LIVING ON A WHIM

Winnie the Pooh

2009-11-20T11:07:00.003-05:00

Anticipation

I was just remember the day I stood in line, at the bookstore waiting to see Winnie the Pooh. My older daughter, who was 4 years old at the time, learned about the visit from her preschool 2 weeks prior. WHY DO THEY ANNOUNCE THESE THINGS 2 WEEKS PRIOR TO THE EVENT AND TO A SMALL CHILD... I would never know! Everyday prior to the "Stuffed with Fluff" bear visiting our town, she made sure I know he was coming. She watched her Winnie the Pooh videos daily and insisted I read the Pooh stories at bedtime. So, you can imagine my relief, finally, standing in line waiting to see this bear.

The Line
We arrived at the small bookstore 10 minutes before Pooh's appearance and stood in a long line. The line end outside the door, weaved around the book stacks and ended at a platform set-up, similar to the kind you see at the mall for Santa. However, with the shelves high, and the crowd so dense, it was difficult for an adult to see Pooh on their tiptoes. So, my daughter only had the view of legs, purses and other children. She spent her time talking to me and children around her about her excitement of seeing Pooh. I spent my time trying to breath and fanning myself in hopes I wouldn't faint. However, I was assured, if I did faint, I would not hit the floor. I would of remained on my feet, held up by the people pushing against me. I am not exaggerating... if the fire marshal showed, that bookstore would of being shut down.

The Grand Finale
After being in line for 2 hrs (again, not exaggerating) and trying to bribe my daughter to leave, I can now see Winnie. Only 4 more kids to go! I can breath again, and hopes of lunch was in my future. I lifted my daughter up so she can see him too. However, the wait ended there and then in my arms. She looked at Pooh... her eyes widened... and I could read her mind - that bear was hugh! The Winnie the Pooh we know, is smaller than Christopher Robin and Christopher Robin, should be the size of a normal small child... right? This bear was NOT POOH! As soon as I put her down, she started making her way back through the line and out the door. I heard, "Excuse me... excuse me...." and saw the line parting, but no daughter. Thank goodness a friend recognized her and held onto her until I was able to catch up.

No tears, no discussion she just said, "I'm hungry". And we left.

Lessons learned:
1. I will not introduce Disney to my toddler until she is a teenage
2. I will ignore my child's pleads to stand in long lines to see humans in suits
3. Next time I will pack a lunch and send my husband

"I'm Eloise and I am 6"

2008-12-18T12:49:00.007-05:00

(Dear Abby,)

I have been working with Little Bean on saying, "I am 2" or "2 and a half" ... but I have failed. And now she has changed her name to her favorite book hero!

When people ask Little Bean's age, her reply is one of the following:

1. 6 years and 4 months
2. 5 and a half
3. "I'm Eloise and I am 6!"

Do you think I should just give up?

Okay... I'm not so sure. After working with daughter #1 on how to tell time when she was 8,9,10,11 and 12 years old... I gave up. It just was not happening. The expensive watches and cheap plastic clocks just did not work for her.
The problem is today, as a teen, she still can not tell time! Or even understands the concept of time. She wakes up late for school, she leaves late and has no idea when she should be home when out with friends. She uses her lack of ability to her advantage.

So, all the age related scenarios go through my head... like rated R movies, driving, drinking and voting. She will be like her sister and work it to her advantage.

So, I guess that answers my question.

Sorry for wasting your time with such foolishness. ;)

Running with Ease

2008-12-10T16:32:00.001-05:00

I am not a runner. However, when I read an article in Self magazine about running 3 miles with ease (by Danny Dreyer), I thought I would give it a try. The short article gave techniques on breathing, foot placement, arms and so forth to help you increase your chances of reaching 3 miles. (personally, I couldn't help but think of Pheobe Buffay from "Friends" and her interesting running style... but don't worry, you won't look like Pheobe if you use Mr. Dreyer's techniques properly... hmm I guess you won't worry if you don't know who I am talking about anyway).

SO, guess what? I am running 3 miles! Never in my entire life have I ever ran (knowingly) 3 miles, until now!
I have arrived!
As a high school athlete - I dreaded any conditioning. Couldn't run a mile to save my life... well that was until my coach made the rule "if you're lapped you have to run another mile". Needless to say, I ran 2 miles for a couple of weeks.
As a college athlete - forget it! Actually, I didn't make it pass "hell" week.
As a professional athlete - yeah,well, if I liked conditioning back in high school, I could of been a million dollar pro athlete. (note to self: ~~brainwash~~, teach Little Bean to enjoy running).
As an over-weight adult - I can jog 3 miles while watching tv, movies and/or the news. (oh I should try running while eating popcorn too!)

Now, I will go read Danny Dreyer's book, ChiRunning: A Revolutionary Approach to Effortless, Injury-free Running and shoot for a higher goal... actually, I need to go finish the bathroom first.

2008-11-19T09:35:00.004-05:00

Wow! Thanks Val!
You are so kind.... now I really feel guilty about neglecting my blog these past couple of months!

Update on the bathroom

2008-11-18T15:03:00.004-05:00

Okay, redoing this ugly bathroom is taking much longer than expected! Thank goodness I have the help from my best friend, since my husband is swamped at work!

Anyway, I learned why the contractor (we were originally considered for this job) didn't want to pull up the floor. I was amazed that pulling up the vinyl flooring and the paneling was actually quite quick and easy. Repairing the sub-floor, took a little time and creativity. I guess the contractor and all the home depot and Lowes staff were right, "You never know what to expect until you clean out (or demolish) your bathroom".

So, know we are onto putting up drywall on uneven, non-plumb walls.
...So far...so good.

LOSE YOUR BELLY !?!

2008-10-02T11:07:00.005-04:00

If I haven't admitted it before, I will now, I have a weak spot for magazines. I love them! I love the pictures, the articles and the information they provide... I just love them! However, I don't usually pay the store price of $4.99, unless I am thinking about subscribing.

Anyway, I have been working hard at the gym 3-5 days per week for about 8 months. I have noticed a small decrease in weight, a few inches off my butt and thighs, put nothing off my tummy! Boo! So, I my body is quickly moving, especially as I get older, from the "hour- glass" figure to a "square figure". ...you know when your measurements are the same around your chest, waist and hips. like...like Sponge Bob! Oh, no! I have a Sponge Bob figure!

I've tried sit-ups, ab machines and cutting back on carbohydrates but nothing! So, when I saw the big, bold letters "LOSE YOUR BELLY! See results in just 12 days", I put down the candy bar and bought the magazine. I read it cover to cover, learned a little, but never found the belly article and I didn't give it a second thought. Until, a friend who borrowed the magazine, returned it and said, "interesting magazine, but I couldn't find the article on '14 amazing sex secrets'". I guess they wanted to keep it a secret. So, after telling my friend "there is no such thing as sex secrets" (hoping she will tell me hers) and loaned her my teenager's sex education book, I decided to call the magazine.

ME: I bought your magazine for $4.99 at the store and couldn't find a few articles.
Reader Services Lady: OK, what articles?
ME: Well, the one that is published on the front in big bold letters, "LOSE YOUR BELLY!"
Reader Services Lady: Well that is throughout the whole magazine, there is not specific article. Is there any other ones?
ME: ..ahem...14 sex secrets
RS Lady: In 2 articles on pages Blah-Blah and page Blah-blah
ME: 2 articles? So you combine the articles and make them "amazing 14"? ...Hmmm isn't that false advertisement? And with the belly article it specifically says "in just 12 days"... how can you lose belly fat in 12 days with no plan?
BS Lady: No it is not false advertisement and you have to piece together the entire magazine.... personally, I don't think one can lose their belly in 12 days. Ha-ha
ME: (She's got that right!)
Blah-Blah-Blah
BS Lady: well I will defiantly pass on your comments to the editors.

Well, I will personally, pass on buying this magazine again (Women's Health). I am a little bitter about the $4.99... boy was I a sucker! On the bright side I did save $10 by not subscribing to the magazine.

Bye-Bye Ugly Bath

2008-09-16T13:47:00.003-04:00

Isn't it lovely? Make sure you get a good look at our asbestos- free vinyl flooring.
After talking to contractors for 2 years, my husband agreed to let me redo the bathroom, with the help of a family friend. So, now I am onto another project. Right now we can only work on the bathroom while Little Bean is at school (mornings 2 times a week) and weekends. Not much time. Hopefully we complete the bathroom in a timely manner... whatever that means!

On another topic

Thanks SARA! For your kind words on your blog! I think you are far more wise and interesting than me and I always look forward to learning and hearing from you!

Pre-school Application

2008-08-25T12:37:00.007-04:00

Little Bean started Preschool today. She didn't cry plus it took some coaxing to get her to say goodbye. Actually, once she was in the classroom, I think she forgot that I even existed. So, I stuck around a little longer than the teachers wanted. I guess if she cried or clung to me a little, it would of been easier for me to leave at a more reasonable time. Oh well, there is always next year.

Here are some questions from her application, the questions are real, the answers are not... well, for most of them.

Child's Name: (Little Bean)
Name you call her: Bean
What she likes to be called: "Your highness", Princess, Queen

Any problems with eating: Not unless you count throwing food
Food allergies or restrictions: She will not eat anything without cheese, yogurt or sour cream and the promise of ice cream.
Is your child toilet trained: Yes and that is about it.
Words she uses for toileting: "potty", "uh-oh"

In what particular ways can you we help your child?: Teach her to listen to her parents ... actually, there really isn't enough space here to answer that question. However, she really is a good kid. Really.

Are you working on skills at home?: Yes, coloring inside the lines on the wall paper, cutting straight lines in the curtains, writing her name with crayons on the furniture and saying things to push my husband's buttons.

Is there anything else you want us to know about your child?: She already thinks she knows everything like cooking(oh, thats another post), how to use the computer, what is good and bad for your health...etc. So... good luck!

Ahh Summer!

2008-07-27T10:46:00.004-04:00

Got a new bike and a trailer for Bean! We are enjoying the nice weather and having fun. I will be back soon!

Almost forgot

2008-06-12T13:48:00.005-04:00

I am almost finished with my woodworking project. My last class was back in March. All that is left to do is sand and paint.

Bean thought her stuffed dog added a nice touch to the office organizer.

Lessons I learned from this project:

1. Choose your wood carefully. I had help, but the guy was good about getting rid of unsellable wood to this novice woodworker. Instead of staining I am painting to keep the wood together.

2. Don't hammer or force in other wood while other pieces are drying. I actually lied to the teacher and said, "I don't know how that gap got there...hmm". If you look up close you can see some of my gaps, but luckily the biggest one is in back covered by the back piece.

3. Don't put the drawers in without attaching the knobs first. What is funny, I didn't do that, the teacher did! After quite a bit of struggle, a pocket knife did the trick of removing the drawers unharmed.

4. Be well rested before working with those big machines. I actually, took a night off, because I was so tired and afraid I might loose a finger.

5. Make sure you understand the dimensions. This office organizer takes up 1/3 of our desk. I guess I'll have to build a shelf or a side table for it next time.

MEME Tags

2008-06-04T07:58:00.000-04:00

I was tagged for 2 memes. Sorry it took me so long to complete them. So here goes my first and last MEME post (I hope!)

