Milkshakes and Margaritas — a blog for the modern mom

“Say hello to my little friend!”

Like many families, we've made some cuts in our spending this year. One of those cuts was to let go of our gym memberships. I was sad to do this, but I felt guilty paying the monthly fee when I wasn't going that often, and when I live in a city where it can be a workout just going out for milk. I want to lose a few pounds, so I consoled myself with... “I'll just use the city for exercise. I'll go for hilly walks at night. I'll go jogging in the morning.”  And I meant it. But the truth of the matter is that we're 8+ weeks into summer, and the booty is getting bigger, not smaller. I just can't bring myself to get up early enough to jog before the kids are up; and San Fran is COLD at night and I'm a wimp! 

So the other day I decided to try working out while I am with the kids. I don't mean making the kids watch while I make a fool of myself jumping around to a Billy Blanks tape. I've tried that and I still get embarrassed when Dillon shows people how mommy “exercises”. What I mean is working out while my kids are having fun. So as we were on our way out to the park, I grabbed my yoga mat, and away we went. While the boys played on the equipment together, I was able to get in about 30 good minutes of sun salutations and sit ups and keep a watchful eye. I felt a little weird at first, but I got over it quickly. And at the end I felt great. 

 

I know fitting in exercise is tough for many of us, and it is so easy to just skip it with the lure of extra sleep, or cuddling up and watching a movie. So why not yoga play dates? Or exercising while the kids play at the park or in the backyard? Do a few jumping jacks, maybe they will join in. Try a playground workout I found on Kaboose. Or if you prefer yoga — sun salutations are a great toning and stretch combination. Here are a few links to get you started:

Photo step by step sun salutation how to on about.com.

Sun salutation how to on youtube.

Benefits of sun salutations

Don't Bite The Hand That Feeds You, Baby!

I know it is easier for babies to say D than to say M, and I've read that they put together random syllables at first, but it still grates on me every time I hear little Catcher say "Da-da." It is "Da-da, Da-da, Da-da," all day long.

I keep telling him, "Nooo, Mama. Mama. Mama is the one who nurses you every three hours and gets up at 4 a.m. to pump, the one who spends hours on end baking and steaming and pureeing your food, the one who reads to you, the one who changes 99 percent of your diapers, the one who gets up to turn you over when you get stuck on your belly in the middle of the night..." Well, you get the picture. I just wish Catcher would!

It's "Mama," baby!

When we first talked about having kids, my husband Terry said he would get involved when they could play soccer. He quickly that learned they actually need a little attention before then. So he's stepped up in the past few years in many ways and he has evolved into a good dad. But most of the time, he's the fun one. He goofs around with them. He takes Cash to ice cream before dinner. He throws out the bedtime story ritual and lets Cash stay up to watch his shows (which I found out because Cash asked me, "Are you going out tonight so I can watch the Daily Show?") until the kid falls asleep on the couch. When I ask him whether Cash has eaten lunch, he says, "He ate a ton of turkey," which translates to Terry tossing him a few slices of deli meat. All of which of course makes me the bad guy when I enforce bedtime, make Cash eat his broccoli before dessert and police the television viewing.

If Catcher says "Da-da" now when he can't even enjoy those wonders with dad, what is he going to say when he can partake?!

If You Read This Book, You Are In For A Wild Ride

In our house, the concept of cause and effect is well established. If you sit with your butt in your seat and eat your entire dinner, you can have dessert; if you put on your pajamas for bed, I'll read you a story; if you put your foot under the stroller one more time while I'm pushing the baby, I'm going to slap you (just kidding on that last one although that's what I feel like doing sometimes!) So the "If You Give Series..." that is best known for "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" has always been a big hit in our house, and we were happy to see a new book, "If You Give a Cat a Cupcake," recently from author Laura Numeroff.

The latest book takes readers on another exciting roller coaster of events that start with what seems like a benign and generous move. A little girl offers an adorable little cat a cupcake.

"If you give a cat a cupcake, he'll ask for some sprinkles to go with it." And thus begins a wild ride that takes the little girl from sprinkles, to the beach (sprinkles make him think of sand, of course) to build a sand castle. From there, they end up collecting seashells. Then its off to the gym to workout and then rock climbing. Everything they do makes him think of something new that he just has to do that moment. When he climbs to the top of a pile of rocks, "He'll see the lake. He'll want you to take him rowing..." That eventually leads him to the science museum...And when they are finally back at the house, he empties the sand from his shoes, which of course reminds him of sprinkles and he wants another cupcake.

