Get Candy, Get Candy, Get Candy!

So this is a deadly time of year for me. I have a sweet tooth. If you think you have a sweet tooth and fruit satisfies your sweet tooth, you don't have one. You know who you are... if your back-up is a spoon of sugar right out of your canister, you're in the club. My death candy comes at Easter, from the evil Brits of Cadbury. Eggs one and all are favorites, but the mini-eggs with the sugar shells are my favorite favorite of all time, forever and ever, Amen. I could go through a 5 pound bag without blinking. Well, not only did we get candy from my mom, but I bought Easter Bunny candy, and our neighbors gave us a care package for Steve with candy. So much for getting back into my favorite jeans! God grant me the fruit of self-control--which means being satisfied with fruit!

Here's the package:

Yesterday, today...

Even the pictures don't quite capture it. Getting in the car is quite the ordeal... I now appreciate the plight of people with multiple kids.

Exercise is bad for your health.

My sister says that we should give up exercising. I think she might be right. Poor Steve took a bad step running and rolled his ankle, and now he's on crutches for the next few days or possibly even a week, and 6 weeks until full recovery. These pictures were taken before the swelling got worse and the bruising started to appear. So now I have a little baby and a big baby to look after. I gave him a walkie talkie for his nap so he could call me if he needed something, and I'm joking that I now have two baby monitors. =) (Apologies to Steve, who will no doubt read this on his rss, especially considering he now has lots more time to surf!)

Favorite Kitchen Gadgets/Tools

Garlic Press

Garlic peeler (see earlier entries)

Food Processor -- How did I live so long without one?? It makes bread recipes so much easier (like my awesome recipe for home-made pizza dough… takes less than 5 minutes), and brings EASY diversity to my cooking. Great for slicing veggies and onions. Easy clean-up, too!

Nice measuring spoons/measuring cups-- I like the metal ones. Cleaner, neater.

Microplane grater--Great forParmesann and zesting. I use this a lot!


KitchenAid --I used to wonder why I needed a standing mixer when I did just fine with a hand mixer. Now I can’t imagine going back. My wrists thank me, and being able to clean up my ingredients while something mixes in is huge!

Cheese grater attachment for KitchenAid--I hate grating cheese by hand. This allows me to buy blocks of cheese and grate quickly. Bummer is that a lot of cheese gets stuck in between the grater, so I lose some cheese. But clean-up is easy. Hooray for dishwasher safe!

Good non-stick skillet--My mother-in-law bought this for me, and I can’t believe I cooked without it before. It is the wonder skillet! I had non-stick items before, but not a large skillet, and I’ve discovered it is the most versatile piece of cookware I own.

Wooden utensils--These are great for cooking with non-stick, and I find they are somehow the easiest to use. They're also cheap!

Wish-list tool – citrus reamer--I currently have a citrus hand-press, which works—okay. We have a lemon tree out back, so I can always grab a lemon for use in a recipe. Great in pasta!

Corian cutting board – I like this so much better than plastic, wood or glass. It’s heavy and durable, but hard enough to really make a good chop. Unfortunately all I have is a lamb-shaped one, which drives me crazy. I am asking for a large one for Christmas.

Ice Cream Scoop --I use this for scooping out cookie dough or meatballs SOO much easier.

Adjust-a-cup --Awesome for measuring things like shortening or mayo.


Sontaku knife--Wishlist item. I like really good knives, because otherwise I hate chopping. This is the knife all the cooking shows are using, so I'm really eager to try it.

Why I Blog

This is maddening. I am awake at 2 in the morning (though I will likely publish this later). I took a little evening nap, which was my demise. I hope my baby sleeps long tomorrow morning so I can catch up a bit. I finally broke down and took a Benedryl to see if that will help. So while that kicks in, I will try to put down why I blog, as it was one of the things I was thinking about as I was trying to sleep.

