worthwhile and I've kept it in my try-someday list. I just saw on her website, though, that they're going out of business. All Momonos are $20 (originally $68) until stock is gone. It's a good price for what seems like a good product to me. Though we have no immediate plans for #3, I bought two, either to keep for myself or give as gifts.
Just thought I'd spread the word...

PR Dish - Final 3(ish)

Well I was surprised but I think things turned out the way they should have. I was so glad to see a calmer, more inspiring challenge. I've been in that sculpture hall and European paintings wing at the Met and it even made me feel artistic.

• I loved the peacock painting Sweet P chose but her resulting dress was disappointing - where was the flair and drama? Sorry, SP, you deserved to be out.
• Everyone else's stuff was almost predictable, but so well done. Chris's was to die for but yikes, it did look just like his last avant-garde look, especially on the same model.
• And of course Rami did Greek drapey, but it was gorgeous.
• And of course Christian did big sleeves and tight pants and black & white.
• And of course Jillian did a military style jacket and short skirt. But it's amazing what she can put together in short time frames. Do you know how many months it would take me to make a lined jacket like that?
  
• But in terms of creativity, Christian and Jillian do deserve to move on and Rami and Chris should have to battle it out. I'm totally curious what Chris will make since his track record is not full of high fashion, but Rami will have to step it up as well.

I'm bummed next week is the reunion episode. I never watch those because it's so uncomfortable for me watching people in confrontation, but maybe I'll watch for whatever PR fix I can get. I'm going to try to have a mom's night out party at my place for the final. I don't think any of my mom friends here watch it, but maybe I can make the "night out" part sound fun enough to lure them out.

Discuss.

Happy Birthday Report

Just getting my act together to do a quick birthday report. As many of you know, or really should know, my birthday is February 2 and Ed's is February 3. And until recent years my birthday is a big, big deal to me. I'd like it to be again. Dave, Michelle, Hilde and Enoch are moving to England in April, and so they chose to come up on Birthday Weekend for a final visit. It was a crazy whirlwind but it was a blast and I'm so glad they came.

They came late Thursday night so we could be rearing to go and play on Friday, February 1. Unfortunately Friday we woke to a disgusting windy, icy, rainy mess outside, just the kind of day we would normally hunker down, stay in jammies and watch Noggin all day. But we had visitors, and decided to make the most of it. So we headed out into the icy driving rain with four kids and three adults. One bus, three subway rides (including a nap against a stranger for Hazel) and over an hour later we stepped out into more icy driving rain in the DUMBO section of Brooklyn, under the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges. Luckily, even though the kids were cold, wet, tired and hungry, it was still fun and worth it. We ate lunch at RICE, a very funky and kid-friendly rice-based restaurant (drool over the menu!)Revived, we walked a few blocks over to my Happy Birthday Destination, Jacques Torres Chocolate Shop. Michelle and I stocked up on chocolate delights while Dave kept the kids corralled on a big comfy armchair in the corner. It was a long ride home in the afternoon but upon arrival we felt we had earned the right to put our feet up and enjoy being home. I made a big pot of one of my favorite pasta dishes for dinner, and a Snickerdoodle cake, and when Ed came home we opened some presents and watched a movie.

Saturday was another chance for a big city adventure, only this time we drove. We loaded up in two cars and headed to the Manhattan Children's Museum on the Upper West Side, ducking first into a corner pizza place for lunch. We've never gone to this museum so I was happy for an excuse and there was plenty to keep everyone entertained, including a Greek Myths section, a Dora the Explorer floor and a bunch of other cool stuff.
On the way home Dave and I stopped by my favorite Turkish market in Bay Ridge where I get his sour cherry juice, and he was able to pick out a few fun things for himself. In the evening Dave & Michelle watched all the kids while Ed and I went out to eat. Bay Ridge has a great restaurant scene, and since we only eat out a few times a year, there is always a new place to try. This time we went to Chadwick's, a steak and chop house. I went out on a limb and ordered one of their specials - rack of wild boar with wild blueberry sauce (sorry, vegetarians.) It was awesome. The only thing that could have made it better was if Ed and I could have had a conversation over the live music (guy with a keyboard and a mic in the corner.) But we talked on the way home.

Saturday night we had Chocolate Pistachio cake (2 cakes for 2 birthdays) and opened more presents. Dave and Michelle gave me a Virginia guide, and even better, a binder they made called "Virginia is for Hickmans" full of menus, brochures, web printouts, and magazine articles about things to do in the DC area. I have been getting so excited for the move as I pore over it!

