H-E-Double Toothpick!

My darling 7yo shocked me a couple of weeks ago while shopping at the grocery store.  He said his first swear word!  To say I was "taken back" would have been an understatement.  After a quick mental thought I really didn't think he said what he did so I ignored it, after all he's Autistic and sometimes his words come out sounding funny anyway.

Fast forward a few days later and he says his beautiful new word once again but dad was in listening shot of it so he had a quick talk with him.  G has said it a few more times and we learned last night he has begun using it at school, so not good.  We gave G a talkin' to last night and explained his choice of words can hurt people and besides, we didn't want his friends to think wrong of him.

Now, although we did the correct parent thing by telling G his new word is a bad word we did come up with positives because again, he's Autistic and humor has to come with these buggers.  So here is our list of positives:

1: Albeit a bad word, he is consistent at using it in a correct sentence.

2: We now know that the treatments we took on with him this summer to improve speech, did work!

3: It technically isn't a swear word, he could have said a lot worse.

4: It's just funny to hear his little voice say it so boisterous and clear.

5: I know it wasn't me so he obviously learned it from his dad.

PS: Don't tell G we found positives in all of this.  He still has to know he's using a bad word.

It's a French/Italian/Indian thing...

FENNEL!

So I did it again, I took off on another leg of my culinary journal but this time it was with the romantic Fennel.  Doesn't it just scream, "come hither"?  Yeah, didn't think so.  This is what is called the "fronds and fur".  I have learned that the entire fennel is actually consumable.  It also has the same distinct smell (black licorice) as the Anise, but in fact, they are two separate plants so when you hear people refer to fennel as anise, you should correct them.  If you eat authentic Indian food, instead of an after dinner mint, they bring you a mixture of fennel seeds and candy coated black licorice.  I had no idea I was eating fennel until I researched this funky veggie! 

After cutting off all of the fronds and fur (the fur I learned can be used as an actual garnish on top of many dishes and soups, don't waste it if you don't have to!) this is what was left.  The fennel is actually quite hearty like an onion when it comes to storing in the refrigerator.  I left it for a week and was nervous that it was going to be bad, but nope, just as healthy as my red onion!  Apparently the Italians LOVE using fennel, it's more popular than an onion in cooking for those folks.  Also, the French, same thing!  Crazy Parisians!  Gotta love 'em!

My friend Liz sent me a recipe for a fennel salad by Giada de Laurentiis.  I accidentally allowed my basil to go bad and forgot to buy an orange so I ended up finding a similar recipe that matched some ingredients I had on hand.  The grapefruit, olive oil and red wine vinegar dressing for this was awesome!  However, the Hearts of Palm really didn't do anything for the salad, they were lost in there.  Also, I learned when eating fennel in its raw form, you NEED a mandolin to slice it thin or it is extremely time consuming to slice.  Too thick of pieces and the texture is a turn off.  Also, with this particular salad, the grapefruit chunks needed a sweeter element (like the paired orange in Giada's recipe) to cut down the bitter/tartness.  However, avocado and grapefruit are a phenomenal duo so that part worked. 

All in all, the fennel was just, "OK".  I think I'll try Giada's exact recipe next time and invest in a mandolin to slice my fennel super thin.  Maybe this way I'll have a better experience with fennel.   I also found a simple recipe for fennel soup that maybe will be more appetizing as it is cooked.

Will I buy fennel again you ask?  Yes, but not for this particular salad and I need to try it cooked too.  Maybe with a different salad and it being cooked down I'll have an astounding "YES" like I did with the kale (I'm craving that salad just thinking about it).

Walk and Roll!!

Baby R has FINALLY discovered that walking is a great way to get around!  She still doesn't have the confidence to walk w/o holding onto your fingers or this walker in the picture, but at least we are moving on feet!!

Every time you take her picture these days she always has to say, "cheeeeese" and when it's over she follows it with, "click".  This is her obviously saying "cheese".

We also had a few other milestones the last couple of weeks.  She turned 21 months old and she FINALLY learned to roll over!  It's taken her a lot longer but she finally figured it out.  However, diaper changes have now taken on a whole new life because she seriously won't sit still.  I think if she hadn't have had to go through all that she has, she'd be one of those crazy kids that is fearless.  And lastly, she also figured out how to finally climb onto the couch all by herself.  I find her playing on the couch constantly now.  She just doesn't know how to get down yet.

