Why Not?

Seeing this just made my day. Thanks to J. Chevais at No Place Like It (a longtime favorite of mine) for sending it to me after seeing it in one of the Paris English-speaking newspapers.

Discover Jacksonville

Have you signed up for the newsletter yet? The first edition is set to go out tomorrow morning with one of my favorite recipes, a giveaway for three lucky newsletter subscribers, coupons, plus a sneak peak at this month's Write-Away contest and some of the good things coming up. Make sure you also responded to the confirmation email that was sent after you registered--I show that a little over 100 people have signed up but not responded to the confirmation email and will miss it!

Today's travel guest post comes from Kelli of Wild Squirrel who guides us through northern Florida in a family-friendly and cost effective way. The mother of four and married for sixteen years it's wonderful to have her insight so let's make her feel welcome.

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When I have the money, I usually don't have time; when I have time, I usually don't have the money! If you fit into the latter category and you find yourself in the north Florida (some would say south Georgia) area, check out these options for some fun, family-friendly activities that won't break the bank.

Kids Kampus is a city-owned park in Jacksonville, Florida, that boasts an active educational and recreational offering including miniature replicas of popular downtown landmarks, a splash water park, Fire Museum, and open air pavilions and picnic tables that can be reserved for personal or group use.

While the target audience is elementary school-aged children, even the youngest and oldest among us can enjoy a relaxing morning or afternoon with the kids along with the cool breeze coming off of the St. John's River while sitting on a picnic blanket under a shade tree. It's a popular destination during the summer, especially for birthday parties and group get-togethers. Best of all, it's free!

According to the web site, The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens was built on the home site of Arthur and Ninah Cummer. The beautiful gardens were created by Mrs. Cummer and are considered one of the museum's glories. Stop and pick up an art kit at the rear of the building where the gardens stretch out before you and sketch a scene or two. Materials are free for patrons' use while exploring the gardens (but must be returned before leaving). While the museum's permanent art collection can be viewed online, Art Connections, a series of interactive exhibits, are best experienced in-person.

Activities include collage making, virtual painting, a cozy reading area, and a room where your silhouetted dance moves are captured on a large screen. It brings back memories of a childhood show where children dashed across the television screen trailed by their shadows in psychedelic colors. Anyone else remember that episode of Sesame Street? Or was it Zoom? Anyway, if you've ever been nervous about taking your children to a museum, leave your fears behind and enjoy Tuesday evenings between 4 pm and 9 pm free of charge thanks to various local sponsors.

Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park is a great option for the outdoor enthusiast. Stay overnight in one of the wooded campsites, walk the sandy beaches, fish in the freshwater lake, or visit the kids water park, all for around $3 per car load. You might also bring your bike or volleyball, and certainly don't forget the sunscreen and picnic lunch. This is an all-day adventure!

Brush up on your history while in the area by stopping at the Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve and Fort Caroline National Memorial. This 46,000-acre preserve is staffed and owned by a variety of entities including the National Park Service as well as state, city, and non-profit agencies. The National Park Service sites are free and open to the public while some other areas charge either a per person or per vehicle fee. Visitors can explore Kingsley Plantation, the oldest plantation house still in existence in Florida, watch for over 150 species of birds (among the highest in the US), and learn about the European Protestants' colonization of Florida, which happened to precede the Plymouth colony by around 50 years! Again, pack a lunch and make an afternoon or day of it.

From March until August a series of traditional events are held at Jacksonville Beach's Sea Walk Pavilion. Beach lovers, fishing fanatics, and symphony goers will all find something of interest. Families on a budget, however, will be most excited about the Moonlight Movie Series. During May and June, a different movie is shown each week for approximately four weeks outside under the starry sky. Folks bring their lawn chairs, blankets, and munchies, and take in a classic such as Jurassic Park or Ferris Bueller's Day Off. A children's play area is also nearby.