I am an external processor. I always have been. I either talk to someone, write to someone, or journal. When I got married, my journaling rituals sort of changed and I got out of the habit of journaling, but my processing found other outlets. I enjoy the blog because it is a way to get out all that is in my head, down to the nonsense. It is also a way of defining myself and my world. In the past I have sort of tried to spiritualize my journals, but I find that they only sound fake or contrived. I discovered, though, that I find God in the everyday. I have learned that God rejoices in the fact that I like kitchen gadgets and clothes and funny stories and mentoring and music. I think that, if not taken to the point of sin (say, gluttony, covetousness, gossip and self-importance, some of my many), that I can worship God by enjoying these things. Afterall, he made me to love these things! He has always known these things about me.

So the journaling is a little bit processing, a little bit pondering, a little bit preservation and self-anthropology, and sort of all worship.

Favorite Things

I saw this cool article on "MommySavers.com" about favorite things. Oprah's included a$500 Ralph Lauren sweater--the author of the article mused that $500 is a whole new wardrobe from Old Navy. Here are some of my indispensables from a woman addicted to lists. (Note: many of these are technology based, but most of them were gifts, so I don't feel quite so worldly.)

Bath and Body Works Foam Antibacterial Hand Soap
--I refill the dispenser with diluted soap refill. It has to be way watered downto make the foam, so it's economical, too.

Viva paper towels
--These work so great I spend the extra money on them

My digital camera
--Inspired by Ms. Nomer, I am learning to anthropologize my day with the camera. Keeps the grandparents happy, too.

My laptop and wireless unit
--I spend a lot of time nursing, and this helps me feel connected to my loved ones. Steve is building me a Frankenstein laptop to replace my work laptop.

My $5, 8-year old flip-flops
--I can walk 6 miles in these without my feet feeling a thing. Best $5 I ever spent!

Tivo
--This was a gift to us, and has been invaluable! I can catch all my cooking shows, and we don't end up channell surfing as much as we did. I think we watch less tv this way.

Netflix
--Again, a gift. Great variety (things the video store doesn't carry) and no late fees. Hoo-yah!

Ipod/Audiobooks
--I don't all asleep well on my own, so it's like being read a story to fall asleep. My ocean sounds got me through part of labor. =)

iTunes
--I can't remember what it was like when I couldn't just buy one song if I felt like it, or a whole album for $9.99. When I get a song in my head, I can go buy it for only a dollar!

Organized files
--I went through all our old files and tossed out everything older than 3 years (shredded). Now I can FIND stuff, and I feel like I have a very do-able system. The file cabinet is in an accessible place, so I actually use it.

My crochet supplies
--Absolutely necessary for scary movies or watching 24. Plus makes for nice, personal touch gifts.

The Sling
--Given to me by my sister-in-law, I could NOT have returned to a normal life with a baby without this thing. She loves it and it gives me 2 hands. She hates her car seat, but this makes it possible for me to shop!

Kitchen gadgets, as afore mentioned
--I think I will sum up favorite kitchen gadgets in another list sometime.

This is the other fun gadget. Mostly I don't have trouble with peeling garlic, it usually comes off when I slice off the root, but occasionally I need one of these babies. You just roll the garlic in there, and the peel comes right off. Cool!

Garlic Press

This is my first favorite tool. It is a Zyliss garlic press, recommended by America's Test Kitchen for ease of use and efficiency. I used to use preserved minced garlic because I was scared of working with garlic, but this press makes it so easy! America's Test Kitchen makes great recommendations on tools and gadgets.

Jenny's Cooking Forum

So many blogs seem to have a cool theme. I found one yesterday, thanks to Ms. Nomer, that reviews kids' music that has adult appeal. (i.e. "If you like REM, you'll love _____ for your kids!") Ms. Nomer also has some great craft links. I love food and cooking, though I'd never consider myself a gourmet. I love a good meal that is easy but yummy and generally healthy. And I adore kitchen tools! I've been Tivo-ing Martha Stewart's show lately because she's doing a cooking school on her show--a different lesson every day--and I'm enjoying learning new things and remembering old things.

