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CONTACT FILED: WARREN'S INN-HOUSTON A woman walks by the front door of Warren's Friday night, September 20, 2002 in Houston. This is for a Lifestyle story on the few remaining bars downtown that aren't the trendy velvet-rope clubs that seem to be getting all the attention. CHRISTOBAL PEREZ/HOUSTON CHRONICLE. HOUCHRON CAPTION (10/20/2002): Warren's Inn, 307 Travis in Old Market Square, beckons barhoppers with its lime-green fanade and down-to-earth attitude.
CONTACT FILED: WARREN'S INN-HOUSTON A woman walks by the front...


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The Birds and the Birds and the Bees
Let's talk about bird romance. Natural selection shapes the enormous diversity in appearance, song and behavior among species. George Armistead will discuss some interesting reproductive strategies and associated unusual behavior in birds, with copious innuendo and anthropomorphism to keep the concepts in perspective.
Registration required. Tickets are $5 for the lecture. Or, you may purchase a combo ticket for $10, which includes the lecture and a voucher to visit the "Birds of Paradise: Amazing Avian Evolution" special exhibit at a time of your choosing. The exhibit ends March 23, 2014.
About the speaker
George Armistead is events coordinator for the American Birding Association. Prior to that, he guided birding tours for 10 years, leading trips to all seven continents. He is a research associate at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. When not working on bird book projects, he spends his free time observing and photographing birds at his favorite haunts along the coast between Cape May, NJ, and Cape Hatteras, NC.

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Tuesday, April 13. 2010
STOP! Posted by Carlo A. Balistrieri in Gardening at 14:59
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Things moving too fast? Spring's flying by here. The bulbs are half-way home and lots of little rock garden stuff is popping into flower everywhere. Before you know it the perennials will be putting on their show.
Worse yet, the work is piling up at breakneck pace. Weeds, weeds, weeds...planting...improving soil...feeding...mulching...pruning and cutting back. It feels overwhelming, doesn't it?
Grab a coffee tomorrow morning. Walk out in your slippers...maybe even p.j.'s (this might work better if you do it BEFORE you get dressed for the day). ENTER your garden--slip across the edge. SIT DOWN in the middle of everything and just look around you. Don't move for twenty minutes.
If you need me to tell you how good this is for you, repeat the process the next day. If you KNOW how good this is for you, you won't need a reminder.
NOW...go back to your regularly scheduled day.
Tuesday, March 23. 2010
Showers BEFORE April.... Posted by Carlo A. Balistrieri in Weather at 11:42
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Showers BEFORE April....
We've had no shortage of moisture here in west-central New Jersey this year, but yesterday's rain was a tipping-point weather event. Apparently the rain, in combination with air and ground temperature (and who knows what else) have reached that magical stage where spring, a day or two late, has arrived.
In the course of a day, things are different. Yesterday's winter-red sedums and sempervivums are letting go of their cold weather finery and taking on their growing season hues. The stubs of cut back lavandula are showing signs of life that were nearly absent just 24 hours ago. Bud swell is now very apparent on the lilacs and quince and the trees are stirring. Perhaps most gloriously of all, spring bulbs which we'd seen a sprinking of flowers on prior to yesterday are blooming in larger numbers, making a push to finish things up before it gets warm again.
It's game-on in the garden!
Sunday, March 21. 2010
Rolling the dice... Posted by Carlo A. Balistrieri in Gardening at 11:51
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Rolling the dice...
Moving plants out from their indoor safe-havens when winter is past (?) is always a little dicey. Edible figs (Ficus carica cvrs.) which began leafing out weeks ago in the basement, just couldn't wait anymore. Low light levels began to etiolate new growth and that will spell trouble later in the season if they don't get more light NOW. So the figs were moved outside (and even those with fruit showing appear to be none the worse for wear). Perhaps their early start under lights will give them the longer season they need to ripen fruit on a more consistent basis.
Japanese maples--the couple that were in non-frost hardy pots--had also leafed out under the lights and were actually flowering. They are probably two weeks ahead of their brethren who passed the winter outdoors in pots. Within a few weeks everyone will be on the same page. Being of the thread-leafed persuation, I was more than a little concerned that moving them out would result in burn or die-back, but a few cloudy, rainy days were heaven sent to ease the transition.
Friday, March 5. 2010
Nerium oleander harvest... Posted by Carlo A. Balistrieri at 08:15
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Nerium oleander harvest...
Nerium oleander, the ubiquitous median tree of highways in Spain and elsewhere around the Mediterranean, has ripened its seed capsules in the front room of our New Jersey home. NOTA BENE: Oleander is poisonous and not generally considered much of a houseplant if you have small children or pets that might come into contact with it (not a problem here).
Our particular tree spends the winters indoors and all season on the deck in as much sun as we can muster. It flowered fairly late last year, and, rather than trim off the spent blooms, I left them to see what would happen. By what magic, I know not, many of the flowers were pollinated and resulted in slender seed capsules. All fall and winter they remained upright and green. Gradually turning brown, they are now beginning to split, revealing ranks of small, pointed seeds with a puff of fluff for their mode of transportation. Interesting.
Now the big question: sow or no? Researching the how is easy enough. Whether to dedicate the space...that's another question. It would be interesting to see what sort of variation would arise from one plant's seed (no question it was selfed), but there isn't room for dozens of small trees, and they'd likely need to be around for a while before they'd bloom.
Such questions us plant folk must ponder....
Friday, February 26. 2010
Waking up the Clivia.... Posted by Carlo A. Balistrieri in Plants at 08:50
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Waking up the Clivia....
They're not exactly Rip-van-Winkles, but the Clivia in my collection HAVE been snoozing since the middle of November--under the bench, no water, no fertilizer. As I witness a bit of rousing from their slumber, I help them along. Moving them into warmer, brighter conditions and watering, judiciously at first, and then with increasing frequency helps them shake the cobwebs. The plants respond, and, since they've had their requisite cool, dry rest, they do this: http://bestc.am/f3P
The exciting news this year is the first blooming of my yellow seedlings. The best so far is a clear "real-butter" yellow that I'd name Clivia miniata 'Land-O-Lakes' (but not without first getting the permission of the churners at Land O' Lakes). As you can see, the yellows have lost none of their cache, despite being more available and affordable than ever. They are a beautiful addition to any plant collection. http://bestc.am/mGK
Among the finer attributes of these plants is their willingness to tolerate household conditions with great aplomb. Mine get placed around the house while in bloom, spend their summer outside, and, as mentioned above, are happy to take their positions in the cool, relatively dark spaces under the plant benches in the basement for their winter rest. What more could you ask?
Thursday, February 18. 2010
IT'S ALIVE...IT'S ALIVE! Posted by Carlo A. Balistrieri at 07:56
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Like Lazarus, rising from the dead; like Ramonda going from a crispy, brown wafer to a lush, green, LIVING thing after a good soaking rain; like Polypodium polypodioides, Florida's famous "Resurrection Fern" unfurling it's dried croziers like a sponge for life enhancing moisture; BGBlog IS ALIVE!
It's been a good long time since anything has been posted here, and I hope my seven readers are still out there. (Hello...hello...is anybody there?). I wouldn't blame them for not showing up, but a good bit of river has gone under the bridge since these pages have heard from me and I'm back.
Mea culpa, mea culpa. I won't bother anyone with the gory details surrounding the neglect, but I promise better things ahead.
I'm still trying to figure out how to migrate the web page publishing from PC to MAC, so if anyone has a brilliant suggestion for a low/no cost web solution for MAC (go easy on the learning curve), AND a way to get existing content from where I'm at to where I want to be, PLEASE let me know. My plants and I thank you.
Wednesday, July 8. 2009
We're all a-Twitter... Posted by Carlo A. Balistrieri in Check this out! at 08:14
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We're all a-Twitter...
Yes, I broke down and am tweeting on Twitter. You'll find me at @botanicalgarden (you're not the only one that couldn't believe it was still available this late in the game). It's an experiment at the moment--for real time, short reports and quips on our favorite topic and others. It's a lot easier to do 140 characters than it is to write a blog entry--much less to think about and ponder--much less pressure to come up with a "great idea."
Follow me if you are interested in a slice of my life. It won't go into the gruesome details that some people love to spew into the electro-sphere, but might give you a better idea of where I'm coming from and who I am.
In the short time I've been tweeting, I've probably got more followers than readers of this blog--so let me know if you found me on Twitter from reading me here--and don't stop...
Wednesday, July 1. 2009
Winkin', blinkin' and... Posted by Carlo A. Balistrieri in Check this out! at 05:42
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Winkin', blinkin' and...
In one of the most fascinating reads I've had in a long time, Carl Zimmer talks about fireflies (they're already out you know...) in The New York Times (June 29, 2009). His article "Blink Twice if You Like Me" examines the current state of research on how and why these insects use flashes of light to attract their mates. Everyone with a backyard should check this one out!
Monday, June 22. 2009
Fungus among-us... Posted by Carlo A. Balistrieri in Gardens... at 11:07
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Fungus among-us...
It should come as a surprise to no one who's followed the weather in the northeast (rain, anyone? How about more rain, and more and more...) that leaf fungus are making an ugly appearance in the garden. It should be a great year for them. Even invasive mainstays like Tradescantia have been attacked and are looking horrible.
And there's nothing that can be done. The weather doesn't appear to be changing soon, and I hate the idea of spraying fungicides all over the place--it's doubtful they'd have any effect anyway. The implication is that certain things in the garden will look like, well...you know what.
What to do?
If you can stand the sight of spotted leafs and collapsing plants, doing nothing is an option. Ma Nature has been here before, and so have gardens. Plants may be lost--and will at least be set back significantly. In the event you can't stand the look of your garden, the other option (I've already ruled out the spray--I don't have the capability for flyovers...) is to clean things up. Cutting and removing affected plants will immediately improve the looks of any bed, BUT care must be taken with disposal AND your cutting tools. It's easy to spread these diseases and sloppy horticulture IS a vector.
To be on the safe side, don't compost diseased plants; bag them and remove them from the garden. Sterilize your cutting blades well (soak in rubbing alcohol for at least a half-minute or flame until the edge is red) before using them on ANY non-affected plant. Not doing so is akin to plunking a kid with swine flu in the middle of a kindergarten class of vivacious, healthy young children.
It's happened to us again. Here we were, bemoaning the lack of rain and setting up all the irrigation to compensate, only to have the heavens open in biblical fashion. We obviously have no pull where it really counts. Do what you can, manage the damage, and be here again next year.
Cent' anni! You'll need them...
Float your way back to BotanicalGardening.com...see you soon.
Friday, June 19. 2009
Finally, someone tells the truth... Posted by Carlo A. Balistrieri in Check this out! at 11:04
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Finally, someone tells the truth...
What a beauty!!! AND ain't it just the truth..... Check this out:
Thursday, June 11. 2009
What to do (or not) about Paeonia ... Posted by Carlo A. Balistrieri in Gardening at 11:42
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What to do (or not) about Paeonia droop...
The drooping of peony flower heads is a common phenomenon regarded by commentators as either romantic or a curse. It is generally attributed to: 1) rain gathering in the flower petals—a particular problem with cultivars bred for large double flowers; 2) wind; 3) over-feeding, especially with fertilizers high in nitrogen.
Typical solutions to the problem feature some sort of support or staking. Methods abound, but none are considered totally effective.
It is perhaps telling that the website of the American Peony Society contains not a single word on the subject of supporting or staking paeonia despite having pages on peony care and problems.
Peony producers in the Netherlands grow hectares of plants in open fields without support.
Klehm's Song Sparrow Nursery, a major US peony grower, does not support its peonies, which are field grown in the open. They don't recommend supporting the plants, but will sell peony supports if pressed by a customer.
Only one of the two major peony nurseries to address the drooping problem (most nursery websites, like the peony association, don't mention supporting or staking in their peony care pages) suggests a remedy—and it strikes me as one that would be difficult to keep from looking unsitely. David Furman of Cricket Hill Nursery (a peony specialist) suggests the following:
"SUPPORTING PEONIES: To support large clumps of peonies, lay a flat piece of 2"chicken wire, cut to a size of about 2 ft. x 2 ft., carefully over the new red shoots in spring. This has to be done early in the season, as soon as the shoots emerge from the ground. Adjust chicken wire to allow one shoot to go into one cell of the wire. As the shoots grow taller, the chicken wire will lift up and be a part of the growing plant, settling under the foliage. Fold down the edges of the wire under foliage so it is not visible. This will support the stems, and keep the plant more upright."
The other, Don Hollingsworth of Hollingsworth Peonies
does not support his plants and suggests that doing so does not prevent drooping:
On the other hand, you could just enjoy the natural presentation of the flowers, the romance of the arched canes with their fulsome heads of papery petals--an attractive scene not lost on the legion of artists and photographers who have depicted peonies through the years.
Either way, stop back at BotanicalGardening.com when you're done and let us know how you've managed with yours.
Sunday, May 24. 2009
A place for everything and ... Posted by Carlo A. Balistrieri at 06:13
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A place for everything and everything in its place...
Tuesday, May 19. 2009
Whooo-eeee! Posted by Carlo A. Balistrieri in Weather at 14:16
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Land sakes! It's May 19 and thar's frost on the windshield...
Thursday, May 7. 2009
Stinky orchids...Bulbophyllum ... Posted by Carlo A. Balistrieri in Plants at 06:07
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Stinky orchids...Bulbophyllum echinolabium
At long last I am about to bloom Bulbophyllum
I first saw--and smelled--the plant in the collection of The New York
The huge flower is graceful in appearance with spreading sepals and petals
The species hails from Sulawesi and
Even amid orchid growers, certainly amongst the geeks of the
Monday, May 4. 2009
Drip, drip, drip... Posted by Carlo A. Balistrieri in Weather at 06:23
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Drip, drip, drip...
This is the rain that takes us from spring to summer. Slow,
Before you know it, the green smudge we so exalted just a
I don't mind the explosion…I tolerate the explosion—the
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Since 1st of July, Google Reader is no longer running. In RSSOwl 2.2 the option to synchronize with Google was taken out and RSSOwl continues to work as news reader. We are currently exploring other options for synchronization but it is too early to announce anything just yet. If you are happy with RSSOwl, consider to add your vote on this page that lists alternatives to Google Reader. Thanks!