These attractions are really just the tip of the peninsula; other low-cost entertainment options include Tree Hill Nature Center (and the Annual Butterfly Festival--coupon link here), Huguenot Memorial Park where we can easily spot starfish and other small sea life, and the Ritz Theatre and La Villa Museum featuring free admission as part of the downtown First Wednesday Art Walk. So, on your next road trip south to Disney World in Orlando, feel free to stop in the third most populated city on the East coast behind New York City and Philly, the largest city in land area in the contiguous US, and home to the St. John's River, one of the few rivers in the entire country that flows north. It's Jacksonville. "Where Florida begins."

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Congratulations to the giveaway winner! Last week's Puddlegear winner was Vincent from Madison, Wisconsin and this week's La Cense Beef, Sunsweet Dried Plums and Tyson Foods giveaway winner is Charles of High Ridge, Missouri. That should make for a nice spring.

Sponsored by AK Easy Job.com, Alaska's most comprehensive job site and by and Dimples and Dandelions with the Serena and Lily Bedding Collection for children.

Shackleton's Antarctic Adventure

This past week I checked out a documentary at the library that looked interesting. Who says you can't judge a book by its cover? I do all the time and this one looked pretty good. It was called Shackleton's Antarctic Adventure and it was amazing.

In 40 minutes it tells the story of Sir Earnest Shackleton, a polar explorer who set out to cross Antarctica on foot 100 years ago.

His wooden ship, The Endurance, carried 26 men plus himself and almost immediately after leaving South Georgia Island the voyage ran into trouble--the ship got caught in the ice and was frozen solid in an ice floe.

I won't give away all the details of the story but Shackleton's journey is considered by many to be the supreme feat of human endurance and remains unparalleled today. It's one of those stories where you wonder how people could survive to do what they did and how one person could make such a difference. Very inspiring.

Anyway, if you like great cinematography and an epic story then you ought to see if your own library has a copy--I think it was originally created as an IMAX movie and it's narrated by Kevin Spacey.

Out of curiosity I looked a little farther into Shackleton's history and found a few interesting pieces of information. It appears that he was one of those individuals that was constantly looking for the next get rich quick scheme. Not in a shady way necessarily but always looking for the fastest path to fame and riches.

It spoke of his boundless ambition and charisma but he was not someone who was terribly successful by today's standards. Financially he was a mess. One has to wonder what his family life was like, being gone on expeditions and being lost on ice floes tends to dilute the matrimonial strength you know? And after his most famous adventure in 1917 he began to drink heavily, eventually dying of a heart attack before ever discovering or exploring anything of importance on his own.

In fact his colleague, Captain Scott, with whom he sailed on an earlier Antarctic voyage, was the real hero of the day with much more popularity and commemoration than Shackleton ever received. Dying in relative obscurity Shackleton wasn't anyone of particular note until recently when motivational speakers and executive training programs discovered his story and have turned it to their advantage as an example of strong, courageous leadership and a "people first" mentality that is becoming so vogue in business circles.

But what I find interesting about Shackleton's story isn't his hipster executive leadership skills (I doubt he saw himself that way at all) but instead how different his day is from ours.

When Shackleton looked for recruits for his 1914-1917 voyage he put up a notice that read:

Men wanted for hazardous journey. Small wages. Bitter cold. Long months of complete darkness. Constant danger. Safe return doubtful. Honour and recognition in case of success.

Can you imagine someone using that as a recruitment poster today? Unions, OSHA, lawyers, you name it, they'd all be breathing down the man's neck with threats of lawsuits for even contemplating such a dangerous undertaking but Shackleton had 5,000 men show up for the job.

I can't help but wonder what it says about us as a people who have redefined the word "risk" to mean "the possibility of losing money." We've tried so desperately to remove danger from life--war should be free from casualties, every piece of property should be insured against loss, and no smart person should do anything without a waiver--that I can't help but think the process has removed more than just the threat of physical harm from our experience.

I'd prefer to live a life free from pain of course--who doesn't?--but facing physical danger and hardship strengthens the character and digging down inside and doing something brave and uncomfortable and risky makes you face yourself. If we're constantly trying to find the easy way, that path of least resistance we're probably missing out on unique opportunities for growth.