The fast pace and bright illustrations are engaging and make the book more than just a fun read. They make it an adventure.

Crack Those Books, Kids!

I have never stressed out about my son Cash's academic progress so I've never done any drills with him or looked specifically for books to prepare him for school. (I'm too busy worrying about his behavior -- see my Super Nanny posting. I mean how many kindergartners get sent to the principal's office?! And the teacher's son too. Sigh). But when Cedar Valley Publishing sent Milkshakes and Margaritas a copy of the book "Let's Get Ready For First Grade," I thought it couldn't hurt to see what he thought of it.

The cover is a bit cheesy but I liked how the book uses characters, a teacher and her students, to draw in the audience. And I am partial to the teacher character, Ms. Best, because that was the name of my beloved second grade teacher.

Anyway, I gave the book to Cash one night and asked him to look it over so that I could write about his reactions on the blog. He's getting a little sick of being the focus of the blog but agreed.

The “You Time” Dilemma

My 3 year old, Dillon, has been really tough lately. I mean — he's really acting, well...3. And one of the joyous and sometimes tough part of 3 is that he is incredibly mommy focused. He wants to be with me all the time, and if he's not getting my attention, he usually does something under the category of "acting out" to get it. Usually my morning shower (when I get one), is a solid 10 minutes of peace and quiet before the kids get up. But Dillon has caught on and now rises early and sits on the toilet seat chatting away while I shower. It's really cute and sweet, but mommy does need those 10 minutes. So I had to laugh at myself the other day, when I realized how I was buying myself some personal time. 

I'll let you in on the fact that I have... well... a “bad tummy”. A bit of IBS to be straight. Ever since I was a kid. So most who love and live with me know to leave me alone when the bathroom door is closed and locked securely. A couple of nights ago I was doing some primping that was long over due. When it suddenly dawned on me that I had been in there for a while, and no one had come after me. So I... flushed! And thought,“OK. Good. I have a few more minutes.” Finished exterminating the caterpillar that was living across my forehead and joined the gang in the living room. My husband gave me a sympathetic nod and all was well. I don't think it is something I've done before, but who knows. 

Anyone else have a little secret of how they steal a little personal time? We'd love to hear it, and I promise we won't tell! 

photo credit: douglemoin via flickr under creative commons usage rights.

Preserving Your Child’s Art

Most children produce copious amounts of artwork. We have magnet strips that run accross the bedroom door to attach and display the most recent artwork and writing samples. But then what? So far I’ve been putting their work into paper portfolios and tucking them under a bed. I clean them out occasionally, but I still save so much. I occasionally get an urge to do “something” with it all before it gets out of control, but I’m never certain what that “something” is, and get overwhelmed just looking at the pile. 

On a recent search for a solution, I came across Artimus Art. A tempting alternative to the paper portfolios stuffed under the bed. With Artimus Art, you can preserve your child’s art in sweet little books as well as in an online gallery that can be shared. It seems to be a brilliant combination of Scan Cafe, My Publisher and Shutterfly (which my husband designed the book interface for). You send your art to them and each image is scanned, restored, re-sized, and reproduced on heavy glossy paper and turned into an 11 x 11 hard cover, case-bound, handmade book, all done by professional designers and bookbinders. This would also make a terrific gift for a birthday or other holiday. Ahem...Mom.

If you’re up for doing your scanning at home, you could make the books yourself using a service like My Publisher, or the book maker in iPhoto. 

For those few pieces that you want to save in their original form, I suggest finding a frame that is easy to change out, and revolve the artwork now and again. Target and Ikea both carry nice, affordable frames in various sizes. Or check garage sales and flea markets for something more ornate. If the matte doesn’t fit, cut a white mat board and float the artwork above instead of behind the mat. Another bonus... you can save the old art behind the new pieces, for as long as it will all fit. This also helps build confidence as your little ones see you displaying their work so prominently and professionally.

Lastly for something really special, you can have scanned and printed onto canvas. Artimus Art provides this service, or google “print on canvas” to find places like Canvas on Demand.

If you have a way of preserving your child’s art that works for you - please share it with us!

The Sweet Side of Allison Krongard, Founder of WallCandy Arts

When Allison Krongard started WallCandy Arts, she was making sales calls and shipping the product from her living room. After two years, that became "total insanity" and she outsourced the job.