I've Lost it.....

So just when I'm thinking how stupid I am in my spelling errors, turns out, I was right all along in my spelling mistake from a couple of postings ago!  Here I was getting all annoyed at my "mommy brain" and it turns out, I was in "adult brain"!  It sucks that now I obviously can't tell where my head is at....ever.

So to my regular readers, I have officially lost my mind and will be back when I find it.

Ciao!

I Kan Spel

Really, I can.  I'm the first to admit I'm the dumbest person I know since having kids but I'm amazed at how much slips by when I'm in "mommy brain" vs. "adult brain".  Whenever I throw up a blog post, I do use the spell check but it doesn't catch words that are spelled right, but used in the wrong context or punctuation mistakes.

Prime example: Last night I came back to my blog to see if anyone had commented on my latest posts and realized I had spelled in all capitals, HURRAY instead of the proper word HOORAY!!  See, I clearly was in "mommy brain" when I posted that and didn't take the time to really analyze each word and comma before I published it. 

So, for future, if you see my stupid mistakes, go ahead and call me out on it but just don't expect me to care because my "mommy brain" is usually what I'm in 98% of the day.  Prepare for many more mistakes because I don't have an hour to sit at my computer, I usually have 10 minutes or less to throw up a posting and mistakes are inevitable, sorry.

Hapee Fryda!

Now and Later

This is Little R when she was a hilarious toddler.  I remember I had found the gray polo shirt she is wearing at Target one day on a clearance rack and it held up so well through all the washings that I saved it.

Now, here is Baby R as a screamin' 20 month old toddler wearing the same shirt today.  I've realized over the years and through all the hours I've spent shopping for my kids, nothing beats a clearance find!  I have clothes I paid full price for at places like **Gymboree that looked like crap after just a couple of washings.  And, I hate the ugly themes they come up with that are so cheesy- who wants to stick squirrels on their daughter from head to toe, literally?? 

**FYI, I actually hate Gymboree if you didn't catch that, I only shop here if it has something I'm looking for that no where else does. Besides, they finally opened Crazy 8 and if you don't know about this store, it's the same clothes only cheaper so you don't feel as guilty giving the receipt to the man who pays the bills.

In short, HURRAY for hand me downs that withstand the test of time!!

18 to life

Ok, so I stole my blog title from a popular 80's song by Skid Row (which is on my iPod for running) but we are on day 18 and counting of temps at or above 100 degrees and I feel like it is never ending...18 to life (except the only crime is the blasted sun ruining my mood)!  I'm tired of my makeup melting off my face when all I'm doing is simply buckling my kids into the car.  I'm tired of waking up at night sweating.  I'm tired of  flat, lifeless, frizzy hair.  I'm tired of not being able to send my kids outside to play.  I'm tired of not being able to run outside.  Although, there are die hards here that run even when temps reach 107!  I don't get it, maybe I'm being a baby about the heat or maybe I'm spoiled because I have a room dedicated to workout equipment in my house.  In any case, it's hot, I'm tired of it and am looking forward to that first night I walk outside and my teeth chatter!

That's all.

Me Likey

Today I will tell you about my likes:

I like shirts with ruffles.
I like ballet flats.
I like my house clean (although, it rarely is).
I like when my kids are quietly playing in their rooms.
I like when someone else cooks.
I like that I have weird dreams.
I like that I majored in the arts.
I like that I never had to have orthodontic work.
I like Crest Cinnamon toothpaste.
I like gooey, unhealthy macho nachos broiled in the oven until the edges of the chips are a little burnt.
I like vibrant, flavorful, fresh, raw foods (when I'm eating my most healthy).
I like driving fast.
I like dancing.
I like laughing at myself.
I like watching garbage (aka The Bachelor/Bachelorette, Rock of Love etc...).
I like knowing someone else will kill a spider (aka Mr. D or now, G!)
I like blowing bubbles with Hubba Bubba.
I like knowing I can belch louder than anyone but my dad after drinking Shasta Root Beer.
I like girls night.
I like roller skating.
I like that I didn't marry a sports maniac.
I like honest people.
I like my friends who like to keep in touch for real.
I like reading OPB (other people's blogs).
I like black.
I like white.
I like pink.
I like buying organic.
I like Friday.
I like you.

That is enough for today.  What do you like?

