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Pioneer Woman Broccoli Cheese Soup. Recipe here. Mods below: I didn’t have half-and-half so just whole milk all the way (as that’s all we drink these days anyway). I also shredded our favorite Vermont cheddar for the three cups–Costco special. That’s it. Vitamix that bad boy up and ENJOY! Smitten Kitchen Classic Cobb Salad Recipe here. Some modifications below. I didn’t use blue cheese because I hate it. Feta all the way, baby. Also, why peel the tomatoes (too much work) when they are fresh from the garden and so crunchy? ENJOY and serve again and again and again. Molly’s Chicken Parm We’ve established my sister Molly and her husband Aron are the best in the kitchen. This is their easy chicken parm recipe served…
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It’s my monthly hop over to day 2 day joys with Rachel. This time it’s all about Toddler Quiet Time. What? I can’t hear you. My toddler is screaming. Oh yes, I’m talking about a designated time everyday when your tot has time peacefully alone in your choice of baby jail. Sound like something you’d like in your house? Come read my six steps to it. It has really truly worked for me and others I’ve foisted my advice on. The key is to go slowly into it, never use it as a punishment, and implement it according to your child’s personality. Come get this magic time! And now for something different: pumpkin patch & friends’ horse barn. Let’s just say the horses made the kids…
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I had a revelation yesterday. It was at my Catholic Moms group. We meet in the Bride’s Room of our parish, something like 8-14 moms, 15-30 kids. The kids wreak havoc and we chat about various topics. Yesterday was “self care for the busy mom.” Wait for it; the revelation is coming. We talked about spiritual retreats, date night by yourself at Target, how our craft night was a re-charger, and yes, pedicures. I confessed I hadn’t taken off my french pedicure toe nail polish from being a bridesmaid at my DC sweet girlfriend’s wedding in . . . APRIL. There was a dull silence in any otherwise loud room. Most people looked a little shocked. Disgusted? Amused? Definitely confused as to why my hygiene…
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when traveling with two kids. I guarantee it’s a party! Especially for your amazingly generous hosts who are awakened each morning at the crack of dawn, remember the time difference?, from the rooster-like howls of my offspring. Despite the time warp and midnight cowboy crybabies, we had a really splendid time. Traveling with our beloved second mother, along with our real parentals, was a really big delight as well. Airport highlights: the man tramping aboard behind me who said to the airline lady, Oh God, Shoot me, I’m seated next to the kids. In front of my back. I mean, literally. When SweetPea cried, I didn’t feel any remorse. In fact, when he moved to the back of the plane as there were empty seats, guess…
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Our mismatch blue shirts with our Godson in Virginia–the most recent photo we have together. I just love AA. He loves me. Our love doesn’t feel static, though. I fall more and more in love all the time. For all the sappy reasons: he cradles our newborn babies in his arms, murmurs love songs to them, he snuggles them to sleep as they grow and groan at night with teething pains, he teaches our son how to fold his fingers around an incense thurible, hit a bat, and our daughter to tickle tackle, say “bacon.” I love him for all the specific-to-him reasons: his chewed on fingers, his eternal patience with my bad housework and fabric addiction, his passion for Black Sheep pizza, his…
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Her new favorite food and word, bay-cun. BAYCUN. BAYYYYYY!!! Her brother prefers corn to all else. If you have a child over the age of two, tune in. If you have one of those adorable little tikes, tune out because it is too much of a stretch for your imagination to handle that your sweetpumpkin would ever drive you to want to use force as a parenting tool. See other tantrum hints here. Clear? Okay, older child parents. How are you feeling today? Have you felt that hot hot burn of anger and frustration yet? Have you felt your whole body ignite in one snap of a little whippersnapper’s voice calling out NO! Chances are high that if today wasn’t one of these days, it happened at some…
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