VERMONT MOMS...

ok, I called the center for cosmetic dermatology... just to find out, you know for a friend of mine who might be interested in the "tumescent liposuction" procedure....you know, she's just wondering.

 

SO, incase you were wondering (or, um, one of your friends):

• $175 to have the doctor  inspect your fat for one hour
• $3000 and up to suck the fat out (more $ depending on how much and how many spots)
• no payment plan
• all due up front
• NO other doctor in the entire city to go to otherwise

 

 

and so, life continues on in the muffin top kind of way. :(

 

disclaimer, I forgot to mention: I went bathing suit shopping today...barf

 

 

THREE EASY RECIPES for people with kids-

and moms & dads who suck at cooking…. 

 

Carnivores:

Tasty Mexican Style Shredded Pork:

1 Pork shoulder - note you won't actually have one in your freezer but next time you are shopping, easy to spot, relatively cheap and easy to toss in

2 BIG cans enchilada sauce

Crockpot, 4 hours high

Shred pork, serve over rice & beans; add guacamole, salsa, whatever you have in cabinet / fridge but tasty plain

 

Lemon Garlic Chicken:

you need:

6 thighs, in dish (you could use breast but thighs have the best flavor for this--but either works)

6 lemons - or lemon juice

2 Onions - or onion flakes

10 cloves of garlic

Directions:

• Toss thighs in casserole dish (literally throw them...kidding)
• Quarter 2 onions, place over chicken (yellow is best but any onion works…even onion flakes)
• Squeeze fresh lemon juice over chicken (use bottled lemon juice if you have to)
• Garlic press a bunch of garlic cloves (10)
• Add salt, pepper
• Top with fresh rosemary if you have it, dried if you have that- not necessary but yummy & it makes your house smell like you can actually cook - great recipe to deceive friends or use up herbs in garden you don't know what to do with :)
• Bake 90min@300 degrees
• Serve w/broccoli (I totally use frozen) & bread…rice, whatever

 

Herbivores:

Garlic Bread Pasta (for about 4 people)

EASY- the only way you could screw it up is to burn the garlic but it's so simple if you have to start over, it doesn't matter.

you need: garlic, breadcrumbs, pasta, olive oil (1/3c or so...)

Make angel hair or spaghetti according to package, set aside

Heat olive oil in a pan

Cut or press garlic (I do like 4 bulbs- I like it really garlicky & my kids do too)

Cook garlic in oil, until it turns slightly golden (don’t let it burn)

Pour oil over pasta, pour breadcrumbs & toss….

YUM & no red sauce mess- a great lunch pasta when sick of mac & cheese, etc…

My toughest, brutish little boy, noah, is afraid of bugs.

He is one of those indestructable boys- the youngest of three. He has no choice but to be tough. Anyway, yesterday, I hear this SHRIEKING from the side yard (right outside the screen slider, I can keep full tabs on the boys if they go out there). I ignore it for a second b/c all the boys are right there, & I figured someone took a toy or whatever. 

 

But he kept shrieking. I ran to see what was up- Noah (20m) is shaking, literally yelling BUG BUG BUG BUG - I thought he got stung. I searched him over, took off his shorts. He wouldn't move (I was starting to have all the nighmarish thoughts- black widow, bee allergy...what's up???). He was frozen with fear. I picked him up and he clung to me like a monkey- he wouldn't let me put him down. He was saying "no, bug, no!" over & over. I felt so bad for him.

 

Anyway, eventually I put him in the bath to calm him down. He reluctantly went in and a mosquito was flying around, up near the ceiling. He immediately FREAKS yelling BUG BUG BUG and all slippery-style jumps from the tub and panics....-He made me hold him for literally 40 minutes. It was wierd....I think he must have gotten stung. Bottom line, he is bugged-out by bugs and anything (like dirt) that resembles a bug...

you don't even have to respond but ask yourself when (if at all)  the last time you....

 

• read a book and finished it
• went on a walk by yourself
• played a board game or other game with your spouse/other/friend?
• had a quickie, nooner, or other sneaky rendez-vous
• slept in (I mean really slept in...not ignoring screeches from the crib or half awake sleeping in)
• chatted on the phone with an old friend for an hour
• wrote a real letter, put a stamp on it & mailed it
• went to church or meaningful spiritual place
• read the giving tree by shel silverstein
• wrote in a journal...a paper journal without spellcheck or delete
• looked at old photos of you when you were a sweet baby
• looked at old photos of you when you were a ridiculous teenager
• received a look-over...the kind where you feel attractive and alive, not frumpy or thinking your fly is down or you have barf on the backside of your shoulder
• actually noticed an attractive person...one you would have flirted with - you know- the kind of person that was (or is) "your type"
• went to a concert...not elmo or dragon tales...a concert just for you
• looked at your kids and felt like you were doing everything right, on track and things were gonna be ok
• looked at your kids and thought you couldn't be a worse parent, your heart ached and you felt like everything you are doing isn't good enough
• wished you had more things and money and opportunity to make your life easier
• wished you could abandon everything and run away (with your family) with no material objects, responsibilities or clutter (just sunsets on a remote beach somewhere)
• wished to take that trip you never got to take before the kids
• wished you never had to leave the couch with your kids snuggled up next to you
• wrote a love note
• made a treat- coffee, cookies, crafts- for someone, anyone
• bought a piece of jewelry you really love
• bought something you totally don't need and will probably never wear
• looked up an old flame
• looked at your spouse and wondered how the hell you made it this far
• wanted a new life
• wanted your life to last forever
• envied a friend
• wished your kids would stay little forever
• couldn't wait for them to "grow out of this stage"
• wanted another baby
• wished to never ever get pregnant again
• cried because life is moving on
• smiled because life is moving on- to the next milestone, celebration, event
• wished you wrote stuff down that your kids say
• actually wrote something down that your kid said
• made a list and never finished it (or lost it in my case...)
• missed an appointment
• stopped and enjoyed the moment and realized how lucky you are.....

 

Being a parent is full of conflicting emotions and experiences.

 

everyone I know keeps chatting about their house keepers* in front of me....it's driving me f-ing mad. if I hear one more single person complain that they just don't like to keep up with it and it would waste an enitre afternoon....that it's "just so much easier" to not deal with it....that it's just so nice to come home and have it be perfect...no offense if you have a housekeeper but I'm just annoyed because I feel like a housekeeper - a bad one at that- and I get kind of jealous & pissy when I hear this... it's cool if you have one, just don't complain to me about how invconvenient it is to clean up (after nobody!)...or like my neighbor who has kids, a cleaner & then complains about how bad she is and that she has to leave her house one morning a week...ok, all done.

 

*by housekeeper I mean cleaning lady or dude...

I tried to edit & I responded- then I cut my post altogether. rockergirl...thanks for the light. I am usually defending Montessori so I wasn't in fair perspective...here are some unbiased similarities. I'll include an accurate curriculum overview of each, soon.   MONTESSORI and WALDORF SCHOOLS (by Susan Mayclin Stephenson)

SIMILARITIES Montessori and Waldorf are the fastest growing educational systems in the world today. Both are based on many years of experience, with all kinds of children, the world over. Both have great respect for the child as an individual, spiritual, creative being. Both believe in protecting the child from the stresses of modern life, overuse or misuse of technology such as television and computers. Both emphasize the education of the whole child, spiritual, mental, physical, psychological, over any particular academic curriculum. Both stress the importance of the natural environment, absence of plastic, keeping in touch with nature and natural materials. Both systems base their education on the needs of the child, believing that this will lead to meeting the needs of society as a whole. Incidentally, both Montessori and Waldorf schools were shut down by the Nazi regime during W.W.II because they refused to teach the ideology of the state. Both schools provide a rich variety of art, music, dance, and theater at all ages.

Montessori Works! (At Home): SIGHT

easy activities....

Play with optics…bending, changing or reflecting light

 

1. Prism- an old fashioned entertainment (& educational) piece

Keep a prism on a low shelf, in a box.

Show your child how to handle it carefully (3 & up)

Show your child how to take it to a sunny area.

Check out all the rainbows, explain the light is going into the prism, and breaking the light into lots of colors called a rainbow.

Keep the prism available or hang it in the window.

 

2. Mirror-

Reflect light off a mirror onto the wall.

Talk about how light bounces off a mirror and lands along the wall. Move the light all around.

 

3. Magnifying glass-

Collect 10 little items in a box.

Bring out magnifier.

Explain that a magnifying glass bends light & makes things look bigger.

 

loosely adapted from Basic Montessori:Learning Activities for Under Fives by David Gettman

ok, so anyone following the hubby-travel-with-kids-story...I know it's late but I just got the call...this is worth reading!

me-"hey, are you in san fran?"

hubby- "yeah, did you get all my texts?"

me- "no" (I was listening to Led Zeppelin while cleaning, don't ask, I always do...)

"oh yeah, N(20mos) threw up for over an hour"

me- "what??????"

him- "yes. I tried to get him to barf in the bag but he got mad...then he barfed everywhere...I tried to get  that all cleaned up...it was on the seat. I tried to get him to the back bathroom (we were on a huge plane center row, right in the middle)but he barfed all over me. I had the flight attendants helping and then a pediatric assitant was on board to help. TR won't stop going to the bathroom (I'm in there right now) and needless to say Noah is not wearing a shirt"

me- "NO WAY, That sucks. I am sorry...NO WAY. NO....OOOH....hey, can you stop and get a souvenir shirt, N can't arrive to see your mother without a shirt! She'll think I am an idiot for not packing an extra outfit."

him- "it doesn't matter"

m- "yes it does....how are you holding out?"

h- "Surprisingly fine. "

me- "did  N (20mos) eat something that made him sick?"

h-" I think it was all the candy, skittles, snacks, and then we went to chilis - mac n' cheese- that looked great...!"

m- "whoa"

h- "I have to go, I'm in the bathroom with trevor (3). I'll call you later. bye...

bye...

AND THE WORST PART: their luggage landed in San Jose! no clean clothes from san fran to san jose...and so, the lesson: NEVER FORGET TO PACK AN EXTRA OUTFIT...or feed your kid too much while traveling

ok, about the pre- happy hour wine thing...I can say that becuse my in-laws own a winery & vineyard so I am naturally categorizing by the splash on my palate...look how pretty that rose is....makes your mouth water, doesn't it??? :)

http://www.flemingjenkins.com/

I am wicked domestic and that milkman, he's pretty cool...(that's a wig & notice my housewife pearls)

 

 

Ok, so single-handedly the saddest thing about leaving Colorado to come to VT was the fact there is no Montessori community in the area. It leaves me emptier than leaving the city, the weather, the burritos (lol), the people- even my own friends...most of them, anyway.

To VT's defense, I understand there are a handful of schools- one in brattleboro & one in Jericho (which is beautiful...but too far!) and a couple in between. Still, that's not doing my sons any good!  Likewise, it is not doing the entire Burlington VT area any good. I know there was a woman in SB who closed shop the week we moved here :(....  but that's a different story....anyway...

 

(BACKGROUND: If you are unfamiliar with Montessori, it's a style of teaching that promotes independence, peace, solid basic skills, practical life skills, and a thousand other things. The curriculum was developed by an amazing scholar, anthropologist, and doctor, Dr. Maria Montessori during the first decade of the 20th C.  To sum it up, it is a designed environment that teaches  rather than a teacher doing all the teaching. The materials are presented on shelves, there is always something to "work" on, and the children work peacefully and contently, particularly for the first three hours of the morning. They use wooden, natural, sensory-pleasing materials and the curriculum covers phonics to math units through geography....all presented in a HANDS on, child pleasing way. Her methods have taken both a lot of criticism and acclaim. Her methods are now being found to coordinate with contemporary research based learning. They refer to everything they do as "work" and they are taught to take great care with their "work" (which is why I say Montessorri "Works!" as a silly pun har har... )anyway, I am biased but I loved it for my oldest son. He attended Montessori from 2.5 yrs all the way through first grade (in a free charter school).

 

In Colorado (and other states...CA- you'll know what I am talking about) there were Montessori schools everywhere. It may have been because there are two training centers in CO, still, they were all over- everywhere from plazas to parkways, public magnets to charter schools.  Infant rooms through middle school- I just miss the entire lifestyle.  Here in VT, I think the Waldorf community is similar to what I miss in my Montessori community. People love their Waldorf here, which is fine, I just don't know why, if Waldorf can thrive SO well, why Montessori isn't here...

I miss the eclectic Montessori moms & dads who chose to drive their kids everyday to the school they loved. I miss the poised teachers who taught them SO MUCH, I miss the materials, I miss the peacefulness of going into my son's school. I miss the dove cooing in the corner of the old farmshouse planted in the middle of the city...But most of all, I miss seeing my son happy at school. He LOVED working at Montessori school. We moved a year ago- he cried until December and asked to go back to his old school to "work" in his old classroom.  The first day he left the Montessori classroom for public school, my heart broke when he walked in looked literally stressed, turned to me and said, "mom, there is no work here, what I am I going to do?" I just knew right then that he'd struggle.  And he did. And he cried and he ripped up papers and he felt stupid because he had never worked on paper, only in units and with representations of concepts and all that...we both miss his old school....I can't believe I still feel this sad, even with 11 months gone by.

Montessori Works! (At Home):

Today’s Topic: SOUND!

 

Ticking Table…redeeming myself here

Need: wooden table, ticking watch (or some other soft sound making device)

Explain how sound goes through the air.

Let child listen to the ticker, move further away until ticking isn’t heard anymore

Explain how sound travels through other materials

Place watch on the table, let child listen

 

Talking Tube

Need: long 10-15’ tube f/ hardware or recycle store

Speak quietly and explain that sound can travel through a small space

Play around, go around corners, speak softly, loudly, or with a friend

 

 

Tin-Can Telephone

Need: 2 empty soup cans, 10-15’ kite string

Cover edges; poke a tiny hole in the bottom of

Tie knots to keep the string in nice & tight

Cover ears completely when listening

Cover mouth completely when speaking

 

 

loosely adapted from Basic Montessori:Learning Activities for Under Fives by David Gettman

Mom, Just Poop in your Pants

 

My 3yr old son is repeating (and singing no less) over & over- mom, just poop in your pants. I need more coffee.

 

Tessa...that's my vote.  Any gamblers out there?

ok, hello, did she really hang herself at the end???? I did not see that coming! next season is going to be crazy. Lynette w/cancer, Bri hiding her daughter's baby & then playing it off as hers! what!?, susan & mike (finally), and the love birds...carlos & gabbie back together. hmmm, I don't think Edie is dead...is it possible?

Need cheap ideas? I have done these for my kids as well as kids I have cared for in my home. Have fun...

games- even incomplete sets can be fun, so get creative. look for games that have cool pieces for sorting, counting, playing, taping, collaging- whatever...

 

example:Trevor loves Jumanji so I let him decorate a game box and go all over the house setting it up and while listening to Jumanji on tape. That 50cent game bought us 2 morning's worth of entertainment.

matching- You can use almost anything to make matching games. You can find bingo games, boardgames, cards, image cards, books, items, etc.

 

Examples: Match silverware pieces, lids, cups, trinkets, toys, etc. Always lay out one set first and just ask your child to make matches.  In the photo, Trevor is using an old kid's bingo game as a shape match game. I gave him the basket of shapes, he worked hard to fill up the whole square sheet. At first, he would only do about half but eventually, he finished it. It's great with a friend.

 

Also, buy books with cool images, photocopy  them and tape one set to a plastic , metal or  wooden tray.  Give your child the  opportunity to make matches with the images. Or lay one set out along the floor and make matches that way. Laminating or using clear packing tape will help keep grubby finger marks or tears at bay.

puzzles- look around, there have been many quality puzzles shoved back there. example:I have 3 Melissa & Doug puzzles f/there.

 

wooden toys- there are often lots of old fashioned, classic wooden toys that can be used creatively. I forget but I remember finding something...:)

 

sorting- you can find serving strays that have different sections. You can also use ice trays, candy trays, funky serving bowls, tins, canisters,etc. Find random items to sort into the different tray sections.

 

 

example: I used a chip/dip tray to sort colored game chips. I put all the colors in the middle and then we sorted all the reds to one section, blues to another, etc. You can find a TON of sorting activities from the thrift store.

 

Dishes- You can find funky cups, mini pitchers, sorting trays, serving trays to put activities on, etc. You can find odd shaped dishes to make clay molds or imprints, long dishes for colored pencil/crayon holders, etc. Kids can also polish silver trays...

example: 1-3 year olds love pouring. For my kids, I have found little cups and mini pitchers for pouring water, milk, even maple syrup on weekend mornings.

 

Books- There are SO many kids books. Also, buy cool old information books, magazines, encyclopedias for cutting & collaging.

 

Storage-  the best thing is you can find cheap bins, baskets, trays, canisters, buckets, etc.

 

example: I use clear old ice buckets to put blocks in and display them on the shelf. I also use cheap old baskets for different "works" or activities that I rotate often.

 

Adventure- a trip to recycle north is an adventure (of one kind or another) for parents and kids. I'd just make sure it's not near lunch hour or nap hour- they get so squirrely, you know?!

 

Have a good day!

Here's why honesty can work out...people sometimes can't see what you see so if you really think you can help with a friend's parenting issue (tackle by issue NOT by style, is what I found works)...here's my recent experience:

 

I have been having trouble with my 8 year old- we had a crazy year and he's emotionally reflecting the chaos.   We moved from Colorado and life is very different. He was in a montessori preschool and eventually montessori public charter school.  He performed awesome at school and he loved the structure that it provided. Well, coming here to public school (because there is NO montessori community :(- )  he fell apart. He went from multi-aged mega-hands-on-high level to single age traditional (he's moved classrooms though, which has helped).  His life funtioned well and he was responsible and very independent. I let him be that way- it worked. But not here, and he has been a mess...

 

Anyway, my neighbor has a solid, strong, no-BS but loving parenting style. With all these behavior issues popping up (with my son) I asked her for advice... She told me that with all his emotional meltdown, I wasn't drawing a clear enough boundary in certain areas that made him feel safe. I thought I was,  but she pointed out how she handles this stuff and I actually listened (where I might usually get defensive). I knew I needed an objective perspective. She gave me some criticism but in a helpful way.  I appreciated it- even though I felt a little stupid. I took it though, knowing she's not perfect either but in this area, she had it dialed...

 

Her honesty has helped me shift some of my behaviors- and I'd say I am pretty well in-tune with that stuff. I have a master's in ed. psychology (student learning & behavior) and I STILL needed honest outside perspective to see a more cut and dry way to handle my son! Thankfully, her advise has truly helped and I am seeing change and we all feel a bit better.

Bottom line: if you see an issue and a friend in need, don't hold back, if you really think you can help!

Vermont? Pools? Why?

 

I have a funky split level ranch that looks like a burnt-up-barn...it's nice on the inside, it's on a double lot, it backs to woods...blahblah, all in all it's a nice family style house in a good hood...I'm NOT complaining BUTthere it is...my16x32 ft nightmare.  We had to immediately put a katch-a-kid on it...it has a scary (but fun) old school slide (can we say liability?) and I don't know what to do. It takes up a lot of yard and it TOTALLY nerves me out. I am so distracted with three kids (and mind you, there are 20, I counted) boys under the age of 8 within 4 blocks of my house! I know they'll be in & out of the yard...on & on. So, of course everyone says "keep it" because they want to come play (what's better than a pool? a neighbor with a pool). I'm just SO not into it that I want to take it out.

 

Ok, so enough, you get the point...Has anyone ever known anyone to put a deck over an inground pool?

 

I want to do it right now because the liner ripped and we either have to drop cash on a liner, then all the chemicals to get it going, then hardly use it & be stressed about it...or we take it out and that's a huge project. My idea is to deck over it. Anyone know anyone who builds decks or would want to give me an estimate? I'd love contacts....and I welcome ideas...thanks!

 

 

 

NOT MY KID...FYI but if you need a safety device...it works. my yellowlab fell on it...idiot:)

I decided to tackle a light subject: American Idol (the cheesiest!)

 

I jumped out of my cushy kid bean bag last night when Melinda got knocked from the finals…I am all Jordin Sparks & I think she’s going to win.

 

Blake, though, in some weird way, is kind of cool; I could see why he’s turning into a pop-idol-bro…. I thought they were all tools at the beginning but now, after 11 weeks, I feel that I have a personal relationship or aversion to each and every one. So, anyone want to make bets?

 

I might be the only one on this thread…despite my intense love for educational and interactive experiences…I’m hooked on cheese, American cheese.

If you are like me...non food items end-up in the fridge, toys end up in the dishwasher, stuff is always in a crazy location.... 

 

I space out so much while on "auto-clean" - Last week it was a lincoln log  roof piece in the fridge, yesterday it was the counter top cleaner,  recently it's been cereal boxes and  ice cream...I found the cheese in the plate cabinet this morning...what else?? ...I know there are more...they'll come to me later.

 

 

My husband always asks me if I looked in the fridge yet...whenever I can't find things...please share your "I put that where? " stories...

My babysitter told me that she was barfed on from head to toe yesterday (my neighbor's kid, not mine got her good) and then she was shortchanged...She's now (jokingly) implementing a $25/ barf on me fee....I think it's a good idea. If you get nailed by vomit, you deserve a bonus. (baby spit-up excluded, projectile only).

Here's what I came up with (she just might like my suggestion):

• Barf-on-me-fee....$25
• Fetch a floater...$30
• Booger smear on cute, designer clothing...$5
• Butt-wiping (on the potty) for over 2's...$10/per turd (how do you spell turd?)
• Crying fits 30minutes or more...$5/each 30 min
• Oops, I took off my diaper and crapped on the floor fee...$20
• Piss-puddle fee...$15/per puddle
• You totally lied about when you were coming home fee...$10/per extra 30 minutes
• Another episode of__________ fee...$2/per rewatch of the same friggin thing
• No good food fee...$5
• Can't figure out the remote fee..$3
• 5 false put-to-beds...$5/ per re-tuck into bed (after 5)
• Dog doo-doo...$20 NOT part of the job
• Making dinner for kids who are picky fee...$3
• No clean PJ's fee...$5/per kid
• Bounced check fee...$30
• Friday, Saturday night booking fee...$10 extra
• Last minute, desperation fee...$10

There are more...feel free to add!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kids Bored?

If you have a kids cash register, you can play. If you don't you can use a cash box or even a shoe box all dialed out (paint buttons, $ signs, whatever)...

 

You can use kid money or make your own...also you can use old checks, wallets and debit cards, if you want.

Take the coffee table, set up a check out counter with the register at one end. Set up a store w/ old boxes, cans, fruit, items, junk, whatever you want. Use aprons, make signs, use kid shopping cart and a scale if you have one. Turn the dining room or somewhere into a full on store. I also set up kids chairs in rows of two so they have a "car" to go drive away in. 

 

This will give them an afternoon's worth of entertainment- it's worth the prep time setting it up all creatively. Honestly, though, it's more fun with a friend or sibling- unless you want to end up playing baggar (snooze)! However, gathering all the stuffed animals to ride in the car and "shop" can work to your advantage.

 

With 3 boys...I can't say I haven't had a moment like this...it's literally my favorite and my kids even go into stewie mode when they know I am tuning them out -- it's a family joke...I love it

http://www.metacafe.com/fplayer/241591/family_guy___annoying_stewie.swf"

A Laundry List Housewifery Secrets...pun intended

 

®     I shove laundry in closets & cabinets to make my laundry room look clean

®     I take my kids on lovely nature walks with booze in a sippy cup

®     I have used kids cups at restaurants to bring my margarita home with me (it’s recycling, right?) FYI- only if my husband is driving, don’t worry

®     I hate cooking and I never pack lunches…I have to go into deficit on my kid’s lunch account before I will volunteer for that job

®     I drink red bull (red bull vodka works too) to motivate myself to power clean

®     I sing the (Neil Young tune) oh to live on, sugar mountain…but my lyrics as I walk down the hall to bed… “Oh to sleep on laundry mountain…”

®     I call “laundry party!” and trick my husband into folding laundry with me before bed (it has to be a big pile to hit “laundry party!” mode) while I immediately go all ADD and pretend to do something else important…he ends up doing it all and I say…”oh thanks for finishing all that…” hee hee

®     I rarely wash my children…unless they are sticky, fuzzy, muddy, or stinky…which they are often enough to, ironically, keep their hygiene in check

®     I forge my husbands name on minor transactions

®     I tivo the dumbest shows and watch them…bachelor, idol, what not to wear, real world, etc.

