There’s this common perception that real, healthy food like fresh fruits and vegetables are way overpriced compared to the unhealthy highly processed fake foods out there. Well, to lay the smack down on that the USDA just published a study showing the opposite is true.
Listen to this:
It turns out that when you drop the flawed metric of measuring the price of food as $/calorie and switch to something like $/serving, things turn out a lot better for real food. (All you have to do is look around to see that people are certainly getting enough calories.)
One food with a great bang for the buck: beans. I like beans because they’re a really cheap way to get protein, especially compared to meat. They are easy to cook, and I’m not hungry again an hour after eating them. So there’s no excuse: go cook yourself a pot of beans. This recipe for Cuban Black Beans is one of my favorites. It makes a lot but freeze the extras and you’re good to go for a long time.
The reactions I get to being a stay-at-home mom are sometimes amusing. Women that are contemplating the “career path” often ask “What do you do to stay busy?” (I admit I wondered that myself before becoming a mom) and women that work try their best to politely ask, “So, what exactly do you do?” When we first moved into our house one of my retired neighbors (a man) in a spirit of camaraderie commented, “Isn’t it so great to have so much free time? I’m just loving being retired.” Well, staying at home with your kids isn’t exactly like being retired, at least as far as I can tell.
Since making the choice to be a full-time mom, I’ve been quite surprised at how much free time I don’t have (and I only have two kids). Laundry and diaper changing alone seem like they consume enough hours to constitute a legitimate part-time job. Then when you add in the things you need to do (like grocery shopping) and the things you should do (like keep your yard from looking like the median on the interstate) you have to fight to fit in the things you want to do. (I’ll refrain from getting up on my soapbox about how I think this fight is a very important one for the stay-at-home mom, at least for the moment.) Sometimes I even joke that I don’t need to workout because normal life is enough of a marathon. I mean, getting the kids in and out of the car works up a pretty good sweat.
This week has been particularly jam-packed. People over for dinner, getting a new furnace, competitive shopping on Craigslist, and even a potential job interview. I’d love to tell you more about it, but that’s going to have to wait. Right now I’ve got a half hour to get everyone dressed and ready for playgroup. On your mark, get set, go!
The kid that keeps me most on my toes.
Since our last attempt to visit the zoo didn’t work out, we used Noel’s last paternity leave day to go when the zoo was less busy. We went on a rainy weekday, so once the school groups ran for their buses we practically had the whole place to ourselves.
Turns out my purchase of this fleece suit wasn't completely for naught.
Ellen could have cared less about the zoo, but was plenty content in her fleece suit.
Cooper and me in front of the giraffes.
Cooper liked most of the animals (most of which were “dogs”),
Does taking this picture make me a horrible parent?
but was terrified of the peacocks.
Noel and Cooper feeding the birds.
He was okay with the smaller birds though.
Cooper checking out a gorilla.
Cooper’s favorite section of the zoo was the Primate Panorama. He might have been mistaken for one of the monkeys if it weren’t for the glass dividers. 
We’re all a little sad that Noel’s paternity leave is officially spent, but glad that we could use the very last of it for something fun.
I took both kids to the doctor yesterday for well-check appointments. I debated and debated about whether to make their appointments for the same time or not and finally decided I’d have to drag them both with me no matter what, so we might as well get it all done at once. It was a little chaotic (I seriously can’t believe that the pediatrician’s office of all places doesn’t have childproof cabinets.), but we managed without anyone getting hurt. (Although we came close since Cooper decided to jump off the exam table even though it was several feet off the ground.) Cooper made it into a legitimate weight percentile (4%), is on the short side (12%), and has a huge head for his body (50%). Ellen, it turns out, is pretty average (about 50% for everything). Ellen was the only one that needed shots, but Cooper got such a concerned look on his face when they stabbed her with needles that I almost started to cry too. He really does love his little sister.
Checking on Ellen.
If Ellen is still asleep when he wake up, Cooper runs into her room, climbs on the rung of the crib, and shouts, “Aby-gah! Aby-Gah!” (Baby girl! Baby girl!)
The world is his canvas.
Cooper loves drawing and even though he has notepads and pencils he always finds that one pen I forgot to put away and draws all over the couch. Luckily a friend pinned instructions about how to clean a microfiber sofa. Other things I have to constantly take away from him include the diaper cream, my phone, and the camera.
Rocking my five fingers.
He still has a thing for shoes and loves it when I forget to zip my under the bed shoe storage container. He’s getting pretty good at putting his own shoes on and we’re working on clothes, although he’s much better at taking them off than putting them on.
Playing with his new basketball hoop.