Sunday things started to get crazy, with Church and Ed's blackberry started going nuts with work issues, and when we got home we were trying to get lunch done so the Younces could head out at a good time. I'm a little glad for the chaos because it kept me from dwelling on how long it will be before we see each other again. It's hard to wax too sentimental, or draw out goodbyes, when you're herding a family. So thank you, Dave and Michelle, for making the trip and making our birthdays great. If England in February wasn't quite so unappealing I'd say we'll come to you next year. We love you!

Released from - but not Leaving - Trebekistan

Well I finally finished it and what a wonderful book to spend a month with! Yes, it's by and about a Jeopardy! contestant, but it's much more, and unlike any book I've read. It's personal, suspenseful, hilarious beyond description, and very touching. I felt as if I was going through the last 10 years arm-in-arm with Bob rather than actually living my own life. I've come to care deeply for the people in his life as well as the profound realizations he encountered while on the Jeopardy! roller coaster. It also offered me personal hope for a continual lifelong education - a hope I desperately welcome after experiencing a sharp and discouraging intellectual regression the last three years. I've been busy surviving and doing other things.

If you like Jeopardy!, read it. If Jeopardy! makes you want to puke, read it. If you've ever heard of Mrs. Butterworth's syrup, Sony, President Garfield, Jabberwocky, galoshes, the snowbelt, stage make-up, Bhutan, Radio City Music Hall, E.M. Forster (you'll never think of his works the same again), traffic signals or masking tape and a ball point pen, read it. Just read it.

If you're human, you'll love it.

Prisoner of Trebekistan receives a coveted 5 out of 5 Disco balls:

A Little Happy Birthday to Me

It was a whirlwind weekend but Ed and I did celebrate our birthdays on the 2nd and 3rd. Hopefully I'll write more on that soon, but in the meantime Maren wrote me a sweet little birthday tribute, complete with photos you've probably never seen before:

Check it out.

A Fortunate Asian Lunar New Year to You

To celebrate Chinese New Year around here,

1) Alternate side parking was suspended, which I didn't realize until after I'd already moved my car, and

2) The girls and I had Chinese take-out for dinner.

I just read an article in a magazine yesterday about a perfect little Chinese New Year party for 8-year-olds, complete with astoundingly clever crafts, a dragon living room parade, healthy homemade dim sum and cupcakes topped with cherry red fortune cookies and sparklers. Pah! Not to be outdone, we walked up to Szechuan Garden, the closest of many horrible Chinese places in the neighborhood, and ordered rice, noodles and lots of greasy fillers that were supposed to be meat and vegetables.

On the walk up there I considered this video I just saw last night on Katy's blog, and thought maybe I wasn't teaching Hazel enough about the world. So I gave China a shot. We have some Chinese friends here so there's a little context. So I told her who we know that are Chinese and that they're from a place far away and today is a special holiday for them. Then she said, "Yeah, and I am Chinese!" I said, "No, you're not from China. You're from Colorado." This only resulted in sulking and mumbling, "I wish I was Chinese..." I'm so proud of these enlightened teaching moments we share...

When we got home Picky-Eater Ginger scarfed all the greasy morsels she could get her hands on while Pretty-Tolerant Hazel refused to take a single bite of anything, even with bribes of fortune cookies and ice cream, informing me with emphatic hand gestures that everything before her was, "Disgusting!" I think if she knew it was all completely non-nutritional she might have at least tried it, but we'll never know. In the end Ginger and I split the fortune cookies. I threw the stupid one away but kept the other just to share with you. Ready?

Treasure your good memories and you need not worry about ending a banquet.

Consider and interpret.

PR Dish - WWE (E is for Embarrassing!)

As soon as I saw what the challenge was, I thought, Please - they have gone too far. Is Bravo so desperate as to go so far over Cliff Tacky? I found it totally despicable. My biggest concern was that it was so far out of normal fashion range that someone like Chris or Ricky would end up winning and someone with real fashion design talent would go home. Luckily only one of those was the case. I was very surprised that even in a super spandexy challenge like this, those with talent excelled and those without didn't. Here are some notes:

• HALLELUJAH!!!! Ricky and his crying and his hats and his lame designs are finally gone!
• I love that they actually shopped at a place called Spandex House. I only have 5 more months in NY to get over there myself.
• It was only fitting that Chris won the most costumey challenge so far - I'm genuinely happy for him because he is a really nice guy and good at what he does. But he's still not really a serious designer.
• I expected Christian to be complaining the whole time that it wasn't a fashionable enough challenge, so I was glad to see him embrace it and love it in a way that I think even surprised himself. I think he was so busy having fun he forgot to be as arrogant as he usually is - refreshing. And his design was very fierce.
• Now that it's down to 5, Sweet P and Chris are for sure the next ones to go home. I just can't possibly even remotely begin to imagine either of them actually designing a collection for fashion week.
  
