Happy New Year!

May 2011 be your best year ever!

Holiday Inspiration

Take a moment.   Find a quiet place.  Stop.  Sit down.  Forget the presents, the decorating, the entertaining.   Step outside of yourself and your busy world.  Listen to your breath.  Listen to your heart beat.  Remember that there are many people in this world for whom every day is a life or death struggle.  Watch this video posted on Facebook by CNN Heroes and feel the giving spirit bloom within you.

My Experience As A Seller on craigslist

My youngest (and last) baby is now three years old, so I thought I'd clear out the baby things and other clutter while I was at it.  I combed through closets and our storage and filled our dining room and living room with items we could do without.  Then I set about determining prices, photographing the items and listing them all on craigslist.  If you were wondering why I've been so quiet over the last few weeks - this is why.

I decided to try craigslist first since most of the items were heavy or bulky and shipping would be prohibitive, which meant eBay wasn't a practical alternative.  I will try eBay next.

Overall, my experience has been fantastic and I can't imagine selling this much stuff so easily any other way.  On average, I sold my items at about 50% of retail, which is terrific!   Here are some of my "best practices":

• I didn't encounter too many strange people but  I did take precautions to ensure my safety, such as having my husband home during pickups.  
• Most of my items were high quality and in excellent condition, so I held the sales in my dining room rather than my garage.  I think people felt more comfortable paying higher prices when the items were displayed in a nicer setting.
• I held a few Saturday morning "events" to speed the process.  
• I occasionally arranged to meet buyers at public places to ease their minds.  While it felt strange to stand outside of Best Buy or Lowe's and swap goods for cash, it did facilitate some transactions and I don't blame people at all for feeling nervous about going to peoples' homes.  So if you're a buyer and are nervous - ask the seller if he or she might meet you at a convenient public place.  Chances are, they'll be receptive to it if you reassure them that you're serious.
• I researched my items thoroughly and checked prices for similar items on craigslist and on eBay to make sure my prices were realistic.  
• My postings had lots of good photos and all of the pertinent information.
• I only accepted cash.  
• I quickly learned not to put items "on hold" for people as they often did not show up and I risked losing "bird in the hand" sales in the meantime.

If you are considering selling things on craigslist, it might help to read a few of my experiences so you can prepare yourself.  Some of the highlights include:

• being stood up by numerous people who were "seriously" interested
• the painter and the electrician who left business cards for future shoppers
• the man who told his wife (quite seriously) right in front of me that he planned to serve his son's goldfish to his visiting parents because the fish had become too much work - craigslisting is a study in human behavior and relationships
• the woman who bought a bunch of toddler toys and then tried to sneak an additional one into her car (I caught her and made her fork over more money)
• the lady with the 10 month old who opened a box of babyproofing equipment, let her 10-month old gnaw on it, then put the soggy thing back in the box and walked away (as I stood there with my jaw hanging open). Thankfully, she eventually bought it.
• being offered ridiculously small amounts for items that were already quoted at 50% of retail and were in excellent condition
• the one lady who entered, then said she needed to go to her car to call her daughter about the crib I was selling, then peeled out like she was afraid for her life
• the hugely pregnant woman who yelled at her husband in front of me for not bringing more cash
• the woman who brought her toddler and then spent the entire time (sometimes unsuccessfully) trying to keep him from running through our house and playing with my kids' toys
• the customers who wanted to buy my living room chairs that the baby items were merchandised on
• the customers who argued with me via email about the pricing - giving price quotes from retailers on items that were not identical to the items I was selling
• and finally: my husband's response to my complaining: "As long as they're paying me money, I don't care if they p*** you off."

Give craigslist a try sometime.  You will be amazed at how easy it is to sell the things you are not using!

My Best Thanksgiving Cooking Tip

Your turkey will cook a lot faster if you remove its spine first (a technique known as "butterflying").  It will also leave the legs and wings juicier since they won't be in the oven as long. 

It can be a bit of a struggle to do, but the work is made easier with a very sharp knife and some kitchen shears.  Don't know how to sharpen a knife?  Watch this.

Here's a good video to learn how to butterfly that turkey (or chicken).

Once the spine is removed, cook as usual but keep checking the turkey's temperature.  It's done when the thickest part of the thigh or breast is 165 degrees F.

If you need a refresher on how to cook a turkey, please read my entry from Thanksgiving last year:

A Simple Thanksgiving Dinner

And a very Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

Why The Elf on the Shelf Spent Only One Night with Us

I was at a store the other day buying a baby gift when I saw a big display of The Elf on the Shelf.  I love Christmas, especially now that I have children, so I impulsively bought one.  I know, I know.  All I can say is: I'm human and it's a very cute concept.  So, I took it home and read the story to my boys, then hid the Elf high on a shelf for them to find the next day.

My three-year-old, J, immediately deduced that the Elf came out of the book.  He looked dejectedly at it while I reminded him of his master-class meltdown at Old Navy earlier in the day - when he cried and rolled around on the floor because I didn't buy him two soccer balls from a display there, then yelled that he was going to "kick my butt" as I carried him out of the store.  Not his best day.

My six-year-old, B, gazed with saucer-eyes at the Elf.  "I've never seen a real elf before! This is my first Elf!"  He then proceeded to rattle off six wishes for toys he'd seen advertised on TV. 

This all had me thinking about the kind of message my kids were getting from this and, frankly, from the whole modern concept of Santa.  While I'd been focused on the "fun of Christmas," the mystery, the excitement, my kids were getting a very clear - and very commercial - message.