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Reviewed By Barry J (WESLEY CHAPEL, FL) Reviewed for a 2015 GMC Sierra —5/8/2015 4:52 AM
This box is exactly what I was looking for in size, style, and flexibility in location for installation.
Reviewed By Vincent B (Honolulu, HI) —4/15/2015 4:03 PM
Installed on 2015 Chevy Colorado crew cab short bed with BakFlip F1 tonneau already on. Paper instructions average; use UTube installation video, it's better. Easier with two people when installing. Then, easy and quick to do. Best for light weight stuff. Happy with result.
Reviewed By Jeremy P (CHESTERFIELD, NH) Reviewed for a 2008 Chevy Silverado —2/4/2015 10:42 AM
Nice box just takes up a little space and works well. I have a fifth wheel and may have to take it down and set it on the floor, but that is easy. I like the fact it comes right out and goes where you want
Know before you buy! Read customer reviews about Toolboxes for Tonneau Covers or ask our Product Experts.


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Choosing between digital clocks
Analog clocks might have the old school look to them but they are slowly giving way to their digital counterparts. Digital clocks are a lot more reliable and require hardly any maintenance. They are also quite accurate and the ones that are available these days have quite a few functions. Here are a few digital clocks which you can choose from.
One of the most basic digital clocks is a free standing one which is usually placed on a bedside table or a desk. They are usually used as alarm clocks. They require a power point so you can save on buying batteries. These bedside digital clocks usually have a built in radio so you can wake up to your favorite radio station. A few bedside digital clocks also have mp3 players in them so you can wake up to your favorite music.
The next most common type of digital clock is the atomic wall mountable digital clock. These digital atomic clocks have slowly but steadily replaced regular analog clock gauge clocks. Atomic clocks display the time accurate to the second as they are continuously updated to the Cesium clock in Colorado. While displaying the time is the primary objective for these clocks, they also come with additional features.
The La Crosse Technology Jumbo Digital Atomic Wall Clock is one the best digital wall clocks around. This clock has a large digital display through which you can see the time quite clearly. In addition to displaying time it can also display the date and time zone setting. Since it is an atomic clock it automatically adjusts for daylight savings time when needed. In addition to that it also displays ambient temperature. This clock runs on 3 "AA" alkaline batteries and lasts quite long on them. The large 4 inch digital display is quite good and is easy to view the time and date.


text: Prev | Next Purchase this photo Marco participates in the Thunder Walk prior to the Marshall vs. SMU football game on Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009, at Joan C. Edwards Stadium. Gallery: Marco through the years Jul. 24, 2013 @ 05:29 PM The Herald-Dispatch / 2015 The Herald-Dispatch combed through its archives and found these file photos of Marshall University mascot Marco. ()


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The Metropolitan Opera
11:23 am
Wed March 20, 2013
The Met Opera Archival Broadcast: Verdi's LA FORZA DEL DESTINO, March 23, 1 pm
By WRTI Staff
Verdi's sprawling, moving drama, LA FORZA DEL DESTINO, chronicles a noble family destroyed by powers beyond their control. In this classic performance, James Levine conducts a legendary cast, with Leontyne Price and Placido Domingo as the ill-fated overs. Archival performance from 1977, Saturday, March 23, 1 to 4 pm.
Leonora: Leontyne Price
Freziosilla: Rosalind Elias
Don Alvaro: Placido Domingo
Don Carlo: Cornell MacNeil
Fra Meutone: Renato Capecchi
Padre Guardiano: Martti Talvela
Intermission Feature:
Ira Siff interviews Metropolitan Opera Music Director James Levine about this cast and the 1977 production of La Foraz Del Destino.
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Month in Numbers – April 2012
April was positively raining interesting internet stats – check them out in our Month In Numbers roundup.
Facebook is testing a new targeting option to reach users 'more likely' to complete a certain action. In essence, it allows advertisers to target conversions, rather than users. But these actions are only a measurement of success, and shouldn't be confused with the actual purpose of the campaign.
Facebook is going to shorten their ads so they can fit more in. Either this will give users a greater choice of ads and drive up clicks, revenue and general goodness for all (users, advertisers and Facebook) or the current good advertisers will have their ads lost in a blanket of poor ads and users will ignore the wall of ads completely.
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Inside Baby & Kids Quilts, the best of Fons & Porter, you will find 39 projects for tots to teens. Give these snuggly, cuddly quilts you create to all your favorite youngsters.
Paperback; 176 Pages
We have a 3-5 day in-house process. There will be an additional 1-7 days for delivery.
**During peak Holiday Seasons (Mother's Day & Christmas) it can take an additional 1-2 business days to get your order shipped.
We do not accept International orders online.
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You will need to order by calling 405-745-1275. Customer Service is available Monday - Friday 8:00-5:00 CST.
Your order will need to ship to a US Destination, such as a freight forwarder. By doing so your order will be eligible for our US shipping rates which often include free shipping.
If you would like for us to ship your order directly to you, you will be charged the actual postage amount. That amount is calculated once your order is picked, packed and ready to ship. International shipping address are excluded from all shipping discounts. All orders shipped to an International location are charged the actual cost of shipping.
Please note that this policy does not include Military Addresses, Guam, Puerto Rico & the US Virgin Islands. We will accept and ship orders to these destinations.
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News Summary: Dutch gov't scraps `weed pass'
(AP) - HIGH THERE: Dope-selling coffee shops in Amsterdam won't keep out foreign visitors any time soon, a relief to tourists who enjoy a toke or two in the Dutch capital.
GRASS IS GREENER: The country's Justice Minister scrapped the rollout of a so-called "weed pass" intended to keep non-Dutch residents out of coffee shops. The aim was to crack down on crime and traffic problems caused by people travelling from neighboring countries like Germany and Belgium to get legal marijuana in Holland.
PUFFERY? Advocates say the coffee shops reduce crime and health problems by regulating the sale of soft drugs.
(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)


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Can Low Rates Spark A Hot Housing Summer?
By Chris Arnold
In recent days, home mortgage interest rates have ticked up very slightly but are still quite low, well below 5 percent. This spring's low rates have helped boost mortgage applications, both for refinancing and purchases. NPR's Chris Arnold reports on the outlook for the housing sector this summer, and the industry's one bright spot: cheap mortgages.


