Happy spring break!

Just a quick post to wish everyone a happy spring break.  We're headed to Cincinnati to visit Charlie's family.  My goals for the trip are simple:  1)  not eat at Skyline every day; 2) get in two training runs; 3) not eat at Greaters ice cream every day; 4) survive the 8 hour drive (each way) with three kids in the car; and 5) not eat at Izzy's every day.  If you've never been to Cincinnati, this post will mean little to you. But if you have--then you know (and no I did not forget Montgomery Inn, there just isn't time!).  My extra chins and I will be back next week.

Squeek WorryWoo give away result.

According to Random.org's random integer generator, the winning comment is #7, written by Jessica, who said,

"Looks fun! Our oldest -- 4 1/2 -- is all about monsters lately. He'd LOVE this! :)."

Congrats Jessica!  Be on the lookout for my email.  Thanks again to Andi Green, creator of the WorryWoo Monsters, for generously sponsoring the give away.  And thanks to everyone who entered!

  

Running update.

I know I mentioned that I signed up to run the Marine Corps Historic Half marathon.  And that I started training.  But have I stressed enough that I am not a runner?  At all.  Some days, I want to be a runner, which in my mind means someone who truly enjoys running.  Really, I do.  Because so many friends run and love it.  And my dad runs, and Charlie runs--that makes an impression, right?  But most days, it's still the same:  when I run, my mind screams at me the entire first ten or so minutes, telling me to stop.  I sort of think this means I'm not meant to be a runner.

But I signed up for this race.  And I'm the kind of goal-oriented person that a training schedule really speaks to.  So I've been running, running, running.  It's week three and I can now go a bit over 5 miles.  I just have to ignore my inner monologue the first mile or two.  It's going well enough that I believe I will run and finish the race come mid May.  But I still don't know if that will make me a runner.  And I'm pretty sure that without a goal, I might give it all up.  So I emailed my good friend the following:

"As my only other non running friend who occasionally runs, thought you would appreciate this:  I did 5 miles the other day.  On my own (i.e. w/o Charlie shaming me into not stopping).  And w/o the ipod!!  But don't get me wrong, I still don't like it.

Wanna do the Army 10 miler?  Sign up is April 1st while you are away so we'd have to plan ahead (the race is Sun Oct 24th)."

Harmless enough, right?  Hmmph.  In return I get this:

"Dear Sender,
Thank you for your email, but I fear it has been sent in error. It was obviously meant for a person who thinks running is a good idea, and not merely something to be done to justify eating an extra Krispy Kreme donut. Or perhaps for someone who feels she should be prepared in case the latter half of the fight or flight instinct kicks in, and not someone who'd rather take a shooting class to better prepare her for the former half of said instinct.

In any case, I wish you the best of luck in finding a willing partner for your endeavors. Should you come to realize the error of your ways, please let me know so we can have a latte together at an open cafe and watch the insane masses jog by.

With best regards,
A sane person"

I laughed very hard and told her I was sharing.  I think I have just found a new goal!

p.s.  We had a lot of birthdays this past week.  Two were ours--Max turned 7 and Will turned 2, so we had two school celebrations, two day-of dinner celebrations, and one family party over the weekend.  We also squeezed in a family friend's birthday party.  We will not be quantifying the aggregate calorie intake.    

Birthday planning.

We are doing something different this year for the boys' combined birthday party.  Usually, we invite friends from all circles to come over to the house to celebrate.  It's great fun seeing everyone and the boys really love it.  They usually invite friends from school, preschool, the neighborhood, our play groups, as well as friends from their former day care...it's usually quite a group!  But this year, it's not really an option because our yard is a soggy marsh from all of the snow and recent rains.  And because we always rely on outdoor space for the kids to run around and play, we thought it best not to do it here in the spring.

Instead, the plan is to do a smaller party at a gym with each boy inviting a handful of classmates, along with other close family friends.  And we'll hold off throwing a big party until summer when our yard will hopefully dry out enough to set up some outdoor games.

So with that settled, I have discovered that I'm at a bit of a loss because there is very little to do in the way of planning for their party.  Usually we pick a theme and I go from there.  But since we're having it at a Little Gym location, the facility has their own format and timeline.  And there is a smallish room for food and cake after the gym play.  "Small" doesn't really work for the kind of food spread my family usually puts out at a party so I guess we'll go the pizza route?  But I'd still like to put out something for the grown ups to nibble on.  And I know I'll still do cake.  But can I fit in the dessert bar?  I think the boys might not know it's their birthday if there are no cut-out cookies.  And cake pops.  But we'd have to transport all of that, along with the kidlets.  Hmmmm.  Again, at a complete loss....

But I did send out the invitations.  I made three sets.  One for each of the older boys to give to their classmates and a combined one to give to family friends.  I was so excited when I saw this mini bunting card on How About Orange because I knew it would be perfect for my, er, I mean, the boys' non-themed-party party.  Because I'll tell you what.  Even if we're not doing any of the 5 (or 12) themes we started brainstorming about (think of how ahead we are for next year!), there will be bunting somewhere somehow in that little room.  My poor husband.

Happy Friday!

Squeek WorryWoo and a give away.

**ETA:  Give away is closed.  Will post winner shortly**

A few weeks ago, I received a lovely surprise.  It was an email from the creator of the WorryWoo Monsters series, Andi Green.  Andi happened upon my previous post about Max and Leo receiving (and loving) Nola, the Monster of Loneliness, and Rue, the Monster of Insecurity.  She contacted me and offered to send us the newest little monster to review.  And even though I don't really do reviews on this blog, I happily said yes!

A few days later, Squeek, the Monster of Innocence, arrived.  His hangtag told us that Squeek "is a cotton candy pink little guy who is scared to leave his bubble.  As you can see by the look on his face he is very shy.  Will you be his teacher and introduce him to all the fun things that are special in your life?  Oh, and don't forget, he's the pip-"squeek" of the bunch so be gentle!" 

The older boys were instantly smitten with Squeek and decided they should care for him until Will was old enough to do so himself.  They even constructed a schedule of who got Squeek when.  This ploy has worked on other gifts that were technically for Will, so I didn't blame them for trying.  But Will had other plans for Squeek.  Perhaps he picked up on how much his older brothers coveted him.  Or maybe he just didn't want to stop touching his soft, plush fur.  Unclear--but whatever the reason, Will staked his claim to Squeek immediately and has snuggled up to him ever since.

As I previously mentioned, one of the reasons I love the WorryWoo Monsters series so much is that they make great gifts for boys who like stuffed animals--especially older boys.  There's really not much out there for that.  I suppose it's because most folks think that boys outgrow "dolls".  But my older boys still love stuffed animals.  They pile them onto their beds and dive into them at bedtime.  And when I peek into their room at night, I find stuffies tucked into every crook and cranny of their arms and legs. 

They also use their stuffed animals to put on elaborate shows, full of dialogue and props.  And I really love seeing them take care of their dolls--though that statement may be a tad misleading.  They are boys after all.  And so some stuffie tossing or dragging goes on.  And on and on.  But they really do take care of the little characters that they've attached to each stuffie.  Leo props up his lions onto couch pillows to make sure that they can see the books we are reading.  Max will make sure his beloved dogs have blankets to snuggle with while he's at school.  And If Will is fussing, the older boys rush to give (and by 'give' I mean hurl) various stuffies at him to make him feel better.  It is both amazing and endearing to see how their stuffed creatures bring out their nurturing side.    

And so Squeek could not be a better fit for our family.  He came with a well written and beautifully illustrated hard cover story book to tell his tale about exploring new things outside of his safe bubble.  My boys love the three WorryWoo stories we have--they are often the requested bedtime book.  The stories are simple enough to keep their attention but so imaginative, each with a unique "embrace your emotions" message. 

In addition to how great I think the products are, I was truly impressed by Andi when she approached me.  Why?  Because my blog is little and I don't do product reviews.  And Andi's products are receiving much praise, toy awards, and other national recognition--you can read more about it on the WorryWoo website.  And yet Andi was kind enough to send my little guy his very own WorryWoo to try out.  After a few emails with her, I was left with the impression of an artist who sincerely believes in her products and gets a kick out of kids enjoying them.  I suppose I should not be surprised by Andi's refreshing and personal approach to growing her business.  Because once you happen upon the charming monsters and their equally charming tales, you realize that a very special person must be behind them.  I wholeheartedly endorse the WorryWoo Monster products.

