#19

At the beginning of the year, I posted my not-so-traditional resolutions list of thirty things I want to accomplish in the next year (before the big 3-0!) Call me an overachiever, but I'm ready to cross one off my list!

#19. Organize something I've been neglecting. 

I consider myself a pretty organized person. My house is typically tidy and if a closet gets too unruly or the pantry is exploding with boxes of cereal and crackers, I spend a quick twenty minutes every now and again cleaning it up. I have a serious problem walking into a Container Store and not walking out empty handed.

But, the car is another story. I take full responsibility for caring for the car because I use it most. While I'll ask Rick to fill the washer fluid or check a tire, I'm the one who schedules maintenance check ups, gets it washed, and gets the oil changed. I'm also the one who throws piles of clothes in the trunk to take to a donation site and leaves them in there for weeks. I hoard toys for Cam in the car and collect reusable shopping bags which have been known to fill the entire trunk.

So, the car became the easy target for item number 19 on my list. Earlier this week, Cam and I went over to Rachel's to play with little Colin and organize our #26Acts collection for The Night Ministry. (Check out Rachel's post about what we collected! And, thank you to Sara, Allie, Anne and Mom for the incredibly generous donations you all made toward this fun project. You won't believe what I was able to bring over to Rachel's because of all your generosity!)

My trunk was full to the top of stuff to drop off, so finally emptying it out led me to the conclusion it was time to organize the car. The boys checked out all the goods...

photo courtesy of Rachel Friedman

So, on Wednesday, while Cam napped, I took the monitor outside with me as the sun was shining and the crisp 54 degree day breezed by. (Is it Spring!? I'm so confused by this weather!) I brought items inside that belonged in the house, put all the garbage in the trash and even vacuumed out the crumbs and leaves. All the grocery bags are tucked neatly inside a larger one and our little umbrella stroller is the only occupant of the trunk at this time. High five to me.

I'm going to cross this one off the list because that's why I love lists most. Crossing things off. Putting a big check next to a task. It's gratifying in the most inexplicable way.

1. Go an entire week without straightening my hair
2. Go to a movie by myself
3. Read a book from high school that I never actually read
4. Wear a bikini for the first time. EVER.
5. Get involved in a new organization
6. Get my eyebrows threaded
7. Pay for someone's meal anonymously
8. Reconnect with an old friend
9. Go unplugged for an entire day (no internet or TV)
10. Try snowboarding
11. Dress up and have drinks/dinner at the Drake Hotel
12. Visit the Holocaust Museum in Skokie, IL
13. Sing karaoke in public
14. Go to a Chicago landmark I haven't visited
15. Surprise someone
16. Submit a recipe for the Pillsbury bake off
17. Eat oysters
18. Visit somewhere new (city, state or country)
19. Organize something I've been neglecting
20. Try a new class at the gym
21. Watch 5 movies on Rick's Must-See List
22. Take Cam on a special mommy-son date
23. Go camping
24. Learn about a relative/ancestor I don't know much about
25. Grow an herb garden
26. Take a class to pursue an interest
27. Attend a new Summer Chicago festival
28. Get a spray tan
29. Ride the ferris wheel at Navy Pier
30. Let go of insecurities and be truly content with who I am

But, I think I'm going to keep this goal and try to do it monthly. Pick something I've been neglecting (oh guest room...) and spend twenty minutes organizing it.

One down... twenty-nine to go!

Big Boy

Someone turned 14 months yesterday. He's a full on toddler now who can eat me under the table, babbles a mile a minute and is running around all day. Actually running. He has grown a lot physically and mentally in the last month. If I could stop time, I'd stop it right now. This is such a perfect age of fun and growth but without the major tantrums or attitude of the terrible twos.

His new favorite activity is to open the drawer under the oven, take out the baking pans and bang them, spin them and carry them around the house. I think he's trying to tell me he's ready for some baking lessons!