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Shoe - Ardo, Platform Slingback, Right, 1970s Reg. No: HT 11648
- Summary:
- Right shoe, platform style with sling back, 1970s, labelled 'Ardo'. Either made or purchased by Paragon as a sample, its sole is incomplete.
Paragon Shoes Pty Ltd became one of the most significant 20th century Australian shoe manufacturers, and at one time was the largest manufacturer of high quality of women's shoes in Australia. Its factory was located in Melbourne, and its shoes were sold throughout Australia and New Zealand. Paragon shoes were manufactured in a factory in Argyle St, Fitzroy, in the 1920s, one of the largest single-storied factories in Australia. Manufacturing later moved to Stanley St, Collingwood. Some shoes were also made in other factories for Paragon, and some were apparently designed overseas. Up to 100 people worked in the Stanley St factory, with as many as three generations working with the company at the one time.
As fashions changed and new market sectors were pursued, Paragon created new labels for its products. Pierre Fontaine was established in the early 1960s as a cheaper shoe; Parisienne was aimed at the younger buyer, and Belle Chaussure was aimed at a sophisticated buyer. Royal Paragon was made with luxury materials, such as brocades, crocodile or lizard skin. Innovare was made exclusively for Myer. Overseas trips were taken to undertaken 'fashion espionage' - such as photos of shop windows in Italy. The donor instigated the practice of buying retail samples and bringing them back to Melbourne in the late 1960s-early 1970s.
- Description:
- Sling-back platform with uppers of green and orange leather in several scalloped and branded panels. Fastens with strap at side. Sole incomplete - cork lining visible.
- Statement Of Significance:
- The Paragon Shoe Collection comprises over 90 objects, including pairs of shoes and single shoes, point-of-sale materials and promotional materials such as business cards and an umbrella bearing the company name. The Collection documents the business and products of Paragon Shoes Pty Ltd, one of the most significant 20th century Australian shoe retailers, and at one time the largest manufacturer of high quality of women?s shoes in Australia. Its factory was located in Melbourne, and its shoes were sold throughout Australia and New Zealand.
The collection was largely donated by a member of the Davison family, which ran the Paragon business for most of the 20th century. It documents the changing designs of Australian women's footwear, from the 1910s to the 1980s. It illustrates the development of new shoe styles, from sample shoes bought overseas to shoes that went into production and were worn by Australian women. The collection is complemented by an archive held at the State Library of Victoria, including company records, shoe design sketch books and further point-of-sale material.
- Acquisition Information:
- Donation from Mrs Diana Gaze, 2005
|17.0 cm (Height), 8.0 cm (Width), 21.0 cm (Length)
More information
|Tagged with:
|footwear industry, manufacturing, making history - paragon shoes
|Themes this item is part of:
|Paragon Shoe Collection, Clothing & Textiles Collection, Working Life & Trades Collection
|Primary Classification:
|Secondary Classification:
|Tertiary Classification:
|Insole: "ardo".
|Paragon Shoes, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1970-1979
Howard, G., 2004. Lex Davison: Larger Than Life'. Turton & Armstrong, Sydney.
Copies of several newspaper articles about Paragon from the early 1920s were included with the donation.
The State Library of Victoria holds an archive relating to the Paragon business, containing receipt books, account books, advertising, clippings, sample book, sketches, photographs and a poster - MS 13570. The content dates range circa 1928-1988. An additional archive, PA 01/05, ranges 1940s-1980s.
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PGA Championship
How To Make The PGA Championship Cool
Our suggestions to add a little more sizzle to the season's final major
August 2012
1. Change the format
Changing the format of the PGA to match play would be the easiest way to differentiate the season's final major from it's three predecessors and immediately give it a platform to brand itself upon. While changes to major championships are usually rife with logistical or traditionalist issues, simply reverting back to the format the tournament used until 1958 would make for must-watch TV. The marquee match-ups would create head-to-head drama and give credence to the notion that some players are mentally tougher than others. And all with a major on the line.
- Keywords:
- golf,
- PGA Championship,
- changes,
- derek evers


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Handling Your Partner's Anxiety Over Baby Bills
While you're worrying about swollen ankles, kicks in unexpected places, and how you'll weather childbirth, your partner may be focused on finances. He may suddenly fret about losing his job, worry that he can't cover the bills while you take unpaid maternity leave, or feel frantic about paying for college. This sudden breadwinning zeal is a normal rite of passage for most dads-to-be, though you may feel somewhat abandoned if your partner is suddenly working longer hours when you're feeling needy.
It may help calm your partner down if the two of you put all your financial cards on the table to see what sort of hand you have. Do you have a plan for retirement? Are your credit cards paid up? Have you thought about how you're going to pay for diapers, baby equipment, formula, and out-of-pocket expenses for visits to the pediatrician?
Financial planning isn't the most romantic activity in the world, but it's a great way to take stress out of your relationship now, before the baby arrives. Yes, there's sticker shock involved. Who knew they could charge that much for a package of diapers you're just going to throw away? And the thought of college bills might send you both running for the smelling salts. However, you don't have to pay for 21 years of family life all at once. Begin by making a list of things you really can't live without and a list of things you'd rather not do without. Then track your spending, month by month, to see if you can start living according to a budget. See a financial planner together if the two of you are having a tough time deciding on priorities.
Originally published in You & Your Baby: Pregnancy.
All content on this Web site, including medical opinion and any other health-related information, is for informational purposes only and should not be considered to be a specific diagnosis or treatment plan for any individual situation. Use of this site and the information contained herein does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Always seek the direct advice of your own doctor in connection with any questions or issues you may have regarding your own health or the health of others.


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BabyKicks Premium Hemparoo JoeyBunz are a deluxe version of our original JoeyBunz. These bad boys are 4 layers of absorbent natural hemp/certified organic cotton fleece and have a split design for customizable absorbency and faster drying. At only 1/8 of an inch thick don't let their lack of bulk deceive you. Hemp is well known for its absorbency and can hold at least 3x its weight in liquid. Whether you use one JoeyBunz during the day or two overnight, the contour shape is guaranteed to be comfortable on baby and practically bulletproof. BabyKicks Premium JoeyBunz make GREAT doublers or replacement inserts and will fit in every type and brand of diaper available including Pockets, Hybrids, All-in-2's, All-in-Ones, Fitteds, Prefolds, or alone inside a waterproof cover.
- Sewn by hand in Maryland.
- Super absorbent hemp fleece and certified organic cotton blend.
- Contoured shape for maximum comfort and quick dry design.
- Gentle on sensitive skin.
- Compatible with every diaper brand on the market.
- Small Size: 13.5" x 4.5" (Contoured - Widest Point 6").
- Medium Size: 15.25" x 4.5" (Contoured - Widest Point 6").
- Large Size: 17.5" x 4.5" (Contoured - Widest Point 6").


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Intellimetrix provides professional training and consulting services in the area of Linux and Open Source software, other embedded operating systems, and software and firmware design and development for embedded computing in general. Our extensive background in both hardware and software for embedded applications allows us to quickly focus on the customer's specific needs and deliver a cost-effective solution. Make Intellimetrix your value-added partner for high quality embedded computing training and solutions.
New at Intellimetrix
Embedded Linux and Device Driver courses are online at GoGoTraining
Embedded Linux Development Using Eclipse
5-day In-house Embedded Linux class
Need to bring your engineering team up to speed fast? Embedded Linux -- 5-day Intensive is a fast-paced, hands-on class that covers all the topics crucial to putting Linux in embedded devices. Basically, this class takes our two 3-day classes and squeezes them into one 5-day extravaganza!
Public Classes available through Linux Certified
A selection of quality books on Linux, real-time operating systems, and embedded hardware and software. Suggest your own favorites for inclusion.
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Another beautiful weekend ahead!April 25th, 2014 at 6:40 pm by Robb Ellis under Weather
With rain chances holding off until Sunday night, and temperatures returning to the 70s, it looks like another beautiful weekend in central Indiana.
Mostly clear skies will continue with temperatures dropping into the upper 40s to low 50s. Winds will diminish overnight.
Another beautiful day. Despite a cool start, plenty of sunshine will warm the temperatures into the low 70s for most of central Indiana. Partly cloudy skies will continue for most of the day. Winds will be breezy during the afternoon. Lows in the mid 50s.
Sunday will be similar to Saturday with one exception : a few more clouds. Especially in the later part of the day when clouds and moisture will move in from the southwest. Highs near 70 with lows near 55. Rain will approach late Sunday but should hold off until early morning.
Monday and Tuesday:
With temperatures rising into the 70s on Monday and Tuesday, and a few impulses arriving each day, a chance for storms is possible and some could be strong to severe. Otherwise showers will be likely, especially in the morning.
End of next week:
Temperatures will drop with showers continuing. Highs will drop to the 50s and 60s starting on Wednesday and continuing through Friday. Rain should move out by Friday.


