Back With A Purpose

Well, the day has come, after three years of diligently preparing I have taken the next step and began the formal education that will eventually lead me to a masters in midwifery.  It is such a relief to have the financial and class planning aspects out of the way, I now have room to breath and  focus completely on my studies. 

I finally feel the relief.

I have to admit that it feels as bit awkward to be the non-traditional student in the classroom. I feel overly mature and responsible which, I must admit, are traits I am not exactly accustomed to. I am happy however that I did choose to take one of my three classes (my just-for-fun creative writing class) in the classic classroom format.  It is nice to be out of the house alone and with purpose.  It also gives me the opportunity to meet face to face with the variety of people involved in the nursing program. Building relationships can never hurt when the nursing program is selective entry.

That brings me to one of my biggest concerns: the selective entry process. This last week I attended an open house for the nursing program lead by the program director who went over the entire entry process including the program qualifications.  It sounds as if the school's decision to change the nursing program from wait-list to competitive entry (a fairly recent change) has had a huge affect and increased the amount of applicants therefor increasing competition.  I get the feeling that you must have a near 4.0 average and very high test scores to even have a chance. This information is sure to make this year a very stressful year indeed.

Anyway, I am very excited to be this much closer to my end goal.  After years of talk, research, and decisions I am moving forward with the support of a wonderful family and friends with whom I could not make my goals a reality.  A huge thank you to everyone who has given me support, direction, advise, offered childcare or help with studies.  I am truly a very blessed person to be surrounded by such inspiring and helpful people.

Three Minute Fiction

I have decided to enter NPR's short story contest.  I have no idea when I will find the time or what I will write about but this is something I have thought about doing over the past few years and I finally find the story constraints agreeable. So, here goes nothing. I am taking the plunge and putting my writing out for others to judge, and by others I mean NYU creative writing graduate students.

Yikes!

Anyone have any topic ideas??  I sure could use them.

Preschool Art Show

A few of the wonderful moms at Stony Creek Preschool, program director Carol Pehrson and I are organizing an All-Student Art Show and Silent Auction as a fundraiser to benefit this non-profit preschool. I truly appreciate everything that this school has done for my child and believe wholeheartedly in their mission to provide children with hand-on real life experiences as a basic part of their education. I also strongly believe that the arts play a vital roll in the early development of children and am honored to have my child in a program that agrees and encourages each child's artistic development.

That said, Stony Creek Preschool is in need of donations. The school has recently found a permanent home in a group of temporary classrooms on the Stony Creek Elementary School campus right smack in the middle of  an asphalt slab.  In the summer months it get extremely hot and the children have no shade to play or rest in.

Not exactly ideal.

We are asking for the help of local businesses and people who would like to donate an item to be auctioned off at the silent auction or provide a cash gift.   The money raised from the event would go towards purchasing a shade structure for the pre school playground as well as into a fund used for field trips and family days.  Every dollar benefits the students directly and all donations are tax deductible.

Helping local children and a tax break!  Does it get any better?

Why yes it does...

This event is a gala event with hundreds of people attending.  If you do donate and would like some free local advertising we would be more than happy to provide handouts, business cards or hang signs. Anything to promote local commerce in our community.

If you are interested in helping out this wonderful school but dont know where to begin, here is a list of items that have been donated in the past or are current items that will be donated:

Indoor skydiving packages
Bronco memorabilia
Spa packages
Grocery store gift certificates
Loose leaf teas
Ski and lodging packages
Train rides
Restaurant gift certificates
Rockies tickets

These are just ideas as we are always looking for new businesses and items.

If you would like to get involved please post a comment or e-mail me directly at Jenn@5280doula.com I can pick up any donated items or money and provide you with the non-profit tax I.D. number.

Thank you for reading and please feel free to pass this post on to anyone who may want to help.

New Years and our household flu epidemic

A sick boy wishing he could go out and play in the newly fallen snow.

