Balance

It's funny how things always end up balancing themselves out. The good balances the bad. Big Brother discovered the fun of SimCity and in the same day went to the dentist and found out he had two cavities. He also loved his first swimming lesson, but Darling Daughter was heartbroken that there was no space for her in the class this term. Little Brother had a blow-out temper tantrum in the car, but rounded out the day being extra giggly and snuggly.
I finished hand sewing the binding onto Little Brother's birthday quilt. The thing is gigantic on his toddler bed, but when he eventually moves into a twin bed, it'll be perfect. I love the combination of fabrics but don't really love the pattern that I used. He seems to love it, and I find he doesn't get twisted up in it the way he did in the fleecy blanket he was using before.

The fabric is a combination of several different lines, purchased mostly online last year, with the exception of the owls, which came from Ikea this fall. Lots of blues and greens, and cars and trucks. The backing is a wonderful Ikea print of cars and trucks, which I have used before for a baby blanket and LOVED. The straight line quitling I used around the individual panels looks like roads for the cars on the backing. Since cotton batting is hard to come by around here, and shipping is too expensive, I used a quilted cotton mattress pad. It turned out really well, and the quilting on it will ensure the batting doesn't shift.
Still plugging along on my Montessori certification. I got three A's my last three assignments (natch.) I'm trying to tackle the easy questions a dozen or so at a time this week when all three kids are home and save the critical thinking questions for when they've headed back to school.
I've accomplished lots of tiny household projects this week. Some of them have been on the to-do list since we came home from vacation last summer. It feels AMAZING to cross them off. Like losing weight. I will focus now on finishing a braided rag rug that has been started and stopped a handful of times for well over a year now.

Gone But Not Forgotten

I haven't published since October. I wasn't sure if I wanted to keep this little blog going or not. I've been involved with a photography blog, which I have really enjoyed. I like having an outlet to share to those outside my Facebook/ Instagram/ Pinterest world.  I am planning on keeping up with this little blog after a few weeks. It will most likely be insufferable posts about my crafty adventures (or misadventures, as the case may be) as well as rambling thoughts about this and that.
I've been reading a lot about early childhood education theory as part of my training to become a Montessori certified preschool teacher. I have quite a few thoughts I'd love to share. I will be going back to work in September, certainly I will be examining work/life balance soon.
Handsome Husband and I have been thinking a lot about health and nutrition and how that affects our family. We were quite the junk food/ fast food fiends, once upon a time. Last weekend we found ourselves eating at the mall food court, and all the fatty, fried foods sort of turned our stomachs a little. Progress, I think?
 Darling Daughter has gained admission to 'big school' for next year. I can't believe she's ready for school. These milestones are much harder for me to accept the second time around, and I can't quite explain why.  I'm constantly amazed at the way she moves. Her coordination, her rhythm are amazing. She copies the Bollywood dance routines easily and gracefully. I'm not sure if this is because of her ballet classes, or it's something more innate.
Big Brother is working through some bullying issues at school and it breaks my heart. I still feel the same anxiety thinking about my own school years, just as bright and painful as it was then. He's a bit smaller than the other kids, thinner, and smarter, so he stands out somewhat as a target. He's reading as well as kids two grades ahead of him. He's obsessed with Legos and recently told me he wants to sell all of his other toys so he can have money for more.
Baby Brother just turned three, and I can't believe the changes in him in the last year. The worries about his development, especially his language development, have been disintigrating. We now get compliments on what a funny chatterbox he is. He still has his moody days, but, thanks in part to some of the Montessori training, and in part to the part-time work I've been doing at the preschool, I've learned some new techniques that seem to be helping quite a bit.

Sophomore post

I truly wonder how many people wake up one fine day, start a blog, make one optimistic post and then never post again.

In the spirit of defying the trend, I'm back. Neat, huh? I know that all ten people who looked at my blog since my previous post were waiting with breathless excitement. Honestly, I'm pretty surprised that I got even ten page views. I am, however, determined to make a good try.

I decided my first genuine post was going to be a recipe review. This decision was made because I want to figure out two things: the first is how to post pictures to the blog and the second is how to post a link.

I found this link on Pinterest, but I'm told that proper blog etiquette is to link back to the actual website rather than to the pin. I'm all about manners and etiquette. Right now I'm swilling coffee from the gigantic mug, and dribbling some of it onto my nice white shirt,  but you can be damned sure that my pinky is out and my elbows aren't on the table.

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2008/06/crash-hot-potatoes/

Wow. I think I did the linky thingamadoohickey correctly. Are you totally impressed?

The basic concept of these potatoes in pretty simple, actually. You boil some baby potatoes. Then you smash them the way you might smash down peanut butter cookies. After seasoning the potatoes with olive oil, salt and pepper and whatever spices you like, the taters go back in the oven until they are crunchy.

I LOVE these potatoes. I have made them three times, and they are a huge hit, even with the youngest progeny who is not fond of potatoes unless they are deep-fried.

I made a few changes. I lined the baking trays with baking paper to keep them from sticking. The original recipe called for oil to be drizzled generously on the pan, but it made them a bit too oily formy sensitive stomach. I made a spicy variety for my husband, with red chili flakes and cumin seeds. I think he liked them, but when I asked, his mouth was so full of crunchy potatoey deliciousness that I can't be certain.

These are simple enough and a nice change from regular baked potatoes. We will make these a regular part of our dinner menus.

I don't have a picture of me making the delicious potatoes, but, I did promise you a photo.

I found these at Daiso, which is my favorite version of a dollar store, because it is Japanese and that allows me to indulge in one of my favorite things, ie reading oddly written bits of English. 

I love that this describes deep fire food as light and delicious.

Welcoming...Me

Creating a blog is something that has been on my to-do list for way too long. Making to-do lists is a daily task for me. There's something very satisfying about crossing things off my list. My natural tendency is to procrastinate, so having a list keeps me focused.

The difficulty I encountered was primarily in deciding what sort of blog I wanted. I'm interested in lots of things, and I'm easily amused, so I become interested (and disinterested) in new things quickly.  I don't have the time to support a blog that's all about sewing, or cooking, or nerdy stuff, or trying stuff pinned onto my Pinterest boards, though I love all these things.

So, it's a mish-mash then. I'm partial to blogs that have weekly, recurring themes, e.g. W.I.P. Wednesdays, so most likely, when I come up with something witty enough I will start that.

I will promptly go and put it on the to-do list. It will go right between "vacuum" and "fish Lightning McQueen out from under the sofa."