I guess I'm saying that we've become very, very soft. We panic about the economy in a time of record abundance, we gripe about our portfolios and not being able to retire at 65 when our grandparents expected to be dead at 65, we whine about the weather when we can get in the car and drive to the beach. We look at physical dangers--from pesticides in our food to every minute carcinogen on the market today--as things to be systematically eradicated regardless of time or cost while all the while we're running to therapists and doctors trying to be happy.

What would Shackleton think of us?

Sponsored by Hip Hop Baby for learning through music and movement and by Manfred Mantis for play sets for play equipment for the 21st century.

Volcanoes on the Side

For those who have been asking, yes Mt. Redoubt has been erupting all over the place and causing problems here in Anchorage (that's a picture that was in the Anchorage Daily News of lightning around the eruption--very impressive no?)

Earlier this week it erupted but being that we're 200 miles away and the wind was favoring Homer instead of Anchorage we were clear of any problems but Saturday the winds shifted after four quick eruptions and now we've got ash.

You think snow in March is depressing well be glad you don't have snow covered in ash. It's not pretty though it should be good for the grass and garden this spring (if you want to look on the bright side).

So we're rather quarantined inside until things blow over. Church was canceled today and Lillian is very worried that we'll be covered in lava. David wanted to know if we'd be buried in a "pyroclastic cloud." Yes, he said that.

I keep explaining that we're going to be fine but after a day being inside with kids going crazy I've considered telling her the lava will be coming if they don't behave.

On with my regularly scheduled post . . .

Lemon Tart with a Blueberry Blanket

I've recently just discovered tarts. Don't get me wrong, it's not like I'm not over the pie situation or anything it's just that I've decided that there might be room in my heart for another pastry-style dessert right there next to my beloved pumpkins, chocolate silks, cherries, apples and lemon meringues.

My mother gave me a coupon to a local housewares store for my birthday several years ago and I saw a fancy tart pan and thought, "Hmmm . . . I don't have a tart pan . . . maybe I should have a tart pan . . . having a tart pan would mean I could make tarts . . . I think I would really, really like tarts . . . "

So I plopped down my coupon and got this fancy schmancy pan, put it in my cupboard and there it sat. It wasn't until this past month when I remembered it, dug it out and decided that this was the month that I was going to reopen the possibility of a relationship.

The results were wonderfully pleasing. In fact I've made a couple tarts since then and what I like is that they're easier to make then a full-on pie because the pastry is easier to fit in the pan, there's no fitting the top crust or folding over and crimping, none of the stuff that just takes precious minutes away from the part I like best: having a finished pie ready to eat.

Long story less long here's my most recent tart love. Any basic lemon pudding will do--if you want to simply things use a refrigerated pie crust and a box of cook-and-serve lemon pudding that would be perfectly acceptable. And for the top, raspberry or strawberry or cherry would also be a good substitute. Not as good as blueberry but still really good. I hope the recipe I'm including for the blueberry topping makes the right amount, when I whipped this together I eyeballed it and it came out fine so I'm trying to be as exact as I can.

one refrigerated pie crust
whipping cream

For lemon filling:
6 tablespoons cornstarch
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/4 teaspoons
1/2 cup cold water
1/2 cup lemon juice
1 1/2 cups boiling water
3 tablespoons butter
3 egg yolks

For topping:
2 cups blueberries
3/4 cup water
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons cornstarch

Form pie crust into the greased tart pan. Prebake according to directions on the box and let it cool completely.

For the lemon filling combine the sugar, cornstarch and salt in a pan. Slowly stir in the cold water and lemon juice then while whisking add the boiling water. Gradually bring the mixture to a boil, stirring constantly. Once boiling remove from the heat and stir in the butter. In a separate bowl beat the egg yolks then add about 1/3 cup of the hot lemon filling to the egg yolks, beating to combine. Then add the entire lemon-egg mixture back to the pan and return to the heat and cook for about a minute longer until thickened.