Here I am sitting on a birth / yoga ball slowly bouncing a sick sleeping baby in her carrier while attempting to attend to this sty of a house.  It is a cruel reminder of the early months (or first 9 months) of mommy-hood and the self sacrifice it takes. I have spent the last five days doing nothing but caring for two sick kids and one sick husband, all of whom came down with the flu.  I remain healthy due to my steel-strength immune system that I credit to teaching preschool.

Our first flu victim was Miles, who last week began acting lethargic. I didn't think much of it until the following two days when he began running a fever around 103 degrees and slept all day. Now, I am aware that fevers are not a big deal and that the body does in fact benefit from them, so that being said, we decided to take him to the pediatrician because he stopped drinking and keeping fluids down.

Anyway, after a quick trip to the doc Miles was prescribed Tamiflu for treatment (which knocked out the H1N1 that he got last year in less then 24 hours) and so thus began our most current issue with his Medicaid.

...Digressive background: Miles came to us from foster care and we finalized our adoption in April of 2010 and as part of the adoption agreement Miles is provided with federally-funded, state-administered  healthcare (thank you Mark, for the exact terminology). A well received blessing as those of you self-employed families know how expensive health insurance is!

New Years 2009. Just three short days after Miles came to us as our foster son.

...and now back on topic. Once we received the prescription we called around and found a Rite Aid that had the liquid Tamiflu in store (a lot easier said then done) then my wonderful husband took even more time off work to go get the prescription filled.

An hour and a half later I got a call from him.  

He informed me that Miles' insurance was denying prescription coverage.  Argh! Miles' case does not go under review for another sixteen months so there is no way the change could be legitimate and since we have not yet gotten in contact with Medicaid (holiday weekend) we are hoping to get this straightened out very soon.  But my sweet talking husband did well and the wonderful lady at the Rite Aid pharmacy took pity on us and gave us the hundred dollar medicine for free.  What a kind lady she is.

So this brings us to the night of New Years Eve: Miles is sick, Cora's temp is rising and Mark is starting to cough. 

Wonderful. 

Miles passed out on the 'Papa chair'

     

Despite the massive amount of germs being either coughed or sneezed out the celebration commenced. Mark and I were determined to make it up till midnight, unlike last year. I had braved the icy (or not-so-icy) roads to procure a tasty bottle of Prosecco and had pictured us staying up till midnight, waking Miles at his request, then toasting the new year as we while watching the ball fall. In reality it all came true - except that we watched the 'live from NY' version at 10.00.  Miles, although excited to have actually been awoken for the ball drop, was in a very poor state and could barely keep his eyes open, Cora's fever jumped to 103.4' and Mark chased his Prosecco with Nyquil.  We were all in bed by 11.00pm. So much for still being young and hip.

Me and Cora with her first box juice

Mark and Nar celebrating another year survived

Mark and Cora

Mark and Miles. Yes he is awake.

Miles trying to be excited with his apple juice

 Despite it all it was a great night.  We survived and are now fairing far better. I just hope that this night is not a foretelling of the upcoming year.

Happy New Years Everyone!

Giving Before Receiving

Christmas day at the Grandparent's house

This year we changed the way that Christmas was prepared for and celebrated in our house.  After two years of being overwhelmed by the massive amounts of consumption that occurs at children's birthday parties and holidays we are now choosing to instill a bit of selfless giving into our children.

Our new policy: we give before we receive.

To prepare for the holiday we first went through all our the kids current toys and divided them into three piles.  Pile #1 was compiled of toys to keep. But there were limits; toys in this pile had to find a permeant home off the ground and had to be played with within the month or else they went into pile #2.  Pile #2 was toys to donate and pile #3 were toys to sell.  Both kids get to keep the money from their toys that we sell at our local consignment sale but half the money goes straight into their savings accounts. The other half can go into piggy banks.

These are all the toys living on the main floor now.  I know this does not seem impressive, but if you have kids you know that this is a huge accomplishment.

I know it all sounds very confusing but I was surprised at how well it went. Miles was a great helper and choose to donate most of his toys.