In order to avoid insanity from taking over her home life as she juggles the demands of running a company that sells whimsical wall decals, she has now also outsourced many of the mundane but necessary tasks of running her household by having hired help seven days a week.

That gives this successful businesswoman time to spend with her children and filmmaker husband, and the flexibility to be a volunteer counselor at her son's camp when he is having trouble adjusting, or to do such things as make pinch pots with her kids.

 

Read on to find out how Allison managed to live her dream on an idea inspired by the empty walls of children's rooms and find out how you can win a little bit of WallCandy of your own.

July Give Away - WallCandy Arts Reusable Wall Stickers

Allison is offering our readers a chance to win a set of any WallCandy Arts product. Visit the WallCandy website and comment below — stating which item you would like to have. We'll pick 1 winner at random on August 22nd. Good luck! And don't forget to read the interview!

Duck! Rabbit! It Depends on Your Perspective

It is hard to find a book that will hold the attention of both my 8-month-old baby and my six-year-old first grader, but Duck! Rabbit! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld was a direct hit.

The book, which features a simple image that can look exactly like a duck or a rabbit depending on which way you look at it, captivated both of them -- for separate reasons. The baby, Catcher, liked the bold contrast between the image and the background and the cute drawing (OK, he appeared to like those things when he wasn't trying to eat the pages). And Cash was captivated by the optical illusion that has your mind doing a tennis volley between the two images. When you look at the image of the animal with the idea that it is a duck, you see a duck facing left. When you look at it with the idea that it is a rabbit, you see a rabbit facing right.

The book teaches about the value of different perspectives as two narrators argue whether the animal is a duck or a rabbit. According to publisher Chronicle Books, it was a 19th century psychological drawing "used to discuss issues of perception and reality (and the philosophy of Descartes)."It is a brain game where your eyes shift between clearly seeing the picture as each of the two animals as the argument is made.

A typical page goes like this:"See, there's his bill." "What are you talking about? Those are his ears, silly." 

In the end, each of the narrators comes around to the other's perspective. A good lesson in flexibility for children.

But look for a sequel to this book because at the end, the two narrators see another image and begin to argue about whether it is an anteater or a brachiosaurus.

You can see a video of the book being read aloud on You Tube

No Drooling Allowed Until the Work’s Done

I don't actually remember berry picking as a child but my parents have all these great photos of my brother and me picking blueberries in a maze of fields in New York. In the most memorable photos I am probably about three years old. I'm carrying a bucket but most of the blueberries had clearly made it into my mouth instead because much of my face is stained blue. Even with the memories manufactured by the photos, berry picking is something that I have always romanticized.

This past weekend, my husband and I took our kids berry picking at Phipps Country Store and Farm to create memories for them.

Cash, being a natural naysayer, complained the whole way down to Pescadero that he never gets to choose what we do. But I wasn't even out of the car with the baby yet when he was yelling to me to hurry up so he could show me around the cute little country store where they sold things like jam and vegetables, and the attached nursery. He discovered a guinea pig and quickly busied himself giving it water. When we got outside the store, there was a small farmyard with a huge variety of birds and a few goats, and some old farm equipment to climb on. Even my husband, who had been complaining to his friend at a bar the night before that he had to go berry picking, hopped onto one. 

Phipps has olallieberries, blackberries and strawberries available for picking in the summer. While the fruit that is available for picking varies around the country, you are likely to find a U-pick farm within a driveable distance from almost anywhere.

At Phipps, you get buckets and pay an entrance fee at the front of the store, $3 for anyone ages 5 to 59 and free for younger children and seniors. The berries are $3 a pound.

As we walked into the berry fields with our buckets, a few kids rode by on ponies on a trail around the farm.

Work it Baby!

I am definitely not someone who obsessively fits a workout into my day no matter what. I have a good friend who not only teaches a spinning class in the early morning a few times a week but uses her lunch hour almost every day to go to the gym. I don't even have a job and I don't do that. I am jealous of that kind of drive. But lacking any sort of real physical fortitude, I know that will never be me.

 

I was sick pretty much 24/7 during my pregnancy and couldn't choke down much more than yogurt and fruit at most meals, so I only gained about 20 pounds and I lost it within probably two weeks. But I soon started gaining weight at an alarming rate because literally the second I pushed that kid out, I was ravenous. I cannot stop eating. My favorite snack right now is a peanut butter, banana and honey sandwich.Sometimes I eat two a day. One night recently, I started entering my day's intake into the "Lose It!" app on my iPhone. I stopped after I got to lunch because I was already at almost twice my daily allowance of calories. Granted, I'm nursing so that makes me extra hungry and gives me a little leeway. But I figure that someday this piggish eating is going to catch up to me. And my husband is always harassing me to go to the gym -- not because he thinks I look like I need it but because he hates wasting the membership fee.

