April « 2007 « This Simple Life

Monthly Archives: April 2007

Apr 18 2007

WFMW – Navigating All Those Great Tips

by Toni

I love Wednesdays. I look forward all week to a new slew of tips from all the Works-For-Me-Wednesday participants. There is nary a week that I don’t learn a new thing (or twenty) but I had a little problem. There are so many tips at this point that reading through them all in one setting means ignoring my house and childen for an unacceptable amount of time. What to do? My husband showed me the benefits of tabbed browsing a while back and this was the perfect application if every there was. Here’s my system:

Starting with #’s 1-5, I skim through and open the ones of interest to me in new tabs. I then skip over and read them (opening successive interesting links in their own tabs). As I finish one I close it’s tab. When all the tabs are closed, I stop. Leave the computer. And do something productive for at least half an hour. When I do return, I repeat the process with #’s 6-10 and so on. Make sense?

I find it so easy to get sucked in by that screen, following link after link until my eyes are glazed over and I can barely mumble a coherent answer to my children’s simple questions. Now I have an end point. It’s like putting a bookmark in a book knowing you can pick up right where you left off – not missing a thing.

If you don’t know what I’m talking about then you need to go here. Shannon’s got a great thing going and I’m sure she’d love to see your name on the list too.

Categories: sanity savers, WFMW | 8 Comments »

Apr 18 2007

For Heather

by Toni

Have you been over to BooMama’s and donated a little love to Heather yet?

Well, why not?!

Go! Now!

Categories: everyday us | 1 Comment »

Apr 17 2007

Animal Rescue

by Toni

I am beginning to think of our family as an animal rescue unit. First the dog (backstory here and here), then a raven (which did not survive, btw), and now a kitten. I’ve given up saying, “no.”

Isn’t she cute?

She’s not really that big. Here’s some perspective.

Oh, and here’s a picture of the raven before his demise… for the curious among you.

Categories: everyday us | 1 Comment »

Apr 17 2007

Photo Hunt – Theme: Hobby

by Toni

Yes, yes I am aware that the photo hunt is a Saturday thing. But you see, I took this picture especially for the theme and then I lost it and then I found it and it’s a good picture so I just had to post it anyway.

We went to the River Parks bridge for a family outing and I spied this man with his pipe and a fishing pole. There were other fishermen on the bridge but they were all intensly attending to their task. This man was different. I watched as he deliberately baited his hook then sat it aside and just as deliberately filled and lit his pipe. He had positioned himself away from the others. He would have none of their intensity. One could almost see him listening to the river, taking in the final warmth of the setting sun, settling in for a long conversation with the fish.

Did you play?

Categories: photo hunt | 1 Comment »

Apr 16 2007

5 Hours of Peace

by Toni

Blessings on Aunt P who gave Will and I an unexpected 5 childless hours this Saturday.

“Toni, I’ll watch your kids for you tomorrow if you want me too.”

Stunned silence then, “Yes!”

Oh what to do with 5 glorious hours? Go shopping, of course. Actually it was grocery shopping. Nothing too exciting. Except that we went to Wild Oats. Usually when we go there Will takes the kids somewhere while I rush around the store as quickly as I can getting only items “on the list.” No time for perusing or dawdling or wondering about the difference between Chelated Calcium and the plain variety. We’ve tried taking the children around with us but they suddenly grow 6 more arms and hands all of them grabby and disobedient which I completely don’t understand because I frequently take the two of them to Reasor’s and they are (mostly) perfect little helpers. Go figure. But on this day, it was just Will & I and we walked and talked and shopped and left with a cart full of peace and way more merchandise than we needed.

After stopping by the house to unload our loot we headed over to the Hideaway for lunch. They have Pente which you can play before your meal comes. (Pente was invented at the Hideaway, you know.) But of course we haven’t asked for the game in a while because the pieces are a choking hazard and because throwing them at the other patrons is frowned upon by the establishment. But on this day, it was just the two of us and we played and ate and left with a box containing a couple of extra pizza slices and a side of peace.