So. I am going to start adding some of my favorite recipes as well as hilighting my favorite kitchen tools, some of which I don't yet own. I would love to have submissions if you have favorite recipes or cooking tips. Remember: Easy, cheap, yummy and generally healthy (I say generally because a new favorite recipe of my family's calls for 6 TBSP of butter, but GOSH DARN IT, it's yummy!).

So here's to good eating!

Ah, Saturday. You'd think it wouldn't make much of a difference to me since I can no longer sleep in like I used to, but since Poopy Pants has been sleeping later in the morning, I'm still happy. Plus Steve is home, which makes the weekend feel special. We get to take turns running at least once during the weekend, which (most of the time) I love. I often wondered if Saturday would lose it's sweetness when I quit working, but somehow it is just as sweet, and almost even sweeter because I don't dread Sunday nights anymore. There are many things that I secretly wondered if they would fall into the "grass is greener" category, and then when they didn't I was happily surprised. There are some things I wake up daily and thank God for. Our first house was one of them. I really hated apartment living, and was so happy when I could pull into the driveway and leave the car door open while I put my groceries away. When marriage didn't turn out to be as hard as I thought it would be (I heard horror stories, so I was always waiting for the other shoe to drop), and our house. And now the whole being at home thing... I thought I would get sick of it. But every morning when I'm nursing my kid at 9:00 while still in my pajamas I think, "Life is good."

P.S. My husband made muffins this morning... the world is REALLY good.

Impertinence at the door

Now that I'm home during the day I am prey to door-to-door sales people. I'm waiting for Willie Loman to show up at my door, but until then it is the modern polo-wearing fast-talking monotone but cheerful youngster. I don't mind too much as they are generally gracious when I decline their AH-MAZING product. Plus a crying baby often gets me out of stuff.
However--
This week an AH-MAZING cleaning product came to my door. It was ONLY $25 a bottle and would last me until my daughter's wedding and even got stains out of my sidewalk. I think it even could achieve world peace. When I graciously declined, the gal got out the big guns.
"Why wouldn't you buy this product?"
"I don't buy things when people come to my door."
"So you're just saying no for no reason??"
"Look, I've got to get dinner going."
"You're about to make dinner? This is how I eat and you're not buying anything."
"Uh, bye now."

The truth is, while it bothers me to no end when people use pressure sales like that, I get a perverse pleasure out of standing my ground. I've always been a people pleaser, and yet the only times I ever got in trouble in school was when I knew I was right and got argumentative to an authority figure about it. Now that I'm a grown up, I can take it out on salespeople.

Vote!

I'm trying to decide what to wear for my brother-in-law's wedding, and have narrowed it down to these 4 tops (though I would take additional suggestions). These are all on sale at Anthropologie, and I like them all. I think the one bridesmaid is wearing lavendar, so I don't think any of these will clash in family pictures. I need to do a top-and-bottom set because I'm nursing and, well, dresses are kind of out of the question at present. Also noting the nursing issue, I want to make sure none of these would be, well, incompatible with my nursing chest size if you know what I mean. =) Please, weigh in!

Gift

I need an idea! I am trying to think of something special to give to my brother-in-law and his new wife when they get married this summer. They are not registering, and said, "No gifts," but I still would like to get them something... like a special bottle of wine or champagne, or a time capsule or something cool like that. I would LOVE some ideas!

In other news, Steve got a new camera for Christmas that takes really great pictures. Today because I knew I wouldn't get a chance to get to the bookstore to buy some birthday cards, I thought I'd make my own. This is the picture I made, then printed on a watercolor-type paper so it looks all bumpy and natural-papery.

This inspired me to start making some of my own cards, so some of you will be the victims of my card-making this year. I love when I get a creative bug!

