Breastfeeding on Codeine

Are you nursing? Are you taking codeine? NPR reported on a recent FDA advisory to doctors and nursing mothers cautioning on the mother's use of codeine for the sake of nursing babies. If a mother is a "supermetabolizer," her body will break the drug down into its active form, morphine, too quickly. The morphine then floods the bloodstream, which "can cause drowsiness and interfere with breathing," potentially resulting in an overdose in the baby. It's rare though (1 reported death), and no other medications that include codeine (e.g., cold medication) have reportedly EVER caused any problems.

"If you're a nursing mother taking codeine, call your doctor if you're having difficulty taking care of your baby," Kweder says. "It could be a sign that you're metabolizing the drug more rapidly than most people."

It's the most widely prescribed postpartum medication, and the agency is NOT trying to eliminate its use. However, since 1-10% of people metabolize codeine rapidly, the article says there's reason to be cautious and watch for baby's reactions. There are genetic tests, but they're very expensive and not widely available. Mom's are better off getting the lowest dose of codeine for the shortest amount of time.

Overall, it sounds scary, but it's not a life-altering concern. Be cautious and observant with your baby. The article's suggestion to "call your doctor if you're having difficulty taking care of your baby" is a bit generic. What new parents get home and say "wow, this is much easier than I thought." Babies are difficult to take care of, full stop. But as with anything, if something doesn't seem right, call your doctor; that's what s/he's there for. And as your baby gets older, it becomes easier to see when behavior is out of character.

Generally, I try to take the least amount of medication needed (dose and duration) for my sake, and moreso now that I'm nursing. I take a daily vitamin. After a terrible bout of mastitis, I was taking lecithin for a while in hopes of keeping the ducts clear and flowing, though I stopped after a while with no ill effects. I've taken a bit of cold medicine during the worst part of my cold (twice since MetaBaby was born), though I try to keep that to a minimum because my doctor said antihistamines reduce a nursing woman's milk supply (true or not, why tempt fate?). The only other thing I take is Tylenol for my occassional migraine, which just barely lets me get by.

Just Hanging Around

I can't resist.

Dawn provides a list of frugal ideas on decorating your bare walls, keeping in mind to "hang what you love."



To those of you who love, and are now concerned about the well-being of MetaBaby, worry not. We will not be duct taping our child to the wall. Truth be told, we already have something over the fireplace, and he just wouldn't look right above the sofa. If we move, however, we will be revisiting all decorating options :-)

Recipes: Cauliflower

So, how do you like cauliflower? I was never that excited by it, but I tried a recipe recently per Nigella's side note in an episode of Nigella Bites. It wasn't a real recipe, just a suggestion, so we tried it out and came up with this.

Baked Cumin Cauliflower

1 head of cauliflower
Olive Oil
Ground Cumin

Preheat oven to 400F degrees. Cut up the cauliflower into small florets (I usually do this in advance and leave them in the fridge until ready). Spread them out on a baking sheet, drizzle little olive oil all over, then sprinkle on the ground cumin. Bake for about 40 minutes. They should be tender and golden.

Cook's Illustrated suggestions on cauliflower.

Shopping Notes: Buy head of cauliflower with tight, firm florets without any discoloration.

Cutting Cauliflower:

1. Pull off outer leaves and cut stem flush.
   
2. Cut head into 8 equal wedges so that core and florets remain intact.

Lead Found in Baby Bibs?

I hadn't heard about this lead scare yet.

"Toys “R” Us halted the sale of vinyl baby bibs at its stores nationwide yesterday and offered customers refunds on perhaps more than a million bibs after tests confirmed that at least some of the Chinese-made items are contaminated with lead."

Per Toys R Us and the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the bibs are only a safety concern if they are "so worn out that pieces could break off and be ingested."

The tests were paid for by the Center for Environmental Health (CHECA), which was instrumental in pushing for the voluntary recall. The lead level was apparently not high enough to warrant a federal violation by the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

I don't see how any level of lead in a baby's bib is tolerable. My son goes soaks several bibs a day with his drool, and don't get me started on the chewing. He chews everything and anything he can find. And with his razor-sharp teeth, he's gnawed through more things than I thought possible; I don't see him stopping at vinyl.

So, if you have any vinyl bibs, check the label for Koala Baby, Especially for Baby and Disney Baby labels.

The Hummus Bar

Oh, it's no wonder he won a Pulitzer. I heard Jonathan Gold talk about the Hummus Bar on the radio a few weeks ago, which definitely piqued my interest. But then I read the article in the LA Weekly. I just ate, and my stomach's growling. How did he do that?!?

There's no point in summarizing because he the gist is simple: the food's good and the place is packed with people who know what's good. It not just in what he says, it's in how he says it.

Go on, go get hungry.

Hummus Bar
18743 Ventura Blvd., Tarzana
(818) 344-6606
Sun.-Thurs. 8:30 a.m. “until late,” Fri. 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Who Gets to Work Early?

Lifehacker asked Do You Get to Work Early to Get Things Done?

I have seldom been early to anything intentionally. I can't remember the last time (if ever) that I showed up to work early. I was always the type to stay late. Like, *after everyone else* late. Even when I was pregnant, wobbling around the office all alone. I usually got into a good groove and was so much more productive. That, and since our office worked with people on the east coast, I'd have had to get there before 4AM to be alone. LOL...ya, that'll be the day.

Crafts with Jars

I'm not one to keep empty jars, though I have started to recently. In looking to stop using the convenient plastic tupperware I've come to rely on, I've found that empty jars serve as small, cheap storage containers for leftovers in the fridge. At some point, I won't have room for more, though. So what to do with all of those jars?

This site lists some great ideas of how to use small jars for craft projects, the most fascinating of which I find to be a snow globe. You do need a couple of potentially uncommon items, however, like a glue gun and florist clay. But if that doesn't sound like a challenge to you, this might be right up your alley. I'm going to have to consider whether or not I really want a glue gun. Sounds like a level of crafty beyond me. I'm more of a scissors and tape girl :-)

Health Benefits of Alcohol, You Say?

My husband and his sisters all learned a valuable food tip from their mum. Alcohol makes food taste better. And true to that, no alcohol goes to waste in any of their households.

After tasting and experimenting, I fully agree. I grew up eating a stew that my husband found rather bland. So I tinkered with the recipe and replaced 1 of the 6 cups of broth with white wine, added some salt, and it's delicious. The taste is similar enough to be my comfort food, yet much more flavorful.

For a dessert topping, his mum once pureed a can of fruit (e.g., apricots) and added some cointreau. Superb!!

Now, a reason to rejoice. Men's Health says:

"Make fresh berries even healthier by storing them in rum or vodka, say USDA scientists. After dunking strawberries and blackberries in alcohol, the researchers found that soaking the fruits in liquor increased their levels of disease-fighting antioxidants. They aren't sure whether booze boosts the antioxidants' power, but they do know the effect yileds more ammo against oxidative cell damage - a common cause of cancer."

Learning From Kids

I'm not a boy. I never was one. I don't entirely understand them, though I don't entirely understand girls, so that leaves me in a curious place...always wondering "what are you talking about?!?" For example, I'm not really a shopper. I don't like going to places and trying on outfits. When I bought my wedding dress, I went alone and found something I liked, and the salesgirl couldn't stop commenting on how she's used to a dressing room full of women commenting, crying, pulling, poking, and prodding. Why? As for men, I once heard a comedian say something to the effect of "if you knew what we were thinking, you'd never stop slapping us." Indeed.

Men's Health has a cute roundup of how to improve your life by looking to the wisdom of kids. Some I especially agree with (in bold) and some I don't understand (e.g., 19 and 20).

21 Big Lessons from Little Kids: Little things you may have forgotten

1. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Even when there's not a prize in the bottom of the box.
   
2. Sometimes it's best to be completely blunt with people, as you used to be with relatives who wanted you to do something embarrassing or tedious for a shiny quarter.
   
3. Asking questions is how you figure things out. Lots and lots of questions.
   
4. An older, wiser Gordie Lachance says in Stand By Me, "I never had any friends later on like the ones I had when I was 12." Lachance is right. The trick is to try to be the friend you were when you were 12: fun-loving and loyal, with no strings attached.
   
5. Playing is work. Approach your downtime with all the seriousness of a 5-year-old with a secret treasure map.
   
6. Real guys don't dip their toes in the water. They jump right in.
   
7. Girls have cooties. Well, the ones you meet in certain bars do, anyway.
   
8. You hated it when a grown-up told you, "We'll see." It's still unacceptable. Don't say it yourself.
   
9. The only way to know how something works is to completely disassemble it. (This is still good advice when tackling a complex problem. Your plasma TV? Not so much).
   