With a little over an hour left, we made our way to a nearby library. It’s kind of like walking about the bookstore (they even have a coffee shop) but a lot less exspensive. We spent some time together and some apart and neither of us ever uttered the word, “Ssh!” not once. We drove away with a book I’d found … right next to the peace.

Shalee suggested in this post that we ask our guys out this weekend in honor of Sadie Hawkin’s Day and write about it. She also requested we post of photo of the two of us on our date. I forgot to take a picture but I do have one that represents how I felt at the end of the day.

It’s from several years ago. When Will and I were “just friends”. When we spent our time doing regular, everyday stuff together because it was more fun that way. It’s the way I feel on the inside still even though my outside has changed. It’s the way you feel when you finally catch the love of your life and realize he was your best friend all along.

Surf on over to Shalee’s Diner to read some other great date stories.

Categories: everyday us | 4 Comments »

Apr 15 2007

Banana-Almond Milk: Breakfast of Champions

by Toni

In an effort to be healthier and because I’m a freak about trying new things in the kitchen (Aunt R. actually said to me this week, “Good grief, Toni. Can’t you just fix something normal for once.) Sister and I made almond milk this weekend using this recipe from Living and Raw Foods. We didn’t have any sprout bags but found a fine mesh strainer to be just as effective for separating the milk from the pulp. Our end result was about a 6 on the Simple Family do-it-again scale but then Sister had a brilliant idea that brought that rating up to a 9.

“What if we added some bananas?” Says she. “Then it would be like a smoothie. Or we could make popsicles.”

Mmm, popsicles. I like the way that girl thinks.

We chopped up 4 medium bananas and put them in the freezer. We also placed our completed almond milk in the fridge. Once both were sufficiently cold we added the bananas to the milk and blended until the mixture was smooth. We ate a bit of this right away but poured the rest into dixie cups, with homemade popsicle sticks (ie leftover flatware from fast food runs). I used aluminum foil to keep the sticks from falling over. Place the foil over the top of the cup and then hold it in place while you gently stab the stick through it.

The best thing about this recipe came this morning when both children had popsicles for breakfast and I had no guilt.

Now I just need to figure out what to do with two cups of almond pulp.

Categories: everyday us, from the kitchen | No Comments »

Apr 14 2007

The Great Peanut Cling

by Toni

You know those little styrofoam peanuts they use as packing material. I keep a small baggy of them around for highly supervised crafts but other than that try to avoid having them in a house with young children about. They could be swallowed and choked on. Or even worse they could be mistaken for confetti by sweet, helpful children who only want to spread a bit of joy to the world. And this is why I carefully concealed the large box full of peanuts that arrived today. Oh, it wasn’t just packing peanuts there was a product in there too … somewhere. After removing the important stuff, I hid the box in the middle of the living room behind an invisible wall of hope so it couldn’t be discovered. I was waiting for the April showers to pass by enough that I could make a mad dash to the trash. But those clever children found me out before then.

“Oh! Look! What are these?!

“They’re packing peanuts.”

“COOL! Can I play with some?”

Please note that this next statement was made against my better judgement but I was trying to up my “cool mom” quotient. (which is already so ridiculously high I don’t even know why I bothered.)

“Uhm, okay…. but just a few.” (Mistake #1)

Then I returned to my task. (Mistake #2)

After about 20 min (I know, I know. That was too long. – Mistake #3), Brother came running around the corner.

“Mama, mama! Sister need yours help!”

I found Sister knee-deep in the box of peanuts. Her foot sticking out of a small hole through which numerous errant peanuts had fled. Hmm, perhaps I should have clarified the concept of “few.”

“Sister? Is there anything you’d like to say?” Which of course, is mommy speak for “Any last words?

Her reply. “Hehe.” (Imagine this said with a sheepish little grin and laughter twinkling behind those eyes.)

One last reflection on this incident and a bit of a warning for the rest of you.

One little girl jumping up and down wearing velvet pants + 4,000 styrofoam peanuts (give or take) = unbelievable static cling the likes of which no broom and few vaccuums will ever conquer.

