Tales of Me and the Husband

A showering for my babe and I.

First things first: proper cuddle time with me and my Quinn.  Actually, it’s her Quinn, but he is most definitely my sweet little buddy (and he likes chillaxin’ with his finger in my necklace so that gets me some points).  Then came my shower.  This was thrown by my NJ-based sisters and Mom (I get another up here thrown by my local sister–sah-weeet!).  It was a brunch to the nines.  Apple fennel sausage, hashbrowns, zucchini and goat cheese frittatas, artichoke and ham stratas, buttermilk cheddar biscuits, parfaits, fruit kebabs, a bloody mary station, champagne cocktails, coffee cakes, apple cakes, lemon curds, chocolate cappucino muffins (all made by them!)… oh my.  It was a pregnant girl’s dream.  I can’t thank them enough for showering me so brilliantly.  You guys are the best.  I felt pretty darn special.

Extended forecast…

Clearly, this is not an ad to live in the Boston area.  This is the extended forecast for where I live.  And this comes after a winter that poured buckets of snow on us.  Well, it doesn’t look like it’s shaping up to be last spring, that is for sure.  But, in reality, it’s ok.  The reason being?  I have so many indoor things on my to-do list.  Washing onesies, organizing rooms, vacuuming… and when the sun comes out, on the ever so rare occasion, I get anxious unless I’m out enjoying it.  But then I get anxious because things need to get done inside the house.  So it’s this vicious circle to which the solution is just for the sun to stay away.  It’s pitiful, really.  
I have so much updating to do.  I had one shower last weekend in the Philadelphia-area thrown by two of my sisters and my mom.  It was completely amazing.  They outdid themselves.  As soon as pictures are loaded, you’ll see.  The nursery is coming along quickly and beautifully (and often when I’m not even in the house… I love you, husband!),  Nathaniel had prom last night (again, pictures to come!) and a graduation party coming up–many mouths to feed!  Guests arriving from out of town!  And a messy house, at present, to boot.  And for the next two weeks my schedule looks like there isn’t a whole lot of room to spare to do much of anything.  So… it’s exciting, it’s busy, it’s hectic… but it’s life.  So sun, whether you shine or not, I’ve got work to do.  But really, I wouldn’t mind if you showed your face once in awhile around here.
Phew.  How are your lives right now?  I feel like I’ve been absent in the blog-world lately.  Gimme some updates.

Dear “Doctor” Marianne…

after doing a few posts on health from a holistic approach, i was surprised at how many e-mails i got asking for more information on various things, websites one could use to learn more, books i’ve read, how often i give myself an enema (loved this one!), and a few actually asking for my mom’s e-mail address so they could go right to the source with their questions since, as i’ve pretty much said, anything i know about health i owe to her.  i love those e-mails.  i loooove talking about health.  the way some people love politics or movies or books… i love talking about health-related matters.  so, it is with those e-mails in mind, my (mostly) total disappointment in america’s current health situation, and a love for all things natural, i bring you the “dear marianne” column.
for those of you who are newer to my blog, hello!  marianne is my mother and one of my best friends.  her interest in all things health has not happened overnight but, over time, since the early 70s.  a little background: she was wary of vaccinations before most were questioning them, questioned where her meat was coming from, had a homebirth in 1980 when that was mostly unheard of, was looking into eastern medicine before it was cool, and did not flat out trust that the fda and government had our best interests at heart.  she never gave us over-the-counter medication, but opted for things like enemas, foot reflexology (she’s been doing reflexology since the 80s), and chiropractic care (from a few weeks of age and on) when things were off in our bodies.  this isn’t to say that she (and i) don’t believe that vaccinations and antibiotics and such have their place in this world.  let me be clear: they do.  however, i think we could all agree that less is more and that our world is a bit over-medicated at present.  when too many of us trust the experts, she trusted her instincts and did her own research.  and before you go thinking i munch on kale all day, i should tell you that my health is not perfect–i get colds and sore throats sometimes, and i still enjoy ice cream and cookies just like the rest of you (as julia childs says, “everything in moderation.  even moderation.”) but i certainly was not sick much in my childhood and i’m still not.  nor do i remember my mom ever having anything more than a slight cold.  healing the body through the body was always the name of the game in my house and my mom knows her stuff.  she’s well read and i’ve told her she deserves an honorary PhD with all the know-how she’s amassed over the years.  it is with these things in mind that i decided to start this.  i’m just the middle-man.  she’s where the information is at, people!
i’m really quite proud of her (can you tell?) and am lucky to have all the information she’s passed on over the years.  so, if those e-mails from you guys are any indication of questions needing answers, here we go!
all the questions will be answered by her and probably not until the end of may.  also, i’ve allowed for anonymous questions (but please be nice!) because asking about the appropriate shape and color of your poo might not jive well with you.  but, if you know me at all, nothing is TMI for me.