10. There's a reason they don't give credit cards to 8-year-olds. You're supposed to save up money before you buy a new toy.
    
11. Your body was designed for throwing baseballs, shooting hoops, and jumping off diving boards and stuff. In the secret language of children, the word "fitness" doesn't exist. It's called "having fun."
    
12. Your world can be half-real and half-imaginary.
    
13. Homework blows. Bring work home with you and it'll ruin your night. And your marriage. And your family. And your life.
    
14. Too much of anything will give you a tummy ache. Like, say, bourbon.
    
15. If there's even the slightest doubt, hit the potty before you leave.
    
16. The coolest adults were the ones who took the time to listen to you. You still want to grow up to be a cool adult, right?
    
17. Treasure Island, Dracula: The best books are consumed after dark with a flashlight.
    
18. Use adrenaline as your drug of choice. You don't need beer, pot, or cigarettes to have a good time.
    
19. Kissing a girl on the cheek is a big deal. Kissing her lips is an even bigger deal. Seeing her naked for the first time is a major, life-altering event.
    
20. Going after a target in the urinal makes the time whiz by.
    
21. Seeing a thunderstorm roll in is better than watching HDTV. And rain isn't something to curse, but to enjoy. Hurry up, before it clears.

Recipes: Zucchini

I've been thinking about zucchini (aka courgettes and summer squash) lately. It's a great veg for baby food because it cooks quickly in a steamer and purees well, while being a great nutritional addition to his meal. It also mashes really well when cooked, so it's a popular addition to our baby food. That said, I've never spent much time craving or cooking it, so perhaps now is the time to start so we continue eating it beyond baby food.

Recently, I've prepared it by peeling and slicing thin rounds, then steaming the whole lot for about 10 minutes, or until cooked as desired. I then put it in a bowl, add in grated lime or lemon zest and juice, and toss. It's nice as is, or add a bit of salt as desired.

My mother-in-law made some by dry-grilling, and it was surprisingly good. I had never really appreciated the flavor of zucchini on its own. Slice into 1/4 inch rounds, sprinkle with a bit of lemon juice, then place directly on a hot grill until cooked. The presentation is also lovely because of the dark skin and grill marks. Easy, quick, fat-free...what more could you ask for?

The September 2007 issue of Cook's Illustrated has some additional suggestions on selecting and preparing zucchini.

Shopping Notes: Zucchini weighing less than 8 ounces are more flavorful and less watery than larger ones.

Preparation: Shred, discarding seeds and core, then salt and squeeze dry.

Basic Cooking Method: Shredding, salting (use 1 1/2 teaspoons salt with 2 1/2 pounds zucchini), and squeezing removes moisture from this watery vegetable, as does a dry-heat cooking method, like sauteing. Toss dried zucchini with 2 teaspoons olive oil and then cook in 12-inch nonstick skillet filmed with 2 teaspoons additional oil over high heat for 4 minutes. Stir infrequently as zucchini cooks to promote browning.

So Tired...So Very Tired

Woke up at 6:30AM in Ireland, which is 10:30PM California time. Flew here and didn't get to nap on the flight, so it's been about 22 hours. Our poor little fella was pretty tired, too. Unfortunately, since he's so bad at sleeping in busy places (e.g., lights, noise), he only had 2 half hour naps, both kicking and screaming. He had a 2 hour nap when we got home, then we woke him up for some food, and he was off to sleep again.

So tired. Trying to wait it out to go to sleep to minimize the jet lag. So I unpacked everything, did a bunch of laundry, and responded to my husbands repeated questions along the lines of "where did you get all of this energy?" It's not energy, it's momentum. Once I stop, I'll collapse.

When we arrived in Dublin, it was around noon. We all took a 2-3 hour nap when we arrived at my mother-in-law's home, and I felt much better. She was nice enough to buy food for our little guy, so I started cooking some of it. I started with fruit, then some squash, which led me to quinoa, and some lentils...and I guess I did more than I expected I would. However, I didn't realize it until my husband and the in-laws all started commenting on my energy level. I hadn't even noticed.

I think I can survive on less sleep than before parenthood.

I hope Boogie doesn't wake up too early tonight/tomorrow.

How I Make Baby Food - Part 2

As a follow-up to How I Make Baby Food - Part 1, here's a breakdown of tools and resources I've found essential, as well as a list of the successful foods I've prepared.

I thought making baby food was going to be an all-day production that was going to provide little payback. But it's worked out pretty well. I've found a groove where I shop for organic produce at the farmers' market and use it to make his food shortly after. However, I thought I'd be doing it every few days. In fact, I only cook for him once every 2 weeks. I do a few different things all at once, so it's a bit of an ordeal, but that's how I function best. You could also do a little bit over a few days and get the same effect. For example, I'll chop up a vegetable and put it in the steamer, chop up and saute some fruit, cook lentils in a large pot, and roast something like butternut squash. At the end, I prep each to freeze as needed (smooth vs chunky) by mashing, pureeing, blending, mixing, or sieving. Once they're frozen, we have plenty of food. I add to the frozen by incorporating mashed avocado, banana, or tofu throughout the week. And because I freeze most flavors individually (e.g., peas instead of peas mixed with something), I can create variety at a moment's notice.

Resources

First Meals - Annabel Karmel’s basic book on making and feeding your baby homemade food. It’s been my go-to book for information and recipe ideas.
Annabel Karmel - The author’s online presence where she has a few recipes, tips, and general info on feeding baby, though nowhere near as thorough as her books.
Bistro Brands - Although I never went this route, I was tempted. In the end, I was satisfied enough with the information I had that I didn’t feel I needed another resource, but if you’re starting out, it might be worth looking into. It’s essentially a recipe box that includes safety rules, shopping tips, numerous recipes, and prenatal suggestions.
Wholesome Baby Food - A website with vast information on making all kinds of baby food, proper foods by age, storage & heating concerns, allergies, and more. A great (and free) resource.

HARDWARE - special items you may already have that I found really helpful and/or indispensable in making baby food.

• Steamer & Pot – You can use something fancy, but I just have a 2 quart pot and a cheap collapsible steamer.
  
• Food Mill – When you’re trying to get food silky smooth, a blender just won’t do the job. I used the finest blade on the MIU food mill, and it produced great results. That said, when he moved on to slightly coarser food, I didn’t care for the output generated by the other two blades. It felt like more food was staying in the mill than being pushed through. So I only found the food mill useful for the first stage of food.
  
• Hand blender – This has been really useful in pureeing food to a creamy texture without the mess caused by a blender. I put the food in a tall, non-plastic container like a pyrex measuring cup so that (1) the heat of the food won’t damage the plastic leaching plastic into food (ewww) and (2) to minimize food splashes, as with bowls.
  
• Tall Pyrex Measuring Cup – As referenced above, I find this a perfect match to the hand blender.
  
• The Best Spatula Ever - When I love something, I love it good. This spatula is excellent because it’s flexible, heat resistant (to 650 degrees), and doesn’t come apart. I’ve used other “good” silicone spatulas only to have the spatula piece come off into food while I was using it leaving a stick in my hand. A stick does not scrape the sides of a bowl well. No.
  
• Covered Ice Cube Tray - When it comes to freezing baby food, there are few good options. Most ice cube trays are fine until you have to get the cubes out, which can be really hard. I found these ice cube trays at the Container Store, and I’ve been really pleased with their results. Because of the flexible pad at the bottom of the tray, each cube just pops out. And if it doesn’t, just give it a couple of minutes on the counter and it will. They also stack for easy storage in the freezer. The cubes are nice and small so you can mix various cubes for a tasty mixture of food (e.g., lentils, squash, and zucchini) when defrosting instead of only having the option of premixed food cubes.
  
• Baby Cubes - I also have a set of these Baby Cubes to freeze baby food. I got them at the same time as I got the above ice cube trays, and I’ve used both equally often. The cubes are larger than the ice cube trays, so I tend to use it for things I won’t mix with other foods (e.g., a pre-mixed fruit puree) or for a food that I use in a larger quantity when defrosting (e.g., 2 small cubes of lentils or 1 large cube of lentils). Once frozen, I pop it out by turning it upside down over a bowl and squeezing two opposing corners. You can see the frozen cube slowly detach from the box, then it just falls out. Otherwise, keep the lid down a bit (so the cube doesn’t fly onto the floor) and just wedge a butter knife in at an edge; it should pop out.
  
• Ice Cream Scooper - I've found this scooper particularly useful in filling the freezer cubes and trays with food. I like to get a nice full cube of food, so the scooper allows for added precision. Besides, it's less messy.

SOFTWARE - Food & Recipes

Single food purees - The first foods we fed our son

• Butternut squash, sweet peas, zucchini, potato, brussels sprouts – dice (if applicable), steam until soft, puree, and freeze.
  