Cooper is the cautious kid on the playground. When we arrive he hangs out with me for a minute to scope the scene before running away to play. When other kids are diving down the slide head first he will cautiously approach the slide and typically won’t go down unless I go with him. The pediatrician says this is a good trait because he’s less likely to get hurt 
Reading books in his room.
While the kid loves having someone to play with, he’s pretty good at entertaining himself. One of his favorite things to do is take his cars and trains and drive them all over my unmade bed.
Ellen stretching out on the couch.
I’m pretty much convinced that Ellen is the best baby ever. She is so calm and peaceful. She puts up with her brother’s doting attention without complaint.
Ellen saying hello.
She really only fusses when she’s hungry or has the hiccups and she’s such a good sleeper. She’ll sleep anywhere between 6-10 hours at night and is really efficient about eating so the one time I’m up isn’t very long. I haven’t hardly felt a need to nap except for our traditional family wide nap on Sunday. I’m really spoiled this time around.
Ellen studying a library book while doing tummy time.
Since her birth, people have constantly been asking me “How are you feeling” in a concerned way and I always tell them, “Great, better than I’ve felt in months!” and I mean every word of it.
Smiling at Noel.
Ellen is quick to smile and always seems to save her biggest ones for Noel. I think it’s pretty clear that he’s sweet on her too.
Ellen and Cooper hanging out in the morning.
I think my kids are great and am loving watching how they interact. I hope they grow up to be the best of friends.
I bought some discounted fabric with the intentions of making a Dolman style top. The top was great, the fabric was wrong. It was way too heavy for a Dolman top, instead of looking light and airy, it looked like I was being weighed down. Then I tried to make it into a more fitted top that seemed more appropriate for the fabric, but since I didn’t really have a vision and was just making stuff up as I went the end result was less than desirable. Next, I opted to try and remake the thing into a pencil skirt, but at this point I was frazzled and trying to sew too quickly during nap time which was a bad idea. The skirt was a flop. Complete disaster. I realized at this point that I’d lost my sewing mojo, so I needed to make something I could be sure of. Remember this yellow this top? (Also above and below.) I wanted to make another one like it, but by this time my fabric had been downsized so much that I didn’t have enough fabric to make a top that would actually fit me. (Although I still tried to squeeze into it when it was finished, which was another type of disaster.) While this was sad news for me, I decided to try and make some good come out of the situation and attempt my first ever tutorial. If you give this tutorial a try I’d love to hear about it. If you have any questions or need clarification leave a comment about that as well so I can hone my explanation skills. Enjoy!
I call it the Audrey top, not out of sheer narcissism, but because I patterned it after a little black dress I own that reminds me of Audrey Hepburn. (One time when I was wearing it I was actually complimented for it’s “Hepburn class,” no joke.)
The Audrey Top
Materials:
1+ yard of knit fabric Matching thread Pattern making materials (pen and something to trace on) Sewing stuff (sewing machine, measuring tape, scissors, etc)First we need to create the main pattern. Take a tank top (can also use a shirt, you’ll just have to eyeball the armpit curve), fold it in half, and lay it on your pattern making material. (I save the brown paper that often comes in packages for this purpose. I’ve also seen people use grocery bags, so get creative. If all else fails you can just tape 8 1/2 X 11 sheets of paper.) Since the top is slightly flowy I moved my tank top 1 1/4″ from the edge. If you want your top to be even more flowy move the top you’re tracing even further over. Keep in mind that your piece will be cut on the fold, so the added width will be doubled. (By adding 1 1/4″ to the pattern piece I’m adding 2″ to the width of the final product and 1/2″ for my two 1/4″ seam allowances.)
Trace around the bottom and side of the tank top. When you get to the top just make a straight line from the shoulder seam to the edge of your pattern instead of tracing the dip for the neck hole. If you want your finished top to be longer than the one you are tracing simply extend the line to your desired length.
Finished pattern piece should look like this. Cut two pieces out of your fabric using this pattern piece.
Next we’ll make the band and tie. These pieces are much more straightforward. Measure your waist and add 1/2″ for your seam allowance. Cut a rectangle that is 10″ by the width you just determined (My measurements were 34″X10.”). For the tie, cut a piece 5″X60.” (Can add more to length if you want a longer tie.) Right now your collection of pieces should look like this.
Take your main front and back piece and with the right sides together pin them together along the sides from the armpit notch to the bottom edge . Sew each side with 1/4″ seam allowance. Most knits won’t fray, but if you want a finished look serge or zigzag the edges. (Side note: I don’t have a serger yet, but if you zigzag along the seam and then do a straight stitch on the other side of the zigzag and it doesn’t look too shabby. Ignore the fact that my zigzag sometimes gets wonky. Cursed machine.)