®     I’ve actually suggested a show topic on both Oprah & Dr Phil’s website

®     My son thinks stewie from the family guy is a riot (he’s 3) and he quotes him often

®     My son also thinks the Titanic is called the Thumbtanic (if you haven’t seen Thumbtanic, you should…it’s talking thumbs spoofing the Titanic movie)

®     I have forgotten about toothfairy visits (more than once!) and have had to come up with major-mega-elaborate-distraction-episodes (my husband totally helps here) to get cash under there quick…

®     I purposefully forget to wash boxers for my husband when he’s bugging me…he has to run all over looking for clean boxers while I sip my morning coffee…I bet it just drives him nuts

RAINY DAY CLAY PLAY

 

Rainy day rescue…

 

FLOUR CLAY

4c flour

1.5 c salt

2c water

 

Add water slowly, knead 10 minutes or so…keep in an airtight container

 

CORNSTARCH CLAY – softer, smoother clay

2c baking soda

1c cornstarch

1 & 1/4 c cold water

 

PAPER MACHE PASTE

2c wheat flour- (my bad)

2½ c water

 

Make a paper mache snake:

®     Roll newspaper into a long tube

®     Shape it/stick it with masking tape

®     Rip strips of paper, dip in paste

®     Cover snake

®     Let dry 2 days

®     Sand, paint, glue stuff to it….

 

Other ideas:

®     Pull out the play dough, get squishy

®     Use sculpting clay, it’s therapeutic

®     Make fimo-clay figures (w/older ones) to make as gifts/treasures for others (my son got a mini cake made from fimo clay…with candles f/ a friend…it was so cute)

®     Use Potter’s clay for: coil pots or pinch pots…

 

HAMMER TIME

This is fun & easy & it gives you another use for clay…

®     Fill a relatively deep (maybe a loaf pan) with playdough

®     Grab a handful of golf tees

®     Grab a mallet or small hammer or toy hammer

®     Have your child pound the golf tees into the clay

Ok, so it's not really "healthy" but it's a free-radical fighting margarita....what a better way to fight disease and get your buzz on. All you need are the following natural ingredients:

mid-to-top-shelf silver tequila (1 or 2 shots, I prefer 2)
1 orange, YOU NEED THE RIND! (see orange sugar recipe below)
1 lime
POM brand pomegranate juice (you can use your favorite, but *beware* pomegranate blended with other juices)
white sugar, for the rim

....anyway, you must follow these directions FIRST:

take the orange, or the lime for that matter, grate it (very finely) and mix into a small amount of sugar (quarter cup-ish?).
rim your favorite (small here) margarita glass in the fancy sugar

THEN

fill glass with ice (or your cocktail shaker, if you like it hard core)

1) fill just over 1/3 tequila (I eyeball but you can measure 1-2 oz)

2) add just under 1/3 fresh squeezed orange AND lime juices (sweeter or tarter depending)

3) top approx 1/3 with pomegranate juice

4) splash it with triple sec if you want

5) stir & garnish with lime OR customize to your tastebuds

trust me, it's yummy....and if I can do it, you can do it :) PLUS, for extra fun crank the tunes...

 

INTERESTING INFO ABOUT THE POM:

The myth of Persephone, the dark goddess of the Underworld, also prominently features the pomegranate. In one version of Greek mythology, Persephone was kidnapped by Hades and taken off to live in the underworld as his wife. Her mother, Demeter (goddess of the Harvest), went into mourning for her lost daughter and thus all green things ceased to grow. Zeus, the highest ranking of the Greek gods, could not leave the Earth to die, so he commanded Hades to return Persephone. It was the rule of the Fates that anyone who consumed food or drink in the Underworld was doomed to spend eternity there. Persephone had no food, but Hades tricked her into eating four pomegranate seeds while she was still his prisoner and so, because of this, she was condemned to spend four months in the Underworld every year. During these four months, when Persephone is sitting on the throne of the Underworld next to her husband Hades, her mother Demeter mourns and no longer gives fertility to the earth. This became an ancient Greek explanation for the seasons. (taken f/wikipedia)

I am currently writing for an educational website.

I am covering literally all and any topics that relate to India's people, states and territories, leaders, general stats and religion.

 

I am not an expert on India BY ANY MEANS but my topics are given to me, I research and then I re-write the content in a creative style that appeals to US middle & high school students. Having said that, I am interested in hearing if any of you have any personal history, stories or profound experiences that relate to India. Also, if you have or know anyone who has visited a specific location that stands out in your memory, I would love to hear from you. I can't compensate for your stories but I'll be generalizing and elaborating everything for creative effect and the info will be used in an educational context.

 

I am technically researching India and I'd love anything that snapshots the experience of India.  Also welcomed- any "insider" customs that are unique to a region, religion- stuff we wouldn't know over here in the US but are interesting (for example, sari-wearing styles by region or custom, etc.).

For the mothers who love & live & lose...for anyone carrying the heart of another:

 

i carry your heart with me
by e. e. cummings

i carry your heart with me (i carry it in
my heart) i am never without it (anywhere
i go you go, my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing, my darling)
i fear
no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet) i want
no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows
higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart)

oohh, aahh...I was moving furniture into the early hours...shelves sliding, dresser drawers banging, me yelling at my husband...yes.

 

We  were moving all the crap out my son's bedroom to make room for the "nanny!"  Since moving furniture is so fun during the day, we decided to wait until the very last minute to move beds, dressers, shelves, coffee table- everything. We gutted my son's room (he's got a space on the lower level of our hot vermont raised ranch) and made room for our college student's dorm gear.  We are giving her his room and the ajoining "family room" as some shared but mostly-hers space.

 

Anyway, we moved his stuff upstairs, into an extra "office" room. During our crazy night, we whacked every wall and hit every low ceiling up and around the stairs, we dropped heavy things, we flipped furniture up & down to squeeze it through doors, and on & on... I am surprised we didn't wake anyone...We moved a mega dresser down, a mini dresser up & boxed up a gazzilion toys. We sorted through the "shake" and reorganized...so fun until 1:00 am...and I even watched a bit of John Stewart to distract me enough until I nodded off.  Then, we got up in a mad aggrevated dash session of bikes, helmets, strollers, homework...so that we could walk my son to school and check out his 8-9am classroom presentation. I still haven't had coffee (but I did manage a shower, so that's pretty good) and I am marginally disfuntional...but I can't even go to starbucks anymore because it's way too stressful with kids...so, home brew it is.

