Postcard from The Netherlands from xje
Description: none
Friday, August 13, 2010
But they don't have oatmeal!
It's been a week. You know, one of those weeks. Not that anything particularly bad happened, but it's been a long, trying, difficult week.
And because it's Friday and the week is almost over and we get start from scratch on Monday, well, I decided I *NEEDED* a fancy coffee from the local-seattle-based-soccer-mom-mega-coffee-shop.
There was a long line up. But I didn't care. Behind me there was a group of ladies from a clinic of some sort - doctor, dentist, I'm not sure, but they were all wearing scrubs.
I ordered and moved over to the side to wait for my drink and I heard one of the ladies order. She asked for some kind of coffee and oatmeal.
But there was no oatmeal.
This proved to be a minutes long dilemma for this lady. She turned to one of her co-workers and said "I don't know what I'm going to do. I need to eat and I really don't want a pastry or a cookie."
It was all I could do to keep from laughing.
You see, this particular location of the local-seattle-based-soccer-mom-mega-coffee-shop happened to be located in one fully-functioning, completely open for business, fully-stocked GROCERY STORE.
And because it's Friday and the week is almost over and we get start from scratch on Monday, well, I decided I *NEEDED* a fancy coffee from the local-seattle-based-soccer-mom-mega-coffee-shop.
There was a long line up. But I didn't care. Behind me there was a group of ladies from a clinic of some sort - doctor, dentist, I'm not sure, but they were all wearing scrubs.
I ordered and moved over to the side to wait for my drink and I heard one of the ladies order. She asked for some kind of coffee and oatmeal.
But there was no oatmeal.
This proved to be a minutes long dilemma for this lady. She turned to one of her co-workers and said "I don't know what I'm going to do. I need to eat and I really don't want a pastry or a cookie."
It was all I could do to keep from laughing.
You see, this particular location of the local-seattle-based-soccer-mom-mega-coffee-shop happened to be located in one fully-functioning, completely open for business, fully-stocked GROCERY STORE.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Cool food for the summer
Besides getting dinner on the table within a millisecond of walking in the door from work, my biggest challenge right now is coming up with interesting meals that don't repeat too often and don't make the house hot.
Yeah.
Not so easy.
So, we do have a BBQ, but there are a few problems with that. Our balcony is small and home to the BBQ, a few random stools and a double Phil and Ted's stroller. To use the BBQ, the stroller needs to move. I have a toddler who loves to be on the balcony with you, but the balcony is small and the BBQ is hot. Generally pre-dinner time means Alex is in the shower getting ready for work and I'm hopping back and forth over the kitchen gate constantly while wrangling a toddler. A toddler who would love nothing more than to have Mommy stop cooking and Daddy stop showering and play with her. Also, our balcony faces due WEST. That means, at dinner time it's stifling and in direct sunlight. NOT CONDUCIVE to a BBQ!
So, the BBQ gets used rarely.
So, what to make. On Friday I was tired. I was hungry. We had company coming for the weekend (but staying elsewhere). UGH.
But Martha saved the day. We ended up making a modified version of her Southwestern Chicken Wraps.
We made a few changes. I don't eat sour cream (more about that and the rest of my crazy diet on Get Fit Chicks), but I wanted something to spread on my wrap so it wouldn't be dry. Instead of avocado slices, I made some guacamole. Because there were onions in the guacamole, we omitted the red onions (I might use them next time anyway because they would give it another little touch of colour - no tomatoes in mine. see aforementioned crazy diet). Those who eat sour cream spread guacamole on their wraps and then put the sour cream sauce on top.
MMMmmmm...these were good! J isn't a big fan of sandwiches or wraps these days, but I had some mini pitas in the freezer for her from when we had pita tacos last, so she got a compartment plate with chunks of chicken and avocado as well as some beans. She often eats everything separately, but when she saw that Auntie Tati, who came for dinner, had a wrap, she stuffed her pita full and ate it that way too!
I don't have a picture of the finished product because they were eaten so quickly there wasn't a chance. This also made a good lunch for Alex to take to work - another challenge we're working on. LUNCHES.
