Archive for July, 2007

30Jul 2007

First Date True Colors

in Food. 0 Comments

FriedOkra: Meals Make Memories - Writing Idea inspired me.

Oh how I truly love to eat - a lot.

My favorite meal? I think it might be my first date with my husband - we went to a restaurant that was loud and slightly dark. We sat at a two-top near the window way in the corner and I was smitten. This Italian restaurant made GREAT food - heavy pastas laden with meat or cream and desserts to make you unbuckle yourself.

What did I order? Caesar Salad with Grilled Shrimp. Yep, I was playing skinny and coy - for what reason I have no idea. I was thin thanks to genetics (which promptly quit when I fell in love) so it was not like eating my Pasta Carbonara was going to expand my pants size. Nope, I wanted to impress my future husband with my very feminine eating.

Ah, the lies of dating. Today he knows quite well why my father used to call me “The Pasta Princess” and loves me nonetheless. Yet that night the not-so-low-fat salad with grilled shrimp is a memory of perfectly cooked shrimp (I have a loathing for undercooked shrimp or dried out shrimp, which seems to be how it’s usually cooked in public) with just the right amount of spice. My memories of that meal are perfect - but in retrospect I wonder if the salad was just right or just my memory of that night.

Oh, and before the night was through I showed my true colors when I ordered……Crème Brûlée. Oh yeah baby - it was awesome, and I shared.

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That damn Palm Pilot by Papaya Mom on April 21st, 2005
We got Adventure Dad all set up, a new computer and Palm Pilot.

Delish by Papaya Mom on July 19th, 2007
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A great weekend so far! by Papaya Mom on April 9th, 2005
Friday started things off well! Even though Papaya had been a bit cranky the day before she was wonderful for my morning walk with Amy Zinkhon.

Malasadas by Papaya Mom on July 29th, 2007
Portuguese doughnut - happy sugar laden place of my youth - oh delicious! Even .

The week ahead... by Papaya Mom on April 30th, 2007
includes cooking great meals (I hope).

Popularity: 30% [?]

29Jul 2007

Link Fun

in Political. 2 Comments

A third of Americans Satisfied with Bush.

HRCM Undermined By Those Who detest Human Rights (note - http://www.minivannews.com/ is not Minivan News, but rather News for the Maldives.)

Democracy needs us all to monitor each other better. Good words. Very important words.

lies.com - because it needs it’s own site to keep track of.

A country with everything except security. To think, I thought they were talking about my country.

A whole another website about lies - this list for Bush alone.

The wedding gift not spoken for is a full set of rights.

Sexin public did not work out so well for this guy. Really.

or printed lies.

- Edgar Watson Howe (quote in links)

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Where was I today? by Papaya Mom on January 12th, 2008
At the .

Baking by Papaya Mom on February 17th, 2007
Oh, how I love to bake.

Sabrina knows her shit. by Papaya Mom on January 28th, 2007
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I thought this was why by Papaya Mom on February 20th, 2007
most of us voted to put Democrats back in power in congress!?!?!Needless to say, I've written a letter.

Not a solution. by Papaya Mom on January 17th, 2008
A horrible crime happened in Hawaii today.

Popularity: 26% [?]

29Jul 2007

Malasadas

in Food. 1 Comment

Portuguese doughnut - happy sugar laden place of my youth - oh delicious!

Even Wikipedia talks about it’s significance at the annual Punahou Carnival.

Tonight I got the *secret* recipe thats not so secret but oh so good.

Want some?

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Sleeping...or lack thereof by Papaya Mom on May 5th, 2005
Falling asleep seems to be an issue for Miss Papaya these days.

Menu of course by Papaya Mom on November 22nd, 2007
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Sabrina knows her shit. by Papaya Mom on January 28th, 2007
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The week ahead... by Papaya Mom on April 30th, 2007
includes cooking great meals (I hope).

We still eat by Papaya Mom on July 19th, 2007
here and there, even when I don't menu plan on Mondays.

Popularity: 23% [?]

25Jul 2007

Wordless Wednesday - Bento

in Wordless Wednesday. 3 Comments

Double Bento

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Wordless Wednesday by Papaya Mom on January 30th, 2008
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Wordless Wednesday by Papaya Mom on April 2nd, 2008
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Wordless Wednesday - First Day of School by Papaya Mom on October 18th, 2007
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Wordless Wednesday by Papaya Mom on August 29th, 2007
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WW - Friends at the Barn by Papaya Mom on September 5th, 2007
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Popularity: 29% [?]