• Sweet apples, pears – dice, sauté in a tablespoon of water (or more as needed) until soft, puree, and freeze.
  
• Avocado, banana – mash as needed. Do not freeze.
  
• Mango, Cantaloupe – chopped and fed through a mesh food strainer
  
• Carrots, parsnips - I would have liked to make these, but I found conflicting information regarding the nitrate levels in homemade carrot and parsnip purees. While I'm inclined to think it would have been OK since I'm sure babies around the world have carrots without a second thought, I chose to omit them from his diet for a while just in case. Besides, his diet has never lacked variety, so I didn't feel I needed these.

Follow-Up Foods - These are the subsequent foods I’ve made for him. I still make the other foods, I just do the following as well to vary it up a bit. This means we have a nice overlapping of single food cubes (e.g., peas, zucchini) and mixed foods (e.g., fruit, potato & broccoli). As he gets older, I mash the food instead of pureeing to make sure that he’s developing his chewing skills.

• Broccoli & Potato Puree – Steam the broccoli florets until soft. Boil some potatoes (don't bother peeling if you're using a food mill). Puree both in the food mill until you get a creamy mix. Add a little of the steaming water as needed to loosen up the puree. Freeze.
  
• Potato & Leek Puree – Dice a few potatoes along with the cleaned and diced white part of a leek. Cook in just enough water to cover for about 30 minutes or until tender soft. Puree food in food mill; add some of the cooking water as needed to loosen up the puree. Freeze.
  
• Blueberry Soup – Was a huge mistake, so I won't bore you with the "how to." It was messy, and rather bland to be honest. I made it once, and kept most of the cubes for future smoothies.
  
• Pear & Kiwi Puree - Dice up 2 apples, 2 pears, and about 3 good sized kiwis (i.e., not the tiny ones). Cook the apples and pears in a saucepan with a couple of tablespoons of water (or apple juice) until tender (10-15 minutes). If the pear is ripe, add it with the kiwi. Once tender, put the kiwi (and pear if ripe) in to cook for a couple of minutes. Blend the whole thing. Sieve to remove the black seeds, if you like. Freeze.
  
• Red Lentils - When you make lentils, two things will improve your results. Spread them out on a flat surface to check for tiny stones (they look like lentils so they occasionally make it into the bag), then rinse them before cooking. There's nothing worse than breaking a tooth on lentils as an adult. Imagine a baby!! Red lentils are especially good easy in my opinion because they break down very easily and make for a creamy end result. If you use other lentils, you might have to cook them a bit longer and puree a bit more.
  Heat some olive oil in a pot. Add a diced onion, carrot, and celery stalk and sauté for 8 minutes. Add a minced clove of garlic and cook for another minute. Add 1/2 pound of red lentils and 1 1/2-2 cups of water so that everything's well covered. Bring to a boil, cover, and simmer for about 20 minutes. Puree and freeze.
  
• Quinoa & Butternut Squash – To make the quinoa, add 1 cup of rinsed quinoa to 2 cups of water. Bring to a boil and cook for about 15 minutes. I usually steam pre-chopped squash (from Trader Joes) until soft, but you can also roast it in the oven. I just seed it, chop it up into 6-8 segments, drizzle some olive oil on top, and cook for about 40-50 minutes at 400 degrees or until tender. Then I scrape the cooked squash from the skin into a bowl.
  Mix the cooked quinoa with the squash for a protein rich dish. Freeze.
  
• Fruit Mix – Peel and dice 1 apple and 2 pears and sauté in a couple of tablespoons of water or apple juice for about 10 minutes, or until they start to get tender. I then add a mix of peeled and diced nectarines, plums, apricots, peaches, mango, kiwi, etc. depending on what’s available. I have a stash of chemical-free dried apricots and plums that I chop up and add in the event that I don’t have the fresh version. Cook until everything’s nice and soft, puree, freeze.

End of the Road

Here's a post I wrote, but didn't get a chance to actually post before dashing out of the house Friday morning.

***********************************************************

On our way back home today. Bracing ourselves for a grueling 11 hour flight with some sleep and a good breakfast. Oh, the joys of travel.

We'll be back Friday, so if you're going to rob us, do it soon.

Please don't rob us.

100 Things About Me

What Works For Us has called me out. I failed to honor the tradition to post 100 things about myself at the time of my 100th post.

Doh!!

OK...here goes. Feel free to skip to the next post, though :-D

1. I'm a Virgo.
   
2. I'm either a real Virgo, or slightly OCD.
   
3. I wash my hands often.
   
4. My son's a Virgo.
   
5. My husband's a Leo.
   
6. I like my husband's family, and I'm not just saying that because they may (or do) read this blog.
   
7. I like to cook.
   
8. I like to bake more than I like to cook.
   
9. I like trying out new recipes; I don't always enjoy eating the food produced by new recipes.
   
10. I had a cat for 15 years before she passed away.
    
11. Whenever I hear my son's toy with a bell, I think of her.
    
12. My family is from Chile.
    
13. I've been there 3 times, but I only remember 2 visits.
    
14. We will go to Patagonia as a family one day. No question.
    
15. Our favorite vacation spots: Bangkok, Thailand; Kauai, Hawaii; London, England; Spain.
    
16. We've been to Tibet and tasted yak butter tea and yak in a stir fry; I prefer the latter.
    
17. My favorite liqueur: Baileys Irish Cream
    
18. A prior bad relationship started on a date where our windshield hit a pigeon on a freeway. It died.
    
19. I saw Oingo Boingo perform their final concert on Halloween
    
20. I love soundtracks (i.e., scores) to movies. The Piano, The Mission, The Nightmare Before Christmas come to mind.
    
21. I know a lot of the lyrics to a lot of recent Disney movies prior to Pocahantas. Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, The Nightmare Before Christmas, etc.
    
22. The first time I met my husband, I was a bit preoccupied feeling nauseous to notice him. We were on a company boat cruise (I went with a friend who worked at his company) and I happened to skipped lunch that day.
    
23. I get nauseous if I skip a meal. My husband always reminds me to eat...just in case. Self-preservation.
    
24. When we went on our first date, I had a feeling we'd end up together. This was the first and last time I felt this.
    
25. We had our first date almost 7 years ago.
    
26. We still talk to each other a lot about everything and nothing.
    
27. He's my best friend.
    
28. I'm not a touchy-feely sentimental type.
    
29. I have been accused of being too blunt.
    
30. I have been accused of being too serious.
    
31. I have been accused of being too quiet.
    
32. I have been accused of not having much to say.
    
33. The last was not said by people who read this blog.
    
34. In unfamiliar surroundings, I don't speak much unless I feel I have something valuable to say.
    
35. This blog is obviously not subject to #34.
    
36. When I say something laugh-out-loud funny, people seem shocked.
    
37. WTF?!? I'm funny!!
    
38. I have only gotten wiser with age.
    
39. I have become more compromising with marriage.
    
40. I have become more patient with parenthood.
    
41. I don't question poop when it comes from my son.
    
42. I now understand what unconditional love is.
    
43. When my son put his hand into a bowl of food, my husband stuck the entire hand in his mouth to avoid getting food everywhere.
    
44. My husband now knows what unconditional love is.
    
45. Often, when I move, my joints crack.
    
46. I bore easily.
    
47. I like trying new things.
    
48. I like reading about new things.
    
49. I am currently reading at least 6 books.
    
50. I have read all of the Harry Potter series.
    
51. I went through Harry Potter withdrawls when I finished the last book.
    
52. I track all of my favorite blogs with Bloglines.
    
53. I'm a geek.
    
54. I love a smart man. And I love it when my husband comes out of nowhere with a heavy dose of information and knowledge. Purrr...
    
55. I have a degree in psychology.
    
56. I was employed as an accountant.
    
57. I do NOT like drama in my life.
    
58. My husband and I planned our wedding in 6-8 weeks.
    
59. Our friends and family thought we meant "of the following year."
    
60. They were quite annoyed when we corrected them.
    
61. I'm sure everyone thought I was pregnant.
    
62. I made sure to let everyone know I was drinking a cocktail (or 10) at the wedding so they'd know I wasn't.
    
63. We really enjoyed our wedding.
    
64. I don't believe in wasting calories on bad food.
    
65. I REALLY don't believe in wasting calories on bad desserts.
    
66. I'm always curious.
    
67. I love to learn new things.
    
68. I love to share valuable information.
    
69. When posed a question that I don't know the answer to, I'm inclined to research the answer.
    
70. I've been accused of sharing too much researched information at work. In all fairness, they DID ask!
    
71. My hair was thick and straight as a child.
    
72. I cut my own bangs when I was 10...without a mirror...because it seemed like it'd be easy. BIG mistake.
    
73. My grandmother cut my hair once: left it long (almost to my waist), and cut the top part (e.g., at or above the ear) into a short cut (like a bob). When it didn't work out, we went somewhere to have the top part only permed. I looked like I had a poodle on my head.
    
