October Leaves

I can't believe I forgot to post these pics...they're so cute!

Wanna Play Barbies?

Have you seen these commercials? I normally hate commercials, though since the end of the election, I'm certainly enjoying the change of advertisements. And, since I'm generally an emotional mess, the latest Barbie commercials have been tugging at my childhood memories. I know, it can, and often is, argued that Barbie is a little evil, and a lot bad influence, but maybe, with the advent of Bratz dolls, not actually so bad. Sure, she dresses kind of slutty (not as bad as Bratz), and sure, she's got big boobs (so do I, just not the teeny waist, dammit), and sure, she's got long legs (so she's tall, sue her), but really, it shouldn't be about looks.

Barbie, for all her faults, she's been a mom, an astronaut, a ballerina, a teacher, a doctor, a vet, a princess, a sister, a girlfriend, a wife, and now, I do believe, a single lady (though I'm sure she'll be a bride again, eventually). If taken in context, and without over-analyzing it, she can be a role model. Particularly if you, as a parent, are careful enough to teach your children about the importance of self-esteem, self-worth, and appreciating differences in people.

I was in Costco with RE a few days ago, and we were cruising the toy aisle. As we walked past the Barbies, all dressed in their holiday finery, she gasped and said, "Wow, mommy, those are fancy ladies!". I told her those were Barbies, and yes, they were indeed fancy. She looked at me, and replied, "Mommy, I'd like to play with those fancy Barbies." Good thing Nonna's got a giant box of my old Barbies that we'll be digging out when we go down in January.

I loved playing with Barbies. They truly allow children to create other worlds, fantastic worlds where anything can happen, and dammit, you can look FABulous doing it. My Barbies would drive their shoebox cars to the beach, to the mall, to the moon, and then, quite often, to prom. She'd dance with Ken, in her super fancy red heart dress, or maybe the yellow poufy one, and then usually, they'd have sex. Not quite sure how we sorted out as children that sex was a prom night activity, but we did, so they did. Barbie nursed GI Joe back to health after my little brother tortured them in various acts of war. Barbie was patient while I tried out new hairstyles, and sewed pants for her that no normal woman would have wanted to wear. I credit Barbie for helping me with so many of my sewing skills, it's almost funny.

So these commercials start with adult women talking about their memories of Barbies, when they got their first one, how they shared (or didn't) with their sisters, and how much they loved their dolls. It ends with a shot of little girls playing Barbies, and a voice over of a little girl saying, "Wanna Play Barbies?"

I so totally do. Do you? What's your favorite memory of Barbie (cause I know we all have one)?

One Happy Obama Mama

I'm surprised blogger is even working; I know so many people are out there doing what I am: telling their stories.

On this historic night, on this night that will be recorded in history books and web archives forever, everyone wants to put pen to paper (so to speak) about their own feeling on this election. If not for you readers to read, then for my own family to read someday. For my daughter to read in 20 years and know what she was like, what she did, on the day that the nation changed. The day our nation made a giant leap from a time when 40 years ago, a black man couldn't vote, when 100 years ago, a woman couldn't vote, to tonight, when we elect a black man as president.

I sobbed as I read his speech (missed it while working tonight). I'll no doubt sob when I watch it later when it shows up on youtube. I am struck not only by his eloquence, but his ability to speak to all people, Republican and Democrat, men and women, black, white, Asian, Hispanic and other world citizens. He speaks to all of us when he says that we can change.

We can, and we have.

"This election had many firsts and many stories that will be told for generations. But one that's on my mind tonight's about a woman who cast her ballot in Atlanta. She's a lot like the millions of others who stood in line to make their voice heard in this election except for one thing: Ann Nixon Cooper is 106 years old.

She was born just a generation past slavery; a time when there were no cars on the road or planes in the sky; when someone like her couldn't vote for two reasons -- because she was a woman and because of the color of her skin.

And tonight, I think about all that she's seen throughout her century in America -- the heartache and the hope; the struggle and the progress; the times we were told that we can't, and the people who pressed on with that American creed: Yes we can.

At a time when women's voices were silenced and their hopes dismissed, she lived to see them stand up and speak out and reach for the ballot. Yes we can.

When there was despair in the dust bowl and depression across the land, she saw a nation conquer fear itself with a New Deal, new jobs, a new sense of common purpose. Yes we can.

When the bombs fell on our harbor and tyranny threatened the world, she was there to witness a generation rise to greatness and a democracy was saved. Yes we can.

She was there for the buses in Montgomery, the hoses in Birmingham, a bridge in Selma, and a preacher from Atlanta who told a people that "We Shall Overcome." Yes we can.

A man touched down on the moon, a wall came down in Berlin, a world was connected by our own science and imagination.

And this year, in this election, she touched her finger to a screen, and cast her vote, because after 106 years in America, through the best of times and the darkest of hours, she knows how America can change."