And because I bought a rotisserie chicken, I did this as soon as dinner was over:
And we had yummy chicken soup for a few nights - I used the leftover beans and added some chopped peppers, corn and Tabasco and it was yummy! It was wet and cool this weekend, so soup was a welcome meal!
Yeah.
Not so easy.
So, we do have a BBQ, but there are a few problems with that. Our balcony is small and home to the BBQ, a few random stools and a double Phil and Ted's stroller. To use the BBQ, the stroller needs to move. I have a toddler who loves to be on the balcony with you, but the balcony is small and the BBQ is hot. Generally pre-dinner time means Alex is in the shower getting ready for work and I'm hopping back and forth over the kitchen gate constantly while wrangling a toddler. A toddler who would love nothing more than to have Mommy stop cooking and Daddy stop showering and play with her. Also, our balcony faces due WEST. That means, at dinner time it's stifling and in direct sunlight. NOT CONDUCIVE to a BBQ!
So, the BBQ gets used rarely.
So, what to make. On Friday I was tired. I was hungry. We had company coming for the weekend (but staying elsewhere). UGH.
But Martha saved the day. We ended up making a modified version of her Southwestern Chicken Wraps.
We made a few changes. I don't eat sour cream (more about that and the rest of my crazy diet on Get Fit Chicks), but I wanted something to spread on my wrap so it wouldn't be dry. Instead of avocado slices, I made some guacamole. Because there were onions in the guacamole, we omitted the red onions (I might use them next time anyway because they would give it another little touch of colour - no tomatoes in mine. see aforementioned crazy diet). Those who eat sour cream spread guacamole on their wraps and then put the sour cream sauce on top.
MMMmmmm...these were good! J isn't a big fan of sandwiches or wraps these days, but I had some mini pitas in the freezer for her from when we had pita tacos last, so she got a compartment plate with chunks of chicken and avocado as well as some beans. She often eats everything separately, but when she saw that Auntie Tati, who came for dinner, had a wrap, she stuffed her pita full and ate it that way too!
I don't have a picture of the finished product because they were eaten so quickly there wasn't a chance. This also made a good lunch for Alex to take to work - another challenge we're working on. LUNCHES.
And because I bought a rotisserie chicken, I did this as soon as dinner was over:
And we had yummy chicken soup for a few nights - I used the leftover beans and added some chopped peppers, corn and Tabasco and it was yummy! It was wet and cool this weekend, so soup was a welcome meal!
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Understanding privacy and private time
We have been working on privacy and private times and knocking on closed doors and waiting for an answer with J. Apparently she has learned a little too well.
This morning she locked me on the balcony and when I told her to go get Daddy, she did. She stood patiently at the bedroom door and banged away. When she finally looked at me, I motioned for her to go in and apparently she did the same thing on the bathroom door.
She opened the bathroom door once and said no no no and Alex asked her to wait because he was having a private time. So she closed the door, but she kept knocking.
Finally Alex wondered what all the noice was about (I was also banging on the sliding door) and why I was letting J pummel the doors and he came out...10 minutes locked on the balcony...what a way to start the morning!
Lesson learned: J understands private time. She can also lock the sliding door. I will not be going on the balcony when J is around without propping it open from now on!
This morning she locked me on the balcony and when I told her to go get Daddy, she did. She stood patiently at the bedroom door and banged away. When she finally looked at me, I motioned for her to go in and apparently she did the same thing on the bathroom door.
She opened the bathroom door once and said no no no and Alex asked her to wait because he was having a private time. So she closed the door, but she kept knocking.
Finally Alex wondered what all the noice was about (I was also banging on the sliding door) and why I was letting J pummel the doors and he came out...10 minutes locked on the balcony...what a way to start the morning!
Lesson learned: J understands private time. She can also lock the sliding door. I will not be going on the balcony when J is around without propping it open from now on!
Monday, August 09, 2010
Lola Fiona Jessica Tinkerbell Lynons
And the lesson from squirt is: It's sometimes good to change your name. (and no, there is no spelling mistake in the title of this post)
My kid announced at dinner last night that her name is Lola Fiona Jessica Tinkerbell. She will not answer to her real name. She will only answer to Fiona, Jessica, Tinkerbell or a combination IF they are preceded by Lola. We know where she got Fiona, Jessica and Tinkerbell from. No idea where she got Lola (but it's cute!).