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Aberdeen Caledonian Thistle Celtic Dundee United Hearts Hibernian Kilmarnock Motherwell Partick Thistle Ross County St Johnstone St Mirren
Birmingham City Blackburn Rovers Blackpool Bolton Wanderers Bournemouth Brentford Brighton & Hove Albion Cardiff City Charlton Athletic Derby County Fulham Huddersfield Town Ipswich Town Leeds United Middlesbrough Millwall Norwich City Nottingham Forest Reading Rotherham United Sheffield Wednesday Watford Wigan Athletic
Transfer scrap over Yasuhito Endo
JAPANESE giants Gamba Osaka fear a transfer scramble for skipper Yasuhito Endo after being relegated from the J-League for the first time following their 2-1 defeat at Jubilo Iwata last night.
Endo is a former Liverpool target
Playmaker Yasuhito Endo, 32, is being tracked by several European clubs and is a former Liverpool target.
He is used to success at Gamba who were 2005 Japanese champions and 2008 Asian Champions League winners.
They beat Adelaide United at the 2008 Club World Cup before losing 5-3 to Manchester United in the semi-final.


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Devise a surprise (Q's 40Acts contribution)
I was asked by the fab 40Acts team over at Stewardship to contribute a short piece for their Do Lent Generously campaign – which is a creatively positive twist on the standard give-up-something-for-Lent routine.
My bit came out last weekend, but I repost it here, in case it gets more to sign up to the daily mailings. Read more
Feeling out of your depth…?
Am in the middle of a book which was recommended to me by a friend I hardly see for reasons of which I have no knowledge! Zack Eswine's Sensing Jesus – Life and Ministry as a Human Being.
Some Holy Week thoughts and provocations
Ongoing writing means lack of ongoing blogging, as ever. But the end is in sight. On the home straight for getting full draft editor by 1st Jun.
But here are a few links for this Holy Week Read more
5-a-Day I: Detested & Loved words
Hate is a strong word. In fact, one of my favourite aphorisms of Graham Greene (taken from his astonishing The Power and the Glory) is that "Hate was just a failure of the imagination." It is precisely because we are all such conflicted and complex people that the hatred of individuals is such a blight – there are always extenuating circumstances (even if they are not sufficient to justify actions). Read more
What to say when they burn down your house and church
I came across this remarkable, inspiring story at the end of David Smith's excellent The Kindness of God, a plea for a new missiology appropriate to these troubled times. It comes a professor friend of his who has ministered for many years in Jos, Plateau State in northern Nigeria. Jos sits on Africa's great faultline between the Muslim north and Christian south – and thus has faced terrible things in recent years. Read more
Rejoicing in Galatian Freedom (an interruption to self-imposed online taciturnity)
Just back from doing the All Souls week away in Bath – my first major thing for work since I was off from 1st Jan. All seemed to go smoothly and happily, which was rather a relief for all concerned. The focus this year was the grace-freedom we have in Christ – which Paul expounds so superbly through Galatians Read more
CS Lewis exposes the humbling reality when anyone prays
C. S. Lewis was a great burster of pride's balloons. His Screwtape Letters are a masterful model in how to do that. But he was only able to take aim with such accuracy that because he had come face to face with his own pride. And these two poems illustrate that perfectly. They take seriously the distorting effects of our own self-centredness, which warp our perception of reality and God, even when we pray. Read more
Forging a future out of a pandemic of tragedy: Rhidian Brook's The Aftermath
The months immediately after the close of the Second World War were confusing. One minute the Allies had been dropping bombs on Germany (as Col Lewis Morgan, the protagonist in Rhidian Brook's The Aftermath, points out, more bombs fell on Hamburg in one weekend than fell on the London in the entire war), the next they were dropping lifeline supplies in the Berlin Airlift of '48-'49. The disorientation this must have brought for ordinary Germans is articulated by some so-called ferals (kids living in the ruins of the city): Read more
The inaugural Q Conversations podcast: Talking with Jaap van Heusden
It's been a germ of an idea for ages, but at last it's finally come about. Q now has a podcast. Hurrah. I can just sense the infectious excitement simply oozing throughout cyberspace. But there are loads of fascinating people out there: hearing how a few live out their lives and passions ought to be fun. Doncha think?
Well, whatever you feel about the prospect of Q podcasts in general, the inaugural episode in particular is definitely exciting because last week, I had the chance to record a conversation with the very talented and thought-provoking Dutch filmmaker, Jaap van Heusden. Here is the link on iTunes (or if you don't have that, direct through Jellycast) Read more
MAY CONTAIN NUTS: Food labelling = GOOD; People labelling = NOT SO
You've got to label food these days. It makes sense. In these days of pre-packaged, pre-cooked food, you naturally want to know what's in the package. So it's a bit of a shame when it tells you you're eating cow when all the time it's horse. The remedy is not to ditch the label; just make sure it's telling the truth. Labels are essential for consumer confidence and even, at times, to stay alive. For let's face it: nuts can kill.
The Rebellious Privacy of God: Rowan Williams on Narnia in "The Lion's World"
I'd heard good things of this book: Rowan Williams' surprisingly readable appreciation of CS Lewis' Narnia, The Lion's World. It seemed appropriate to move on to this having relished Francis Spufford's recreation of his childhood delight in Narnia. And there are loads of good things about it for he is simply seeking to be an exegete of Lewis' creativity. I especially appreciated this comment on how the whole experiment works (and thus why it is inappropriate to squeeze details too much into an allegorical mould).
Some thoughts on Thoughts to Make Your Heart Sing
Having spent the last four posts talking about childhood reading in general, it seems appropriate to move onto this. Those familiar with the Jesus Storybook Bible will know (and no doubt love) the style. That is easily the best of its kind for young children. Sally Lloyd-Jones and artist Jago have followed up with Thoughts to Make Your Heart Sing. It's ostensibly for children – though it mustn't be reserved only for children. I found it thrilling – having expected just to dip and out, I found myself reading cover to cover.
Struggling to find a New (Sexual) Identity
I read Jenell Williams Paris' remarkable book, The End of Sexual Identity (published by IVP US), over the summer, and have been cogitating on it ever since. It is a brave book, not least because it wouldn't surprise me if it invites potshots (and worse) from all sides. It doesn't take a degree in political science to gather that the cultural climate in the west has shifted significantly in recent years. Read more
The Pop-Culture Game-Changer: Ted Turnau's Popologetics
Every now and then a book comes along which demands serious attention. Ted Turnau's Popologetics is just such a book. I should be up front at this stage and declare that he is a friend, so perhaps some will merely assume this is a question of mutual back-scratching. I can assure you it's not (I've received no commissions… as yet). But still, this is a great book. For a whole range of reasons: it is very readable and lucid; it makes its case with wit and self-deprecating humour; it is a model of how to handle disagreement (theological and otherwise) with great grace and generosity; and it demonstrates extensive appreciation of the field and offers a rich mine of treasure to any reader. Read more
Giving in the Chain Reaction of Divine Grace (2 Cor 9)
The next section in our 2 Corinthians mini-series presented a particular challenge – because the whole section is about giving (in particular, Paul's encouragement of the Corinthians' gift to the famine-starved believers in Judaea). But how do you encourage giving as a good thing to do without it being an arm-twist or guilt trip? Especially when everyone in today's financial climate is stressed about the future. Read more
The Good Friday Resolution and David Hayward's The Narrow Way
Good Friday is a day for reflection.
What happened was wholly the result to Jesus' remarkable but determined obedience. It was no tragic accident; it was no victory for wicked men, nor satanic powers; it was no disaster. It was the plan. That it was an act of obedience is clear from the night before in Gethsemane's Garden, as Jesus couldn't sleep for terror but still he prayed.
Not my will but yours be done. (Luke 22:42) Read more
Power and Weakness, Control and Care within the corporate
We've carried on wending our merry way though Bonhoeffer's Life Together (from which I've posted before) where there have been gems and provocations aplenty. This week, we followed his unpacking of the problems of competitiveness and one-upmanship, as part of his reflections on Luke 9:46. He is entirely realistic. He warns that every single community will always be infected by concerns about 'who is the greatest' – even if the criteria by which we judge greatness differ widely. And this has got me thinking yet again about the problems of power and weakness, control and care in church (issues to which I find myself returning repeatedly on Q). Read more
Spinning an unspinnable message – why bother? A message under Parliament
One or two have asked for this, so here it is: the first of 3 talks given in the gaudy riot of Pugin-inspired colour that is Parliament's Undercroft Chapel. This is a group that meets mostly weekly under Christians in Parliament. The next two are on 15th and 29th November. We'd decided to do 3 sessions from the opening chapters of Paul's extraordinary and thoroughly contemporary first letter to the Corinthian church. Read more
The intrusion of musical grace and Steven Galloway's "The Cellist of Sarajevo"
I don't cry in movies. Sometimes I'd quite like to. But that's a different story. I just don't. Usually. But one of the greatest films of recent years (and that is no hyperbole) made me weep: The Lives of Others. The scene in question is one that affected many other friends similarly. It is the moment when the Stasi agent, Gerd Wiesler, eavesdrops on the playwright Georg Dreyman playing a piano piece given to him by an old friend driven to suicide by being blackballed by the East German officialdom. Read more
Visionary dreamers: how Bonhoeffer warns virtual (and indeed large) churches
OK, I realise that's somewhat anachronistic, not to say speculative. But I'm in a staff small group that's started reading an extraordinary book: Dietrich Bonhoeffer's Life Together. It is dense, blunt but most of all, persuasive. And even though we've only been going at it for a week, it has already stimulated all kinds of interesting discussions. But one of the most challenging ideas from chapter one is his analysis of what he calls 'visionary dreaming'. Read more


