Wordless Wednesday

Sonoma, California
February 2008

Valentine's Day - the aftermath

Besides being totally exhausted this morning, I think my kids were still coming off yesterday's sugar-high. Two, sometimes three, times a year, the school actually condones giving the kids copious amounts of candy, in an effort to celebrate a mostly Hallmark-holiday. But I digress.....

For most of January and the first week of February, amidst much yelling, screaming and hair pulling, we managed to get all 20 Valentine's for Little A's class done. Each one was an individual work of art, created by Little A, and each one was a process unto itself. I was happy in the knowledge that the other parents were at home going through the same torture (or not) and that February 14th would signal the end. The deal was everyone in class makes a valentine for every other person, all part of a post office project, which involves super cute stamps with the kid's pictures. But I digress, again....

On Thursday, after passing out all the homemade valentine's, three kids actually brought in more valentines. That's right, a whole 'nother round for the class, mostly consisting of candy bars and fuzzy pencils. What was that all about? Will the insanity ever end? First it was a little holiday, with a little red/pink and a card for your loved one. Now it is a multi-$$$ industry, starting just as soon as the decorations come down for Christmas, culminating in a big finale on February 14th. No wonder my kids are exhausted. Valentines for everyone, class parties, gifts for the teacher, decorated cupcakes, pink and red everything, prix fixe dinners at every restaurant, a scarcity of babysitters. Chaos. Needless to say, isn't it time for this holiday to regain some perspective?

Fortunately, I can say that, as I already have all the supplies for next year's Valentine cards ;-)

Wordless Wednesday

Big Thunder Railroad
Disneyland
January 2008

Kidget Review: Peanut Butter Mixer

Today I received the Grandpa Witmer's Old Fashioned Peanut Butter Mixer, which I ordered after seeing it in a magazine. We eat natural peanut butter (well, sun butter and peanut butter) at home, which tends to separate, which drives me nuts, especially when I try to stir it and it comes out the top and the oil gets everywhere. This tool seems to combat that problem.

You screw the supplied top on your jar of peanut butter and insert the mixer tip. Then you crank around until your peanut butter is all mixed up. Remove the lid and mixer and put the original lid back on; now you are good to go.

It was not clear when I ordered, but there are different sizes: #100 Crank Mixer for 16oz jar with 77mm lid, #200 Twist Knob Mixer for 16oz jar with 77mm lid, #300 Crank Mixer for 16 oz jar with 70mm lid, #400 Crank Mixer for 26oz jar with 83mm lid, #500 Twist Knob Mixer for 26oz jar with 83mm lid, and #600 Twist Knob Mixer for 36oz jar with 99mm lid. I probably should have ordered the #300, but the #100 works, without completely attaching to my peanut butter jar.

In any case, I would recommend this tool for anyone looking to make the process of mixing natural peanut butters!

Kidget = Kitchen Gadget

I Blog For Life

well, not really.

But, I was so inspired by Jill's post over at SVMoms, who wrote about our wonderful weather in the Bay Area this morning, that I threw on my exercise clothes, grabbed the iPod and hit the street. It was so great to be outside with the big blue sky above, really helps a girl's overall optimism (either that or the barista this morning made mine a double...)

I am listening a lot to Pandora these days, which so far has helped me find Snow Patrol and Babybird, two delightful additions to my playlists. I just wish I could find more Babybird on iTunes. Actually, just searching on them, I realize they are from the UK, so I will look them up next month when we visit London. The other group that I really like, which was introduced to me by my friend Antja, is Crazy Grass, but I can hardly find them anywhere.

Also on my iPod this morning was Melissa Etheridge's I Run For Life. The first time I heard that song, I totally teared up, thinking about my Mom. Now when I hear it (or at least the first part of it) I really do want to run hard. Then I realize that makes me tired, so I slow down and walk while singing along (to myself, silly, not the whole world!).

Anywho, hope you all are having a beautiful day too, wherever you may be.....