Allow the mixture to cool a bit with a piece of plastic wrap over the top to prevent a skin from forming. Once it's cooled a bit pour it into the prepared tart crust.

In a smaller saucepan combine the ingredients for the blueberry topping, stirring thoroughly. Bring to a boil until thickened. Allow it to cool a bit before spooning it onto the top of the tart.

Serve with whipped cream on top.

Sponsored by Pak Naks--Decorate your stuff with these adorable rubber charms and by Best Dressed Tables for custom table cloths and linens.

La Cense Beef, Sunsweet Dried Plums and Tyson Foods Giveaway

La Cense Beef is a company that produces the fanciest, free-roaming cows eating gourmet Montana grass and they are then turned into the fanciest all-natural, lean and luscious cuts of meat.

Now as much as I love to cook I tend to be very bargain-basement-minded with my meats not because I don't like a good steak but because trying to cook for this crowd means keeping things as inexpensive as I can so I'm not used to some of the more select cuts. But having said that I was very curious to see if I could tell a difference--to see if all the hype translated into flavor.

Well they sent me one of their pot roasts and the nice thing is, they're completely cooked. You just heat them to 145 degrees and you've got an instant feast. So last Sunday I took out the roast, prepared it according to directions and warmed it just as the instructions said.

I took it out, let it stand 10 minutes to solidify the juices then sliced it up and set it with a pretty presentation right in the middle of the table. I called to the family that dinner was ready, they ran into the dining room and do you know the first thing out of those little heathens' mouths?

"JELLO! Mom made JELLO!"

[She slaps her forehead in disbelief]

Of course when everyone was served and had taken their first bite the next thing they said was "Wow this meat is tender!"

And that was the general consensus, that though La Cense Beef is quite lean from the way the cattle are raised that the roast was amazingly tender. Of course the family is used to my pathetic attempts at pot roasts where I pretty much rely on a nuclear explosion to flash cook things in time for dinner but regardless of the our history with meat we all thought it was by far the best we'd ever had.

Now as I've mentioned, this is pretty fancy beef. And frankly it may not be something you spring for every day but with Easter dinner looming on the horizon this is the perfect way to do something a little special to celebrate. I'd love to try some of their other cuts--I can imagine how amazing a Eye Round Roast would be--and if your roasting skills leave something to be desired then get their fully cooked cuts and forget about the stress.

This week's winner will receive, courtesy of La Cense Beef, a five pound pot roast of their own plus a pound of ground beef and a t-shirt. You'll be ready to go.

In addition, for the winner I also happen to have coupons for free packages of Sunsweet Ones (a $4 value) which are their new individually wrapped dried plums and of Tyson Foods bagged or boxed products (a $10 value) good through the end of this year.

With deals like this you'll be set for the month.

And by the way, have you signed up for the Scribbit Newsletter yet? There are all sorts of extras you won't be getting here on the blog--if you like giveaways you'll want to sign up!

Here's how to win:

Before 12 am Monday morning click here to reach the giveaway entry form then enter your name and email. I will pick one of the names at random, contact the winner via their email and publish the winner's first name and home town in next Tuesday's post. See the bottom of the entry form for more details.

This giveaway is only open to readers with a U.S. address.

Someone I'd Like You to Meet: Annette Lyon from The Lyon's Tale

This months' Write-Away Contest judge was the talented Annette Lyon. Her blog is The Lyon's Tale but beyond that her sixth novel (yes, sixth, people!) was released earlier this month and is called Tower of Strength. If you like historical fiction I suggest you check it out stat.

Ms. Lyon was kind enough to answer some questions I put to her and of course I focused on the topic of writing. What else?

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What kind of benefits does writing a blog have over writing a novel?

While fiction is my first love, I have to say that blogging does have some great perks.

First, you can write a post and publish it in a short period, start to finish—in minutes or hours, depending on the post. A novel can take year before you see the final product.

Also, with blogging you can be read right away and get feedback fast. With a book, you write it, submit it, go through the entire publishing pipeline, and even when it’s on shelves, you often have to wait weeks to get a review or hear anything from readers.