In the last few days, he's become so confident with walking that he's actually taken off running. He'll grab whatever toys he can find and just run around the island in our kitchen babbling away. It's too funny.

He's also climbing on everything.

 

And finding new favorite spots to sit. 

 

He has learned to say a few new words like "sooo" (shoe), "dis" (this) and "mama." He still says "dada" way more often than "mama" but we definitely got a few "mama"s in there! He knows that a sheep says "baa" and a cow says "moo" and a monkey says "ooo ooo ooo." But, he will only perform one of those for about a week, then forget it. As soon as he learns something new, he's so excited about it he forgets what he knew before. He's got a memory like his dad.

He can put items in a bucket or bin now and he's working on stacking rings. He can climb into his little red wagon by himself and when he does, he'll say, "weeee" which of course means, "push me!" He has started to "drive" his toy cars along furniture and the fridge. He happily climbs into his chair and reads his books when he needs some quiet time.

He's still obsessed with Maizey. Like laughs to the point of turning red when she runs around him.  And Maizey is such a good sport. He still likes other dogs, but it's clear that he has a special love for his pup. Love that!

 

We are currently in a transition to one nap. Some days he's sleeping twice and some days one, which makes it difficult for us to have concrete plans during the day or attend our classes regularly. Luckily though, I'm learning how to adapt to all the unpredictability and if my house goes an extra day without being scrubbed, so be it.

I'm seriously loving this age and the constant personality that shines through every pore of this child.

New Recipes... New Year!

While I didn't make real resolutions this year (and I'm kinda liking it!), secretly I've been wanting to try out some new recipes and kick my butt into gear about making more meals at home. You see, with the holidays it got too easy ordering in and eating out. I also have to admit to eating cereal for dinner several nights in the past month. So, with the new year here, I thought, "why not try some new recipes!?" You can be sure each of these has been simple enough for me to make while keeping an eye on a now running toddler and delicious enough that my husband ate them.

The World's Best Chicken (according to someone on Pinterest)
(original recipe: http://rachelschultz.com/2012/07/11/worlds-best-chicken)

This was really yummy and easy to make (only three ingredients!) Rick isn't a huge mustard fan but still really enjoyed this. 

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/2 cup Dijon mustard
1/4 cup maple syrup
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
Salt & pepper
Rosemary

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. In a small bowl, mix together mustard, syrup, and vinegar. Place chicken breasts into 9×13 greased baking dish. Season with salt & lots of pepper. Pour mustard mixture over chicken. Make sure each breast is coated. No need to marinate.
Bake for about 30-40 minutes, or until meat thermometer reads 165 degrees. Exactly how long you should leave it in is based on personal preference and your oven. I like my chicken borderline dried out, so I leave it in the full 40 minutes, and sometimes even bump the heat up to 450 degrees to really get the flavors baked on. (Line your pan with foil to keep clean up easy!)  There will be extra sauce in the pan, which you can elect to toss out or use for extra flavoring. Season with chopped rosemary. And prepare for people to ask you to make it again!


Cheesy Broccoli Quinoa
(original recipe: http://www.closetcooking.com/2012/11/cheesy-broccoli-quinoa.html) 

Okay so this one is also SUPER simple and was a great side dish to the chicken last night. I can imagine a lot of variations (subbing different cheeses, adding some red pepper flakes for kick, etc.) and look forward to experimenting with this one! I used chicken broth because that's what I had in my pantry, and I think it added a great flavor as opposed to water.

Ingredients

• 1 cup quinoa, well rinsed
• 1 1/2 cups vegetable broth or water
• 2 cups broccoli, chopped
• 1 cup cheddar, shredded
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1. Bring the quinoa, broth and broccoli to a boil over medium heat, reduce the heat and simmer covered until the broth has been absorbed and the quinoa is tender,about 13-17 minutes.
2. Mix in the cheese, let it melt and season with salt and pepper.

