new tradition: Chocolate Babka!

Reminds me of a chocolate-filled croissant - I can't believe I made it!

Ooey-gooey chocolate and buttery bread - a match made in Heaven.

As you know from my last post, I'm on a mission to start new traditions. I wanted to find a delicious recipe that I could make and share at our family's Easter brunch - something off the beaten path. That got me thinking about our Eastern European heritage, so I began reading about all sorts of traditions hoping to try one on.

Fast forward to yesterday when I made my first chocolate babka, a yummy bread oozing with chocolate filling. I found the recipe on http://www.allrecipes.com/ which is an excellent site for finding any recipe under the sun. You can keep your own virtual recipe box, too! (Now, I would never trade my tattered, true blue cook books, but they can't possibly hold all the recipes that this online site does - no disrespect.) It took nearly 3 hours to make, but worth every minute. YUM!

full of potential...

As spring rolls around and retailers hype up the usual commercial junk surrounding Easter, I do my best to tune it out. Holidays shouldn't be about material things but time spent with loved ones celebrating a meaningful cause.

We are not a religious family, so Easter is not about the crucifix for us. But I still love Easter and the memories I have of it as a child with my family. So what's a girl -- a new mom -- to do?

Considering that Easter's most prominent features are Pagan and tied to the season (eggs, flowers, chicks, and even the Easter Bunny), it makes perfect sense that our holiday is about celebrating spring.

Easter then, to me, is the joy of life awaking and new life emerging. It is the promise of potential in us all after a long, cold winter.

Everything is alive and new again. Buds are on the dogwoods in the yard and tulips are pushing up through the ground. Birds and frogs are calling. It is a magical, sunny occasion worthy of celebrating each year.

In my quest to establish traditions for my son, I've been brainstorming what I can do to make the holiday more meaningful. Our heritage is decidedly Eastern European so I thought it would be fun to bake a chocolate babka for Easter brunch this year. I'm going to attempt to make a "blessing basket" to share with our family as well. After all, we are so very blessed, now and always.

So far, I've painted some wooden eggs. But the painting continues and so does the potential of our new Easter traditions...I wonder how Great Uncle J will feel about painting an egg for E?

for my homegirls

Today started out as one of those hectic days. You know the kind - race to get the diaper bag together, find shoes, make coffee for the car ride, don't forget the gift, is my kid dressed warm enough? - kind of days.

There was no make up involved. I'm certain a brush never met my hair before it was whisked up in a messy bun. I grabbed the worn-a-couple-of-time jeans to be sure I was comfy. I was headed to my girlfriend's house. I knew she wouldn't mind. In fact, I could almost bet money that she was in the same state as me.

This play date was way overdue and it turned out to be just the medicine I needed, despite the hectic start. I breathed a sigh of relief when we finally arrived and I hugged my dear friend. Even if a few months pass, it doesn't matter. We pick up right where we left off. Only, instead of talking about boys and homework (like we did in high school) we talk about toys and housework.

I don't know what I would do without my confidants, but this is for you: Thank you for always being on my side AND for playing the devil's advocate when I need it. You keep me grounded and laughing. Thank you for being my constant support and sounding board. I cherish your friendship and love.

I am the perfect parent*

*I had a conversation yesterday with someone who said "I'm just not into reading blogs. Who would be self-centered enough to write a blog and think people actual care what they are doing? Everyone just talks about how perfect they are and it's such crap."

Point taken.

So it behooved me to go back to my blog and scan all 34 posts to date. Was I the braggy blogger she was referring to? GULP. Guilty as charged. Well, sort of...

That got me thinking. Now, wait a minute: blogs are about so much more than boasty moms. In case you hadn't caught on, the title of today's post is OBVIOUSLY not true. I'm not a perfect parent - no one is. My blog is not dedicated to my "perfection". But you know what? I'm proud of my efforts at parenting. Yes, proud. Because it's NOT EASY being a mom. And if other people find inspiration, humor, or useful ideas in my posts, then my mission is accomplished.