• I'd still like to see Jack or Simone brought back. Jack left early for medical reasons and Simone was the first to be cut. Her dress was bad but maybe she had some potential we just didn't get to see. At least she didn't seem as annoying as some people.
  
• That leaves Jillian and Christian as absolute shoo-ins for Bryant Park. Rami is kind of a wild card but given the others he must be #3. Since fashion week is going on now it's probably possible to cheat and find out who showed, but please don't spoil it for me!

Discuss.

Also, any Bravo junkies out there willing to admit getting hooked on the new Thursday night show Make Me A Supermodel? I mean, please, I've got better things to do with my time...but if someone else also admits to it maybe I could be persuaded to dish on that one, too...

First Sleepover

In October our best NY friends moved to "the country" - New Haven, CT, about 90 miles away. We have kept in touch by phone and email but yesterday the girls and I loaded up in the car and went to visit. It was an uneventful ride there, besides the expected fussing and spilled snacks, and it was wonderful to see the Robbins again! Hazel and Violet picked up their friendship right where it left off, with lots and lots of playing, only now with more room in their new house. Ginger took to climbing the stairs whenever no one was looking, and I loved having adults to talk to again.
Because of the long drive, we made it a 24-hour visit, so it was Hazel's first non-relative sleepover. Corey and I share the same birthday (this Saturday) so we had a little present exchange and celebration for the best birthday ever. We also spent approximately 15 hours in deep dish - motherhood, books, politics, religion, schools, electronics, diapers, fabric, home ownership, relationships, shopping, eBay France, cooking, cartoons, cleaning, and chocolate were all thoroughly covered in a way that gives deep satisfaction to the soul. I literally took about 100 pictures of the kids playing together - love the digital - so we could always remember the visit.
It was super cute at bedtime when Hazel and Vi automatically took to jumping on the air mattress - kids don't need to be taught what's fun.
Then they settled down for a couple of stories.
After a breakfast of fruit and pancakes (thanks, superdad Dave) there was more playing and talking, diapers and stair-climbing. Dave even led the girls in a watering can scavenger hunt.

I was sorry to leave after lunch, and even sorrier when we hit traffic in the Bronx and crept the last 25 miles home in 1.5 hours. But it was a wonderful visit and we hope it will not be the last.
Thanks, you guys!

Trebekistan

No, I haven't finished the book. I continue at a snail's pace...a very satisfied snail. But here is a quote from about 1/3 of the way through, as the story - and the telling - only continue to get more fabulous:

Trebekistan is a location unfixed in physical space and time. It's a place of pure learning, where hard playful work can bring sudden shocks of unexpected perception. In Trebekistan, art and math and geography and science stop pretending to be separate subjects, and instead converge in a glorious riot. Every new detail creates two fresh curiosities, so you know less as you learn, and yet nothing seems unknowable. Trebekistan, oddly, is a place of expanding dimension yet increasing connection, both growing and shrinking with every new step.

Prisoner of Trebekistan: A Decade in Jeopardy! by Bob Harris, p. 136

The Good Stuff - January

This is where I dump all the cool things I use, see, taste, read and consider so I can free up brain space. I expect there will be a monthly list.

Grown-up Stuff

Haagen Dazs Reserve Pomegranite Chip Ice Cream - just click on the link. Very little explanation needed.

Thomas' Cranberry English Muffins - I guess these were a seasonal thing because I got them early this month and then next time I couldn't find them. And they're not online, so oh well. Trust me, though, they were delish.

Custom Name Prints by Ida Pearle - You might think these are kids' stuff since they would go in a child's room, but if we ever get ourselves these, believe me, they're for me. Pretty much anything in the home decor/clothing/design realm is for me, even if it's not for me. I adore Pearle's art, and love how you can choose the hair color & skin tone and which of her alphabet pictures you want. My favorites are c, d, m, q and y - how to choose?