As for celebrating, from now on the kids will only get five gifts each. I have to admit that I stole this idea from a wonderful blog about living simply but I can seem to find the link anywhere.  If I find it I will pass it on.

Here are examples of the five gifts:

1) Something they need
2) Something they want
3) Something to read
4) Something to do
5) Something to watch

I love the simplicity of this idea.

I love that it puts limits on our consumption but most of all...

I love that it means that I wont have to do so much shopping.

Just one of many examples of the over-consumption we are attempting to change.

Finally, our last new tradition we are borrowing from good friends. We are really attempting to focus more on the giving aspect of Christmas (if you haven't noticed by now) and thought it would be a wonderful idea to start volunteering to help out an organization of our choosing each year.

How will this work?

Well, at the beginning of the year we will find a specific charity that we would like to become more involved in.  We will spend the first part of the year learning about their mission and will find a way to donate money to them.  Then as the the year comes to an end we will, as a family, volunteer in any way needed.  This way our children are exposed to all the various aspects of life and the hardships that people face.

In 2011 we will be focusing on adoption.  Since adoption plays such a special and vital roll in our family we thought it the best way to begin our giving.

I know that these are some significant changes but we really could not be more excited for them.  The idea of simplicity and living simply has really been pulling me in the past few months ( an entirely different post as I could go on and on...) and these are just a few of the major lifestyle changes we will be making in the coming year.

Stay tuned for some exciting announcements.

...and no I am not pregnant.

What We Eat: Week 1

Yes, I know I am a week behind on this post and to be honest I am surprised I am finding the time to do it now. The food for the Christmas party is consuming me and, although I am looking forward to the event, I will be happy when Friday night has come and gone.  Maybe then I will get some things done!

As you read this please note that I am a food junky.  I love food.  I love buying food, I love preparing food and I love eating food.  Food is definitely the yuppie in my yippie.

So there is that.

I am also a stickler for organic dairy and poultry products. Okay, maybe I am a bit obsessive over organic dairy and poultry products, but it is all in attempt to keep my little girl looking like a little girl and not sprouting breasts at the tender age of eight.  I am truly terrified of this and it has kept me up a number of nights.  I know.  I am crazy, but I would rather be crazy then ignorant like I have been in the past.



So here we go:

Monday

Breakfast
     Miles: Enviro kidz cereal in organic skim milk
     Cora: Natures Path oatmeal
     Me: free-trade coffee (kept in stock by my wonderful in-laws) with organic 1/2 & 1/2

Lunch
     Miles: leftover pizza from Anthony's
     Cora: steamed organic mixed veggies
     Me: leftover pizza and hot tea

Dinner:
     Everyone: Wild salmon with french lentils and butternut squash, water, wine for the adults

Tuesday

Breakfast
     Miles: Enviro kidz cereal in organic skim milk
     Cora: organic egg and banana
     Me: free-trade coffee with organic 1/2 & 1/2, banana

Lunch
     Miles: almond butter (because I accidently bought this instead of peanut butter) and jam sandwich on whole wheat bread
     Cora: turkey and pear
     Me: pre packaged asian salad

Dinner:
     Everyone: CPK frozen pizza

Wednesday

Breakfast
     Miles:  Enviro kidz cereal in organic skim milk, banana
     Cora: Natures Path oatmeal, banana
     Me: free-trade coffee with organic 1/2 & 1/2

Lunch
     Miles: Nutella on whole wheat bread, Annies mac and cheese
     Cora: Annies mac and cheese, Organic green puffs
     Me: Corn chipotle bisque

Dinner
     Everyone: Leftover beer braised pork, lentils and smashed potatoes, water and beer for the adults

Thursday:

Breakfast
     Miles and Cora: Organic eggs and toast
     Me:  free-trade coffee with organic 1/2 & 1/2

Lunch
     Miles and Cora: turkey, cheese and crackers
     Me: Corn chipotle bisque

Dinner:
     Everyone: Gallo pinto with sourdough bread and feta cheese (Mark and Miles eat it with fried eggs as well)

Friday

Breakfast:
      Miles and Cora: Natures Path oatmeal, banana
     Me: free-trade coffee with organic 1/2 & 1/2

Lunch:
     Everyone: Annies mac and cheese

Dinner:
      Everyone: leftover gallo pinto with sourdough bread and feta cheese (Mark and Miles eat it with fried eggs as well)

Well, that was week one.  I am not going to record the food on the weekends because we are so busy that I honestly would never remember to keep track.  So other then that I think our menue gives a pretty accurate dipiction of food in our house.

