a unique autumn

hello all! (i'm not sure how many is 'all' so if you read my blog, let me know! i bet it would inspire me to post more often ;) anyway, this crazy fall is flying by me. i have been super busy with my nutrition studies and design work and kids! it's interesting sometimes but i am loving it actually.

for us, this fall has been filled with the old familiar activities. harvest festivals, apple picking, haunted hayrides, pumpkin carving, halloween costume planning... but oh my, this fall seemed so strange! first of all, hurricane irene kind of wiped out our little harvest but we did seem to get some goodness out of our efforts (see pics above), then we found ourselves apple picking in almost 90 degrees! wha? there was a bunch of wining as you can imagine. october came with a boat load of rain which seemed to make the pumpkins mushy and then as you know, halloween weekend got topped off with a crazy insane snow storm that wreaked havoc on our trees and subsequently most of the power in the tristate area. a snow day on halloween! weird i tell you. global warming issues anyone?

ANYway, we always seem to have fun nonetheless.


a few weeks back, we visited a farm that i grew up around the block from - benner's farm in east setauket, long island. it was so nice to bring the girls there. it's a quaint little farm run by the nicest of families. we fed the animals, got a peck from a rooster, and the most fun was swinging on the big swing! we might go back later in the winter to witness the tapping of the maple trees.

i've been kind of slacking in the crafting area due to the lack of time on my part. (feeling a bit guilty) but we did make some playdoh monsters. easy + simple. pull out the playdoh (we used halloweenie colors) and random craft supplies - googly eyes, buttons, etc. then, create your monsters. you can let them dry out over a few days if you wish. here's ours:

i also came across this AWESOME idea. sensory boxes! hours of play that stimulate the senses (not really taste though). i got the idea, here, from pinkandgreenmama as well. i LOVE this idea. basically, you fill a small scale bin with filler of your choice. dried beans, fish tank gravel, cotton balls, popcorn kernels, rice, easter grass....whatever! then coordinate everything to a theme. i started with a fall/halloween theme. i used dried green peas, fake pumpkins, fake leaves, halloween trinkets and some real cinnamin sticks. my three year old truly enjoys playing with her sensory box (and so does my 9 year old - shhh). she brings her other little toys into it like her littlest pet shop animals and she pretends this is their habitat. and i give her spoons and cups, too. it's a tad messy sometimes (my husband took one look at it and rolled his eyes at me) but i keep it in the kitchen only (which really helps keep her occupied while i am cooking dinner) and she is responsible for cleaning any beans off the floor which she has really been good about. she gets out her little broom. i can't wait until we change it to a holiday theme and then winter wonderland! i know, i am enjoying this way too much...but don't you just love it?!

i've been reading a lot these days. mainly nutrition subjects. the first book that i actually bought is "the family dinner" by laurie david. 

this cookbook slash encyclopedia of why and how to bring back the family meal is jam packed with anecdotes and recipes. i am obsessed with this book. i love just flipping through it for ideas. in a society where things just seem to be going faster and faster, the family meal is taking the back seat and we are losing those precious moments of connecting with each other. after school activities, work and overscheduling is a reality and laurie david lends sweet ideas and reasons why we should bring the sit down family dinner back. it's so so so important! check it out!

the other book i am reading is "lunch wars: how to start a school food revolution and win the battle for our children's health," by amy kalafa from angrymoms.org and the documentary, two angry moms. I am starting to try to get involved with school food so that by the time my three year old is at the elementary school that my nine year old is now, i can help make real positive changes. my goodness, the area of school food reform is insane. there is sooo much bureaucracy and politics involved that it really requires some serious study to even present ideas to any such authority. i understand the basics but boy, are we all in the dark. don't even get me started!!!! anyway, if you are interested in changing things at your child's school, i think start with this book. i am only in the beginning chapters but it is looking like the bible of school food reform (especially in ny state). other authors to check out if you are interested in this subject is alice waters - theedibleschoolyard.org and ann cooper - the renegade lunch lady at chefann.com. 

my other pursuit this spring is bringing back the school garden to my daughter's elementary school. hopefully, cornell cooperative extension can help us out. i'm sure i will be blogging away about this adventure to come. wish me luck!

