Happy New Year! 1 Jan 2015 1:30 PM (10 years ago)
I bit the bullet and bought Nowheymama.com. Right now, that URL will lead you right back here, but soon it will be a pretty, new WordPress site. Surprisingly more work than I expected, and I haven't even started moving old posts from here to there. (Hints? Tips?)
I look forward to having a clean slate to play with. For me, it's time for less of an online journal and more of an anecdote + recipe design. I love this little corner of the internet but need some motivation to keep writing as the children get older and life keeps on changing.
Anyway, update your readers as you see fit and I'll meet you there soon.
Mom always says don't play ball in the house 30 Apr 2014 8:48 AM (10 years ago)
Look, I know I'm turning into Go Dairy Free: The Direct-To-Video Sequel over here, but you need to enter the Spring Fling Recipe Contest. Then remember I'm the one who encouraged you to enter when you win the $1000 gift card. Also here is a nifty link to all the recipes and stuff I've written over there.
We're all feeling a little cooped up right now, what with endless rain coming on the heels of the endless snow. But I hear summer's going to be very hot AND rainy, so we have that going for us. A certain three-year old just punted a basketball past my head even though he knows NOT TO PLAY BALL IN THE HOUSE. I keep reminding myself that soon I will be missing him when he's away at school and not asking for yots of cheese for yunch and telling me we're a good team before taking out my lamp with a well-aimed kick.
Even my daughter's pet bird, Hedwig, has cabin fever. If you want to get rich quick, you should start manufacturing bird toys. Two pony beads, a Chinese handcuff and a foam star on a piece of plastic lanyard lacing cord. That'll be $10.
Images from Amazon
Tomorrow is May Day! Which hopefully means sun and warmth, in addition to 5 billion end-of-the year activities that make me cry about Mah Babies. Ah, Spring.
Some Friendly Advice 7 Mar 2014 10:07 AM (11 years ago)
You all are good cooks. I know this because I make your recipes all the time. I use the recipes you pin and recommend. Sometimes I even use your recipes (with permission of course) when writing my column for Go Dairy Free.
So listen to me when I tell you: YOU NEED TO ENTER RECIPE CONTESTS. Like this one.
I have now judged a few recipe contests and I feel confident in telling you that you are qualified to enter. More than qualified, and you just may win. So do it, please, for the sake of the recipe testers if nothing else.
A contest and a meme: Blogging like it's 2007 11 Feb 2014 10:12 AM (11 years ago)
I'm enjoying the blogging renaissance that is happening in my feed reader. In that spirit, I present a contest and my answers to a meme.
The Fast and Fresh Dairy-Free Time Trials Recipe Contest
You guys need to enter this. For serious. (Who was the actress who said that at an awards show a few years ago? She ran off with a married co-star? Think Keri Russell or Claire Danes, but not them.)
Enter for fun! For the Olympic spirit! For the $500 gift card!
Nicole tagged me in a meme. Here we go.
1) If Jane had 3 apples and John had 78 nails, how many layers of clothing are you wearing (how is the weather in your neck of the woods?)?
You got this question from my second grader's math homework, didn't you?
It is cold here. Polar vortex cold. We are running out of places to put the shoveled snow, the entire state is having a road salt shortage, and we have used up all of our snow days--because of temperatures, not snowfall.
How to pass the time during a Polar Vortex 31 Jan 2014 9:35 AM (11 years ago)
- Make Candy Cane Syrup
- Make Cocoa Cubes
- Learn to make balloon animals
- Draw cartoons
- Do MadLibs
- Have a Winter Birthday Party for your eight- and six-year old babies who were ages 1 and -0 when you began blogging. *sniff*
- Learn about snow rollers
- Go photograph snow rollers in your neighborhood
- Bake lots of comfort food
- Work ahead on homework during snow days
- Go downtown to your local movie theater and see Frozen
- Make five billion rainbow loom bracelets
- Reread the Little House series
- Listen to the Frozen soundtrack until your family begs for mercy
- Daydream about summer
All is quiet... 2 Jan 2014 8:55 AM (11 years ago)
...on New Year's Day on January second when the children are in school. I can almost hear myself think! Except for the preschooler and Kindergartner arguing in the other room and U2 and Abba on an endless loop in my head. Other than that, though? Peace.
Happy New Year! How are you? In spite of enjoying the quiet, I am sad Christmastime is over. I am definitely a 12 Days of Christmas Elf. I love the time when all the chaos is over and we are snug in our little house with nowhere to go, sitting in the glow of the Christmas tree lights. I married an Advent Elf, but have passed the 12-Days gene on to our children. Last year Eli's first-grade teacher read his class The After-Christmas Tree. It talks about all the fun things a family did during the Christmas season, how they feel sad when it's over, and an idea the mother has to make things fun for a little bit longer. We loved the book so much that we ordered our own copy and promised to make an After-Christmas Tree this year.
In December I read it to his second-grade class and we made pinecone/peanut butter (no nut allergies)/birdseed ornaments for the kids to take home. You're welcome, parents of Eli's classmates! Please don't tell me how your pinecone went directly into the circular file! And on the 31st, we dragged our un-decorated Christmas tree into the backyard and decorated it with birdseed ornaments. It has since blown over and is covered with about 4 inches of snow. It's the thought that counts, birds and squirrels and voles and other rodents!
And no, the irony is not lost on me. I complain all year about the bird poo left on our swingset by birds attracted to neighborhood birdfeeders. Yet here we are, with a pet cockatiel in the house and a birdseed-covered Christmas tree in the yard. Parenthood makes one do incredible things.
Speaking of incredible things, you all need to enter some of your delicious recipes in the So Delicious Dairy Free Three-Course Recipe Contest. I am not allowed to enter (sad trombone) but you are! There are three $500 grand prizes in gift-card form, and ten runner-up prizes! Get cooking, please! If your recipes teach me how to make a meal of candy canes, clementines, nuts, fancy crackers, and Stonewall Kitchen sauces, even better.
You know what? 10 Dec 2013 11:34 AM (11 years ago)
I love my dad.
Stevenson Proposal Allowing Schools Access to EpiPens Passes House
Potpourri 5 Nov 2013 10:48 AM (11 years ago)
- I stole my title from Superjules.
- E's named this year's jack o' lantern Mr. Bipples. I don't want to forget that.
- Nor do I want to forget G's current stage of yelling, "I do it my OWNself!" at everyone alternated with telling us, "I luff you. You want hugs and kisses?"
- We are in week three of having work done on the house. Exciting work like: re-plastering the kitchen ceiling, making a doorway from the kitchen to the living room, and prying the 70s vinyl wallboard off the bathroom walls. Hey, I'm happy about it. Or I will be when it's finished.
- Maybe when you have work done in your house and you are living in the house, don't have work done in the kitchen AND in your one bathroom at the same time. Pro tip.
- We do have a Pittsburgh toilet in the basement, so that's helpful.
- And I can do crock pot cooking. I am loving Stephanie's new book.
- Alisa's apple butter is cooking in the crock pot right now.
- I am still thinking about Swistle's coffee shop post. And wishing Tessie would blog again.
- One of us needs to win this wild blueberries sweepstakes.
Brain Dump, Vaguely Allergy Style 27 Sep 2013 10:36 AM (11 years ago)
In the process of sitting down to write this post, I received seven! phone calls. I don't know why I can't get anything done.
ANYWAY, bullet time:
- Go Dairy Free is having a Bob's Red Mill grains giveaway! Enter by Oct. 2.
- You can learn more about the quinoa you might win here.
- Stephanie O'Dea's newest Slow Cooker book is out. It's on my birthday list, hint hint.
- Yes, my birthday is tomorrow. It can be late.
- Isn't it weird to hit ages you remember your parents being? I still remember the '39 forever' cocktail napkins someone bought my dad as a joke. And here we are.
- Julie Bowen narrates a free children's allergy e-book you can find here. Don't tell me what happened on Modern Family; we're watching it tonight.
- Modern Family will help wash away the tears left from last night's NYPD Blue episode where Bobby died. Why did I watch it again? Whhhyyy?
- We recently had the chance to try Enjoy Life Food's Decadent Bars. While I enjoy making homemade granola bars, it is so nice to have a prepackaged snack option I trust that is nationally available. These are perfect to take to events where the snack may not be safe, and they are an easy item to tell people about if they want to provide a safe snack. The flavors are Chocolate SunButter (our favorite), S'mores (the kids' favorite), Cinnamon Bun, and Cherry Cobbler. I will definitely be buying them.
- We have a ton of apples in the house right now. Yay, fall! What are your favorite apple recipes?
- And, there's the phone again....
First Day of School 3 Sep 2013 10:42 AM (11 years ago)
As a child, I always wondered why parents were so perky about their children going to school when the children were sad. But when your child is burying their face in your midsection saying, "Mom, I'm really going to miss you when I'm at school," I can see that replying, "I'm going to miss you, too. Every summer ending is sadder than the one before because it means you're one year older and one year closer to leaving my house forever. And even though we have many more summers left together, this is the only one I got to spend with seven-year old you. I'll be wondering how you're doing every second. I love you." might be a little more than you need to lay on your kid. Can I sail through the changin' ocean tides? Can I handle the changes of my liiiife....?*
I can also see that having your youngest and eldest children celebrate birthdays the weekend before school begins is just poor planning. There is no escaping the fact that you now have a twelve-year old and that your baby is three and the crib is sitting forlornly in the basement. I'm getting older, tooo....
The Kindergartner returned home saying, "Mom, was it a long or short time at home while I was at school? Because it felt like a short time at school." I hope it was the same for her brother and sister. I will not tell them it was an eternity for me.
*I don't know who quotes Landslide more, Nicole or me. Also, in answer to your question, Nicole, Florida in June is oh so hot, but the rain does make it nice and extra humid.
Summer Summary: June and July 13 Aug 2013 6:28 AM (11 years ago)
The day after school was out, we flew to Florida. That's right, we took four children on an airplane and lived to tell the tale. But as my Scottish neighbor, who periodically flies to her homeland with three boys, said as I was freaking out: "It's just Florida." And she was right.
Helpful travel tips:
Pay the extra $$$ for assigned seating, checking bags, and whatever else helps you not worry.
Do not pay the extra $$$ for an 'upgrade' to your freakishly expensive minivan rental. The minivan is fine. You drive one at home and are quite happy with it.
Have an aunt-in-law who winters in Florida who graciously offers you her home that is mere blocks away from the grandparents and great-grandparents. Hide all the breakables while you stay there. Wipe off all the fingerprints. Send her a nice gift when you get home.
Have in-laws with a screened-in pool right outside their back door.
When your toddler is melting down in the security line because his dad had to go back through the line to empty a filled water bottle a child forgot they had on their person, have a nice female security agent show him where Daddy went and what he's doing.
When your in-laws offer to pay for a day at Disney, say 'yes.'
When you spend the morning at Clearwater Aquarium seeing Winter the dolphin, do not go directly to the beach when no one has had lunch or a nap. Also, do not attempt to make peanut butter sandwiches on a windy beach.
If your grandmother-in-law has an awesome hobby like making stained glass, bravely ask her to make you something, like a lamp to hang over your dining table.
Sunscreen your pale northern children a LOT.
After Florida, we had a week of Vacation Bible School, where I once again snagged a job in the air conditioned kitchen. It pays to have connections.
During that week Graham was tested and found to be developmentally on target and not eligible for speech therapy anymore! He is now just as much a chatterbox as the rest of them and knows how to use it to his advantage.
"Graham, did you just throw your socks behind the couch?"
Graham: "Well... I love you."
There was lots of swimming in the neighbors' pool and reading for the summer reading program. Also, a probably mentally unstable member of our community spent some time saying rude things about my husband on his website and Facebook. He has done much worse things to other members of the community who have since taken him to court. Small town life: never boring.
July
We celebrated our 15th anniversary with a cookout and fireworks. Fourth of July anniversary FTW. Also, we bought each other a garbage disposal for our anniversary present. Scott said he'll engrave "Love, Scott" on it with his Dremel. 23-year old newlywed me would have been horrified at such a gift.
The kids did a second VBS with our dear friends who have since moved to South Carolina. The mom of the family is back this week packing up the house, and I am trying to be helpful and not cry as I tape up boxes. This was not part of the deal. They were supposed to stay till all the kids were out of high school, at least.
Coming next: August. Right now I need to make the screaming stop.
And her grandfather thinks she won't be interested in hunting 28 Jun 2013 6:35 AM (11 years ago)
Last Day of School 6 Jun 2013 5:41 AM (11 years ago)
I always get a little weepy on the last day of school. Well, unless a child has had a difficult year that I am glad to see the back end of. Of which I am glad to see the back end. But even then, it's such a clear marker of the passage of time and the growing of the children.
Eldest will be in middle school next year, which she is totally ready for. She and her best friend are so anxious to have their own lockers. For the past two years, it's as if they've had "Please take one" signs on their desks. Items are stolen in their classrooms all. the. time. And while I understand the teachers aren't going to waste time figuring out whose pencil/highlighter/pencil sharpener it really is, it's irritating.
