Easy to Serve Grapes

I realized a trick that helps me prepare, store, and serve fruit to the kids. My big problem, say with grapes, is that I buy a lot, then I don't have a big enough container to put it in the refrigerator. I don't want to put it in a bowl because it takes up too much space, and I don't want to take up one of my few large rectangular containers because I prefer to save those for leftovers.

I found that if I wash and remove the stems, they easily fit in a tall, compact juice pitcher or carafe. I can fit a lot of fruit, it keeps well (though admittedly, fruit never lasts long here), it doesn't take up a lot of room in the refrigerator, and it's easy to serve. I think I'll be picking up a few more for the delicious summer months.

Just for the record, I wouldn't try this with delicate berries like strawberries and raspberries which should not be washed before storing. Besides, they do best if they're not tossed around.

For more tips on storing produce, check out Real Simple's tips here.

Anniversaries, Campanile, and Kids

If it's not in my calendar or on my "to do" list, I will forget it.

Case in point, my 2 year blogiversary came and went with nary a sigh. Back in June of 2007, I was posting a ridiculous 3, 4, or 5 times a day. Wow. These days, it feels like I'm averaging more like once a week. What a difference a baby makes.

They Call Me Mommy - June 2007

Speaking of dates of significance, tomorrow MetaDaddy will find out if he has to travel on business during our anniversary. If he has to go, he has to go. I guess we can't do our annual Campanile dinner. We've done it 2 years in a row, but that counts as annual in my book!

A nice dinner out with 2 kids under 3. Hmmm...just as well, you say? Perhaps. That's what MetaDaddy would probably say if he wasn't scared to ;-)

David Lebovitz's Shopping List

One of the best shopping lists ever!!

List everything you're making, highlight what you need to buy. Brilliant.

David Lebovitz's Prep List

Spring Cleaning at the MetaHome

I've been doing a bit of spring cleaning lately. Purging the old and unused from closets, cupboards, and bins. I guess you could say it's time to finish the nesting that I didn't have time for before MetaGirl came along.

Here's my basic to do list, but use your own judgment for your list:

Food:

• Toss all old unused dry goods that are rarely used like certain flours and corn meal. As far as I'm concerned, food like dried pasta and beans have an infinite shelf life.
  
• Check old nuts, which can get stale, and and dried fruit, which can lose freshness.
  
• Toss anything that has expired or just plain looks funny.
  
• As for replenishing, I won't bother getting more until I need it.

Clothes:

• Pick out everything that's looking old and sad and either (1) toss or (2) save for messy jobs (e.g., painting or spring cleaning ;-)
  
• Pick out clothes that don't get worn. We all have those things that we thought we'd wear, but never do. Why fool yourself? It's time to pass it on to someone who might actually get to use it.
  
• The kids have clothes that no longer fit them. They went into one of 4 piles:
  
  • Pass on to someone who can use it
    
  • Hold on for sentimental value (I really want to make something like this blanket one day)
    
  • Hold on for MetaGirl
    
  • Toss - too worn or stained to pass on

As for passing on clothes, I'm in a situation where I don't have room to hold on to such clothes indefinitely, and I don't know of anyone who can use them now or in the near future. So at the advice of a friend to has done this a few times, I participated in a local consignment sale that's held twice a year. They require a minimum of 30 items, so it motivated me to clear out some big and bulky items (e.g., bouncie chairs, bumbo). The most important factor was that I wasn't donating something to the Salvation Army in hopes that someone would benefit from the items. I priced them very reasonably, and when they sold, I knew that someone would appreciate, and hopefully love the stuff as much as we did. I had a terrible time parting with some items (I can't tell you how many pictures we have with one of those bouncie chairs), so I really wanted to know they wouldn't end up in the dumpster.

Toiletries:

• Anything unopened can be donated to pretty much any shelter (e.g., homeless, domestic violence, teen shelter for runaways).
  
• Opened products are much harder to find a home for. MetaDaddy says it's tacky, but if I have shampoo or lotion that I will never finish, I feel guilty throwing it away. It seems so wasteful! But if I could donate it, I would clear it out, thus leaving us with less chaos in our bathrooms. I called around, and domestic violence shelters seem to only accept unopened items (including sample and hotel sizes). However, homeless shelters are willing to take either (they really seemed to want lotion). Call first to be sure the shelter accepts your donation.

