April 2011 Archives

If there's one sure sign that spring is in full swing it's all the grass that's cropped up. It seems like it happened overnight.  Kellan and I were at the park today and we noticed how tall the grass was. Then right on cue, a large tractor mower showed up. Well, forget the playground. Kellan wanted to take a closer look at the tractor. He would have chased it if I let him!

All the grass clippings in the field reminded me of how useful cut grass can be. You can leave your clippings on the lawn so it can feed nutrients back into your soil. With the proper technique as described by the University of California, Davis, your clippings will decompose rapidly and won't affect the look of your lawn.

You can also put grass clippings in your compost bin. Just make sure you don't overwhelm your bin with grass. Also, mix the grass with plenty of brown material, such as dried leaves, and turn over the compost regularly to aerate the compost and avoid getting too much moisture inside.

I love the smell of freshly cut grass! If there is such a thing as happy smells, that would be one of them.

Do you have tips for lawn recycling?

It's been so great now that the sun sticks around later in the evening. After work, Erik takes Kellan outside for a half an hour or more to water plants or take walks. That means I get the house to myself so I can start dinner undisturbed or even sit on the couch and catch up on the day's news online.

Now is the time I admit that I fall into time traps. Sometimes I intend to look up recipes but end up on Facebook or reading about who wore what to some awards ceremony, then Erik and Kellan come home and find me on the exact same spot on the couch where they left me. So much for making good use of my free time!

I love when friends share sites they think I would enjoy so here are a few sites I've been visiting lately, (somewhat) guilt-free:

A Cup of Jo - Talk about a mom who seems to have it all. This site is chock full of fashion and beauty ideas, pictures of the blogger's cute baby and food ideas to boot. I love!   

Ciao Bambino - Disclaimer: My actual favorite travel blog is my husband's, which also includes posts on traveling with children however in the interest of keeping this list outside the family, I have to mention Ciao Bambino. It's a great resource and makes me even more jazzed to travel.

Uncommon Goods - This site just may replace my Etsy addiction. Like the name suggests, you can find all kinds of unique items, many of them eco-friendly. 

Design*Sponge - If you are into lifestyle blogs, this site is a must. It has inspiring home décor ideas, recipes and DIY projects. The site is organized nicely and includes nice photos.

Official White House Photostream - I don't visit this site quite as much as the others, and this is not any sort of political endorsement, but I love the idea of having this kind of access to the leader of our country. I was an intern on Capitol Hill in college so I'll always have an interest in government.

Please share your favorite sites in the comments!

As much as I like to cook, there are nights when I just don't feel like doing it. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches can sometimes pass for a meal, but I don't want to serve that every time I feel uninspired.

What has really saved me lately is cooking eggs. Omelets or scrambles can pass as a delicious hot meal on nights when you just need to whip something up quickly. Most of us keep eggs in the fridge so all you have to do is get creative with the other ingredients.

Here are a few of my favorite combinations: 

1.             Bacon, cheddar, and broccoli
2.             Potatoes, leeks, and Gruyère cheese (you can substitute Swiss)
3.             Swiss chard, garlic, and Monterrey jack cheese
4.             Spinach, sun dried tomatoes, and Parmesan cheese
5.             Green onions, sweet red or yellow peppers, and avocado 

What I love about making eggs for dinner is that I get to throw in whatever ingredients I have. I try to keep my refrigerator stocked with fresh vegetables and good cheese, and bacon (it makes everything delicious!). But even if I have to rely on one ingredient, it's still better than a half-hearted attempt at dinner (the aforementioned PB & J) or a takeout pizza.

In the interest of full disclosure, Kellan is not crazy about omelets or egg scrambles, but he does like fried eggs so I can make him one separately and serve cut up veggies as a side dish and toasted bread with his favorite spreads, which lately is cream cheese.

What are your suggestions for fast and nutritious dinners in a pinch?

Happy Friday and happy Earth Day! Back in 1970, the first Earth Day brought 20 million people across the United States together to promote environmental awareness.