Without babysitting it isn't easy to get to the gym often. I can't see getting up at 5 a.m. to workout and I'm too tired after the kids are in bed. So my friend Naomi and I have come up with a great way to workout with our young ones in tow. We meet just before nap time at 9:15 a.m. at my house and walk the half a mile or so to the gym (with two good hills as a bonus) to get the babies (her son is 16 months and it still works!) to fall asleep in the strollers. Once we get them to sleep, we hit the 24 Hour Fitness "Fit Lite" gym and push the strollers around the circuit as we move from machine to machine. I imagine you might meet some resistance from employees of a regular gym because of safety issues but it works well in a casual setting. Look around your town to find smaller gyms. In my neighborhood, there are a few store-front gyms where I could likely get away with this. And now I can eat those peanut butter sandwiches without guilt!

Lunch Can Be Fun

Creating Private Spaces for Siblings

I have found that I am never able to finish decorating my boys room, because as they continue to grow — their needs change. 

Recently I realized that with their high energy, they really need more floor space. So I pulled out our cozy rocking chair and a few other items to give them more room to jump around. 

They’ve also begun to need some space away from each other — and since they share a room, that can be difficult. Sometimes we set one child in another room with toys, and that works fine. But there are occasions when they both need time away from each other, but don’t want to leave their bedroom. So I am finding ways to create private spaces within their room.  

My mom sent me a Teepee a couple of years ago that she bought at an arts and crafts show. The teepee came out occasionally, but recently it has become a permanent fixture in their room. I throw a couple of floor pillows in there and voila — an instant private space. They also cuddle up in there together sometimes — so cute! 

The best part is, when they want to run around or build a massive train track, it folds up easy and put I it to the side. (Really - you just pick it up and it collapses - easier than an umbrella!)

 

Clockwise from left to right. Children’s Play Tents (where ours is from), Just Ducky Tents, Indoor Outdoor Playouse by Table 5, House by Kids On Roof

Ikea, Take Me Away!

I wouldn't be surprised if Calgon saw a spike in sales during summer vacation. The old phrase from the commercial, “Calgon, take me away,” runs through my head often these days. Recently, the UPS man rang the doorbell just as the phone jingled (or whatever cell phones do these days) with an important call, my baby started crying and the oven timer went off. I'm not kidding. In the summer, I add my six-year-old son into that mix and I'm about ready to lose it.

So when my friend and co-conspirator Danielle mentioned Ikea's free childcare center, I came up with what we decided was a brilliant idea — dropping the kids off to play while we “tried out” couches and read.

We aren't cruel so we took the kids to lunch first, taking advantage of Ikea's $1.99 kid's meal that includes an entree such as mini meatballs or pasta, a vegetable and a drink. And we promised that we would take them to a nearby bookstore afterward to read some new books together.

 

We then hustled them down to the play room. The kids were actually really excited to be left there once they saw the barn play house, art supplies and healthy stock of Ikea stuffed animals and toys. And they didn't even look back at us once they found out there was a TV. Yes, I wish that wasn't there, but at that point, we couldn't be choosy.

With an hour and a half of freedom gaping before us, we were giddy. We walked around just browsing without purpose (which you really can't do with squirrely children) and then settled into a deep couch in the living room department. I started in on a New Yorker article about Al Franken joining the Senate and Danielle pulled out Michael Pollan's "In Defense of Food." Granted, we soon started chatting. It is so rare that we get to have a conversation without interruption that even that was relaxing.

 

After a while, we decided to walk around a bit more. I remembered that I needed curtains for our living room and wanted Danielle's opinion on some fabric. Danielle needed a few frames and we both got a cheap present for the kids. While we saw our trip as getting one over on Ikea, my husband said, "The scammers got scammed" because we ended up doing exactly what Ikea intended us to do — shop.

No matter, it still felt like a good bubble bath.

Tell us below how you sneak a few minutes for yourself.

Tips for Traveling with Kids

I’ve taken both of my boys back east quite a few times on my own — and those 5+ hour flights can definitely be a challenge. I recently had a friend with a 7 month old ask me for some tips for taking a long plane trip with their daughter, so I dug out a few tricks for them to try, and thought I’d share them with you.