And when you're done, get out that label maker and put all the good stuff back. Stand back and behold your handiwork :-D

Update: More tips on Spring Cleaning from AP: A spring guide to help you clean out the clutter

Around the Internet

Organize Cable with Paper Towel Tubes - Ah, brilliant moments in frugality. Cables, cords, and Christmas lights all wrangled with something most of us having lying around.

A Brief Overview of the Alternative Minimum Tax - I've been hearing about AMT for years, but only because we've been subject to it lately. While it was originally meant to assure that the wealthy paid their fair share, AMT, which wasn't tied to inflation, has really turned into a burden on the middle class. In fact, our accountant pointed out that AMT could affect tax payers earning $50,000 per year. Even worse, those earning in excess of $3 million would be able to bypass it all together. Tell me it doesn't hurt to hear that.

New cars that are fully loaded — with debt - A friend sent me this interesting article. Consumers who can't afford an auto upgrade have found a friend in their auto dealer. Or have they? Some dealerships eager to make a sale will offer zero money down to drive off in a brand new car. Just trade in your old (though likely still new) car and sign on the dotted line. But most buyers probably don't realize they're severely under water in their loan until it's too late. This goes hand in hand with the risky home mortgages Americans have been signing up for, leaving them and the mortgage company in a lose-lose situation. It's likely to hurt the auto industry even more if people realize they can't afford a new car for many, many years.

The Exchange Rate - The Euro vs The Dollar - The Declining Dollar - A dollar earning American's description of how the declining dollar has affected her bottom line while living in France. I can tell you every Euro spent must hurt because it pained us in Ireland, and we were only there for 2 weeks! We're crossing our fingers for a stronger dollar for our next visit...whenever that might be.

MetaMommy's Messy Pants

After eating something messy, MetaBaby's favorite habit is to approach me, usually at a running start, and wipe his crusty little lips on my pants. Yogurt, hummus, oranges...you name it, he'll wipe it.

Yes, I'm complaining about it. After all, I do the laundry. However, I also found that unlike jeans, which soak up the slop, messes seem to wipe off of corduroy much easier.

I think I'll be investing in a bit more corduroy soon...even if they don't quite look like the one in the photo :-)

13 Thoughts About the U.S. Dollar and the Economy

I'm no economist, but I read a few things here and there that catch my attention. With the writers' strike in effect, I look to the stumbling economy for entertainment. Here are 13 thoughts about the U.S. dollar, finance, and the economy.


DOLLAR VALUE

1. Tourists from Canada, South America, etc. are traveling to the U.S. for bargain basement deals, despite the travel hassles. I've never known the U.S. dollar to be at par with its Canadian counterpart, so this was a real testament to the current state of the economy.
   
   
2. Foreign tourists will no longer be able to pay the entrance fee at the Taj Mahal in dollars. Apparently, the 22% decline in the dollar impacted India's tourism revenue.
   
   
3. As the dollar decreases in value compared to the Euro (a/o today,$1.47 buys 1.00 Euro), dollar holders have less spending power because imports are more expensive. As Americans buy less, European exporters sales decrease, thereby impacting their economy.
   
   
4. In 2005, the Chinese Yuan was revalued so that it would no longer be tied to a fixed rate against the U.S. currency. As the Chinese economy gets stronger and the U.S. dollar weakens, I'm curious to know if this has impacted our Chinese imports. I haven't seen an analysis of it, though.
   
   
5. Oil is purchased in dollars. What does that mean?
   

   "Oil producers sell their products in dollars. These dollars are used to purchase other goods in international markets. As the dollar lost its value starting in 2002, oil producers could afford to buy less in international markets with their dollars. To compensate for this loss of buying power, they may have raised the dollar price for oil."

   MONEY & THE ECONOMY
   
   
6. Rapper Jay-Z and other celebs are touting the Euro, not the dollar. And just when I figured out what cheese is.
   
   
7. Another possible rate cut, brought to you by the Fed. Bernanke's feeling the strain on the economy caused by the housing and mortgage mess, higher gas prices, tighter credit conditions, and stock declines, which means he's open to another drop in the fed rate.
   