What are the differences in writing techniques?

Blogs and novels are totally different animals. When you write a post that’s just a few hundred words long, you can grab the reader, talk about whatever is on your mind, and move on. A novel has to be complex enough to maintain reader interest for somewhere in the neighborhood of 95,000 words. Another element is that blog posts stand alone, while each scene and chapter of a novel has to work together as part of a much bigger whole.

Would you say one is harder than the other?

Fiction is harder for me for the simple reason that it’s more complex than blogging. There are so many plates to keep in the air (point of view, pacing, conflict and characterization, just to name a few). Another issue is that with a novel you have to please so many people. With blogging, there’s no publisher, editor, reviewer, or even reader with expectations hinging on something so much bigger than a blog post. In that sense, blogging is less scary.

How do you encourage your children to write and improve their skills?

The same way a lot of parents do—first and foremost by reading to them and letting them see me read. I still read aloud to them, even to my teenager. We often talk about books that we’ve read together and by ourselves, and they love discussing ideas for their own stories.

I’ve been pleasantly surprised at some things they’ve learned just from being around me and my critique group (which often meets at our house). The other day, my fourth grader complained about a book she was reading—how the author was telling instead of showing and had picked a poor tense to tell the story in. It was great.

How long does it take you to complete a novel from inception to publication? Can you give us an idea of the time line?

As you can imagine, a lot depends on the individual book and the publisher. For me, it’s not unusual for the entire process to take roughly two years. I’ve had both shorter and longer time lines, though.

Do you feel it’s necessary to hire a literary agent if you have a manuscript you’d like to see published? Why or why not?

Yes and no. It really depends on who you’re trying to get published with. My historical novels are with a regional publisher that doesn’t work with literary agents. Having one wouldn’t have helped me break in with them.

On the other hand, a writer shooting for New York publishing house almost has to have an agent. With the flood of submissions, editors don’t have time to read them all, and many won’t even look at un-agented material. Agents are the gatekeepers who wade through the slush pile.

I have some manuscripts that don’t really fit what my regional publisher does, so while I have no plans to leave them, I’ll be querying agents soon for those other projects.

How would you advise getting an agent?

Learn the process and follow the rules. You want to be professional. That means if a particular agent wants a query letter and the first ten pages, send that and only that. Another might want only snail-mail queries, while others take only electronic submissions. Find out what each agent wants and give it to them.

There are lots of resources out there that teach writers how to find an agent. Follow agent blogs like Nathan Bransford, Pub Rants, Janet Reid, and Query Shark to learn the ropes of what to do (and not do).

To find agents, use agent directories (such as Agent Query or Publisher’s Marketplace). Zero-in on ones that are a good fit for what you write. There’s no point in querying an agent with your awesome cookbook if they represent only young adult fiction.

Finally, know that you should never, ever pay an agent. Reputable agents make money when you do. They don’t charge reading or editing fees.

I’ve heard debate over the “write about what you know” rule. Do you agree that people should stick to writing about their own experiences?

If I believed I could only write what I know, I wouldn’t have six books published. My belief is that while what you know can be a fantastic jumping off point, keeping to that can be pretty limiting.

Since I write historical fiction, I do a lot of research about things I know nothing about firsthand. I often consult experts for help, and I’ve learned many fascinating things in the process.

I prefer to change the rule to, “Write what you’re willing to learn about” and “Write what you can imagine.” (What if J. K. Rowling had written only what she knew?)

How do you define success? Both as a mom and as a blogger?

As a mother, I believe a big part of my job is to prepare my children to be adults. I want them to be independent, well-adjusted, and moral. So anytime I see my kids maturing, trying out their own wings, and being kind to others, I feel like that’s a kernel of mothering success. My other big job as a mom is helping my children to have faith in God—a trickier one to measure, since a person’s spiritual life is hard to gauge, but it’s so important.

As far as blogging goes, I keep redefining success. I think there’s a point where most bloggers define it based on the number of hits and comments they’re getting. While I won’t pretend I don’t notice those things, I’m also to the point where the rewards of blogging are bigger. I love the interaction with readers—making personal connections and finding out how others think and feel and what their view of the world is.