Anyway, I thought I was handling the upcoming change of schools pretty well until she said matter-of-factly, "This is my last day in elementary school. It will be the last day I ever have recess." *SOB*
Second child is also changing schools from the cozy nest of the Kindergarten/First grade building to the large elementary school. I told him I would miss our walks to school (and made him walk with me in the rain this morning for his last day). He told me he would miss them, too, and suggested he come on some of my evening walks so we could still have time alone to walk and talk. *SOB*
Yesterday was Kindergarten open house for number three. Yes, three kids in three different schools next year. I can still hold onto a bit of denial for one more year because our Kindergarten is half day. First grade is the year that is the hardest for me. Still, the "Welcome Class of 2026" poster hit me hard. *SOB*
So, Graham, you and your September birthday-self are going to have to stay home with me for one more year and give me lots of hugs.
Jerome Bettis, Allergy Playbook, Auvi-Q 25 May 2013 10:19 AM (11 years ago)
Does anyone else find it humorous that bloggers are often offered speaking engagements and telephone and television interviews? We're introverts! We're socially awkward! But sometimes there is an offer you can't pass up, like say, interviewing a former player from your family's favorite football team about a new epinephrine injector you love. And you think about chickening out but you don't know how you'd ever explain that to your children. So, in the words of Sundry, you get on the ________ plane. Or in my case, you talk to The Bus.
Two other bloggers were in my interview as well, and we all had the opportunity to ask Jerome Bettis two questions about allergies, asthma, his new Severe Allergy and Anaphylaxis Playbook, and Auvi-Q. We watched him answering the questions online while listening on the phone to both Jerome and someone telling us when it was our turn to talk and our turn to stop. Talking to one person while someone else is talking in your ear is weird. As a parent, you'd think I'd be used to that. Anyway, enjoy. Thank you to Auvi-Q for the opportunity, and thank you to Jerome for being so gracious.
Internet Sickness Warning Signs; Reader Question 7 May 2013 8:51 AM (11 years ago)
I think I have a case of Internet Sickness. Here are some warning signs.
You, to your husband: Today was a great Facebook day, if I were that sort of person.
Husband: How so?
You: "Spent today with my beautiful family putting up the gazebo, painting porch furniture, and getting the yard ready for spring. Now my man is grilling chicken and baking bread for our yummy dinner. #IloveSaturdays"
It would be perfect if I had run 10 miles today. Or, you know, ever. I could include that too.
Husband: [Laughing] Step away from the computer.
You keep composing long incoherent rants in your head about food allergy-related food restrictions versus self-imposed food restrictions that factor in economic status and freedom of choice. You realize Speedbump Kitchen has already done this in a coherent, non-offensive manner. You consider attaching Speedbump Kitchen's post on liberty to everything you write.
You're thinking of changing your blog signature to "You can make whatever substitutions you want to in my recipes and you are welcome to share them if you can do so in a friendly, helpful manner. Otherwise, you are welcome to do whatever you like in the privacy of your own kitchen."
Yeah, not the worst case I've ever seen, but time for a little sunlight therapy. What do you do to cure Internet Sickness?
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So what reader are you all going to use since Google's is going away? I still use iGoogle for my homepage, too, late adapter that I am. Please help me move on.
Recipe Contest 4 Apr 2013 9:10 AM (12 years ago)
I really want you to win a $500 gift card to Williams-Sonoma! And other fun prizes! So enter the So Delicious Dairy Free 2013 Recipe Contest and then be sure to post all about what you buy with your winnings. You can enter more than one recipe! Or a previously created recipe! The deadline is May 17, so get cooking!
Five hundred dollars!
Hit the Publish Button Already 3 Apr 2013 10:56 AM (12 years ago)
- The FARE Walk in Pittsburgh is scheduled for Sunday, September 15, 2013 in Heartwood Acres. They are looking for volunteers to help organize the event.
- Online registration is happening now for FARE's spring conferences.
- Here are the winners of the Get Schooled in Anaphylaxis Challenge.
- The Auvi-Q epinephrine auto-injector has been released and it is awesome. I saw a test one and it is so cool.
- Jerome Bettis is working on an anaphylaxis awareness campaign with Sanofi US, the producers of Auvi-Q. Go, Steelers!
- Sanofi US is also working on a Severe Allergy Awareness Hall of Fame on Facebook.
- This amendment concerning emergency epipens in schools is working its way through the PA House of Representatives.
- It is sponsored by a representative who co-sponsored this bill, which amends the Public School Code of 1949 to add "in school health services, further providing for possession and use of asthma inhalers and epinephrine auto-injectors...."
- It is weird to be all 100% public about blogging in real life and online now that I have my lovely job.
- People keep talking to me about it. Have I mentioned that's weird?
- I've been hiding from writing here because I can't stop thinking about people reading my blog and making fun of it or judging it.