Kid Stuff

Baby Bath Turtles (Munchkin) - A few months ago the squirty rubber duckies were getting gross so I tossed them and looked for a bath toy with a little more resilience. We love this simple set of four floating turtles made of hard plastic. Hazel uses them for imaginary social scenarios like she did the rubber duckies, and Ginger's interested in the spinning/shaking parts. Added plus that their tails and noses are magnetic so they can connect. We got them at Target.

Stay-Put Suction Bowls (Munchkin) - These have been perfect through Ginger's early learning-to-eat stage. The suction isn't like cement; if a kid wants to detach it she will, but they're great for avoiding the knock-off accidents clumsy limbs cause. Ginger gets excited if she even sees me getting one out of the cupboard.

Uglydolls - The first time I saw these was when my friend Andrea gave us this doll and it has become Ginger's lovey - we named it Buster. Since then I've noticed these in the background in magazine photography and movies - they're super soft and sweet in their own ugly way.

Not a Box - What a sweet book about imagination! The pictures and text are simple enough for a young child but the concept - that a big cardboard box can become anything you want - is appealing to kids of all ages. The first time we read it Hazel was a little confused but when I explained that the rabbit was pretending with the box she got really into it, and it even gave her some ideas.

Goldie and the Three Bears - We love this modern, suburban, more socially palatable version of the classic story that's kind of empty and scary. In fact, read the review called "A Bear to Cross" - it gives a much better description than I can. The ending is the best.

Discovery Toys Main Street Playhouse - This was the girls' "big" Christmas present and they love it. Hazel calls it her tent, and they go in there to read and play. It's got a grocery store on one side, a post office, a curtained entrance and a puppet show window. The best part is it folds down flat and small and fits in its own tote bag - a huge plus for small apartment living. I love almost everything I've gotten from Discovery Toys. Last Saturday Ed got the idea to move it onto Hazel's bed. Here he is trying to take a nap with both girls in there. Guess how that turned out.
California Baby - First I tried their Calming Shampoo & Body Wash and loved the fabulous lavender scent, and fresh clean on the kids. Next we tried the Diaper Area Wash and Diaper Rash Cream - another couple of awesome products. I suspect their whole line is just as effective and high quality. I'm especially likely to try their sunscreen products. Check out all the fun bubble baths!

All of the above are great, but what are the absolute, top drawer, must-have toys of the month?
Drumroll, please....

POT & SPOON

And...

KLEENEX!

Happy Birthday, Ginger Sue!

Her middle name isn't really Sue, it's Litz...though heaven knows why because from Day 1 Ed was calling her Ginger Sue and it stuck like super glue and rhymes with everything when we make up songs so I just wish that was her name. But Ed says if that was her name he'd have to make up a new nickname. Typical male logic. Oh, well.ANYWAY...Ginger is ONE! Yesterday was her first birthday and I'm so, so proud of her. We started the day with a pancake breakfast and opening presents from Nana. Nana is a genius and very experienced Grandmother and sent two of one of the presents - one for Hazel and one for Ginger. It was two soft cloth purses with cloth lipstick, compact and cell phones - big hit!After breakfast Ginger got a special Happy Birthday call from Grandma & Grandpa Hickman and Aunt Natalee, in which they sung her Happy Birthday on speaker phone. She expressed appreciation with hand clapping and heavy breathing, and when I took the phone away, she cried and reached for the phone, emphatically signing, "MORE!" They were loving enough to give her an encore performance.

After morning naps I took the girls birthday shopping at Toys R Us since we hadn't really gotten Ginger anything. We hit the Little People aisle and did our part to stimulate the economy - the pink plastic industry in particular. I have never taken the girls to TRU because in general I am opposed to the over-stimulation. But it was actually a bundle of fun for all of us and I was kind of giddy when we left. Another thing I've never done is taken them both out to lunch by myself. But Ginger's a big one-year-old now so I thought she (and I) could handle it. We went to Wendy's, and it was another bundle of fun. It was also geriatric lunch hour, so the girls received much adoration and compliments. The only downer was I realized I'd dumped Ginger's pacifier in the trash with the tray, so I dug around in the gook but couldn't find it. Then on the way home I realized it was clipped to my own shirt for safekeeping. Sometimes I wonder why they let me out of the asylum.

While the girls took afternoon naps I unpacked and assembled our new toys. I also received the news that my Grandpa Younce passed away. We knew this might happen any day but that did not reduce the bittersweet mixture of loss and relief the news brought. I feel like the rest of the day was acted out through a surreal haze of mild but bereaved shock.

