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Sunday
Oct242010

Friends' Favorite Books for Children

An earlier blog of a few weeks ago, One Really Terrific Idea and Evening, detailed a delightful time together with friends who shared their favorite childrens' books. 

For those of you with little ones in your life, here is the list.  Many, many thanks to Anne for taking time today to type it for all to enjoy!

Below are four recent additions to that collection.  Each is beautifully written and illustrated.  And well worth a look at your local book store or on Amazon. 

Forward to anyone with a child in his/her life.  It's a terrific resource/you'll recognize many, I'm certain.  

The Very Fairy Princess, by Julie Andrews and Emma Walton Hamilton

Animals, Bright Baby Priddy Books

Ladybug Girl at the Beach, by David Soman and Jackie Davis

Urban Babies Wear Black, by Michelle Sinclair Colman

City Dog, Country Frog, by Mo Willems

Benjamin and Bumper on the Rescue, by Molly Coxe

Best World Book Ever, by Richard Scarry

Knuffle Bunny, by Mo Williams

Don’t Lick the Dog, by Wendy Washman

The Princess and the Pea, by John Cech

On the Night You Were Born, by Nancy Tillman

A Special Trade, by Sally Wittman

If I Were a Puppy, by Anne Wilkinson

The World of Peter Rabbit – Complete Collection Tales 1-23 (multiple volumes), by Beatrix Potter

Where the Red Fern Grows, by Wilson Rawles

Hawaii ABC Book, Regency Toys

Love You Forever, by Robert Munsch

Winnie the Pooh, by AA Milne

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, by Judith Viorst

Good Night Moon, by Margaret Wise Brown

The Runaway Bunny, by Margaret Wise Brown

The Very Hungry Caterpillar, by Eric Carle

Anne of Green Gables, by L M Montgomery

Eloise takes a Bawth, Kay Thompson

Chicken Big, by Keith Graves

Make Way for Ducklings, by Robert McCLoskey

The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends (complete Collection single volume), by Beatrix Potter

Sugar Cookies, by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, by Mo Willems

Angelina Ballerina, by Katharine Holabird

Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes, by Mem Fox and Helen Oxenbury

Good Night Gorilla, by Peggy Rathman

Time for Bed, by Mem Fox

Animal Rhymes

A Potty for Me, Karen Katz

Return of the Hundred Acre Wood, by David Benedictus

Brown Bear, Brown Bear what Do You See, by Bill Martin jr and Eric Carle

Pat the Bunny, by Dorothy Kunhardt

Are You My Mother, by PD Eastman

Mother Goose, by Sylvia Long

 

Friday
Oct222010

Back Monday!

May your weekend be filled with many October-style surprises!

Thursday
Oct212010

Rustic Pizza Topped with Arugula Salad

Excellent!

Chilly evenings provided the impetus for creating something completely soul satisfying. The following, modified from an Epicurious Gourmet recipe, was the perfect fit for our fam last night. All portions are approximate.  Feel free to toss in your own ideas and ingredients.  I really think you can't go wrong with whatever additions you make.

 

INGREDIENTS

  • a handful or two grated mozzarella/I added a little Mexican Cheese Blend that was in the fridge
  • 3 plum tomatoes/we used what we had in our garden/some plum, others not
  • Trader Joe's whole wheat garlic herb pizza dough/refrigerated section
  • 3 tablespoons basil pesto/or to taste
  • 1 bag TJ's baby arugula, rinsed, dried/then tossed with a little olive oil, salt and pepper to taste, some shaved Parmesan cheese, a handful of toasted pine nuts, a little fresh purple basil/not necessary but added color

 

PREPARATION

  • If using a pizza stone, preheat oven to 500 degrees. Stone buried/I used a cookie sheet.
  • Cut tomatoes crosswise into 1/8-inch slices.
  • Stretch dough to round or free form shape. If dough is sticky, dust with flour.
  • Spread pesto over dough, sprinkle with cheese/s.
  • Arrange tomato slices over cheese. Season to taste.
  • Bake until dough is crisp and brown, approx. 10-12 minutes. 
  • Cut and serve immediately topped with arugula salad.


 

 

Wednesday
Oct202010

Happy Halloween!

