Milkshakes and Margaritas — a blog for the modern mom

Saving Your Kids Creations

Our kids are big Lego and block builders. For the past 6 months it has been their #1 choice for play. But the unfortunate part is that they want to save the creations, then slowly "lego erosion" takes place, and the little pieces wind up all over the floor and the masterpiece is broken. Or we end up with a tower of blocks in the living room which I inevitably trip over and knock down, ending in a finale of tears (not mine). 

To resolve this issue, I've started taking photographs of my boys creations. This way we can document what they've made, and are not upset when it's time to disassemble them. I also think it will be fun for them to look back in a year and see what they made. I think this method can work with artwork, clay, or any other creations. The main point is the process and the fun of it, but a keepsake is also important, and the reality is — we can't keep it all.

 

Beauty from the Inside Out

Parents TV had a great feature with Lisa Drayer, the author of The Beauty Diet: looking great has never been so delicious. She talks how to feed our bodies to help with aging and beauty — from the inside out.

A few great points from the video:

1. Berries, such as black, blue and strawberry are antioxidant rich which help protect the suns affects of aging. Blueberries in particular help keep the collagen in our skin intact. (+ low in calories and high in fiber).

 

2. Vitamin C rich foods like kiwi and oranges keep your skin moist and therefore less noticeable wrinkles.

3. Protein and Omega 3 rich foods helps keep hair and nails strong and shiny. Try peanut butter, fish, walnuts, yogurt.

4. Mango, dried apricots and nuts cantaloupe are rich in beta keratine smooth skin and bright eyes.

5. Watermelon and pink grapefruit are rich in lycopene which is a natural sunscreen and antioxidant.

Watch the video here: http://www.youtube.com/parentstv#p/u/52/mbci0jCdVVM

photo credit

- Danielle

Sample Sales

There has been a new trend in the last year of exclusive online sample sales. If you haven't discovered these yet, check them out. The MiniSocial is a favorite of mine. Other great ones include One Kings Lane, Gilt Groupe, and the new site by Daily Candy — Swirl.

 

We Aren't In Chuck E. Cheese's Anymore Dorothy

My game obsessed 6-year-old Cash and I were driving down the seedier part of Mission Street in San Francisco recently when he spotted a sign for an arcade and yelled, "Stop the car!!" I obviously wouldn't have stopped anyway but I made the mistake of explaining to him that it is an "adult arcade," not one like the arcade at Pier 39 where we had been the day before. The multiple XXX's did not deter him.

"What kind of games does an adult arcade have," he asked.

"Naked ones," I said. At a loss to go any further, he filled the silence. "Like 'Take Your Clothes off Wii?"

At that point, after I stopped laughing, I was forced to change the subject because I had no idea how to proceed. What would you have done?

Homemade Baby Food

 
I didn't make all my own baby food. It seemed a great effort. But once I got the hang of it, I realized it was quite easy, especially when whipping foods we were eating for dinner already. Check out this great post today on how to make your own baby food from HonestFare.com. 

Found on Ohdeedoh.

We're Back!!! and French Hot Dogs

I'm sorry we've been away so long. Between the two of us... sickness, a thrown back, travel and work craziness - we just needed to take a break. I've sincerely missed posting and am excited to be back.

I'll warm up again with a quick post about French Hot Dogs. Once in a while my youngest, Dillon, and I get sneak away for a date with just the two of us. We like to go down to the new La Boulange bakery on our street and have a latte (his is warm soy milk), and a pick a treat. Last week Dillon chose a "french hot dog", which was a hot dog wrapped in pastry dough. He then sweetly asked if he I would make them for his lunch. 

I made mine with Chicken Apple Sausage and some croissant dough from the grocery store (they were out of pastry dough). I grilled the sausage and then wrapped the little doggie in the croissant dough, and tossed in the oven following the croissant packaging instructions. Voila!

 

Ok, I know mine are not nearly as pretty, (honestly I didn't even try), but he didn't mind. I got a big thank you hug when he came home from lunch the next day. This year I'm trying a few new things in their lunches and this one is a win. We also took a few of the leftover dough triangles, rolled in a few dark chocolate chips and baked. Topped 'em with powdered sugar when they were out of the oven... a quick and easy treat.

— Danielle