I don't know why it took me so long to realize this, but telling kids they'll get presents if they're good is like rewarding exercise with a cupcake.  There's no lesson of self-motivation. The real reason they should want to be good is that the world will be a better place for them and for everyone else.   What I really need to do is find a way to send them THAT message.

So tonight, as they slept, the cute little Elf went back in the box with the book.  No offense intended to the Elf or the brilliant people who created this concept.  But we don't need more stuff.  We need a happier world.

I tossed and turned last night, thinking of what I would tell the kids in the morning when they start asking questions.  Where is the elf?  Is he coming back?  What does it mean??  Then I thought: I don't need to tell them anything.  Santa does.  So this is what I came up with:

Dear B and J,

My elf tells me he visited you yesterday.  He can see you have very good hearts and that you love each other and your parents very much.  While you both have some things to work on, I'm satisfied that you will have a very good Christmas.  Therefore, my elf will move on to another house now.

B, my elf tells me that you often ask your Mom and Dad to buy you things when they take you to stores.  Try to remember that Christmas and birthdays are the times when we get presents, not in between.  You will make your parents very happy by not asking for things during other times.

J, my elf tells me that you sometimes use bad words and hit people.  I know it's hard when you can't get what you want, but you must listen to your Mom and Dad when they ask you to behave better.  They love you and take good care of you.

Boys, this Christmas I want you to think about the true meaning of Christmas.  It's about the birth of Christ.  Christians celebrate Christ's birth on December 25th, also called Christmas Day.  So Christmas is really a birthday party.  We give each other gifts as part of the celebration, but Christmas is really not about presents.  It's about remembering Christ and the lessons he taught us.

The most important lesson that Christ taught us (a lesson that's shared by so many faiths) is this: treat other people the way you want to be treated.  This is the lesson I want you to focus on this year and every year.

It's really simple.  Do you want your brother to share his toys with you?  Then share your toys with him.  Do you want your brother to treat you gently?  Then don't hit him.

If you always treat other people the way you want to be treated, you will set a good example for them.  You will be a leader.  Before you know it, the world will be a better place for you and for everyone else.  THIS is why we should behave well, not because we're expecting presents.

Merry Christmas, boys! Now give your Mommy a hug.

Santa

Kefir Chick Pea Tahini Dressing

A few weeks ago, I was invited by Lifeway Kefir to create a new kefir-based recipe for their website.  They'd seen my Apple Pie Kefir Ice Cream recipe and thought that was inventive, so asked if I might try my hand at another one.

Lifeway provided me with coupons for free kefir.  (As the store I visited did not have the organic version at the time, I created the recipe using the non-organic - but in future, I will always use the organic.)  I mulled the idea for a while.  I wanted the recipe to be cold or room temperature, since cooking kefir kills all of those helpful probiotics.  And let's face it, one of the main reasons we drink kefir is to reap the benefit of all of that good-for-you bacteria.  It also had to be a recipe that complements it's particular taste and texture.  Kefir's texture is like drinkable yogurt.  It has more "bite" than regular yogurt and almost has an effervescent quality.  I find it very tasty and love how healthy it is.  It's great in smoothies, dips and dressings - and as I found out last year, it's also great in frozen desserts.

This time, I decided to make a dip/dressing.  This morning, I perused my vegetable garden and then visited the organic section of my local Kroger to pick up some additional ingredients.  My plan was to put in front of myself a variety of tasty ingredients and just combine and taste, combine and taste, until I found the right combination.  Here's what my kitchen counter looked like before I started:

After much taste testing (and a huge mess), I hit upon a fantastic dip/dressing.  It's got a middle-eastern flavor as it includes chick peas (garbanzo beans) and tahini (pureed sesame seeds).  You can put this in a pita with lettuce and stuffed grape leaves.  You can put it on a spinach salad with crumbled walnuts.  Or you can just use it as a dip for vegetables and toast/crackers/chips.

Kefir Chick Pea Tahini Dip/Dressing
makes roughly one cup

Ingredients:

4 tablespoons organic lowfat plain Lifeway Kefir
2 tablespoons tahini
2 tablespoons avocado
1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice
4 tablespoons chick peas (the canned variety works well - rinse and drain them first)
2 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
salt and course ground pepper to taste

Directions:

Combine all ingredients in a food processor and blend until smooth.  Refrigerate until use.  Use or freeze within a day.

(this recipe is also posted on Lifeway's website, here)

Enjoy!

Halloween and Dry Ice

My kids' Montessori class held their annual Halloween luncheon today.  On the menu:

• cheese sandwiches cut into ghost and jack-o-lantern shapes with red pepper pieces for accents
• frozen banana "ghost" pops
• carrot "fingers" using ranch dressing to attach pepper "nails"
• cupcakes with skeletons on the top (the skull made out of marshmallows)
• cupcakes with candy corn decorations
• apples made into creatures using olives for eyes, strawberry slices for mouths (attached with toothpicks) and pretzels for arms
• apple slices made into the shape of mouths
• little pizzas made to look like mummies

and...

• a witch's cauldron of fruit punch (ginger ale, cranberry juice, orange juice and lime sherbet - a recipe from my childhood) with gummy eyeballs floating in it, sitting atop a block of dry ice to get that "spooky" effect.

All of them were fantastic and the kids loved them!