Now on to the give away!  Andi is generously offering a Squeek story book and plush doll to one of you.  To enter the give away, please leave a comment.  The give away will close in about a week, at noon, 12:00 pm (EST) on Thursday, March 25, with the random winner announced soon after.  Good luck! 

A clean slate.

I've begun spring cleaning.  And every year as I clear the clutter a bit, I am struck by how monotone our living room is.  It was never intended.  It sort of looks like I was interrupted in the middle of decorating, right before adding in the personal touches that really make a room.  And of course that's exactly what happened.  But I try to not begrudge my little interruptions.  Especially as I watch them grow impossibly fast.  The room, after all, can wait.  But impromptu hide and seek sessions and tickle monster attacks most definitely cannot. 

Nevertheless, I was still a bit surprised to realize it has been nearly four years since I last thought about "decorating" the room.  And since spring and all the clean corners seem to bring about a certain ambition, I plan to pick up where I left off and finally add a much needed jolt of color by way of some pillows.  And maybe, just maybe, some drapes.   

I will leave up the sheers because I still like them.  They have served us well, despite the torture they endure most days (more on that in a bit).   A friend was over and asked about them, as she was having a hard time finding the right length in window treatments.  When I explained to her what I did she called it clever, so I thought I'd share.

First, to take the look up a notch (literally), I made sure to mount the hardware closer to the ceiling--see that in the picture?  Do not merely mount the rod right above the window.  The trick to making your ceilings appear much taller than they actually are is to mount your rods higher. 

Next, I ordered some semi-sheer tab top panels--from Overstock, I think--in the longest length possible and hung them up.  This allowed me to fold and pin the bottoms in place as I determined exactly where I wanted the curtains to hit (I went for a soft break right at floor length, no trendy puddle).  After that, all it took was a quick zip through the sewing machine over the original seam.  The bottoms are just ironed--there is no stitching.  I really like the detail that the double layer of fabric gives to each panel.  You could also easily add a ribbon or other trim for some color. 

I know that this is beyond basic for many of you.  But I also figured someone out there could relate to needing curtains pronto.  And this method, despite its ease, actually delivers window treatments worthy of hanging up in your grown-up space.  But that minimal time investment also means you won't cringe when you see a little curtain mischief going on.  Actually, make that a lot of curtain mischief...which makes me wonder, do little girls do this, too, or is it just boys?  Or is it just my boys??

I'll post pictures of the revamped room soon.  I'm sure it'll be within the next five years.

Sushi rice salad.

Yes, that's right--sushi salad.  And in case it needs to be said:  Sushi purists--move along please.  Nothing to see here.  But to the parents of young ones who used to go out for sushi once a week but now do not because picking flicked about bits of sushi rice off of lovely restaurant shoji screens does not a nice dinner make--read on.

Every couple of weeks or so I make a deconstructed sushi salad for dinner.  It's by no means the real deal but it is enough to satisfy a craving, if you are the sort that craves sushi.  The bonus is it introduces the boys to sushi flavors in a non foreign way--they are used to seeing dinner plates with rice, vegetables, and a protein.  I just don't serve their portions tossed together. 

Sushi Rice Salad

Adapted from Epicurious

Ingredients  

• 1 1/2 cups short-grain sushi rice
• 1 3/4 cups plus 1 1/2 tablespoons water
• 1/4 cup seasoned rice vinegar
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 medium carrot
• 1 1/4 teaspoons wasabi paste (Japanese horseradish paste)
• 1 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1/2 large seedless cucumber (usually plastic-wrapped), peeled, halved lengthwise, cored, and chopped (1 cup)
• 3 scallions, thinly sliced diagonally
• 3 tablespoons drained sliced Japanese pickled ginger, coarsely chopped
• 1 tablespoon sesame seeds (optional)
• 1 firm-ripe California avocado
• 4 sheets toasted nori cut into very thin strips with scissors (I like to buy the bags of preshredded nori)
• soy sauce

Extra add-ins we enjoy:

• cooked protein, such as cooked shrimp or crab/surimi stick
• rice seasoning (we love fumi furikake)
• spicy sauce (recipe follows)

Spicy Sauce

• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 2 tbsp (more or less depending on taste) hot chili sauce, like sriracha
• 1 tbs sesame oil

Directions

Rinse rice in several changes of cold water in a bowl until water is almost clear, then drain in a colander 30 minutes.  Bring rice and 1 3/4 cups water to a boil in a 3- to 4-quart heavy saucepan, then simmer, covered, 2 minutes. Remove from heat and let rice stand, covered, 10 minutes (do not lift lid).  Note--I just use my rice cooker for the rice.  But I will assume most of you did not grow up in an Asian household (where one learns how to cook rice at such a tender age that it is now possible to do so one-handed, with a baby on the hip).  So the above is what Epicurious says to do. 