Click here.

Enjoy!

Thanks, Barb!

Tuesday
Oct192010

SIDS Info from the NYTimes

This simple addition to a baby's room was found to lower the risk of sudden death syndrome by 72 percent.  Please foward to every parent/grandparent you know who cares for/about an infant.

Sleeping in a room with a fan lowers a baby’s risk of sudden infant death syndrome by 72 percent, a new study has found.  The finding, published Monday in The Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, is the latest evidence to suggest that a baby’s sleep environment is a critical factor in the risk of SIDS, which is diagnosed when an infant’s sudden death cannot be explained by other factors.

The study was not designed to identify why fans make a difference, but researchers said they thought that by circulating air, fans lowered the risk of “rebreathing” exhaled carbon dioxide. That risk has been suggested as a reason the rate of SIDS is higher when children sleep on their stomach, in a soft bed or without a pacifier.

Since 1992 the rate of SIDS deaths has dropped by more than half, to about one death per 2,000 live births from 2.4 per 1,000. The decline is linked to a national “Back to Sleep” campaign that promotes putting babies on their back instead of their stomach, which has been shown to lower the risk of sudden death.

The American Academy of Pediatrics also recommends that parents avoid soft bedding, allow babies to use a pacifier and avoid overheating a baby’s room.

Despite the gains, SIDS continues to be the leading cause of death in babies under the age of 1, and researchers are looking for more measures to lower the risk.

The latest study compared 185 babies who had died of SIDS with 312 randomly selected babies and matched them by age, race, ethnic group and country of origin.

“Even though we don’t know why certain babies are more susceptible, sleeping environment matters,” said a co-author of the study, Dr. De-Kun Li, a reproductive and perinatal epidemiologist at Kaiser Permanente’s division of research in Oakland, Calif.

Parents who worry that their child will be chilled by a fan should know that fans do not cool the air; they just move air around. A baby will feel a chill only if he or she is perspiring, doctors say.

Parents who use fans in a child’s room should make sure to take normal safety precautions, keeping cords out of the way and making sure the fan cannot be knocked down by a toddler or pet.

Dr. Li said the use of fans should not replace other sleeping strategies for lowering SIDS, like removing soft bedding and putting babies on their back. He noted that the gains shown in the study were an average for the whole group, including for babies whose care did not meet the guidelines. Still, even if a baby had a safe sleeping environment, the risk of SIDS was lowered by about 16 percent for those who had a fan in the room, although the trend was not statistically significant.

“If parents wanted to do more to reduce the baby’s SIDS risk,” he said, “they can add a fan.”

Such a simple addition.  Spread the word, please.

 


Fan in Room Seems to Cut Infants’ Risk of Crib Death

Published: October 6, 2008
Sleeping in a room with a fan lowers a baby’s risk of sudden infant death syndrome by 72 percent, a new study has found.
Monday
Oct182010

You, too, might enjoy

Greatfulness.org 

One of the sanest, surest, and most generous joys of life comes from being happy over the good fortune of others.   

Archibald Rutledge

 

Gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.

G.K. Chesterton

 

Check it out.  I don't love every quote presented but I do love considering how each could potentially have impact or particular relevance.  And some are SO INCREDIBLY APPROPRIATE for that day.  See what you think.  I'll be interested in hearing your thoughts.

Thanks, JE, for reminding me about this resource.

 

 

Sunday
Oct172010

Beyond belief!

Thanks, LB, for this bit of brilliance.

Stella Awards

It's time again for the annual "Stella Awards."  For those unfamiliar with these awards, they are named after 81-year-old Stella Liebeck who spilled hot coffee on herself and successfully sued the McDonald's in New Mexico, where she purchased coffee.  You remember, she took the lid off the coffee and put it between her knees while she was driving.  Who would ever think one could get burned doing that, right?  That's right; these are awards for the most outlandish lawsuits and verdicts in the U.S.  You know, the kinds of cases that make you scratch your head and say WTF.  So keep your head scratcher handy. 

Here are the Stellas for the past year: 

SEVENTH PLACE * 
Kathleen Robertson of Austin, Texas, was awarded $80,000 by a jury of her peers after breaking her ankle tripping over a toddler who was running inside a furniture store.  The store owners were understandably surprised by the verdict, considering the running toddler was her own son.