The last one (the cauldron) was my assignment.  I had never worked with dry ice before.  My first encounter with it included a superficial burn on my fingertips as I tried to haul it from the freezer case at the grocery store several days ago.  Good grief, that was painful!  I had totally overlooked the sign on the top of the freezer case: Do not directly touch!

So I got it home and popped it safely into my deep freezer.  "All set," or so I thought.  This morning, as I packed up my supplies for the party, I pulled the bag of dry ice from the freezer.  Empty!  It was totally empty!  $15.60 worth of dry ice totally evaporated in my deep freezer!  Turns out, at temperatures above −69.5 °F (which I'm pretty sure is beyond my deep freezer's capability), CO₂ changes from a solid to a gas with no intervening liquid form, through a process called sublimation.  Just as regular ice evaporates in heat, dry ice disappears when exposed to air, even in a very cold environment.  Excellent.

So, already late to school, I paraded into the grocery store with my two kids, dressed as a bumble bee no less, to get more dry ice at 8:30am this morning.  But the result?  Spectacular.  The kids loved it!

Please note: if you're planning on doing a similar project, do not forget that the dry ice does NOT go into the drink.  Place it in a tub with some hot water to get the "smoke" going, then place a separate tub of punch on top of the dry ice.  Keep adding hot water to the outer tub to keep the smokey effect going.

Happy Halloween!

National Costume Swap Day Is Tomorrow!

Tomorrow is National Costume Swap Day - what better way to have a green Halloween than to recycle last year's costume?

Find a place to swap costumes here: Find A Costume Swap

A Random Act of Kindness in Market Street

Dear Market Street:

My 3 year old was asleep in the front-carrier and my 6 year old was riding in the shopping cart this afternoon in your Colleyville store when a very nice employee approached and informed me that my 3 year old was missing a shoe. 

As the little one was strapped to my front, I hadn't seen the little red Crock drop.  He offered to find it for me.  I didn't know where it had dropped, so I thanked him but told him no, that I'd backtrack and find it later.  I didn't want to take him away from his work.

Ten minutes later he approached me again in another part of the store - and he was carrying my son's shoe!  I was shocked. This man had searched for the shoe (possibly into the parking lot), then searched for me.  He said  "you literally have your hands full. I couldn't NOT help."  

This man made my day.  Inexplicably, tears pricked my eyes.  I felt like giving him a big kiss on the cheek but restrained myself and instead shook his hand and thanked him.

I also shared the story with the store manager as I left the store.  One can't let random acts of kindness go unacknowledged.

Thank you for hiring such great people.  I'll definitely shop again.

Great Finds At Antique Stores And Consignment Shops

I enjoy browsing antique stores, consignment shops, yard sales and bazaars.  I love a bargain and I love the idea of reusing rather than buying new.

Sure, sometimes these places are musty and dusty.  And sometimes they smell exceptionally awful.  You know what I mean - as if the furniture came from a crazy cat lady's house.  No offense to the cats.

And sometimes you come across things you'd rather not see - such as the real human skeleton (with coffin!) I saw at the White Elephant antiques store in Dallas.  Yes, of course I took a photo.  No, I won't post it here, even though Halloween is a month away and it might be seasonally appropriate.

I'm browsing a lot more these days.  We are finally getting around to properly furnishing our formal living room.  Turns out, 'formal living room' is not a euphemism for 'little boys' scooter race track and wrestling room.'  It's actually supposed to be for entertaining!  Now if I can just remember how to entertain.  And build a fence to keep the kids away from 'the good furniture.'

Now, I'm not adventurous enough to get into reupholstering antiques.  I have no idea how to do it myself and the cost of having someone else do it is so high, we may as well buy new.  So that's what we're doing for the upholstered pieces.  But the coffee table and side tables will be "reused," and the area rug will likely be an antique. 

Through my hunting, I've noticed an interesting development: upscale consignment shops and antique stores are popping up like mushrooms after a week of rain.  Existing stores are full of new inventory.  I'm sure the economy has something to do with it.

Here's the kicker: they're actually selling good stuff at decent prices.  eBay is also chock-full of good stuff!  Like this lovely little Henredon leather-top drum table:

So, if you're planning on making some enhancements to your decor, consider buying used.  There's a lot to choose from these days.

AAAaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!

One week ago, I became fed up with the jungle of zucchini plants, cucumber plants and cantaloupe vines.  The zucchinis and cantaloupes never materialized, while the cucumber plants produced more cucumbers than I'll ever eat and threatened to take over the entire garden.  I ripped them all out, leaving just a sweet pepper plant, strawberry plants, basil and oregano.

In their place I positioned a few trees I'm growing (an avocado tree, a Meyer lemon tree and three baby Royal Empress trees) and planted pumpkins (which are growing very nicely already!).  I plan to plant the Royal Empress trees at my sons' school once the weather is consistently cooler.

I could almost hear that sweet pepper plant sigh with appreciation once it was no longering battling with the other monster plants.  Within a few days, out popped eight peppers.  Here is today's crop.

Now you might ask, "Meg, why did you put the green peppers in a sparkling Orrefors bowl that you were given for your wedding eight years ago and have never used?"  The answer is quite simple.  I'm feeling fancy today.  I even put on makeup.

Organic Gelato - Made In An Ice Cream Machine

Gelato differs from ice cream in a few different ways.

It's lower in fat since its milk to heavy cream ratio is higher.  It's lower in sugar.  It's taste is richer and texture is creamier.  And it's served at a higher temperature.  Gelato experts might argue that the experience is also different because it's blended at a slower rate than that employed by an ice cream maker - but you CAN make gelato in a regular ice cream maker.