Meme #1 -- Tagged by MommaVal

1. Post the rules before you give your answers.

2. List one fact about yourself beginning with each letter of your middle name. If you don't have a middle name, use your maiden name or your mother's maiden name.

3. At the end of your blog post, tag one person (or blogger of another species) for each letter of your middle name. Be sure to leave them a comment telling them they've been tagged.

My middle name: Zinnia (not my real middle name, just wanted something shorter and more interesting).

Z - zzz lacking sleep right now, but when I was a kid, I could sleep anywhere at any time for up to 13 hours.

I - I love homemade ice cream. I often hint to my family that an ice cream freezer would be a great gift, but to this day I don't have one.

N - Nasty Boys - love that song by Janet Jackson.

N - Normal - doesn't describe me one bit, even though I have a semi-normal life (at the moment).

I - I have lived or visited all of the "I"states with the exception of one (my college internship fell through so I never went).

A - Aquatics - love water sports, with the exception of water skiing.

Meme #2 - tagged by Ainse

The rules:

1. Link to the person who tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Write six random things about yourself.
4. Tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs.
5. Let each person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their website.
6. Let your tagger know when your entry is up.

1. I sky dived as a self challenge after saying, "I will never do that". Thats when I knew that had to be my challenge.

2. I do a pretty good pigeon call.

3. I will choose sweet tarts over chocolate any day.

4. I have been crocheting since I was 6 and I only have 2 projects to finish (I am pretty good at follow through, no matter how long it takes).

5. I had to wear braces on my teeth twice.

6. I drove through my neighbor's fence (age 12 - I shouldn't of listened to my older brother's driving instructions). My dad came out of the house fast and angry. Looked at me, looked at the car, then he looked at the fence and try his best not to laugh when he sent me in to talk to my mom. Mom listened to the story, punished me and sent me over to apologize to the neighbor to offer to fix the fence. The neighbor answered the door with tears in her eyes as I proceeded to apologize, boy did I feel bad... until, she looked at my dad and started laughing really hard. Boy did I luck out!

Ok, I tag laughingmama, San Diego Momma, A boy from India and John at EzGreatlife

I know I am not following the rules, but who cares!?

Tagged-Folks, take it or leave it, choose one, do both or don't do it at all. But you have been tagged. I won't be offended if you ignore this.

Cherry-Chocolate Chip Eggless cake recipe

2008-05-22T12:08:00.005-04:00

Sorry Oprah 21 cleanse folks, this recipe has sugar and gluten....but it is eggless. This is an adapted recipe, I found on allrecipes.com , Plain Eggless Cake. However, I made a few changes. In the end the consistency was like cake made with eggs and very yummy.

INGREDIENTS:

2 1/2 cups cake flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
3 tablespoons of white vinegar
1/2 cup orange juice
10 ounces jar of Maschino cherries diced (reserve juice)
3/4-1 cup of juice from the Maschino cherries (if not enough reserve substitute orange juice)
3 tablespoons almond extract
1 cup melted butter
1/4 cup of mini chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour 10 inch round pan or a 9x13 inch pan.
Mix together flour, baking powder and baking soda in a large bowl. Make a well in the center and pour in the sweetened condensed milk, orange juice, almond extract, vinegar, cherry juice, cherries and melted butter. Beat well with a electric hand mixer. While blending gradually add mini-chocolate chips. Pour into prepared pan.
Bake in the center of a preheated oven for 45-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow to cool.
Note: I go the full 60 minutes, but it really depends on where you live and your oven. The top might crack a little, before the center of the cake is fully baked. The cracks don't matter if you plan to turn the cake upside down before frosting.

Mom left, but I "have to...."

2008-05-17T14:50:00.006-04:00

Mom left earlier this week. Now it is back to my regular routine.

After the bra incident with mom, things here were pretty uneventful for the duration of her stay. That is if I don't count that her mothering aggressiveness was increasing day by day along with her verbal "have to" lists. I congratulate my husband for keeping his bloodied tongue between his teeth, give or take a couple of slips. However, I didn't do so well. Don't worry I behaved on the most part, just reminded myself, she will soon be busy again with my brother and sister's lives (HA-HA-HA!).

Since, mom has left I have talked to her on the phone almost daily. Each time receiving a list of "have to..." Sometimes, I hear them, sometimes I don't, most of the time, I just get frustrated for even listening to her. I guess this is what it is like for my teenager.

Anyway, there was one "have to" she mentioned a couple of weeks before she left. Prune the roses. Now, I thought those roses were my neighbor's, since they are on the property border along with the rest of her beautiful garden. She did talk to me last year about the roses, our first summer in this house, but I can't remember what she said. I think I still had postpartum mush brain (hmmm, can I still use that excuse).

One day, mother set out to prune the bushes. Before she did, I asked her to talk to the neighbor and make sure those were our bushes. So, she did and started in on the task of pruning the bushes. Now, I was feeling guilty for not pruning the bushes last year. If I understood them to be our rose bushes, I would have taken better care not to have unruly bushes beside the neighbors beautiful flowers.

Before leaving, my mother reminded me to finish pruning the rose bush, along with a few other things "you almost need a bigger clipper to take out all those dead branches..." So, yesterday, I set out to finish the job. Said,"hello" to the neighbor and her visiting friends before going about my business of chopping up the rose bush. If I could, I would just pull it up, but there was still some life inside the thick, dead thorny branches. After, I had a few thorns in bedded in my skin and a pile of dead branches up to my knees, the neighbor call out,

Are you going to take my whole rose bush out?
Your bush?! But my mother told me.... Ah my mother!
Your mother!
We will talk later

The neighbor laughed and went back to talking to her friends. I quickly cleaned up my mess and went into the house to call my mother.

Mom, you told me the neighbor said those were my rose bushes
She did... She said, those bushes are yours to prune as you like.
Mom, I don't think that means they are mine, I think she was referring to Little Bean's safety... now we know.

Eventually, I am going "to have" to face the neighbor. Yet, even more so, I am going to "have to" face my mother on her "have to" lists.
Or do I have to?

Nap time accomplishments

2008-05-13T14:21:00.007-04:00

Whew, yesterday was a good day for getting a lot done during nap time!

1. Mowed the lawn (pat on the back)
2. Dug up dirt in front lawn and planted flowers
3. Watered flowers and plants
4. Ate chocolate
5. Bathed
6. Paid 2 bills

I think I have bragging rights, especially after mowing the lawn and not waking Little Bean.

and I thought buying a bra with my mother in my teens was bad

2008-04-28T13:42:00.007-04:00

Ok, is it just me or am I the only one that doesn't like having their Mother in the dressing room with them?

Personally, I really, really do not want my mother in there. She make comments on my butt, my stomach and even my chest.

Today, she topped herself while bra shopping.

AHHHHHH!

While I was trying on bras, my mother waited outside the dressing room (where she should be!). This was the one time, I should of insisted she come into the dressing room with me .
I heard her say to one of the sales ladies
"My daughter needs help, can you go in her dressing room and help her out please?" .
What! did I ever say I needed help! I already carefully sized myself at home and used
this program to make sure I was accurate... and I was!

So the sales lady knocked on the door.
"Your mother says you need help."
"No, I don't"
"I can make sure you are finding the right size bra"
"No, I am fine"
Just as I finished my last statement, Little Bean opens the door and said,
"Come on in"
Oh no she didn't!

At this point, I was furious with my mother and I tried hard not to take it out on the sales lady who was standing in front of me with a measuring tape.

I just stood there while my head spun inside... trying to find a coping mechanism, like screaming, or fainting or better yet going to a tropical island to make this whole scene disappear.
...please, please be a dream.

Nothing worked, so, I let her measure me and confirm I was in the right size, but maybe not quite the right style. So, she picked up a few different bras for me and I tried them on.

In the end, she did an awesome job of finding me great fitting bras, but that doesn't excuse my mother nor Little Bean's hospitality.

As I thanked the sales lady, I let her know,
"Ten years ago, you wouldn't of gotten through that door" (who am I kidding... 2 yrs ago, there would of been no little hands opening that door.... 10 yrs ago, #1 daughter probably would of shown the same hospitality as Little Bean did today). Thats with the assumption that my mother wasn't in the dressing room with me, pushing the button for help.

Side note: ladies try out the bra sizer it worked out well for me :).

Give me a food item..any food

2008-04-27T11:24:00.003-04:00

Give me any food item, with the exception of fruit and vegetables, and my family will find research that says it is or it can be harmful to your body.

Background:

If you haven't guessed, my mother is visiting.

As the main cook in the house, I have 5 people to feed right now. No problem. Except, I have to consider everyones preferences.

Not to mention, 4 out of 5 eat a vegetarian diet and no eggs. 1 out of 5 is diabetic and has to have well balanced meals (and desires lots of sugar).

#1 Daughter is not a fan of tomatoes, Chinese, Thai and Vietnamese food. Also, her body can't handle overly processed foods and should eat foods made from scratch. Figure this out when she was around 5 or 6.

My mother can't handle spicy food, regular milk and cucumbers. She doesn't like soy burgers, artichokes, soggy, baked French fries and radishes.

My husband is not a fan of too much garlic, bland, processed and sweet food. Has problems with uncooked spices and loves salty, spicy and sometimes fried food.

Little Bean doesn't like onions and tofu. She prefers lentils, beans, spicy food, most green vegetables and most fruit.

As for me, I can't handle too much corn, oil and potato chips. There are probably more, however, I do most of the cooking, so it doesn't really matter.

The Issue:

If someone ask, "What's for dinner" , I usually say, "I don't know". This is mostly an honest statement. If I know what I am making for dinner, a lot of times it turns into something else.

However, if I decide to answer the question honestly, someone has something to say about it.

"Pizza?!... you know how bad the cheese on pizza is...? "
hmm, you mean the same cheese you put on your tacos last night?
Later that week, I get an email about how bad pizza is for your health. Pizza I make from scratch, with a 1/4 of a cup of cheese (rather than 2 cups) and cover with vegetables.

I have also received emails on Msg, soy, importance of protein, E.coli in spinach, E. coli is strawberries(I take back my previous statement about vegetables and fruit. No food is innocent, were my family is concerned), to name just a few.

You get the picture?

Conclusion:

It is almost impossible to cook in this house! However....

I Am the Cook! I will take your preferences into consideration, scream in my head, and continue making what I planned to make.

If I listen to everyone, we would just have home made bread, water and a side of green beans every night for dinner.

New Vocabulary with Little Bean

2008-04-22T14:28:00.003-04:00

New Word: Impossible

Used in a sentence:
#1
While Little Bean is being assisted in the bathroom by her father she stated, "Papa, this is impossible!" (Don't know if that meant she didn't want her father helping her or she didn't really need to go to the bathroom)

#2
Me: "I have an hour to get dinner ready, can you sit in your high chair and help?"
Little Bean: "No, that's impossible"

Now I ponder

2008-04-17T12:54:00.003-04:00

How is it that I can wear 2 sizes smaller than I did in High School and be 20 pounds heavier?
-And "NO" my pants are not tight.
-And "NO, NO, NO" my head didn't get bigger.
I do know they changed the sizing requirements, but that is a little much.