25Jul 2007

Thanks, Mom.

in Family and Group Writing Project. 9 Comments

Thanks, Mom. A writing project directed by Jordan at MammaBlogga

Although I have many reasons to be thankful towards my Mother (many moderately well adjusted adults do), I’ve chosen to focus on a subject fresh in my mind of late.

My brother. This might seem shocking after my initial reaction to my parents’ choice to increase the size of our perfect little family. From the stories I’ve heard throughout my life I was a less than impressed little tot when I first met him. He may have been chubby and sweet and little and loved - but to me he was competition pure and simple. What, you may ask, does a tiny little Type-A toddler do when faced with such a disaster? Solve it of course. I used a pillow.

Needless to say, my attempt at restricting his new ability to breathe outside of my mother’s womb was averted and brother survived. Throughout my childhood I’m not sure if I ever really stopped trying, although with less vigor. The super big sister evil wedgie must have been less then pleasant as well as my interest in exposing him only to my worst ideas (smoke pot, in a car, with the windows closed!) in hopes he might follow (he did). Yet through it all he was supported and loved and guided by someone with much better intentions than my own.

So thanks Mom, for providing and raising a brother who I am truly lucky to call a friend. Thanks for loving us exactly the same (you do, right?) and letting us be our own people. No matching Aloha shirt and Mumu combinations here people! He’s great and you had a lot to do with that, surely more than a sister with often sinister intentions and a guilty conscience to prove it.

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Little Ballerina by Papaya Mom on July 12th, 2007
Papaya may well have enjoyed the very best day of her life, ever, today.

A pretty Friday in Poulsbo by Papaya Mom on April 29th, 2005
As I sit down to write Papaya is taking her morning nap.

Updates... by Papaya Mom on December 10th, 2007
Sleep is hard to come by, at night for me.

Life has changed by Papaya Mom on January 1st, 2008
in wonderful ways, but my free time is often quite different than it was six months ago.

Joining by Papaya Mom on November 19th, 2008
As I prepare myself to participate in the ongoing battle for Civil Rights as they pertain to the GLBT community I've joined a few organizations.

Popularity: 30% [?]

21Jul 2007

That voice

in Attachment Parenting. 1 Comment

“”There Is A Voice Inside Of You
That Whispers All Day Long,
“I Feel That This Is Right For Me,
I Know That This Is Wrong.”
No Teacher, Preacher, Parent, Friend
Or Wise Man Can Decide
What’s Right For You- Just Listen To
The Voice That Speaks Inside.”

- Shel Silverstein

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A wonderful exchange by Papaya Mom on September 1st, 2007
A couple on.

Spanking by Papaya Mom on January 16th, 2007
For once, I am proud to agree with .

Popularity: 27% [?]

19Jul 2007

Delish

in Pictures and Food. 2 Comments

Ponzu Grilled Salmon with Golden Beet Couscous was even better than I could have imagined.

Now, I’m no Meeta but I did take a photo before Papaya ate my portion and her own portion of the Salmon.

IMG_2327
Ignore the dirty counter - I’d just finished cooking with my toddler assistant. How does that go, you wonder. It starts with a butter knife and some play dough and as Mommy peels and slices the beets the little one gets to work on her bright orange victim. It’s adorable and let’s Mommy get through cooking with minimal tantrums.

I keep meaning to involve her more in the kitchen - I’ve heard allowing them to pour into pots what you’ve measured, help to stir cooling dishes and of course “chop” what you’ve already chopped with her little butter knife are all very good for their future love of cooking. Plans, I’ve got good ones, I just need to put them into practice.

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Papeete Market, Tahiti, French Polynesia by Papaya Mom on August 19th, 2007
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Loooooong Weekend! by Papaya Mom on April 18th, 2005
Friday night was the Submarine Birthday Ball.

Torch Ginger near the Fern Grotto by Papaya Mom on August 21st, 2007
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Vaimahuta Waterfall by Papaya Mom on August 20th, 2007
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The Wedding by Papaya Mom on December 8th, 2006
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Popularity: 34% [?]

19Jul 2007

We still eat

in Menu Plan Monday and Food. 2 Comments

here and there, even when I don’t menu plan on Mondays. It’s been a busy week with most of my focus on my upcoming move and such.

BUT…tomorrow we are having Ponzu Grilled Salmon with Golden Beet Couscous and Friday we are having Shrimp Florentine with Caramelized Garlic. AND…..with the abundant crop of bright orange apricots from the farmers market we are having Fruity Apricot and Nutty Pistachio Ice Cream as well!