Ultimately, and in my humble opinion, it's just plain better than ice cream.  And after a nine day trip this past summer to northern Italy, my kids agree.

Here's a great recipe for a gelato base.  To this, you would add whatever flavorings you like - chocolate, fruit, spices, extracts, etc. This recipe will make two batches - so you can make one batch tonight, refreeze your freezer drum, then make another batch tomorrow.

Ingredients:

• 4 cups organic milk
• 2 cups organic heavy cream
• 8 organic egg yolks
• 1 cup organic sugar

Directions:

• In a large saucepan, mix milk and cream. While stirring, heat until foamy. Remove from heat.
• In a stand mixer, beat the egg yolks and sugar until frothy. With the mixer running, slowly pour the warm milk into the egg yolks. Blend another 30 seconds, then return the mixture to the saucepan.
• Cook over medium heat, stirring with a wooden spoon until the mixture coats the back of the spoon. I know this is hard to gauge since heavy cream naturally coats a spoon, but it'll be hot and you'll sense additional thickness to the mixture.
• Pour the mixture through a fine strainer into a bowl. Cover, and chill for several hours or overnight.
• Pour the mixture into an ice cream maker with desired flavorings and let the machine do its thing for about 25 minutes. Mixture will be slightly soft when done. If you're not ready to eat it right away, transfer it to a Pyrex bowl, cover and place in the freezer for two hours to firm up.
• Let it thaw 15 minutes before serving.

Additional ingredients and directions to achieve certain flavors, added to the ice cream machine unless otherwise specified:

Chocolate: ideally, you would add the following ingredients to the saucepan while it is simmering: 2 tablespoons cornstarch and either 2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder or 1 melted 4 oz bar of bittersweet chocolate; OR you could just add 2/3 cup of unsweetened cocoa powder directly to the ice cream maker.
Vanilla: ideally, the seeds from one vanilla bean, split lengthwise and added to the gelato base while it is simmering, then strained out before chilling; OR you could just add one teaspoon of vanilla extract to the base when you first put it in the ice cream maker.
Stracciatella (the Italian version of chocolate chip): 4 ounces of melted bittersweet chocolate, drizzled into the ice cream maker in the last five minutes of churning.
Cinnamon: 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. 
Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup: 2/3 cup chopped up chocolate peanut butter cups, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
Strawberry: 12 ounces of lightly pureed (in a blender so it's still a bit lumpy) strawberries.  You could do the same with banana, peaches, pears, raspberries or blackberries.  Optional: 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract.

Mad Hungry: Feeding Men and Boys

This past year, a good friend of mine sent me this cookbook.  I was really excited to try the recipes given I'm the only female in my house.  I need to know how to feed men and boys! 

This book taught me some excellent techniques.  Such as... a fantastically delicious way to quickly cook a whole chicken.  As in, savory, falling off the bones, gorgeousness.  So good you might dream about eating it, as I did the night after I first made it.  Also... an awesome and quick(!) beef stew.  And many, many more great tips and recipes. 

I plan to try just about everything in this book.

Check it out!

And thank you, Kathleen W.

Homemade Organic Chocolate Cream Pie Ice Cream

Love chocolate cream pie?  Check.
Love vanilla ice cream?  Check.
So why not combine them?  My kids would eat this every day if they could.

Ingredients

• 1 organic 9" frozen pie shell, cooked  at 400 degrees F until golden brown, then cooled to room temperature
• 1 package Dr. Oetker's organic chocolate pudding mix, cooked and chilled (requires 2 cups of organic milk)
• 1-1/4 cups organic granulated sugar
• 3 cups organic heavy cream
• 1-1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Directions

1. In a stand mixer (that's what I use), combine sugar, heavy cream and vanilla extract.  Mix for about five minutes. 
2. Pour the combination into the ice cream maker's freezer bowl.  Add the chilled pudding. Turn the machine on and mix until the ice cream has thickened, about 25 minutes. The ice cream will have a soft, creamy texture.  Line the bottom of a dish with 1 inch pieces of pie shell.  Spoon the ice cream on top and serve. 
3. If you want it to be a little firmer, line the bottom of a Pyrex bowl with 1 inch pieces of pie shell and spoon the ice cream on top of it.  Cover it with a lid and put it in the freezer for about two hours. Remove it from the freezer about 15 minutes before serving.

Yum!

Allergen Immunotherapy Is Not For The Faint Of Heart

Last week I had my first post-RUSH shots.  And my first major reaction.  I'd been warned that the first shots can trigger a reaction because you go into it with nothing more than one Xyzal tablet.  Plus, the ragweed count was very high last week.  This combination resulted in six days and nights of swelling, itching and pain, despite treating it with antihistamines, ice and Motrin.  My upper arms, from shoulder to elbow, were so swollen I looked like a weight lifter.  And not in a good way.  The skin was tight and an angry shade of red.  Thankfully, I did not have to use my Epi Pen. 

As of last night, I was convinced I would not proceed with the treatment.  I cannot deal with that sort of constant agony. 

But I woke up today full of resolve and am now sitting in the doctor's office with an ice pack on my upper arm.  I need to press on.  This week, they've given me half the dose and provided me with more medication to deal with the reaction.  I am hopeful I don't have the same experience.  I need to keep my eyes on the horizon - one day, I will be allergy free.

Read my other posts about Allergen Immunotherapy here.

"Destination. Up Ahead. On the right."