Gill's Pinterest Salmon
(combination/variation of these two recipes: http://pinterest.com/pin/279363983107179126 and http://pinterest.com/pin/279363983107179122)

I was intrigued by the use of nuts in one of the recipes and the use of herbs de provence (a mixture of spices that I bought a long time ago for another recipe). They've been sitting in my pantry and I wanted to use them! I think my modifications turned out well. I liked the tang that the mustard gave and the crunch of the cashews. I'm sure you could use whatever nut you had on hand or breadcrumbs if you are allergic to nuts. This was a fun experimentation!

Ingredients (Note: I did not use measurements. So, use your judgment)

salmon
herbs de provence
olive oil
cashews
dijon mustard

First, crush the cashews using a rolling pin and a ziploc bag. Then, rub some olive oil on the salmon (or use olive oil PAM). Sprinkle some herbs de provence on the salmon. Using a butter knife or spatula, spread dijon mustard on the salmon -- enough to cover but not saturating. Then press the crushed cashews onto the salmon to form a coating.

Bake at 400 for about twenty minutes or until cooked to your desired taste.


PS -- if you eat salmon regularly like we do, and you don't already buy your salmon at Costco, you should. The piece of salmon I bought today cost $11.54 and I was able to cut five portions from it. I normally cut them into portion sizes when I come home then freeze them individually. I think Costco's quality is excellent and the value can't be beaten.

Happy cooking everyone!

My Not So Traditional Resolutions

A new year means a fresh start, a clean slate. That's what we all love about it, right? A chance to forgive ourselves for our mistakes of last year and look forward to new memories and opportunities for growth.

I hate new year's resolutions for so many reasons but mostly because they are usually abstract or unattainable or I'm not held accountable for them and fail to stick with them. I am usually hesitant to go out of my comfort zone, I tend to find excuses to get out of achieving my resolutions and in the end I just feel bad about myself. So, instead, I have a new idea for my "resolution" this year...

In a couple of weeks, I will turn 29 years old. Kind of hard to believe I'm almost thirty. I used to think thirty was so old. What did I know!?! I've caught wind of people who are making "30 Before 30" lists, and as a way of marking my last year in my twenties, I thought it would be a great idea to make my own list. Call it a bucket list or thirty resolutions, but I'm excited about it and think this will be a fun way for me to accomplish some important things.

It has taken me a long time to come up with this list. It's a combination of things I've been wanting to do, things that I need to do, and things I should do to break out of my comfort zone. To be honest, some of these things truly frighten me (#4!!). But, I'm excited and feeling empowered and ready to tackle this year with everything I got.

Here's what I hope to accomplish by the time I turn thirty (January 2014):

1. Go an entire week without straightening my hair
2. Go to a movie by myself
3. Read a book from high school that I never actually read
4. Wear a bikini for the first time. EVER.
5. Get involved in a new organization
6. Get my eyebrows threaded
7. Pay for someone's meal anonymously
8. Reconnect with an old friend
9. Go unplugged for an entire day (no internet or TV)
10. Try snowboarding
11. Dress up and have drinks/dinner at the Drake Hotel
12. Visit the Holocaust Museum in Skokie, IL
13. Sing karaoke in public
14. Go to a Chicago landmark I haven't visited
15. Surprise someone
16. Submit a recipe for the Pillsbury bake off
17. Eat oysters
18. Visit somewhere new (city, state or country)
19. Organize something I've been neglecting
20. Try a new class at the gym
21. Watch 5 movies on Rick's Must-See List
22. Take Cam on a special mommy-son date
23. Go camping
24. Learn about a relative/ancestor I don't know much about
25. Grow an herb garden
26. Take a class to pursue an interest
27. Attend a new Summer Chicago festival
28. Get a spray tan
29. Ride the ferris wheel at Navy Pier
30. Let go of insecurities and be truly content with who I am

I'll expect my friends and family to help me achieve these, so don't be surprised if I call you and ask you to join me on an adventure. And, as a means of holding myself accountable, I'll be sharing my progress so you can watch me cross off my items one by one!

