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Showing posts from April 13, 2017

What Qman Says (Things I Don’t Want to Forget)

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Hi, guys! Happy Friday! What. A. Week. Holy cow, I feel like I didn’t stop moving. I ended up accomplishing quite a bit, but I’m soooo ready for a low-key evening at home tonight, complete with pajamas, toddler cuddles, and a decent amount of WINE. And then, of course, I’m going to climb into bed as soon as Qman is asleep. Clearly, I’m planning to dominate Friday night. Haha! So, Qman has turned into quite the talkative and engaged little boy. He’s come a long way in a year, which I plan to write about in an upcoming blog post (i.e. our experience with Early Intervention), but, in the meantime, I wanted to share some of the (hilarious) things he’s said recently, mostly so we don’t forget about them. The kid doesn’t miss a thing, and he’s got quite the sense of humor, and I hope these little tidbits put a smile on your face this Friday morning! The other night, when Mal and I were getting Quinn ready for bed, I asked him if he knew where his brain was located. He looked at me and t

Requiring A Deep Steep

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We had such an all-American afternoon over here. Complete with kids coming in and out of the house, dyeing Easter eggs, a cookout with our neighbors, and a bath that required scrubbing off the dirt. We are so lucky to have wonderful neighbors who have three kids about Mazen’s age, and they play together all.the.time. You know how people say that “our door is always open”? That’s how our doors are – kids come in, kids run out. It’s so nice! I captured them surrounding our sweet mail lady, Miss Stephanie, who was probably thinking that she just wanted to do her job instead of answering 1,000 questions about mail from three little males . They are so sweet and cute though. Meanwhile, I did mom things like unloaded the dishwasher. Here’s my method: first I tackle all the silverware. Then I take the big stuff out of the bottom (mostly plates and big bowls) and put it on the counter. Then I open the top rack (mostly glasses, mugs, small bowls, and tupperware) and put that all directly

Moldy Foods: When to Toss, When to Keep

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How many times have you found cucumbers or cheese in the fridge with mold? Should you just cut off the moldy area or toss? Some molds can be toxic and make you sick. Find out when it’s okay to keep it, and when to throw them away. What’s the Deal with Mold? Molds are fungi that are transported by air, water, or insects. Although you can see the green or blue fuzzy dots on bread, cheese, meats, fruit, and vegetables, they have branches and roots that are can be growing very deep into the food. Some molds can cause allergic reactions and respiratory problems. Under the right conditions, a few molds can produce poisonous toxins that can make you sick. Although most molds prefer warm temperatures, they can easily grow in your fridge. They also love salty and sugar foods like jams and cured meats. So which foods should you keep verses toss? You don’t want to be that person who just tosses everything in the trash, which can lead to lots of unnecessary food waste . Here’s a list of what y

A Call To Farms

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I had the honor of going up to Monticello this morning to hear renowned chef and food activist Alice Waters speak in honor of Thomas Jefferson’s birthday celebration. You might know Alice as the founder of the Edible Schoolyard Project and chef and owner of Chez Panisse Restaurant in California. She was also the recipient of the 2017 Thomas Jefferson Foundation Medal in Citizen Leadership. The celebration began with music from The United States Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps followed by introductions and Alice’s keynote speech. Alice stated that Thomas Jefferson “inspires me more than any other figure in American history.” I can see why – they both seek out the best-tasting food available. Jefferson grew over 40 kinds of kidney beans narrowing down until he found the one he liked the very best, and Alice shared that when Chez Panisse first opened they found that the most delicious produce was sold at organic farms nearby. She ended her talk by stating that we need another Ameri

“What’s That?” Ear Health: Dietary and Lifestyle Choices that Preserve It

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Sure, they’re not exactly the sexiest body part, but it’s fair to say that life with substandard ear health would be notably less enjoyable. And as it happens, millions of Americans would be able to speak to that. Research indicates that an estimated 1 in 5 folks have some form of hearing loss. This rate increases to 1 in 3 for age 65 and over , but some estimates put hearing loss great enough to impair communication even higher for the upper decades at around 40%. Perhaps even more alarming, close to 15% of American kids have some form of hearing loss. In teenagers, prevalence has jumped from 15% in 1994 to almost 20% in 2006. Unfortunately, that hearing difficulty will often go undiagnosed. Hearing loss is, in fact, the third most common health condition in the country, right on the heels of arthritis and heart disease. And it’s getting worse. Between 2000 and 2015, the number of Americans with hearing loss has doubled, mirroring a worldwide increase of 44% over that same period

Happy Bday TJ!

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I’m live blogging today! Woooo hoo. And it’s also Thomas Jefferson’s birthday, which means there is lots going on in our small town. This whole week is the 6th annual  TomTom Founders Festival  where Cville comes together to celebrate food, music, art, and innovation. There are so many events going on! On Monday night we went to a community potluck at the IX park and enjoyed having dinner with lots of other Cvillians. (Deviled egg!! Sweethaus cupcake!!) Mazen had his face painted with a big spider – “Spiderman!” The scariest! Luckily it came off by Wednesday’s picture day. We have had great weather all week! (Someone still decided they wanted to wear their furry winter pants out – lol!) This morning Sarah convinced me to get up at 5:45 and head to the gym for Afterburn. I was a bit reluctant to go because the sun wasn’t up, but I never regret an early morning workout! Class was killer – super leg heavy! Breakfast afterwards was yogurt, raspberry jam, mango, strawberries, an