Shunning telephone books as I do, it will come as no surprise that I love my car's GPS and have recently fallen in love with Google Text.  You just text a query to the numeric equivalent of GOOGLE (466453) and it immediately texts you back with information.  For instance, if you're hungry and want to find the nearest restaurants, you'd just text RESTAURANT and it will text you back with the nearest restaurants.

Pretty cool, right?  Except when it doesn't work. 

Like this afternoon, when I went to our local Blockbuster after picking up the kids from school and found it empty.  As in, no longer there, empty, closed forever.  I guess we don't go to Blockbuster often enough.  And maybe neither does anyone else around me.  After all, it's true we do most of our movie rental through iTunes now.  But the kids love the experience of walking through the video store, so I was determined to find one.

So I texted Google to direct me to another Blockbuster.  When it texted back, I was surprised to see the address - how could I have missed a Blockbuster so close to my own home? 

I was skeptical but punched the address into my GPS and set out.  A few minutes later we heard the familiar words, "Destination.  Up Ahead.  On the right." 

I snorted derisively as we pulled up.  Nice.

How To Improve Your Website's Cross-Browser Compatibility

Until today, people using Safari did not see my website in its tidy glory.  Things looked off kilter.  It looked fine in Firefox and Internet Explorer, but looked pretty terrible in Safari.

Today I navigated to a website called BrowserShots to check my website's look across a whole slew of browsers.  Sure enough, there were other browsers with the same problem.  Someone I know (thanks Lindsay at WyzAnt!) gave me a heads up that there is a simple fix out there to improve cross-browser compatibility.  It comes in the form of a snippet of CSS.  I did a quick Google search and found that CSS snippet at the following website:   PerishablePress.

I use Blogger's Template Designer.  This is located on the Design tab within Blogger Dashboard.  Once in the Template Designer, click the Advanced tab and scroll down.  Click Add CSS and paste the code from PerishablePress there.  Save.  I did this, then went back to Safari to re-check it.  It looked great.

Many thanks to Jeff Starr at PerishablePress!

How Far Would You Go To Save A Pet?

Just before my older son's sixth birthday, we bought two guppies and set them up in a three gallon tank.  It's just about the tiniest fish tank I've seen.  The woman working the fish department at PetSmart warned me that smaller tanks are typically more work, but given these are our first pets ever, I wanted the commitment to be a small one.  Just dipping a toe in the water, so to speak.

Within six weeks, the yellow-tailed guppy (named Apple Juice by my 3 year old) developed a hole in its tail and became sluggish.  I'd been following directions on their care so I was perplexed.

 

I noticed the hole on Saturday morning and immediately went online to search for guppy ailments.  Based on various descriptions and the condition of the tank, I diagnosed it as tail/fin rot rather than ammonia burn, which can present similarly.  I called PetSmart and asked what I could do.  They recommended antibiotics, so I dashed over and bought a package.  I also bought some rapid water corrector and test strips to facilitate close and quick monitoring of the water.  Ca-ching.  $47.  This is on top of the $60 or so that I paid for the tank, gravel, a net, decorations, filters, food, and fish.  Chump change for those who have big tanks, but not an inconsequential expenditure for two tiny guppies.

I cleaned the tank and gravel, replaced the water, dispensed the medication and went on about my business.  I was not hopeful.  Having had some experience with carnival goldfish as a kid, I knew how delicate they can be.  I explained to my kids that Apple Juice is sick and he might not survive and though they were sad, they took it amazingly well.  For three days, I treated the fish, checked the water, fed them, and watched.

The most surprising thing about this experience is not that Apple Juice actually survived (swimming around energetically after day 3 of treatment) - though that was really surprising.  What surprised me the most was the way the blue-tailed guppy (named Root Beer by my 6 year old) constantly tried to keep Apple Juice moving.  For those who think fish don't have a sense of friendship, I've got evidence that proves otherwise.  Root Beer was never more than an inch away from Apple Juice the whole time, touching "noses", keeping his friend moving.

This experience left me wondering: 
How far would I go to save a pet - even a guppy?  How does one conduct a cost/benefit analysis on pet-related expenditures when emotions are involved?  Is having pets worth the lesson kids eventually learn about death? 

How far would you go?

In Memory of 9/11

(republished from 9/11/09)

I didn't think I would write this.  But I spent all day thinking about that awful September 11, remembering all of the meetings I'd been to at Windows on the World, all of the memories of downtown, thinking of the devastation, remembering the city before, and then after. 

~ ~ ~

I was sitting around a conference table in midtown Manhattan for our regular morning meeting.  The meeting was just starting when a co-worker walked in and announced that a plane had crashed into one of the WTC towers.  We immediately speculated that it was some prop plane that had veered off course on its way down the Hudson.  A moment later, a another gentleman walked in and announced that it was an airliner - a jet.

Hearts racing, everyone went back to their offices to read the breaking news and call friends and family downtown.  I couldn't get through to my brand new husband, who was working near Union Square.  Nor could I reach a friend who worked in the World Financial Center.  Then the other plane hit.  There was news of other planes crashing.  This was a terrorist attack.

We watched in horror as one tower fell.  Then the second.  People were streaming up from downtown.  It was a mass exodus.  I finally reached my husband and determined he was ok.  I still couldn't reach my friend. 

When I left the building to go home, traffic was nearly nonexistent except for emergency vehicles.  People were silently walking, heads down.  Some of them were covered in dust.  Many openly cried as they walked.  I couldn't see any buses and didn't even attempt to go to the subway, so I walked 50 blocks home.

