My Wreef

Yesterday the girls and I had some fun shopping at Michael's. Maxine gnawed on a wooden cat figurine while Raquel and I chose fixins for our Autumn wreath to go on our front door at home. She chose the crab apples and the sunflower. We like the way it turned out but I'd actually like to do another one, a silly one without pretty faux flowers but rather with little turkeys, pumpkins and other cute fall-ish items. We could put it on the inside of the front door and gaze upon it all day if we want.

For now, we like this wreath and will enjoy it every time we walk up to the front door.

Horror: My Little Pony 2009

Have you walked through the toy section lately? Hasbro has redesigned the regular My Little Pony line and the result is a pony-like alien species sporting big frying-pan eyes, lollipop heads, skinny bodies and overall nothing like the originals. I'm very, very bothered by this. Their faces are smashed in, as if to appear more humanoid because, of course, it's every little girl's dream that ponies will look more like human babies with four legs and 0% body fat. Oh yeah, the torso of the ponies has shrunk down to almost nothing. Their ankles have more width than their mid-section. I am disgusted.

*Click here to see the new ponies*

Why should I care so much? My 5-year-old is a MLP fanatic. She mostly collects the Ponyville series which are miniature ponies with little houses and accessories (surely taking after The Littlest Pet Shop) but she also has a lot of original MLP from the 1980s and a few ponies from recent years. The subliminal messages she would get from these revamped ponies is not one of natural beauty, humility and health--these new ponies, if that's what they even are, tell little girls to dumb-it-down, strive for a waistline tinier than an ankle, wear too much eye make-up, make sure your pupils are always dilated to the point of no return (and you know what it takes to dilate pupils...), be annoyingly cheerful 24/7 no matter how you really feel inside, be obnoxious about being "cute", in fact, be OBSESSED with it. The list could go on. You could even say the smashed-in pony muzzles might send the message to girls that having a nose is only for ugly people.

The original ponies (as above) were not malnourished, happy-go-lucky idiots. They looked, well, nice. They looked gentle and calm. Their proportions were closer to normal if not chubbier than a real-life pony. This was charming, lovable, respectable and marketable because they looked like ponies while maintaining a delicate cartoony quality that made them a toy instead of just a figurine.

A most important aspect of the originals was their inherent humility. Humility is no longer a virtue for kids these days. They don't even know they're being robbed of this crucial personality trait. It is evident in today's popular toys. Show me a current popular toy that looks humble. Show me a current popular toy that looks sober even. Show me a doll that doesn't have giant eyes and dilated pupils surrounded by inexplicable crystalline sparkles.

I don't have a new pony in front of me but if I did I could pinpoint even more disgusting changes. Go to the toy section and take a look for yourself.

Updates Grab Bag

This is Westminster Presbyterian Church-- the back of it, anyways. Maxine and I were walking last Friday and took several pictures of it. It looks best in sepia, I think.

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Raquel stayed at her great-grandparents' house last week from Monday to Saturday. Poor Grandma! Not only is Raquel relentless with activity and conversation, which is more than enough for a great-grandma to handle, but also Grandpa was feeling ill the entire time Raquel was there. So Grandma had no help at all with Raquel and no time to herself either. Wow! She did say that Raquel was very well-behaved and of course taking care of a well-behaved child is tons easier than the alternative. This was Raquel's first time spending that many nights away from home and not to my surprise, she never got homesick. Jose, Maxine and I had a nice quiet week. To me, the peace was very refreshing. Thank you SO much, Grandma Emma.

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I found these sweet potato fries in the frozen food section at Target a few weeks ago and I'm hooked. They are healthy enough for me to eat and stay on my diet and I'm so glad because they are delicious. Maxine really enjoys them, too. It has to be this particular brand though because the other sweet potato fries are covered in an evil batter. These are innocent and plain.

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This is my second week of school and I'm so glad this class is only five weeks long. I highly prefer to do my own work but in this class we "pair up" or get into groups of three DAILY. I am against compromising the level of work I do for a grade but in groups you cannot avoid this. Being paired with people who cannot write in complete sentences quietly frustrates me. But the teacher did say last week that she does not grade on spelling and grammar and that she is only concerned with our critical reading skills. So, technically, it doesn't matter but it still REALLY GETS TO ME.