Of course it was more like this:
Me: J would you like a popsicle?
J: NO! Lola Noah Caca.
Me: Oh, is your name Lola Fiona Jessica?
J: NO! Lola Noah Caca Tinkybewl
Me: Okay. Lola Fiona Jessica Tinkerbell would you like a popsicle?
J: Peeeze. Yup.
Me: What colour?
J: Black. No orangie. NO PUPPLE! Greena. Greena popsicle.
Me: Okay.
I go away and get a green popsicle
Me: Here's your popsicle little girl. What's your name?
J: Lola Noah Caca Tinkybewl LYNONS. Lola Lynons.
For the rest of the evening if I forgot:
J: NO! MOMMY! Lola Lynons. LOLA!
I thought she might forget by this morning, but when I went in to wake her up at 7:00, a still half asleep little voice muttered NO! Lola! when I said it was time for J to get up.
So Lola it is. For now.
My kid announced at dinner last night that her name is Lola Fiona Jessica Tinkerbell. She will not answer to her real name. She will only answer to Fiona, Jessica, Tinkerbell or a combination IF they are preceded by Lola. We know where she got Fiona, Jessica and Tinkerbell from. No idea where she got Lola (but it's cute!).
Of course it was more like this:
Me: J would you like a popsicle?
J: NO! Lola Noah Caca.
Me: Oh, is your name Lola Fiona Jessica?
J: NO! Lola Noah Caca Tinkybewl
Me: Okay. Lola Fiona Jessica Tinkerbell would you like a popsicle?
J: Peeeze. Yup.
Me: What colour?
J: Black. No orangie. NO PUPPLE! Greena. Greena popsicle.
Me: Okay.
I go away and get a green popsicle
Me: Here's your popsicle little girl. What's your name?
J: Lola Noah Caca Tinkybewl LYNONS. Lola Lynons.
For the rest of the evening if I forgot:
J: NO! MOMMY! Lola Lynons. LOLA!
I thought she might forget by this morning, but when I went in to wake her up at 7:00, a still half asleep little voice muttered NO! Lola! when I said it was time for J to get up.
So Lola it is. For now.
Thursday, August 05, 2010
Food. Dinner. Weeknights. Working Mom.
It all goes together. We need to eat. We eat dinner every night. I work. Weeknights suck.
But I'm trying to change that. I've got a binder that we keep in our kitchen that is supposed to keep us on track. And it's kind of working. It would work better if I were not so sleep deprived.
But we're trying new recipes. The idea being quick and tasty are important. Make ahead is good too. We're relying a lot on Canadian Living, Martha Stewart, Jamie Oliver and Bonnie Stern for inspiration. And my collection of other cook books.
Anyway.
This week I made Martha Stewart's Chicken Breasts Stuffed with Herbed Couscous.
I prefer basil to mint, so I substituted. I also forgot to buy pine nuts (even though they were on the list) so I used cashews (because I bought WAY TOO MANY) instead. It was yummy. Definitely something we'll make again. (I also need a bigger frying pan. I had to use two because mine are pathetic)
Don't you love my picture. Yuck. I used my phone because I'm lazy and have needed to clear the memory cards for the real camera for quite some time. AND Alex didn't have dinner with us, so this is my plate, after I've mutilated my chicken so that J could share my dinner.
Next time...yes, there will be a next time...I would probably make half the recipe. It's too big, even if Alex ate with us, for us and I'm not so keen on reheating stuffed poultry. I'd also cut the chicken breasts in half so that there were four pieces. Because I really found these chicken breasts to be HUGE! And I'd make this couscous, just to have couscous, but with chicken broth not water if it's on its own. J love the special yellow "rice".
But I'm trying to change that. I've got a binder that we keep in our kitchen that is supposed to keep us on track. And it's kind of working. It would work better if I were not so sleep deprived.
But we're trying new recipes. The idea being quick and tasty are important. Make ahead is good too. We're relying a lot on Canadian Living, Martha Stewart, Jamie Oliver and Bonnie Stern for inspiration. And my collection of other cook books.
Anyway.
This week I made Martha Stewart's Chicken Breasts Stuffed with Herbed Couscous.
