Something New for 2010!

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Please come visit me at my new blog, My Year in Haiku! Thanks.

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So, I've been blogging here for almost a whole year. A heartfelt thank you to those of you who read this blog periodically or sporadically...your presence has made blogging fun and meaningful. I have savored and appreciated every comment made here. I've formed several nice friendships with women I've never even met through blogging. I just think I've run out of things to say for now. I may start up again sometime... but for now I'm done.

Thus, I've decided to try something new - a haiku blog. I doubt I'll post a haiku every day but as many as I can. One of the main reasons I began blogging last January was to have something for ME and to get back to my writing. I've done that somewhat this past year but I think this new haiku thing might be just the ticket for me right now.

I'd love it if you'd check it out if you like haiku (or even if you don't). Come on, join me... won't you? Best wishes to all for a healthy, peaceful, inspiring, and contented 2010. Just click below:
My Year in Haiku

Holidaze

I'm with 'ya, Snowy! This is just how I feel after the holidays! Just kidding. This year was remarkably stress free and enjoyable. Tried to make a lot of hand made stuff and participated in a few swaps. Also, attempted to get it all ready early - those last minute trips to stores make me anxious - all the people, witnessing the greediness, experiencing a few grumpy folks - it can disappoint me at Christmas time. Wanted to feel only the happy cheer of the season.

Here are few of our holiday highlights:

...riding a REAL horse for the first time...

...riding a horse and actually holding the reigns correctly...

...wild ride on new Radio Flyer rocking horse - thanks Santa...

(perhaps showing promise as a future rodeo rider with that hand in the air?)

...girl with coonskin cap - classic...

...she named her new fish Wonder...

...Perfect gloaming sky...

Looking forward to a peaceful, healthy, adventurous, and contented 2010. Wishing you the same.

I'm dreaming of a .... wrapping paper-free Christmas

Since it is doubtful I will get a white Christmas, I'm dreaming of a wrapping paper-free Christmas. This year I committed to not buying a single roll of wrapping paper or any tissue paper, bows, or ribbons. I did buy tape, however. We wrapped in cardboard cereal/rice/cracker boxes, which can be recycled after opening. The girls went to the dentist earlier this month and their toothbrushes and floss were in a little plastic snowman bag - we saved these and used them as wrapping bags. I made some tote bags that I used for wrapping that can be kept to carry groceries or library books later. Really, anything that seemed usable we saved - decorated envelopes, old drawings, shipping boxes, handwriting practice sheets, even some finished math problem worksheets (the grandparents will love that as wrapping paper, I think). We used bits and scraps of ribbon, fabric, and yarn to create bows and ties.

Sure, under the tree everything looks a little less fancy but we must have saved some resources and I like how eclectic it looks. And I love that every time we finish a box of cereal or a box of crackers one of the girls says "hey, we can use that to wrap presents!" And it IS possible to make a pretty cool bow out of fabric scraps saved throughout the year. See?

We liked the idea so much, we are committed to never buying wrapping paper or bows again. I will continue to save my fabric scraps in a little box by my sewing machine and the girls are already saving cardboard boxes. I'm trying to build up a little supply of tote bags to wrap birthday gifts. If this months Climate Conference in Copenhagen has taught me anything, it is that every little bit helps. This will be one of our little bits - join us, won't you?

Learn Something Friday :: Things that are annoying me this week

Sex Sells.....Raisins??????

First, please click HERE to see the new SunMaid girl (turn your computer volume down first if you don't want to be accosted by Miley Cyrus). I was afraid to post the photo here due to copyright infringement. But trust me, you should see this photo.

Have you seen the new SunMaid Raisin Girl? In my opinion, she is a sexed up doll with a bonnet and maybe a little cosmetic surgery. The Weekly Standard says it is "as if Julia Roberts decided to don a red bonnet and start picking grapes". Ad Rant rants "the New Sun Maid Raisin Girl's raisins are growing" and she looks "like a Barbie doll in Amish attire".

She has been "updated" since she first appeared on SunMaid raisin boxes in 1916, according to SunMaid. You can see her evolution on the SunMaid web page. The version you probably know dates to 1970. Her most recent incarnation is the most drastic by far. What, may I dare to ask, was wrong with the old SunMaid girl? Must everything in our society be updated to be thinner, more perfect, sexier? The new SunMaid girl could just as easily be sexually taunting Bacchus with her bunch of grapes as trying to sell raisins. The wholesome 1970s SunMaid girl will be missed by this 1970s born girl - very much.