Start scratching!

* SIXTH PLACE  * 
Carl Truman, 19, of Los Angeles , California , won $74,000 plus medical expenses when his neighbor ran over his hand with a Honda Accord. Truman apparently didn't notice there was someone at the wheel of the car when he was trying to steal his neighbor's hubcaps.

Scratch some more...

* FIFTH PLACE * 
Terrence Dickson, of Bristol , Pennsylvania , who was leaving a house he had just burglarized by way of the garage.  Unfortunately for Dickson, the automatic garage door opener malfunctioned and he could not get the garage door to open.  Worse, he couldn't re-enter the house because the door connecting the garage to the house locked when Dickson pulled it shut.  Forced to sit for eight, count 'em, EIGHT days and survive on a case of Pepsi and a large bag of dry dog food, he sued the homeowner's insurance company claiming undue mental anguish.  Amazingly, the jury said the insurance company must pay Dickson $500,000 for his anguish.  We should all have this kind of anguish.  Keep scratching .. There are more......

Double hand scratching after this one.....

* FOURTH PLACE * 
Jerry Williams, of Little Rock, Arkansas, garnered 4th Place in the Stella's when he was awarded $14,500 plus medical expenses after being bitten on the butt by his next door neighbor's beagle - even though the beagle was on a chain in its owner's fenced yard.  Williams did not get as much as he asked for because the jury believed the beagle might have been provoked at the time of the butt bite because Williams had climbed over the fence into the yard and repeatedly shot the dog with a pellet gun.

Pick a new spot to scratch, you're getting a bald spot..

* THIRD PLACE *
Amber Carson of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, because a jury ordered a Philadelphia restaurant to pay her $113,500 after she slipped on a spilled soft drink and broke her tailbone.  The reason the soft drink was on the floor: Ms. Carson had thrown it at her boyfriend 30 seconds earlier during an argument.

Only two more so ease up on the scratching....

*SECOND PLACE* 
Kara Walton, of Claymont , Delaware , sued the owner of a night club in a  nearby city because she fell from the bathroom window to the floor, knocking out her two front teeth.  Even though Ms.Walton was trying to sneak through the ladies room window to avoid paying the $3.50 cover charge, the jury said the night club had to pay her $12,000 ..... oh, yeah, plus dental expenses.   

OK.  Here we go!!

* FIRST PLACE * 
This year's runaway First Place Stella Award winner was:  Mrs. Merv Grazinski, of Oklahoma City , Oklahoma , who purchased new 32-foot Winnebago motor home.  On her first trip home, from an OU football game, having driven on to the freeway, she set the cruise control at 70 mph and calmly left the driver's seat to go to the back of the Winnebago to make herself a sandwich.  Not surprisingly, the motor home left the freeway, crashed and overturned.  Also not surprisingly, Mrs. Grazinski sued Winnebago for not putting in the owner's manual that she couldn't actually leave the driver's seat while the cruise control was set.  The Oklahoma jury awarded her -- are you sitting down? --- $1,750,000 PLUS a new motor home.  Winnebago actually changed their manuals as a result of this suit, just in case Mrs. Grazinski has any relatives who might also buy a motor home. 

Truly astonishing.

Friday
Oct152010

Here's to an exceedingly happy weekend!

Cheers, all!

Thursday
Oct142010

Etsy makes it easy!

Really, I can't be the last to know about this, too, can I?

Yes,  Lois. Get a grip, sweetheart.

 

 

Removable wall decals. Discovered by one very resourceful mom.  Truly terrific. Relatively easy to apply/I witnessed two males making their way through the process.  Hilarious.  And superbly executed.

 

Oh, and there's one of Molly's Mobiles, too!  A perfect addition.

 

Only problem I see is having to make a decision among the hundreds of choices available.  

 

The source:  Etsy.  Once on the site, search for wall decals.  A EXCELLENT addition to this/and any/child's room.

 


 



Wednesday
Oct132010

I think she needs more help than Cesar can offer 

What do you think?  Gotta love her!!!

Tuesday
Oct122010

Sending my best

Friends over.  Forgot to release this yesterday!