Our friends Kristin and Pierson came over for dinner to help us celebrate and I was pleased to find another food we can add to Ginger's very short "Will Eat" list - fettucini alfredo. She scarfed it like she'd never eaten before. And of course the evening ended with birthday cake - Favorite Apricot Nectar Cake*, to be exact. Ginger nearly leaped off Kristin's lap in excitement when she saw it, and Hazel helped her blow out the candle. We all ate civilized pieces off plates except Ginger who parked in front of the cake and ate handfuls. It's her party...The birthday was topped off with the perfect ending - Daddy coming home early! He walked in at 7pm which I'm pretty sure is a record in the last three years, and was able to spend some time playing before bedtime. Happy Birthday, Ginger - WE LOVE YOU!

*Watch for a future post on cakes.

PR Dish - Denim

What the...? I do not get the judges at all. Here's my take:

• Sweet P's dress was totally hippie and patchwork even after her changes - was sure the judges would hate it - I still don't know why they didn't.
• I agree Chris's dress was dated and incongruous. He and Sweet P should have been the bottom two and he should have gone home.
• I kind of liked Victorya's dress, though it wasn't a winner. She should have stayed.
• Christian's jeans were amazing and he should have won even though, yes, he is an immature cartoon character.
• I admit Ricky's dress was well made but he shouldn't have even made it this far if it took him this long to prove himself. And enough with the crying.
• I had Victorya pegged for being in the final 3 so now I'm all thrown off.
• I'm really pulling for Jillian but if she doesn't start being realistic with time management it's going to bite her in the butt, which will be easy in those super short shorts she always wears.
  
• The further this goes on, the more I think Christian is standing out of the crowd and is a cut above everyone else in originality and talent. His hair is distracting, though, among other things.
  

Discuss.

Snapshot

Tonight, 9:57 pm.

Both kids asleep, or at least in bed. Check.

1.5 out of 5.5 rooms in the apartment clean. Check.

Sink full of dirty dishes, check. Pile of clean laundry crumpled on the floor, and has been for several days, check.

Feet up. Remote in one hand, serious chocolate milkshake in the other.

Click.

New episode of Project Runway, check.

Aaahhh.

Is it easy being green?

Oprah says it is. Last week I caught a rerun about Being Green and it did get me thinking, "What can I do? What can I change?" After about 10 different segments, though, I started to feel that it's not so easy, and that if I don't do everything they talked about I am letting the world down. Luckily my perspective has settled down after a few days, and I've been taking mental stock. I already have a few environmentally sound habits. I could try to pick up a few more.

One of Oprah's guests was Elizabeth Rogers, author of The Green Book: The Everyday Guide to Saving the Planet One Simple Step at a Time. Sometimes I'm a sucker for a good how-to guide, but not this one. I don't need the simple steps like using fewer paper napkins and refusing ATM receipts. True, I could do those, but I still need to do some glaring basics. I already know I should avoid styrofoam and use the back of printer paper. I know I'm late to the game and I'm proceeding in baby steps, but I think I can do a little more. Besides, there's plenty on the internet and that doesn't use paper like a book...

Here's my mental stock -

Already doing:

• For big shopping trips I bring my own fabric tote bags. I've been doing this for years so it's second nature to grab a pile of them on my way out the door. The other advantage to using these is they hold more and have long handles. This is handy for hauling groceries across a parking lot, down several blocks, through a series of locked doors, and up several flights of stairs. I don't know what it is to park in a driveway (or garage, even!) right by my front door.
• Recycle plastic, glass, paper and metal
• Reuse ziploc and plastic shopping bags
  
• Use refillable water bottle from home instead of buying bottled water
• More as a consequence of our location and forced lifestyle than as any effort we're making, we use very little gas for the car, and walk or use public transportation for the most part. But hey, I can still claim we do that.
  

Ready to try:

• Non-toxic household cleaners - I ordered Shaklee's Basic H2 Organic Super Cleaning Concentrate and some spray bottles. If I like the clean it produces I'm definitely willing to switch. We haven't had any problems with more mainstream chemical cleaners, but I know I'll feel better using non-toxic products, both for my family's health and the good of the environment.
• Eco-friendly detergent - I still have 1/2 a bottle of Tide I'm going to use up, but then I'm willing to try a new natural detergent like Charlie's, Seventh Generation, Allen's, etc.
  