I think tonight of not only this woman, who at 106 has seen more change in this world than you and I can even fathom. I think tonight of all the people I know who voted for the very first time in this election, because they finally felt it not only important enough to vote for change, but that they could actually affect that change. I think tonight of all the people who don't believe they can affect change, and to them, I say, Yes We Can. If you didn't vote today, I hope today's election, and the surprise that it's held will convince you to do so next time.

Tonight, November 4th, 2008, I think about how hopeful I am for the future. Hopeful that President-elect Obama will do what needs to be done. Hopeful that he'll face few obstacles in affecting the change he (and so many of us) desire. Hopeful that he'll be able to accomplish an economic turn around, an end to the current wars, and a positive environmental impact. Hopeful that he'll protect the rights of women (and men) who seek choices, whether those choices are about equal pay for jobs, whether or not to have a child, or a union. Hopeful that after 4 (or preferably, 8) years in office, he'll leave a country that I'm proud to offer up to RE, who will then be nearly 11 years old.

And speaking of her, since this blog is usually primarily about her, I'll tell you her thoughts of the day.

Mommy: Ry, are you ready? We're going to vote!

Ry: We're going on a boat?

M: Noooo, we're going to Vote. V. V. V.

R: Oh, Vote. Ok.

Get to polling station, very excited, because though I am a cynic, elections honestly make me swell with pride. And usually cry.

Get in, get stickers for us both, and set her up with a bag of goodies to play with while I vote.

R: What you doing, mommy?

M: Filling in bubbles.

R: On the boat?

M: Nope, kiddo. No boat. Vote. V. V. V.

R: Oh, vote. Can me see?

M: Sure. (put RE on back in Pikkolo so she can see over my shoulder)

R: Where bubbles come from mommy? There? (points to corner of voting booth)

M: Oh, shoot. Nope, no real bubbles, Ry. Just these bubbles, the circles on the page.

R: Oh.

So, all in all, while I was gushing left and right about how important it is to vote, and how our foremothers fought for our right to vote, she's sitting there pouting because not only was there no boat, but no bubbles either.

So, today, RE, I voted for you. I voted for my grandmothers, and great-grandmothers, and for all the women in my family who weren't able to vote, either because they were women, or because they were not yet American citizen. I take my citizenship seriously, though over the last 8 years I often joked about moving to Canada, and I take my ability to vote seriously. I choose not to take it for granted that people fought and died so that I could waltz into a polling station, in pants, with my two year old daughter, and cast my vote for change.

Tonight, I'm really proud to be an American. (cliche though it is)

Oooooh, Stars!

I love star ornaments...maybe it's because we don't really celebrate Christmas, persay, but rather, the holiday season and winter as a whole. Most of my tree is decorated with blue, silver and gold stars and balls.

I'm going to make some of these for my tree this year, and possibly to tie on gifts (if they end up being a quick craft).

Alyssa, I think you should make some of these with me...you can do them in your "spare" time.

Go out and vote.

"Rosa sat so Martin could walk. Martin walked so Obama could run. Obama is running so our children can fly."
So said a man on NPR last week.

I don't care who you vote for, but please, go out and vote.

For all the men, women and young people who fought for our right to do so, get out and vote.

(Yeah, I get all sentimental about voting. What can I say, I really am proud to be an American, no matter how stupid our elected officials sometimes are. At least I can say that without fear.)

White Chicken Chili...one of my favorites.

Afruma White Chicken Chili

2 cups diced onions
2 cups diced celery
5 garlic cloves, chopped
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 pound chicken breast, cooked and diced
8 cups water (more like 5 or 6 if you're using canned beans)
1 bay leaf
1 (7-ounce) can chopped green chilies
1/2 teaspoon oregano
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1/2 teaspoon basil
1/2 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
4 tablespoons chicken base
1 jalapeno, chopped (remove the seeds for less spice)
2 pounds white beans, soaked overnight (or, you can use 4 cans of beans, and adjust the cooking times, but it's better with real beans)
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 cup shredded carrots
16 ounces sour cream

Saute onion, celery, and garlic in oil until tender, about 5 minutes. In a large stockpot add chicken, water, bay leaf, chiles, oregano, cumin, dry mustard, basil, Old Bay, chicken base, and jalapeno and simmer for 1 1/2 hours . Add the drained beans and heavy cream and simmer for 1 hour, or until the beans are tender (30 min if using canned beans). Garnish soup with carrots and sour cream.

We often serve this over baked potatoes, but it's equally good on it's own with sourdough bread, or, my personal favorite, in a bread bowl. Yum. The only caution is that this makes a TON of chili. Like, enough to feed about 15 people. We're currently testing out how it survives in the freezer, so I'll update once I have some feedback on it.