Help! I 'm becoming my Mother!

2008-04-09T13:14:00.005-04:00

Or am I? I hope not.
Well, I guess it wouldn't be too bad (oh yes it would!).
Either way, I will not, I repeat not:

Put a teaspoon of rum in my child's milk to get them to go to sleep
Cover their faces with 2 inches of Vaseline to protect them from the cold (maybe just a thin layer). ---Talk about competitive Mommies... I think back in the 70's, Moms liked to show off their winter-snow, dressing skills. If everything was covered including the eyes and the child could barely walk due to layering... you were doing well as a Mom.
Make casserole surprise every night (I refuse to make casseroles to this day).
Say for the 101 + time while eating popcorn, "This is my laxative...it really cleans me out"
Go to their school dances and dance the old school way in the middle of their friends
Sing or sing the wrong words to songs while their friends are in the car
Wear bright, funky, flowered clothing
Store a whole meal in my purse from the church potluck
Talk to everyone in the store about anything and everything
Try to find a learning, behavior or any abnormal diagnosis' for each of my children (my children are perfect, until otherwise notified... and even then I may not agree)

The good news, I have a husband who will tell me when I am being like my Mother. This usually snaps me back into shape.

Flower cake

2008-04-06T13:11:00.010-04:00

Pastry Chef B gave me the challenge of decorating a cake for Little Bean's b-day. So when Chef B was out visiting a few weeks ago we went out and bought the cake pan. Later, she mailed the frosting tips, bags and coloring that I would need.

Now, if you read the last post you probably already figured out, I didn't get the cake done (not even started) for Little Bean's party. I barely had time to frost the cup cakes. However, I did try to make it yesterday for her family party.
I thought I had the leisure of the day to make it.
Ha! Husband was super sick and we spent the day at the doctor's office. Reached home in time to make her favorite dinner and started on the cake. After dinner I set out to decorate the cake. By 9:30 p.m. I was done (way past bed time, but Little Bean was waiting).

So here it is:
Note: The cake picture above is what the cake is supposed to look like, but different colors and slightly different design. The flower middle is supposed to be the same design, didn't quite get that effect.

Ran out of time and butter cream frosting. Learned after the fact, that you should double the Wilton Recipe. "The Wilton's recipe never makes enough." So, I kept adding milk to stretch the amount of frosting. By the time I got to the center, the frosting was a little too runny.

Here is a photo after we ate. Little Bean was trying to serve up more pieces. but was just slicing up the cake and the design. It was kind of painful to watch, but I was also proud to see her generous hospitality.

I will definitely try my hand at cake decorating again. It was a lot of fun.
However:

I will allow enough time to bake and frost the cake 2-3 hours total
Double the Wilton Recipe
Take my time and fix the errors with a toothpick.

By the way, this was an Eggless Cherry Chocolate Chip cake. It turned out wonderful, my best eggless cake so far. I will share the recipe another time.

Birthday Girl!

2008-04-03T15:05:00.005-04:00

Speaking of party animals...

Little Bean is passed out after her birthday party this bright and sunny afternoon. She didn't touch her cake, so it's not from sugar withdrawal, but from dancing hard with her friends in their toddler mosh pit. I have always wanted to dance in the mosh pit, but today, I was equally intimidated by the roughness and tackling of 3 super cute, two year old girls. They would start off running in a fast circle, then one would stop and turn to hug the toddler behind her and fall to the floor. The 3rd would pile on top of them. Then they would roll back and forth running in to each other and laughing. See what I mean? Pretty scary.

I bombed miserably with being ready on time, with finger foods and cupcakes. I just put too much expectation on myself. However, I am frustrated that I didn't meet my own expectations. Planning and executing a simple toddler party is not hard and I have done it in the past. So what happened? I could blame my Mother for not helping, dirtying up dishes and watching t.v. while I washed her clothes so she can have something to wear (her luggage hasn't arrived yet). Or my husband was at work, Little Bean refused to let me do her hair, #1 daughter forgot her lunch and needed her homework emailed to her...etc. That said, I have no one to blame but myself.

Now, if either one of my best friends were here to help (or in my shoes) this would of been done with style and grace. Chef B, a pastry chef (hence the name), would of already had the house set-up and the food "product" chilling in the fridge before she went to bed the previous evening. HH is a perfect republican, who always wears the best perfume, and looks great under pressure.... need I say more? (Side note: we rarely talk politics and we don't attack the other with our point of views.Right HH?) I on the other hand had nothing ready, as far as food, but the plain cupcakes that needed to be frosted, before my 1st guest arrived. So, I spent the first 30 mins. of the party scrambling while the mothers talked and the kids played.

My mother hosted, while I prayed in my head, "Lord tie her tongue...take the words out of her mouth and muffle them so no one hears her..."

I should of given up on the finger food or put together cheese and crackers and called it a day. The most appetizing food on the table was the fish crackers, cupcakes and animal cookies.
I tried making new, simple vegetarian recipes that both toddlers and adults would enjoy. But quickly learned that was a big mistake. Only the one mother, born west of the Mississippi River (maybe a little farther west) understood and enjoyed the food.

On the bright side, and in the end

Little Bean and her friends had a blast!
The mommies will probably have interesting facts about me to tell their hubbies and friends.
I learned that cranberry cream cheese is not a crowd pleaser.
I will never do this again, without one of my best friends. So, put it on your calendars Chef B and HH.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LITTLE BEAN!

Ah that child!

2008-03-31T10:54:00.008-04:00

"Mom you like my butterfly wings?"

I looked over to discover she had my bra on backwards like ..."butterfly wings".

How do I respond to that?

5 minutes after posting, she put her bottoms to her dress (they look like underwear, but the same fabric as the dress) on her head and said, "Bye Mom, I going to office now!".

Korma Recipe -- My way!

2008-03-28T10:49:00.005-04:00

I am not Indian, but I cook a lot of Indian food. I learned a few recipes from cookbooks and a lot of technique from my Indian Mother in-law (very sweet and patient woman). If you are vegetarian and need more variety, try out a few Indian recipes. Don't base you understanding of Indian cooking by the restaurants, there is a lot more to it (however, you can get the following recipe at most North Indian restaurants in the US & Canada).
Also note, if you have trouble with some of the Indian spices, cooking it yourself, puts you in control. For example, my husband gets heartburn from garam masala (mixture of spices), so I either cut it down or leave it out. When I use it, I make sure to have chai (tea) with cinnamon, cardamom and milk ready to go as we eat. I read somewhere cinnamon prevents heartburn and it seems to work.
One more point, if I may, Indian cooking, will not break you food budget or your diet. I would be skinny, if I stayed away from chocolate and cookies.

Ingredients:

3 tbsp - Ghee (clarified butter) or Vegetable oil
3-5 - Tomatoes depending tomato consistency and size**(make sure to read the note)
2 - Grated onions
1/2 inch -chopped ginger (or paste)
1tsp - cumin seeds
2 - Garlic cloves chopped
1 tsp - Turmeric Powder
1 1/2 tsp - Red chili powder
1 tsp - Coriander powder
2 tsp - Garam Masala Powder (not curry powder - you can find this online, in some natural food stores or better yet at an Indian grocery)
1/2-1 cup - Milk / water
1/2 cup - sour cream or yogurt
1/4 cup - grounded cashews
Salt To Taste
3 cups - Boiled vegetables (mixture of 4 or more of the following vegetables -potatoes, carrots, green peas, green beans, cauliflower, green peppers, cabbage, butternut squash)
2 tbs -cilantro for garnish

How to make:

Heat ghee in a large sauce pan
Saute onions, ginger, cumin, turmeric, chili, coriander powder and garam masala on med-high heat until cumin is brown and onions are transparent.
Add tomatoes and garlic and cover with lid and stir occasionally until tomatoes are thoroughly a paste.**
Lower heat to med-low and gradually add about 1/2 of milk or water to make gravy. Add more if needed.
Stir in sour cream or yogurt and grounded cashews and simmer for 2 minutes
Add salt and boiled vegetables. Stir making sure the vegetables are covered in gravy
Simmer on low heat for 20 minutes or more with lid on. Stir occasionally.
Garnish with cilantro
Serve with rice and chapatis

**You will find a lot of Indian recipes have you puree the tomatoes to make a sauce or use canned tomato sauce, its much quicker, but it takes away from the flavor. If you have time then make the tomato sauce as in the above recipe. I do however, keep a 6oz can of tomato sauce on hand for just in case the gravy doesn't make enough. Or if you discover, after add the water (or milk), the tomatoes don't quite make a gravy, then add the can before adding boiled vegetables. If you use Italian (plum) tomatoes (best choice) make sure to use at least 5.

Some good resources & blogs:

Toddler Fashion

2008-03-25T13:34:00.014-04:00

Motherhood Lesson #64,000:

There is a right way and then there is a toddler way.

Bindis

-------------------------------------Toddler fashion tip - If you can't find a bindi, use raisins

Sunglasses

Potlucks?

2008-03-24T07:31:00.006-04:00

Lesson:

Talking about being a sucker.

Never attend a potluck that is sponsored by a College student organization. You are guaranteed the food will be gone by the time you reach the table.

I was so looking forward to eating other peoples cooking at the annual holiday potluck, that I exercised an extra day. I spent most of the week contemplating what I was going to make and deciding what I was going to wear. However, once we were there, the host made an apology that they forgot to inform everyone that this was a potluck "so please view the food as a snack." ....hmmm.

Standing at the back of a long line, my husband nudged me a few times as I stared at students with their loaded down plates (I should say, loaded-up-to-the-ceiling-plates). The same student's who went up when they invited "all kids" to get their food first.

Did I say, I was looking forward to this event? I know, the students don't get good home cooking too often, so this was a big treat for them. However, I felt like this was a set-up... a scam!

Anyway, I don't need the extra calories, so it was probably good that the food was almost gone when we finally reached the table. I ended up with a plate full of leafy salad and mixed vegetables. Not enough to please a hungry, tired mother, who cooked all afternoon and only sampled her dish, just a little.

Is this a sign? I was thinking about that on the way home.... until my husband pulled up to Mickey D's and order 3 large french fries to go.

Magazines

2008-03-23T16:38:00.001-04:00

Magazines... I love them.

Recently, I noticed I have a subscription to Better Homes Garden up to 2012.
Whoops! How did that happen?

Well, I pay my bills. Thats good. I renew subscriptions of magazines I would like to keep. However, I just need to pay more attention. Especially, with the fact I already renewed the subscription 6 months ago.

Ah! Dang nab it! (My father's favorite cuss words - if you have never heard this before, make sure the "nab it" slurs together)

Last week I received another offer to renew my subscription for another "3 years for the price of one year". Nice offer, but... does these magazine have a stopping point!? Or do they keep offering until the person has a subscription up to the year 3008 and beyond? I can only make that kind of commitment to my husband. Plus, do we really know where we are going to be in 5 year+?

....Well I am not a sucker anymore.