74. I will never perm my hair again.
    
75. I doubt I'd ever cry at a bad hair cut because I know it could probably be much worse.
    
76. These days, I make no excuses about paying well to get a good cut.
    
77. As I've aged, my hair has become thick and wavy. Not a good combination.
    
78. I can only use a hair dryer to dry my hair...I have no idea how "styling" works with it.
    
79. I'm 5 feet tall.
    
80. I forget how short I am until I see myself in pictures with others.
    
81. I come from a short family.
    
82. I hope my son's at least as tall as my husband (5'7").
    
83. I learned to play the flute in school when I was 11.
    
84. I probably had bad technique because when I played for more than 20 minutes straight, my index finger started to turn blue.
    
85. I was a terrible flute player becuase I never practiced (see #84)
    
86. I played through high school despite my mediocrity because I wanted to be in the marching band.
    
87. I hated P.E. (aka gym), and the marching band got me out of it :-)
    
88. I was raised by my mother and grandmother at different times (never together).
    
89. My grandmother and mother, in my experience, have either gotten along really well or can't speak to each other.
    
90. I have a half sister, but was mostly raised as an only child.
    
91. I watched a lot of TV.
    
92. I want a sibling for Boogie so he's not an only child.
    
93. I'm will to consider adopting one day.
    
94. I'm on the fence about getting a pet again; it's hard work and #11 is hard to cope with.
    
95. I prefer hot showers.
    
96. I long for back rubs...always.
    
97. I don't have a favorite color. I like dark colors (e.g., green, burgundy, brown).
    
98. I never used to wear red because I thought it too bold.
    
99. Perhaps I've gotten bolder.
    
100. A just result of being older.
     

Accountant vs Stay At Home Parent

I worked as an accountant at various companies over the course of several years. I'm beginning to think that having worked as an accountant makes me appreciate being a stay at home parent today.

Being an accountant is thankless. No one cares about you until you make a mistake. No one wants to validate expenses; we're just a nuisance for requesting backup and information. It's a department usually outside of the realm of generating money for its company. It's just about support and oversight. Overhead. Its work is intangible, and as such not quantifiable.

Now I do things like clean, cook, bake, make baby food, shop, and play with Boogie and keep him safe and happy, all the while relieving my husband of some of the chores and errands he had to do back when we both worked. Yet, I still feel useful and productive. And it is in no way thankless, thanks to my boys, but there isn't the same kind of praise as if I was working in a different environment where everything well-done gets praised or highlighted. Getting that stain out of Boogie's clothes just doesn't elicit the same reaction :-P Someone asked me if i get bored as a SAHM. Are you kidding? Who has time to get bored? Besides, as a curious person, I've always been on the hunt for new information and to learn new things. So if I'm not doing something that *needs* to get done, or playing with my son (which is the whole point of this endeavor), I'm doing something that entertains me. There can be learning and growth in any of the challenges we take on, as long as we work to that end.

Intangible? Usually. Productive? Absolutely.

How I Make Baby Food - Part 1

Keep in mind that anything I say in this, and any post for that matter, is a breakdown of our experiences. None of this is meant to be taken as gospel, nor should it in any way override your pediatrician's POV. These methods and recipes were successful for us, but you should always include your pediatrician in any dietary changes you make for you baby. After all, that's why s/he gets paid the big bucks ;-)

When I was pregnant, I started reading up on making baby food. I’ve already gone into why we decided to make our own baby food, so here’s a breakdown of how we coped. A friend gave us a copy of First Meals by Annabel Karmel from which I got a lot of good information. I also did a lot of reading online. I was looking for methods to preparing, storing, and serving foods. Additionally, I sought information on safe first foods, unsafe foods at various ages, introducing a variety of flavors, and so on. Essentially, any tips available on making the process go smoothly.

The funny thing is that the more I read, the more intimidated I got. So when we went to the pediatrician for my son’s 6 month appointment, I was both excited and worried. How much work is this going to take? If I freeze the food in cubes, how hot should I get the food before cooling it back down to feed him? And worst of all, am I going to make him sick?

Our pediatrician’s rules:

• Pureed Foods - Start by feeding him pureed fruits and vegetables, and make sure to get him to try various different flavors like broccoli and brussels sprouts.
• Cereals - Introduce iron-fortified cereals (rice cereal, oatmeal) after about 6 weeks of solids. His take on iron fortified baby cereal is that it was previously theorized that babies needed the additional iron, but he's seen studies that refute the point. He’s seen more successful diets start with fruits and vegetables.
  
• Allergies - In addition to the usual suspects (e.g., honey, eggs, milk, nuts), avoid citrus fruits, tomatoes, wheat, and strawberries. Often, pediatricians suggest introducing a new food every 4 days so that only one new food is in the baby's system at any given time. In those 4 days, caregivers are to watch for allergic reactions, and if none develop, continue on to try another food. Since our doctor redlined allergens to be concerned with, we were granted a carte blanche.

So, I went home and started on my recipes. Despite my best efforts, MetaBaby did NOT like what was going on. He knew what food was (breastmilk), and new “so-called” food was just wrong, wrong, wrong. He refused food daily, and I had to keep reminding myself that this stage of feeding wasn’t about nutrition as much as it was about getting him to appreciate food textures and the act of chewing. He would tolerate the flavors if we put a bit on a finger and allowed him to suck, but besides that, the first month was slow-going. I tried a few store-bought organic foods like organic Gerber, Homemade Baby, and Earth's Best, which went only slightly better because of the texture, or so I suspect. Eventually, he came around, and when he did, there was no stopping him. He loves food. I’ve read that a baby should eat an amount of food equal to the size of his fist, but our little foodie tends to whine for more if we do that. He seldom lets us know that he’s finished before the end of his meal. Even more seldom does he refuse food. Oh, it’s happened, but it’s rare. And I’m not insinuating that he’s really happy with food because I make most of it for him; I just think we’re really lucky. Well, regardless I’d think we’re really lucky :-D

More on resources, tools, foods, and recipes in How I Make Baby Food - Part 2

The Rain in Ireland Falls Mainly in the Plains

As a Los Angeles native, I know a certain kind of weather pattern. When there's sun, it's here to stay (this year, it's been with us all year). When it rains, the streets flood. When it hails, look for Haley's Comet...that's how often it happens. When it snows, look for the film crew nearby that got carried away with the silly effects. There's a constancy about the weather, which is likely why so many people move to and stay in LA. That and the traffic...everyone loves traffic :-P

Ireland is different. Within 10 minutes I've seen:

• Sunny with blue skies
  
• Dark skies with ominous clouds
  
• Torrential rain
  
• Sunny with blue skies...and a muddy field

Sitting in my mother-in-law's kitchen, I go from warm to cold to hot to confused. It's strange, but entertaining. The weather is a source of entertainment! I'm sure it's like this in other parts of the world, but I spend most of my living time (i.e., not fast-paced vacation time which is always rushed) in LA or Dublin. Hence, I can't help but compare the two. And having such little experience with varieties in weather, I'm entertained by it all. I'm sure if I lived here, I'd come to appreciate the sun a lot more, and I'd groan a bit more at the rain. But for now, I'm just enjoying the variety in nature that provides the lush, green countryside that the grazing cattle casually feast on.

I Shant Skip Dessert

I LOVE a funny t-shirt. And this one...well, I might need this for my birthday as well.

Skip Dessert

Those Sinister Golden Arches

Get Rich Slowly recently posted on how Marketing Affects How Children Perceive Food. Apparently, a study funded by Stanford University and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation suggests that children of preschool age prefer McDonald's food to non-McDonald's food. That is, even if they're being served carrots, they perceived them as tasting better if they were wrapped in McDonald's packaging.

THIS is something we're going to try to avoid. We don't like McDonald's. We don't like the food they serve or the way they hook kids as consumers. We don't mind if our son has treats and goodies, but we want him to respect the food he eats. We believe there's tastier food beyond McDonald's, and we're working on making dinner a family ritual (i.e., not just for special events) so that bonding takes place at home instead of fast-food restaurants. That said, I can only imagine how hard this will be. It reminds me of something Morgan Spurlock said in Super Size Me. From Mindfully.org:

"A physiologist explains that fast-food restaurants hook kids in early. With clowns, toys and a chance to spend quality time with Mom or Dad, fast food becomes linked psychologically with fun and comfort.

"That moves Spurlock to make an instant parenting decision on camera: 'When I have kids, every time I drive by a fast-food restaurant I'm going to have to punch them in the face.'"