Categories: everyday us, family quotables | 1 Comment »

Apr 12 2007

Birth-day: Choose Your Own Adventure

by Toni

For today’s Birth-day a quote

“If you don’t know your options, you don’t have any.”

A Good Birth, A Safe Birth by Korte & Scaer

and a story.

You pass by a shop with a sign out front that says “Mama’s Traditional Columbian Coffee Served Here!” You don’t typically drink coffee but all your friends go on and on about that Starbucks place (and isn’t that Juan Valdez guy from Columbia?) so you decide to take a detour and get yourself a cup. Inside, the shop is plain but neat and clean. The staff seems friendly enough. There is no line so you step up to the counter.

“I would like one Traditional Columbian Coffee, please.”

“That will be $8.50, ma’am.”

The price seems a little steep but you’ve heard your friends comment on how their weekly coffee habit is “breaking the bank” so you assume it’s normal and slip your cash across the counter. You watch as your coffee is prepared quite efficiently by the young man in back. He is completely fastidious about the process. Each bean is counted then ground. Water is measured and something else is added that you cannot quite see. The brewing seems to be timed to the millisecond. And he fills the cup exactly one quarter inch below the rim. You know because you watch him measure it.

“Here you go. One Traditional Columbian Coffee.

Given the process and the cost, you must assume this drink will be delicious so you take time to settle yourself at a nearby table first. Bringing the steaming cup to your lips, you gingerly take a sip. As the warm liquid rolls down your throat another warm sensation begins to overtake you. Your face heats up just as it does when you’ve had too much salsa. No, more like that time when what’s-his-name slipped a jalepeno into your hamburger… What is in this coffee?!

“Water!” you croak to the boy behind the counter.

A couple of the other patrons look up from their cups. One shrugs his shoulders sympathetically. The other, a lady, grins enthusiastically. “Don’t they just make the BEST coffee here?,” she gushes.

You look at her wide-eyed and then you:

A) return to your table armed with a large bottle of water (That’ll be $6.25, ma’am.) and resolve to finish that coffee to the last drop.

B) grab your things and stomp out of the shop guzzling your complimentary dixie cup of water. “I will never drink coffee again,” you vow.

C) angrily turn to question the Barista about the contents of your drink.

“It’s cayenne pepper, ma’am”

“You put cayenne pepper in your coffee?!”

“Oh, yes! Cayenne clears the sinuses and helps your circulation. It’s a traditional family remedy.”

“But I don’t need my sinuses cleared or help with my circulation! I just wanted a cup of coffee.”

“Oh. Well, you should have asked for a different kind then.”

“You have different kinds?!”

Obviously, this isn’t everyone’s story. Some people order their first cup of coffee and it’s great. Some take a friend who suggests the Dulce de Leche and really, how could one go wrong with that much sugar? On the other hand some experienced coffee drinkers get a bad Barista and through no fault of their own are forced to drink a crummy cup coffee because they are late for work and don’t have time to go back and complain to the manager and after all the point is getting the caffeine and they got that so they should be good … right?

Birth is a great adventure. Do your best to choose wisely.

Categories: about birth, famous quotables | 1 Comment »

Apr 10 2007

Morning Memories

by Toni

A little before 8 this morning Brother woke me up to take him to “his” couch (i.e. our loveseat which was obviously designed especially for him alone given the fact that it is just the right size and positioned perfectly for watching television.) Anyway, still somewhat in the midst of sleepyland I bumbled my way down the hall to deposit Brother in his spot. It must have been the hour because I made the trek without noticing several indicators of a previous event. I didn’t notice that Will wasn’t in bed. I didn’t notice that a pillow was missing, I didn’t notice that I wasn’t on my ‘side’. And most unusually, I didn’t notice the lump on the sofa that was my sleeping mate. It wasn’t until later, as I was making the bed that a faint memory surfaced.