Apples

2008-03-19T17:28:00.001-04:00

Found this while stumbling:

Girls are like

apples on trees. The best
ones are at the top of the tree.
The boys don't want to reach for
the good ones because they are afraid
of falling and getting hurt. Instead, they
just get the rotten apples from the ground
that aren't as good, but easy. So the apples
at the top think something is wrong with
them, when in reality, they're amazing.
They just have to wait for the right
boy to come along, the one
who's brave enough
to climb
all the way
to the top
of the tree.

borrowed from megan

I like this, I think its nice, however....

I am not an apple to be "picked". I may have been like the apple at the top of the tree, but this apple makes her own decisions and choices as well. Plus, why wait to be picked? Whats up with that? Life is too short.

#1 Daughter (if you are reading this) have fun with life! Not like those loose apples, but have fun traveling, singing, dancing, and making friends. Don't wait around for some boy to pick you! The right "one" will come along some day... if thats what you want. No need to rush. Always know, there are 2 in a relationship and relationships needs 2 people to make it grow as one.

Drastic Purging of Stuff -- Spring Cleaning

2008-03-17T13:13:00.017-04:00

So, I got rid of stuff. I can't bring myself to call it junk. However, my husband, thinks most of the stuff in the house is junk. He doesn't know any better. (By the way, do I call his 1970's "Battle Ship" game junk? Noooooo and I didn't even throw it away).

I should say, half of the stuff I am donating and the other half I threw away. The donation is in boxes in the hallway, waiting for the "Mama Val" style drive-by-n-drop-off.
Well at least or so far, I haven't pulled anything out to reclaim it. Thats a good sign don't you thing? ....or maybe thats a good sign that it is probably junk.

I still have a little itch to do something drastic..... so I ate some chocolate. That will hold me over for a day.

I did notice that around the world there are a lot of spring holidays including important birthdays/anniversaries, religious holidays and festivals coming up! I think I will try to participate in as many as I can. You think anyone will notice? It would be a good emotional cleansing as well as educational. Kind of like spiritual spring cleaning.

Doesn't throwing paint on other people sound like fun? Yeah!

Or chasing after Easter eggs? I don't eat eggs unless they are chocolate. I do like the part of running around with a bunch of (big)kids and elbowing them out of the way before they pick up the eggs. Sounds like a good way to get rid of some extra energy.

Oh and don't forget the food (I'm sure you won't if you were fasting)!

With the massive clutter cleaning, I forgot to mention the discovery of a stack of addressed Christmas cards that never made it into the mail. So, if you didn't get your Christmas card from our family....Merry Christmas!

BLOG FART

2008-03-14T11:45:00.005-04:00

Yeah thats right! I think I am having a Blog Fart. Usually, I have plenty to say, but right now...

Well, there is one thing. I have this itching feeling to do something drastic. You know like cutting my hair drastically short.... but it's already short. I don't know what I'll do, but I'll figure it out.

If I had magical powers I would end winter right now and have sunny, 75-80 degree weather for the rest of the month. Eat lots of chocolate without gaining a pound. In fact, I would loose weight and look great with a snap of my finger. I would change my wardrobe, buy bright colored outfits, and hip hugging jeans. Get rid of the clutter in my house and make all needed repairs within a heartbeat. I would go visit my friends and family... all of them, in different parts of the world. That would probably take a year. I would make my teenager sweet... my toddler behave and...

.....Now that would be drastic!

Ultimate Blog Party!

2008-03-10T21:00:00.003-04:00

Welcome to LIVING ON A WHIM!

Come on in take your shoes off and stay a while.

You probably have been wondering about the banner over on the right (now the top)?! Well 5 Minutes for Mom is hosting the “Ultimate Blog Party” where women bloggers come together, to blog a little... read a lot and find new and interesting blogs. You don't have to be a mom to participate.

Who am I?

I am Jenn, a stay home mother of a toddler and a teen. I blog about whatever fits my fancy for the week. Pass on ideas, discuss my latest projects, and an occasional story.

Here are few of my favorites post:

Here are a few post that generated responses, so I am guessing these are my readers favorites:

Don't be afraid to leave a comment. At least say "Hi" or "I was here"!

Enjoy the party!

Crafts with Little Bean (22 months)

2008-03-10T09:00:00.002-04:00

I love doing craft projects! Last week, I figured out a new way to keep Little Bean busy while I'm cutting and gluing ( I guess my recreation therapy degree is kind of handy). I found these Kumon books at Target, in the activity book section (looks like they are a $1 cheaper online). She loves them. They are simple activities that help build fine motor skills.

If you decide to use them:

Check the front of the book to see what other resources you need(glue, kid scissors..etc).
Read the material and try them out with your child 1:1.
Make sure you cut out enough pages to keep your toddler busy before starting your own project. I recommend the sticker and paste books, the cutting books needs 1:1 attention.

Other activities that have worked in the past:

Paper and crayons (click here to see our favorite. Twistables are impossible for Little Bean to break and are erasable.-- Another option check-out Does Mommy Loves It)
Paper and stickers (her favorite) or sticker/color books
A variety of empty containers with lids. Little Bean spends a lot of time trying to twist off/pop off lids and trying to placing them back on. She also like putting things in them.
If all else fails, try finger painting with baby food ;)

Please note - all these activities , as you know, still need your supervision. Some of above objects are choking hazard. Since, you know you child, use your best judgment and modify as needed. I put Little Bean in her highchair at arms length away, so I can reach her for any reason.

Snow, Snow go away....

2008-03-06T16:47:00.003-05:00

Remember this?

Well, that wood is still sitting there. I haven't been to class for a month now. Why you ask? Because, of snow, snow, winter vacation week and.... snow.

So, my passion to learn woodworking skills is starting to fade.

Maybe next time I will sign-up for a course on-line.

Nap time Accomplishments

2008-03-05T08:09:00.001-05:00

I have decided to go on a computer diet. Instead of hanging out on the computer at Little Bean's nap time, I will do more productive things. So here is my list from today. I think I did a good job.

Nap time Accomplishments (1 1/2 -2hr duration)

Ordered replacement parts for the refrigerator
30 minutes of toning exercise with DVD
Bathed
Ate lunch and watched the View (ate some sour yogurt or does Stonyfield Farm, fat free, Black cherry always taste that way?)
Alright had to use the computer on this one - Recorded my meals and exercise (Started the Self Challenge - Self Magazine)
From there started writing this Blog until Little Bean woke-up.

I think I was pretty productive.

Silly Squirrel.... Tricks are for kids.

2008-03-02T11:18:00.010-05:00

We have this crazy squirrel in our backyard. My family laughs at me whenever I mention him. I don't think they believed me. I love watching him as I do dishes. He scales our neighbor's wooden fence upside down; jumps tree to tree and bounces around in our yard (kind of like those skunks in the old bugs bunny cartoons).
But what makes him amazing? His ability to do somersaults. He climbs up our compost pile and somersaults down, he does this several times. This squirrel is an animal gymnastic wonder... future Olympic material. However, he always stops by the time I get daughter #1 to the window.

If it wasn't for my neighbor, I think my husband would of had me in a therapist chair or on my way back to the 9-5 work world. Lucky for me, my neighbor at a dinner party told the story of our squirrel in the backyard. He too, saw the squirrel doing somersaults on numerous occasions.
His wife laughed as he told the story. I understood that laugh. Daughter #1's eyes grew bigger as she looked at me with one hand over her mouth and the other pointing at me.
"TOLD YOU!", I exclaimed.
At this point my neighbor turned to me and asked if I had seen this squirrel.
Of course I have!
He looked at his wife smugly and smile. She stopped laughing.

Well, that is... she stopped until I told another story about the squirrel (thats another post, another time).

It is moments like this that I miss my father. He would of believed me from the start. He would of even given my squirrel a name. Dad, himself, had a rabbit named Mr. Nibbles who frequently ate up his garden. Dad at times would be obsessed with finding ways to keep Mr. Nibbles away from his precious vegetables, kind of like "Old Man and the Sea" (oops edit - wrong classic...Moby Dick and Captain Ahab)but his story is "Nibbles". Every year, I heard about Mr. Nibbles from a small child up until last year. Last spring was the last time I heard about Mr. Nibbles before my father died in June. That summer, my father's garden lived on, cared for by my mother and the neighbors (and Mr. Nibbles). Hopefully, this spring, the garden will continue to exist and Mr. Nibbles haunts my mother as he did my father. That would be funny.

Please vote on a name in the right hand column. Or better yet, make a suggestion!

A Good Resourse for Getting your Baby/Toddler to Sleep

2008-02-27T13:31:00.000-05:00

I am still struggling with getting Little Bean to sleep through the night in her own bed. I don't mind co-sleeping... but lack of sleep is starting to take its toll on Bean, my husband and me. I read this in the Parenting magazine last year and tried it out. It was working for Bean, but unfortunately, traveling put us back at square one x2 (nice math equation). Recently, I decided I will try again... 3rd times a charm right? I couldn't find my magazine but was able to find the "Sleep Quiz" on their website. Take the quiz and it will describe the method that is best for you and your child.

I'll keep you posted on the method and how it works for Little Bean... that is, if it still works on a toddler.

If you have tried and/or trying any method, please comment and let me know how it is going and what you did.

Time for Some Cognitive Development!

2008-02-26T15:29:00.002-05:00

Jack-Jack
(click here or the baby cartoon to watch)

One day, daughter #1 made the mistake of showing Little Bean the Jack-Jack short video. Big mistake. Jack-Jack has become her hero.

Don't put that in there!

2008-02-26T13:48:00.001-05:00

"Little Bean!"
"...Ernie, Elmo, Vidya (giraffe), and all the rest of your dolls & toys do not belong in the potty!"

(photo is just for effect... I just washed her toys)

Later that evening Little Bean, after her bath, made a verbal list, "I took a bath... Mama took a bath, Papa took a bath., Didi took a bath... Elmo, Ernie, Vidya....etc"

Happy B-day DJ!

2008-02-25T13:01:00.000-05:00

My nephew on his 1st Birthday
The cake must of been really good!
Happy Birthday!

Little Bean on Politics

2008-02-23T10:20:00.004-05:00

Like everywhere else in the US, Obama and Clinton were in town recently . My husband and #1 daughter decided they were going to try to see both candidates before the caucus. One being for Clinton and the other for Obama. Myself, undecided. I told my family, I will go with the popular family vote, at the caucus. Little Bean was the deciding vote.

So, I asked her directly, "Who are you going to vote for?" without missing a beat, she said, "Burrr-ock Bama!".

Needless to say, we were all in shock that she answered. No coaching, no prompting no nothing.
I did notice, with the heavy ad campaign, Little Bean was practicing quietly to herself, saying the candidates names each time they were mentioned. I was still surprised that she answered correctly.

Now, if we ask her who she is voting for, she says, "Burrr-ock Bama and Illery Clinton".

Not a bad idea.

A Family Product I Cannot Live Without, is…

2008-02-21T15:28:00.003-05:00

For fun, I thought I would enter the "Does Mommy Love It? Group Writing Project" contest. If anyone interested, click on the banner or the link above. The contest ends this Sunday, February 24.