Toys in a Baggie

I put a bunch of small toys my child liked, rattles, doll, keys etc into a ziplock baggie. He had as much fun rummaging through the bag and pulling different toys out, as he did with the toys. (great for around 6+ months)

Diaper Ready Pack

After getting doused while taking too long rummaging through a full diaper bag during a diaper change on the plane — I learned a quick lesson. Make your own single diaper change ready pack. Put a diaper, some wipes, and the little changing pad in a zip lock. That way you just grab that out for the diaper change. Even if you have the whole bag with you, you grab the baggie and have everything you need. Get back to your seat and refill it for the next change. I did the same thing with a change of clothes. (great for any age in diapers)

Create Your Own Snack Pack

I think all kids are suckers for packaging. Most flights sell those snack packs, but the contents are not very healthy. Really, they are just full of sugar and who knows what else. So last time we flew, I created my own Snack Pack. I grabbed a couple of the to go containers from the grocery store, and filled it with healthier goodies like: small apple (or banana), fruit leather, string cheese, & crackers. I put a little napkin on top and sealed it up. I decorated the outside with stickers and topped each with a label with their name on them. My kids were thrilled to have their own snack packs and didn’t even cry when I denied them the Southwest Sugar Pack this time. It felt like a winner. (great for any age)

Presents! Presents! Presents!

This is a trick a friend shared with me and it worked great. The last time I tried this, Liam and I had a 5 hour flight. So I wrapped up 5 small toys in tissue paper and packed them in his back pack. I picked up small, inexpensive items like: match box cars, coloring book, little note pad and pen, story book, mad libs, mini rubix cube... you get the idea. He didn’t find out about the gifts until we got onto the plane. When I told him that each hour he was allowed to open a new present — he almost burt with excitement. We’d check the clock and then we’d make a little event out of picking out each one. Then he’d play a while, and just about when Liam would start getting restless, it’d be time for a new present. (great for any age)

Our snack pack tip is featured on Ohdeedoh. Check it out.

Book Review - It’s Mine by Leo Lionni

It’s Mine by Leo Lionni is such a simple and smart little story of 3 little frogs who are arguing over the lilly pad. Suddenly there is trouble and they are hanging on a tiny space for dear life — bringing them together and teaching them to share, happily. Both of my kids picked up on the lesson in this story, and it sparked great conversations around sharing. 

Holland born, Leo Lionni’s classic illustrations are fantastic and beautiful. Check out some of his other books which are favorites in our house: Swimmy, Tico and the Golden Wings, and Little Blue and Little Yellow.

Book Lounge - a New Kind of Book Club

I’ve always wanted to join a book club but whenever the topic would come up, I’d find I would hear the same things from so many moms. 

“I stopped going because I didn’t like the books and I have so little time to read as it is.”

“I don’t have enough time to read the books by the time we meet.”

“My kids got sick — then I got sick, so it all fell apart.” 

 

With this all in mind, my friends and I have started a new kind of book club — the Ladies Book Lounge. About every 5-6 weeks we get together at a local bar for drinks, snacks and books. But instead of reading the same book, we all bring books we have read and we’d like to share. We talk about the book, what we liked about it, and then move on to other topics. At the end of the afternoon, we each take a book or two. If you want the book back, you just write your name & number on the inside front cover. It’s an open forum, so whomever has time can attend, and if you miss one, you just come to the next. 

I like the relaxed atmosphere of this club, and I’ve picked up several books that I wouldn’t normally read. The best part is, you get to get some good time in with your friends, but don’t have the pressure of finishing the book if you want to attend the next meeting.

Don’t Call CPS, Call Supernanny

I just saw a posting on my mothers’ group list serve that ABC’s parenting show, “Supernanny” is looking for families in the Bay Area and I'm oh so tempted to apply. But Jo would eat us alive. We do everything that leaves her mouth gaping open when she is living with families.

We fight in front of the kids. We threaten and do not follow through. We give in to whining.  My husband sleeps in late almost every day while I juggle two kids — and I let him. The list goes on and on.