   
8. Banks Pay the Price for Risky Mortgage Bets - Financial institutions have been making a mint by employing a complex system where they bundle mortgages into one item and sell it to other major financial institutions. Some bundles are riskier than others. Back and forth, back and forth these bundles went until the real estate market started to soften. The backup plan on handling all high-risk loans was based on the theory that real estate goes up, not down; a borrower facing default could sell the property and pay off the loan. Once property values started dropping, selling the property was no longer viable. An obvious factor in the billions being written of at financial institutions this year. I'd like to know their profits on these transactions prior to this year, though.
   
   
9. Reading Pays- Especially When It Comes to Credit Card Updates - Here's an interesting tip that I didn't know about. In the tiny text of the mind-numbing amendments to your credit card agreement, you might find an option to reject changes such as APR increases by writing a letter. That's worth skimming it over a bit closer going forward, methinks.
   
   
10. Be Careful When Police and Firefighters Ask for Money - In general, I don't make donations to any organizations that contact me. I have a few organizations that I routinely donate to, and if I'm considering a donation outside of that circle, I research their efforts at Just Give.
    
    
11. Plonkee addresses the reasons why people don't donate to charities, and knocks them off one by one. My take on it is that if you have money to spend on gifts for others, then you have enough money to donate to those who need your help. 'Tis the season to give 'til it hurts, people ;-)
    
    
12. In the excitement of buying a home, first time home owners don't always think about the non-mortgage related costs, which can be significant. The biggest, for us, is property taxes, which in California increases about 1% annually. Other states property taxes are fixed to the market value of the property (see tips here for contesting property assessment), which seems to me as a frustrating liability. I like knowing what I owe and not having it tied to a vague estimate of market values.
    
    
13. Speaking of housing, it looks like prices are still falling, for a net 13% from this time last year. I can tell you that although the median sales price for a new home is now $217,800, it's closer to half a million in Los Angeles. Since this is the median, a substantial number of homes here are in the million dollar range, which means that for the past few years, first-time home buyers had the choice of opting for a questionable loan (e.g., no interest, zero money down), or continuing to rent

13 Gift Ideas for Kids

The number of toys that have been recalled for one reason or another is atrocious. It's really got me thinking that I don't want just anything for MetaBaby because you don't know the integrity of the item. This goes double if you haven't had the opportunity to vet the item in question. That said, what do you do when Christmas or birthdays come around? People want to give your son gifts because they care about you and him, and they want to see that little face light up (his, not yours). So it's hard to say "please don't give my child a gift." It's not fair to the giver or to the kid.

I'm also torn because of my aforementioned resistance to buying too many toys.

Well, there are always ways to compromise. There are good, safe toys that MetaBaby could benefit from, so I made a wishlist for him at Amazon. It includes items like books, music (that I wouldn't hate), and a few safe toys. Of course, there are always other things, but those would involve conversations. For example, MetaNana got MetaBaby one of the cutest little wooden trikes I've ever seen, and it was perfect because he didn't have one. He uses it all the time, and it allows him to express his dangerous side (i.e., standing on the seat!!).

That said, I figured I'd compile a list of 13 other gift ideas to give or be given that:

• don't break the bank
  
• are useful to parents and kids
  
• potentially good learning experiences
  
• are not plastic, over-packaged, blinking things made in China

This is just a start, so feel free to add on with more ideas :-)

1. Get something small to keep the little one happy, and make the real gift a deposit into a 529 account.
   
2. Homemade "coupon" for something fun with you, like a day at the zoo or museum.
   
3. Give homemade sweets (e.g., cookies, chocolates).
   
4. Take a cooking or baking class together. Or a "class" where you teach the little one how to cook or bake.
   
5. A few seeds and other relevant items to plant something (e.g., flowers, herbs, tomatoes).
   
6. Tickets to a favorite event.
   
7. A class or series of classes (e.g., dance, art, something at a local museum).
   
8. Pick a favorite non-profit organization to donate to (e.g., cute of Oxfam).
   
9. Perhaps the instructions, tools, and help in building something (e.g., soapbox car, or check out The Dangerous Book for Boys or The Daring Book for Girls from the library for more ideas).
   