A family Product I cannot live without is....
Alrighty, this is tough to narrow down to just one thing. Personally, I can't live without a stash of chocolate, but that is not a family product... that's my chocolate. Or as Little Bean would say, "That's Mines!".
Today, I took a mental inventory of the things that we use, take for granted and cherish. We use too many paper towels, take for granted our washing machine (and the person who does the laundry!) and cherish the sweet sounds from the stereo. However, the one product that we can't live without is our cellphones.
We used to be anti-cellphones until the day I was driving in a snow storm 5 miles/hr for 3 hours heading to pick-up daughter #1. Her daycare was only 10 miles away from my work, but I did not reach her until 2 hours after her daycare closed at 8 pm. Driving on snow covered icy roads didn't worry me as much as not knowing if my daughter was safe. After that day, we didn't hesitate to purchase our 1st cellphone.
Now, we have 3 for a family of 4.
The cellphone has become our main resource for staying connected not only with ourselves but with our extended family. Those roll-over-minutes really do come in handy. Little Bean's first ride in a swing can be captured by the cellphone camera and sent quickly to her father in a meeting and her grandparents in their separate corners of the world.
Now if you ask my husband, he will say Comet and daughter #1 would say the Swifter sweeper/vac. Notice they both have to do with cleaning. Cleaning is a big issue in our home, especially with a messy toddler who throws food. However, I can live with a messy home that looks like a college dining hall after a food fight. The fact is, staying connected with our immediate family and extended family means the world to each of us and no cleaning product can replace that.

Just a few of Little Bean's Antics

2008-02-19T16:49:00.010-05:00

Little Bean regarding:

Hunger

Most mornings (sometimes as early as 3am), she wakes up and declares she want to go downstairs to eat breakfast. And Lists off foods she wants to eat "...peaches, cheese, blueberries, yogurt, cereal, pizza, toast, bagels, cream cheese, ice cream...."
Nibbling is good, even if it means pulling all the blueberries out of muffins and yogurt.

Independence

Independence is important to her and very tiring for me. Much patience is needed for me to watch her climb down a few steps only to climb back up to check to see if her sister is coming downstairs and down and up again to check if her papa is coming.... a few more times for books, paper and clothes...etc.

Name calling

Mama is my usual maternal name, but lately Bean has developed a variety of names to call me depending the situation

Mom - When she is serious and wants something done fast like. "Play CD Mom... put in Noodlebug Cd Mom"
Mommy - When she is clingy or in a cuddly mood. "Maaameee" usually says this with a big smile and a high pitched voice.
Jenny-Honey (Who calls me Jenny?) - When she is being just plan devious!

Note: She also does this with her Papa-Father-Dad-Honey and Sister-Didi-Honey

Interior decorating (!)

Color scheme - She has decided orange crayon would be better for an accent wall and multi colors for our couch. I guess she didn't like beige.
Centerpiece - She thinks the flowers are out of date and she should be the centerpiece on our dining room table. How she got up there? I don't know... you just can't blink with this child.
Other Decor arrangement - This mean arranging her dolls and stuff animals on the multicolored couch.

Social behaviors

Greets everyone... which is pretty typical for a lot of children. However, sometimes she says "Hello Moto"!
When music is playing, insist everyone dances or sings, depending on the beat.

Intellectually

Enjoys reading most books but specifically enjoys the ones with a little spunk.

Skippyjon Jones by Judy Schachner (Thanks Amelia at Mommycrowd for the recommendation... I mean it.... really) Bean aspires to be like the frisky kitty by jumping on her bed and coloring walls, calendars and potty chairs. Skippyjon is her inspiration for interior decorating.
Fancy Nancy by Jane O'Connor. - The prestiges Bean can't resist wearing sunglasses (even smugged and at night) and fancy accessories. This is the time when Jenny-honey is heard the most.

In general Little Bean is happy and lets me know, "Mama, [I am] happy" (she also lets me know when she is mad, crying and being funny).

By mid-day she reflects on her morning activities before taking a nap. Well I like to think shes reflecting... but most likely shes planning her afternoon.

Bonus Days!

2008-02-18T17:54:00.008-05:00

Daughter #1 has spring vacation this week... no school.... no getting up early to drop her off! What does that mean besides having more time with her? More things can get done around the house! Plus, Little Bean has 2 people to keep her busy or should I say out of trouble.

Today, we went to the craft store, taking the craft idea from Work at Home Mom Revolution who got it from Not Martha, (who in turn posted all her resources) with a beautiful step-by-step on how to make marble magnets. It was quite fun. I made a little charm bracelet for Little Bean using a similar technique. Bean choose all the designs (sorry about the lighting in the photo).

Also, today I hemmed daughter #1's jeans and started crocheting a hat for the fifth time. This one seems like a keeper. The other hats looked good, but didn't fit anyones head, including Little Bean's dolls. So, I pulled the yarn out and started over. Again and again.

...the jeans. Daughter #1 is good at finding bargains with her gift cards. She takes her time and usually comes home with really good deals. Sometimes the deals are pants made for tall people. Not a problem with me ... only takes about 15-30 minutes to hem. I know some family members and friends are moaning right now, remembering their painful shopping experiences with Daughter #1, but I have to say, she is improving. Shopping with her...thats another blog. Even more painful, shopping with her, her grandma and her papa while the innocent bystanders, Little Bean and I soak in the dynamics.

Alright, back to Bonus Days! Tomorrow, I am hoping to get some much needed cleaning done.

What is in a Name?

2008-02-14T15:25:00.007-05:00

When I first thought of a name for my blog, I Googled it. I am the Googling Queen. I think Google should keep track of who Googles the most and hand out a prize. Like a million dollars or some chocolate. Either one would be great.

...anyway, when I googled "Living on a Whim", I only came up with another blog that was pretty much discontinued (can't find it now). At that time, I contemplated changing the name to "Life on a Whim" like the website address, but never got around to it.

The other day my husband discovered a few more sites after his daily google to find my blog. So, I decided to do another Google search myself. This is what we found:

1) http://www.livingonawhim.com/pblog/ - This guy's blog has been around before mine... I think. -- he could have changed the name after he opened his store front, http://www.livingonawhim.com/...who knows.
Looks like an interesting blog. Some good pictures as well.

2) http://lifeonawhim.com/ - not to be confused with this one, mine (http://lifeonawhim.blogspot.com) - She's a photographer and just started her blog last month.

3) http://theglitteratini.blogspot.com/2006_03_01_archive.html - Living, on a Whim. Oh I see, the comma makes all the difference. Thats why I didn't find your blog Maxine! Living, on a Whim has been around awhile, dates back to December 2004. Oops! Anyway, Maxine has a nice fashion, celebrity blog. A place to get the latest scoop.

There are more with similar names, but not as close as the one listed above. So, what now? Should I change my blog name? ...I don't want to.

I think I will just continue "Living on a Whim" and enjoy the company.

Brown Bananas

2008-02-11T13:42:00.002-05:00

I hate wasting bananas. They are my favorite fruit.

If you are like me, it is always hard to gage how many bananas to buy for the week. So, when we don't eat them all before they are brown, I throw them in the freezer. It is too bad my Aunt, who loves brown bananas, doesn't live near by.

Anyway, its time to make banana bread. Here's my favorite recipe:

2 1/2 cups Whole-wheat flour
2 tsp Baking soda
1tsp Salt
1 cup Butter, soft at room temperature
1 1/2 cups Sugar
4 large/ripe Mashed Bananas (ok to use yellow bananas, just add more sugar)
4 Eggs
OR 4 tsp of Flax seed and 1/2 cup of water
1 cup Pecans or Walnuts

Preheat over to 350
Grease and flour 2 medium loaf pans
In a medium bowl stir together flour, baking soda, and salt
In a large bowl, beat (or hand mixer) together butter, sugar; gradually mashed bananas; then eggs or flaxseed/water and beat until completely mixed (mixture will look a little curdled). Add nuts. Then add the combined dry ingredients and mix until blended.

Pour evenly and equally into 2 prepared pans. Bake for 55-60 minutes until tooth pick comes out clean. (You may have to add 5-10 if using Flaxseed).
Let cool before serving.

Move on back!

2008-02-08T12:10:00.002-05:00

Do you know the song, "The Wheels on the Bus"? Little Bean loves that song and all the actions that go with it. If you don't know it, click here and listen. One of her favorite verses in that song is ...The driver on the bus says "Move on back" . When you sing this verse you motion with your fingers in a fist and your thumb sticking up, swinging it back toward your shoulder. Indicating the passengers should move on back.

With that in mind....

We traveled a little bit this past summer and one of the airlines we took was Southwest. If you are not familiar with Southwest, they don't assign seats. In a way it is nice, since they let all the small children and their families on first. In most cases the families tend to sit in the same area. So, when Little Bean kicks the back of a seat, she is only bothering the toddler in front of her.

While everyone was looking for seating, one flight attendants made an announcement. "Folks, there are plenty of seats in the back, so move toward the back.....move on back..." As she repeated "move on back" several more times, Little Bean could not resist to assist. She stood up in her seat looked sternly at each passenger as they approached and motioned for them to move on back.

Clever girl.

Wood working class: Desk to Desk Organizer

2008-02-07T13:23:00.002-05:00

Just completed my second week of beginning woodworking class. It went as smooth as a sanded board. However, I have to admit the first week didn't go so well.

Last week, I got dinner on the table early and rushing out the door, to go sign-up for the wood working class. After signing up I had to drive to the other side of the building and check-in with the teacher. I arrived exactly on time. No one was there yet. After 5-10 minutes about 3 other men trickled in and an hour into the class a woman showed up as well. I quickly learned, I was truly the only novel woodworker. On the most part, people take the class each year, so they have access to the woodworking shop. Teaching is mainly experiential and informal.

Since, I spent most of my time trying to convince my husband that this woodworking class was just a whim and I won't buy any major equipment like table saws and planers . I wasn't prepared. All I had was a picture of a desk I wanted. I cut it out a few months ago from a designer magazine in hopes of finding a less expensive version. When asked by my classmates, "what are you planning to make?", I would pull out the picture. No one really said anything until I showed it to an older gentleman. First he laughed, then he told me I was a very ambitious. "B.... can tell you a little about being ambitious , can't you?" he said as he touched her shoulder, the only other woman in the room. At this point I was ready to walk out of the class. Actually, I tried by saying, "well since I don't have anything to work on, I'll just come back next week". That didn't work. I should of just ran for it. The teacher said I should stay, learn the machines and work out the dimensions of my project. So I did.

Over the weekend my husband and I looked at various desk woodworking plans. In the end we decided it might be better if I worked on a desk organizer. I bought 2 planks of pine wood and returned to class the following week with my project plan. Above is a picture of my wood all cut-up. I just have to do a few more groves, then I start to put it together next week. The teacher was a big help! Thank goodness, I am the only newbie to woodworking, in the class!
...stay tuned

Organic Bugs in our Canned Organic Chic Peas...YUM!

2008-02-04T14:28:00.001-05:00

I am not really good about buying everything organic and environmental safe, but I try. I just have to say, looking at these bugs don't make it easy.

...I think I'll go back to soaking dry beans.

(previous post erased... didn't want to display too much ignorance about organic food)

I want to be kind....

2008-02-03T13:24:00.002-05:00

I want this badge.

....However, I know I have a lot of work to do to earn it.
Thats means no snide, cheeky, teasing remarks about anyone, including my mother and husband.

...hmmm, then again, thats no fun.