When I got there, I finally reached my friend.  She had seen horrible, horrible things as she and many others ran from downtown.  The gruesome images on the TV were mild in comparison to what she had witnessed that day.  My husband got home and I clutched him tightly.  We called our families to let them know we were okay.  We watched television coverage of families desperately trying to find their loved ones, going hospital to hospital, and hoped more people would be found alive in the rubble.

The next workday, I took the bus to midtown.  People silently met each others gazes in sympathy and grief.  The city felt unified in its shock and sadness.  The entire bus was silent until the driver snapped at someone.  I burst into tears and exited ten blocks before my stop.

The rumors and fears of additional attacks continued for some time.  Security was extremely tight, and we all regarded the police with gratitude.

To all of the people who lost their lives in the Twin Towers and to all of the rescue workers who died trying to save them: you will never be far from our thoughts.  We will never forget.

Bernando LaPallo, 109 And Going Strong On Raw Foods

A friend pointed out this news clip today about a 109 year old man named Bernando LaPallo. He's been living a raw diet for 30 years and wrote a book called Age Less, Live More - Achieving Health and Vitality at 107 And Beyond.

I haven't read it yet but the synopsis is fascinating.  Check out the video.

My RUSH Immunotherapy Experience

pollen

A few months ago, I wrote a piece about having skin testing done for my allergies. My allergies have been a lifelong pain in the neck and this past Spring was my worst bout yet. My goal was to determine what I am allergic to and to what extent so that I could figure out what to do about it.

Through testing, I was able to pinpoint exactly what causes my reactions and plan for it rather than just react to it. 

For instance, certain weeds, grasses and trees are active at certain times of the year in this area of the US, which explains why certain times of the year are worse for me than others. This past year I was congested from January to May and had three sinus infections.  I was constantly playing catch up, probably with the wrong medications. 

Also: dogs, cats and horses absolutely do me in.  As a result, I have to ask if there are pets at someone's home before I determine if I can visit them. If the answer is yes, I can't go unless I have time to dope myself up on antihistamines, then deal with two recovery days.  It puts a dent in our social life.

Once I determined what my sensitivities are, I had another decision to make. Should I continue treating my allergies with nasal spray and oral antihistamines or begin immunotherapy to permanently eradicate my sensitivities? I hate taking medication and antihistamines can make me sluggish.  Shot therapy is a time commitment (years of weekly, then bi-weekly, then monthly shots), but the idea of never again suffering from these allergies is very appealing.

After I determined I would undergo shot therapy, the doctor asked me if I'd like to do RUSH treatment.  His office has done more RUSH treatments than any other in the country - over 3,000 so far.  RUSH is a method of kick-starting your immunotherapy treatment. You spend one day getting shots every thirty minutes, while being heavily dosed with antihistamines so your body can handle it. This treatment gives you a one year jump-start on the shot therapy. Within a few months, I could feel allergy free and the total duration of my shot therapy would be one year less (maybe four years instead of five). My insurance covers it, so I signed up.

In anticipation of today's RUSH treatment, I was given a packet of information, prescriptions and medications.  I was told to dose myself with certain medications the day before, the day of and the day after, as follows:

AM Medications:

• Prednisone 10 mg, 3 tablets with meal (steroid that prevents inflammation in vital organs - the most important drug in the cocktail)
• Zantac 75 mg, 2 tablets or 150 mg 1 tablet (typically used for sour stomach, this is actually in the mix because it contains a certain antihistamine)
• Xyzal 5 mg, 1 tablet (another antihistamine)

PM Medications:

• Prednisone 10 mg, 3 tablets with meal
• Zantac 75 mg, 2 tablets or 150 mg 1 tablet
• Singulair 10 mg, 1 tablet at bedtime (an asthma medication to keep the lungs clear)

I had to fill a prescription for two Epi Pens. An Epi Pen is an epinephrine auto-injector for anaphylatic emergencies. This made me nervous but I was told that the likelihood of having to use it is in the low single digits.  It's just best to be prepared. The reason they prescribe two is that if a person ever needs to use it, one out of three people need two shots rather than just one.

RUSH Day
I arrived for RUSH treatment at 8am and was asked if I'd taken my medication, if I am pregnant (no), what other medications I'd taken in the prior two days, and was administered a breath test to ensure my lungs were nicely clear.

I was then ushered into a lounge where I was to spend the day. Wifi, a recliner, a mini fridge and cable TV made it quite comfortable. Though the room accommodates two patients, the other patient canceled so I had a very nice nurse named Libby dedicated to just me all day long.

The RUSH nurse set up a saline lock peripheral IV access point on my left arm (a needle with a valve so they can quickly administer liquid antibiotics if needed).   I was explained what would happen.  I'd get 12 to 14 shots (the serum to cover all of my allergies comes in two vials because they can't fit them all in one - yay for me - so two shots per round), two at a time, one in each upper arm, spaced 30 minutes apart.  Each round carries an increased concentration.  The last round (shots 13 and 14) carry a concentration the represents all of the prior shots combined.  If I have a reaction after the sixth round, I won't get the last two shots. She'll take my blood pressure, my pulse and listen to my chest before every round.

Here's my journal of the day:

8:30am - Nurse put the line in my arm and taped it up.  It's just for emergency use.  I was told that was as painful as the day would get.  I'm hoping she's right!

8:45am - I was given my first two shots. Almost painless.