   From New Dream:
   
10. The makings for hand puppets: Brown lunch bags, googly eyes, stray buttons, scissors, markers, etc.
    
11. Box of dress up clothes: Old dresses, high heel shoes, cowboy boots, collared shorts, and millions of other fun outfit ideas can all be found at thrift or second-hand stores have great selections.
    
    From Suite 101:
    
12. Gift certificates to a local movie theatre.
    
13. Art supplies (e.g., construction paper, paints, crayons) to replenish the back-to-school box.

Side Note: This is not a cheap gift, but it's an interesting one. Between November 12 and November 26 only, the One Laptop per Child program has made available their revolutionary XO computer.

For a donation of $399, one XO laptop will be sent to empower a child in a developing nation and one will be sent to the child in your life in recognition of your contribution. $200 of your donation is tax-deductible (your $399 donation minus the fair market value of the XO laptop you will be receiving).

Perhaps it sounds crazy to give a destructive toddler a computer, but consider the following per David Pogue, guru to the geeks:

• Spillproof
  
• Rainproof
  
• Dustproof
  
• Drop-proof
  
• Fanless
  
• Silent
  
• Powered by a solar panel (6 hours, or 24 if reading) (2,000 recharge cyles, 4 times more than the average laptop)
  
• Weighs 3.2 lbs.
  
• Built-in video camera, microphone, memory-card slot, graphics tablet, game-pad controllers and a screen that rotates into a tablet configuration.
  
• Runs on Linux (only geeks care about this one ;-)

Counting Down for MetaDaddy

This week has been a struggle. MetaDaddy's out of town on business, so it's just the kid and me. Sigh.

Here's what's happened:

• We've been getting over a cold, which mostly entails labored breathing, some sneezing, and snot everywhere. I know, lovely visual.
  
  
• We decided to change MetaBaby's sleep schedule last week by dropping one nap. It's going pretty well, as long as he gets that one good nap. Unfortunately, he doesn't always work with me on that one.
  
  
• We got a safety gate that divided the living room in half to block him off from certain areas, while allowing him some freedom. We didn't want a permanent gate, though, so we secured a non-mounted gate which doesn't have a door. It's just low enough for me to climb over. However, getting over it several times a day has proved to be quite a workout. I've been waking up sore as though I went to the gym. I know, I know...no pain, no gain. Well, I wasn't looking for gain, so along with everything else, all I am is sore and achy.
  
  
• Yesterday (Thursday), MetaBaby got sick. It started in the afternoon after lunch. He didn't have a very long nap. He was cranky when he woke up. He seemed exhausted, and had a slight fever. I cuddled and nursed him for a bit. Then I got his dinner ready, which he didn't seem interested in. This was a red flag; he has never refused a meal. I gave him a few bites of his fruit dessert to entice him, and he seemed equally disinterested. He then drank some water and proceeded to throw up everything he'd eaten. I gave him his bath, nursed him (which I never do before he sleeps), and put him to bed. He fell asleep right away, but it was a light sleep. I checked on him a couple of times and his fever was almost gone, to my relief. However, at 11 it was back. So I woke him, gave him some Tylenol, and nursed him again. He fell asleep and woke up at 7:30, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. He seems fine today; back to being a bundle of energy. I don't know if it was teething, the banana at lunch, or some secretly consumed bug, but I'm glad it's over.
  
  
• Feeling better about his health, we were going to go to the farmers' market today. Everything was ready, but I couldn't find my wallet. I know I had it in my hand last night and unless I thew it away with the garbage, it had to be somewhere. I thought I'd put it in my purse, but it wasn't there. I looked everywhere -- purse, diaper bag, between cushions, in magazines, in pockets & the hamper, in the washing machine & dryer. Eventually, I gave up and we went with some other money I had. I figured I was getting antsy and I wouldn't find it until I calmed down. We got back and MetaBaby was exhausted, so I put him down for his nap. I proceeded to think and look...think and look...think and look. It occurred to me that if I lose things now, how bad are things going to be when MetaBaby starts taking and playing with or hiding my keys, wallet, etc. Then, on a whim, I decided to check his toys. Guess where my wallet was!!! Grr. At least I found it, and I know the little klepto has it in him.