Take the band piece. Match up the short ends with right sides together. Sew 1/4″ seam.
You now have a tube of fabric. This is a great time to slip the band around your waist and check the fit. Adjust if needed. Turn right side out and match up raw edges to fold in half. Iron.
At this point your main piece should be wider than the band. Do a basting stitch. (Put machine on longest stitch length, back-stitch ONLY at the beginning and sew ALMOST all the way around. Leave a tail when you cut the thread.) Take the band and insert inside the main piece (main piece is still inside out). Take the tail on the basting stitch and pull it until the piece bunches up enough to be the same size as the band. Make sure to evenly distribute the gathers this creates.
With the band still inside of the main piece, line up the raw edges and pin together.
Sew the pieces together. (Can use elastic thread in your bobbin for added stretch. I didn’t do this with my yellow top which was a very stretchy knit, but did do this with the blue knit that was less stretchy.) I used a 1/2″ seam allowance here so my basting stitches wouldn’t be seen on the outside. Zig-zag or serge if desired.
Serge or zig-zag the armpit curve if desired. Fold in 1/4″ (or more if you serged/zig-zagged and the threads show), pin in place, and sew. (Sorry no picture of this.)
Serge or zig-zag the top of the front piece if desired. Fold the piece down 1 1/4.” Iron and/or pin in place. Sew 1/4″ seam allowance from the raw edge you folded down or 1″ from the edge the fold made. This makes the casing you’ll thread the tie through. (Sorry no picture of this either, I think I was getting lazy about picture taking.)
Fold the tie piece in half the long way. Sew one short edge and all along the long edge. Trim corners and flip inside out. (Using a pencil or chopstick can make this a lot easier.) Fold the raw edge inside the tie, pin, and hand sew shut. I used a really lightweight knit for the yellow top, but if you used a heavier fabric like I did for the blue top it’s a good idea to at least top stitch along each short end, although if you go this route I’d advise top stitching around the entire piece since it produces a more finished look.
Zig-zag or serge the top of the back piece if desired. Take the finished tie and pin to the back piece w/ right sides together. You want to pin the tie slightly off-center with one side being several inches longer (this one will thread through the front). Sew the pieces together with a 1/4″ seam allowance.
Now we’re to the final step! Take the longer side and thread it through the casing in the front of the top. (I use a safety pin to make this easier.)
Now the top is ready to wear. Put it on and tie the two ends together in a bow or not, whichever suits your fancy.
Ingnore the fact that my band is gathered and not the top, as you may recall I was having fabric issues . . . Now I just needed to find a beanpole pre-teen who this might fit
Our Cooper isn’t quite as mini as he used to be it seems. He turned two this past weekend. We had wonderful plans of going to the zoo, but we literally could not find a parking spot within a 5 mile radius. Fortunately, Cooper had no idea and was not at all disappointed when we went to the park instead.
We took him to California Pizza Kitchen and uncharacteristically ordered Cooper his own BBQ Chicken Pizza. (PS This recipe for it is to die for, we just forgot to make pizza dough that morning.) He downed half the pizza in about 30 seconds flat. He also was spoiled with gifts that had been arriving all week in the mail.
We of course had Tres Leches cake that we decorated with Cooper’s favorite thing in the entire world: raspberries. He ate all the raspberries off the cake and only then did he try the cake itself.
Here’s to the beginning of the terrific twos!
I just started something today that I am really excited about. I signed up for the National Bike Challenge, which seeks to get 50,000 people to ride 10 million miles by the end of August. The more you ride, the more points you get and the more points you get the more prizes you’re eligible for such as some pretty nice bikes or at least a water bottle. You can compete with people at your work or university.
Anyway, I’m pretty stoked about it and today on top of my usual commute to work (3.31 miles counting coming home for lunch), I went to the grocery store and to a church meeting on my bike as well (5.90 miles). That’s a total of 9.21 miles today not driving the car. According to the IRS, cars cost on average $0.51/mile to drive with gas, maintenance, and depreciation. That means I saved $4.70 today alone by not driving. This week so far I have biked 31.64 miles or $16.14. That really adds up!
So I exhort you to go sign up and get on your bike. If you’re looking for even more good reasons to replace some of your driving with biking, here they are:
- It’s more fun than driving
- Better health
- Biking will make you rich ($93,432 richer in 10 years, apparently.)
- Maybe prizes if you sign up for the bike challenge and log some miles.
- Did I mention that it’s fun?