Music of the spheres

I got to take a little break last night and go to the Biola Chorale Spring Concert. What a joy! It was a really truly lovely concert, well put together, well crafted, well sung. You could tell this was a mature group of some really neat kids (yes, I can call them kids when I'm 10 years older than most of them!). You can't sing the stuff they sang without discipline, and strange as this sounds, self-sacrifice. I remember watching Steve's mom's jr. high kids dance--at that age, they work hard to do the routine together, and yet you can see that the kids put in their own little flouishes to get noticed. When you work with a group like this, the point is not to stand out but to blend so beautifully that it's about something bigger than you. They did this awesome piece about the conversion of Saul that brought me nearly to tears. What a privilege to participate in that!

Quote from Lileks

"Nothing’s more pathetic than returning to a place where you used to work, and expecting some sort of hail-the-conquering-hero reception. The new people don’t care about you – in fact they’re rather peeved, since you’re being shown around like King Former, and they don’t see what’s special. The old people may resent that you got out – or, if they like the place, resent the implication that you were better than they. Or they don’t care one way or the other. A few strained words with the old crew, an attempt to reuse a catchphrase or some job-specific lingo, and then it’s done. Never works. Always makes everyone feel off. Never go back, I say."

Ponder, ponder.

Grocery Store

Today at the grocery store I left my cart with my purse a few feet away while I was looking at the meat. (I had Lucy with me in her little sling.) As I turned back to it, this lady comes up to me and starts lecturing me on how I shouldn't leave my cart unattended. "Someone could've been in and out of there in just a second." I was annoyed, so I said with a little smile, "So why didn't you?" She seemed to think I was serious and explained how she wouldn't do that. I said, "Look, I've kinda got my hands full here." Seriously, people are weird.

2 month appointment

We all got through admirably. i remembered the diaper bag, which was good because she peed through her outfit. I didn't cry when she got her shots, but will confess I came close. The NP told us to use regular shampoo, and not baby shampoo... weird!

She's 11 lbs 6 oz and 23 1/2 inches long. That's my little chunker!!

Oh, and big news for me... I'm back into one of my pairs of belted pants!! Hooray!!

So happy 2 month birthday, Lucy! I'm just glad we haven't broken you yet!

The pictures below are at birth, one month, then two at two months. Check out the Earle blog updates (link in my sidebar list... don't have the time at the moment to figure out how to do a link in the post.)

Colic

I wouldn't have said it myself, but my dad described poor Lucy as exhibiting behavior "consistent with colic." Inconsolable evening crying (read "screaming") and overactive gurgly intestinal activity. Poor baby! And yes, poor us. At least it is afternoon/evening and not night. We are hoping for some medicine at her 2month apt next week that will give her some relief, as the gas drops don't seemto do a whole lot. In some ways it's good to give it a name... sort of justifies my withdrawal from the wold and my jumpiness when she starts to fuss. And thankfully she balances it out with smiles and coos.

For Immediate Release
Contact: Jennifer Earle
562.943.8008

BREAKING NEWS: LUCY ELIZABETH EARLE GETS CUTER BY THE DAY

La Mirada, Calif (March 17, 2006) -- Infant Lucy Elizabeth Earle wows audiences with coos and smiles, a recent development. Bystanders making cooing noises next to her face are occasionally rewarded by puckered lips, smiles, and return coos. Laughing is under development.

Earle, born January 27, 2006, has been developing at a stunningly rapid pace over the last several weeks. She has grown four inches and gained three pounds, garnering parent approval.

"It really amazes me how one little person can grow so much in such a short amount of time," observes Jennifer Earle, mother of the newborn.

Earle is reported to eat, sleep, and evacuate her gastrointestinal system multiple times per day in addition to playtime. All indications point to an incredibly intelligent child, as well as a skyrocketed cute factor.

The Earle household was established March 10, 2001 by Steve and Jennifer Earle in La Mirada, CA. Visit us on the web at http://web.mac.com/earle

Glory Hallelujah! My baby slept through the night!!