But I yearn for the Supernanny’s help. I’m desperate. I yell so much that I’m afraid my 7-month-old must think that is the only way to communicate. When he tries out his voice in cute grunts and squeals, it is always at volume 11. My six-year-old son, Cash asked me the other day why I was so angry when we rushed out the door late for summer camp. When I said that it was because I had asked him like 15 times to get dressed and he didn’t hear me, he responded, “I heard you every time, I just didn’t listen.” He’s even mocked me — “Cash, don’t even think of getting on the computer,” he’ll say in a falsetto. Clearly we need help.

“Life is an occasion. Rise to it.” Edward Magorium, age 243

Mommy is Dating Again

Everyone warned me that having a second baby would be 100 times harder than having just one child. So I was prepared for the extra work. But what has reduced me to a sobbing pile on the floor has not been the extra work exactly — it has been how much I miss my older son.

Cash and I have been nearly inseparable for the past six years. I even defied his preschool teachers to keep him out of his full-time program the two weekdays that I was off of work so that we could have those days to play and explore the world together. So when Catcher arrived seven months ago, it rocked both our worlds. And he has turned to Daddy to fill the void. I know I should be happy, and in many ways I am. They have become closer than I ever thought they would be. They share secrets, wrestle on the floor and go out for ice cream and movies. But I'm left behind, nursing on the couch every three hours, looking longingly after them.

  

This isn't to say that I'm not enjoying my time with Catcher. I never thought I could love another child as much as I loved Cash, and of course that changed as soon as I met Catcher. But my heart still aches for my time with Cash.

July Give Away - The Working Cook

Tara Duggan, has offered our readers a copy of her new book The Working Cook: Fast and Fresh Meals for Busy People. Tara is an author, and writer of the San Francisco Chronicle column, “The Working Cook”.

We recently interviewed Tara to find out more about how she developed the book and how she juggles work and family. We also learned her dirty little secret -- her daughters' favorite food isn't made by mom.

For a chance to win a copy of the book, comment below and don’t forget to check out the interview.

This Mom is Top Chef

San Francisco Food Writer Tara Duggan has authored a cookbook about how to make fresh, healthy meals even when you are busy. But with two young daughters, she faces the same problem as any of us — the fight over the magical box.

Dahlia, 6, and Elsie, 3, love boxed macaroni and cheese, she said, which she buys only occasionally when her husband is feeding them or a babysitter is coming over. “They almost die with excitement,” Tara said. “When I make fancy homemade mac ‘n cheese, my older daughter says, “This isn‘t mac ‘n cheese mom!”

To juggle the demands of a full-time job and a family, the award-winning writer tries out recipes at home once in a while, making them for dinner to test them on her family. Many of the recipes from her San Francisco Chronicle column, “The Working Cook” ended up in her book, “The Working Cook, Fast and Fresh Meals for Busy People.” 

Read on for the interview and to find out how you can win a copy of her book.

Book Review — Batty lessons

I love when a book really hits home with something that is going on in your life. This year, for us that has been “Loose Tooth”, by Steven Kroll.

It is the story of twin bats, Fangs and Flapper, who were best friends until Flapper gets jealous at the attention that Fangs is getting over a loose tooth. Flapper’s teeth aren't wiggling a bit and he gets mad when everyone ignores him. He goes absolutely batty when he hears that the Tooth Fairy is coming. He ends up stealing Fangs’ tooth but he is found out after he accidentally drops it into the batter of muffins his mother is baking. She bites into it at breakfast when the family is sitting around puzzling over why the Tooth Fairy took Fangs’ tooth but didn’t leave him any money.  

In the end, Flapper admits that he took the tooth because he was jealous. His father was empathetic. But just as he is saying that he will give Fangs a quarter that the Tooth Fairy should have left and Flapper a quarter because he has been ignored in the excitement over Fangs’ tooth, Flapper realizes he has a loose tooth. All the drama is forgotten as the two bats fly off together to show their friends.

Why I Love Berry Compote

I have to say, berry compote is one of the most delicious and useful things I cook regularly. I use it mixed into yogurt and smoothies; on top of waffles, french toast and pancakes; and in oatmeal. I also use it as a spread on toast, or as a PB & J with a little honey to add the sweet.

read on for how to make your own...

Mini Piñatas Break up the Holiday Weekend Doldrums

This weekend we made festive Mini Pinatas with the kids. This project takes a couple of days, but it was nice to stretch out the fun over the long weekend. These would be great decorations for a little garden tea party, or as favors for a birthday party.

What You’ll need

small balloons

newspaper cut or torn into small strips

glue (for both the mix and decorating)

flour

water

tissue paper or other things to decorate with

heavy gauge string or twine

The 1st step was to blow up the balloons. We made ours about the size of a small cantaloupe. But even smaller would be cute too. 