Maybe I can find an "Almost Kind Blog" badge.

For those who qualify for this badge, here is the website:
http://www.chookooloonks.com/kindblog/

Eat your chocolate

2008-01-29T22:09:00.001-05:00

Yesterday, I was having trouble getting Little Bean ready to go the Dentist... so I bribed her with chocolate. Is that wrong?

Mom, (I) peed in the bathtub

2008-01-24T23:11:00.001-05:00

Ah... to be that young, honest and free again.

10 Reasons Why My Husband ....

2008-01-22T14:07:00.001-05:00

... Should Not Cook Dinner

He doesn't clean-up after himself while cooking
His cooking is not as good as his Mother's
He uses every pan available
He doesn't look at my menu and uses up all the ingredients for the week
He thinks he is giving me a break - meanwhile I am running after Little Bean
We don't have an air vent
He calls me into the kitchen several times to find certain objects
There is a chance he will make my least favorite dish
Should I wait for dinner or should I go to bed ... is sometimes a toss-up
We don't own gas masks

... Should Cook Dinner (Sometimes)

I get a hour break from chasing Little Bean to clean-up the kitchen
He almost cooks as well as his Mother
He cooks better than my Mother
I get to go to the store again
We can tell friends/family that we do use the cookware gifts they gave us
Windows are opened and the house is aired out (even when it is 2 below 0)
I get my exercise running back and forth
There's a chance he will make my favorite dish
He enjoys cooking
His cooking clears our sinus'

Confessions of a Mom

2008-01-18T21:43:00.001-05:00

Lately, I have been overly tired and lacking creativity (note the slow post production).
Why? Well... we can't get our 21 month old daughter to sleep in her own bed!

When we are out and about, Little Bean can really shine and impress people. Her communication skills are excellent, she does somersaults, walks backwards with her eyes closed and displays her ability to use the potty. A true toddler star (too innocent to be a show off). I often hear from other Mothers and Grandparents about their children/grand children's lack of speech at 18 -24 months and their shock that Little Bean is already potty trained.

I smile big in hopes to hide the bags under my eyes and answer their questions on her amazing skills. I usually fail to tell them, the inside story. The struggles at home, that cause turmoil inside me ... as for Little Bean, she is happy with her set-up.

I don't mind that Little Bean shares our bed, it is just hard to admit to other mother's who have children in their own beds, in their own rooms and no longer breastfeeding by 6 months. (Hopefully you can't see that last part. Thats another confession.)

We never set out to intentionally co-sleep or breastfeed beyond 1 year, like some families. It just worked out that way. Now what do I do?

Why is there so much pressure to start detaching from our children when they are 6 months?

Even Doctors are trained to put pressure on parents. Our family Dr. did. After a year of well-child check-ups, she confessed that she had similar issues with her daughter who is 6 months older than Little Bean. At Little Bean's 18 month check-up, she continued with the cautions and pressure, but also added, "eventually she will decide to stop when she is ready... "

I guess right now, I just need to accept and embrace our lifestyle. Especially knowing, we have a healthy and very happy little toddler.

My Mother: The Mother In-law

2008-01-03T12:13:00.000-05:00

My mother is not my mother in-law, but she sure fits some of those stereotypes of a mother in-law... whatever that may be. Whenever she comes to visit, the stress level in our house rises 10 notches. And she was here over the holidays. If you noticed, I haven't posted for the past couple of weeks. Too busy trying to keep everyone happy, including my mother.

Which stereotype does she fit into, you ask? That is kind of hard. She is not a cookie cutter sort of woman. She is not mean or angry... thats me. Really, it is hard to describe my mother. I guess she is a good mix of a lot of those Mother in-law stereotypes. I do know, she is good at getting under my skin and making my husband's blood simmer (to put it mildly!). Actually, I think that is why my older daughter loves her so much.

When I was a teen, her favorite pastime was embarrassing me in front of my friends (note: my dad could do this without trying). When we were trying out the latest dance moves, my mother would come and join us. Never catching on to the latest moves, but just doing her own unique, out-of-style dances. I would watch her face and she would have this little grin that told me she knew she was making my life miserable. Not to mention her singing. Oh! I just knew it was coming when she would pick my friends and I up from school to take us home. On our way, she would let us play our favorite radio station, which was cool.... but she would sing along (not cool) and sing all the wrong words (very uncool). I would tell her to "please stop", but I learned quickly, that my balking only fueled her drive to continue on with her embarrassing behavior. What do you do with a mother like that?

Anyway, as a Mother in-law she pressures my husband into shopping at the grocery store for things she doesn't need. She feels we don't have things that she can eat during her visit, even though, her breakfast, lunch and dinner is prepared for her and she eats it happily.

Just the thought of my husband and my mother at the store makes me laugh. My husband treats the grocery store like a corn maze--one you have to get through quickly (When I shop with him, he always manages to get the cart. Two minutes later, I am 2-3 aisles behind, with an arm full of food.). On the other hand, my mother takes her time, stops and samples everything, talks to the worker passing out samples and pretends she is interested in buying. (What am I talking about, she's not pretending, she sticks the product in the cart and moves on to the next sample!) During the process, she manages to spill food on her shirt and wears it like a badge of honor as she continues her shopping. Meanwhile, my husband is at the other end, the "finish line" and has all the groceries he thinks we need. Thank goodness they have their own carts.

When they arrive home, my husband unloads his 2 bags of groceries and helps my mother carry in her 10 bags of groceries and gives me a look. "The look." Let me translate that for you: I will turn into my Mother someday and if that happens, he will have to buy another house in a different country, in order to maintain sanity.

Now I ponder

2008-01-02T21:14:00.001-05:00

Just received my new Wondertime Magazine today. For those who don't know this magazine, it's a (breath of fresh air) Parenting magazine. I love reading this magazine, when I find time.

...Well, I had a little bit of time the other day.

So I skimmed through my copy and came across an article about "Why babies throw things" . Little Bean, loves to throw things, so this article was worth my time. Basically, the answer to the question was curiosity with gravity; and cause and effect.

...hmmm....okay.

Doesn't answer why Little Bean narrows her eyes, aims and pegs us with her peas. Well, maybe cause and effect. Effect: we jump and duck to avoid the flying object, Cause: Little Bean's target practice; all of this affects her in a way that she laughs so hard!

Little Beans Favorite Dish

2007-12-27T12:55:00.001-05:00

I sometimes make this dish for Little Bean's lunch . It takes about 15 minutes to make and is very easy. It is actually a very simplified & modified stir fry (but no frying).

Veggies & Noodles

1/2 cup of dry noodles
1 carrot diced
1/4 cup of frozen peas
1/4 cup of frozen broccoli
1 tbs of soy sauce
1tbs of honey

Boil the noodles and vegetables together until soft; strain and cool; mix soy sauce and honey together and mix in with the vegetable and noodles.

My Micro-Managing Supervisor

2007-12-19T15:03:00.001-05:00

Pre-Blog Definitions: Fridge DJ - -radio that magnetically sticks to your refrigerator and features lively learning songs, such as, the ABC and Old McDonald

My supervisor, wears a lopsided pony tail, has rolled up jeans and carries a Fridge DJ around with her. Why she doesn't leave it on the fridge I don't know. As the singer croons out "ABC" for the 5th time, I try to vacuum the room.

I kind of miss the days when my Supervisor, Little Bean, was afraid of the Vacuum. (Oh did I say that out loud? ....I guess not, so that doesn't make me a bad employee).

My Supervisor has to stand right in front of me when I vacuum. Which kind of makes it hard. She searches the floor with her eyes and points to small objects to assure I see them too and vacuum them up. I kindly ask her to move and she does, to stand right next to me, on my left side. Then proceeds to hug my legs. Now, how am I going to finish this task?

Now I Ponder - Why isn't there a vacuum out there, that is also a toy? A vacuum that looks like a car or horse with a seatbelt and/or handles, would work great in this situation. ....please don't answer that. I know it would be recalled as soon as it hit the market... I am just wishing.

Now my Supervisor looks up at me with her big, brown eyes and says "Hold you Mama". So I pick her up. Kind of hard to vacuum with a child on your hip, but I do and for my hard work my supervisor gives me a big sticky kiss.

Thinking back to all my work supervisors, I think Little Bean is the best one.

My favorite Sandwich Recipe

2007-12-15T12:58:00.000-05:00

I love this sandwich! Many years ago, my Mother ate a similar sandwich out on the East coast; she made a sandwich suggestion at a local health food store in the Midwest. So, on my lunch breaks in high school I would go to the health food store and eat this sandwich. Now I just make it at home.

Let me know what you think. If you have had this sandwich before, I would like to know where?

Recipe:

1/2 peeled and thinly slice apple
2 slices of bread
Mayo
sprouts - clover or any kind you prefer (also taste good with lettuce)
2 slices of Cheese - Swiss and Cheddar are good options
1tsp-tbs Sesame seeds (optional)
1tsp-tbs raisins (optional)

Spread the mayo on the 2 slices of bread. On top of one slice, add a layer of each cheese, apple, and sprouts. Add nuts and raisins before putting the 2nd slice on top. Enjoy!

p.s. I usually eat it without the nuts and raisins.

Potty training update

2007-12-14T21:08:00.001-05:00

I consider the Potty training over, because Little Bean understands the concept, she is just still working on meeting the expectation. Now (and it has been that way for a few weeks), I just help her go to the bathroom. She still announces "Diaper" and occasionally I chase her around for fun, but on the most part she goes when she needs to. She still has a daily accident and wakes -up on most days with a wet diaper, but continues to poop 100% in the potty. I can live with that. Yeah!

Now I ponder

2007-12-11T15:41:00.000-05:00

You think if I sprayed on enough perfume, enough to make people's eyes water (and cover-up the no-time-to-take-a-bath stench), they won't notice I didn't comb my hair today?

Caulking Guns....Now thats a tool!

2007-12-10T14:28:00.001-05:00

Alert! Alert! Boring Blog Ahead!

I couple of months ago I bought a caulking gun to re-caulk around the bathtub. Since, I have never used a caulking gun or caulked before, this didn't seem all that interesting. So, all the supplies stayed in its home depot bag until yesterday. Yesterday happened to be the day I decided it needed to be done once and for all. So, I read the directions....blah,blah, blah....cut the spout, and pierce the seal...blah,blah,blah (that's all the info we need for this post). So, after preparing and taping the area, my husband and I begin to prepare the caulking gun. After a lot of effort trying to get the lid off the caulking tube, I just cut of the tip with scissors. Husband however, worked on it a minute longer and discovered you just pull it off, instead of unscrewing the lid. Duh! (side note: this says nothing about our personalities)
Next, once more using the scissors, I clipped off the tip of the tube. Now it was time to poke a hole in the seal. As we were searching for something small and sharp enough to accomplish this job, husband found on the caulking gun a "spout cutter". Oops! This caulking gun had its own tip cutter! Neat! At this point, I realized if this caulking gun has a tip cutter, it should also have a small tool to piece the seal ...and sure enough it did. This caulking gun was loaded! To me the perfect tool for the job! After all was said and done, it took a whole 2 minutes to caulk around the tub. 20-30 minutes to prepare.