i have been trying tons of new recipes. i am currently in love with cooking. although, i'm going to save them up for my 2011 holiday cookbook - recipes & tidbits vol. 6! - which will be posted around the december holidays with all the past cookbooks i put together, to the right. check back for that. for now, why not try a smoothie for lunch? i am one of those people who reserve smoothies for the summer months because i am chronically cold but about once a week it's a great way to get your daily fruits or veggies when produce is sparse in the cold months. i buy a lot of frozen organic berries for this purpose. they are picked and immediately froze which means they still have all of that yummy nutrition. my girls and i like the standard blueberry smoothie:

frozen organic blueberries

rice or coconut milk

plain yogurt

flax meal (optional)

blueberry whey protein powder (optional)

another one they slurp up and is a great source of protein is the monkey smoothie:

nut butter

frozen or not organic banana

milk

plain or vanilla yogurt

flax meal (optional)

vanilla whey protein powder (optional)

of course, you don't need a recipe for smoothies, anything you feel like putting in works, but i just included this in my post as a reminder that smoothies are "ok" to drink in the colder months! you'll be surprised at the burst of energy this will give you mid day. and let's not forget juicing - just make sure you are getting your fresh organic produce from somewhere you can trust.

until next time! ciao!

here, there & everywhere

sorry that it has been so long friends! i've been flitting here and there for a few months. doing a little of this and a little of that, not really consuming myself in one thing at one time. internally i feel the same. i feel as though i am scattered and somewhat uncertain of where i want to send my energy. i think it is the approach of spring. of new beginnings and that shift of our world and of our activities. march is a funny month (now april already). it kind of doesn't know what it wants to be either. "am i winter or am i spring," march said. well, both. i can relate.


this winter i tried to dive back into creating art again. not just crafting. i must say i'm having a great time giving myself this luxury of simply painting just to paint. it has been relaxing yet at the same time frustrating. it has been so long since i have sat down and painted that i have a hard time getting all of those ideas and thoughts i have been carrying around for years, out onto a canvas or paper. it's like all the images and ideas are trying to squeeze through the door rather than wait on line - this is creating a bit of chaos in my work. a sense of disorder or indecision. the more i think about it though, if i were to group my work into a single theme it would probably be "order from chaos." this is what i am hoping will come across in my work and i hope will help me to see the chaos as beautiful and divine.

this painting has layers upon layers of paint upon collaged elements. i couldn't settle though. i just kept going until i just had to stop. that's what funny about abstract painting - the paintings really take a life all their own. i am not sure if it is done... there are a few more in the works that i will post when finished (any criticism is welcome).

my girls have been enjoying watercolors lately. i find watercolors to be very kid friendly (and mama friendly) because the colors are readily there, they are washable, they blend beautifully into eachother, and they can be layered. when the weather gets nice, we usually head outside to the backyard for some real messy art making! can't wait!

toddler art is so much fun. it's all about experiments and discoveries. it's about getting their hands dirty and experiencing different mediums. we experimented with the watercolors and some tissues to see what would happen. then we hung it so that the light could flow through it.

i found this photo my husband took of an ordinary afternoon. i love to see my girls sitting together at the table (and not bickering!) it warms my heart.

at an art show at ROCA, i discovered this intriguing artist. her name is amy gross. she is a mixed media artist who creates these lush and gorgeous natural 'other worlds.' i want to like live in her work. after seeing her show, i caught myself 'looking closer' at patterns in nature, at natural colors and at what materials i've been ignoring as an artist.

on april 5th, i along with a bunch of artists participated in the toms shoes: one day without shoes event. this event raises awareness about children around the world who do not have the luxury of shoes. with every purchase of a pair toms shoes, one pair will go to a person in need. if you are not familiar with this company, take a look. the shoes are comfy, cute and who can beat the cause! we each customized a pair of toms for a silent auction that is still going on. here are mine.

being it's technically spring now, i have begun my spring cleanout. i must say, my clearing out is extensive... i have a walk up attic that is crammed to the rafters. it's so amazing to me how over only about 6 or 7 years we could have accumulated this much STUFF! amazing and sad knowing that i have things hourding in my attic that someone in need will make use of. and the more i think about it, the more suffocating it becomes. so that is my current goal - to get rid of.

i have been reading simplicity parenting - using the extraordinary power of less to raise calmer, happier, and more secure kids by kim john payne. i am finding this book very informative. he discusses the importance of less in terms of environment, the rhythm of the day and packed schedules. this book is really hitting home for me. i'm sure like all you mamas, i want the best for my kids. i want them to have access to every educational toy, explore every experience, bring out every talent but to what end? as i am finding with my 9 year old, it is too much. there comes a point where it is time to weed out, so that there is some homeostasis, room for creativity, room for breathing, room for boredom! i remember clearly being bored as a child but that boredom always, without fail, turned into something great. it's like we need that space to get bored in order to get new ideas and grow in those ideas. so i have slowly been decreasing the amount of toys (they didn't even notice) and i have been changing small things here and there and i have noticed small changes in my girls as well. 