While rice is standing, bring vinegar, sugar, and salt just to a boil in a very small saucepan, stirring constantly until sugar is dissolved.  Allow to cool for 2 minutes.

Spread hot, cooked rice in a large, shallow bowl.  Fan to cool slightly, then drizzle with vinegar mixture and toss with a wooden spoon.

Note:  I prep the veggies and protein ahead of time so I can just toss after the rice is prepared.  Shave thin lengthwise slices from carrot with a vegetable peeler, then cut slices diagonally into 1/4-inch-wide strips.  Whisk together wasabi, remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons water, and oil in a bowl, then add rice, carrot, cucumber, scallions, and pickled ginger and toss gently.

Halve, pit, and peel avocado and cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices.

Place rice in individual serving bowls.  Drizzle with soy sauce of choice (we like the low sodium).  Top with the dressed veggies and any cooked protein, if using.  Top with nori shreds and optional sesame seeds/rice seasoning.  Add a dollop of spicy sauce and top with avocado.  Makes approximately 4 servings.  Dig in!

p.s.  I'm linking to A Soft Place to Land's DIY day...

Happy weekend + more cake-mix bars.

Just a quick post to say hello.  I know it was a light week for me blogging-wise.  But for good reason!  I had so much to do before Charlie and I headed out for a quick getaway.  My parents were nice enough to watch the boys so we could take some time to ourselves--such a blessing, I know.  Even if I did overly obsess (yup, again) on having things just so when leaving the boys in anyone else's care. 

I also wanted to share our new favorite way to prepare the cake-mix bars.  These are ridiculously good.  Follow the recipe but add in two handfuls each of dried cranberries and white chocolate chips.  You also might want to squeeze in some extra tummy crunches and salad intake.

  

I hope you had a nice weekend too--I feel quite restored after ours.

Sundress to apron refashion.

After I made the apron for the auction, I was pretty gung-ho to make one for my very own.  Until I faced my carefully curated stash, that is.  Because then I plain out froze.  Deciding which fabric combos to cut into may take some time--I've hoarded some of these prints for years and I love them.  And, yes, I do mean love/love, not just like/love.  So until I decide, I thought I'd do a quickie upcycled version.      

I found a decent looking sundress at the thrift store for only $4 (my favorite thrift store has a 50% off sale fairly regularly, which is when I try to load up on refashioning materials).  The cut and size of the dress fit me well enough but I don't think it's essential considering how much is eventually cut off.  And as I didn't even like/love the hibiscus print, it was the perfect piece to experiment with.

I cut off the straps and the side seams to create a front panel...  

...then straightened up the sides into an A-line shape.  I left the bodice top at the full width because I knew I wanted to ruffle it.

Next, I cut up some cotton lining remnants from my stash for the sashing/ties.  Unfortunately, I didn't have long enough pieces so some patch-work was necessary (which made the entire project more fiddly than I expected)...

The construction and sewing process was completely done on the fly.  I wouldn't call it terribly efficient--working from a pattern turned out to be easier.  But this was definitely faster.     

The end result?  A definite meh.  It's just okay.  I don't love it but do think some cute pockets would really help, so on they will go.  Someday.  The biggest hassle was the side sashing done without the benefit of a pattern.  Should I attempt this again, I'll just do a simple, continuous, sash at the waist and ties that attach to the top.  

But all in all, it is still a lot prettier than the other aprons currently hanging in the pantry.  Those were accumulated mostly by way of freebie promos, so you can imagine.  And I also keep reminding myself that it'll be covered in marinara sauce or brownie batter splatters within 24 hours.

I was happy to have a reason to test out my new tripod.  I will work on lighting next, promise.  Leo was absolutely fascinated with the auto shoot process.  And he couldn't resist sneaking in for a little smooch.  My goodness, does he ever have my heart in such a special way.  Leo is my love bug.