Next, make the papier mache paste. (see recipes here - we used the no cook). Drag the newspaper strips through the paste and layer onto the balloons. Smooth over any rough edges as you work. Wipe off any excess paste with your fingers. Continue until you have the balloon covered, except for a small opening at the top. Let them dry at least 24 hours.

 

The next afternoon, we decorated... a couple were still a bit wet, so we dried them with a hair dryer. (Trick we learned - pop the balloon first and blow the warm air in through the top hole so the pinata keeps its round shape.)

We had multi colored tissue paper, and each of us did something a little different with them. Cash and Tanya balled up the tissue and glued it on, Dillon and I glued the tissue like streamers, and Liam covered his pinata with flat tissue, and then made a neat little pattern with tissue balls. You can see the results below.  

 

 

We filled them with non candy treats like peanut butter sandwich crackers and mini packs of goldfish and fruit leather.  We decided to leave our tops open and created a little hanger by punching two holes on either side and stringing red twine through the top. We used mini clothes pins to hang them on the string. Dillon was the first to go at them.

We initially had to convince the kids that it would be fun to stick their hands in the goopy paste. But they quickly got into it, save a little whining about dirty hands. Ironic since they had just been digging in the dirt for bugs! But once we got going, they had a good time. And they all got excited crumpling up the tissue paper into different sized balls. BTW - what’s up with kids these days?When we were kids we loved to get dirty.  

Books by their Color

You can see into my kids bedroom from our kitchen. I chose that room for them because while cooking or having coffee at the kitchen table, they are close by and I can keep an eye on them. The downside is when their room is messy, I have to look at it no matter what. On that wall, I have their bookcase, and I felt like I was constantly looking at clutter. So the other day when I had 20 minutes and should have been doing something else — I arranged their books by colour. I have to say, the time spent was well worth it. The books are much more soothing to look at, and remarkably, it is easier for them to put their books away. “Blue books go with the other blue books”, and so on. The top shelf is not color coordinated however, because those are workbooks and “mommys” vintage children’s books. But none the less, it it is a much prettier view while sipping my am coffee.

“You go fishing to catch fish. You go snorkeling to catch snorkels.” Dillon, age 3

And the June Give Away Winners are ... (drum role)

Our random winner generator, (3 year old boy picks a number), chose commenter #2 for the Big and Lil shirt set from Baby Bot. Congratulations Amy Muller!

And congrats to Kathy Edwards who is the winner of Mary Pols’ book Accidentally on Purpose. 

Congratulations ladies!

 

Don’t Let That Money Burn a Hole in Your Kid’s Pocket

My mom always used to tell me that money burned a hole in my pocket. It was true. As a kid I loved to spend, spend, spend! I stood before the candy bins for hours, picking out different types. I threw away money on trinkets. But when I was a teen-ager and started babysitting regularly (for $1.25 an hour!!!), I started putting my earnings away and each year bought myself a plane ticket to visit my best friends back East. What it took to change my habits was a real goal to reach for.

My 6-year-old Cash seems to have matured faster than I did. When Cash declared that he wanted the Bugville Butterfly Treehouse, in which you watch larvae grow into butterflies, I told him that I did not have the money for it but that he could save up for it. After haggling a little over why I couldn’t use my credit card or just go to the bank and get money from the ATM to get some cash (man, this kid is savvy!), he agreed that it was a good idea to put his money away to buy the butterfly garden, instead of throwing his quarters into every gumball machine we passed.

There has been some waffling. Whenever we pass the local pharmacy and he sees the little plastic Pooh bears nestled in their adorable costumes, he lunges. I remind him that it will likely get lost or end up among the piles of useless junk in his room. When that doesn’t work, I pull out a very un-PC ammunition — China. “It’s from China. Lead!” I say in an alarmed voice. He's still so angry about the recall of his beloved Thomas the Train Ice Cream Factory that the reminder jolts him back to his goal. Even though I'm stereotyping an entire country and culture, it has worked well to stop fights cold in the toy aisle.

We put out three jars, one for spending, one for saving and one for charity. I told him that I expected him to put some money into all three. I said that it was reasonable to occasionally spend a little on a gumball or the like but that most of the money should should go into the savings jar. He's still not so keen on the charity jar but I’m working on him.