I consider several bloggers dear friends even though we’ve never met in person. Those kinds of relationships are something I never anticipated when I started, but they’re definitely something that makes it worth the effort.

What’s your biggest grammatical pet peeve?

Caveat here: While I’m known for my grammar peeves, I don’t really notice them on blogs and in casual conversation, so there’s no need to get paranoid that I’ll get an eye twitch reading someone’s blog!

One peeve that drives me bonkers is when “less” is used in place of “fewer,” which I see constantly on commercials (such as, “less calories”). If you can count the items, then it should be “fewer.” If it’s a general quantity, it’s “less.” So it’s, “less filling, fewer calories.” You’d never know that based on the ads we see, though.

What’s your favorite book on writing and improving your writing skills?

I have two: Stephen King’s On Writing is just fantastic. And Jack M. Bickham’s Scene and Structure was a huge eye-opener on how plot works.

What do you think the most challenging thing about being a woman today is?

Today’s woman has a huge challenge based on something no other generation has had: we have so many choices and opportunities.

We’re almost bombarded with choices. That’s great on one hand, but finding a balance between them all is a struggle. Each woman must answer the question for herself on how to manage her time and energy between God, spouse, children, home, career, passions, hobbies, service, and eighty-five other things (including blogging!) that pull at her. The trick is that almost all of these things are good, so it’s not as if we’re choosing a good thing over a bad thing. It’s between good things and other good things. There’s just no room for everything.

Sponsored by Dimples and Dandelions with the Serena and Lily Bedding Collection for children and by Pink and Blue for unique baby gifts to make them "ooh" and "ahh."

Completely Frivolous Kitchen Gadgets That I Completely Covet

There are a couple kitchen stores in town that I love browsing. If I'm in the area and don't have anywhere to go I'm very happy just strolling the aisles, checking out the interesting things that I'd really love to have but that would never fit in my cupboards.

I suppose it's a good thing that I have limited cabinet space because if I didn't I'm such a sucker for all sorts of kitchen gadgets I'd be like the James Bond of the kitchen with a gadget for each occasion and every possible kitchen emergency.

Here are a few of my most recent covets.

1. European Drinking Chocolate Machine
Retails for--are you sitting down??--$1,169. Who says the economy isn't on its feet and kicking?

But get a load of the description: "Designed for mixing and dispensing espresso-like shots of drinking chocolate" and oh how lovely it looks. I can just imagine it sitting on my counter and then I can imagine myself putting my little cup under the spout and a rich velvety river of chocolate flowing. Wait--make that my giant MUG under the spout and a rich velvety blah blah blah . . .

Apparently they justify the price by claiming it does a couple other things such as dispensing "cream sauces, drawn butter for seafood, cheese sauces or gravy" because darn it if I didn't always wish I could get me a big ol' mug o' gravy in the morning. What a pick-me-up.

Maybe at a buffet? I hope?

2. A Stainless Steel Whipped Cream Dispenser
"What's wrong with the plain old Reddi Whip containers?" you ask. Nothing at all my fine friend except these look 50,000 times cooler!

Look at the sleek design, the luscious curving handle, it all just speaks of total aerosolic power.

Is aerosolic a word? At any rate, you can put your whipping cream into the canister, squeeze the trigger and have whipped cream in seconds. I think it must come with some kind of an air tank or way to pressurize the cream--though for $79.00 you'd think they could at least include something as simple as the extra air, right?

Looking this sexy do you think anyone would dare sneak a squirt in their mouths when no one's looking? Never mind, dumb question.

3. Nordicware Aluminum Bug Pan
Why does it appeal to me to picture myself making chocolate cake shaped like a dragonfly? I don't even like dragonflies but this pan (price: $31.95) is really too adorable.

I even like the way they've shaped the whole thing like a leaf--how cute is that?

