Milkshakes and Margaritas — a blog for the modern mom

Halloween Book Round Up

My son has been counting down the days to October. Why? Because October brings halloween of course! Costume discussions began in August. Trick or Treat strategy a few weeks ago. And I'm sure a blow by blow of who's wearing what will be coming up next.

One thing I've found to help my kids curb the anticipation is enjoying a halloween book a couple of nights a week. Dem Bones, by Bob Barner is a cute lyrical book stringing together different parts of the body while singing things like "Leg bone connects to da, knee bone". This will be a great one to read together with my little skeleton this year. 

Here are a few more of my favorites for halloween.

Bats at the Library, Where is Baby's Pumpkin?, Corduroy's Best Halloween Ever, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich, Bone Soup, and By the Light of the Halloween Moon.

Don’t Drink the Kool-Aid

When my 6-year-old son Cash came to me during a playdate recently and asked me for a "pollute the earth water bottle", I realized just how completely I have brainwashed him. He wanted the bottle for a magic trick but he knows that we don't buy plastic water bottles except in "emergencies" because, well... they pollute the earth.

But the mind control doesn't stop there. I feel a little like Morgan Spurlock, who in his movie "Super Size Me" about the dangers of fast food, said that if he had kids, he would punch them in the face every time they passed McDonald's so that their association with the restaurant would be negative.

September Give Away - Lullabye CD

Only 4 days left to enter to win a Lullabies for Little Dreamers CD by Lori Carsillo. Just comment here or on our interview with Lori to enter.

My Protective Bubble: Repels Children and All Others

The other night my mother came over to watch the kids because I had a doctor's appointment late in the day. When I was finished, it was nearly 7:30 p.m. I walked down to a coffee shop to get a Chai Latte and retreated to my car.

I wasn't planning on driving. I just wanted to be alone to relish a rare moment to relax and read. I turned on the overhead light and pulled out the previous Sunday's New York Times.

Here Comes Science

They Might Be Giants has produced several great kids songs. Check out Here Comes Science - their latest cd/dvd. 

You can also watch one of the videos on You tube.

Check, Check, and Check Again

Anyone who knows me, knows that I'm a bit paranoid about safety. So I got a bit of a shock today when I was casually looking up the instructions for the Kelty K.I.D.S. Trek backpack I had bought at a neighbor's garage sale. I had used the backpack a few times but could never quite get Catcher strapped in comfortably. I figured I could quickly find the right way on-line before heading out for a hike.

What I found was that the backpack had been recalled because of a faulty seat height adjustment strap. The strap that holds the loop under his body -- and keeps him from falling out -- could slip out of its buckle.

Who Owns Your Favorite Organic Brand?

Ever wonder if your favorite organic brand has been snatched up by one of the big guys? 

Phil H. Howard PhD of Michigan State put together this research, as well as a full article providing more detail.

Originally found on the Kitchen.

Thank You, You Tube

Do you remember the Ladybug picnic song from Sesame Street? 

“One two three... four five six... ladybugs... at the ladybug picnic...” 

Well it popped into my head the other day but I couldn't quite remember it, so I looked it up. My kids and I had a good half hour of fun on You Tube after that. Here are few other "oldies but goodies" from Jim Henson to check out...

Ladybug Picnic, Alligator King, Swedish Chef, Pigs in Space, and this one is for both the kids and the parents. I think it's a little... mmm... suspicious what he's selling. What do you think?

The Murphy Bed: A New Place for a Time-out

In dropping my son Cash off at a play date today, I was surprised to walk into what I thought was his friend's bedroom and find no bed. At first, I figured that it was a playroom and she had a second room as her bedroom. (We do go to a private school after all — hooray for scholarships!).

But it turns out that she has a Murphy Bed. Her dad popped it down, and presto, there was a fully made bed! I always kind of associated Murphy Bed's with my parents' generation or with those single room occupancy hotels the transient often live in temporarily, but this one was upscale and super cool.

Apparently Murphy Bed's have entered the 21st Century, and honestly they kick my kid's bed's butt. There are a bunch of options through the "More Space Place" store, which has more than 50 locations around the country.

Throw Out the Rules and Party All Night!

When Cash was four years old, his favorite book was the Berenstain Bears and the Slumber Party book. All of his drawings and dictated stories were about squirting soda and throwing popcorn around the room (the bear party gets a little out of control and he loved that).

So when my husband went out of town for work this week, I decided to throw out the house bedtime rules (which are actually my rules, but whatever) and stage a slumber party in the living room.

