Mama's Musings

Weekend of Miracles

We are nearing the end of our weekend (while you may still have all of Sunday ahead of you). It has been one of most satisfying weekends I've had in a long time. It's not because we did much of anything; it was more the way in which we did things that has granted me the serenity to know the difference between this and other Sunday evenings that have made me grateful for Monday mornings.

It may have started on Friday afternoon when I decided to make a dish my kids had never eaten before. I knew I was treading on thin ice; my daughter and I had been on tenuous terms about, well, whatever. But I had a feeling if I didn't start cooking new things, my kids would forever be stuck in their three-meal rut. And I'd grow in my resentment of it.

And so I served up broccoli in a chicken cream sauce. Further, I tossed in a few mushrooms, too. After an initial stink, my kids actually tried it. My daughter even ate both broccoli sprigs with an audible "Yum!" thrown in for good measure. And she wasn't faking it because Lord knows she won't fake anything that has to do with questionable food.

The culinary miracles continued as I got a sudden hankering for cheese cake ~ not just any cheese cake. It would have to be a home-made one. So I whipped out a recipe and started baking. At one point, I could hear the silent satisfaction of my family as they read in the kitchen to the rhythm of my electric beater. It was as if they thought As long as Mama's got that thing in her hands, she's not boarding a plane any time soon. Two hours later I served up my husband with the most delicious cheese cake with mandarins I had ever made (I think it was my third in this lifetime). And today, after spending two glorious hours reading while my daughter had her riding lesson, I donned my apron one more time to make a lamb stew with curry because my husband, The Cook, wasn't home from the pool with our son yet.

It's not that I'm trying to trump my husband, who is the singularly most fabulous cook on the planet. It's merely a need I have to nest as the days grow dim. I even made a few Christmas ornaments with the kids this evening.

Dag. The power of slow brings magic at every turn. I am so very grateful for the beauty that has ensued because of it.

Kids Say the Funniest Things

Our dinnertable conversation gave me cause to reevaluate how I transmit the message that eating raw foods is good for you. Encouraged by their jovial reception to other jokes I had made during dinner, I proceeded to sing a song in rhyme:

"You cannot have a Snappple,

But please, dear, eat an apple!!!!!"

I accentuated the word apple with an extended vibrato.

"Mom," my ten year-old daughter replied with a quick roll of her eyes and a grin, "if you promise to speak in rhyme for an entire week, we'll leave you alone for the same amount of time."

"Sure!" I quipped, feverish with play.

"Here's a test. What rhymes with orange?"

Looks like they'll be plucking my nerves like an orchestra harpist until they grow up after all...

When the Dough Runs Out

Why run to the store when you can bake stuff yourself? (Okay, so you have to actually go to the store to get the ingredients. It requires forethought, planning, and another megabyte of your memory, but think of the memories you're passing on!). It's a great way to spend some family time without spending all your money.

I stumbled across this Gingerbread recipe. I love the layout of the How2Heroes site. Since we're such a video culture, it's particularly appealing (just ignore the fuschia walls - reminds me of my old kitchen in Somerville, MA).

It's only coffee

Coffee and parenting seem to go hand in hand. It's not only the slight caffeine buzz to get us going in the morning after a late-night feeding or night terrors that informs our emotional closeness to it (I've been known to drive miles out of my way for my favorite brand). Coffee preference, like parenting, is personal. It riles up emotions when one camp feels slighted by another.

In fact, many of us enjoy an ambivalent relationship with the drink. It lifts us up and, in some cases, makes us crazy, too. In an attempt to distance myself from its insanity, I managed an eight-month hiatus from coffee consumption. It made me feel victorious. I soon gave up my abstinence, however, prefering the cozy, social nature of a cup of java with friends.

There are varying levels of madness. When denied our favorite order, for instance, some of the more committed coffee drinkers become a tad vitriolic. Two days ago, the Washington Post's reporting was most shocking. It was shocking not because of the story's content, but because it got covered at all.

The story goes something like this:

Out-of-town man orders a triple espresso on the rocks.

Barista says it's against their policy.

Out-of-town man, who is also a blogger, rants, raves, and blogs about it.

Both the coffee shop's Web site and said coffee blogger's rage make national news Why? Because tens of thousands of people got up in arms about how the customer was treated (and with 228 comments at the time of this writing, I'm amazed at the level of people's scrutiny). Hell hath no fury like a coffee lover scorned.

I suppose I'd pitch a fit if my husband wagged a finger at me and said, No, reminding me of my pride for having kicked the habit once before. But would I make that one moment in time public? Probably not.

The blogger was rather stunned by the response he got. I think it humbled him, actually. We bloggers have unparalleled power in some arenas. Our opinions can throw shockwaves the world over.

We need to use our voice wisely. And remember, it's only coffee, people.

The Starbucks Factor

It's not something I am proud of, but I made my son do it. He had to walk the half-mile from the US consultate to the 'nearest' Starbucks as we had twenty minutes to kill before the passport services opened.

