Don’t forget – today is the last day to enter The Hall Girls~Bows, Tutus and Everything Girlie giveaway!! The contest closes at 5pm today!!
Tag: moms
Garlic Shots
Two weeks. We are closing in on two weeks of sickness around here. As soon as one of us starts feeling better, another is feeling worse. And then we switch.
A family friend told me about a Mexican homeopathic remedy that was sure to ward off whatever illness I have an also keep me healthy. As I was scribbling down the recipe, I started feeling a little queasy at the thought of ingesting the concoction. But I’m into natural remedies and I would like to get rid of my Rudolph nose, so I was in.
I gathered all of the ingredients and then began mixing: 2 cloves of garlic finely crushed. Juice of 1 lemon. Honey. A little hot water. And I added some crushed ginger because it too is a great immunity booster, and if you’re going to drink something disgusting, it might as well be really sick. I stirred all the ingredients together in a high ball glass because it made it feel a little more fancy.
Then the moment had come. I couldn’t mix any more so it was time to drink. I picked up the glass and chugged that beast like it was Thursday at Dirtbags and the glass was filled to the rim with a Sicilian Whore.
And really? It was not the worse thing I had ever had. It sort of tasted like a sauce you would use on chicken – a little spicy and sweet. So if you see a recipe here soon with those ingredients, you’ll know where the idea came from.
As for the immunity properties, I’m undecided. I think it might do better if you were trying to stay healthy rather than get healthy. So Bay and I opted for a trip around the medical complex (our doctor’s are right next door to each other) and got loaded up with antibiotics. We’ll save the lemon garlic honey mix for the chicken.
It’s All in the Jeans
Somewhere between gaining baby weight, maternity jeans and post pregnancy jeans, my favorite pre pregnancy jeans have become woefully out of style. I wore them for the Scottsdale Moms Blog photo shoot and when I saw the proofs, I was sad to see that my old stand by pair were now a little too baggy. What were once the perfect cut, look almost like the oh-so-hip carpenter jeans I was so fond of in 8th grade.
In my defense, it’s not for lack of trying. Somewhere in my denim transitional phase over the last 3 years, JCrew had changed the cut of their jeans. I bought several pairs (I have to order online because apparently no one with an inseam over 32 inches shops in the stores) and each one was either just a little too tight or just a little too big. And for $130, I’m not paying to have the damn things altered. Plus altered jeans never come out right anyway. So I ventured out to other styles and other brands. And nothing. Nada. Nothing was quite right. It was the right fit, but the wrong wash. Right wash and wrong fit. Wrong wash and wrong fit. ARG.
In addition to finding a new go to pair, I also needed (read wanted) a pair that I could wear tucked into boots – meaning jeans that would STAY tucked into boots after many rounds of stand up, sit down, pick up kiddo, squat down and pick up dropped toy, etc. Which is a struggle all in itself. Oh, and in case anyone hasn’t noticed, I’m not 16 and wearing anything too skinny or low cut or faded just makes me look sad in a I’m-too-old-to-wear-this-but-I-think-I-can-so-I-did kind of way.
I went to an unlikely source for some new dries, Victoria’s Secret. I ordered the Siren and the Pencil fit in several sizes since you never really know what will fit. But if you use Retail Me Not and find a few coupons, the shipping is free so it makes it a little more cost efficient.
I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised! The Siren jeans are jeggings – they are a little too tight to wear by themselves, but they are great with boots. They stay tucked in and wear the entire day. I have to say, I even caught a nap in them this weekend…which made me think of Pajama Jeans. The Pencil cut are very cute, but they do stretch a little after a whole day. But for $60ish bucks, I don’t mind having them taken in a little – I’ll even take my chances of them coming out right..
Also, I like to think that these fit so well because I’m built like a Victoria’s Secret model. True or not, it’s a happy day dream.
**And don’t forget to enter The Hall Girls~Bows, Tutus and Everything Girlie giveaway!!! The winner will be chosen tomorrow at 5pm!
The Hall Girls~Bows, Tutus and Everything Girlie – GIVEAWAY!!