Is that it?! (Well, minus the preparation)

Is it possible that home improvement and maintenance seem very intimidating until we jump into a project. I have to keep saying that as we plan our demolition and renovating of our other bathroom. We have done a few small projects in the past and it has been true so far, I just hope it continues.

By the way, the caulking gun was around $10 at Home Depot; caulk around - $3; doing it yourself - priceless.

I must have slept through that class

2007-12-05T13:03:00.001-05:00

I took Child Development in College. However, I don't remember anything about the belly button stage. Little Bean and her friends have to show and check out each others belly buttons before they begin to play. Its kind of like when dogs meet and they sniff each others.... well you know what I mean. The other day I felt a little bad, when the toddlers met up at the swimming pool. They all had 1 piece suits and didn't know what to do. It took them awhile to warm up to each other, but not as quick as their usual belly button greetings. Interesting uh?

Well, I think I need to write a letter to Erickson and Piaget. Are they still alive?

Come to think of it, I don't remember learning about the "got to use and check out every bathroom, in each store and gas station theory" either. Its kind of like how dogs grace every yard (I got to quit comparing my children to dogs). Anyway, my older daughter went through this stage for sure. It lasted from when she was 4 years old until she was 10. .... very long stage. During this time, I got to see bathrooms, I wish I had never seen. We even were offered bathrooms at gas stations, that have signs saying "No public restrooms". That should of been my first clue.

A quick way to move on from this stage is to travel to a developing country and use the bathroom at the Zoo. They will never do it again... trust me.

Note: Make sure they are aware of smells and are disgusted by really uncleaned bathrooms . Also note: take wet wipes and a clean set of clothes for your child to change into (but clean up somewhere else). Also take a mask and gloves, if you go into the bathroom with them (you might not once you approach the building and smell and realize it wasn't the animals' cages) .
Oh, one more note: Once they move on from this stage, they move onto another interesting, just as frustrating stage that these Theorist don't mention in their text books. So, if you are afraid to move on to the next stage, don't try this method.

Alright, forget Piaget and Erickson, I am writing my own stages of development.

Fried or Burned Food Cancer Link

2007-12-03T21:12:00.000-05:00

Isn't this blurb from a BBC news story on fried foods scary:
Women who eat crisps or chips every day may double their chances of ovarian or womb cancer, say scientists..

Well, another eyeopener about fast food habits--how I wish I didn't eat the Burger King meal last weekend, NOT. ;-)

But seriously, as a step in the right direction, it's time to do a new poll on french fries...so, please vote.

Dr. Andrew Weil had some comforting words (about the adverse effects of acrylamide) for the average Jane..

"...I don't think there's any great cause for alarm about these findings, for two reasons: One, if you're on a healthy diet, you're probably not eating a significant amount of fried foods and processed baked goods. Secondly, you have to maintain perspective about foods that cause cancer in rats. Most aren't human carcinogens. For example, substances in such foods as apples, apricots, bananas, broccoli, cabbage, cherries, and chili peppers (to name a few) have been shown to cause cancer in rodents. As you undoubtedly know, fruits and vegetables do not raise the risk of cancer among humans - they reduce it...."

Well, to sum up...all I can say is...RATS!

Now I Ponder

2007-12-01T08:34:00.000-05:00

Why does my teen laugh when I sing, "I bet you wish your girlfriend looked hot like me..."?

Jenn VS Oprah

2007-11-29T13:10:00.000-05:00

I love Oprah when I have time to watch. Her favorites of the season were on recently,

but I have to be realistic.

Oprah’s Favorites

Jenn Favorites

Samsung Progressive HD Camcorder SC-HMX10C Approximate value: $799.99 800-SAMSUNG;

www.samsung.com
Available at major retailers including Amazon.com,
Circuit City, Sears, CompUSA

3.99 family photo coupons from JCPenney

We usually forget to bring our cameras(digital/camcorder) and rarely download or make dvds. So why upgrade? For less than 800 bucks you can take your picture each week and convince your child's soccer team to sit for a photo at JCPenney's.

Or for regular store coupons: http://www.jcpportraits.com/coupons/index.shtml

www.jcpportraits.com/coupons/index.shtml

Or for regular store coupons: http://www.jcpportraits.com/coupons/index.shtml

Perfect Endings Cupcakes from Williams-Sonoma

Approximate value: $59 (Set of 9)

800-541-2233; www.williams-sonoma.com

Imperfect Cupcakes made from a Duncan Hines Cake mix

Approximate value: $2

http://www.duncanhines.com/

CLARISONIC Skin Care System

Approximate value: $195/system

888-5-CLARISonic (888-525-2747);

www.clarisonic.com

Aveeno skin care products

Clear complexion foaming cleanser

--helps with those hormonal break-outs.

***A most have, especially if you barely have time to shower in the morning. Really nice on the skin.

http://www.aveeno.com/

HDTV Refrigerator with Weather and Info Center from

LG Electronics Model LSC27991

Approximate value: $3,799

www.LGUSA.com

…hmmm, I wouldn’t mind having this.

Ok, that’s about 9-10 months of grocery money. You think my family will notice if I serve beans and rice everyday?

O’s Guide to Life

Approximate value: $29.95

Available wherever books are sold or online at

www.oxmoorhouse.com

The Pocket Idiot's Guide to Potty Training Problems (The Pocket Idiot's Guides) by Alison D. Schonwald and George G. Sheldon

Approximate value: $10

However, here some more of my favorites:

1. My family

2. Wonder time Magazine (check out amazon.com for magazines deals)

3. G-diapers (now only if they had pull ups. I think I’ll write to them.)

4. Stokke high chair (we don’t own one yet, just love to check them out at friends’ houses)

5. Mega blocks – Little Bean can play for hours.

It might be too early to say....

2007-11-27T08:25:00.001-05:00

I think Little Bean gets it. In the afternoon, yesterday, she was dry until bed time and made 2 deposits into her potty before and after dinner. What worked? I am not sure. I keep playing back the day.

The morning started off at play group. She did her usual, yelled, "diaper!" and continued to go before I can get her to a bathroom. Since, we were not home I didn't force the issue. After her nap, that was different. I put her in her cloth training pants and took her into the bathroom with me and asked her to listen while I used the bathroom (yeah,admit I did this). Later that afternoon, she would yell "Diaper change" (which is the same as diaper) and we would put her on the potty. After a couple of minutes, she got up and ran back to her toys, as she usually does. This time we let her play and run around without her diaper. Within 10 minutes she decided to sit down and go. Same thing happened after dinner. I think either: a) she wants the control; b) we are not giving her the attention while she is sitting on the potty; c) she can go with no one watching her; Or d) all the above.

24 hours later:
Today, was interesting. Nothing happened until dinner time (how does she hold it that long?) She decided to lay down (on her back) on the floor in front of her potty chair and pee. She looked like a cherub water fountain that was knocked down in the middle of our kitchen floor. She seemed more amused by the fact that she could make her pee go up into the air. I think she would of continued, but I quickly picked her up and put her on the potty where she finished. Later, while running around with her training pants off, she realized she better sit down a little too late. However, she did get most of her poo-poo into the potty. I am just thankful both accidents were easy clean-ups. Little Bean still scored 2 stickers as well. I decided to reward her for trying.

Just before bedtime she wet her training pants, trying to get Papa to help her. None of us understood what she was saying. It was almost like she was talking in code, hoping that only her Papa understood, to avoid having me rush her to the potty.
So, at this point, I think it is too early to say, "The secret of our success was..."

Signs you know your toddler is too old to be burped

2007-11-25T11:53:00.001-05:00

1. After a few seconds of patting her back, she fakes a burp.
2. She burps all her toys including her recently constructed Lego tower
3. She says, "Mmm...tastes like potatoes"
4. At the grocery store, he asks the 80 year old woman to "show her burp."
5. He wins a burping contest at the county fair.

Hindi

2007-11-23T19:38:00.000-05:00

I am going to learn Hindi. I have 3-4 Hindi books on the shelf , a CD and some websites to help in the process. However, I need to be honest. I have been on this mission to learn Hindi for the past 5 yrs and I can't say too much.

I can say in Hindi:
1. My name is ...
2. How are you
3. Namaste
4. Ok
5. Fine
6. No

Helpful Resources:
1. Learn Hindi from Bollywood Movies. Indian Style or Cutting Chai
Actually very educational as well as very funny
2. Learn Hindi (Simple phrases and words)
3. Baby Hindustani
DVD for small children, but it is working for me. Now I know my colors and can count to 10
4. For a bigger list of resources just click on the following:
Learning Hindi

Annoying Mother keeps talking about Potty Training

2007-11-22T14:21:00.001-05:00

I promise to move on from the subject, since I have been doing other things in my life besides potty training. Like baking up a storm for Thanksgiving, making holiday gifts and sewing curtains and winter pajamas. However, I just have to give an update on Little Bean's progress.

Not going so well. I think we are back to square 1. Whenever she yells "Diaper!" (her indication that she has to go to the potty), she either runs away or refuses to let us put her on the potty. By the time we get her there she has already has gone. OR, she stands by her potty and says nothing for a few minutes and then blurts out "all done", and that is when I realize what just happened. It has been pretty hit or miss. It might be my fault for not being consistent with her or staying on top of her cues.

Yesterday, she dragged her Musical Potty chair out to the living room, turned it upside down and pressed the music button on the bottom. She has discovered how to make the reward music play, without even doing her part to get the reward. Sometimes, she sticks her foot in the bowl of the potty, to get the music to go. We are working hard to put a stop to that.

My next plan is to wait until Monday, when my husband and daughter are out of the house to focus on potty training. It is a lot easier when it is just me and her tackling this sport. Well we will see.

Pancake Recipe

2007-11-19T13:14:00.000-05:00

I love making my own pancake mix. This recipe is eggless, but can be altered easy if you want to add the eggs (just leave out the egg replacer). Taste better than the store brand mixes.
Powder Egg Replacer can be found in most health food stores. Note: You will need large airtight container (3-4 quarts) for storage on your kitchen self.

Ultimate Pancake Recipe

Makes:	Makes about 2 1/2 lbs
Prep Time:	10 mins
Cook Time:	5 -15 mins
Ready In:	15 - 25 mi
Servings:

Ingredients

4 cups White Flour

1 cup Wheat Flour

1 cup Corn Meal/Flour

1 cup Oat Flour, Rye Flour (or ½ cup of each)

7 Tsp Baking powder

7 Tsp Sugar

5 Tsp Powdered Egg Replacer

4 tsp Salt

Directions

Mix well in the bowl or the storage container and store until use. To mix:

1 – 1 ¼ cups Milk
1 ½ cups Pancake Mix
2 Tablespoons Oil or melted butter
Combine in a bowl; Fry on a lightly buttered or oiled skillet

Time to get ready for Christmas? -- Enough about Potty Training Already

2007-11-18T22:01:00.003-05:00

Each year Christmas hits me like a deer in headlights. Thats because I ignore all the signs and commercials until after Thanksgiving. However, I always tell myself "Self, if you wanted to make a gift for each person in your life, you needed to start earlier" . I love Christmas and the meaning of Christmas. I don't enjoy, shopping after October 31, having my kids sit on Santa's lap (I refuse, I just don't trust those men in the Santa suits), cheesy-over-done Christmas songs, over spending, and daily emails from Toys-r-us. I do like to have fun with my family around Christmas, baking, doing crafts, putting up the tree, singing loudly, playing games and watching movies (A Christmas Story is our annual favorite). The last 10 years my oldest daughter and I like to spend time making some of the gifts. This year is no different and we can't wait to get started.
Here's a list of some of the things we made in the past and may do again this year:

1. Older daughter's art work (when she was 5) and put them on t-shirts and mugs.

2. Crocheted hats

3. Rice heating pads

4. Fleece blankets with person's initials

5. Gift baskets with various interesting things like Homemade Pancake mix and syrup or canned salsa, pickles and other goodies made from our garden.