 

Sending all who are going through challenging times the BOLDNESS, the BEAUTY, the STRENGTH, the VIBRANCY, the EXUBERANCE and the ENERGY of the dahlias that are now blooming in our garden.    

Monday
Oct112010

Circumvent a catastrophe.

I received the following email over the weekend.  It recounts a recent robbery my friend's friend experienced one block from our house.  NOT A HOAX.  Thankfully, this woman is OK and, as you'll read, is slowly recovering her belongings.  Still, so incredibly unnerving/scary/creepy.  

Learn from her experience AND be sure to read The Very Helpful Suggestions below the email.

DEAR "SMART" FAMILY AND FRIENDS THAT CARRY AROUND "SMART" PHONES.

Think about all the personal and confidential information you are keeping on your "smart" phones. Consider what you may release to others should you lose your phone or have it stolen. 

I was robbed yesterday of my two-day-old IPAD and purse including my very "smart" Android, right in front of my home at 2:00 in the afternoon with a full construction crew working on a house across the street and gardeners in my yard!!! 

I am physically fine but exhausted from police reports, changing bank accounts, auto payments, credit cards, cell phone, email accounts, changing password etc. 

The biggest surprise was the lack of privacy that the Android carries with it and that is why I am writing to you.   Verizon was able to shut my phone down but NOT access to my Contacts, Calendar, or  anything else I put on the phone (like I should remember all of that at my age).  The phone can also be "pinged"  but only by Court Order signed by a judge and that does not happen on weekends.

I had been looking into the secure "MobileMe" and still "thinking" about it before this happened.

Be Wise!

P.S. I was followed home from the Apple Store 5 miles away.

From one knowledgeable source:  Simply setting a non-obvious passcode that you have to enter to unlock the device is a good start.  At the very least a passcode gives you a time delay before someone has access to your information.  You can do that on any of the Android, IPhone or Blackberry devices.

And another:  Here’s a link to Apple’s page describing how the mobile me service provides various options for a lost IPhone.  You can make it chirp if you’ve misplaced it, you can locate it on a map.  You can remotely set a password or completely wipe the device.  It’s pretty cool.

http://www.apple.com/mobileme/features/find-my-iphone.html

And one more:  FYI: To do this, you need to subscribe to the MobileMe service from Apple

 

Sunday
Oct102010

Booooooooo & ho ho ho 


Cost Plus World Market's tag line:  Unique, authentic and always affordable. So true. Here's some of what I discovered on my first trip.  There's still time to tap into their sale/see earlier blog for the printable coupon. Everything, as far as I can tell, is discounted when you bring it along. 

 

I'm heading back tomorrow with my gift list in hand.  Lots of terrific foods to discover if you're looking for consumables/always a much-appreciated addition under anyone's tree.  Take advantage of the sale while making progress on whatever shopping you have to do by December.  Then imagine how terrific you'll feel having these purchases stashed away before the holidays!

 

Oh, and if you're looking for non-breakable ornaments for tiny hands to hang on your tree, this is The Place!  Bigger hands might enjoy making these ready-to-assemble gingerbread houses.

 


 

Saturday
Oct092010

Must see!

Start your engines and head for Roger Reynolds' "Pumpkin Patch" on Encinal Ave. in Menlo Park. 

While watching, enjoy a little Vivaldi. 

Talk about a terrific selection of wonderfully sculpted, creatively colored pumpkins! Definitely not run-of-the mill carving variety but lovely for your table or doorstep through Thanksgiving.  Super- or gourd-sized.

 

Hurry before selection's skimpy.  They're corralled in the Carriage House.

 

I chose ones that I want to grow in our garden next summer. Just collect/dry/plant the seeds in a sunny location this spring and you'll have your Very Own Pumpkin Patch in time for the holidays!

 

Truly a decoration that keeps on giving!



Friday
Oct082010

Late breaking, not-so-scary, news

Thanks, Karen, for alerting us to the current opportunity at Cost Plus!  Their Big Sale started today/Friday/and runs through Monday.  But you must have a coupon.  Access and print yours via: http://www.facebook.com/worldmarket.  Then have some fun boosting our economy.  At a substantial discount.  San Mateo store has the best selection.