Summer Nights, Fire Lights

I really do love my pool at night.  It's serene.

We have color changing LED lights installed in the pool.  G loves to pretend the pool is fire when it fades to the red.  It's a real treat for him when we let him stay up late to go swimming in the color lights.  My personal favorite is also the red.  There is something eerie but tranquil about swimming in red water.

Definitely family memories will come from swimming during hot summer nights. 

Gluten Free and Fabulous!

G with his most prized birthday gift.  It's an exact replica Buzz from the movie including the box he comes in.  It's pretty funny, he talks back to you and if left alone he'll start talking to himself.  Great toy, highly recommend it if you can find this collectors edition.

Next prized possession...a Max & Ruby soft friend, well, he did get both brother and sister.  They both ate at the breakfast table this morning.  G wouldn't eat until he said they were finished first.  I'm glad he's learned to take turns.

She just finished throwing a fit.  She wasn't happy that everyone was sitting at the table without her.  I just hadn't picked her up yet, she's so impatient but we love her just the same.

K, so don't laugh at my decorating skills, it was the first cake I have ever decorated outside of a few sprinkles and candles.  A woman in the area used to have a gluten free restaurant but went out of business due to the economy.  She made awesome cakes but since she is no longer, I had to do it myself.  G told me he wanted a banana cake.  I went to Target and had him pick out a cake and then just purchased the toppers so he still felt like he got a "real" cake.  Well, Kuddos to me, my cake turned out amazing and I learned how to use natural food coloring w/o making the whole cake taste like spinach and beets! 

Hope we served you up a fabulous birthday G!!

G's older which means I'm older.

G turned another year older and we celebrated by taking him to The Great Wolf Lodge.  It's an enormous hotel that has a huge indoor water park.

Birthday boy!  He rode EVERY single slide at this place even the one that is pitch black inside!  He's much more brave than his own mom!

At check in they gave Mr. D and I these pink wrist bands that were also our room key, it was kind of fun just sticking our wrists up to our door and hearing it unlatch.

Each night they have story time promptly at 8pm.  G still wanted to swim and slide so I got the girls dressed in their Jammie's and went to the lobby where they had this large animatronics display that had lots of singing by a moose, owl, Indian girl and squirrels.  Then, one of the employees came out and read the kids a bedtime story.

After the story, Valerie, one of the Wolf mascots came out to take pictures.  Did you check out the giant, ugly Crocs?  This place pushes those hideous shoes like you wouldn't believe. 

We also went to the arcade, my kids love arcades!  Baby R was so happy she actually could participate this trip!

Time to go home, but not till we made a quick stop at the Wolf Bakery. 

The resort was awesome, they catered to G's diet really well, it was nice to have someone else do the cooking for a couple of days!

First stop...KALE!

Remember my culinary journey?  Well, my first stop I decided to try was KALE!  I didn't know if there was an art to picking out Kale or not so I did have to turn to a couple of Raw Foodies out there in the world wide web to assist me.  What I found out, nope, no real art, just look for clean leaves that don't have a lot of bug bites and caterpillar holes. 

I learned the stems the leaves are attached to are not edible so you pluck the leafy greens off and chuck the hard stems.  Rinse good too, buggies like to curl up in the curly parts of the leaf edges.

Ta-Dah!  My Kale and Avocado salad I tested on company (can you believe I was so brave to serve something I had never purchased or made to unsuspecting guests at my dinner table?!?!)  My salad got rave reviews, I loved it too so the verdict on Kale.....IT WILL MAKE A RETURN TO MY TABLE!  Here is my recipe I used should you like to impress your guests too...

Kale & Avocado Salad

1 bunch chopped kale leaves

1-2 tsp. Olive oil

1/2 tsp. Himalaya salt

2 Hass avocado, quartered

1-2 fresh limes, juiced

1 pint grape tomatoes, halved

5-7 radishes, sliced thin

Several large pitted green olives, diced

1/2c. chopped fresh cilantro

Fresh ground pepper

**Optional add 1-2 Tbls. toasted sesame seeds
**Optional add 1 1/2 cup packed arugula leaves

Tear leaves from Kale and discard tough stems. Cut into small ribbons and place in large serving bowl. Add Olive oil and Himalaya salt and with bare hands, massage oil and salt into the leaves until they wilt (will take less than one minute). Add rest of ingredients and toss. Taste test and tweak any ingredients you wish.