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How do you throw a party for your kids' birthdays, invite everyone you know and not get caught up in the stress of planning? If you know how, I am seriously asking! I feel like if things aren't perfect then I might as well not do them at all. There is no changing that about me. So I guess I'm probably doomed to feel this way every year around this time! And then when the party's over, I'll be fine.

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And here is a snapshot of Maxine dancing to her new favorite dvd, Rufus Wainwright at the Fillmore. Yep, she's got taste. I'm telling you she stares at him singing and it even calms her down when she's cranky.

Backpacks Are Unfashionable

I just don’t want to look like a turtle, OK? But after my first three days of school, carrying a folder, a dictionary, a big text book, a notebook, a journal, a sweater and my purse, and walking to and from my car parked at least 4 blocks away from campus (on purpose for exercise) I went and bought myself a bag (not a backpack) I found on clearance at Target. I can’t wait to see how it feels to walk all that way and have fairly free arms and hands.

School is fun, so far. I’m just taking an English class right now for that’s all that was left by the time I registered. It is transferrable to any university, not a prerequisite or a just-for-fun course, so that makes it feel even more worthwhile. I have to admit, I am surprised at how remedial the work has been these first three days. Yes, we have had homework every night and we also do writing assignments in class daily but it’s all easy stuff, like a high school class—“Ok, partner up with someone and answer the questions on page 248” (ugh, I’m not a fan of partnering up in class), or “Who would like to read the next paragraph?”. We answer tons of true-or-false and multiple choice questions, as if the teacher only wants to know that we’re reading the passages she assigns. Just like high school. The class is only five quick weeks long and I can’t help but wonder if and when it’s going to get challenging. Maybe this is exactly what I need to ease myself back into studentry.

(that's the Pasadena Public Library)
Since when does it cost $14 for a paperback novel? It seems like yesterday I paid about $4.95. Those days are over. Well, I’m not paying that much for a paperback. Thanks for my new library card, Pasadena! By the way, this library reminds me of the one in Ghostbusters! I want to start spending more (alone) time there. Raquel is spending the week at her great-grandparent’s house. I dropped her off on Monday. We had a nice visit before I left and I also brought home a giant zucchini from their lovely garden. It's as big as a newborn baby human... Maxine is such a sweet thing. She does a lot of dancing now—twisting, bouncing and bobbing her head. She has a favorite commercial, too. It’s an El Pollo Loco ad about their chicken sliders (I think). Maxine suddenly is afraid of some things: the face of James in the Thomas and Friends series and also the little Collie statue next to Grandma Emma’s piano at her house (see picture above). She laughs and shouts funny things all the time but she has not yet said a real word. She enjoys feeding herself and wants nothing to do with baby food but I actually enjoy being able to give her pieces of what I’m eating now that her digestive system is ready for it. Oh, a funny thing: if your feet are in her reach, she lays on them, like she’s snuggling or kissing them. I think it’s because we have always kissed her feet ever since she was born. She’s returning the love. Jose is still looking for work but I’m confident he will find something soon. He knows a lot of people, people who can help him find what he’s looking for. We’re living on our last bit of cash but I have to say it’s been nice having him home since his restaurant closed down last week. He’s very supportive of me going to school and I am grateful for that support.

Thanks for checking in on us!

Maxine's Second Tooth

Just before Jose left for work, Maxine fell asleep in my arms to the tune of The Macarena, her new favorite melody (and rhythmic bouncing) that makes her fall asleep. She had her mouth wide open and I saw her teeth. Jose took this picture so we could show everyone. I have read that teeth usually come in fours and I should expect the top two in the next couple months.

She also had her 6-month exam today but did not get her shots because of the fevers she's been having. She will get them next week. She weighed 14.8lbs today, surely due to her lack of appetite from being so sick. The doctor wasn't concerned with her cold but did give us a prescription for eye drops.

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Raquel won some money in the football pool for Super Bowl Sunday so on Monday I took her shopping for clothes and a new pair of shoes. We spent $20 on clothes, which included a new jacket, a denim dress and several tops from the Salvation Army Thrift Store on Del Mar in Pasadena. Then we went to Payless and she got some new pink and white velcro tennies. The shoes with laces were a lot cuter but I like her to be able to put shoes on by herself and she can't tie laces yet. I was surprised that the 9.5 size fit her already, as at Christmas time she was still an 8.5!

Thanks for reading. And pray for lots of rain so we don't have to turn on the expensive sprinklers!

New in My Kitchen: Fennel

Weight Watchers has been the way I'm living since about 5 months ago. As such, Raquel eats a lot of what I eat plus other stuff that she loves. She is being exposed to some semi-sophisticated ingredients while also enjoying her macaroni and cheese in the blue box. For the most part, she likes what I cook.

My diet consists of foods from a specific list which excludes added-sugar, bread and alcohol. It forces me to try new things and try to present the same-old-same-old in new ways. Avoiding boredom is super important to sticking to this lifestyle. The newest item in my fridge is fennel or anise (not sure why it has two names). I think it's pretty. If celery and onion were to have a baby, this is what it would look and feel like but the taste is completely in a class of its own. Tastes like black licorice with a refreshing hint of citrus. When the oranges in my yard are ripe I'm going to prepare them together, maybe in a salad. But for now, I sautee or roast the fennel with carrots, salt and pepper. You should try it!

Since I gained a little weight last week, this week I'm making up for it, cooking strictly healthy foods for myself and whoever else feels like eating what I cook. I consider this week a big success in regards to losing weight and being a creative cook.

Homemade sushi is really fun to make and it's pretty simple. I make up my own recipe and put whatever I happen to have in the fridge inside the roll. I use brown rice, which isn't as tasty as sticky white rice *drool* and it also makes it more difficult to cut clean slice as the rice kinda falls out a bit but it's still managable. Nori is a staple in my fridge. It is easy to find at a regular grocery store in the Asian foods section. No need to locate a specialty store. Raquel loves it when I make sushi. Although I love to eat sashimi at Japanese restaurants I do not use raw ingredients in my homemade sushi as I have not found a trustworthy source yet.

My favorite vegetable is brussel sprouts. I was buying them frozen and cooking them in the microwave but have recently discovered how delicious they are when bought fresh and sauteed with fresh garlic, salt and nutmeg. The nutmeg really brings out their spiciness--something you don't taste in the frozen variety. Raquel likes them, too!
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My strategies for eating healthy...

• Prepare a big pot of brown rice in the morning. Zap portions in the microwave for meals the next 2 days.


• Buy only whole grain pasta if you want pasta. Don't buy "multi-grain" because that does not necessarily mean whole grain. My favorite brand is Heartland.


• If you like ground beef (burgers, tacos, meatloaf) make sure it has no more than 7% fat.


• Buy frozen veggies when they're on sale. Stock up. You can keep them a long time while you figure out how best to prepare them and make them flavorful.


• Pretend sandwiches don't exist. (no bread, no deli meat)


• Search the internet for recipes first, then go get your ingredients at the store.


• Be aware of expiration dates on fresh meat and store them in the fridge accordingly (stuff you should eat within the next day or so should be right in front while stuff that can wait 6 days should be towards the back)


• Nonfat sour cream isn't half bad. Try it on a baked potato with I Can't Believe Its Not Butter Spray.


• Stock up on frozen fruit when it is on sale. You can use it in so many ways: mixed in oatmeal (the heat makes them soft), homemade fat-free parfaits, homemade smoothies.


• Dennisons Turkey Chili is delicious and it is on sale for $1/can at Vons right now. I melt a slice of fat-free cheese on top of it.


• Eat eggs. Figure out ways to make them different every time you eat them.


• When you're hungry at night before bed time, drink a big glass of nonfat milk.

I could keep going! If this post bored you, sorry :)

My Baby is the Big 6!

Guess who's 6 months old today! She has the tiniest tip of a tooth coming in on top. I felt it. I have been liquidating the 3-6 month clothing from her dresser drawers, packing them away for someone else who might need them. So many of our friends have given birth in the past couple of months or are still due within the next few months so I'm sure there will be someone who would like some nice pre-owned baby girl clothes (and gender-neutral ones, too).

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I recently started doing some of my grocery shopping at Target. I use coupons from the Sunday newspapers, too. The deals are great but I was told I'm missing out on "Super Target" which houses its own deli, produce and bakery sections. Unfortunately, the nearest Super Target is in Palmdale, which, if the San Gabriel Mountains were not in the way, wouldn't be as distant. Palmdale is due-north of Pasadena by about 30 miles the way the crow flies. At our local Target, they have a good frozen foods section and plenty of packaged foods like crackers and cereal but the diet I am on calls for produce and lean meats--not lunch meat, not granola bars, not Hot Pockets. I'm still able to get baby items for cheaper than the supermarkets, which is the main reason I shop there.

In the Sunday L.A. Times today I read a really cool story about thrift store shopping (for clothing). With the recession we're in, thrift stores have seen a jump in customers and sales have risen 25-35% since one year ago. The article listed several shops I wasn't aware of and gave tips on what days to shop and which stores offered the best chances for scoring name brand like-new clothes. I really appreciate articles such as this, especially because this year, for the first time, Raquel's wardrobe will be very important and require a big boost come September when she starts kindergarten *bittersweet tear*. Raquel has had a growth spurt since November. The reason I know is because I bought new clothes for our trip to Virginia and the pants she got are now too short! Awww.

Thanks for reading.

Two Girls & Grilled Cheese

Today is Saturday, the day I get to eat what I want without regard to my breadless life the other six days of the week. We had such a sweet (too sweet, even) breakfast that I couldn't really think of anything else I wanted to eat today. So Raquel and I went to Trader Joe's and mulled around for a minute. We settled on sparkling limeade, fresh organic raspberries, pita chips, edamame hummus, a loaf of seeded sour dough and some gruyere cheese. And later on while she played her Strawberry Shortcake video game, I made a nice little dinner for two. We had Fancy Time. Raquel was thrilled I used the raspberries the way I did. It was her idea to buy them in the first place. Our dinner was quaint and fun and it made Raquel fall in love with her mom all over again. Psss....she followed me around the rest of the evening just to be with me.

She Can Sit in her Bumbo!

Maxine is sitting in her Bumbo seat for the first time today! Also, she is learning to like my hotsling baby carrier and even took a nap in it!

I guess she thought the Bumbo was a turlet cuz when I picked her up out of it, she had pooped.

The BEST Bottles for Newborns

In the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit during Maxine's first days of life, we discovered her problem with breathing while feeding. She would sometimes forget to breath while she was enjoying a bottle. She doesn't do that anymore but there is something else she has been doing that really frightens me: she will choke on milk and not always clear her throat, which makes her turn a little purple before I get her to realize she's not breathing. I get nervous but I move quickly to lay her down and slap the bottom of her foot, rub it and/or scratch it and this gets her to "wake up" and cry and breath again. She was doing this at every feeding until I found that one of the types of bottles we have doesn't cause her to choke. They are the Playtex VentAire Advanced (wide) with slow flow nipples (pictured above). I am glad I had several different brands of bottles at home so I could do such an "experiment".
Before I came to this conclusion I went out and bought Evenflow slow flow nipples for newborns. I was pretty disappointed in them as one of them (in a pack of 3) would constantly flow when I turned the bottle upside down. That's not slow flow! Geez?!
Today I bought another 3-pack of these good Playtex bottles (about $13) and I am not going to use any of our other bottles until Maxine is a little older and can handle a faster flow. Not only has she stopped choking but also she has less gas because of the vent holes in the bottom of the bottle. These bottles are slightly more complicated then normal bottles but its nothing compared to the peace of mind they give me (and my baby). Another thing is the nipple is more like a real mommy nipple because it has a wide base and a shorter nipple tip.
I wanted to let you soon-to-be new moms know about this. Not all so-called slow flow nipples are built the same. Some are just faulty altogether. So when your newborn baby comes home and you give her a baba, check the flow first and experiment with several different brands to get the right one for your baby instead of registering for or purchasing a whole bunch of the same kind right off the bat.