The fellow below is not a purchase possibility but he is sooooooooooooooooo enjoying all that I DID discover at Cost Plus today.  Literally the best, most fairly priced decorations Out There.  And if you know me at all, you also know that I LOVE LOVE LOVE this holiday.  More on that later.

Have a wonderful weekend, all.

Thursday
Oct072010

one REALLY TERRIFIC idea and evening

The Theme?  Gathering friends together with their favorite books.  In this case, children's books.  These were the ones we all read to our kids.  AS WELL AS those that are current contemporary winners.

Add a warm, welcoming environment.  And mouth-watering appetizers with a little champagne/no, a lot.  And you have the recipe for an extraordinary evening. 

 

 

 

I was the Very Lucky recipient of this exceptionally creative concept. 

What did I think was particularly special?  The fact that everyone was as interested as I in applauding The Classics as well Some New, Very Talented artists and writers.  Lots of notes taken.  A total immersion experience.  For all of us.

 

 

Thank you.  Thank you.  Thank you, Everyone who cleared their calendars to come.  And to join in the celebration.

AND, of course, A very, very LARGE Thank You to those who fashioned this exceptional event. 

It was a truly touching evening. 

 

 

Wednesday
Oct062010

Too marvelous a day

And it's not over yet.  GREAT group sharing wisdom, LAUGHTER, stories, struggles & strategies this morning.  I was tired.  You were terrific.

Then a visit from my incredibly creative/fun landscape architect friend/we were separated at birth/who stopped by unexpectedly.  We sat in the garden catching up/over a vodka tonic/on each other's lives.  His hysterical stories about Burning Man have me thinking that I want to add this to my Bucket List.  In an RV.  Not a tent.  WHOA.   Pretty intense.  Good photo ops from what I can tell.

AND!, I stopped in Cost Plus on the off chance that they might have some Halloween/My Big Holiday/items to photograph.  OMGOSH, did they ever.  And Christmas!!!  I may run out of time to share pictures today (I did) but will definitely do so tomorrow.  Scary but fun.  As opposed to Very Scary Hatchet Murderer kind of costumes/scenarios at the first Halloween shop I visited.  Message:  Go to Cost Plus first next year, Lois.  And all of you, too, if you're in the market for decorations for children/grandchildren/yourself.  Loved the soft, indestructible ornaments for little hands to hang. 

More tomorrow. 

And it got even better.  Pretty amazing/very touching.  Thank you, dear friends.  How lucky am I? 

Very.

 

Tuesday
Oct052010

Think you'll like this link!

http://www.scriptandscribble.com

I've ordered items/very pleased with results.  Have received their products as gifts/loved them.  Think this is a resource you might enjoy!  Check it out.

Monday
Oct042010

Column conundrum

If you've clicked around this site, you’ve no doubt noticed that the left-hand column is lacking content.  At least until a few days ago. 

Background Info:  For the past 25+ years, I have designed/facilitated workshops for moms of all ages.  The range now spans those in their 20’s-40's to grandmothers and a great grandmother who is two decades older than most of us.  She’s vital, vibrant and an amazingly wonderful woman/truly an inspiration.

The challenge? How to merge the many ideas generated during our time together with photos, video, etc.  As opposed to the center column/this one/that is stream of conscientiousness/new stuff/current thoughts.

I want the end result to be a succinct/fun/interactive package that provides parents with practical ideas and inspiration for tackling the Biggest/Most Important Job Out There:  Being a parent.  

The original concepts are, it turns out, still very viable, vital and inspiring.  Not unlike our 83-year-old participant.

Next:  Videos.  YIKES.  I'm loving the learning curve.  Most of the time.

Blog viewers, you are darling to visit.  Thank you very much.  Know that any/all ideas are most welcome!

Monday
Oct042010

Full moon photography

 

  

       

May you always have work for your hands to do.
May your pockets hold always a coin or two.
May the sun shine bright on your windowpane. 
May the rainbow be certain to follow each rain.
May the hand of a friend always be near you.
And may God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.

Irish Blessing

Even more below.  Thanks so much, Barb!  I can't wait to play with this concept myself!

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