 

Back to School Clothes

Just because I have two little boys doesn't mean I don't peruse the girl stuff anymore. I mean, it's all so cute, how could I not. Look at these orange patent boots! I so wish I was a mini me so I could get these from Mini Boden.

Hold onto Your Eyeballs!

My 6-year-old Cash first discovered the Gallop! Scanimation book by Rufus Butler Seder at Target when we were just hanging out looking at books. Then a few weeks later, my 9-month-old randomly pulled the same book out of the shelf when we were at a local bookstore. Both had the same reaction -- amazement.

The books nearly jump out at you from the shelf. Seder uses a technique with sliding paper and stripes to make the figures seem as if they are moving as you turn the pages. It is a little like a hologram but way cooler because they seem to continue moving. So the horse takes off galloping, the dog runs, and the turtle swims. In Seder's other books, "Swing" and "Waddle," there is a baseball player swinging a bat and penguins waddling, among others.

The text is simple with catchy sounds, "Can you gallop like a horse? Giddyup-a-loo!" that Cash enjoyed reading aloud to me and that made Catcher squeal.

I'm always on the lookout for books that engage both my kids and this did more than that, it left them with a sense of wonder.

Image from www.workman.com

Easy One Dish Dinners

I love one dish dinners. Less to clean up and you can usually prepare them ahead of time. Which is great while I'm trying to get back into the swing of a back to school schedule. In the Kitchen had a great post of 10 one dish dinners. I can't wait to try the potato, squash and goat cheese gratin! If you have a favorite one dish meal - please share it with us.

Yes You Can Be a Gal Who Cans

I am not the sort of gal who "cans."  In fact, I've never even really wanted to.  Don't get me wrong, I think it is cool as hell.  Whenever someone offers me a jar of homemade jam I am in awe.  That said, it's just not my thing.  But you know, I thought that same thing about knitting.  Then a friend taught me on a camping trip and. . . six hats, four scarves and one sweater later, I am indeed a gal who knits.  So, I decided maybe I shouldn't be so quick to put limits on my abilities and interests.  And whenever people have offered me homemade jam, I have envisioned hours of intensive labor and eons of patience in every jar.  So much so, I am hesitant to even eat it.  Like that would somehow be sacrilegious.  It was joy enough to be a person who could merit a homemade jar of preserves.  

School Photo Time Already?

Well, school photos are coming up soon and my oldest just lost one of his front teeth. He looks adorable, but I wouldn't have minded getting that school photo in first. Ah well. Aside from getting dentures, there are things you can do to help ensure a good (or better than usual) school photo... 

1. Avoid T-shirts with bold designs, cartoon images and phrases. They distract from the childs face.  

2. Solid colors, collared shirts and blouses look best in photos. And choose clothes that compliment your child's hair, eyes and complexion.

3. Hair off the face helps bring attention to the face and the expression, and no "bed head" for boys!

4. If you are planning a haircut, make sure you allow 10 days for the hair to grow out — even for bangs.

Tips courtesy of MugShots! 

Live a Little: Throw Out The Instructions

The New York Times recently had a story about the rebirth of the Lego company. The 77-year-old company had slumping sales for years but has recently been doing gang-busters. The secret to its turnabout has been commercial tie-ins to movies and television shows, like Indiana Jones, Star Wars and Toy Story, the New York Times said.

It really bummed me out. The article notes that there is a loss of creativity in kids with the new Lego kits that direct you step by step how to build a particular thing. It said that you'd have a hard time finding just a big box of random Legos these days.

Healthy Eats - Roasted Vegetables

OK - I am starting out by swearing to you that I am not trying to brag that my kids eat a lot of vegetables. But they do. Partly, I think, because I eat a lot myself, and I'm not one for cooking multiple dishes for one meal (anymore). Also possibly because I'm the master of dinner bribery when necessary. But all bribery aside, honestly, I do get gripes. Except when we serve these roasted veggies. I can't take credit — his is my husband, Jeff's doing. But they, we, gobble them up. I swear to it. 

 

Lori Carsillo: Mom, Jazz Lounge Singer & Slumber Songstress

Lori Carsillo is an incredibly talented local jazz singer, and has recently released a new lullaby cd called “Lullabies for Little Dreamers”. Her voice is sultry and melodic, and the sweet songs are a joy to listen to for both you and your baby. We grabbed Lori and asked her a few questions about her music and what inspires her. 

Read on to find out more and for a chance to win a copy of her album.