"too much stuff, too many choices, too much information, and too fast..."

if you are like me, who totally loves to stroll slowly through target and fill that cart every month with things you don't need - another cute outfit, another disney princess, another pair of adorable shoes, another leap toy and don't even get me started on the seasonal dollar isles! - than reading this book may be beneficial if not eye opening. and the feeling of liberation i get with every toy that leaves my house almost feels as good as buying it. ;)

p.s.- i've been so lame! i promise to blog more often even if it's just a quick thought or recipe or just an image i am inspired by.

a mid summer days stream

the four of us ventured to pennsylvania late july. i have always wanted to visit amish country, so after the thrills of hershey park we headed to lancaster, where the farms were sprawling. there's a lot to be said about these strong people. in most ways, it's a trip back in time. the amish are frozen in time so to speak. their beliefs are simple yet complex and their lifestyle the same. with the rejection of modern convenience, the life they lead consists of constant hard work. they are self sufficient and take pride in their independence from our modern society. i couldn't help but feel calm and serene among the sparse bedrooms or grassroots kitchens and meditative on our buggy ride through the farmland. i have so much respect for their simple ways and focus. even their dress is intriguing. at first, as an artist, i felt there must be very little room for expression, and there is, but it does exist, if you look closely. the quilts are complex and beautiful and their craftsmanship is like no other today. one thing that really hit home was that they limit all education to eighth grade and anyone who pursues further will be shunned from the family. education and knowledge are luxuries to most people of this world and to reject it in a place where it is so openly available and offered is very bold and to me, must feel so utterly and internally frustrating. i cannot imagine knowing that there is so much out there to know and learn but that i cannot tap into this for fear that i will lose my family and community. wow. i found the people to be very pleasant but i couldn't help the feeling i got that they were content and somewhere in the center of happy and sad. that may sound ignorant but i do not mean that in a negative way. i cannot entirely explain it, but what if that is the key to this life - somewhere in the middle...

in contrast to the above (i don't know how else to segway...) some summer indulgences of mine :)

 

my new little pleasures are keri smith's books that pull you in and nudge you to create and collect and observe and mess around and just do something different. i am really enjoying these fun activities such as, document any natural occuring faces you find on your travels. "life is a scavenger hunt" is the theme to how to be an explorer of the world. doing stuff like this reminds me of my childhood. i still find it hard not to collect things on walks (or on shopping trips) but keri smith gives me an excuse to do so. these pages are fun and liberating for those of you that yearn to create or just escape from the monotony of daily life. some of her other books are wreck this journal and living out loud. check them out!

eden and i made tressa some homemade gifts for her second birthday. i made her a rainbow elephant named "bo." eden tried her hand at embroidery and stitched a little rainbow hanging. i think it's divine.

among my other summer indulgences, such as fresh berries, iced lattes, pie, staying up way too late, wearing my pj's way too long, getting to take a shower every day, wine, movies and time with my 3 fav peeps, i do love these these wild flowers from blue hill farm in blauvelt that i get at the nyack farmer's market on thursdays. they make my day :)

mind full

the springtime or as mothers of school-aged kids call it, the 'end of the school year,' is a busy, busy time. so much to do, people to see, events to celebrate... there is such a happy energy this time of year. my mind is full of ideas for those carefree days of summer. i think the new york winters make me appreciate these long sunny days. 


i love waking up and walking outside barefoot and tank-topped to get the paper. i love lemonade after a long walk. i love ripe tomatoes still warm from the sun. i love throwing whatever we have in the fridge on the grill at dinner time - viola! i love sitting in the backyard with a beer and my husband after the kids are in bed. oh, i can't wait.


being this time is so jam packed with things, i tend to go on autopilot and to be very honest i get frazzled and snappy. 'getting things done' so i can enjoy the summer. in becoming aware of the fact that i am not in the moment for my children all of the time, i have been consciously trying to be more mindful of what i am doing, more present. i want to enjoy my day, not just get through it, you know? in my few quiet breaks, i've picked up two books that i think any mama would benefit from reading. one is buddhism for mothers - a calm approach to caring for yourself and your children and everyday blessings - the inner work of mindful parenting.

since starting to read these I have already noticed a change in myself. the days seem longer (in a good way) and in practicing to not be so concerned with 'having enough time,' i have noticed that i am happier and actually get more done. my energy does not sink because i am stressed.


the image above is of eden at nyack beach. we had a real family photo shoot but of course my tressa wanted nothing to do with it. she wiggled and pouted and refused to smile. there were just too many fun things to explore and do... so we surrendered and she thanked us with some "cheeeeese!"

giving thanks

i have many many blessings in my life and i am thankful Every day but the gathering of family on thanksgiving makes that last thursday in november such a special day. the abundance of wonderful food, the laughter around the table, and the anticipation of the winter months and the start of the holiday season. it seems as though the coming and going of thanksgiving turns the country from orange and brown to red and green! it's like little elves turn our world sparkly overnight. poof!