8:55am - I seemed to feel bugs crawling on me but that could be my overactive imagination.  The sensation passes. The doctor pays a visit and says he'll check back.

9:15am - Round two of shots. Still okay.

9:45am - Round three of shots. Feeling fine.

10:15am - Round four done.  Still fine.

10:40am - Lips twitching on and off but no other symptoms.  Proceeding.

10:45am - Round five done.  Feeling fine.  Lips still twitching.  Nurse probably thinks I'm crazy but she ran it by the doctor and he decided to give me some liquid antihistamines (more Xyzal) to be on the safe side.

11:15am - Round six done.  Twelve shots so far.  Feeling fine.  Doc came in and said the last two shots won't be for an hour.  If I'm in as good shape then as I am now, he'll go forward with the next two shots.  But if I'm not, no big deal.  The day has been a success even if we stop here.  If we do get the last two shots in, they represent one round during my initial weekly course.  I'm optimistic we can get those next two shots in and save some time later.

12:15pm - Still feeling good.  Blood pressure, lungs, pulse good.  No hives, redness.  We're going forward with the last two shots.  After this, they'll take my blood pressure, pulse and listen to my lungs every 30 minutes for three hours.  If I'm going to have a reaction, it'll probably be in the next hour.

1:00pm - They had me watch a DVD about how to use an Epi Pen properly.   Just in case.  (Interesting fact: don't leave the Epi Pens in the car in hot weather.  High heat lessens their efficacy.)  Any use of the Epi Pen also means an automatic trip to the ER.  Oh joy.

3:00pm - No reaction.  Doctor gave me a 110 out of 100 on the day :)  I'm good to go.

All of the shots were marked on both arms.

I'll take another round of medications tonight and two more doses tomorrow.

In the next 24 hours, I can expect some mild reactions to the RUSH therapy (treat with Benadryl), including:

• local swelling, itching, or redness at the injection site
• itching or swelling of the eyes
• congestion or runny nose
• itchy/scratchy throat

Bad reactions in the next 24 hours are anaphylaxis, for which I must use the Epi Pen and call 911:

• heavy generalized itching or hives (if they're on the surface, they're on the inside and could eventually lead to swelling of the airways)
• a flushed appearance with or without facial swelling (though could just be the steroids rather than anaphylaxis - first take Benadryl and see if that helps)
• tightness in the throat with a change in voice (like laryngitis)
• wheezing/coughing
• severe shortness of breath
• nausea/vomiting/abdominal cramping
• shock (when the blood pressure drops to dangerously low levels - signs are light-headedness, dizziness, lethargy, confusion, pale clammy skin, heart pounding like it's coming out of your chest (pounding heart could be steroids, heavy pounding could be shock)
• loss of consciousness

I return in one week for my first weekly shot.  I have to take a dose of Xyzal before that first shot and wait an hour in the office to make sure I don't have a bad reaction.  Apparently, there's a higher probability of reaction after that first shot.  That begins 3 months of weekly shots (or twice a week to speed the process if I can fit it in my schedule), then every other week for 6 months, then monthly shots thereafter.  The shots will ramp up in concentration over the next few months.  Then I'll move up to the highest concentration (called a "maintenance dose") and stay there for the monthly treatment for several years.

On "shot days" I need to take a Zyrtec or some other long-lasting antihistamine in order to counteract any local swelling and itching.  I'll also need to keep the Epi Pens with me at all times, just in case of reaction. 

All in all, a day well spent.

Read my other posts about Allergen Immunotherapy here.

Ride For The Cure, Texas Style

Today I overheard someone say their friend is doing the Ride For The Cure here in North Texas. 

"For every $100 she raises she's going to add a pink extension to her mane."  Wow, I thought. She will really make a statement riding her bike with pink hair! 

"Last year, she had a pink ribbon painted on her rump." Okaaay.  To each her own.

"Maybe she'll add some pink ribbon to the bridle, too."  A bike with a bridle?  I had to ask.

"Hah! No, not a bike, a horse!  She's riding her horse in the Ride For The Cure."

The North Texas Ride For The Cure is a trail ride for riders to unite in the fight against breast cancer.  It's held in Decatur, Texas. It benefits the North Texas Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. 

VERY COOL!

Windowfarms

If you're pressed for space but still want to grow your own food, you might consider something like this: 

It's a Windowfarm! You can build your own or buy a kit.

Read more about Windowfarms at their website or watch this video:

Temple Grandin: The World Needs All Kinds Of Minds

You might ask why I've posted this here.  It's about sustainability.  Sustainability involves maximizing our natural resources to support the long-term well being of the world.  Every human being is a natural resource.  Every child has the potential to make a meaningful contribution to the sustainability of our world. 

Watch this video for some ideas on how you can encourage children to make that contribution.

You can learn more about Temple Grandin here and here.

How To Post Your Blog Feed and Specific Tweets To Your Facebook Fan Page

I like having a Facebook page for my blog since I'm already an active Facebook user in my personal life.

When I set it up, I wanted it to have the right mix of content there.   It needed to include my blog feed with titles and description AND the feed from my Twitter account without the tweets about my blog content (in other words, I wanted content from both social media without duplication).

Here's my solution:

Use Feedburner.com to post my blog feed to Twitter (go to http://www.Feedburner.com and burn your feed, then click Publicize, then click Socialize and adjust your settings). I like this better than TwitterFeed because it automatically turns my blog topic tags into hashtags on Twitter.