 

Any other last minute -moving stuff -chaotic tales? anyone?

now, I remember the other boys being rowdy but the noah thing is off the charts. he is part caveman or something. he should be banging a club in one hand and dragging a woman by the hair in the other...he's crazy. he waddles around the house in a brut force that is paralleled by a russian soldier or beefy football player.... and I know it's typical to see babies making messes etc. but this kid is above and beyond. he breathes heavily as he charges through the house, destroying everything in his path. he stands on tables, opens the silverware drawer and chucks the spoonsknivesforks one by one by one, literally growling in his glory while the clanking sounds are music to his ears. as I sit here, he's unloading the miscellaneous kitchen items onto the floor- chopsticks, can opener, wisk, there they go! he drags a stool everywhere or a chair or a box to get up into places he shouldn't. he smashes the dishes in the dishwasher, flips trevor's mattress off his bed, slams, pours, dumps, spits, drags, whatever-- he does it all! He's 3 lbs short of trevor but trev is 2 years older! he eats all day. I catch him with his stool up to the counter, a spoon in hand, eating sugar from the sugar bowl. this morning, he tried coffee from the coffee can! I think that was a disappointment because he quickly tried to put the lid back on. he opens oatmeal packets and pours them on the floor, he feeds bags of snacks and chips to the dog. he stirs toilet water. he licks plates and bowls. he opens cans and bottles and empties baskets and takes trash from the can. he pushes adult chairs around the house and kid tables down the hallway. he opens puzzle boxes, one at a time, dumping all pieces of all puzzles into a pile on the floor. that's one of my least favorites! and I should go- it's quiet and I am nervous...

 

 

Yoga Time!

I literally just did this with 4 kids (18mos- 3) this morning... it is actually very fun and the kids get into it.

 

Materials

®      Yoga music-I use Planet Yoga f/(amazon.com) or iTunes, or wherever

®      Towel, placemat, yoga mat, any type of mat (I used cloth placemats f/thrift store)

®      The book, My Daddy is a Pretzel by Baron Bapiste (amazon.com) or library J

®      Other sensory items/activities: aromatherapy spray (I did lavender), incense, bells, OM, etc.

 

Sit in a circle, have each child sit on a mat

Play music, read book and do poses!

 

You could do this anyway you want- even without the book- play some relaxing meditative music do any poses you already know. The book, though, is visually appealing and creative. It covers these poses, with bright, simple and happy illustrations:

 

Tree

Airplane

Fish

Plow

Dog

Bridge

Lion

Triangle

Pretzel (seated spinal twist)

 

OTHER EASY OR FUN POSES

 (you can easily find them online, if you aren’t familiar with them)

 

Child’s Pose

Cat

Cow

Happy Baby

Dead bug

Boat

Wheel

Dead Man (“sleeping man”)

Mountain

Warrior

Cobra

Plank

Hero

Pigeon

Bow Pulling

Lotus

Lizard/Runner’s Pose

and more!

 

Go slow and be careful when twisting or balancing…but definitely have fun!

Anyone else on the Desperate Housewives wagon? I feel for Lynette because her kid-crazy deal most resembles mine…although I feel a bit like Susan- all undone and spaced out…anyway, the wine & dine time  with an Italian stallion…hmmm….can’t say I don’t blame her. I feel for her hubby though because he’s so sincere and they are a great fictitious duo. Anyway, I always watch it and I felt both bummed and relieved when he (Ricky) left.

 

Ok, now I really sound like an old school housewife, tracking soap operas and whatnot…any takers on this intensely philosophical thread? I kind of wanted to cry when she was losing the idea of the identity her little noodle dates were giving her. And, btw, my relationship is solid with my hubby so I am not about to jump the pool guy or anything…lol.

 

One Year Old Activities!

 

Got a wiggly-one-year-old? Here are a few easy things you can whip up for social, cognitive, sensory, and imaginative entertainment…

 

HAPPY HAT BOX-  Take a box or basket and put 5 or 6 different hats inside. If your child is interested, he or she will take them out and try them on. You can play this together. Leave the box around for a few days for future fun.

 

CHIP DROP- Take a coffee can with a plastic lid and slice slot in the top. Use poker chips and allow your baby to drop them in one at a time. My son did this over & over. It’s great for the pincer grasp and concentration.

 

OLD FASHIONED DANCE PARTY- Go for it!

 

RECYCLE STACKERS-  Collect tissue boxes, egg crates, oatmeal containers, and any other stackable, sturdy boxes that you find. Encourage you child to build a tall stacking tower. Then, build a bridge and move objects under the box bridge. Keep all the boxes in a big basket off to the side, to come back to later. After a week or so, rotate another activity in!

 

POURING: DRY FOOD- Take two small tea cups with handles. This will give more weight and a pleasing texture to the activity. Plus you can model how to hold breakable material. Fill one with a small amount of dry material like cheerios. Show your baby how to pour from one to the other. Watch as he or she concentrates on pouring back and forth…until snacking takes over! Remember to remove any breakable material right away.

 

WARM / COLD- Expose your one year old to a bowl of warm water and a bowl of icy cold water. Be sure to say Warm and Cold over & over as you explore the water.

 

SPOONING WATER OR CEREAL- On a tray or towel, put out 2 dishes: 1 dish containing a small amount of water or cereal next to 1 empty dish. Demonstrate scooping from one container to the other. Let your baby try it out.

 

DRINKING FROM A CUP-   Put a small amount of water in a small cup. Show your baby how to be drink from a lidless cup. Let her spill and dribble. Eventually lead up to milk or juice.

 

FILLING A CUP- Take a tiny pitcher and put  an ounce of water in it. Demonstrate pouring from the pitcher to a small cup. Allow your baby to try. Pouring from cup to cup or pitcher to cup is an INSTANT activity all the through age 2! I use this A LOT!

 

 

Ideas adapted from the North American Montessori Center Birth-3 Lesson Program.

MOMBOD: Is that my reflection in that mirror? No…

a satirical commentary on being a mom...with a mom-bod lol

 

I don’t know about you but after 3 kids, this is a really annoying time of year for my own self worth. I know what you might say (I hear it all the time) that yes, self worth cannot be topped by the sheer experience of being a mother to three beautiful boys. But that’s not what I really want to hear because motherhood can still look like a frumpy, lumpy lard-ass in a swimsuit. All my cute skinny friends (mostly without kids but you skinny ones with kids know who you are!! luckies) start getting in shape so they can look good in bathing suits and here I am- not too far from pre-pregnancy weight but way far from pre-pregnancy bod.

 

It’s like my love handles have love handles. The redistribution of how-shall-we-say…FAT and the sneaky deflations and resettling of boobs and thighs and hips and saddlebags and butt (sorry dads for this lovely imagery) just ruins my motivation. I know that going to the gym will make me stronger or yoga will make me leaner…but I also KNOW (trust me 150 lbs total come & gone with 3 kids) that the spots I hate won’t budge…they’ve been reconfigured into permanent fixtures: pouches and puffy chunks and stripes and scars- all reminders that youth is gone and middle age is on its way. Don’t worry, I have nothing against middle age (except I don’t want to go there) so I am not dissing that issue (yet)- just the lumpiness of my physique!

 

I may sound shallow or vain or whatever-which I guess I’m not really…but it’s always the skinny or kid-less friends that say something like, those marks are representative of your beautiful children. PAH-LEEZE…their faces, laughter, hugs, and refrigerator art remind me plenty of how much I love my kids! Or like every time I hear you look great for having three kids I cringe…it’s literally enough to make me take a box of bonbons to the couch while I watch Oprah, burn dinner and pick out a new minivan model from the catalog while I’m plopped there…multitasking my way to an even better MOMBOD.

 

note: This is in jest...it was based off conversations I've had with many moms...I'm not crazy :)

hi...I have TWO part time nannies living at my house starting this week (one starts July1st, actually). They are UVM students and they are great! They are looking for work & have cars. I am letting them live here for some part time childcare BUT they will have plenty of extra time and are actively seeking fun families to work PT & on-call schedules/nights/weekends/etc. Comment me if interested & I'll get you in touch with the ladies...thanks! They really are great and my boys LOVE them both.

Need 20 Minutes? These are cool activities for 3 & up…

 

RICE IS NICE

Grab one or two LARGE rice bags next time you are at the grocery store. Get a deep pan or long box (I use a storage box), dump the rice into the tray, give your kiddos scoopers, shovels, spoons, etc. It’ll get you through a shower. Just watch for flying rice…a newspaper underneath may help with mess. Then, give your three your old the vacuum hose when it’s time to clean up.  Store the rice in a large Ziploc & use it again another day!

 

SINK TIME

Fill the sink with water & bubbles. Put aprons on the kiddos & let them use kitchen utensils, a clean sponge, bottles, cups, etc. Make sure the area isn’t slippery and any stools are stable. Put a large beach towel on the floor to catch splashes. This activity will give you enough time to deal with email.

 

 

DECK SPLASH -PLAY

If you have a deck or back patio, fill a long storage box w/water. Let them play in it & get some fresh air. Little boats, cups, scoopers, ladles, etc. are fun to play with in the water. Supervise closely but relax with a chair and a magazine OR splash around with your little one.

 

 

CLEAN THAT TABLE!

Give your child a spray water bottle and a towel. Ask him or her to help you clean the tables and finished furniture. They love this…add a squeegee and they’ll do windows too. Have them wipe left to right, to practice the left to right brain training needed for reading. They’ll never know you’re teaching them a skill. Train them karate kid style. Wax on, wax off! Now go ahead, actually put on make-up or pour another cup of coffee…you’ve got at least 20 minutes here.

 

 

SORT SOCKS

Got a wicked basket of socks to sort? Have your 3 year old help. Big socks, little socks, colored socks, and single socks can easily go into sorted piles. If you have a sock troll at your house like me, though, this may be pointless…I don’t really sort socks anymore. I just grab whatever and go with it. This activity you can do together but it’ll save you 20 minutes later when you’d rather be on the computer…not sorting socks!

Dang, I just wrote a really awesome commentary on the random blended experiences of meatloaf, single friends, and Lynette Schavo. I hit post & all my stuff evaporated in a "content error" ...sorry people. Now I have to serve up the grub...I'll be back!

 

 

 

SWEET FLOWER DESIGNS

                                  Uplifting Handmade Jewelry                      

By Wendy Faulkner

 

&

 

PUN INTENDED

Zany Cards

By Sue Adamson

 

 

SPRING ART PARTY!  

Super gifts for Mothers’ Day, or fun treats for yourself

Snacks and drinks too

Tues. May 8, 7-9pm at Wendy’s house

16 Deborah Dr., South Burlington

 

 

Directions:  South on Shelburne Rd. turn left on Imperial Dr. (between Uno’s and Great Northern Stereo), at stop turn left on Green Dolphin Dr., 1^st right to Scottsdale (pass Sue’s house), 1^st left to Deborah Dr.  House is 2^nd on left, purple doors, corner of Deborah and Andrews. 

Several quick turns, you can do it!  Call Wendy for back up at 859-3452.

 

Note to all of Wendy’s loyal Farmers’ Market friends:  The birth of boy number two, Simon, boy number one, Jacob, and of course Ben, have helped me make the bittersweet decision not to sell my jewelry at Market this year.  You can continue to find me at sweetflowerdesigns.com, Tootsies,

Art Parties around town, and my studio by appointment.

 

 

Let me know if you’d like to host an Art Party, there are some

Sweet Flower Designs goods in it for you!

 

Happy Spring & hope to see you soon!  -Wendy

wendy@sweetflowerdesigns.com

859-3452

Ok, so our preschoolers know their ABCs.  Now what?  Here's 5 solid activities to boost letter/sound recognition....

 

It's cute when we hear them sing or exciting when they recognize a letter off a street sign...but there are some other ways we can really boost prereading skills.  Identifying letters and hearing letter sounds are equally vital to learning to read.

Some preschools teach letter names then sounds. Some teach letters with sounds.  Montessori preschools teach children sounds before they even learn the letter names.  Bottom line: knowing sounds with symbols is crucial later when building words and learning phonics. We all remember phonics (blah) but it is proven that "phonemic awareness" aids reading and comprehension later down the road. But enough boring phonics talk! Here are some activities for both recognizing sounds and letters.

 

1. SALT TRAY: (this one is awesome & easy, seriously)

Take a shallow wooden tray, dish, or cardboard box. Pour salt in it until the bottom is covered. Use your index finger to draw letters in the salt. Ask your preschooler which letter or sound? Then ask her to write letters and say their sounds.  The experience of drawing in the salt helps the brain learn letters through touch as well as sight  and also helps prepare her for writing! Plus, they have fun and the mess is minimal. The salt tray is theraputic for a restless or squirrely child- even an elementary student. Another way to use this is to take a stack of alphabet flash cards, draw a card from the pile and then write it on the salt surface. It's also a great art activity because swirling and drawing in the salt is relaxing. Once your child is engaged, step back. You might even get a 20 minute break once they are into it!

 

2. LETTER SOUND COLLAGE: (Prepare for this in advance, it's just easier - you'll spend more time on sound concepts than cutting skills- that's a different activity! )

Cut out a handfull of pictures / images that start with the same letter  sound (start with what your child knows well). At first, make sure not to mix hard and soft sounds (glue vs. giraffe) so your child can feel confident in the activity.

 

Use magazines, internet pics, stickers, items, small objects, whatever. Put all the pictures /items in a basket with a glue stick.  Then take a piece of construction paper, posterboard, whatever.  Write the letter (small and/or capital) on the paper.  Give her the glue stick and with each picture/item, stress the beginning sound. Have her glue the pictures on until the basket is empty or she loses interest. You can leave the activity off to the side for later. 

Variations of this include:

• Adding other sounds into the basket
• Focusing on end sounds
• Focusing on blended sounds ("sh" or "th" etc).

 

3. SANDPAPER LETTERS (labor intensive upfront but cool afterward)

Use fine sandpaper (or grip tape) and cut stenciled letters from the textured material. Glue the letters (start with lower case) on cardstock . Have your child run his fingers over the letter over & over, while making the letter sounds. Touching the textured letters aids in memory and recall!

 

4. SOUND BOOK

Similar to the collage. Choose a letter. Choose pictures. Have your child put one on each page.  Tape or fasten the pages and your child has a book!

 

5. SOUND SCAVENGER HUNT

Get a basket or box. Go around the house looking for items that start with the same letter sound. Collect them and place them in the basket/box. Keep the box around and go back to it until your child has the sound dialed. Do it with another sound some other day!

 

6. TASTY SOUND FEAST

Find foods, fruits, drinks, snacks that start with the same sound.  Serve a letter specific lunch or dinner! For example, host a "Pizza, pineapple, potato, pudding with pink lemonade" meal for fun- get everyone into it. The fun part is letting them choose wacky or random foods. Maybe they'll even eat the meal!

So, there's a few...

 

Credibility Check: Dustbunny is a Certified English Teacher from the Universtiy of Colorado. She has a Bachelor's in English and a Master's in Educational Psychology: Human Growth and Learning. She also holds an online birth-three Montessori certificate and has extensive literacy training for remedial learners, and watches a couple part time under threes at her  house.  She is interested in Montessori and other research-aligned instruction.....plus she likes keeping kids busy!

 

 

 

 

 

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070503/ap_on_bi_ge/wal_mart_baby_bibs

About 2 months ago, I read a series of articles that disclosed that toxic amounts of lead  had been found in thousands of children's lunch boxes.  I mean up to 90 times the level that children should be exposed to! I literally sent my son to school for 2.5 years with his favorite motocross motif soft zipper-style lunch box.  I guarantee that cheap-old-made-in-China thing was one of them...now, my son, well, he's fine (relatively) and I'm sure so many others are but it's just insanity that we find these things out... like, why the @&$% would we put a chemical like that in lunch boxes...well, yesterday, the Wal-mart (wallyworld, as we call it) recall of BABY BIBS lined with lead just made me feel like we really need to know what's in everything! That's just nuts!

 

 

 

 

5 Super Smart & Simple Infant Activities (6-9mos)

 

Ok, your baby can sit up now. He engages with the world around him. She wants to hold and grasp things. Here are some ideas that will both entertain and teach your little one. It’s helpful to avoid talking too much or distracting baby while exploring.

 

1.      Sensory Basket- Put away the plastic stuff! Find a wicker or woven basket, wooden box, or shallow cardboard container. Put a few items of various weights, textures, sizes in the box. Items like a dry washcloth, spoon, soft toy, clean sponge, ball, yarn, shiny or scratchy materials, etc. Watch as he grasps and explores all the items. Even the basket is an interesting! Everything will obviously go into the mouth but these new and exciting things will engage your baby’s senses.

 

When finished, remove any breakable or choking hazards (sponge, yarn, etc.) put the other items back in the basket and leave it on a low shelf for baby to reach for or find on his own.

 

2.      Pull That Ribbon- Tie a string/ribbon to an object (stuffed animal, truck, anything). Demonstrate pulling the string and making the object move toward you. Then place the string in front of baby and ask her to try. This teaches cause and effect, hand-eye coordination and taking turns. Again, keep on a low shelf so she can do the activity again.

3.      Pots and Lids- Give baby a pot and a lid. Demonstrate how the lid lifts and sits. Then, watch as he copies and puts the lid on and off. Eventually introduce other easy on and off lids (oatmeal container, food containers, eventually twist on tops and cookie tin tops). Designate a low drawer in the kitchen for baby. He will go back to it over and over throughout the next few months looking for fun.

4.      Pull the Scarf- Place a scarf between you and your baby. Let her grab one end, you grab the other. Play a little tug of war. This social activity will engage her interest. Exaggerate leaning forward when she pulls. Of course, she may just want to explore the scarf’s texture…that’s fun too!

5.      Pick It Up and Drop It!- Babies this age can generally pick up but not drop in. Place two baskets or boxes in front of your baby. Put a ball in one of the boxes. Pick it up and drop it in the other. Then, ask baby to do it too. You’ll probably have to pick it up from one box but your baby will enjoy dropping it into the other. Eventually, he’ll pick up and drop! This is a grasping drill and a coordination game.

 

Activities are adapted from the North American Montessori Center’s Infant & Toddler program. I am certified birth through three through this program.

New mommy blogger on the scene...hi all! I won't bore you with my stats but you should know that I have 3 boys, my house is a mess, I can't even hear myself think half the time, and like many moms, I drink too much coffee (and spritzers, margs...blahblahbla)....As for the username, well, dustbunnies do exist...and sock stealing trolls.