• Non-chlorine diapers - I'm a Pampers fan myself but I just ordered a package of Seventh Generation non-chlorine diapers to try out. I found it leaked in the overnight trial but works great for daytime (shorter time span.) These are notably more expensive than other diapers, but I will continue to buy them when I can and maybe alternate with cheaper ones. Of course cloth diapers are the ultimate way to go green here, but I'm not quite there yet (at least not until I have my own washer/dryer.)
• This is kind of a general one, but I'm ready to consciously buy more organic food and maybe even clothes. I know it can be better for my family and the environment, and I want to support organic growers. Again, weighing the cost, and keeping practical. But I am looking forward to living near a Whole Foods again!
  
• Use fewer paper towels - I admit I use them a lot. But I've started more consciously keeping dish towels around the kitchen and on the table to wipe hands on, and old baby washcloths to clean faces and hands after meals.
  

Maybe someday:

• Cloth diapers - I feel like this could be my ultimate green contribution to the environment, considering how many millions of diapers our family uses. And they have come a long way since even Hazel was born - they are very user friendly these days. I just can't face it until I've got my own laundry, but that is only 6 months away. I should also consider cloth wipes.
  
• On Oprah's show, a family had their energy company come do an energy audit of their home, resulting in energy-saving suggestions like outlet gaskets, low-flow showerheads, and window weatherstripping. This seems like a great place to start conserving energy and energy bills...when I have a home.
• Energy saving light bulbs - I saw an Oprah a few years ago with Leonardo DiCaprio pushing these bulbs. It sounded reasonable so I got some for our living room. I kept them in for 6 months but couldn't stand the life-sucking flourescent light and switched back to energy-sucking incandescents. I don't know, I'm very particular about my mood lighting. That living room didn't have any windows (cheap dungeon basement apartment), so the light bulbs really affected things. However, I would use these bulbs in places like laundry room, porch light, garage, home office. I just don't have any of those rooms right now.
  
• Hybrid car - why wouldn't I? Our clunker is not getting any younger so we will be in the market for a new car, possibly two, in the next few years. There are several makes and models of hybrid cars and it's a smart and responsible way to go if you can find one to fit all your safety and other needs. A glaring gap in the market is a hybrid minivan, but apparently it's on the way. That's what I'm waiting for.

Obviously there's always more a person can do. I'm sure most of you are doing more than I am, but we all start somewhere.

What do you do? What products or activities have you embraced in an effort to treat the earth right? What other suggestions do you have for me?

Snapshot

Tonight, 5pm.

Sigh. Ugh. "Hazel, what should we have for dinner?"

"CHEERIOS!"

Pause.
Sigh.
Remember the last 3 out of 4 nights spending 30-60 minutes preparing traditional well-balanced dinners that no one but me ate. Envision the ease of putting out bowls, spoons, milk and cereal box. Oh yeah, and bananas to bring it up to three food groups. Imagine the quiet of everyone eating what's put in front of them.

"Ok."

May I Direct Your Attention - New YW Leader Blog

My sister Tona was recently called to serve in the Young Women's organization in her (LDS) ward, for the first time in her 17 years since leaving YW herself. Totally eager to make it real, she began searching for online forums, blogs or groups of other LDS YW leaders to discuss lessons and timely issues in ministering to young women...and found none. She inquired of several other resources, and no one knew of anything, so she started one herself.

Beginnings New is "the place for LDS young women's leaders who want more than clip art and cute. Substantive, positive, caring, smart... that's us. So join the conversation." This is certainly a place for any YW leader to check in and weigh in, but I've enjoyed reading the posts and comments, and leaving my own, even though I work in Primary. I've got two daughters and by the time they are teenagers I am sure to be completely out of touch, so it's nice to check in and see what's going on with young women these days. Check it out.

When Life Gives You Lemons...

I'll admit a tall glass of fresh lemonade is worthy of the cliche, but I've been putting lemons to a little more interesting use lately. I picked up eight or so last week at the store, and used them in one old favorite and three new recipes. Hope you like them, too.


Lemon Coolies
I made that name up. It's from an old Arlington Ward cookbook I flipped through last time I was at Mom's. You'll never believe how easy these are to make; with only 4 ingredients, they're perfect to make with kids. And trust me, they're good, too - crispy on the outside, soft & chewy on the inside. "But this recipe doesn't call for real lemons!" you say. True, but for extra zip add fresh lemon zest - it's a winner!