Improvements? I am noticing a lack of vegetables.  In fact I only notice three vegi serving all week.  This need to change so next week I will (attempt) to improve our vegetable consumption.

Omissions?  We drink more beer and wine then I have listed but I am purposely keeping the amounts under wraps.  All I will say is that when you consistently have 20+ gallons of small batch, award winning, artisan brewed beer in your garage you may indulge every now and then.

So long for now!

Cranberry Velvet Tart

Cranberry Velvet Tart

This Thanksgiving I attempted a recipe that turned out as delicious as it is untraditional. I have to admit that I am not the biggest fan of tarts as I find them to be  a bit eggy but the tartness of the cranberries in this recipe seemed to create the perfect balance. Especially when served with freshly whipped cinnamon cream!

The only down side to this delicious dessert is the amount of time it requires. I followed all the minimum requirements and by the time the tart was cooled it took nearly five hours.



 Ingredients for the crust:

1 1/2 cups flour 

1 tablespoon fresh-grated orange rind 


2 tablespoons sugar 

1/8 teaspoon salt 


3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, chilled and cut into 1/4-inch slices 


1 large egg 


1/2 teaspoon vanilla







Ingredients for the filling:







4 cups fresh cranberries, rinsed and/picked over 


1/2 cup orange juice 


2 tablespoons lemon juice 


1 1/4 cups sugar 


Pinch of salt 


6 large egg yolks 


1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, sliced into 8 pieces 

1 tablespoon fresh-grated orange rind 


Directions:

Process flour and orange rind in a food processor until the rind has been thoroughly ground into the flour, about 30 seconds. Add sugar and salt and pulse on and off for a few seconds. Scatter butter slices over the flour mixture and pulse until the mixture resembles cornmeal, about 10 times. In a small bowl, whisk together egg and vanilla. Add to flour mixture and pulse on and off until the dough holds together. Gather up the dough, knead it manually if necessary to smooth it out, and wrap it in plastic wrap. Chill it for at least an hour or up to 2 days.

Divide dough into 8 to 10 pieces. Scatter the pieces evenly in a well-greased 11-inch tart pan or a 9 1/2-inch pie plate. Gently pat the dough into place to make a 1/4-inch-thick crust, coming as far up the edges of the pan as you can. Chill pan for 20 minutes while you heat the oven to 375.

Grease a 14-inch square piece of heavy aluminum foil. Gently fit the foil, greased side down, over the crust. Cover foil with pie weights, uncooked rice, or uncooked beans. Place crust on a baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes. Carefully lift out the foil and pie weights and set aside. Return crust to the oven and bake until golden and baked through, about 15 to 20 minutes longer. Take the crust out of the oven and reset the oven to 275.

Put cranberries, juices, sugar, and salt into a large saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring until the sugar is dissolved. Lower heat to a simmer, partially cover, and cook, stirring frequently, until berries are soft, about 25 to 30 minutes. Force cooked berries and any cooking liquid through a fine sieve or food mill to remove all the skins and seeds. (This is a boring job if you use a sieve, so have a book or willing assistant handy.)

Put the cranberry purée into a clean saucepan. Over low heat, stirring constantly, whisk in egg yolks. Continuing to stir constantly over low heat, cook the mixture until it is very thick, about 15 minutes. Then take it off the heat and whisk in the butter slices one at a time. Whisk in orange rind.

Pour the cranberry mixture into prepared crust. Bake until set, about 20 to 30 minutes. Cool completely; then chill for at least 6 hours or up to one day.