I am very fortunate that I have some crazy talented friends. I’m so excited to post about Ashley and Amber, the creators of The Hall Girls~ Bows, Tutus and Everything Girlie! Together they make bows, tutus (duh), headbands, wands, etc. They have a huge selection to choose from and make custom items too (think holidays, sports teams, college themes and perfectly matched to any of your kiddo’s outfits!). And they are very generous to offer a giveaway to The Goon Room readers! But first, a preview.
I won the BTEG “Favorite Halloween Costume” contest and recieved this adorable Halloween wand for Ms.B. I think our last name played a roll in winning…we taught Bay to say “boop!” and tap your head with the wand. She’s smitten.
I also ordered a UofA themed bow. I told Ashley to just do what she does best and I was so excited when I recieved this:
If this isn’t enough to convince you her stuff is amazing, check out her youngest, Ellison in her headband and tutu:
So here’s the best part: Ashley and Amber are giving away two Thanksgiving themed bows!! All you have to do is check out The Hall Girls~Bows, Tutu’s and Everything Girlie’s etsy shop and then comment on this post what your favorite item is. Bonus points if you visit and like their Facebook page. The winner will be chosen by Random.org on Thursday 11/10/11 at 5pm MST (or whatever timezone Arizona is now).
Look how cute! Who new turkeys could be so adorable?
Step by step:
1. Go to the etsy shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/thehallgirls
2. Check out all the fun things Ashley and Amber have to offer.
3. Also take a peek at their Facebook page and “like” it: http://www.facebook.com/AllTiedUpBowsAndTutus
4. Make a comment on this blog post about your favorite item.
5. Win! One winner will be chosen at random on 11/10/11 at 5pm MST.
6. The winner will be announced on Friday 11/11/11 on The Goon Room.
That’s it! Go! Browse! Comment! Win!
Commitment (breaking) Phob
I was supposed to run the 5k portion of the Women’s Half Marathon this past Sunday. Read “supposed to”. I contracted Baylor’s croup sometime Thursday and by Saturday night, I was feeling miserable. Coughing, sore throat and just a general feeling of crap. I was set that I had to run on Sunday morning and would just battle through it. I had made a commitment to run and damn it, I’m tough.
Around 10pm Saturday and after a major coughing fit, PW sweetly looked at me and said “please don’t get mad. But I really think you should skip the run tomorrow”. And damn it if he’s not right that I would have gotten mad if he hadn’t said it. At first I refused. But after I thought about another week of feeling crummy, I decided he was right. I had to skip it. I sadly texted Stephanie (who finished 13 out of like 2000 runners!!!) that I was out for the run and for our breakfast plans after.
I woke up Sunday around 7:15 and felt…human. I didn’t feel horrible. PW and Bay ventured out to Bosa Doughnuts and we sat on the couch, watched CBS Sunday morning, ate fresh doughnuts and bacon, drank coffee and turned on the fireplace for the first time this season. I’m not sure if it was the uninterrupted family time, the doughnuts or the sleep that made me feel so much better.
It got me thinking that I get too uptight about keeping commitments. Yes, it’s important to follow through. To go to the events that you’ve RSVP’d for, to complete the race, to finish the project. But sometimes it equally if not more important to cancel and stay in. To say no to the world and yes to snuggling your family on the couch.
Croupy Kiddo
We’ve been hit with the croup. B came home early from preschool with a fever and then woke up from her nap barking like a puppy – but not in a fun way.
So I reluctantly took her to the doctor. I say reluctantly because she’s still at the super fun “we don’t give medicine other than Tylenol” age so there’s not always a point to handing over the $20 copay. But they do check her oxygen levels so it’s worth it when she’s got a cough. We’re lucky that she is very healthy and had clear lungs, just the inflammation in her trachea. We did walk out with a prescription, which felt like a small victory.
She’s on the mend and the cough has drastically improved. But the lack of sleep all the way around in our house is starting to take its toll. We broke down and let her sleep in bed with us last night – and now I remember why we don’t do that. She’s like sleeping with a badger. Even though she is totally asleep, she kicks, flails, throws punches, headbutts, rolls – God help her when she’s not in a crib any more, we’ll have to make her sleep in a sleeping bag on the floor to prevent injuries from falling out of bed.