I'm not going to punch our little Boogie, but a don't think I'm not tempted to smack him in the back of the head if it helps move us away far, far away from those sinister golden arches. And make note...I only said *tempted*...don't take this as anything more than that :-P

Another Reason to Love Olive Oil

Harold McGee is an interesting guy. He's just fascinated by the science of food, and how it's transformed in the kitchen. He's written a few books, the most popular of which is probably On Food and Cooking, and blogs when the moment strikes. He's the guy who steered me towards capers in salt instead of capers in vinegar, which opened up a world of possibilities for me. I long for his rare but insightful posts, and I think I'll have to cross my fingers in hopes of getting his book for my birthday (yes, sweetie...I'm talking to you ;-).

One recent article in the NY Times got me thinking about the healthful qualities of olive oil.

"The sensations of bitterness, astringency and pungency are caused by members of the phenolic family of chemicals. Phenols also have antioxidant properties and so help to protect the oil from going rancid. Whenever you taste an especially peppery oil, it’s an indication that the oil is rich in olive extracts and relatively fresh."

But wait, it gets better. Dr. Gary Beauchamp, an ibuprofen connoisseur, did about 5 years of self-funded research along with a few other contributors and found the phenolic chemical in olive oil, which they named it oleocanthal. "They showed that oleocanthal is even more effective than ibuprofen at inhibiting enzymes in the body that create inflammation."

"In their 2005 report to the journal Nature, the team noted that anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin and ibuprofen appear to have long-term health benefits, including reduction in the risk of some forms of heart disease and cancer. They suggested that the oleocanthal in pungent olive oils might be one of the things that make traditional Mediterranean diets so healthful."

So, I wonder if it helps if you have a headache? Well, even if it doesn't, it sounds like it might surely contribute to healthy living in more ways than I thought. So a glass of red wine, some dark chocolate, and a bit of olive oil...Cheers!

Before I sign off, Mr. McGee's additional notes on storing olive oil from his blog.

• Heating olive oil reduces the levels of most phenolic compounds.
  
• Pepperiness gradually fades as an oil ages. [I assume this means it's potential health benefits might be reduced as well]
  
• Don't save a good olive oil because the balance in flavors is temporary; enjoy it while it lasts.
  
• Store in a cool place protected from light to slow its aging.

The Price of Toys

Why is it every time I hear about a new "all natural" toy store, the prices seem just ridiculous?

Quiet Hours Toys looks really cute, but a teensy little handmade doll will run you $50. Ouch! That said, I can argue modestly higher prices for each toy we buy because we don't buy a lot of toys. Our current reasons:

• Recent recalls have made me reconsider the necessity of plastic toys


• He'll play happily with an empty box...why spend the money?


• The more toys we have, the more toys we have to store


• Less plastic toys on our floor, less plastic toys in the landfill one day. Green living isn't as much about buying "green" as it is about consuming less, so we're working on that part


• I don't like overwhelming him with a giant pile of toys...just a few select ones at a time so he can actually appreciate what he has


• After much thought we've come to the conclusion that a toy that doesn't have flashing lights and noise requires much more imagination creativity. That is, there is no definite answer as to how the toy is to be played with, so the sky's the limit

So even if I do spend a little more money on a well-made toy that encourages learning instead of distraction, I can argue the point because I still don't spend much money on toys.

Locally, we're lucky enough to have The Acorn Store. It's stacked to the ceiling with plastic-free, battery-free toys that make me want to sit on the floor and start playing. It's not as cheap as Target or the like, but I'm much happier with the purchases I've made there. Our last purchase was a set of unpainted wooden blocks for stacking. MetaDaddy and MetaBaby have thoroughly enjoyed stacking and knocking over their creations. I found a little video clip of Acorn and it's owner posted at "Challenge and Fun."

Since I've found some great stuff there, I don't feel compelled to go shopping online, which I usually have no problem doing ;-) However, I have found a few online stores that seem to have a fun selection of clever, natural toys for babies and kids, so I've bookmarked them in the event that...I don't know...just in case. Besides, keep in mind that if you find something you like at one of these sites, it might also be available at a discount elsewhere (e.g., amazon).

Oompa
Plan Toys
Sparkability
Modern Mini
Magic Cabin
Barefoot Books
eBeanstalk
Vermont Country Store
Maukilo
Peapods
Babystyle

Baby Boogie

I have a strange habit of creating new nicknames for no particular reason. My cat had dozens of them. And now, I'm calling our son all sorts of strange pet names (e.g., bear, monkey, poopy pants). He answers to his real name (when he's not too busy), so my habit hasn't slowed his progress in any particular way. His most recent name is Boogie. I'm not sure if it's because he likes to boogie when the music's on or if it's because it seems he always has a boogie on his face. Either way, it feels cute, so it stuck. For me, not my husband. He thinks I'm nuts. It probably doesn't help that I've started calling him BoogieDaddy.

In keeping with character, Boogie's most recent trick is to stick his finger up his nose. Sometimes I hear him while he's whining and think "he sounds muffled." He does...because there's a finger in his nose.

This is going to be fun.

Variations in Chocolate Chip Cookies

A while back, Cathy over at CFO posted on chocolate chip cookies. She likes the thin and crispy. My husband, in my experience, likes most desserts a little crunchy (some might call it burnt around the edges, he calls it delightful). I tend to hover around soft and chewy, but I'm generally just happy when cookies are in arm's reach :-)

I got some good cookie tips from an episode of Good Eats where he made each of the three recipes. This episode cleared up the scientific aspects of the variations in ingredients for the hundreds of chocolate chip cookie recipes out there. And if I'm ever lacking or low on an ingredient, this has given me a bit of insight into how the results might change with an ingredient substitution.

Each recipe is listed on the website, but it doesn't include the following information from the episode. Here are his explanations for the ingredient adjustments that result in the cookie variations:

Thin & Crispy:
Add baking soda
Replace 1 or all eggs with milk
High ratio white to brown sugar
Use butter

Soft & cakey:
Use Cake flour
Baking powder (not baking soda)
Shortening (not butter)
Techniques: chill batter before baking and lay out a smaller cookie size

Chewy:
Melt butter
Use Bread flour
Hold back on egg whites
More (or all) brown sugar

Tony Bourdain vs Parenthood

So, I'm a little food obsessed. Making, eating, exploring...it's all good fun. We also watch our fair share of Food TV, as well as food shows on PBS, the Travel Channel, etc. As a result, we know of several celebrity chefs. One of our favorites is Anthony Bourdain. His shows, most recently No Reservations, are a lot more raw and real than so many other travel or food shows. He may not show us how to cook, but he shows us how to live through food...and we enjoy living vicariously though his adventures. But one thing I never thought I'd hear about him: Bourdain has fathered a wee little baby girl. He's a tall, skinny, smoking, drinking, rough-around-the-edges type. He's gruff, or at least he likes to play off like he is. And the kitchen environment that he thrived in per his Kitchen Confidential gives me pause for thought; is he really now a dad?!?

So it seems. Wee little Ariane born April 9, 2007. Ah, he'll make a foodie out of her...I just know it :-)

Hat tip: Gastrokid

How Big is Your Baby

Our nephew (my sister-in-law's son) is about 3 weeks younger than our son, yet he's bigger. Much bigger. Our little guy started out at 7.11 lbs, and shot up to 18 lbs within 3 months. He then tapered off and now weighs a respectable 22 lbs.

Our nephew was born at 10.11 lbs (not a typo, and yes, via c-section), gained weight slowly, and recently weighed in at about 27 lbs. There is no question that he's bigger than our little guy...when they sit next to each other, the difference is intensely obvious. And pictures just don't do it justice. Our little guy looks so much smaller, and as such younger!

Just a reminder that despite shared genes, every baby is different. My sister-in-law was the first of my husband's siblings to have a baby, which happened to weigh 9.11 lbs at birth. My husband was about 10 lbs when he was born. I figured I was in serious trouble; I was petrified every time I got an ultrasound. I was expecting a big, big baby with a big, big head (common family trait, per frequent family discussions). And when I was 1 week late and went in for a final ultrasound, the technician figured our little bundle was no less than 8 1/2 lbs. It turns out we were all wrong since, as I mentioned, he was only (only!) 7.11 lbs. That said, his head circumference was in the 80th percentile, which is why they speculated labor didn't progress as hoped.

Anyway, weight and size are more interesting than important in my opinion. As long as your baby's healthy, it can be wee, ginormous, or anywhere in between, and everything's still fine and dandy. And sizes level off going forward too (our 9.11 lbs niece is now in the 20th percentile for height and weight).

And since stuff like that is interesting and fun to chart, here's a great website with a growth chart that gives you the tools to do just that.