Well this post definitely isn’t about healthy food. With Cooper’s birthday coming up I’ve been thinking a lot about cake and the associations they create. Growing up I always chose the same cake for my birthday: cheesecake.
My parents make a mean cheesecake. They’ve become quite skilled at this dish since they make at least twenty different kinds every year for the running camp they put on. (They coach the cross-country team at my old high school.) For over four years I attended this camp and on the last day after completing the Mega Woman Run (longest run of the season) I’d binge eat cheesecake with my sweaty, exhausted comrades. We’d laugh, talk, and eat to our hearts’ content. Calories meant nothing.
When I got married I wanted cheesecake at my reception, so in the months leading up to my marriage my father made enough cheesecakes to fill their deep freeze. He researched techniques on freezing and bought special bakery boxes so that when the cakes were sliced and served to guests they would have thought they were fresh baked. After our Spring Break honeymoon, Noel and I came back to a fridge full of cheesecake that kept us going as we got back to the drudgery of school.
Monday, I whipped up cheesecake for some dinner guests and I thought back on all these memories. To me, cheesecake is a symbol of hard work and love. It is something that is NEVER made from a box and a reminder that it’s okay to indulge once in awhile. I wish I could serve you up a slice today and make your day a little more special, but at the least I can share a recipe.
I put a border of raspberries and chocolate chips on this one.
Brownie Bottom Cheesecake
Brownie Bottom:
1 stick butter
4 squares chocolate
1 ½ C sugar
2 eggs
¼ C mik
1 tsp vanilla
1 C flour
½ tsp salt
Cheesecake:
3 8oz packages cream cheese
¾ C sugar
1 tsp vanilla
3 eggs
½ C sour cream
1. Heat oven to 325 degrees
2. Melt butter and chocolate over low heat, stirring slowly. Once fully melted remove from heat and allow to cool then add the sugar and eggs. Blend in milk and vanilla.
3. Stir in the rest of the brownie ingredients, spread into the bottom of a greased and floured spring form pan and bake for approximately 25 minutes.
4. Meanwhile, beat cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla. Add eggs one at a time. Blend in sour cream.
5. Pour over brownie bottom and bake an additional 55-60 minutes or until center is almost set.
6. Run knife or metal spatula around rim of pan to loosen cake; cool before removing rim of pan. Refrigerate 4 hours or overnight. Let stand at room temperature 30 min. before serving. Store leftover cheesecake in refrigerator.
Tofu has never really sounded (or looked) good to me. I gave it a try once a few years back, but the dish was mediocre and I figured it proved that tofu was indeed gross. Then we went to Tokyo Joe’s the other day and Noel ordered tofu in his rice bowl. I prepared myself to be repulsed when we performed our typical ritual of sampling each others’ food, but was pleasantly surprised. When prepared well tofu is actually pretty tasty. We’ve tried our hand at a few tofu recipes lately and we’re getting better at preparing it. Cooper, our little carnivore, scarfs it up, which is completely fine with us since tofu is WAAAY cheaper than meat from animals raised in elevated environments.
In my opinion, it seems the secret to cooking tofu is getting as much water out of the tofu as possible and pairing it with a delicious sauce. So far we’ve enjoyed a Crispy Pad Thai recipe (very tasty, I just need to work on making mine more crispy) and a Stir Fry w/ Asparagus recipe (the “dry fry” this recipe uses really made the tofu not be so mushy). Next time we’re going to grill it. I have no doubt it will be delicious. You should try it too.
I love free stuff, I think we all do. If you’re like us, you love it so much that you often aren’t discerning about what that stuff is and you find yourself pushing people out of your way to catch fleece ponchos at basketball games or visiting every table at an expo just to make sure you don’t miss something good. In the heat of it swag seems awesome, but once at home you realize that much of it is just crap or stuff you don’t really need. Then it either gets thrown away or stuffed into a box somewhere in your storage room. Well, today I rescued some of that discarded swag and turned it into something useful.
Name blurred because the destruction of the bag has nothing to do with the company and I was too lazy to take another photo of the other side
I took this nylon bag Noel got from a job fair back in college, paired it with some leftover fabric from my stash, and made an eco travel lid that can be used instead of saran wrap.
Eco Travel Lid in Action
Then I took a bag I got at the hospital when I had Cooper (full of some brand of formula we gave away).
Cute bag, just never had a use for it.
Cut it up, loosely followed a tutorial on reusable snack bags, and voila five beautiful reusable snack bags all for the low cost of free.
Cooper stealing my props
Ellen supervising the photo shoot.
Now we can eat on the go in eco-fab style.