I’m praying that we will all sleep well tonight and wake up ready for a busy and fun weekend. Fingers crossed!
Oh! And it’s Scottsdale Moms Blog day. Check out my snazzy bar stool makeover. It would be the perfect chilly weekend project. http://www.scottsdalemomsblog.com/
Grass Between Your Toes
Due to the extremely hot Arizona summers and a slight to severe allergy to Bermuda grass, I don’t spend much time in the green stuff. But this time of year is a different story. The winter Rye grass seeds are all coming up and after two cuttings, our back yard looks like it has been redone with a lush, shag green carpet. But in a good way.
See what I mean?
Bay and I have spent many afternoons laying in the grass, looking at the sky or down into the ground. Kicking a ball or rolling around. Taking pictures and chasing each other. Just enjoying the simplicity of such a lovely thing.
(and yes, I know my Yellow Bells need trimming)
Fresh cut today…if only you could smell how good it smells!
How Fast They Grow
I was struck by a picture I took of Baylor this weekend. I occurred to me just how fast she has grown. Here’s what I mean:
March 20, 2010 October 22, 2011
Same kid. Same bench. From cruising to climbing. Several inches and a lot more hair in just a year in a half!
Happy (belated) Halloween!
Yeah I know this is a day behind, but trying to create Halloween too far in advance is just too much work!
We had a great weekend filled with lots of pumpkin carving – or drilling in Peter’s case (don’t ask because I can’t explain). We had a blast scooping out the guts, trying to interpret what Baylor wanted hers to look like and watching Peter create a master piece using pipe cleaners. Here’s how they turned out:
{Baylor’s classic “pumpin”}
{Peter’s. Enough said}
{And the pièce de résistance – Cannibal Pumpkin!}
This is the first year that Bay really got the whole enchilada. She likes to dress up and she totally got the hang of trick-or-treating once she realized there were M&M’s involved. We were also lucky to inherit a hand me down Minnie Mouse costume from Bay’s cousin Madi. It was the real deal too; dress, ears, gloves, ring, tights and shoes. She was in love. Minnie is one of the only characters she really knows so she was excited to look like one of her favorite “amimals” or stuffed animals.
The gloves didn’t last long and the tights were too hot, but the important parts were there! Including a Minnie bracelet from our super cute neighbor.
First stop of the night
Aunt Christiane (Titi) and cousin Zoe the Gnome
Enjoying all the candy she could eat!
Butternut Squash Ravioli
Ok, so I’m into butternut squash right now. It’s just so easy. And tasty and I can buy it at the farmers market and it’s almost impossible to get a bad squash…in other words, I heart butternut squash.
I came up with this recipe after seeing a magazine cover and almost drooling on myself while waiting to check out at the grocery store. I make a rule not to buy stuff like that at the grocery because I think it’s over priced (but then I never buy it at all so really, I save a lot this way). So I took a mental picture and decided to try it out. And the results? Delicious!
And yes, CO, this does count as a recipe because you have to roast the squash.
Ingredients:
1 butternut squash (duh)
1 box of pre-made cheese ravioli (like Bertoli and they are usually in a cold case near the deli)
Fresh spinach
Olive oil
Butter
Salt and pepper
Directions:
Preheat oven to 400.
Slice the squash long ways making two halves. Scoop out the seeds and drizzle with olive oil, salt and pepper. Put the squash, insides facing up, on a foil lined try into the oven. Roast for about 40 minutes. Really, it’s hard to let it go too long and it’s better than not enough time. It should be fork tender when ready.
Cook ravioli according to the instructions. When done, place in a tablespoon of butter in a sauce pan and add ravioli to saute. Add in spoonfuls of the cooked squash and stir gently. Add in the basil leaves (diced) and let all the flavors blend together (about 3 minutes). Plate and serve!
The beauty of this dish is that the final product looks way fancier than it has any right to given the amount of effort that goes into the dish. This would be great for a dinner party, especially when there are vegetarian guests.
The Goon Room 