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Malvern Elementary School
Malvern Elementary School serves area students in kindergarten through fourth grade. At MES, the students, faculty, and families work together to create a positive and fun learning environment for everyone. When you visit our classrooms or walk our halls, you'll see teachers passionate about teaching and learning, students prideful of their school, and everyone striving for excellence.
Each fall we recognize our students who scored proficient or advanced on the state Benchmark exams. They are awarded medals and certificates for their accomplishments. We are extremely proud of our students and their continued success. The students and staff members are aiming to meet and exceed state standards each and every day!
Our students participate in a comprehensive literacy curriculum during their time at MES. The teachers work daily to ensure that the students in their care are becoming fluent readers and outstanding writers. MES is working hard to make the transition to the Common Core State Standards in both math and literacy. Students, parents, and teachers are working together to build a strong learning foundation that will lead to a smooth transition to the secondary level schools.
MES Volunteer Information
Volunteers are always welcome at Malvern Elementary! Our volunteers help teachers by assembling learning games and take-home books, reading to children, or listening to the children read. Go ahead, learn more about volunteer oppertunities at MES.
Our Watch D.O.G.S. program is a great way to volunteer, too. If you are interested in volunteering at MES, please contact Becky Hedges at firstname.lastname@example.com or call her at (501) 467-3166.
MES Bookfair!
Contact Malvern Elementary School
1807 W. Moline Street
Malvern, AR 72104
(501) 467-3167
Meredith McCormack, Principal
Lillan Harper, Assistant Principal
Website Redesigned by TimTech


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Cassie Performs 'King Of Hearts' On 106 And Park
Who can believe it's already been 6 full years since 'Me & U' blazed up the airwaves and Cassie was being pegged the next big thing in R&B/pop music? Unfortunately, a poor live performance of the song on the '106 & Park' stage went on to derail her entire career for subsequent years, causing her to be more cautious with the music she released and stopping her from doing any more televised performances.
Yesterday, Cassie returned to the stage that defeated her years ago to perform her new club banger 'King Of Hearts' with a bevy of dancers, a new-found stage presence, just the right amount of swagger and more choreography than we expected to see from her. With the help of some back tracking, Cassie sang just about all of her song live and had the '106' crowd going bananas while chanting, 'Go Cassie! Go Cassie!'
Check out the performance and her interview below.


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Over the last few months, we've consolidated at Utopian.net Labs the experimental or open-source scripts and software we work on. Brianna's punbb -> bbpress converter script, for example, has moved into our labs/wordpress project, along with the themes and plugins we've created or modified for the WordPress software.
Tag: bbpress
A Few Moves
Posted by– April 5, 2008


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Our VIPs
|Breanna Booy - Glaslyn, SK
|Playing on a swing set: it's a favourite pastime for many six year olds. Breanna Booy was doing just that on Sept. 21, 2013, when...
|Read More
STARS Career Opportunity
Systems Administrator
Location: Calgary base
Closing Date: Oct 2, 2013
The Systems Administrator is a service oriented technical role that manages and supports the day–to–day operations of the STARS network and systems infrastructure with the goal of maintaining a high level of service availability and customer satisfaction.
In your five (5) years of experience as a Systems Administrator you have supported a medium to large size network of servers in a complex enterprise environment. You have strong experience with VMWare and Storage Area Network (SAN) technologies.
You will bring a high degree of technical troubleshooting, strong documentation skills and passion for your job. You have demonstrated experience working in a virtual server environment supporting; Exchange 2010, Server 2008, Terminal Servers, MS Lync, and applications. You have experience working with network devices, mobile device management, telephony, video and edge devices.
We offer a competitive salary based on education and experience, as well as an excellent organization-paid benefit package with a matched RRSP program.
More importantly, you will be a key member of the STARS organization and a link in our ability to execute our mission of saving lives safely within the chain of survival.
To explore this opportunity further, please submit your resume to email@example.com Close date: October 2, 2013
Additional information
|STARS Recruiting
While we thank everyone for their interest, we are only able to contact applicants selected for an interview. You are encouraged to watch for future opportunities by checking www.stars.ca.
The Shock Trauma Air Rescue Society (STARS) is a charitable non-profit organization that provides a safe, rapid, highly specialized emergency medical transport system for critically ill and injured patients.
STARS is a well recognized leader in critical patient care, rapid transportation, and emergency medical training and education. We have a unique model of community, corporate and government support that has led to an exemplary record of excellence in patient care and continuous innovation.
STARS has flown more than 27,000 missions since 1985, and operates from six bases across Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, including Calgary, Edmonton, Grande Prairie, Regina, Saskatoon and Winnipeg.


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Getting Started
First year students and transfers who are interested in joining the Cooperative Education Program will find the Fall meeting schedule at "How Can You Become a Stevens Co-op Student?". Students are always welcome to stop by the Co-op Office, which is located on the 6th floor of the Howe Center (no appointment is necessary).
General Announcements
Welcome Back Meeting - Thursday, May 21st, 2015 at 4:15 pm in Bissinger Room. Students who are returning from a Spring 2015 assignment and/or who are scheduled to work in Fall 2015 are required to attend this meeting.
Senior Exit Interview - from present through the end of the Spring 2015 semester, each co-op participant from the Class of 2015 meets with a staff member to review their Co-op experience. Bonus: receive your very own co-op senior gift!
Preparing for Interview Day
Resume Review Period - Friday, May 22nd - Thursday, May 28th at noon. Students must have their resumes reviewed and approved by a member of the Co-op staff in anticipation of Co-op Interview Days and work assignments that begin in September 2015.
Resume Due Date and the Lottery - Thursday, May 28th at NOON. All APPROVED resumes on resume paper submitted by the due date are entered into the lottery. At Noon on Thursday, May 28th, a lottery is conducted. The lottery assigns each student a number that determines the order in which he or she will sign up for Co-op Interview Day interviews.
First time co-ops are reminded that ALL freshman requirements (excluding only humanities and gym classes) must be completed, with a minimum gpa of 2.2 or better, and good academic standing (ie, a student must not be on academic probation) is required in order to enter the lottery and interview process for Fall 2015.
Interview Day Sign Ups - Wednesday, June 3rd from Noon - 4:00pm and Friday, June 5th from Noon - 3pm. During the sign-up sessions, students will obtain 2 or more Interview Day interviews. Co-op Interview Day will be held on Friday, June 12th, 2015. Interviews are conducted on this day for students who are scheduled for work assignments that begin in September 2015.
Forms and Documents
The Co-op office takes an active role in ensuring an enjoyable and successful co-op experience. One way of doing so is to monitor student progress using several required documents:
The Co-op Learning Agreement explains what your job entails and list several objectives you hope to complete by the end of the term. It also provides us with your contact information while out on site. This form is due after your first week on the job.
The Snapshot Evaluation gives us an idea of how things are going during those first few weeks. There is a short portion for the student to complete, another for the supervisor. The Snapshot form is due 30 days after your job begins.
The Outcomes Assessment Survey is an online survey that will allow you and your supervisor to review and reflect on your co-op experience:
- What learning opportunities did the job provide?
- How prepared were you?
- How does you supervisor rate your performance?
The comments section provides you with an additional opportunity to offer personal insight into the job experience. This form is part of Stevens overall assessment process. The information will be shared with Deans, academic departments and faculty. Confidentiality will be respected. The Outcomes Assessment is due in the final weeks of your co-op term.
The Outcomes Assessment Survey is an online survey. Towards the end of your co-op assignment, the co-op office will send a link to both student and supervisor to allow access to the online survey. The survey must be submitted online.


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Register now for free, or sign in with any of these services:
Want to set your local edition?
Select an edition for more focused local news coverage when you visit NOLA.com.
Don't worry. You can change this setting at any time to another local edition.
In regaurds to the cable gaurdrail.My idea would be to lower the speed limit to a safer speed where vehicle accidents were minimized.
"plucked from lake after boating accident" What is that?
Chris's Drink knowledge is amazing
Go Mrs Schexnaydre ! I am so glad to see fresh blood and someone who has "nothing to do". Hopefully she will have enough time to stay on top of everything going on in St. Charles parish. She said in her campaign that she would stop wasteful spending. It is good to see a politician walking the walk.


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Woman In Taiwan Charges Her Husband $66 For Sex Because He Parties Too Much
Chen likes to party, probably a little too much. This Taiwanese truck driver often ignored his fiscal responsibility to his family, blowing all of his money at clubs with his friends instead.
Meanwhile, his wife worked full-time but couldn't shoulder the bills without some contributions from Chen. So, she devised a financial plan of her own, using sex as leverage. For every time the couple slept together, she charged Chen $66 dollars.
This new familial arrangement worked well for a time, but then Chen got fed up with paying his wife for physical pleasures and involved the authorities. Probably not his wisest decision.
Now, Chen is paying $660 a month in legally-required familial support, but at least his wife agreed to stop charging him for sex. His wife definitely got what she was looking for, but I wonder if Chen is saving any money under the new deal.
Only time will tell, but considering what marriages cost a lot of people, maybe Chen actually had it pretty easy. Others may not pay it directly, but some people hold out sex from their significant others for personal gain. For now, let's just marvel in this animated telling of the story, courtesy of Tomo News US:
via Tomonews, Top Photo Credit: Shutterstock