An Early Lesson: You Don't Need All That Stuff, Just Love

I stopped in a book store this week to kill a few minutes before Catcher and I went to pick Cash up from school and we quickly found a book that is bound to become a classic baby book. Actually, it is part of a series of board books. The first one we read was "In My Pond," a story about a little goldfish by Sara Gillingham. The book is set up with a sequence of windows with a finger puppet of the goldfish sticking out. As you open each page, you see a little more of the fish's world.

Indulgence or Just Fun?

I know I'm an over-indulgent parent. Cash's fourth birthday party was downright ridiculous. He couldn't decide between two themes, Bob the Builder and Miss Spider, so I gave him both. There were two tables, with cakes for both, goody bags for each and two pinatas. It looked like we were celebrating for twins. I can recognize the problem. I'm sure there is some sort of support group for people like me. Hi, my name is Tanya and I spoil my child. Maybe the meetings are held at juvenile hall.

But yesterday when we were at a birthday party and I let Cash paint my feet -- with washable sidewalk paint -- I didn't see a problem with it. As I walked around looking like I had been in a bad paintball accident, my husband Terry rolled his eyes and said, "I'm sure every kid here wanted to paint his mom's feet and she said no."

I figure you should pick your battles. And by battles, I mean battles with myself over when to give in to Cash's requests. Of course I should have said no to two birthday themes. But what was the harm in letting him paint my feet? We were outside, it was washable paint and we had fun -- although the paint brush did tickle a lot!!

Where do you draw the line?

My Little Chatter Box

The other day Dillon was so excited to have me all to himself, he was just chattering away. In fact, I looked at the clock and he talked for 45 minutes straight. He's 3, so of course he was all over the place. From movies to vacations, to something he and his brother were doing. We were on our way to a class, and at one point I had to ask him to please be quiet for a few moments, so I could concentrate on finding a parking spot. He then pronounced  “No one likes a chatter box, momma.”

“What?”  I asked 

“No one likes a chatter box. That's what Bigweld says.”

“Oh!” Realizing he's repeating something from a movie. 

A moment of silence and then he says...

“What's a chatter box, momma?”

SIGG Screwed Us

I just heard that SIGG bottles manufactured before August 2008 contain BPA and I'm pissed. A few years ago, I replaced all of our plastic drinking bottles with the aluminum SIGG bottles, which cost between $15 and $30 generally. I've even been nagging my mom to get rid of the "safer" BPA-free plastic bottles she got at REI recently because I was such a big believer in SIGG. Well, I got screwed, along with most of the people I know. Because SIGG's CEO just announced publicly that the older bottles have BPA in the epoxy liners.

Good Night Gavin Newsom

My oldest just started first grade today and as I watch him grow up, I am reminded of his baby days. One of my favorite memories is reading "Good Night Moon" and "Good Night Gorilla" to him every night, even when he had not idea what I was doing and was just squirming to grab and eat the book. Catcher is now doing the same but really loves our reading time. He smiles and giggles as we read.

One book I have just added into our nightly ritual is "Good Night San Francisco." It was given to me by a nice Golden Gate Mothers Group mom for free along with some other hand-me-down baby stuff and I love it. It is part of the "Good Night Our World" series that includes everything from Good Night New York City, to Good Night Hawaii, Good Night America and Good Night World. There is even a Good Night New Jersey. I'm envisioning a Tony Soprano type saying, "Good Night" as he throws a rival into the river with cement shoes. Ok, maybe not. Author Adam Gamble and illustrator Santiago Cohen, take readers through each city, state or area to the iconic attractions with a rhythmic verse that makes the book appealing to young children beyond just the taste of the board book.

 

The Next Stage: Mom as Chopped Liver

Milkshakes and Margaritas is welcoming another contributor, Michelle Truelson, to the blog. She is starting off with a post that pulls at the heart strings but reminds us what we are striving for in raising our children.

It used to be that I couldn't even leave the house for a run without the cry of the wild.  I would literally have to pry my kids off me to get the smallest of breaks.  Entire date nights were ruined by my fear I had done lifelong mental damage to my kids by leaving them mid-scene.  The visual of the sitter holding them back from wanting, "one more hug," dominated our dinner conversation.  And the bitterness that my husband, "just didn't get it," would fill up what time we had left.  And to add insult to injury, all this anguish would cost us $150 minimum.  I longed for a guilt-free break - a seamless transition to "me" time.  And yet, even in the peak of it, I knew to hold tight.  I knew that those years were fleeting and someday I would long to be needed.  I just didn't know how much or how soon.