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Can you believe this story? A 4 year old pre-K boy in Texas is suspended for having long hair! First of all, his hair isn't really that long. Second of all, what a silly rule. Do we all have to look alike? Even at 4 years old? I guess you can't start teaching conformity too young (please see the sarcasm in this sentence). You can see this cute little fellow, see a video and read his story HERE.

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Ok, not a typical Learn Something Friday post. But, hey, I have visions of sugar plums dancing in my head. And both of these stories really annoy me enough to share.

Art with Children

Anyone who says you can't see a thought simply doesn't know art. ~Wynetka Ann Reynolds

No great artist ever sees things as they really are. If he did, he would cease to be an artist. ~Oscar Wilde

Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up. ~Pablo Picasso

My children love art projects and crafts. What child doesn't, I guess. We do a lot of non-structured painting, drawing, coloring, molding, etc. But I like to do some more formal lessons too. One resource I have found that we really like is the Oxford First Book of Art. It has two pages that discuss a topic (e.g., imagined creatures, faces, animals) and for each two page spread there is an activity. We have enjoyed every activity and the girls sit riveted listening to me read the text - just waiting to see what they get to draw, create, or sculpt.

Today's theme was imagined creatures. We read about and saw the following: House Post Figure from the Maori, New Zealand; part of a robe detailing a Dragon and Flaming Pearl from Ch'Ing Dynasty, China; and The Unicorn in Captivity, c 1500, a Franco-Flemish unicorn tapestry.
The activity suggested for this theme involved drawing an imaginary creature of your own. Inspired by this lesson, today E created Laughing Dragon, Fish Queen, and Duck Bear. Aren't they awesome?

What good art resources have you found to teach your kids? Please feel free to share any books or links to your blog showing art projects you've done with your children.

Meatless Monday :: Bean Soup

If you are looking for the Kenzoil giveaway click HERE.


It's Meatless Monday again! Of course the meat industry is totally against this, calling Meatless Monday "indoctrination" - check out this link. On the plus side, the Baltimore, MD city schools have joined in Meatless Monday. The American Meat Institute is urging the school to reconsider.

Here is a breakdown of today's Meatless Monday at our house:


Breakfast: Cereal with cow milk or rice milk; eggs

Lunch: Cheese sandwich or peanut butter and jelly sandwich on whole grain bread with sweet potato and a piece of fruit

Snacks: Carrots, oranges, bananas, pretzels

Dinner: Bean Soup with bread or a grilled cheese sandwich (we don't usually eat two cheese sandwiches in one day but, hey..., you know how some days are!)


Recipe for Bean Soup (Serves 6):

1 Tbs olive oil
1 diced zucchini or squash
1/2 of a red bell pepper, diced
1 bunch of green onions, sliced
1 box of vegetable broth or make your own (need about 32 oz). I use Kitchen Basics Vegetable broth because it tastes good and I like their allergy statement.
1 can of organic beans with juice (black, pinto, navy)
1 can of organic corn with juice
1 cup of your favorite salsa (our favorite right now is Arriba)
optional toppings: sour cream, cheese, guacamole, crunched up tortilla chips


Heat oil in a soup pot. Add zuke, bell pepper, and green onions. Cook until soft (about 8 minutes). Add everything else. Simmer for about 10 minutes and serve. Can top with cheese, sour cream, crunched up tortilla chips or a dollop of guacamole.

KENZOIL :: Review and Giveaway

I was recently contacted by Kenzoil and asked to review their product. They sent me a 5 oz. bottle to try. I was pleased to review this product, especially since it is an allergen free product.

What is it? It is an olive oil based dip, marinade, and dressing that can be used in many ways. It is vegan, raw, dairy free, gluten free and nut free! Kenzoil is also free of the following allergens: eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, fish, shellfish, wheat, milk, corn, potato, rice and yeast. It does not contain sugar either. In addition, they have their own facility and nothing but Kenzoil is made there - so none of those pesky cross contamination issues for those of us that must take that into consideration.


So, how did it taste? First, my daughters and I tried it as a dip with bread. I loved it. It had a nice basil taste with a hint of spice, which I guess is the garlic. My 4 year old dipped her bread in it and enjoyed it but the 6 year old did not like it as much. This isn't surprising, as she has never eaten any olive oil based bread dips I've made. The girls described it as "a little oily, a little spicy, and it tastes like someone threw a bunch of herbs in there." Why, yes indeed.


Next, my husband and I had it over pasta. I enjoyed it this way too. But I enjoyed it so much as a dip I kind of didn't want to waste it on my pasta! I think the flavor is so delicious - it is the perfect compliment to a crusty french bread. I think it would make a nice bruschetta - french bread, Kenzoil, tomato, maybe a little mozzarella. Perhaps I'll try that next. I like the convenience factor. I often mince garlic and add herbs to olive oil but it is nice to have a staple like this that you can pull out quickly - just open and use. Would I buy it again? Yes! I'll be waiting for it to make its way down South into the Whole Foods near me.


How/Where can I purchase Kenzoil? Kenzoil is primarily available in Michigan and you can click here to see a list of stores that carry it. It is also available at Whole Foods in Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Missouri and Nebraska. If you live elsewhere and want to try it, you can order online here.


How can I win a bottle of Kenzoil? The nice folks at Kenzoil have offered to send one of my readers a bottle of Kenzoil. To enter, just leave a comment here and tell me how you'd use it (dip, marinade, etc.). I would encourage you to check out their website. It tells a great story of a man with a great sauce and how he turned it into a business! This giveaway will stay open until Friday December 18th at which point I will pick a comment at random and notify the winner. Giveaway open to US and Canada residents.

Thanks for reading about Kenzoil, my first review.

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And the winner is Elaine, who said:
"I'd definitely use it as a marinade...YUM!!!"
Congrats Elaine and thanks to everyone for reading the review and entering the giveaway. Hope you'll give Kenzoil a try. My bottle is almost empty....

Pyromania!

What's a husband to do when he's supposed to cut and set up a Christmas tree and clean the garage? Well, start a nice fire in the backyard of course. Those pesky branches (and last year's Christmas tree) must be burned! My husband and the girls enjoyed a two day long small bonfire in the backyard last weekend. They loved it and stayed out by it all day - tending, stoking, prodding, dancing, pondering, and playing. They doused it Saturday night and started it back up Sunday morning. It was a fun way to get rid of the brush that had accumulated in the backyard - it is so much more tidy now. And we could not in good conscious send wood to the municipal dump.

My parents build a fire (in their fireplace!) most every day if the temperature goes below about 60 degrees. So, in trying to craft as many gifts as possible this year, we decided to make fire starters. I saw them here. So, we have been saving toilet paper tubes and all the dryer lint. We stuff the lint in the tubes and wrap them up with old drawings, this weeks handwriting lessons (the grandparents will love that), packing paper, and newspaper junk mail. We tied them up with 100% cotton fabric scraps and scrap string. By Christmas we hope to fill a whole brown paper grocery bag full for the grandparents. A great use for dryer lint, I think.

The Wellness Tree :: Women Uplifting Women

Nicole, also known as Garden Mama, met a woman named Kelly through blogging. Kelly has Stage 4 breast cancer and her story really touched Nicole (as it touched me and as it will touch you when you read about it). Nicole started The Wellness Tree to uplift and support Kelly during her struggle. Nicole and I have gotten to "know" each other via our blogs and though we've never met in person, I consider her a friend. She contacted me a couple of weeks ago and asked me to make an ornament as part of the Wellness Tree project and after reading about Kelly and her situation, I was honored to participate. You will be inspired by Kelly's story and by Nicole's enthusiasm and dedication to support and nourish Kelly's spirit during her struggle. The Wellness Tree is a true story of women uplifting and bringing together women.

Please check it out and if you are crafty you might want to make an ornament too. There is a link to participate on The Wellness Tree blog.

Giveaway Day! Strawberries in Winter...

Sew Mama Sew is hosting a giveaway day. Today they will post a master list of bloggers and web sites that are giving away something. After you enter my giveaway, pop over there and see what else you might want to try to win. The giveaways listed must be either handmade or something that can be used for making handmade gifts (fabric, ribbon, etc.).

My Giveaway

Something for the kids: I just made wool felt strawberries for a stocking stuffer swap. They were fun and easy to make following this tutorial. My giveaway is for 5 of these wool felt strawberries. They have made a wonderful addition to the play kitchen at our house. They would make a great stocking stuffer.

Something for Mama: My dear friend Ginger just gave me more fabric swatches. Several are just the right size for a nice tote bag. So, Mama can win the tote bag pictured below. It has a bluish side and a whitish side and is made out of decorator weight fabric.

To enter: Please leave a comment (don't forget to leave your email address if its not available on your profile). While you are here, I'd love you to take a moment and wander around my blog or at least bookmark it and come check it out later. I will pick a winner at random on Sunday December 6th. Thanks for stopping by.

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First, I'd like to say thanks to everyone who entered and visited. Come back anytime!

And the winner picked at random is #46-----

LISA who said:

"What fun prizes - my daughter would have a fab time with the strawberries :) Thanks for the chance to win! By the way, your mantis encounter looked very cool - we had one once, but my daughter was too little to understand what it was. Hopefully we'll see another one someday :)"