La Petite Baleen’s Anya Hall Makes A Splash As Our First Interview Subject

We are starting a weekly series of interviews with interesting working moms, be they Mompreneurs, established business owners or just interesting folk with interesting jobs. We are kicking off the series with an interview with Anya Hall, one of the owners of La Petite Baleen swim school in San Francisco and the daughter of the founders.

Anya was literally thrown into the family business — a swim school started by her parents Irene and John in the backyard pool of their Half Moon Bay home in 1979. Along with her brother and sister, she was the “guinea pig” for the fledgling school. She swam competitively from the age of 12, and while many of her friends at UC Berkeley jumped into the dot com frenzy after graduation, she realized that her heart was still in the pool. She has been with the family business since then (in fact, she was one of my son Cash’s first swim teachers at La Petite Baleen), and helps to run swim schools in Half Moon Bay, San Bruno and San Francisco that teach 9,000 children in weekly year round lessons.

Now the mother of 21-month-old Tatum and five months pregnant with a boy, she is a partner with her parents and her husband Christian in the family’s newest swim school in the Presidio of San Francisco. She works part-time managing the business’ marketing and coordinating training and curriculum but admits that she has work “boundary” issues because she often handles marketing from the park and said that every family meal turns into a business meeting. But she does find a way to relax that made me jealous. Read on to discover her secrets for juggling a demanding business and a growing family. 

Smores’ Cake Recipe Has Been Posted

Hope you enjoy! Download the recipe. Read the full post.

Book Review - The Three Robbers by Tomi Ungerer

OK, our goal is to post a book review each week. Do Wednesdays work for you?

I’ve been very, very into vintage children’s books lately. I mostly scour ebay, craigslist and amazon used for the titles I want. But I also have found many at the used book stores and flea markets. Tomi Ungerer is one of my favorite authors/illustrators, and I grab any book of his that I can. “The Three Robbers” is one my favorites — hands down.

 

 

The tale is of three fierce robbers that seek out victims in the dark of night. They use their blunderbust, pepper blower and a large red axe to terrify and plunder. 

Scared yet? 

One night, they happen upon an orphan girl named Tiffany, and carry her away. And then, just when you think maybe you chose the wrong book, the three robbers show the goodness in their hearts.

I won’t ruin the end for you. Both of my boys love the story. I also add a few sound effects to add to the excitement. I think the pepper blower makes a “whoosh” sound, and the blunderbust must sound somethink like...“bap bap bap”. Just my guess.

Also by Ungerer: Moon Man, The Mellops Strike Oil, Seeds and More Seeds

Eat Until You Puke at the Marin County Fair

I turn into Homer Simpson at the county fair. I basically eat until I throw up. I just can’t resist fair food and consider the fair as a place where all bets are off. At a minimum, I eat a candy apple -- and maybe even a carmel apple too -- cotton candy, soft serve ice cream, and of course funnel cake. Ohhh sweet funnel cake. Cash has taken the “all bets are off” thing to heart and raised me one. This week while we were talking about going to the Marin County Fair, he tried to negotiate trading a candy apple for "Fun Dip" (talk to my husband if you want to know HOW he knows about Fun Dip!). He had a good argument --  that the candy coating probably has just about as much sugar and it has red dye in it. I had to concede that he could have it if he could find it at the fair. What happens at the fair stays at the fair.

Today is opening day at the Marin County Fair and kids 12 and under are free. That is quite a deal for a family of four with tickets normally running $14 for adults and $12 for kids ages 4-12 . But keep in mind that it is going to be incredibly crowded. Lines to get in will be long and you will be standing in the blazing hot sun. So be prepared with your sunblock. You'll pay dearly for water too, so it pays to bring some of your own. 

You can also save $2 per ticket today by printing coupons from the Marin Independent Journal at www.marinij.com

The fair offers all the traditional rides, pig races, crafts for kids, and a expo hall as well as a variety of shows that your kids might not appreciate but that will rock you back to your youth. We saw Pat Benatar a few years ago and this year, the marque act is Sha Na Na on July 4. The fair also has a green theme and boasts the first solar powered carousel at a county fair.

You can get your fireworks fix even if you don't go on the Fourth of July because the fair offers a pyrotechnic show nightly at 9:30 p.m.

And if you don't want to go the Homer Simpson route, the fair boast a wide variety of food, including vegan fare.

Hours are 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and parking is $6. Check out the fair website for information about alternative transportation to the fairgrounds.

photo: © Ingrid Taylor