Mac and Cheese

Homemade mac and cheese is so much better than the boxed stuff (though that has a VERY special place in my heart).

Enjoy! We did!

Cheesy Baked Shells and Broccoli


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Box of whatever pasta you like (tonight it was mini penne)
1 tablespoon butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups whole milk (works fine with 2%)
2 cups coarsely grated Cheddar or Gruyýre (8 ounces) (or a mix of both)
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg (whoops, forgot this; turned out fine)
Kosher salt and black pepper
1 16-ounce bag frozen broccoli florets, thawed (make sure they're thawed; this is crucial)

Heat broiler. Cook the pasta according to the package directions.

Meanwhile, heat the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add the flour and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Whisk in the milk and cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened, 4 to 5 minutes.

Add 1 1/2 cups of the cheese and stir until melted. Stir in the nutmeg, 3/4 teaspoon salt, and 1⁄4 teaspoon pepper.

Add the pasta and broccoli and toss to combine. Transfer to a broilerproof 8-inch square or another 1 1/2-quart baking dish. Sprinkle with the remaining 1⁄2 cup of cheese. Broil until golden, 3 to 4 minutes.

Yield: Makes 4 servings (um, yeah, makes WAY more than 4 servings, at least 6)

CALORIES 697 ; FAT 26g (sat 15g); CHOLESTEROL 82mg; CARBOHYDRATE 78g; CALORIES FROM FAT 34%; SODIUM 650mg; PROTEIN 34g; FIBER 6g; SUGAR 9g

Real Simple, OCTOBER 2008

I'm such a list maker...

I have a huge list of handmade pressies for the holidays this year, as I am primarily planning to do a handmade holiday.

I can't, of course, really blog a whole lot about it until after the holidays, as I expect that, on occasion, my friend's read this blog. But I will tell what I'm making for the kids...they can't read yet.

Several of the boys will be getting this DARLING go-fish set.

Most of the girls will be getting either Black Apple dolls or Wee Wonderfuls dolls.

RE and a few of the other kids may also get a set of wooden Little People.

These coffee cozies are on the list as well as some hand dyed, hand painted scarves (these are all me, and I'll post a tute when I get the fabric).

Plus, I want to make RE another tutu, more of a skirt type one that she can wear when she feels like it, and with some regularity. I've also got plans for a small dollhouse for her, plus, of course, people to go in it. I bought her a big one, but had already bought this smaller thing, and so her dolls will just have a casita as well. For her birthday, I'm making her a playhouse table tent out of a great bedspread I found at Target.

Of course, I've still got the curtains, pillows and paint trim to finish, plus, you know, raise a kid, run a household, keep a small business afloat, teach childbirth ed, and watch a few other kids.

It's no wonder I make all these lists.

Halloween is over...

And RE really enjoyed herself this year. Mommy and daddy felt a bit harried by it all, but she had a blast, and asked the next day if she could to "trick or treat" again. The candy was a big draw for her. We went out with her bestie, Owen, and my dear friend, Linds and had a blast. The neighborhood was great...lots of people got way into it and did haunted houses. Owen could have cared less, but Ryan was scared out of her mind. I asked her if she wanted to be brave like Owen, and she said, "nope, not brave mommy, afraid." Sad.


But her superhero costume rocked, and I've reminded her that although we can't have candy like that all the time, we CAN dress up whenever we want.

Which brings me to Luke's birthday party, the other event of the weekend. To which she wore her tutu. Not the Halloween one, but her regular one (I know, she has more than one? Well, yeah, she has 3 or 4). I asked her if she wanted to wear a party dress or regular clothes to the party, and she wanted to wear a party dress. Great, I though. A chance to bust out some of those rarely worn foufou dresses she's got. I pulled a few out, and she said, no, and went over to the dress up bin and grabbed this giant, poufy, pink tutu. "This mommy. I wear this." Right on. I've joked for months now that I secretly can't wait for her to request to wear a tutu (or any other slightly ridiculous costume) out and about, and it finally happened. And though I may have pretended to be a little whatever about it, I was more than a little thrilled. It is socially unacceptable for me to wear a tutu out in public, so let the kid do it until she can't!



And speaking of social acceptability, we've been discussing when it is and is not appropriate to pick one's nose. We've outline that it's OK to pick in the car, the house and bathrooms. It is NOT ok to pick in stores, restaurants, or other people's houses. It's a process. And it's gross. It's got to be kept to a minimum.

On the home front, the house is a hole right now...covered in blue underlayment, half a floors worth of wood, and the rest plywood and random furniture strewn about. M is going to try to get things wrapped up this week, then we can put furniture back this weekend, paint the trim next week, and be done with it all by Thanksgiving? Then I'll have to get cracking on the pillows and curtains. I need to have a sew-along with some friends, cause I need motivation!