Counting down the hours for MetaDaddy's return.

Shopping for Stationary

Oh, I love stationary stores. The paper, the cards, the pens, the pencils, the joy!! When I was in college and I needed a pick me up, my cheap version was to wander around the stationary store for too long only to buy a pen with a funky color of ink (usually purple :-).

Stationary stores are sadly not as kid-friendly as I'd like. That, or they're just not as friendly to my needs as they used to be. Oh, I still love the stuff, and I browse websites yearning for this and that, but I just can't justify it anymore.

*le sigh*

Here's what I see:

Moving List - Who has time to move? I can hardly get through a day that involves staying put.

Shopping List - It's called Excel. Learn to use it.

Address Book - How retro. I've got diapers, wipes, a change of clothes, food, a sippy cup, toys...not to mention MetaBaby's stuff. I'm not carrying a book.

Magnets - Choking hazzard.

Letter Stamps - Choking hazzard.

Labels - Choking hazzard. Trust me on this one. Every time I've put a sticker or label on him, he's tried to eat it. That never goes well.

Paper weights - Choking hazzard. I mean, it almost looks like candy. Mmm...candy.

Clips - Choking hazzard. OMG, is there anything he won't put in his mouth?

Cute stapler - Ooo, this is cute! Dang, I don't need a stapler.

*le sigh*

A Great Grater?

Cook's Illustrated has a few recommendations on box graters.

They highly recommended the Cuisipro Accutec Box Grater because it's ultra-sharp. However, readers found out the hard way that the grater has plastic pieces that cause it to fall apart after a few runs in the dishwasher. It turns out it wasn't dishwasher safe. The magazine contacted Cuisipro, and "the company will replace any box graters damaged by dishwashers. (Visit www.cuisipro.com for more information or call 302-326-4802.)"

Sharp is good, but only when the grater doesn't attack you in the process of grating.

They go on to list a few other box graters, including their second favorite (now their favorite) Oxo Good Grips Box Grater.

Personally, I've mangled my knuckles one too many times just opening drawers with box grater. So I got rid of ours and use a small, flat microplane grater like this one. I've debating getting another in order to have more grating options, and I'll sooner do that than buy a box grater again. Ouch!!

Cook's Illustrated's advice on cleaning a box grater:

"Graters coated with sticky residue from soft cheeses can be a chore to clean. If you don't have time or space to throw the grater in the dishwasher, rubbing a hard, stale crust of bread (such as the end of a baguette) over the dirty grater plate will remove most of the mess. To finish the job, scrub the grater in hot, soapy water."

Easier Mornings

When I was a kid, I loved to play cards. Not crazy eights, old maid, or poker. I loved canasta and carioca. This lead to my rather impressive ability to shuffle cards, which still seems to make my in-laws think I'm a card shark pretending to be a gin rummy novice. In my defense, I've never played gin rummy before, but it turns out that it's not entirely unlike canasta, which I played for yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeears!!! So the next time I win, that's why :-)

On the Huffington Post, Elisa Taub posted a technique on making mornings with her family run smooth. She was constantly having to remind her kids to brush their teeth, get dressed, make their beds, and so on. This, needless to say, got old. So, she started the Breakfast Club. It's an exclusive club where Elisa has something fun like a card game or simple art project every morning. The caveat: members will only be accepted for entry if they have finished their morning routine and eaten. Now her kids, who are perfectly capable of getting themselves ready for school, do just that. They're ready sooner, and no stress on the part of their poor parents who are likely having a hard enough time assembling themselves if they're anything like me. Even better, another chance for quality time with their brood. These years don't last forever. Might as well make them count.

However you feel about the Breakfast Club, I'll tell you that the simple act of playing cards or sharing some family time is so valuable. We don't always appreciate how much nicer it is than sitting down in front of the TV or computer, but it is because it requires so much more socializing.

I'm just saying.

Catching Up

It's taken me a while to get back into a routine upon returning from our trip. MetaBaby's been teething, so he's been waking up at least once in the middle of the night. Much to my dismay, one of those times lasted 90 minutes, and ended with me rocking him to sleep in my arms. We both fell asleep, and I woke up with a stiff neck. Go figure. And when we get back from a trip, there's always so much to catch up on. Grocery shopping, mail sorting, unpacking, laundry, etc.

Before I leave, I like to do a few things to lighten the load for our return:

• Change the sheets and towels so I'll know everything's fresh for showering and sleeping. After a long flight, I just want to feel pampered, and this is as close as I'll get to that.
  
  
• We don't buy too much food the week before we leave so it won't go to waste. The day of our departure, we dump all of the food and drinks that will expire while we're away.
  
  
• While dumping food that we need (e.g., milk, eggs), I simultaneously write up a shopping list. When we get back, all I have to do is grab the list and go shopping. No sifting through shelves and cabinets with groggy eyes, which will inevitably lead to buying more or less than I actually need. Best to write lists with fresh eyes.
  
  
• While we're away, we separate clothes that will need to be laundered when we get back home. For example, socks and underwear go straight into the outside zippered pouch of the suitcase. All shirts and pants get turned inside out so they're easily distinguishable from clean clothes. This makes sifting through clothes easier during our trip, too, because we know what's OK to wear. Of course, we did laundry in Ireland because we stayed at my mother-in-law's home, which was excellent because we were able to pack relatively light (for such a wee fellow, he needs a lot of clothes). That said, we only laundered enough to get by while we were there.

So when we got home, I got this ridiculous surge of energy and did 4 loads of laundry, went grocery shopping, then collaped the minute I sat down at around 6PM. Fun!

I'm reminded of all of this because today I confronted our receipt pile. I haven't had a chance to go through it in a couple of months. Usually, I like keeping all of our receipts in date order so that when it comes time to match them up with our credit card statement, it's a breeze. But I've neglected that since we've returned. I pulled everything out and for some fabulous reason, I was finished sorting, matching, and filing everything in about 30 minutes. So I'm finally feeling back on my game, which is good because I was really starting to feel a bit behind on everything.

Speaking of everything, time to catch up on all of that, too.

A Bookworm in the Perfect Pantry

I love reading, though I don't do it as much as I'd like to these days. And I love reading and learning about food; there's so much to learn out there!! From new foods to techniques to exotic experiences to the memories they provoke, there's so much to share. With all of your five senses, so much to take it all in.

When I found Lydia's delicious ongoing project over at The Perfect Pantry, I was smitten. She asks readers, or Bookworms, to provide a list of 5 food-related non-cookbooks for her collective library. The list is a fabulous compilation of must-reads, and I'm lucky enough to be her guest bookworm this week.

Oh, the glee!!

Here's a breakdown of why I chose these five.

Pomegranate Soup, by Marsha Mehran - This was a beautiful book about 3 Iranian sisters who, after escaping the Iranian revolution, find themselves in a small town in Ireland. Food was influential in their survival, brought them to Ireland, and is their constant source of salvation through everything they endure. Food becomes a character; it takes the nurturing role of the parents they lost. Many of the more delicious recipes are interspersed throughout the chapters.

Toast, by Nigel Slater - I had never heard of Nigel Slater when I found this book in a book store in London, so I didn't actually get it until a few years later. When I finally picked it up, I could not put it down. It was simultaneously thoughtful and hilarious. My husband, who is Irish, could relate to many of the references (e.g., food, desserts, candies), so I consulted with him on unfamiliar topics. However, the book would have been a marvelous read without his insight. It was a very easy read, too, because some of the chapters were just a few pages; a perfect "between naps" book ;-)

Kitchen Confidential, by Anthony Bourdain - He's gruff, rude, hilarious, charming, and a brilliant guide to the seedy underbelly of the commercial kitchen. Yes, it's been around for years, but it's a great read if you never got around to it. He puts the romance of the kitchen in perspective by describing the shady characters who run the high-end kitchen, make the delicious bread, and open the doomed restaurants. He also provides some great information (e.g., avoid fish on Mondays and opt to eat during the week instead of weekends). And I learned that though the thought of being a chef would be enticing (not for me, but perhaps my husband), I learned that there's nothing that would convince me that this would be a good career path. It's brutal!

Eating Between the Lines: The Supermarket Shopper's Guide to the Truth Behind Food Labels, by Kimberly Lord Stewart - I'm trying to scrutinize the food in our refrigerator and pantry a lot more these days. To that end, I got this book after hearing an interview with Kimberly Lord Steward on Good Food. I haven't finished it, but keep in mind that it's very readable and she designed it so the reader can skip around without adhering to chapter order. It has so much information on food that is, in my opinion, hard to find in general, even moreso as part of one comprehensive resource. Among many other topics, she breaks down the meaning of organic, addresses how to read a food label, and defines the mercury issues with fish.

Hungry Planet, by Peter Menzel and Faith D'Aluisio - I said it before and I'll say it again: This book is beautiful. It's more a book about the photography, but there's so much to learn about it. You can't help but analyze and compare the quantity and quality of food in different cultures around the world. Time's preview to whet your palate.

Mommy Fall Down

Sure he's too young to put his toys away now...but not forever.

Ode to A Toy Box

Once you were wee
Wrapped in my arm
I'd keep you real snug
Safe from all harm

And as you get older
We cuddle and play
Singing our songs
And laughing all day

Now on those blocks
You build and knock down
I twisted my ankle
Fell down like a clown

I guess this is how
The games are to start
Toys and blocks here
And there strewn like art

But this won't be cool
As you get a bit older
You'll store all your stuff
Or get the cold shoulder

Minimizing Tomorrow's Struggle

Morning stress can be compounded by making more decisions than we need to for our kids. One tip from Los Ninos En Su Casa (aka A Place of Our Own) on PBS is to make some decisions with your child the night before.

Clothes:

• Select a shoe box, plastic box, etc. big enough to put pants, top, shoes, etc.
  
• Have your child decorate the box to make it his/her own.
  
• The night before, help your child select the next day's outfit. For example, sit down Monday night to help him pick out Tuesday's clothes.

Breakfast:

You could do this with breakfast too. Choose tomorrow's breakfast the night before. Put it on a shelf or in the fridge with a label for that particular day. You could also do this with lunch, if applicable. This would also be a good idea if you're changing caregivers (for example, parent to nanny).

Consider the possibilities!

You've potentially eliminated a couple of things to worry about in the morning. Here, we're not at the point of arguing about what to wear in the morning, but I've heard stories...and they're not pretty. Using this strategy, this should (might) take the morning struggle out of dressing and eating since your child actively participated in choosing the clothes and food.

Kids are offered such few opportunities to make decisions that this independence generates feelings that his/her opinions are valued and helps boost their self-esteem. But it's nice to know that parents don't have to suffer to this end :-)

Tips on How to Close a Chip Bag

Here's a clever way to close a large bag without clips, tape, etc. No more lost clips or stale chips. Definitely an organizational feat.

I don't have any large bags that I can close like this, so I haven't been able to try it. But if you do, let me know how it goes.

The End of the Chip Clip

Being Organized Pays

So in case you haven't noticed, I'm a fan of being organized. I prefer investing the time and effort up front, which allows for less stress on the back end. 43 Folders' post on his organizational pursuits reminded me of the nuances of getting and staying organized. If you have limited storage space, which we do, being organized is crucial. It means you don't have to spend hours trying to find and retrieve something (barring the occassional keys snafu). 43's lightbulb moment came when he realized that he was organizing, but not eliminating. That's a huge part of being organized, though. Shuffling useless stuff throughout your home can be easy, unfortunately.
Possible thoughts:

(1) It's still good - I'm sure it is. Aunt Glinda gave you that coffee maker, but you already had one. You kept it because you didn't want to hurt her feelings, but you've never used it. Sure, it's still good, but guess what. Not to you. I have trouble discarding things that are "still useful," too, which is why we make periodic donations to local charities. You might consider eBay, freecycle, or charities like Goodwill, the Salvation Army, or local shelters.

(2) You might use it again - You bought that dress with good intentions, but you wore it once and it no longer fits. If you hold on to something like clothes waiting for them to fit again or to come back into fashion, you're just avoiding the inevitable. I'm not trying to be a pessimist here, but it's important to be rational. And we're beyond that...we're ruthless. If you haven't worn it in a year, assuming it's not seasonal (e.g., ski clothes), why is it taking up precious space? If you're really hesitant, put it in a box out of sight for a year. If you forgot it even existed, come on! Give that dress a new life on someone else ;-)

(3) It was expensive and you don't want to have to buy it again if you find out you need it - If you didn't use it the first time, you won't use it the second time.

I'm sure there are many other reasons to keep things that you can't bear to part with, but the point is to evaluate your reasoning and examine your logic. Are you keeping things for emotional reasons? Do you have enough space for the stuff you've accumulated? Even if you do, is the extra clutter and maintence (e.g., cleaning around stuff) necessary and worth it to you?

The interesting side effect of purging our closets is a mental shift that has resulted in saving money. I don't impulse buy (as much) because I'm much more conscious of the ramifications of my purchase. The big questions I ask myself when shopping are:

(1) Can I afford the expense? - Is it worth the price? Will it put a dent in my budget?

(2) Can I afford the space? - Where will I put it? Will it create clutter? Will I have to get rid of something else in order to keep this? Is that worth it to me? I find this question especially useful with toys because I want to give our little guy everything, but he hardly cares. He'll play with a cardboard box just as well as an expensive toy. We can only store so many toys, and he's usually happier playing with one of us than the stuff we buy him. Added bonus.

(3) Do we need it?- Better yet, will we use it? Do I do things that require this tool (e.g., if I didn't bake, I wouldn't need a stand mixer--and yes, I need my stand mixer). Unitaskers are lame. Do I have something else that could substitute for this (e.g., paella pans are for people who don't know you can make paella in a pot)? It doesn't matter how small or cheap something is if I won't use it. It's just taking up needed space, which defeats my organizational efforts.

On that note, a friend suggested to think about purchases for a month, and if you still want/need it, get it. Stopping to think about purchases really keeps your budget in check.

Whatever you decide to keep, store it wisely. Personally, I like storage boxes, space bags (when the seal works, which has been a nuisance), and my trusty label maker. You can fit more in a box with space bags, and if you label things, you don't have to rummage to find anything. Put little sachets of I'm a virgo and a little OCD, in case you haven't noticed.

Do you have any tips to share?

Tips on Traveling Light

As I've mentioned before, my favorite tip for travel is don't overpack. It makes your trip much more enjoyable because you're not spending extraordinary efforts in lugging useless stuff. Being smart and efficient about what you pack requires a close analysis of what you'll need, and research on choosing the best multi-tasking tools.

Lifehacker led the way to Tim Ferriss' list of how he travels the world with under 10 pounds. You may agree or disagree with some of his choices, but it's a great starting point. It seems very specific to warmer climates, so if you're going to Chile this month, you might need a few more things. The same goes for traveling with kids, but...well, duh.

Much like with anything, great packing also requires a bit of organization. I like to make a master list of things to travel with, so I can pare it down as needed for any kind of trip. And we usually take an electronics bag because we are who we are. Included are a laptop, iPod, camera, various chargers, and headphones. The laptop might seem a waste, but we check in on life every now and then, book flights and hotels (safer than strange computers), have scanned images of passports and other needed documents, and we upload photos daily from our camera to see progress during our trips. On a 3-week trip to Asia a few years ago, we literally took over 1,000 shots, and it was great to see them at the end of each day as we wound down. We also use it for video clips, which results in great short clips of our wee one, eliminating our *need* for a video camera.

When I'm Bored, I Purge to Organize

I don't know what it is about when my husband's out of town, but I'd swear this place feels messier because I'm overcome by this overwhelming urge to organize something. Today, it was the closet in our spare room. The focus of my tirade: a box of notes from college. OMG...I can't belive I kept some of that stuff. What was Life Sciences 15, anyway?!? Funny thing is we're really not pack rats. In fact, we're quite merciless when it comes to keeping stuff. If we won't use it, it's gone. But there's an emotional connection to notes that required so much effort, concentration, and time. It took a while to finally realize that I will never...ever, ever, ever need them again. Once you can admit that to yourself, it really makes detaching so much easier. And the extra room, which we happen to need, is fabulous. Besides, when it comes to donations, I'm happier knowing someone else can use something if we know we won't.

As for today's purge, the recylcling bin is gonna be pretty full tomorrow.