I think it's never too early to care about the planet and preschool is a great time to introduce basic Earth-friendly concepts. Kids have such a curiosity for the world around them so any hands on learning makes a big impact. Whether you have your child help you separate the recycling or you talk about why you keep the family dog on a leash in an environmentally sensitive area, I think parents can talk about ways to keep our planet healthy without being heavy-handed or going over little ones' heads.

What are things you do with your children to make every day Earth Day?

One of the best parts of traveling is finally coming home. As much as I love going places, the place I love most is home. There is loads of laundry to do, mail to sort through and routines to reestablish, but it's worth it come back home from a trip.

Traveling always makes me feel lucky. It's a joy and a privilege to stop everything we have going on in our daily lives to catch a break, even if it's a short road trip. I feel lucky to meet people and see things I wouldn't get to see if I'd stayed home. Then I feel lucky when I get back and pick up where we left off, even if that means I'll be folding piles of clean laundry. 

By the way, that's Kellan studying the emergency procedures card in our small plane leaving the Bahamas. He really was studying it! It's a good thing none of us are nervous fliers.

What do you love most about traveling and coming home?

I learned a very important lesson from a complete stranger yesterday. It was a brief encounter but if I saw him again, I should probably thank him.

Kellan and I were taking a quick trip to the grocery store. I had to run in for sunscreen and Kellan was dawdling near our golf cart. Many people in town, especially vacationers like us, use golf carts to get around. For a boy in preschool, golf carts are like his matchbox cars have come to life. They never get old. 

After letting him waste time for a minute, I stood by the doors of the store called to Kellan to hurry up. Then a man standing nearby said, "Patience Mom, patience." His tone wasn't judgmental.  He probably noticed a boy having a dreamy little moment with a set of wheels and a mom who was just a few seconds away from exasperation.

That night after Kellan fell asleep, I happened to read an article in The Atlantic about how kids use imagination for play and how adults often interject their rules and place constraints on that sort of imaginative play. What struck a cord with me however, was the idea that the freedom associated with being a kid lasts such a short time. I remember how long my summer vacations seemed when I was a kid. Now some seasons bleed into the next to make a hyper-motion year. That man at the grocery store and the article made me realize that I was hurrying along my captivated child, and we're on vacation for crying out loud! I'm now working on appreciating each day. Thanks stranger!

How do you manage to slow down and let your kid's imagination take flight?

We are soaking up the sun in the Bahamas right now, and as much as I love my Portland coffee I wouldn't trade our time at the beach for anything. Kellan is absolutely in love with the ocean and it takes tons of coaxing to get him out of the water.

What's fun about the beach is all the new things to collect. Kellan insists on wearing shorts with pockets so he has a place to put all of his shells, rocks and other discoveries. I had to convince him that a quarter of a crab shell probably wasn't the best thing to carry around.

This is the third time we have taken Kellan to the Bahamas. We stay in the Abacos for a very low-key vacation that involves nothing more than enjoying the beach and going on short excursions around the islands. I always plan on reading a couple of books and eating lots of fresh fish. Speaking of food, Kellan has tried eating a few bites of steak and grouper so maybe foods look more appetizing when he's on vacation!

We are about to take off for our much-anticipated vacation to the Bahamas this weekend. Every time we are headed to the beach, Erik and I have the same conversation. Erik thinks Kellan should be swimming sooner rather than later, but I think we could turn him off to learning if we push the issue.

Kellan has had two sessions of swimming lessons so far. While he loves splashing around in the water, he's not that crazy about getting his head wet. This is no surprise since he just recently stopped yelling while I washed his hair in the bathtub.

Erik is worried that the later Kellan learns to swim, the harder it will be for him to get over his timidness. I think there's nothing wrong with being cautious and he will be ready in his own time. 

The American Academy of Pediatrics sees no harm in preschoolers taking swimming lessons, but recommends children be at least four years old. Another important thing for parents to remember is that even if your children learn to swim at an early age, it's still vital that parents pay close attention while your kids are in the water.  

What do you think about swim lessons for preschoolers or even toddlers?