I love to celebrate the amazing moments of life with my family and this blog will serve as a tangible record long after I'm gone. Will anyone care then? Maybe not, but at least my son will know how much he is adored and loved by his mama.

Besides my personal reasons for blogging as a record me and a fun pit stop for followers, the larger blogging community is a great sounding board for feedback and advice. I know that if I have a question, I can throw it out on a post and get honest comments from people (though strangers) who care.

I don't think of other people's blogs as "crap". When I read other blogs, I laugh out loud, sob uncontrollably, raise an eyebrow, or just go "wow!". Your blogs enrich my life, and I mean that. When I read about other families and how they spend their time, it makes me think about my own family and what we value. Some posts even call my ideals into question. I really love those posts!

It's true, I spend lots of time bragging about my adorable child and my awesome husband on this blog. But for me, blogging is about sharing and connecting. It's important to me to be expressive as an artist and pragmatic as an educator. As a blogger, well, let this be my own little tell all. Take it for what it's worth.

And to the bahumbug that doesn't want to read my blog, this is for you. Ignore as you will.

in the yard



E's new digs. Thanks for the tools, Gram!



 Another day to play outside! After the morning rain passed, the weather cleared up and we couldn't resist spending the afternoon in the yard.

I was skeptical about how much yard work could be accomplished with a toddler. (Last year I had the bumbo to rely on.) Turns out, if I keep my pruners in my back pocket, I can clip shrubs all over the yard as I chase him.

Some people seem surprised that E can stay occupied outside for long stretches of time. We don't have a plastic play house, swing set, or other such structures. But there's no big secret here. I don't entertain him. There's no song and dance. Instead, there's just a yard with loads of play potential.

As I go about my business of trimming, pulling, and pruning, my toddler carries out his own agenda. I give him the freedom to experience his small piece of the world in his own way. The environment is already ripe for learning, I just have to make sure it's safe for him to explore. (And obviously I always have my eye on him.) Twigs, grass, seeds, tools, watering cans, plant labels, pots, feeders - anything one would typically expect to find in a yard - is excellent fodder for him.

I'd love to hear all about your backyard adventures. What's your child's favorite thing to do outside?

for your coffee break: cinnamon biscotti

This is my version of biscotti adapted from a recipe I ripped out of a Real Simple magazine. Here's what you need:

-1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
-1/2 cup yellow cornmeal
-1 1/4 tsp. baking powder
-1/4 tsp. salt
OPTIONAL: 1 cup of finely chopped nuts (pecans, walnuts, or almonds)
___

-3 eggs, lightly beaten
-3/4 cup sugar
-1/2 cup vegetable or canola oil
-1/4 tsp. almond or vanilla extract
-1/2 tsp. cinnamon
-1/2 tsp. nutmeg

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Combine first five ingredients in a large bowl.
In a separate bowl, stir eggs and remaining ingredients.
Gradually add to flour mixture until dry ingredients are moist.
Divide dough in half. Shape each portion in a 12x2 inch log.
Place 3 inches apart on a greased baking sheet (or sheet lined with parchment paper).
Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.
Cool for 10 minutes.
Cut logs diagonally into 3/4 inch slices.
Bake at 350 degrees for 7 minutes. Turn biscotti over and bake for 7 more minutes.
Cool. Yield: 2 dozen.

Dunk in coffee for a treat! If you want to get really snazzy, drizzle or dip in chocolate - cool then serve.

word up

More words from E at 16 months old, translation provided:

raff = giraffe
dis = this
bapf = bath
k-k-k-k = cluck cluck cluck
mmm = mmm (like "mmm I love this banana")
baba = bottle
wawa = water
pop = pop, as in Pop Pop Ken
Jess = Aunt Jess

Sorry, Gram. Still no word for you!