Happy 2013!!

Why Jews Love Christmas

It's no secret I'm a sucker for Christmas time even though I don't technically celebrate it. I love going to look at lights, I love playing Christmas music in my house while I cook, and I love the cheer that spreads around like fire. But there are some other reasons we Jewish folk love Christmas. Let me explain...

We love an excuse to wear our pajamas all day.

We love watching favorite Christmas movies that happen to be chick flicks and forcing our husbands to watch with us because we claim it's a "tradition."

We love that our spouses get the day off and can spend the day at home stress-free.

While it may be annoying that everything is closed for an entire day, we appreciate the opportunity to be stuck at home and teach our little ones how to clean.

And of course, we love the fact that we can find every other Jew at a Chinese restaurant at dinner time. (Though we opted for Chinese take out this year since Campbell decided to skip a nap yesterday. But, Izzy came over and all was well!)

Can you say pooped?!?!

Hope you all had a very merry day with the ones you love!

Want to Do Some Good?!?!

This 26 Acts of Kindness thing has really taken off. I've been getting texts, emails and calls from so many friends and family telling me all the things that they and their friends are doing together. I'm so in awe. Thank you.

For those of you who want to help but maybe don't have the time or your brain is too fried to think of ideas, I have an opportunity for you! I'm teaming up with my friend Rachel to put together new baby baskets for teen moms in Chicago through the Pregnant and Parenting Teens Program of the Night Ministry. This 8-bed, 8-crib shelter is the only place in Chicago that reaches pregnant teens as young as 14 years old. You can click on the link to the Night Ministry to get more details, but they ask volunteers to donate New Baby Welcome Baskets containing the following items:

8 oz. Baby Bottle

Bottle Brush

Pacifiers

Rattle

Baby Oil (not lotion)

Diaper Rash Cream

Petroleum Jelly

Baby Bib

Baby Book

Baby Towel

Sleeper or Onesie

Booties & Hat Set

Receiving Blanket

Baby Bath Tub

Diapers (sizes 4 & 5)

Diaper Bag

Campbell and I are going to be collecting these items and taking them over to Rachel's house where we will compile the baskets and bring them over to the Night Ministry. Please note they ask for NEW and UNUSED items only.

You can help in a few ways:

1) If you live in Chicago and want to drop off items to my house (contact me if you don't know my address) I will be accepting them up until January 1 at which point I'll take them all over to Rachel's and we'll start assembling!

2) If you don't want to shop or don't live nearby, you can send me money via PayPal or gift cards and I'll shop for you!

3) Send me coupons you have for any stores (Target, Babies R Us, Buy Buy Baby, etc.) to help me purchase more items! If you get snail mail or emails with coupons I could use, I'd be so grateful!

I am so excited to be a part of this amazing project. I remember the fears and anxiety I had bringing tiny little Cam home so many months ago. I can't imagine doing it without the love and support of my family, and my heart breaks for these teens. Any mom can relate and I know this will make such an impact on these moms and sweet babies.

Bad Paid-For Photos

Who doesn't love Ellen Degeneres? If Cam is napping at 3:00, I'm usually watching her.. she's funny! One of her segments is called "Bad Paid-For Photos" and she features some hilarious pictures that people send in like this one:

And this one:

 It's funny, right?!

Well, a couple weeks ago, Rick and I took Cam to a holiday hoopla party thrown by one of the mommy groups in town. It was at one of our favorite play spaces and there was tons of food, music and prizes. It was a lot of fun! There was also a photographer there who was taking posed pictures of each family if they wanted. I received our picture via email, and let me just say I think I could submit it to Ellen.

Rick looks thrilled and I look frightened. Luckily we have a really cute baby to distract from the awkwardness of the rest of this picture.

Happy Holidays!!