I kicked my husband out of bed this morning. He got up for something (perhaps to refill Brother’s sippy cup?) and went to the restroom and was gone a looooong time. (At least it felt long - Of course, time works differently when you’re sleeping.) And while he was gone, I kinda, sorta rolled over into his spot which was sooo cozy and warm. And I kinda found his feather pillow and pulled it into the most perfect snuggle position. And I stretched out my legs and just knew I was in heaven; probably because for the previous two hours I’d been the center of a boy sandwich which if you don’t know is where your husband and your son both decide they will be unable to sleep unless the whole of their bodies are completely smooshed up against your body. As the center of this type of sandwich you are not allowed to move for fear of waking either side and so must lie with your arm under your head as your right ear slowly goes numb from the pressure and your hand cycles through numbness and tingling and finally no feeling at all while your eyes dart coveteously toward the COMPLETELY unoccupied queen bed only a foot away. *sigh*

Was it any wonder I moved? And he was gone a long time. The problem was: he came back. He came back and stood by the edge of the bed. Was he coming to kiss me a gentle goodbye? Was he smiling adoringly at the site of his wife and son so peaceful in their slumber? No! He was waiting. I guess for me to move. I opened one eye and mumbled, “I thought you were gone.”

“No,” he says and waits.

“Oh. Well couldn’t you sleep somewhere else?”

I’m not certain what made me say that but it was amazingly effective. He took a pillow and *poof* was gone.

In retrospect, given that he is the ~~main~~ sole breadwinner of the family and that he needs plenty of rest to do his job effectively, I kinda, sorta, shoulda been a little more giving….. maybe.

Categories: everyday us, marriage & romance | 2 Comments »

Apr 8 2007

Easter Recap

by Toni

We had a lovely Easter holiday over here. For starters we didn’t go to church. That is to say we didn’t go today. (I liken Easter Sunday crowds to the ones you find at the mall the day after Thanksgiving. It’s almost as if they are thinking, “okay, I have to do this thing and this is the best day for it so here we go.) Instead we took Sister to see Victory Christian Center’s annual Easter production last night when the crowd was (relatively) small. That is less than 500. It was her first time to really experience a retelling of Christ’s crucifixion and she cried from His sentencing by Pilot until His death. The drive home was full of questions as I’m sure there will be many more in the coming days.

So because we went to church last night, this morning was allowed to mosey along at its own pace. We didn’t invite scads of people over like we have in the past. Just family this year – which still means a lot of people but not so much stress.

Many thanks to Boo Mama who orchestrated dinner. Okay she didn’t actually come over – in fact other than being a frequent lurker of her blog I don’t know her at all but I do know a good recipe when I see it. She recently recommended Asian Pork Tenderloin, Shrimp & Wild Rice Casserole & Green Beans Y’all Won’t Believe and because I’m ~~lazy~~ always looking for ways to make life simpler, I ~~stole~~ borrowed her dinner plans and made them my own. Every dish was incredibly easy and tasty as well. My Sister-In-Law baked fresh bread (“Yummo!” to quote Sister quoting Rachel Ray) and Aunt R. brought dessert. (double Yummo!)

After dinner we sent the five children present out to hunt for the over 100 eggs we had hidden earlier. Some contained money but most had chocolate and it is for that reason I was grateful for the coolness of the day. Digging sticky, gooey chocolate out of a plastic oval is not my idea of a good time. (Though the kids may disagree on that point.)

We let the kids go through their treasure while Will & I set up to dye eggs. Usually we boil several dozen eggs and let the kids do as many as they can. That always seems so wasteful to me because we never eat all those eggs. In fact many of them get broken in the frenzy. This year, I boiled only enough for each child to have 3 (one white, one blue, & one brown) with a few extras for the adults. Interestingly, the process was much more organized and the children were more deliberate in their choices.

Instead of dozens of mottled gray/blue eggs they created really beautiful designs. We used materials around the house instead of buying kits and we discovered that food coloring and vinegar make more vibrant colors than those little Paas tablets. Rubber bands, stickers & plain white crayons enhance the design process and glitter is always a nice touch.

About midway through the dyeing process, I decided to award prizes: