The Most Politically Incorrect Game

In my prayers each day I hope that my baby boy will be strong, healthy, smart, and well rounded.  We read at least a half-dozen books each night, he plays basketball with daddy, cooks with mama, and makes polite babbley conversation with friends over dinner.  He plays with stuffed bears, dogs, and even a Cabbage Patch doll.  He has a construction set, a kitchen set, pretend cell phones and occasionally naked art time (more on that another day.)  I hope he grows to believe he can be nearly anything he wants to be.

I say nearly because this idea of well-rounded play has been challenged lately.  First by daddy, and then I confess, by mama. 

This is a Nerf Gun.  A six-barreled Nerf gun.  It makes a terrible loud sound when the suction cups stick to the filing cabinet in our basement.  They are fast, they are foam, and they are a heck of a lot of fun!  This is not a toddler's typical game.  Unless they live in our house. 

I was horrified at first. Immediately going to thoughts of a child psychologist or future Kindergarten teacher, I was terrified of what we someday might have to explain.  That we, his loving, doting, do-everything-we-can-right parents condoned this sort of activity.  And then I tried it.  There is just something about shooting a Nerf Gun at the end of a working mama's day that lets go of a lot of stress.  And my sweet baby laughs hysterically, runs after the darts, and gives me a smile that says, "lets do it again!" 

I can feel the judgement radiating across the web from mothers who make their own organic baby food, read books in French, and use cloth diapers.  I know, I would judge me too.  It's a terribly politically incorrect game that pretty much sums up my parenting style.  Hyper-conservative, ultra careful best intentions, but bottom line, if it works, we roll with it.

16 Hours to Superhero Status!

"It's no big deal, really.  The set comes in three boxes, and most people can put them in the back of their van.  It might take you a good afternoon to get it set up."  Says the woman at Sam's Club that was obviously not a part of the backroom construction of their floor model, that no doubt caused cursing and likely tapping into the stash of wholesale liquor.

It was over the course of the next five days and 16 hours that I witnessed my husband's true dedication to daddy-hood as he, two of his high school students and a friend (who is also fortunately a shop teacher,) labored over Jett's new swing set.  Working in the hot sun, I wasn't sure if Poweraides, pizza and chocolate chip cookies would be enough to get them through, but they prevailed.

Daddy, I'm not sure this is right...

One of my favorite moments was when I thanked one of the students for his help and said, "Thank you so much, Jett is really going to enjoy this for a long time!"  He replied excitedly, "No problem!  I had a play set like this growing up and I played on it until, like third grade.  And mine wasn't nearly as cool as this!"

This smile made it all worth it!  Through all the hard work, Kevin didn't complain once.  Watching him tackle the project with patience and pride, will be one of the moments that I look back on in our life and say of my husband, "I love him more every day!"

Teal Colored Dreams, A Reality

IT'S HERE!  I can barely contain myself!!!  It's my long awaited, very own, Kitchenaid mixer.  In TEAL!  A really beautiful, light robins egg blueish teal, that matches my kitchen perfectly! (It's a good thing too because I agonized over the color in Nebraska Furniture Mart so long that I almost left with a mixer, but less one husband.)

Now I'm getting the all important question, what will you make first?  Do I go for Grandma's famous chocolate cream filled cupcakes?  An artisan bread?  Chocolate chip cookies?  A new recipe?  If you have ideas, please weigh in!

I made cupcakes for Kevin's birthday, but this beauty didn't arrive in time.  They were just from a box, nothing impressive, but my sister asked me what I did because they were so good.  Roll credit...

It's amazing what even baking will do.  It was truly a life changing trip to Nebraska Furniture Mart.

Please Wear Pants...

In a mama blog such as this you may be thinking that this post has everything to do with the fact that my little one prefers to be nude as much as possible...and while that's completely true, that's not what this is about today. 

Today my question for the world is this: What on God's green earth does "your favorite business casual attire" mean for an event?  I'm all for nonprofits and organizers getting creative when it comes to addressing the "dress", but come on!  I like to think I'm a pretty decent dresser most days, but it doesn't just fall out of the closet for me.  I generally have to put a little bit of effort into what is on my person, and I literally have nightmares about showing up somewhere in cocktail attire when everyone else is in a golf polo, or not having hat adorned when clearly everyone else got the memo (sadly, this did happen.)  The worst part is I love a good hat!  And I feel way more confident in forced cocktail chat when I look like I belong.  Not to mention the inevitable question from my husband, "What I'm I wearing for this thing?"

Help me break it down.  Favorite Business Attire.  This implies cute business suit or business appropriate LBD (think sleeves).  Favorite Casual Attire.  Frankly for me this is JCrew skinny jeans and ballet flats.  Business Casual.  This has changed dramatically over the years.  For most industries think Target: khaki Dockers and a solid colored polo.  But if you are in a creative profession, or somewhere other than a bank this can also include dressy shorts, knit dresses, a high end graphic tee or jeans with a jacket.  Let's not even talk about a profession in "the arts"... Throw on something in rainbow or macrame and you are in.

One party site I found listed the following:
White tie/ultra-formal — Men: tailcoat and white vest, shirt and bow tie. Women: long gown.

Black tie/formal — Men: tuxedos. Women: dress (knee-length, long).

Semi-formal/informal — Men: dark suit, tie. Women: knee-length dress.

Cocktail — Men: dark suit. Women: knee-length dress or skirt.

Dressy casual — Men: jacket or collared shirt, pants. Women: skirt or dressy pants.

Business casual — Men: collared shirt, khakis. Women: dressy pants or skirt.

Casual — anything goes.

Thanks world wide web, that wasn't helpful... 

This time it's easy for my husband.  Dockers and a polo. Check. 

But here's a glimpse into my mind...

I don't own khaki's anymore...jeans are too risky if everyone else is in pants/skirts...I should have shopped at JCrew when my sister was working last week, darn it!...my pink dress is out, could be way too dressy...striped dress, no sweater?...flubby arms...striped dress and sweater...too dressy again!...heals or flats, heals or flats...skirt and chambray shirt, who am I trying to kid, I'm not cool enough to pull that off...

Help!

Mr. Mom

I couldn't be more thankful for my wonderful husband that took on the unexpected roll of "Mr. Mom" this weekend.  Canceling plans to go to the farm, study for his graduate final, and golf for the first time this year, he opted to stay home to take care of his very green, disgusting wife, and give Jett a very happy play filled weekend in spite of the looming flu.

Not only did Super Dad wrangle kiddo and chiweenie, but he did all the laundry and dishes, and checked on me regularly to make sure that I was drinking enough fluids.

Thank you Mr. Mom, you are my hero!
-Love your fluish wife.

Eating Granola and Thought of You!

My friend Jen sent me a text this week that said, "Eating granola...and thought of you!"  What a high compliment in my book!  You see lately I've been on this wild granola kick.  One Saturday I was super hungry for granola and was out, so I decided to make my own.  It was a moderately successful first run, with a minor honey-heating incident with the microwave (Do not, I repeat, do NOT heat honey in the bear in the microwave! Just remember that angry bears will explode, and that's all you need to know.)  I also kept the oats in the oven too long, but masked the flavor by adding extra dark chocolate chips. 

Then there was that fateful trip to Costco where they sell "The World's Best Granola" complete with flax, amaranth, quinoa and other good nutritious stuff.  I've been loading up ever since.  The only problem is that there are 250 calories per 3/4 cup.  (Is it really fair to gain five pounds because of granola?  I think not!) 

While not a complete solution to the calorie challenge, I like the idea of making my own granola so that I can control the sugar content (and add extra good stuff like dried fruit, coconut or chocolate chips.) So I guess I'm making more dessert granola myself, but in place of a bag of chips in the afternoon it's still a good alternative.  Here is a recipe to the batch I whipped up yesterday.

3 1/2 cups rolled oats (I always make a super big batch.)
1/4 cup flax

1 Tab. milled flax

1/2 cup slivered almonds

1/2 cup pumpkin seeds

1 heaping tsp. cinnamon

3/4 cup canola or vegetable oil

4 Tab. honey

1 Tab. brown sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

Combine first six ingredients in a large bowl.

Next, heat oil, honey, brown sugar, and vanilla over low heat.  When the honey and sugar are incorporated, you are good to go.

Pour syrup over the oat mixture and combine using a spoon or your hands (if you want to get messy.)

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and press granola in a thin layer.  Bake in a 325 degree oven for approximately 25 minutes.  You will need to take the granola out every 8-10 minutes to stir, flip, and toss so that all sides bake evenly and don't burn.  When the granola is finished and cooled I like to put mine into zip-top bags in the freezer for future eating. 

One of my favorite things about making my own granola is that it's the perfect "Use-it-Up" recipe.  You can add whatever you have available as long as you stick with the basic oats+nuts/dried fruit/other goodies+syrup equation.  Enjoy!

Bringing "Sexy" Back to Power Walking

I know that when I walk down the street I'm turning some heads. Yes that's right, I'm bringing sexy back to power walking with free weights.  Just give me some sandals to wear with my socks, and I will officially be rocking the neighborhood with my chicness.

I'm walking tall, not just swinging my arms alongside mind you, nope I'm pumping, punching, and curling those bright blue 3 lb. weights to get the most out of my two miles.  If I see you on the street, in your car, or at the ball field, you better believe I will give you a big wave.  But don't be ashamed if you don't wave back, its okay, I know my hotness is pretty intimidating, sneakers, holey shirt and all.