"Come on! I'll race you!" I even grinned.

Not one of my proudest mommy moments. What is it about the dark green, black and whilte logo that makes us adults go crazy? Conditioning at its best.

It turns out Starbucks is shuttering its doors on 500 stores. In the last fiscal year alone, according to the Wall Street Journal, they were opening stores an average of seven per day worldwide. Now that's a lot of lattes.

The article goes on to report:

Last year, as Starbucks's sales began to soften, it became clear that the company's expansion was cannibalizing its sales in a way that was threatening the chain's success, as well as causing the quality at its existing locations to slip. Analysts have said that Starbucks lowered the bar for choosing new locations in recent years.

You can say that again. Why don't they have one outside the consulate?

The article ends by remarking how the market abroad (as in, um, here) is still strong so they'll be looking to places such as Germany to spread their tendrils.

If it's Smuckers, it's gotta be good

You know I'm always on the look out for things that benefit you, dear readers. If it's Smuckers, it's gotta be good.

Between June 16 and August 11, 2008, people are invited to submit their original recipe made with at least ¼ cup of one of the following Smucker’s products: Smucker’s jams, jellies or preserves (including Low Sugar brand and Sugar Free products) that has been passed down for at least two generations and an original 200-words or less essay telling the story behind how their recipe makes family celebrations special. Smucker will post these traditions and recipes on its Web site and sweeten one family’s next gathering with a five day, four night family trip for eight to the Walt Disney World® Resort.

To enter, visit www.Smuckers.com for full details and complete official rules.

Mama's Musings January Jump for your Jiggles Giveaway #4

Whaddya say about a little Wadda Juice? It has 50% fewer calories than regular fruit juice and is deeeeeee-licious.

Founded by a single dad of two in 2002, WaddaJuice is simply juice, purified water and vitamins without sweetners, flavors, dyes, preservatives or additives. It contains half the sugar, calories and carbs of 100% pure juice. So rev up your kids' snack with a bottle to go!

We're giving away five bottles to five lucky winners. Simply leave a comment about your kid's favorite beverage and subscribe to my newsletter. Deadline is January 19th. Winners' names will be drawn from the hat and notified the same day.

Fill out your e-mail address to receive our newsletter!

We promise never to rent, sell or give away your personal information. Ever.

CONGRATS to BRANDY, HOLLY, CINDI, STACEY, and CARYN for winning a bottle of WADDAJUICE!

Mama's Musings Holiday Giveaway #10

DaBib is da bomb! Okay, you've spent over twenty minutes trying to dress your squirmy infant and yourself. You want everything to look festive and the guests are about to arrive. DaBib offers a chic solution to those brightly colored cartoon character emblazoned bibs. Let's get festive!

DaBib is giving away five bibs to five lucky winners (retail value $12.99 each). Be one of them by entering today**. How? Simply leave a comment about your take on holiday meals and subscribe to my parenting newsletter. Five names will be drawn from a hat and notified the same day via email. Deadline is December 1st. We promise never to sell, rent or give away your personal information to anyone. Ever.

Fill out your e-mail address to receive my parenting newsletter!

**US and Canada only.

CONGRATULATIONS TO SARA, JULIE, ANGELA, ANDREA, AND AMANDA FOR WINNING!!

Mama's Musings Holiday Giveaway#5

You've been banging around your kitchen since 4 am. The sweet potatoes are just right; you beam as you proudly daydream about the beautifully set Thanksgiving table, the smiling guests, the sweet-natured children...then reality takes hold as you hear,

"Yuck! There's NOTHING to eat!" Your tween curls a yet-to-be-pierced lip at you.

Welcome to Picky Eater Central! Never fear, dear parents. Help is here. Ellie Taylor and Pamela Gould, co-authors of the March 2007 release Feeding the Kids: The Flexible, No-Battles, Healathy Eating System for the Whole Family, makes food shopping and cooking fun. They are generously providing three copies for you to win.**

Enter by leaving a comment and subscribing to my parenting newsletter. Deadline is November 14th.

Fill out your e-mail address to receive my parenting newsletter!

**US and Canada only.

CONGRATULATIONS TO KAREN, SUSANA and AMY for winning a copy of Feeding the Kids!

Beer on a Wire

I awoke to the familiar grinding of hops early one morning. The sweet aroma, similar to drying tobacco, filtered through my open bedroom window. Our neighbor, who fills the neighborhood with the sound of machinery one week each September, was harvesting his 8,000 strands of hops. Beer contains this essential ingredient and, according to the farmer's wife I interviewed today, you only need a smidge to make it taste just right.

The harvesting process is simple, really. First, you pull down all the vines from the wires.

Then you put them in a machine that strips all the hops off the vines. It gets loaded up into the loft of the barn, then pressed into flat racks to remove any excess moisture. Finally, it is placed into large square bags and carted off to the hops wholesaler's warehouse.

The hops itself looks like balls of popcorn. Beer on a wire -- who knew?