THEN…we are off to go camping this weekend for Adventure Dad’ birthday, yes you heard it here first, I am going camping again with Adventure Dad and it’s going to be a long time before I do it again. He’s lucky it’s his birthday. Did I mention he wants to use the same 2-man tent even though Papaya has her own sleeping bag? Damn this is going to be fun.

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Meal Planning Monday by Papaya Mom on July 2nd, 2007
Monday - we will eat out at Whole Foods Tonight while I grocery shop :) Tuesday - .

Meal Planning Monday by Papaya Mom on June 26th, 2007
Meal Planning Monday idea by .

Menu Plan Monday by Papaya Mom on September 3rd, 2007
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Menu Plan Monday by Papaya Mom on January 1st, 2008
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Popularity: 29% [?]

14Jul 2007

A Montessori Overview

in Montessori and Papaya. 1 Comment

The Cult of the Pink Tower, an article in Slate made me think more and more about how and why I made the choice to send Papaya to Montessori preschool. I was really turned off by some of the indoctrination of Waldorf, and scared by some of the criticizims of the movement as a whole for example labeling of child’s personality, avialability of personal information between families, and most important to me the reading delay (until baby teeth begin to fall out).

Soooo…I found Montessori and I love the ideas of the child rather than the teacher being the focus of a classroom, the direction provided but not overdone - allowing children to learn problem solving, and many more reasons.

Often - I find others have said words that I only wish I could use to communicate how I feel. An example? Read on.
“In today’s crowded world of power struggles and ego trips, the Montessori method serves as a guide to raising unselfish, self-regulated, caring human beings who are problem solvers and have the self confidence to lead successful lives by their own efforts, rather than at the expense of their fellow citizens. The world needs as many people with these qualities as possible to shift the balance away from the good-of-the-few mentality that plagues many cultures today. The world needs Montessori.” - Lori Bourne of Montessori for Everyone Blog

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Changing Tides by Papaya Mom on August 4th, 2008
About a month ago I decided to homeschool Papaya.

On the journey by Papaya Mom on October 6th, 2008
Papaya and I are on our journey each day.

Popularity: 31% [?]

12Jul 2007

Little Ballerina

in Friendship, Family and Papaya. 2 Comments

Papaya may well have enjoyed the very best day of her life, ever, today. It was her first day of “twirl!” also known as ballet class. My Auntie Linda came which made things even more special - and afterwards we went to lunch which Papaya loves to do (I swear, it’s Papaya’s idea, really it is.).

We got there and Papaya was asleep in her carseat, I took her out in my hotsling and she slept for another five minutes while we greeted our friends. Papaya’s friends Makenzie (1 day older) and Maddie (5 days younger) are in the same class which is a benefit since it’s NOT a Mommy-and-Me class. This means that we don’t have to go in with them and get to sit outside and chat - this also means there is a crowd peeking in the door:
The crowd at the door.
Yes, those are Maddie’s two older brothers Jack and Nick who along with their father came for this big day - what a very lucky and loved girl!

A few moments after she woke up Papaya wanted “down Mommy, I go play” and off she went marching into her studio with two friends, six strangers and two teachers who she had never before laid eyes on. Fearless.

Each child was first given a Pooh Bear to dance with:
Let's dance with Pooh bear!
This was cute as a button as they swung, twirled, cradeld and eventually threw back into a box their new stuffed friend.

They moved through animal immitations and marching and even waved around little pieces of lace. On padding they slid on the floor on their tummies to “swim” like a fish and did all sorts of fun movements.

I have to say that I was very proud of Papaya for following directions of the teacher which I neither expected or gave much worry towards at this age. Papaya and Maddie were rapt in their attention to the “big ballerina” who they wanted so obviously to please.
Attention!
In fact, Maddie even staked out some prime teacher lap moments:
In a circle, Maddie on the lap.

In conclusion, my kid is cute and smart and pretty and gosh darnet people like me her.
Looking at the camera!
(left to right Papaya, Makenzie, and Maddie - oh yeah, and Miss Karen)

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What makes me happy? by Papaya Mom on November 21st, 2007
Around the Holidays? Helping.

House guests by Papaya Mom on July 5th, 2007
This week we hosted my friends from Hawaii (who now live in Ohio) for the 4th of July festivities in DC.

Friends by Papaya Mom on March 16th, 2007
It's great to work with friends.

Popularity: 34% [?]