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Dinner with Vanessa from BozAround!
Our friend Vanessa Boz from the wonderful and inspirational travel blog BozAround lives in London with her husband and their two children Marcelo (6) and Amalya (3). And she's due to have her third baby in less than two weeks!! We're super excited to share her dinner time post with you.
I love to eat good food, but I've never been what you'd call a good cook. I think I've been too spoiled by my French-Italian mother who is such an excellent one and would put the best meals on the table in no time. Only now that I have become a mother myself do I realise the importance of mastering a few quick recipes to make the family happy. By the way, last time I asked my husband if he could cook some pasta for the children, he asked me 'how do I do that' (does this answer your question on whether cooking is a shared responsibility in the Boz family?!!) When my son Marcelo was born 6 years ago, I started a cookbook of my personal favourite recipes, cutting from magazines whatever seems easy and appetising, ringing my mom to walk me through some of her staples (I've noticed that she always omits one or two little but key-to-deliciousness ingredients. She swears she does not do it deliberately but I think it's a typical good cook trick!!). (more…)
Dinner with Josephine Murray from Rain Starts Play
Josephine Murray lives in Malvern (UK) with her husband Ken and their 2-year-old daughter Kirstie. Josephine has just launched the charming kids' webshop, rain starts play, which sells British and European clothes, toys and nursery furnishings all made as locally and ethically as possible. Here is her dinnertime story:
During the week Kirstie and I eat by ourselves because my husband gets home from work too late to eat with us. We try to eat about 6pm, any later and Ken might arrive home when we're still there at 7pm, so he can bring new energy to what can sometimes be a bit of a battle of wills! Kirstie will not touch some foods, like rice and carrots, others she will eat one day – but not another. Our staple dinners are cauliflower cheese or fishfingers with potatoes and vegetables, sphagetti bolognaise and tomato and red lentil dhal with naan breads – which Kirstie loves even though it's really spicy. We don't eat puddings very often –if we do it's icecream – but if she's still hungry (or won't eat her dinner) she has blueberries or a banana. (more…)
Dinner Time With Melanie from Expat Mummy In Berlin
Melanie is a British stay-at-home mum to 2-year-old son Noah. She lives in Berlin, having relocated from Copenhagen at the end of 2011, and she shares her experiences about Berlin on her blog, Expat Mummy in Berlin. She's also the Berlin ambassador of Luvaville.com. Here is her dinnertime story!
Noah loves food and is willing to try almost anything at least once. His favourite food is anything Italian or with good strong flavours. Noah eats his dinner around 5pm during the week. I am a stay-at-home mum so dinner is a pretty relaxed affair and I usually make something from scratch or defrost something we batch made like vegetable pasta sauce or homemade chicken fingers. Sometimes if I am feeling lazy, he will have gnocchi with pesto, olives and little cocktail sausages! We are moving towards eating less meat so Noah will have a vegetarian meal every few days with something like organic chicken or teriyaki salmon on the other days. I will join him for a snack at this time and, as my husband gets in after 6pm, we have dinner together later in the evening once Noah is asleep. As Noah gets older we will all eat together a bit later for him and a bit earlier for us. (more…)
Dinner with Marika from A Not So Ordinary Mum
Marika is a friend of mine who lives in London. She lives in a gorgeous home with the most beautiful and well-planned kitchen (I totally copied her kitchen when doing ours up a couple years ago!). She is also one of the best and most devoted mama chefs I know. Every night she serves her family a home-cooked, well-rounded, delicious meal. Majorly impressive! I'm excited to share her dinner story with you…
Sometimes it seems like my whole life is centred around food. Between blogging about my cooking endeavours, feeding family and friends and going out to eat, all I seem to do is cook and eat! It is no surprise therefore that I take my kids and their eating very seriously too! Although my husband and the girls love to bake I am completely in charge of the cooking in my house which makes my life much easier to organise!
I tend to do a lot of the cooking for the week on a Monday. I always spend the day with my mum so she helps me out with the food shopping, the prep and also the clean-up which is amazing and having a day put aside once a week to be with her is a real treat for both of us! We usually make a soup, roast some vegetables, I will have something marinating and I would have usually baked something too. I seem to have a bit of an open door policy at my house and there is a contestant stream of people needing to be fed and knowing that would I like to live that way I built a big kitchen and bought a huge cooker! Often I have all six burners going at once! (more…)
Dinner with Lindsey from Urban Mums
Lindsey is our very cute friend from London and the brilliant mind behind the stylish Urban Mums blog, where she shares her favourite finds in the city. She lives in St John's Wood with her kids Isobel (6), Oliver (4) and her husband Alan. And she's currently pregnant with baby number 3 due this summer! Here is her dinnertime story.
Oh, dinnertime. Sometimes it goes surprisingly well and other times I am at my wit's end. I do enjoy cooking and trying new recipes, but I really dread the evenings when I'm coaxing my children to stay in their seats and finish their food!
We eat around 6 during the week, so the kids and I usually eat dinner before my husband returns from work. This means I cook during the week, and my husband cooks more on the weekend. We don't do separate meals, so whatever we're eating, the kids are eating, even if it means making a few modifications (i.e. taming spices, swapping an ingredient, etc). I try to make them at least try something before I give up and make them a sandwich!
When it's sunny outside, we go to the park or zoo straight after school and play with friends until 5 or so. Then it's a rush home to prepare a quick dinner. My go-to meal on those days is usually homemade macaroni and cheese (simplest cheese sauce ever — it's usually done before the pasta is finished boiling), and some steamed veggies (sometimes a salad for me, too). If I'm really on top of my game during the week (and 90% of the time this is NOT the case!), I prep before the last school pick-up, so the final stages of dinner will take little time to throw together. (more…)
Dinner with artist Sarah Adams
Sarah Adams is an American artist living in London who focuses her work on family portrait paintings. I recently had the pleasure of seeing her amazing work last month at her exhibition on 'Family Dinners' in Covent Garden. I was intrigued by her interest in family dinnertime (which quite perfectly matches our recent dinnertime series) and really liked the honesty of her paintings — she captures what dinnertime is really like for most families (see painting below — don't you completely empathise with the emotions of that mother?!). Sarah is happy to commission her work if you're interested in having your dinnertime captured. She also paints other scenarios (I'm hoping to commission a painting of my children on the beach! More about that later!) Visit her website for more details on commissioning a painting of your own. And here is her dinnertime story:
During the normal working week, dinnertime in our house signals the beginning to the bedtime routine – first dinner, then bath, then stories, then bed. It has never been that whimsical moment where everyone sits down together to enjoy each other's company at the end of the day, smiling and passing bread.
Over the last couple of years, I've attempted to document our dinnertime experiences because I was confused to why it was not the idyllic episode my mum friends were claiming to have – 'oh my daughter eats everything.' 'I make it fresh every night.' I find it discouraging when you spend a lot of time preparing food that is not going to be eaten by a child who is going through a 'beige phase' – pasta, cereal, hummus, bread. In the recent past, dinnertime has been a chore. (more…)
Dinner with Lara from Big Blue Cuddle
Lara Soetekouw is Italian and lives in Fulham (London, UK) together with her three kids Giacomo (8), Livia (6) and Giulia (4), and her Dutch husband Arjen. She's the owner of the brilliant online boutique Big Blue Cuddle, where at least 15% of the profits is directly donated to a charity — that's shopping for a good cause! Here is her dinnertime story.
My husband and I both love food. We love shopping for it, we love cooking it and we love eating it. So naturally we try to instil the same love in our children. Consequently, our son (8) and 2 daughters (6 and almost 4), are dragged to markets and shops, are often happy to help out in the kitchen and are encouraged to at least taste everything we put in front of them.
I try to be adventurous in what I cook for them and give them a lot of variety. I dream of making them stir fry noodles, meet stews with fruit (e.g. pork with prunes), fish cakes, risotti and minestrone, and I do, but the reality is that last night's leftovers, pasta al pesto and just-about-anything-with-hummus are big favourites! Especially during our hectic week.The kids take turns setting the table and every single meal ends with a piece of fruit and often a yogurt. The biggest challenge is to make them stay at the table until everybody has finished, particularly as we have both the quickest and the slowest eaters in the universe in the same family.
We have adopted the English schedule of feeding the kids around 5:30 (ridiculously early for Italian standards. "That's snack time!" my friends tease me) and of having a quiet and civilised grown-up dinner for the 2 of us around 8pm when the kids are tucked in bed. My husband gets home from work only in time to read them a short story and kiss the children good night, if he's lucky, but we take turns cooking our dinner (lucky me!).
On Sunday evenings, we all have an early dinner together and I have no doubt that soon we'll start doing that more often. Though I must say that I really enjoy our quiet and civilised tête-à-tête, even if sometimes it means I have cooked 2 meals in one evening! On week-ends, I finally have the opportunity to experiment and involve the children in the cooking. I have now trained the 3 of them so well they can make simple fresh homemade pasta, such as tagliatelle or dinosaurs (using cookie cutters), almost without my help! I try to cook big portions so that there will be leftovers to serve during the week. During the Easter holidays, for example, we made falafels. I rejoiced at the idea of the children eating more pulses, and they had fun shaping them and rolling them in sesame seeds. I also made a leg of lamb, some couscous (full of raisins, which they adore) and okra beans, then the whole gorgeous meal was greeted at the table by a chorus of "I don't liiiiiiike it!".
Pasta con le zucchine (Pasta with courgettes):
A super simple recipe for don't-have-time-to-cook evenings
- Cut 1 or 2 zucchini/courgette into cubes
- Add to a large pan of boiling salted water
- Boil for about 5 minutes than add the pasta to the same water
- When the pasta is cooked, drain everything and dress it with plenty of butter and parmesan cheese (and pepper for grown ups)
- Serve immediately
The zucchini/courgette will fall apart and become like a cream. How long you need to cook them before adding the pasta depends on how big you've cut them. Even with the courgettes way overcooked it is nice, so don't worry too much about it. This has been a big favourite in our family, for both children and grown-ups, for generations.