Clever Pastry Packaging

I'm a big fan of cute packaging.

I bought a pastry the other day and it came in the most clever packaging. I saw a url on the back, so I decided to check it out. Panibois came up with a natural poplar peeled wood and assebles it using an adhesive instead of the usual staples. The result is not only attractive packaging, it's also microwave safe.

They've got some nice recipes too, though look them over carefully since they have been translated from French.

I can see this working for homemade Christmas gifts. Hmmm....

Earthquakes in LA

I'm sure my husband's pretty happy we weren't in Los Angeles right about now.

A 4.6 magnitude earthquake at 12:58 AM on August 9 magnitude occurred 3 miles NNW of Chatsworth, CA

Food for the Poor - Los Angeles and Beyond

Per Which Way, L.A., “LA County has an average of one supermarket for every 18,000 people, but in South LA it’s just one for every 28,000.” Pompea Smith, Executive Director of Sustainable Economic Enterprises of Los Angeles, breaks it down by telling us that in a 1.5 square mile part of Los Angeles, there are:

8 Restaurants
39 Liquor Stores
50 Fast Food Restaurants
4 Grocery Stores, all clumped together

An environment like this offers little access to healthy foods like fruits and vegetables, and a surplus of the unhealthiest foods which are loaded with highly refined sugar, trans fats, and empty calories.

On that unpleasant note, a glimmer of hope. The grand opening of the Watts Healthy Farmers Market was on Saturday, July 21, 2007. Going forward, the farmers market will be held weekly on Saturdays from 10:00am until 2:00pm and is located at Ted Watkins Memorial Park, 103rd and Central Avenue, Los Angeles. Personally, I think this is a great achievement for the community, and for the farmers who have another outlet for their fresh goodies.

Lower socioeconomic areas have populations who struggle to survive, and food is a crucial part of that struggle. The Tao of Making Money’s post on the poor in America tells us that per 2002 US Census data, there were about 35 million “poor” Americans as defined by the following thresholds:

Single person: $9,183
Two person household: $11,756
Three person household: $14,348
Four person household: $18,392

Living frugal is great; a responsible way to save both money and the environment. Living frugal to survive is hard. There are no days off. How could any person or family pay serious medical expenses on this kind of income? Even just a small emergency could result in serious repercussions. Heck, preventative care is unattainable without medical insurance provided by an outside source (e.g., employer, government)!

But I digress. Food is my current point of concern. The inclusion of a farmers' market in a part of town experiencing a lack of grocery stores in conjunction with an increase in medical problems, partially caused by poor nutrition, is exciting. And if you think that impoverished consumers will be unable to take advantage of this new resource, consider these current options:

• Electronic Balance Transfer (EBT), aka Food Stamps, can be used throughout Caliornia at farmers’ markets, produce stands, and similar open air markets, as well as individual produce stands, fish vendors, and flea markets.
  Other participating states:
  Connecticut, Maine, Massachusettes, New Hampshire, New York, District of Columbia, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Louisiana, Texas, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin, Iowa, Kansas, Arizona, Hawaii, Idaho, Oregon, Washington


• WIC is the popular name for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children that provides supplemental foods, health care referrals and nutrition education at no cost to low-income pregnant, breastfeeding and non-breastfeeding postpartum women, and to infants and children up to 5 years of age, who are found to be at nutritional risk. The Farmers Market Nutritional Program (FNMP) was established to provide fresh, nutritious, unprepared, locally grown fruits and vegetables to WIC participants, and to expand the awareness, use of and sales at farmers’ markets. Eligible WIC participants are issued FMNP coupons in addition to their regular WIC food instruments. Each state agency develops a list of fresh, unprepared locally grown, fruits, vegetables and herbs that can be purchased with these coupons from farmers, farmers markets’ and roadside stands that have been approved by the State agency to accept FMNP coupons.
  
  The FMNP is currently authorized in certain areas of 45 States: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, the Chickasaw Nation, California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Five Sandoval Indian Pueblos, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Mississippi Choctaw, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Osage Tribal Council, Pennsylvania, Pueblo of San Felipe, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.


• The Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) is a program in which grants are awarded to States, U.S. Territories, and Indian tribal governments to provide coupons to low-income seniors that can be used to buy eligible foods at farmers’ markets, roadside stands, and community supported agriculture programs. In an effort to eliminate barriers to access, several programs are providing seniors with transportation to and from the markets through a partnership with senior centers or have arranged for local growers to take their produce directly to senior housing facilities. Eligible are low-income seniors, generally defined as individuals who are at least 60 years old and who have household incomes of not more than 185% of the federal poverty income guidelines (published each year by the Department of Health and Human Services), are the targeted recipients of SFMNP benefits. A list of participating states along with agency contact information is here.
  
  Per the USDA’s Food & Nutrition Service website, the purpose of the Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program is to:
  
  
  
  1. Provide resources in the form of fresh, nutritious, unprepared, locally grown fruits, vegetables, and herbs from farmers' markets, roadside stands and community supported agriculture programs to low-income seniors,
  
  
  2. Increase the domestic consumption of agricultural commodities by expanding or aiding in the expansion of domestic farmers' markets, roadside stands, and community support agriculture programs, and
  
  
  3. Develop or aid in the development of new and additional farmers' markets, roadside stands, and community support agriculture programs.
  
  

I had no idea that there were so many federal and state programs working to increase the viability of farmers markets, and making them more accessible to those most in danger of malnutrition. The Watts Healthy Farmers Market sounds like it's doing well, and I can't express how good that makes me feel. For the farmers, the community, and the kids who will learn straight from the farmer what good food is.

Saving Energy With Google...err...Blackle

So, Google's most recent attempt to help save the world is a new search engine called Blackle. By using a black screen with white text, per blogger Ecoiron, Google hopes to contribute to saving mega-loads of megawatts. EcoIron proposed that 200 million daily Googly queries could result in some serious energy savings if a black background was used instead of the current.

I'm sure the energy conserved has to add up, so it can't hurt to try. And personally, I like the black screen. A little less draining on my eyes. That said, the name does ab-so-lute-ly nothing for me.

Hat Tip: EnviroMom

Promotional Prix Fixe Meals in 7 Cities

A fundraiser by Share Our Strength to raise money to end childhood hunger in America will be taking place in a few cities throughout the U.S. this month. Nice restaurants, to be sure, at a much more reasonable price than usual. It's a nice evening out, perhaps for an August birthday or anniversary...not that you'd forget such things. Just remember, drinks is where they get you, so keep an eye on consumption if you're thinking with your $$.

Dine Out
Sunday-Thursday
August 19-23rd, and August 26-30th
$25 Lunch, $35 Dinner

"For a limited time, some of the finest restaurants in your area are offering a special three-course prix fixe gourmet menu for just $25 at lunch and $35 at dinner. You'll also receive a complimentary bottle of S.Pellegrino® Sparkling Natural Mineral Water or Acqua Panna® Natural Spring Water to enjoy with your meal. And for each S.Pellegrino™ Dine OutSM meal served during that time, S.Pellegrino™ will donate $1 to Share Our Strength®, a national nonprofit organization that is committed to building the first hunger-free generation of children in America."

Participating Cities:
Chicago
Fairfield County, CT
Los Angeles
New Orleans
Orange County, CA
San Francisco
Westchester County, NY

I Simpsonized Us

Stuff I reeeeeally don't have time to be doing, but can't help...
Simpsonize Me

A begrudging hat tip to Christina

Now, off to pack!!

Who is This "Rockin' Girl Blogger" You Speak Of?

Who? Wha? Me?!?

Oh, stop! How exciting :-D

What Works For Us has awarded me with the...dare I say it...Rockin' Girl Blogger!



Well, I just can't thank you enough for thinking of my little ol' blog. I'd toss it back your way, but that'd make for a busy day on your end, I suspect. Ping, pong, ping, pong.

I digress.

In keeping with the rules, my 5 picks:

Heather & Renee at EnviroMom - 2 Portland moms learning and sharing on their journey to "green" pastures with their families.

Christina at Christina Shaver - Cuz she's a mom, and she's sassy despite, if not because of it. That and she wrote a review on environmentally friendly feminine hygene products. Priceless.

Adrienne at Baby Toolkit - Geek parents' tips, reviews, suggestions, theories, and reminders on all things baby, though not all in that order. Nothing quite like a geek write-up to put it all in perspective.

Tea at Tea and Cookies - Beautiful, wonderful, delicious, thoughtful, graceful...food and words at their finest.

Why Mommy at Toddler Planet - Working hard to spread the word on IBC (inflammatory breast cancer) while undergoing treatment and loving her family. She's a true paragon.