sponsor giveaway: the initial baby!

bloomers, and burp cloths, and bibs… oh my!
this week’s giveaway is brought to you by the initial baby… my first baby-related sponsor which was oh so exciting for this expectant mama.  they have sooo much stuff–from wall decor, to bloomers, to cardigans, to lunch totes, to dresses, to blankets, to robes, to piggy banks, to plates… all personalized for your babe (or nephew or niece or friend… you get it). 
they’re offering a 
$50 gift certificate to their shop!
and 15% off for the rest of ya with discount code BRIDGET.
you wanna win?
to enter:
{u.s. residents only}
+ leave a comment below (include your email address)
additional entries:
{seperate comments, please!}
+ favorite item from the initial baby
+ blog or tweet about the giveaway and provide URL
giveaway closed.
brooke is the winner!  congrats!

mother’s day weekend.

we planted on a sunny saturday (though, from seeds, which steve and i determined might mean we’ll actually see the fruits of our “labor” in december.  genius idea that was.).  and then on mother’s day i slept in till 9 am and was awakened with a delicious breakfast in bed, sweet kids and husband, and a kicking baby in the belly.  unfortunately i had to work later that day but i came home to a totally painted nursery!!!!  good work, husband, good work.
not that this is any big shocker, but being a mom is so hard.  it’s something i’m often not good at.  i let my temper, my need to control and maintain, and my tendency to discipline get in the way of plain old love which would, so often, go above and beyond the yelling, controlling, or disciplining in getting my point across.  i just want to say kudos to all the moms out there who, i’m quite sure, love their kids to pieces but who, like me, are not always the best at showing it.  for me, i’m going to try to be sweeter in 2011, to love them better, preserve their tender innocence, and remember that they too are just trying to learn their way through this world… much like myself.  
it’s a daily battle.
and thank you to my own mother who loved and loves me and who is one of my best friends in the whole world.  hats off to you and all of the mothers reading out there.  
happy mother’s day (a day late).

random healthy kitchen tips from me to you.

+ half your juice with seltzer.  my kids actually prefer it this way now because it’s fizzy so they are under the illusion they’re drinking soda when in fact they’re drinking diluted juice (fools!).  it’s basically like making your own izze.
+ dilute your salad dressings (or better yet, make your own!).  i dilute mine with fresh squeezed lemon (key to a delicious dressing), and sometimes apple cider vinegar and olive oil.  but i still do love newman’s own non-creamy caesar.  add lemon to that… bliss.  do you have a great dressing recipe?  do share.
+ don’t put as much sugar in recipes as is called for.  you’ll almost never notice.
+ when your kids are squirrely and starving before dinner, as is always the case, give them a bowl of carrots… and if you’re feeling extra naughty, some annies’ ranch to dip.
+ don’t say no to all treats cause then, when they become teenagers, they’ll pretty much shoot high fructose corn syrup like it’s heroin.  don’t say yes to all treats cause then, when they become teenagers, they’ll pretty much shoot high fructose corn syrup like it’s heroin.  it’s a delicate balance, my friends (and one that i probably don’t have right anyway).
+ when you want treats, bake them yourself.  then you know you’ll be able to pronounce all the ingredients.  and you won’t do it that often because who wants to bake all the time?  michael pollan taught me this one.
+ remember msg has many names.  like hydrolyzed soy protein for one.  read about it and avoid it.  it excites our brain cells so much that they die and is addicting.  i know that because when i think of cool ranch doritos, i want to shove the entire bag in my mouth in a split second.  even when it’s been 18 months since i last had some.  how is that possible?  msg, my friends, msg.
+ know where your meat comes from.  cow doesn’t count.  learn more.
+ if you can’t give up a certain dirty habit, try to find a healthier alternative.  like immaculate baking company brand break-and-bake cookies instead of the pillsbury alternative (though both are YUM).
+ make your own cream of chicken soup.  it’s easy.  basically your normal bechamel sauce but with chicken broth and a little more salt… most cream of chicken soups have msg.  hate it.

do you have any for me?  seriously, share.  i love this stuff.

and don’t miss my guest post (below)!

kitchen-envy

Advertise OnTales of Me and the Husband
Get Started