Dinner with Laura from Lettie Belle
Laura Marsden lives in Hatfield (UK) together with her husband Nick and her 3-year-old daughter Scarlett. Laura designs unique lifestyle accessories, all handmade and gorgeous (for kids' rooms as much as for adult interiors), which she sells in her sweet boutique Lettie Belle. Here is her dinnertime story!
Food plays a big part in our family life, but having a 3-year -old means we don't always experience meal times together. During the week, my husband usually gets home from work between 7-8pm. This is too late for dinner as a family, but he usually does story time. I sit with Scarlett at the table in the kitchen/diner while she eats dinner at around 5pm. She has a very healthy appetite, and snacks on fruit, nuts and raisins during the day (as well as odd treats). By dinner time she can be quite tired, so although she will sit down, it can take a long time for her to finish!
Luckily Scarlett will try anything and loves strong flavours. She prefers a choice of foods on her plate, rather than a one-pot dish. So, typically she will have pasta or chicken/fish/omelette with two types of vegetables such as home-made potato/butternut squash wedges, peas and she has cucumber batons with every meal! Some fruit, yoghurt or a lolly finish off her dinner with something sweet. We have recently gone through a phase of lolly-obsession, which made dinner rather prolonged! Scarlett loves to pick herbs from the garden to put on her dinner, and her Grandparents have a big vegetable/fruit patch so she has a good understanding of where some food comes from. (more…)
Dinner with Irene from Bloesem Kids
Irene Hoofs is the creative brain behind two of our favourite blogs: Bloesem Living and Bloesem Kids. She always digs up the most beautiful finds, and her blogs are full of inspiration. Irene lives in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia with her husband Rik and their two cute sons Lode and Kiet. Here is her dinnertime story!
In my house we have dinner in 'shifts'. We are all together, my two boys, my husband and I, but the boys have dinner first around 5:30pm or so while my husband and I sit at the table or kitchen countertop to have a drink and a snack. We have an open kitchen that directly connects to the dining area. Since we both work full-time, this is our moment to blow off a bit of steam and share the day's war stories. After the kids have gone to bed around 7:30pm we sit down and have a quiet dinner, sometimes with friends or family who are visiting us in Malaysia. All sounds pretty organized? Not so organized actually; getting the boys to sit still for more than a few minutes and finish their dinner is quite a challenge! As a measure of last resort, we promise a reward, mostly ice-cream or a frozen yogurt-stick, if they finish their veggies. What is a mom to do?
My secret weapon, chef and backbone of the household, is lovely Ruth. Ruth is our live-in nanny and cook in Kuala Lumpur. She is simply amazing. Ruth left Myanmar when she was 15 years old and has been working as a private cook since. First, ten years with families in Bangkok and now she has been with us for almost a year. We are very lucky to have her and enjoy Thai cuisine every day; she also makes wonderful what she calls "non-spicy and a bit boring Western" dishes, such as Shepherd's pie and lasagna. Ruth's homemade secret recipe spring rolls are to die for! As you know, it is quite common in Asia to have a live-in nanny. To me, living in Malaysia without the support network of my family in the Netherlands close by, having a trusted pair of hands to help run the household is truly a blessing, allowing me to work at home and run my Bloesem blogs.
Of course, I do dabble in the kitchen myself in the weekends and make a few decent Italian dishes. I really envy the Italians, such a beautiful tradition of food and family dinners. So I try to instill a bit of that traditional family dinner culture in my house – time out for all to simply enjoy mom's home cooking. If I don't feel like cooking in the weekends, we eat out in one of the many restaurants in Kuala Lumpur; our favorite one, Chinoz, is only a short walk from where we live; they make excellent fresh sushi that even the boys enjoy; their favorite is the "cucumber maki". Eating out with the entire family, including young kids or babies is a very normal thing to do in Malaysia and most restaurants are fully equipped with baby chairs, coloring sets and all sorts of other distractions for the kids to help them sit through a long dinner. This is one of the things I like about Asia: kids are allowed everywhere, all the time, the more the merrier.
Thank you ladies from Babyccino for this lovely invitation. I simply love Babyccino and all the inspiring things you do so it is a treat for me to be a guest here. xxirene
Last but not least a recipe… well actually I don't really have one. But here at BKids you can find some handy ones!
Dinner with Jordan from Oh Happy Day
Jordan Ferney from Oh Happy Day is one of the most creative people we know. Her blog is super inspiring, and we love her adventurous nature — she recently spent a year living in Paris with her husband, Paul (an artist), and their two cute boys Moses and Roman. Here is her dinnertime story!
My husband Paul and I both work and we both share the childcare responsibilities. I do the menu planning and a big grocery trip once a week while he does the small trips through out the week. Our dinnertime happens about 7pm. Paul cooks dinner most of the time. But I do the prep work for dinner in the morning after breakfast. I hate that feeling late in the day of having to prepare dinner but you don't have any food or ideas. So I eliminate it by preparing food in the morning. Then Paul just has to throw it together.
My kids are still small (2 and 4) but we try to all sit down for dinner together in the dining room. We don't have any real rules but the kids have to at least try the main course to be polite. There are certain vegetables my kids love like fresh peas and haricot verts so we usually have a side of those and then make sure there is some sort of protein. One of the best things about France is the bread and cheese so we have a baguette and cheese with our dinner most nights. About once a week we do green smoothies. Our kids love them and it's our last resort for getting vitamins in our kids when they are feeling picky. (Basic recipe is: 2 bananas, 1 cup of orange juice, ice, 1/2 cup plain yogurt, and two giant handfulls of baby green spinach and water as needed to blend.) Since we moved to France we don't do take out very often but we do have regular easy meals like one night a week where we buy a rotisserie from our local butcher. And when the weather is nice we grab a pizza on Fridays and go to the park across the street from our house for a picnic. Besides that we eat lots of soups and bean and vegetable salads. I'm really inspired by 101 Cookbooks and Ottolenghi Cookbooks. I usually prepare a salad in the morning then we eat it for lunch or as a side dish for dinner. My favorite salad is this lentil salad. I make it 2-3 times a week. It's so good, simple and fresh.
– Jordan
Dinner with Zoe from Zoe & Drew
Zoe Grant studied Creative Arts at Birmingham University, and loves creating and designing and has a passion for prints and patterns. She, her husband Drew and their five (!) children (Connor (13), Jack (12), Lucy (11), Amber (9) and Kitty(5)) all live in a little village in Suffolk, UK. We're so impressed that Zoe still finds time to write her blog Zoe & Drew! Here is her dinnertime story.
Dinnertimes for me, in our house are the most important time of the day. It is the time when we all catch up on each others days and also helps my children to take turns in conversations. With five children life can be incredibly chaotic, especially during the week with Brownies, Guides, orchestra practices and sports matches. However apart from Tuesdays we manage to eat as a family everyday, with the occasional exception. We eat between 6 and 6.30pm everyday, which may seem a little late as our youngest is only five but with a healthy snack after school to stop the tummy rumbles, Kitty is more than happy to wait to eat all together. (more…)
Dinner with Elizabeth from Babyccino Kids
Elodie and I have a ritual of going to the sunday farmer's market to get fruits, vegetables, and flowers for the following week. I tell her I am on the lookout for a bunch of beets or some mandarins and she gets so excited with this game of treasure hunt. My husband travels a lot for work but when he is home we definitely eat together. Elodie loves choosing the napkins for the table every night and is always in the kitchen helping me put together the evening's meal.
Living in Southern California means we eat a lot of mexican food and when I'm a little rushed I turn to my go-to meal of quesadillas or molitas (recipe below), black beans and rice with a salad on the side. We mainly prepare vegetarian dishes at home and save the meat eating for dinners out. We try and use whole grain tortillas such as ezekiel rather than flour tortillas as they have loads more fiber and protein. We sometimes have black beans with just a dash of cumin and salt in them for added flavor or i will make an avocado and black bean salad. A simple pear, strawberries or whatever is in season works for dessert!
We make it a point to feed Elodie the same food we are eating. She eats a wide variety of cuisines because of this and hasn't really said no to anything just yet. Still, getting a toddler to eat at dinnertime can be quite challenging. Someone recently said told me, "It's not what they eat in a day but what they eat in a week that counts" which has helped me to relax a bit but i'm still known to bribe her every once in a while!
- 2 teaspoons vegetable oil (anything that can handle heat, like canola)
- pinch of kosher or sea salt
- 2 taco sized corn tortillas (2 for every molita)
- 1/4 cup grated Monterey Jack cheese
- 1/2 cup beans (refried, whole, or black beans)
- 1/2 cup fresh white corn (optional)
- 1/4 cup spanish rice
Heat a cast-iron skillet, flat griddle, or other frying pan over medium heat.
Sprinkle the cheese on one tortilla and top it with a 1 1/2 tablespoons each of rice, beans and corn.
Cover the bottom tortilla with the top one.
Brush one side with the oil and put that side down in the skillet, then brush the other side with oil.
Cook for several minutes on each side, until it is developing beautiful crispy brown spots.
Avocado Black Bean Salad
- 1 tablespoon lime juice or vinegar
- 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 can (14–19 ounces) black beans, drained
- 1/4 green bell pepper, finely chopped
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoons chopped cilantro
- 1 avocado (8 ounces), cubed
- ground black pepper optional
Place the lime juice or vinegar in a large bowl and gradually whisk in the oil. Stir in the beans, bell pepper, garlic, salt, and black pepper (if using). Taste and add more lime juice or vinegar if you like. Stir in the cilantro. Add cubes of avocado just before serving.
– Elizabeth
Dinner with Sarah from Nyom Nyoms
Sarah from Nyom Nyoms is a full time mummy of 2 little children, Noah (6) and Matilda (4). She lives in Bushey (about 20-30 minutes outside of London), and is passionate about children's clothing and interiors, and easy-to-prepare dishes. Here is her dinnertime story!
Ok…let me begin this by saying that when I was asked by Esther to guest post my dinnertime rituals, I was thrilled!! So that night, when pesto pasta was on the menu, the camera came out hoping I could get some great snapshots. The kids were enthusiastic to help. Fantastic, I thought, I should get some fab pictures! Then within the next 10 mintutes my son Noah smashed one of my favourite glasses after I'd told him to calm down for about the fifth time, one of the cats was sick over the kitchen floor and the pan of water cooking the pasta boiled over and put out the gas on the hob….which I hadn't noticed!! I became monster mummy!!!! Aggghhhhhh!!! Of course it isn't always like this, but some days it is… (more…)