6. Mug with a bag of homemade hot chocolate, and candy dipped spoons. Along with homemade cookies and candy.

This year, like last, we are doing "Made in Maine" stuff including our own handmade and baked goods. This works out great with family and friends who don't live in the same state. In our case, all our family live in different states.
Last year, a friend sent us a package of items made in Iowa and I loved it. It was a small taste of home, so it very special to me.

Potty training update - Not going so well. It has been hit or miss lately. I think she does better when it is just me and her during the day. Right now she says "Potty" or "Diaper" when she wants our attention. When we start to take her she says "no-no-no", but most of the time we continue to just set her on the potty.

Hurray!

2007-11-16T22:56:00.001-05:00

Little Bean peed in the potty 2x today!!!! She had a very successful afternoon after a very trying morning. She had 3 accidents with one ending up on the floor, since all we had left clean was her cotton (no plastic cover) training pants. I was actually glad for the teachable moment. Since she was sick for a few days, we took 2 steps backwards with potty training. However, not with pooping, she is still on top of that technique. I read in my handy dandy potty training book a technique for 21 month and older and modified for Little Bean. The technique in the book seemed kind of harsh for her. In brief, you leave the child in their wet clothing and stand at the accident spot and say "You're suppose to pee in the potty! You need more practice," take them to the potty and practice. Have the child pull down their pants and sit on the potty for a few seconds. Repeat 5-6 times. Ok, I cleaned Little Bean up and the spot with her help before I took her to the spot and said, "Your pee needs to go in the potty not on the floor" and I took her to the potty and had her sit there fully clothed and said, "This is where you are suppose to pee". We went back and forth about 3-4 times, Little Bean smiling and repeating some of the words I was saying. That was her last accident of the day. Conscience? Or maybe it is her new potty chair that plays music when she pees. I don't know, I am just happy that she peed on the potty today.

Sick Baby

2007-11-15T23:12:00.001-05:00

Little Bean is sick today. However, she continues to poop on the potty. Still working on peeing and making it in time to the potty. Today, we purchased another potty chair for the main floor (1st floor), in hopes it will make it easier when she is feeling better.

Calories burned running to the Potty?

2007-11-14T22:18:00.000-05:00

Day 4

hmmm..... a lot

To Pee or Not to Pee

2007-11-13T12:43:00.000-05:00

Yesterday ended better than the previous 2 days. Little Bean pooped in the potty after standing and demanding her diaper be put back at least a dozen times. Eventually, she settled down with a book and after 2 minutes (30 minutes total), she stood-up and said "All done". Leaving a nice package in the potty. This morning, she told me she had to go and pooped in the potty within seconds, it was small, but it was quick with no drama. I like that.

I think she is getting the hang of it, with one exception, peeing into the potty. Yesterday, she held her pee until nap time, when I put on a diaper. Than she peed again in her diaper when we went out for an errand and again in her training pants after dinner when we forgot to take her to the potty. This morning still struggling with the peeing. She announced "diaper!" we ran up the stairs, I pulled off a wet training pant and she finished peeing a few drops into the toilet.

Why we don't keep the potty chair in the living room you ask? I don't know. I think there is just too much for her to get into while trying to get her to focus on going to the potty. We have a bathroom on the main floor, but it is too small. Kitchen might be a good option, but I rather buy a 2ND potty chair so we are not transferring it back and forth. Oh.... I just visualized my head strong, determined, Little Bean carrying her potty bowl from the kitchen to the bathroom. Not a pretty sight. I think we will stick with running upstairs for now.

Reward has been 1 Elmo sticker and it is working. She is understanding that 1 sticker is enough, along with a lot of hugs, kisses and Yippee(s). The chocolate, I will eat for my reward.

BTW - I think Little Bean inherited the drama from her Grandmother (my mother).

Today is Another Day

2007-11-12T12:25:00.000-05:00

DAY 3

Day 2 was much better than day 1. Yesterday, Little Bean only had 1 accident and peed and pooped on the potty. We went out for dinner, so potty training was put on hold. She did announce while we were eating "Diaper!" and sure enough was wet when we got home. Her last words before she fell asleep last night was "Pooootteeee".

Today I think I am going to relax a little with the potty training. I will continue to take her, but I think after each meal and her nap is enough. I think I am putting too much stress on Little Bean and myself. The last two days my head was pounding by bed time and Little Bean was an easy sell on going "Night-Night".

On the bright side, I think she is starting to understand the expectation. Even though, she has yet to go to the bathroom today(yikes!), she is sitting better and when she gets up she looks for "water" or "poop" to dump in the big toilet. We will see how the rest of the day pans out.

She Likes to Potty All the Time

2007-11-11T13:34:00.001-05:00

Yesterday afternoon was a challenge. Now that we have training pants and a new potty chair, Little Bean, asked to go to the potty every 5 minutes. and I took her. I would climb the stairs, enter the bathroom, help her take off her training pants and she would sit on the potty. 2 seconds later she would say, "All done" and stand up and run out of the bathroom naked. My husband was no help, he didn't understand the madness and if it was up to him, he would put back on her diapers.

After climbing the stairs while holding Little Bean the 20th time, I decided, maybe she should climb the stairs herself. How smart am I? I know, a little slow. So, after climbing the stairs twice to just sit on the potty for a few minutes, the novelty of "going to the potty" was gone.

At this point I decided to just set a timer every 90 minutes and take her after dinner. Well, it almost worked. The first time she jump off the potty chair and ran into our bedroom and peed by the bed while yelling "DIAPER!". The second time she peed in front of the potty chair, and again yelling "Diaper!".

I think we are making progress.

Well, at least I know when she has go to the bathroom.
So, yesterday, she peed through 3 pairs of training pants within 5 minutes of her bathroom visit.

So far today she has only peed through 1 training pant and pooped in the toilet. The pooping was after she was demanding her pants or a diaper be put back on, while her face was turning red and her eyes were bugging out during our latest bathroom session. Once she quieted down and relaxed, I sat her on the potty again and she pooped. YEAH! She called her Papa into the bathroom to show her lovely deposit into the potty. After he left, she demanded her diaper be put back on again.

What I learned yesterday and so far today:
1. Make sure the bathroom door is closed
2. Have her stay in the bathroom and encourage her to stay on the potty.
3. I need some better awards or a lot of stickers for her successes. I have stickers and she loves stickers, but she expects a whole sticker page (her father's fault). I bet I could get away with giving her just 1 m&m.
4. Somehow, I am going to have to train my husband to potty train our Little Bean.

Ahhh... where do I begin?

2007-11-10T15:44:00.002-05:00

Last night was tough for me. I was really tired and welcomed sleep at 9:30 pm. However, I wanted to skim through a book I just picked up from the library. "Early -Start Potty Training" by Linda Sonna, PhD. After reading the Forward and Preface, I was up for another hour feeling anxious and disturbed.

Previously, I had informally started potty training my little bean at 18 months after some prodding from my Mother. (Side note: In the area of potty training I have to admit my Mother is very wise). I went out and bought her a toilet seat and had her sit on it before her bath each evening to avoid her daily peeing in the tub. Sometimes it worked for us and sometimes it didn't. No big deal... she is only 18 months. I keep reading to wait to toilet train around 2 1/2-3 yrs old because it is easier and less traumatic for the child.

Now after reading a few pages of "Early-Start Potty Training", I feel like an idiot. The first story in the book talks about a Chinese woman who has a potty trained 4-month old! (Hmm... you think that baby was traumatized?) Then I read how thinking about potty training has changed over the years in the western world. Back in the 1900 women started potty training their 2-3 month olds due to lack of washing machines and the convenience of disposable diapers. (I wonder if our grandparents had post-traumatic syndrome from potty training) Then disposables came along in the 60's and convinced people that for the mental health of the child, keep them in diapers longer. This is the point were I was feeling a little sick. On top of that the Author has about 13 pages of endnotes/references to back her book up on how research contradicts the popular way we potty train our children today.

So, today, I went to Target, purchased a potty chair and some training pants. Little Bean already tells us when she has to go potty, she just goes before we reach the toilet. I am hoping the potty chair will make a quicker transition and the training pants will decrease the number of accidents.

Now all I have to do is start... Well maybe get some stickers as rewards and read a little more on the subject of potty training.

LIVING ON A WHIM

Winnie the Pooh

"I'm Eloise and I am 6"

Running with Ease

Update on the bathroom

LOSE YOUR BELLY !?!

Bye-Bye Ugly Bath

Pre-school Application

Ahh Summer!

Almost forgot

MEME Tags

Cherry-Chocolate Chip Eggless cake recipe

INGREDIENTS:

Mom left, but I "have to...."

Nap time accomplishments

and I thought buying a bra with my mother in my teens was bad

Give me a food item..any food

New Vocabulary with Little Bean

Now I ponder

Help! I 'm becoming my Mother!

Flower cake

Birthday Girl!

Ah that child!

Korma Recipe -- My way!

Toddler Fashion

Potlucks?

Magazines

Apples

Drastic Purging of Stuff -- Spring Cleaning

BLOG FART

Ultimate Blog Party!

Crafts with Little Bean (22 months)

Snow, Snow go away....

Nap time Accomplishments

Silly Squirrel.... Tricks are for kids.

A Good Resourse for Getting your Baby/Toddler to Sleep

Time for Some Cognitive Development!

Don't put that in there!

Happy B-day DJ!

Little Bean on Politics

A Family Product I Cannot Live Without, is…

Just a few of Little Bean's Antics

Bonus Days!

What is in a Name?

Brown Bananas

Move on back!

Wood working class: Desk to Desk Organizer

Organic Bugs in our Canned Organic Chic Peas...YUM!

I want to be kind....

Eat your chocolate

Mom, (I) peed in the bathtub

10 Reasons Why My Husband ....

Confessions of a Mom

My Mother: The Mother In-law

Now I ponder

Little Beans Favorite Dish

My Micro-Managing Supervisor

My favorite Sandwich Recipe

Potty training update

Now I ponder

Caulking Guns....Now thats a tool!

I must have slept through that class

Fried or Burned Food Cancer Link

Now I Ponder

Jenn VS Oprah

It might be too early to say....

Signs you know your toddler is too old to be burped

Hindi

Annoying Mother keeps talking about Potty Training

Pancake Recipe

Makes:

Prep Time:

Cook Time:

Ready In:

Servings:

Ingredients

Directions

Time to get ready for Christmas? -- Enough about Potty Training Already

Hurray!

Sick Baby