I use NetworkedBlogs to post my blog feed to my Facebook page.  It works well and is another entry point for followers.

Use the Selective Tweets app on Facebook to shoot select Tweets over to the Facebook blog page (i.e., the Tweets that are not related to blog posts).  All I did was install the app, set it up, then I add the hashtag #fb to any Tweet I want to also post on the Facebook blog page (when it appears on the fan page there's no #fb hash tag; appears within two minutes).

Check out my Facebook page and see what you think.

No Mincing Words In Texas

It's not a green message, but it's a good one.

What Is This? The Effects of Disease, Pollution, Or Chemical Defoliation?

This scene has been bothering me for a while.  I pass by every weekday to and from my sons' school and I always wonder: what is this?  If anyone can tell me, I'd greatly appreciate it.  It looks like someone's sprayed some sort of chemical in order to avoid the chore of manual pruning.  I see it along the railroad tracks that run parallel to the road, as well.  Not pretty.

Library Elf

From the time I graduated from college until I had children, I was oblivious to late fees on library books.  I read whatever I bought in airport book shops when I traveled for business.  In fact, other than during the two years I spent in business school, I don't think I set foot in a library.

Typically, the kids and I visit the library once a week and are really good about bringing our returns with us, so we're never late.  So it was a bit of a shock when I stepped up to borrow more books for my kids at our local library and was hit with the late fees for the last batch of books and DVDs we'd borrowed.  These were the books and DVDs that had come due while we were on vacation and then sat collecting dust for a few days afterward while we recovered from said vacation.

Here's our local library's schedule of late fees:

Books	25 cents/day
Books on tape & CD	25 cents/day
Music CDs & audiocassettes	$1/day
Movie DVDs & VHS tapes	$1/day

It wasn't so much the late fees on the books that got me - it was the DVDs.  We were eight days overdue on our stack and the late fees added up to almost $20.  Good grief!  Where am I, Blockbuster?

As I forked over the cash, the librarian looked at me over her glasses and asked if I'd heard of Library Elf.

"I don't think we read about that one.  Is it in another volume?" I thought she was referring to the Spiderwick Chronicles, which were in my stack.

"No, no," she chuckled.  "Library Elf is a free email service that warns you when your library books are coming due.  You should sign up."  She handed me a flier and I went online to sign up when I got home.

Today, I received my first reminder, three days before my books are due.

It really is very cool.  You get the heads-up about the deadline and you have the opportunity to remotely renew your books.

More great, green, money-saving technology.

Delicious Cucumber Straight From The Garden

My cucumber plant exploded in the last week with new cucumbers.  I plucked this one from the garden this morning and immediately had to taste it, given what happened last time.  Oh my goodness, it was perfect.  Not bitter at all and so delicious.

It is just amazing how much better fruits and vegetables can taste when they are so fresh, grown right in your own backyard.

Fresh Cantaloupe From The School Garden

Today the students enjoyed fresh cantaloupe that we grew in the school garden.  I planted the seeds this Spring and the plant exploded with cantaloupes this month.  

It was delicious and the whole process of growing something from seeds has been so fun and educational for the kids.

We've also got an enormous watermelon that's just about ready to harvest.  I can't wait!

Master Made Feed of Grapevine

Old town Grapevine, Texas, is a fun place to browse.  The stores are eclectic and are mixed in with good restaurants and wine bars.

Master Made Feed of Grapevine

Today, as I drove down Main Street, I noticed chicken coops sitting in front of a store named Master Made Feed.  The store doesn't look like much from the outside but I've been pondering having a few hens for organic eggs, so I ducked in.

chicken coops

Every time I forget that we essentially live in the countryside I should just take a little trip to this store.

I was given a warm greeting by a nice young man (I'm betraying my age here by saying that) who explained that they'll have chicks in February or March.  I asked if many people around here have chickens and he replied that they sold more chickens last year than in the prior five years combined.  People around here love having their own hens for fresh eggs.  I asked if the heat was bearable for them and he replied that it is, provided they have some shelter (a coop).

Here are a few of the other interesting things I saw there:

big stacks of salt licks

dried cow and pig parts

pig snouts, $1.09

Pig snouts.  Well, at least they're not going to waste.  Ranks up there with dried pig ears.

saddles

gnarly animal traps

baby quail, $2 each

Pancake Edges

My three year old only likes the crispy, buttery edges of pancakes.  He eats the edges and leaves the middle.  The little boy can go through three pancakes this way and then ask for more, leaving a little pile of "pancake holes."

My solution to all of this waste?

PANCAKE EDGES

They're just like regular pancakes but instead of making them round, you make them skinny and long.  I asked my son if we should call them "pancake fingers" and he said nope, pancake edges.  So there you go.  And what do you know, he polished off his whole plate this morning, not a scrap left, and then asked for more.  Mission accomplished!

Ingredients:

• 1 scoop (2 tablespoons) organic cold milled golden flax seed (I buy mine at Costco)
• 1/2 cup Arrowhead Mills Multigrain pancake & waffle mix (70% organic)
• 1 organic egg
• 1/2 cup organic milk
• 1 teaspoon canola oil
• organic butter (not in the batter - just for melting in the pan) 

Directions:

stand mixer :)

1. Mix ingredients together thoroughly.  I use a "stand mixer" (see photo).
2. Put your cast iron griddle on medium and melt butter.
3. Dribble pancake batter in a thin line.
4. Flip them when they bubble a bit.  They cook quickly, so keep an eye on them!  They're done when they're golden brown.

Yum!