1 box lemon cake mix
1 egg
2 cups Cool Whip (no kidding)
(lemon zest)
(powdered sugar)

Mix first 3 ingredients. Roll balls of mixture in powdered sugar. Bake on greased cookie sheet at 325 until golden brown (about 12-15 minutes.)

Lemon Spaghetti
(Giada de Laurentis)
I saw Giada make this on Everyday Italian once, as an accompaniment to Shrimp Fra Diavolo. It looked sooooooo good, so I made them both and while the shrimp was delicious, the lemon pasta has become a regular on our table. Most recently we had it with Italian seasoned pork chops and broccoli. And while I admit to making it without the fresh basil sometimes, use it if you can - it really makes the dish burst.

1 pound spaghetti
2/3 cup olive oil
2/3 cup grated Parmesan
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice (about 3 lemons)
Salt and freshly ground pepper
1 tablespoon lemon zest
1/3 cup chopped fresh basil leaves

Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling water until tender but still firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Meanwhile, whisk the oil, parmesan, and lemon juice in a large bowl to blend.

Drain the pasta, reserving 1 cup of the cooking liquid. Toss the pasta with the lemon sauce, and the reserved cooking liquid, adding 1/4 cup as a time as needed to moisten. Season with salt and pepper. Garnish with lemon zest and chopped basil.

Lemon Ricotta Pancakes
with Roasted Golden Delicious Apples and Roasted Prociutto
(Tyler Florence)
We almost never buy ricotta cheese but it was on sale recently, so we made a lasagna. I was going to wait until the leftover ricotta went bad and then throw it out...until I happened to catch (in the 5 seconds I was allowed to watch the Food Network on the way to Noggin) Tyler Florence making an enticing pancake breakfast using ricotta and lemons, two things I had in my kitchen at the time. Visit the recipe online to view and print it out.

The sweet lemon flavor was delightful, and the texture was surprisingly souffle-like - no grainy hint of the ricotta. I think it must have just added moisture and sweetness. We had it with warm maple syrup but I'm sure Tyler's apple topping is great.

Warm Lemon Chicken Sandwich with Arugula and Pears
(Rachael Ray)
A surprising winner from Rachael Ray 365, which I've found to be hit-and-miss for good recipes. But when she hits, it's a home run! I loved the unusually complex flavor combination, plus it was easy and fresh. And I got to buy prosciutto for the first time.

2 lemons
2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves, stripped and chopped
Salt and freshly ground pepper
4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
1 tablespoon dijon mustard
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
5 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
4 kaiser rolls, split
1 garlic clove, crushed
1 ripe Bartlett, Anjou or Bosc pear
8 slices prosciutto
1 large bunch of arugula, cleaned and trimmed (2-2.5 cups)

In a shallow bowl, combine the juice of 1.5 lemons, the thyme, salt and pepper. Add the chicken breasts and toss to coat. Marinate the chicken for 5-10 minutes.

In a small bowl, combine the mustard with the vinegar, salt and pepper. Whisk in 3 tablespoons of the olive oil, then the parmesan. Toast the rolls. Rube the toasted cut sides with the garlic clove.

Preheat a nonstick skilled over med-hi heat. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil. Cook the chicken for 5-6 minutes on each side. Remove to a cutting board and tent with foil.

Thinly slice the pear, and toss in a salad bowl with the juice of the remaining half lemon. Slice the prosciutto into strips. Add the arugula leaves and prosciutto to the salad bowl adn toss with the vinaigrette.

Thinly slice the cooked chicken. Layer half of the chicken slices onto the rolls and top with the arugula salad. Add the remaining chicken and roll tops.

Baby You Can Buy My Blog

Last summer I told Dave I wanted a web service that could download my blog and print it in a book so I could have a nice, permanent hard copy with all the pictures and comments. He told me it doesn't exist. Au contraire.

For Christmas my sister-in-law Natalee, with help from sister-in-law Shanda and her sister, made my girls an awesome personalized ABC book. They used a scrapbooking software for the page layouts, did quotes and scriptures for the words and used family and other photos for the pictures. I asked Shanda where you get something like that printed, and she said Blurb.com. Then she said,

"You can also publish your blog."

It's awesome. You can make your own cookbook, poetry book, blog book, whatever you want. Just give your login and it "slurps" your blog into one of 15 layout formats, then you can manually tweak things to your liking. You can also choose whether to include comments, and whether to print hyperlinks as footnotes. Then, once you finish and self-publish, you have the option to place your book in the Blurb bookstore for other people to buy, and you can buy other people's books.