i like to focus on thanksgiving while it's still here. i believe that gratitude can transform many situations and i feel that children need to be reminded often to give thanks for what they have- especially during this season. i enjoy doing thanksgiving crafts with my daughter. if anything, it gives us alone time together and time to talk about all that we have and how we can help those who may need something. it also makes her feel good to have made something to put on the thanksgiving table. 

in years past, she did many turkey handprints as well as the pilgrim girl bonnets which i love. but last year she and i (mostly she) made a diarama of sorts of the first thanksgiving. out of playdough, she created all of the foods that were served. we then let them dry out over a few days. she made a tee pee out of patterned paper and twigs as well as a fire pit where she used small twigs and then squeezed red glitter glue for the smoldering fire. the beach where the mayflower arrived was made out of pebbles and painted water on plastic wrap. we bought the trees at a.c. moore. the piece survived our attic this year although i will have to modge podge the playdough food because it has cracked a bit.

this year she made a fun turkey bread basket for her nanny's table. we found the idea in family fun magazine. she used what we had in the house - which is always nice. the basket is made from a brown shopping bag turned inside out, the feathers are foam sheets, the head and wings are paper plates and the turkey wattle is a water balloon! 

a tradition around her is the annual baking of what we call the "maplestein pie." it's really just a crumb top apple pie. the name was coined the name a ways back when we were just us and living for a bit on the west coast in a divine little town, arcata, california. (a place i will definitely have to blog about one day - our goal is to visit this coming summer) that thanksgiving was a memorable one - the first away from our families, a "tofurkey" in attendance and the first pie my husband ever baked. every year since he is asked to bake that pie which is sooooo yummy. i will post some maplestein pics in a few days so you can see how scrumptious it is but in the mean time, here is the recipe which is quite simple:

maplestein apple pie

this yields 2 pies because the pie crusts usually come in twos.

about 9 baking apples (varied is better)

1 1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup flour, unbleached

1 tspn. cinnamon

8-9 inch frozen pie crust (thawed)

crumb top:

2 cup flour, unbleached

1 cup butter

1 cup brown sugar (packed)

* use organic ingredients whenever possible

preheat oven to 425 degrees. use an oven thermometer if needed.

peel and core apples. slice into 1 inch size chunks. put into a large bowl. add sugar, flour and cinnamon (to bowl of apples. thoroughly mix until all apples are coated and mixture is moist. pour apple mixture into pie crusts.

in a separate bowl, combine crumb top ingredients. using your fingers, blend until crumbs form. evenly distribute the crumb topping on top of the apple mixture completely covering.

bake for about 30 minutes. check to make sure that the top of the pie isn’t burning. the top should be a nice brown. cover with aluminum foil and bake for another 20 minutes.

serve with vanilla ice cream of course!

eden likes to help her daddy peel the apples and mix the ingredients. i few years back i came across this book and had to buy it for her. it's called "the apple pie that papa baked." i think it has become part of the routine to read this book around this time.

happy thanksgiving!

the great outdoors

ok, i have a confession to make. i DO NOT like being cold. secretly, i'd love to hibernate all winter in my warm cozy house. but over the years i have had to adapt due to the ever so obvious need for our children to get outside more and as much as possible. getting them outdoors gets increasingly difficult in the winter months. my grade schooler only gets about an hour after school before it gets dark! so i am constantly looking for outdoor activities and ideas to do daily. soon snow and ice will cover the sidewalks which lends to some fun times but even just taking a nice walk around the neighborhood can be enough to keep us connected to nature during these cold months.

i purchased the book, i love dirt, by jennifer ward a few months ago in hopes for some interesting ideas and it didn't disappoint. i love the basis of this book which i believe is: to be present in this moment and to fully feel and observe. it is through these real moments that we truly learn. 

the activities are categorized by season and each activity poses a question that relates to science in some way. for example, in the spring section, there is a rain activity where you simply go outside in the rain and observe all that is happening— the raindrops falling off or pooling on your umbrella, the streams of water flowing to lower ground, the rain being absorbed into the ground, the animals or insects enjoying the rain, the cool rain on your face— then toward the end of the chapter, ward helps you to spark a scientific conversation: why does it rain? this can lead to a better understanding of our water cycle and hopefully leads to more questions which then leads to having fun outside! i immediately flipped to the fall and winter section first. some activites that caught my eye included looking for objects affected by gravity, zooming into nature, and looking for and identifying tracks and trails in the snow. overall, i think this book was a great reminder of the vast learning possibilities in nature as well as a nifty guide for parents looking to get their kids to like being outside after the swimming pools are closed and the slides are a sheet of ice.