I prefer basil to mint, so I substituted. I also forgot to buy pine nuts (even though they were on the list) so I used cashews (because I bought WAY TOO MANY) instead. It was yummy. Definitely something we'll make again. (I also need a bigger frying pan. I had to use two because mine are pathetic)
Don't you love my picture. Yuck. I used my phone because I'm lazy and have needed to clear the memory cards for the real camera for quite some time. AND Alex didn't have dinner with us, so this is my plate, after I've mutilated my chicken so that J could share my dinner.
Next time...yes, there will be a next time...I would probably make half the recipe. It's too big, even if Alex ate with us, for us and I'm not so keen on reheating stuffed poultry. I'd also cut the chicken breasts in half so that there were four pieces. Because I really found these chicken breasts to be HUGE! And I'd make this couscous, just to have couscous, but with chicken broth not water if it's on its own. J love the special yellow "rice".
USA - Utah - Capitol Reef National Park
Postcard from Utah from zanylady.
Description: Sculpted in sandstone, Hickman Bridge is one of the premier natural landmarks in Capitol Reef. Its name commemorates Joseph S. Hickman, advocate of the park.
Wednesday, August 04, 2010
Sleep deprivation, merging laundry piles and clean kitchen bliss
My kid. She hasn't been sleeping. We even visited the very nice emergency room doctor the other night in an attempt to see why she isn't sleeping. We thought maybe ear infection. Last time she had an ear infection, she didn't complain until AFTER it ruptured her ear drum. YUCK.
So a kid complaining of pain is new and very concerning to us.
Diagnosis: She's two.
She spent the time we were at the hospital charging up and down the hallways and squealing and behaving like it was 2:00 pm NOT 10:45 pm.
After we left the hospital we drove around until she fell asleep...at almost midnight.
It's been like that for days.
The piles of laundry in the bedroom weren't going anywhere...they were just merging into one big pile of cloth. And sooner or later that just means more work for me because I can't tell where clean ends and dirty starts which means it's all dirty and yay. Laundry. Blah.
The kitchen was a disaster. I think every pot and pan in the house was on the counter. The bathrooms were started. Which means I'd clean a sink or counter or toilet and then my sleep deprived brain would say "Good. All done." and forget that there is more to a bathroom than just a sink or toilet or counter.
But last night the kid was asleep by 8:45. Tonight I think it was earlier. And I credit the timer. We set a timer for lots of things. When it goes off it's time to clean up or eat dinner or go out or something. At night it's time to get out of the bath tub. Last night it went a bit further. It rang and it meant time for pjs on and teeth brushed. Then it rang again and it was time for Mommy to go do the dishes.
Tonight. BRAINWAVE. It got "set" again and Mommy went to do the dishes. She'd be back when it went off again. It didn't go off, but there was no crying and lots of sleeping. YAY! Our lives will hopefully slowly put themselves back together again!
So a kid complaining of pain is new and very concerning to us.
Diagnosis: She's two.
She spent the time we were at the hospital charging up and down the hallways and squealing and behaving like it was 2:00 pm NOT 10:45 pm.
After we left the hospital we drove around until she fell asleep...at almost midnight.
It's been like that for days.
The piles of laundry in the bedroom weren't going anywhere...they were just merging into one big pile of cloth. And sooner or later that just means more work for me because I can't tell where clean ends and dirty starts which means it's all dirty and yay. Laundry. Blah.
The kitchen was a disaster. I think every pot and pan in the house was on the counter. The bathrooms were started. Which means I'd clean a sink or counter or toilet and then my sleep deprived brain would say "Good. All done." and forget that there is more to a bathroom than just a sink or toilet or counter.
But last night the kid was asleep by 8:45. Tonight I think it was earlier. And I credit the timer. We set a timer for lots of things. When it goes off it's time to clean up or eat dinner or go out or something. At night it's time to get out of the bath tub. Last night it went a bit further. It rang and it meant time for pjs on and teeth brushed. Then it rang again and it was time for Mommy to go do the dishes.
Tonight. BRAINWAVE. It got "set" again and Mommy went to do the dishes. She'd be back when it went off again. It didn't go off, but there was no crying and lots of sleeping. YAY! Our lives will hopefully slowly put themselves back together again!
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