I want a hard copy of my blog because it's like a journal, a record of me, for me. But seeing Natalee's book and the other books in the bookstore show that the possibilities are endless. Publish your own children's book, a family cookbook, or portfolio.

You can even buy my blog.

Baby Shebang Part III: Items of Interest

Back in July I started this trilogy on baby gear. Despite appearances, I did not forget about it; I've just been reluctant to commit to the finality of finishing it. What if I find one more cool thing I want to add? Well, I've solved that problem by deciding to do a monthly post on all my newest favorite things. So now I can finish Shebang.

As a review:
Part I: The A-List contains my first choice stuff, the best of the best that I've found, that I use all the time, and my go-to list for baby shower gifts.
Part II: Honorable Mention includes things I do like and recommend, but don't meet all the criteria for the A-List.
Part III: Items of Interest contains things that I do not own or have not tried, but might like to in the future, like when we have another baby or when the girls are older. This post also contains websites I like to browse.

And here they are, in no particular order:

DadGear Diaper Vest (and Cargo Jacket) - What a million dollar idea! Manly baby gear for Dads is long overdue on the market - Dads are dying to be more involved without looking and feeling ridiculous. I commend the genius of these designs and highly recommend watching the demo videos on their website!

Momono by MayaLena - A kimono-inspired housecoat for a new generation of moms. Side ties allow for easy breastfeeding and give you room while you work your way back down to "normal" size. Or wear it over your clothes during other messy times to keep your clothes clean. The prints are chosen to purposely mask oatmeal/banana/spitup smears or whatever is the stain du jour. I was tempted to get one this time around, but just couldn't quite justify spending the money. I noticed, though, that the price has dropped. I think it was over $60 when I first found it; now I see it is $40 - much more reasonable.

Dressy Dribbles carseat covers - I'm a sucker for the Chinese silk look. Put super soft minky on the other side, of anything, and you've got me drooling. While the infant carseat covers are so beautiful with their matching canopies, they're not really necessary since infant carseat pads are removable and machine washable (at least on my Graco it is.) However, my toddler seat isn't removable and I'm secretly hoping that after Ginger is done with it, it will be so crusty that I can justify a slipcover. The purple Asian brocade is my favorite; I'd go with the silver/navy for a boy.

PUJ sling - I have several baby carriers: a pouch, a sling, a wrap, a Bjorn, and a backpack, to be precise. They all have their place and do a good job in some situations, but I'm still on the lookout for something better. There's no shortage of possibilities, either, but you can't buy them all! My latest interest is this sling by PUJ - simple, stylish, presumably comfortable. It's on my "when I have an extra $50 laying around" list.

Libby Dibby "Hip Reversible Skirts with Vintage Flair" - Sigh. I just love, love, love cool fabric! Here we find it in a design I like in a size that will fit me - this is a real find. These are for anybody but with wrap-around adjustable sizing, can be especially postpartum friendly. My only problem is which one to choose?

Piggy Banks from elegantbaby - There are a lot of dumb, ugly piggy banks out there. I got Hazel a cute wooden ladybug bank at World Market last summer and she loved getting spare change to deposit. It was so small, though, that it filled up fast, so I emptied it into a jar and starting searching for a real piggy bank. Paint-your-own-pottery places usually have banks so that could be a fun way to go, but for buying one, this is by far my favorite. I was thinking Christmas but decided to wait a year or two until Hazel is old enough to take better care of breakable things. Love the hand-painted polka dots!

Hipseat - I am soooo curious about this product. It looks awesome for around the house, trips down to the laundry room, and when big heavy Hazel wants to be held. Even Ginger is getting big and heavy for hip holding. But I've always got better things to do with $109 than buy this. Let me know if you ever try it.

Muslin swaddling wraps by aden & anais - I am a major proponent for swaddling babies. It has worked wonders for our family. I love the Miracle Blanket I've mentioned before, but when they're new to about 2.5 months square blankets work better. Mine are flannel which has worked out for winter babies, but these blankets are made of lightweight cotton muslin so babies don't overheat...plus of course there's the pretty fabric factor.

Some Toy Brands I Like: Haba, eeBoo, Discovery Toys, Plan Toys, Kidkraft

Some Websites I Like:
Urban Baby Runway (especially the vintage-inspired clothes and bedding)
Kool Roomz
Kate Quinn Organics
Belle and Boo
Savvy Mommy
Natural Pod
Modern Nursery