- I think it's a crock to say that people don't talk about you/judge you. I totally think they do, but you have to get out there and do what you want in spite of it. After hiding in fear for two months.
- Shalini should be a motivational speaker.
- Now I can tell you more things about myself. Like the fantastic PA state representative sponsoring the epipen legislation is my dad.
How rumors get started 4 Feb 2013 9:01 AM (12 years ago)
Mom at preschool pickup: "Sarah, I need to ask you about the girls' Sunday school class."
Me: "OK."
Mom: "Did you teach yesterday?"
Me: "Yes."
Mom: "Did you...share something?"
Me: "That I...like to cook?"
Mom: "Anything else?"
Me: "Noo...."
Mom: "My daughter told me that Helen's mom is going to have another baby in a couple of months and that you prayed for her and the baby."
Me: "Oh! No, we're getting a new nephew and cousin. We prayed for him and my sister."
Mom: "OH! Well, [daughter] has been telling everyone that you're having a baby, so if anyone asks, that's why. I'm so sorry."
I wonder what else they took away from the lesson.
Things I've learned in the past month 24 Jan 2013 9:59 AM (12 years ago)
- The toddler stages are some of my favorites.
- A toddler saying "Whoa ho ho" for "Santa" is one of the cutest things ever.
- Speech therapists are miracle workers. At least, ours is.
- My two-year old was the best-behaved child I have ever seen in the candlelight Christmas Eve service. This is in no way bragging because a.) I don't know why he was, and b.) my other three two-year olds had to be removed from their respective services.
- I love reading the same books as my daughter. Yay, mini book club.
- Telling me you're 'one of the good guys' immediately lets me know that you are not.
- I really enjoy serving people good homemade food.
- Getting rid of baby gear is sad, but it makes LOTS more room in our little house.
- Keeping your hand on my shopping cart while I'm unloading it and leaning into my van to peer at my groceries and children is very threatening behavior, sir.
- Major Pettigrew's Last Stand was my favorite book of 2012.
- Dying the day all the out-of-town guests leave was really inconsiderate, Kevin. Rest in peace, little parakeet.
- Buying a new pet bird for the kids two days after Kevin's death was a little fast for Mama. Welcome, Hedwig the cockatiel.
- I love my job.
- I wish I had written this. "Just as I would never dream of going to vegan blog, insulting the writer and demanding a steak recipe… please don’t come to my blog and get worked up about marshmallows or honey in my homemade ice cream recipes." Preach it.
- Copying and pasting a quote from another blog messes up my font settings.
Allergy ereader and grocery deals 13 Dec 2012 8:34 AM (12 years ago)
Yes, I am ignoring the stack of Christmas cards I need to address to share:
- A free six-month digital subscription to gluten-free magazine Easy Eats
- Mad Alex Products' going-out-of-business sale
- Gluten Freely's closeout sale (because they are teaming up with Betty Crocker and Live Better America)
- Alisa Fleming's and Hallie Klecker's new ebook, Dairy-Free and Gluten-Free: A Whole Food Starter Guide and Cookbook
If you haven't got anything nice... 6 Dec 2012 8:50 AM (12 years ago)
...to say about anybody, come sit by me.--Alice Roosevelt Longworth
Allergic Living magazine is looking for contributors (You can remain anonymous!) for an article about food allergies and marital stress. I mean, I'm sure you and your spouse and in-laws extended family have NEVER had any disagreements about anything related to the care of your food-allergic children, but if you happen to have a friend who has experienced these issues, she could respond. Anonymously.
They're looking for happy stories, too.
I look forward to reading the article and figuring out which contributor is you your friend.
More information and a link can be found here.
Welp, it's official 3 Dec 2012 11:17 AM (12 years ago)
I'm the new Associate Editor at Go Dairy Free!
And holy crap, is that a big photo of my face.
Thanksgiving recipes; Melissa and Doug 20 Nov 2012 7:18 AM (12 years ago)
Hey! Thanksgiving is Thursday! I'm hosting it at my house again! Recipes here and here, and, a new addition, here is Scott's my dairy-free mashed potato recipe. Thanks, Honey!
Also also, Mary Ostyn posted her cream of anything soup recipe from her cookbook! Just use plain powdered soy milk and dairy-free bouillon (I never spell that right the first time) and you are SET to make dairy-free green bean casserole and dairy-free pot pie with the leftovers! The possibilities are endless.
Please enjoy these recipes while I stalk Amazon. Thank goodness for today's annual Melissa and Doug sale, otherwise the baby would have nothing under the tree. Magnetic Farm Hide and Seek, you are mine.