Why I Like KCRW

KCRW is a great local radio station. It's public radio, and the varied schedule of shows keeps my curious mind entertained all day. Personally, I've always been one to have the radio on (I'm not a fan of silence), and commercial pop stations tend to bore me with the same music on rotation. News stations tend to spew the same news in cycles, too. KCRW, however, airs a fun and diverse music selection in the morning, followed by news and other talk shows until the evening when music starts again. I'm sure I sound like an ad, but when I like something, I like it lots :-)

As a public radio station, they depend on donors to contribute to their operating costs. My husband and I each pledge, and have been doing so for years. It's not entirely altruistic, though. They offer "premiums" on the air, donors call in and pledge the amount for that item, and everyone wins. The station, the donor, and the business that offered the premium (e.g., advertising). For example, a gift certificate of perhaps $35 or $50 to a particular restaurant might go for a pledge of $50. With that pledge, the station gives you a discount card that we actually take advantage of. There are some cute kids stores offering discounts, though most are a bit pricey for my taste. There are a few cooking classes which I'd really like to try, but I haven't gotten around to it yet. That and a sewing class...I REALLY need to learn to sew. Museum discounts are also enticing, though moreso when our little guy's a little older. We mostly take advantage of restaurant discounts (~10-15%) on places that we would have gone to regardless of the discount.
The other perk is that if you listen, which I do, they have giveaways throughout the day. They usually have 5 of something (e.g., CDs, pair of tickets) available to the first 5 members who call in. In the past, I've won pairs of tickets to concerts (some were sold out), CDs, and admission to a wine tasting with snacks.

Between the money we save with our discount card, the loot we've carted off, and the daily value the station provides us with on a daily basis, I figure we've more than recouped our contributions.

Each of their programs is online, too. Which means that if I miss an interesting news segment, I can catch it later. It also means that if you're interesting in tuning in, you can :-)

To listen online, click on one of the boxes at the top of their website. Fair warning: They're in the middle of a pledge drive, which is what motivated me to write this post. So if you listen between now and Monday 8/13 (I think), you won't be getting a good sampling of the station's offerings.

ICE - In Case of Emergency

While cell phones are a great tools to keep us and our families safe, there are a few precautions to take into consideration. Parent Hack's suggestions about safety measures to be considered when it comes to cell phones:

• Make sure your child's cell phone has the parents' numbers programmed in it, and label them Mom and Dad.


• Make sure your cell phone message lets people know who to contact in an emergency if you don't pick up. For example, my message says: "If this is a call about Alex or Zoe, please call Jake at XXX-YYY-ZZZZ."

Personally, I'm conflicted by the latter suggestion. I like vague answering machine messages because I don't like giving away too much information about myself or my family. That said, what about an emergency? Perhaps something to revisit.

As for the first issue, a few commenters suggested entering special code names that paramedics and other emergency professionals recognize. For Example, ICE, ICE Mom, or ICE Mary Mom, where ICE stands for In Case of Emergency. I've been doing this for a while, but if you lock (i.e., password protect) your phone for safety purposes, will an emergency professional be able to access any of your numbers? We gave up and went low-tech with a label maker...ICE (XXX) XXX-XXXX.

We hope we never, ever need it.

Labels In Kid's Clothes

My husband had a flashback to one of his mother's frugal tips for keeping clothes in the right place in their busy home of 6: 1 mom, 1 day, 1 boy, and 3 girls. She took some ribbon, wrote the kid's name on it, and stitched it on to the item in question. It kept items from getting lost or finding their way into the wrong dressers :-o

To All the Jeremys of the World

Don't be sad.

Dictionary's Word of the Day for Saturday, August 4, 2007

jeremiad \jair-uh-MY-uhd\, noun:

A tale of sorrow, disappointment, or complaint; a doleful story; also, a dolorous or angry tirade.

Helicopters Overhead

Lindsay Lohan must be in the neighborhood again.

I Love How Safe People Drive...

...when there's a police car right behind them :-)

Keeping Your Home Safe While On Vacation

We leave Monday on our trip to Ireland for my sister-in-law's wedding. Should be fun, though I'm still not looking forward to the flight. Each time we fly with our son, he's a completely different person, so we arm ourselves as well as possible and hope for the best.

Lots to do this weekend, including packing and cleaning. There's nothing worse that arriving home after a long flight to a messy kitchen, unmade bed, and general mayhem and chaos.

On that note, here's a list of things Real Simple suggests to burglarproof your home. Always a thought when leaving for any amount of time. Heck, I think about it when we're just hanging around at home. You can never be too safe.

Inside your home

• Put lights and a radio on or a television on timers - we use X10, which requires a PC and some know-how to set up, but is really smart. You can also consider some cheap timers from Home Depot or the like.


• Don't rely on your dog - if you've trained your dog to be nice to strangers, odds are s/he will be :-P


• Close most shades - avoid showing off what's worth stealing. Keep a few open, though, so it looks like someone's home.


• Lock up valuables - a bank safe-deposit box or a heavy-duty comination safe that can be bolted to the floor are good options. If you go for the home safe, consider keeping it on the first floor to avoid having it fall through the floor in the event of a fire. Real Simple suggest the Gardall brand.


• Keep two jewelry boxes - I'm not a jewelry person, so this is lost on me. Have a nice box with inexpensive pieces, and keep the "good stuff" in a safe.


• Lock away guns - treat like you would treat any valuable.


• Get an alarm system - installation can vary, and monitoring fees run about $35 a month


• Make your stuff harder to sell - engrave big ticket items like electronics and computers with initials and driver's license number (not your Social Security number).

Outside your home

• Evaluate the landscaping - don't allow for good hiding places behind shrubs or trees too close to second floor windows that allow for easy climbing.


• Check the lighting - install motion-detecting light sensors and have lights on random timers. Burglars prefer anonymity and tend to avoid well lit areas.


• Secure windows and sliding glass doors - laminated glass and tempered glass are best. However, in the very least, put a metal bar or solid-wood dowel in the tracking to secure the door when closed. Unless our door is open, we always have a dowel in place.


• Install-and use-reliable locks - locks aren't very effective if you don't use them


• Fortify your doors - "Exterior doors, including the garage door, should be solid wood, fiberglass, or steel, and the hinges should be on the inside, not the outside." If yours has hinges on the outside, secure them with a locking pin.


• Pur your street number, not your name, on the mailbox - this one's so old, I wouldn't even think of it. Thieves take your name and address, call information to get your number, and call you to see if your home. That said, if you're not listed, no worries.


• Advertise an alarm system, even if you don't have one - try to get a spare sticker or the like from a friend since theives can spot fakes.


• Declutter the yard - potential theives can use tools left in the yard to break into your home. How ironic.


• Forget the fake rock and other hide-a-key tricks - "Theives know all the hiding spots you've though of." They suggest (1) give your neighbor a key or (2) buy a steel combination lockbox like the GE AccessPoint KeySafe. You can bolt it to something easily accessible for the whole family...the article references installing it right next to a door. Bold.


• Don't leave the garage-door opener in your car exposed - it can be stolen and used later to enter your home.


• Censor your trash - empty boxes of pricey items are red flags. You can "cut the carton up and tie the pieces together before you put them out on the curb." We have a dump within a couple of miles, so we just drop it off.

When you go on vacation

• Enlist a trusted neighbor or a family member to park a car in your driveway, mow the lawn, shovel the snow. As for the car, consider a cab, bus, or having a friend drive you to the airport (if applicable).


• Don't leave e-mail or phone message saying you're away - generic messages on your answering machine and email are best.


• Suspend delivery of newspapers and mail - both can be done quickly and easily online. Check your newspaper's website for details. You can put your mail on hold here.

Counter Ant-ivity

I…can’t…stand…bugs

I’m an equal opportunity bug detester. Here, I most commonly find silverfish, spiders, and ants. The last one is currently bugging me. Yes, I said bugging.

We live in a 3-story condo with the primary living area, kitchen, and a bathroom on the second floor. One day, we found an ant casually exiting the bathroom. We haven’t seen an ant in ages, but it's been warm lately, and that’s usually when the trouble starts. I spent a good while following what turned out to be a sparse trail of ants into the bathroom in hopes of finding their source of entry. Eventually, I found it. A teeny little opening between the wall and the … I don’t know what you’d call it … built-in vanity? OK. That was the hard part. I then went off to mix some ground cinnamon and cayenne (a tip from Green Clean), and sprinkled it at the entry point. It stopped them…until they realized they can walk on walls. Dangit! So, they went up and started investigating the sink and various other spots. I got creative. I added a bit of water to the remaining cinnamon and cayenne and pasted it 360 degrees around their access point. Done. No more ants in the bathroom.