Dinner with Joslyn from Shak-Shuka
Before she had her two children, Joslyn Oppenheimer was a professional chef. But she had to think of a career change after her first baby was born: late nights were spent breastfeeding and not at the stovetop of a restaurant! And thus, she started the wonderful and well-known online eco boutique, Shak-Shuka. Joslyn currently lives in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, with her husband, two children (Uma (4 years old) and Zev (4 months old)), and a giant St. Bernard dog. Here is her dinnertime story!
Even being a trained chef, I find dinner time to feel like a battle: me versus the gastronomic enemies ahead. At one meal I have to think about a meat-loving husband, a vegetable-despising child, and a veggie me – all while caring for a newborn baby! At times, I like to imagine what we look like as I'm preparing dinner (picture it: child running around in a tutu while the baby cries and I'm cooking and rocking the stroller with my back side!) and I just have to laugh and give in. I think if you give into the chaos and not try and fight it (ie – control it like I think we want to do) then it works out better and you might even have fun. (more…)
Dinner with Celina from Babyccino Kids
Ah yes, dinner at the RDM family can be the greatest time of the day or the most stressful one! Either we are all sitting at the dining room table and finding out how everyone's day went or it's that time of day where I use my bargaining powers, false promises and even blackmail desperately trying to get my kids to stay seated and eat!!! Honestly, the stress starts even before then, I like to think I'm a creative person, but when it comes to cooking I lack all imagination, I don't even like to do the groceries. To top it off, my kids have opposite tastes and they both don't like potatoes, so I can't stuff them with all that starch! Lastly, my husband doesn't cook at all, so it's all up to me; at least he does all the cleaning up…
On the weekdays, I usually pick the kids up from daycare around 5PM and by the time we walk home it's usually 5:30PM, so while the kids play I try to cook some dinner, it has to be something relatively easy and quick. My kids have a snack at school around 3:30 and they get pretty hungry around 6PM. My husband doesn't get home until 6:45, so usually by the time we start eating, the kids are having their desert. Thursdays, it's just the kids and me, so I try to make something they really enjoy, like pasta or grilled cheese. Fridays we alternate and eat at my mom's or my in-laws and finally, the weekends are pretty chill, we sometimes eat out, order in, eat leftovers or frozen pizzas and sometimes I'll make crepes.
My daughter is a "snacker", she would rather eat a little all day while standing up (don't ask!), and she could live on bread and butter, cheese and ice cream! She doesn't like pizza, she doesn't love pasta and I need to cut her grilled cheese in cute shapes, like a bunny for her to eat it, she has just started to eat meat and some chicken, but at least she likes fish. One meal both my kids enjoy is toasted bagels with cream cheese and smoked salmon, and I usually serve that with some fresh veggies and avocado.
My son on the other hand could eat pasta every night… He enjoys beef fajitas, pizza, grilled cheese and any type of raw vegetable; fish on the other hand he has a hard time with. If the kids want dessert, which usually consists of yogurt, applesauce or some type of berries, then they must eat a little and try at least one bite of whatever is on their plate. Dessert is always a great motivation or bargaining tool in my home!
The one meal the whole family can agree on is Spinach Quiche. This is pretty easy to make and you can substitute the spinach for so many different ingrdients such as mushrooms, asparagus, ham, olives… The kids will have some veggies with their quiche and us grown-ups will have a tomato and mozarella salad or a green salad of some sort.
Here's my QUICHE recipe…
Dinner with Stephanie from Babyccino Kids
We try and sit down at 6:00pm everynight and have a family dinner. I would like to be able to have it earlier during the week but my husband doesn't get home until 6:00pm and I think its important that he gets to have dinner with the kids and we can all talk about our day. We always have dinner at the dinner table. Our dining room is off the kitchen and has windows that completely open all around it so in the summer we have the windows open so it feels like we are outside. It's a really relaxed place to eat. I love it!
Dinner is usually fuss free in our house. I don't spend a lot of time preparing dinner and we mostly eat homemade food. If we have take-away we would buy fish and chips. My husband makes a mean pizza which is far better than a take-away pizza so if we feel like pizza we would have homemade. Eating out in New Zealand is expensive so for us we only eat out for special occasions. I have no problem with taking the kids to a restaurant though as we would often take them out when we lived in Holland and they are well behaved (most of the time!).
We are quite strict on manners at the table and the kids have to ask to leave the table. They also have to eat everything on their plate. Unless they really don't like it and they have at least tried it. My daughter will eat pretty much anything (except lettuce!) but my son is a bit more picky. He is getting better the older he gets though. If they don't eat much dinner they know there is no more food until the morning. The kids usually have plain unsweetened yoghurt with chocolate sprinkles for dessert. In the weekends we may have ice-cream as a treat. (more…)
Dinner with Emilie from Babyccino Kids
For us dinner can be the best of times and it can be the worst of times…. For my daughters and I, it is such an important moment to catch up after a long day. It can also be a moment of frustration,when 3 tired females have different opinions on how the meal is supposed to go down and what is edible and what isn't…
As I work full time, I only pick the kids up from school at 6pm, so it is a mad rush getting home, getting a meal ready, doing homework, squeezing in a bath and a bedtime story. I try to pre-cook at least 3 meals during the weekend, so I don't have to think when I get home during the week. Big favorites are lasagne (a simplified variation on this one) and shepherd's pie (with as many vegetables squeezed in as possible) and all sorts of soups (from vegetable to chicken noodle) — basically dishes which can be easily re-heated. I also often pre-make some pasta sauces in big batches and freeze them.
A BIG treat is crepes: the girls get the toppings ready while I make the batter and everyone is allowed to put together their own concoctions. Last time we did it, Violette insisted on a houmous and tomato crepe…. who can argue with that? I think I it is even possible to pre-make to batter the night before but I have never tried this! I do usually serve up a grated carrot salad first, as there is very little interest in vegetables once the crepes are ready. I do think that kids will survive if they don't always get a freshly cooked meal made from scratch. Scrabbled eggs with toast and a salad is totally ok, too. The girls are given a fairly healthy 3 course meal for school lunch here in France, so I feel that dinner can be simpler. (more…)
Dinner with Courtney from Babyccino Kids
I am going to admit straight away that I actually don't really love dinner time. In fact, I sometimes even dread it. My kids are tired, my patience is usually gone by then, and trying to keep three kids at the table until they finish their dinner is exhausting (remember this post?). I'm also not like Esther — I'm not super passionate about cooking. I mean, I do it… but it's not something that I really love (my husband is the passionate chef in the family). But, I think dinnertime is incredibly important for a family, and the lessons of sitting at the table together, using proper table manners, trying different foods, taking turns in the dinnertime conversation, etc. are all such important lessons to teach our children.
During the week, I usually make the kids their dinner and serve it to them around 6ish. I usually give them a bath before dinner, so they eat dinner in their pyjamas (see photo), and then when my husband comes home around 7pm, he can read them a book and put them to bed. I usually make something simple for them or I give them the left-overs from our dinner the night before. My kids are pretty good eaters, although there are some meals which go down better than others (pasta is usually a winner). After dinner I usually let the kids have a little square of chocolate if they've eaten their dinner. We're not big dessert people, but we do like our chocolate! (more…)
Dinner with Esther from Babyccino Kids
Dinner time usually occurs around 6.30 pm in our house, because that's when my husband comes home from work. Cooking is my thing — my husband usually takes care of breakfast (I'm worthless in the morning!), but dinner-time cooking is my task and I wouldn't have it any other way.
I love to cook, I love the creativity of it! With three little and hungry children it's not always a relaxing time though, so I often turn on a movie when I start to cook so they can relax a bit and I can focus on what needs to happen in the kitchen. Or, when I have enough patience and time, they like to give me a hand. Six-year-old Sara already makes a fantastic salad Caprese, and Pim (5) is quite proficient at slicing cucumbers and other salad ingredients. I also quite often ask our nanny Katherina to stick around 'til my husband gets home to help me keep little Ava (1) entertained. This is a huge help and it makes this time of day much more pleasant than what it used to look like: me cooking with an upset, crying one-year-old on my arm, and often ending up overly tired, frustrated and angry. Not worth it!
Because I work full-time and often don't start cooking until 5.30 or 6 pm, I usually cook something within an hour, or even half an hour. But since my work is fairly flexible, on occasions I am able to prepare dinner beforehand and I can make more time-consuming dishes. Sometimes I've had such a crazy day and I'm un-inspired to cook, and we order in: usually pizza, Thai food, or sushi (our favourite!). Or we prepare an easy dinner like cheese fondue (exception to the homemade rule: this comes from a package — always handy to keep in the fridge for an easy and quick dinner that we all love). On weekends, we occasionally take the kids to a restaurant, a treat! (more…)
Dinnertime Series
Dinner time can be a stressful time when you're a parent. The kids are hungry and tired, YOU're hungry and tired, but dinner needs to be served in order to bring the day to a good end. How do other people handle this time a day? Do they cook in advance, do they order in, do they organise help… What do they cook? Could they share an easy recipe?
Because of our rather curious nature, we decided to start a little series called 'Dinner with…', where we will invite other mums (or dads) to share their dinnertime with us. But to be fair, first we'll give a peek into our dinner rituals ourself. I'll go first! Hope you love our new series!


text:
Below is the poem entitled The Fortress which was written by poet
Kevin C.
Martin. Please feel free to comment on this poem. However, please remember, PoetrySoup is a place of encouragement and growth.
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Kevin C. Martin
This fortress is coming down;
It's been a long time in the making.
This bastion can't hold its own;
All these walls are shaking.