Ari Parts With Such Sweet Sorrow
My family has a penchant for the dramatic. Obviously Ari has inherited our flamboyant genes. Watch below as he says goodbye (dramatically) to two of his biggest fans: Liz and Jeff Fader, otherwise known as grandma and grandpa.
Monday Gymnastics
I just want to say, for the record, that I'm awesome.
Listerine is Trying to Tell Me It’s Monday
This morning I refused to get out of bed, flat out refused. I finally made it to the bathroom, opened the medicine cabinet to retrieve my toothbrush and was jolted awake when my enormous bottle of cool mint Listerine jumped into my arms! It was trying to tell me "Wake up! It's Monday!"Next time I go to Costco, I'm buying the original scary yellow variety. The cool mint is too self-satisfied for my taste.
Were You Raised in a Barn?
I started to teach Ari "please." I wasn't sure he was going to get it. I mean, he's not even two yet. I guess the reason for the new vocabulary word is that I am so fed up with the tantrums, I wanted to start some positive habits, like manners for instance.Well, to my surprise he's getting it! In the first video he says please reluctantly because he just finished a tantrum. But in the second one, he's saying it in a less begrudging manner.
BernThis! An Interview With Jessica Bern
When I became a mom, I was forced to come to a harsh realization: just because you've had a child (as I have) does not mean we can automatically be friends. I've had a hard time finding mom friends that I connected with.Similar to my "real life" experience, I've also had a hard time finding mom blogs that I like. When I do find one, I latch onto it like a nursing babe.This is how I feel about Jessica Bern's blog, Bernthis.I love this woman. Guess where she's from? One of my favorite countries: Canada!She created the "Bernthis web series" which are hilarious anecdotes from her life. One of my favorites is called "Born Stupid." It's about the fact that she is the youngest sibling in her family and the dumbest. She became an actress, while her sister became a pediatric gastroenterologist.Ms. Bern agreed to answer a few questions for us about her life and blog. I'll let Jessica reveal the rest! Here's what she had to say:1. Jessica, you're funny. Do you think being a younger sibling had anything to do with the fact that you're hilarious?My place in the birth order only solidified that I was bound to [...]
Contrary to Popular Belief, There Are No Sheep in The Backyard
Ari believes that there are sheep in my parent's backyard. No matter what I told him, he insisted that there were sheep out there. He sometimes refers to sheep as "Baas" FYI. After we ended that rumor (about the sheep) he went on to explain that there were cows in the backyard as well. Finally we agreed that there were trees out there and that was the end of it.
Chocolate Snaps: An Old Friend From the 80’s.
Last night I had a dream about these cat cookies I used to eat when I was a kid. They were in a red box as small as a box of animal crackers. I realized what I had to do, I had to find them! So I turned to my friend, Google, who rarely lets me down. And low and behold, I found my childhood favorite!Do you remember these?
Vegan Cookie Giveaway at Stumptown Crunch!
Remember those amazing vegan ginger cookies I told you about? The ones my friend and fellow mama blogger Amanda made?If you don't recall, I'll remind you. These would be the cookies I'm referring to:Amanda is hosting a vegan cookie giveaway on her blog! And get this? There are several varieties of cookies to choose from! She recently got her hands on a fantastic vegan cookbook and she wants the chance to try out these cookie recipes on you!Go on! Post a comment on her blog with two varieties of cookie that you'd like to try! Maybe you'll win yourself some good eats. Trust me, her cookies are like crack! You can't have just one.Click on the cookies below to enter the "Vegan Cookies Invade Your Cookie Jar GIVEAWAY":
Thought of The Day: Coffee = Oxygen Mask
You know what they tell you on an airplane?"Put your oxygen mask on yourself, before assisting others?"Well, this is how I feel about my morning cup of coffee. It is my oxygen mask. Before that cup, I am useless to others. There is nothing like that morning cup of coffee! And the first sip...oh yeah!After my morning essential elixir, I feel ready to face the day!
What is Mastocytisis? An Interview With Tara Goonan
My friend Tara inspired me to become a mother. She is just as anxious and crazy as I am, but she is also a hilariously funny, intelligent and wonderful woman. She had a baby, Liam, and made motherhood look possible to a neurotic character like me.We became friends when we worked together as Vocational Counselors in a residential drug treatment center.When Liam was 5 months old, I became pregnant with Ari.Liam, who is now 2 1/2 years old, was diagnosed with mastocytisis. It is a rare condition, and can be quite severe in some cases.Tara talks about her experience with Liam, and the road to diagnosis.1. What is mastocytisis?Mastocytosis, or in Liam's case cutaneous mastocytosis, is a rare condition. Some medical persons refer to it as an "orphan disease" due to the small number of the population effected by it. It effects "mast cells", which are also part of our immune cells and help us fight infection. It is therefore considered a hematologic illness.Most mast cells are found in the skin, digestive system and airway linings.When these cells are aggravated or triggered, they release histamine into the body. Allergy reducers such as Claritin or Zyrtec can be referred to as [...]
Draw!
Ari knows what he wants and today he wants me to draw!
How to Draw a “Choo-Choo”
Have you ever wanted to learn how to draw a "choo-choo?" Well wonder no more! This video will allay any fears about train drawing that you might have. You will end up with a satisfied customer. Watch and learn!
CDs Are Defunct and I Am Old
I told Ari's babysitter about the time that I sold my car and I accidentally left a case of 500 CDs in it. They got thrown out in the process. Her response:"Oh no! And that's when CDs were popular!"Yet another reminder that I am getting older.