Then, an ant appeared in the kitchen, which happens to share a wall with the bathroom in question. Ugh. I could not find their entry point this time. I was diligent in cleaning and when I found one, I’d smoosh it in hopes of being more stubborn than the ants. Well, I’m stubborn, but I’m no match. Eventually, I got sloppy. I ate a nectarine, the tiniest fleck of nectarine fell into the sink, and I forgot to clean it up. When I came back a couple of hours later, a steady stream of ants had now invaded.

Can you hear the Patton music in the background?

Well, it was a blessing and a curse. The "ewww" factor was high, but at least I could finally find out where they were coming from. We have dark granite countertops, so I couldn’t see the ants very well. I grabbed a flashlight, and I was able to follow the ants all the way across the sink, across the one wall, across the other wall, down the cabinets to the floor…BEHIND THE REFRIGERATOR. So, I can’t reach them. The fridge is nicely nestled in and there’s no way we’ll be able to move it without causing severe damage to the kitchen or one of us. So I just sprinkled cinnamon and cayenne all over the counter instead. My husband probably thinks I’ve gone all Bill Murray in Caddyshack, but if it works, who’s gonna be laughing? Who, I tell ya?

That said, I did some research and found various non-toxic methods of dealing with ants. If my current path doesn’t work, I’ll just try something else. Cuz stubborn is as stubborn does.

• The consensus from The Frugal Life's comments is that ants hate cinnamon, cayenne, bay leaves, and pepper, so if you sprinkle any of these around or at their access point, they will be deterred. If you don’t want the mess, consider JS Online's suggestion of adding peppermint oil, cintronella oil, lavendar oil, cinnamon oil, or citrus oil to some water and spraying as needed.


• They also won’t cross a line drawn in chalk.


• We had an ant problem a while back because my cat’s wet food was left out for random grazing purposes. We solved it by creating a mote around her dish. In a larger bowl (though not so big that she couldn’t reach), we added water, then placed half a brick in the center. We placed the dish on the brick. Problem solved.


• Since they don’t like mint, consider keeping fresh mint in certain places around the house. It’s pretty, smells good, makes for yummy treats, and keeps you ant free.


• Boric acid is another interesting solution. It is toxic, but like many things, only in large quantities. In fact, you might find it’s an ingredient in your contact lens solution. Getting the solution right is tough, and it varies by the type of ant (some like sweet, like like grease). This website suggests a solution of one cup water, 2 cups sugar, and 2 tablespoons boric acid. Whatever the solution, they say that goal is to make it strong enough to kill, but not so strong that it kills the foragers before they deliver the food to the queen.

Note: I have only tried the cayenne & cinnamon mix and the pet food mote. I make no claims on any of these methods, but let me know if you try any and they work. Or if you have any other good bug solutions.

Whats In Your Baby's Shampoo?

The Environmental Working Group previously released their findings on sunscreen, and it was eye opening. We've tossed our ancient sunscreens and bought one of the few effective ones that has the side benefit of being odorless (I can't stand the smell of sunscreen...reminds me of the 80s, and I didn't like the 80s).

Now, they're surveying care providers to babies and kids to get a better understanding of which products they're using:

"Wonder what's in your children's shampoo, diaper cream, lotion, and bubble bath? We're digging in to the safety of children's personal care products this summer to give you our researchers' recommendations on the best children's products on the market, to help fill gaps in a system that doesn't require companies to test products before they're sold. Please help us by filling out a brief survey on the products you use for your children. This data will let us take a detailed look at children's day-to-day exposures, from the chemicals in their baths to the products on their hair and skin and even their bottoms. Thanks for your help!"

They request the following general information on all of the kid/baby products you use:

• frequency of use


• brand


• product name


• product packaging (i.e., metal, glass, or plastic #1-9)

It didn't take me long to fill out, and I'll be curious to see the results once available.

Via Enviromom

Inflammatory Breast Cancer

There are so many unknowns in our lives. We do what we can to stay informed and be cautious with those things we care about. Health is one. For years, for example, it was assumed that women's health issues were to be equally compared to men's, which is why women's strokes often went misdiagnosed. It turns out that women experience different symptoms to men during a stroke, leading doctors and nurses to miss the window of opportinuty for effective treatments.

But then there are other diseases that we might feel we understand. If you have a lump in your breast, get it checked out. But what if you don't have a lump? Below, Why Mommy's post at Toddler Planet on her experience. That rash...that inflammation...that nuisance...it was cancer.

*************************************************************
Inflammatory breast cancer

We hear a lot about breast cancer these days. One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetimes, and there are millions living with it in the U.S. today alone. But did you know that there is more than one type of breast cancer?

I didn’t. I thought that breast cancer was all the same. I figured that if I did my monthly breast self-exams, and found no lump, I’d be fine.

Oops. It turns out that you don’t have to have a lump to have breast cancer. Six weeks ago, I went to my OB/GYN because my breast felt funny. It was red, hot, inflamed, and the skin looked…funny. But there was no lump, so I wasn’t worried. I should have been. After a round of antibiotics didn’t clear up the inflammation, my doctor sent me to a breast specialist and did a skin punch biopsy. That test showed that I have inflammatory breast cancer, a very aggressive cancer that can be deadly.

Inflammatory breast cancer is often misdiagnosed as mastitis because many doctors have never seen it before and consider it rare. “Rare” or not, there are over 100,000 women in the U.S. with this cancer right now; only half will survive five years. Please call your OB/GYN if you experience several of the following symptoms in your breast, or any unusual changes: redness, rapid increase in size of one breast, persistent itching of breast or nipple, thickening of breast tissue, stabbing pain, soreness, swelling under the arm, dimpling or ridging (for example, when you take your bra off, the bra marks stay – for a while), flattening or retracting of the nipple, or a texture that looks or feels like an orange (called peau d’orange). Ask if your GYN is familiar with inflammatory breast cancer, and tell her that you’re concerned and want to come in to rule it out.

There is more than one kind of breast cancer. Inflammatory breast cancer is the most aggressive form of breast cancer out there, and early detection is critical. It’s not usually detected by mammogram. It does not usually present with a lump. It may be overlooked with all of the changes that our breasts undergo during the years when we’re pregnant and/or nursing our little ones. It’s important not to miss this one.

Inflammatory breast cancer is detected by women and their doctors who notice a change in one of their breasts. If you notice a change, call your doctor today. Tell her about it. Tell her that you have a friend with this disease, and it’s trying to kill her. Now you know what I wish I had known before six weeks ago.

You don’t have to have a lump to have breast cancer.


P.S. Feel free to steal this post too. I’d be happy for anyone in the blogosphere to take it and put it on their site, no questions asked. Dress it up, dress it down, let it run around the place barefoot. I don’t care. But I want the word to get out. I don’t want another young mom — or old man — or anyone in between — to have to stare at this thing on their chest and wonder, is it mastitis? Is it a rash? Am I overreacting? This cancer moves FAST, and early detection and treatment is critical for survival.

Thank you.

Fisher Price Toy Recall - Dora and Sesame Street

Ugh...another toy recall.

Fisher-Price has voluntarily recalled a slew of popular toys due to possible lead poisoning. Licensed characters such as Elmo, Dora the Explorer, Sponge Bob Squarepants, and Oscar the Grouch are impacted, so if you think you have any of these toys, check out the complete list at U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Thanks to What Works For Us for the info!

Sesame Street's Typewriter Guy

I love, love, loved the typewriter guy on Sesame Street. I miss him. But that's OK...he's still on You Tube :-)

Ben Bernanke's College Debt

The new Federal Reserve Chairman, Ben Bernanke, disclosed his financial information yesterday, which was decidedly conservative. Keeping in mind that only broad ranges of holdings values are disclosed, Forbes reported that "the value of his assets last year totaled between $1.12 million and $2.41 million," with holdings in no-frills investments, including U.S. Treasury securities, mutual funds and annuities. And no, he held no individual stocks in 2006. In fact, his largest holdings were in two annuities - TIAA Traditional and CREF Stock Large Cap Blend.

Bernanke draws an annual salary of $186,600 for his role in the Fed, as well as textbook-royalty income of $100,002 to $200,000 for two textbooks written in his many years in academia. Investment income came to between $136,500 and $318,000.

Now if that wasn't interesting enough, here's what got me:

"The only liability listed on the form was a 10-year student loan, taken out last year at an interest rate of 7.9 percent. Bernanke has two children - one son and one daughter."

Wha? Why? Who?!?

I don't understand. Bernanke, obviously conservative with his personal finances, didn't take advange of any instruments to aid in saving for his kids' college education? Or was he not conservative enough in his savings? Did he have a 529 plan, which Money magazine espouses so unabashedly? I'd love to know more details behind his reasoning for taking out these loans. Having taught at Princeton, he had to have known the costs for college, whether community or Ivy League.