Of course if I bought this pan I'd use it once or twice before my kids were too old to appreciate the finer things: like ladybug-shaped jello cubes and blueberry muffin bumblebees.

Darn it all but it's cute. And they even make one for little tiny castles. Now tell me you're not getting all mushy too.

4. La Cloche Bread Pan
Now this may be a little silly but I've been dying to try it out to see if it really makes a difference in how good homemade bread tastes.

It's stone wear and supposedly you soak it in water and let it heat up with your oven before using it to bake in but it's supposed to mimic the effects of a brick oven.

Do you think it works? For $44.99 it seems a little pricey to gamble with but it's so very very tempting. I had a pizza stone and while it worked alright it was always pretty tricky to get that pizza onto the stone without dumping my pizza all over the bottom of my oven. Not pretty.

5. Aluminum French Bread Pan
No this seems like more of my style. A long loaf pan for making baguettes. And you know if I had this pan it'd be all baguettes all the time around here. Nothing but baguettes in the morning, baguettes in the evening.

For at least a day or two before I decided it was tiring. Though at $6.49 it's certainly a better investment than the brick oven dome thingy. I don't think I have a cabinet that would comfortably fit this pan in even if I did break down and buy it.

6. Blue Silicone Butter Mold
Did you know that for all this time you've been suffering with butter that comes in cubes??

Well the pain is over because you can get this gorgeous little tray and shape your butter into beautiful seashells. Good for a party I'd imagine.

And while I'm making fun there's this side of me that really, really wants one. It's only $8 but I'm kind of wondering if the cost would even begin to cover the mockery I would have to endure around here if I served a meal where the butter was placed out in pretty little seashells. I can just see the guys' faces now.

So for now I remain butter mold-less. And I wait.

7. Iced Tea and Lemonade Dispenser
Tell me this wouldn't be fun to have--you'd be your very own 7-11! I don't do iced tea but I can picture one of these on the counter filled with raspberry lemonade and me strolling by for a glass whenever the whim would hit. Probably about every 13 minutes.

I wonder if you can get the kind that plug in and throw up the punch in a spray all over the inside of the container like a real convenience store thing? That would probably elevate me to World's Coolest Mom. I suppose one of those would cost more than the $38.99 this one does.

8. Electric Donut Maker
Answering the question: What do you get when you cross George Foreman with Dunkin Donuts? An electronic donut maker that makes "six delectable rings in under three minutes." Hmmm . . . I'm very tempted because I could eat six deletable rings in under three minutes and this sounds like the machine to keep pace with my appetite but I'm suspicious that they taste like real donuts. They're probably way to healthy to taste good.

As I recall my mother had one of these gadgets when I was a kid. Seems like she got it for Christmas the same year as I got a long-playing record of Disney's The Rescuers and The Jungle Book because I vaguely recall eating tiny muffins shaped like donuts while listening to those stories over and over again.

I'd really like to try this and see if they're good but it's $39.99 to find out. Anyone else with mouths-on experience for this?

9. 4-Tiered Mini Cake Pan
You see here at the right a cake pan made to produce the cutest, the most brilliant, the tiniest little mini wedding cakes.

Forget the obvious question about why I'd need a bunch of miniature wedding cakes in my life this really this isn't about need is it? Yes it's $29.99 (gasp) of pure consumerism and it makes no apologies.

And before you condemn me for wanting a pan that makes mini wedding cakes let me just mention that dessert's at my place.

10. A Chef's Blow Torch
This one really does serve a purpose--really. You may think a blow torch is rather out of place in a kitchen but I'm determined that one day I actually will get one of these beauties.

You see if you love creme brulee you'll know that you really can't get that burnt sugar shell on top by merely broiling the custards. Oh the recipes will try to claim that you can but they're just leading you on because you cannot get the same even thickness and perfectly sweet-yet-caramelized topping with a regular old oven.

You need a butane blow torch like this one listed at $34.43--and really, that's a pretty good price because I've seen them for much more. Maybe it's the butane that's expensive. You know, the torch is $15 but the butane to make the flame is another $70? Maybe that's what their game is.

I suppose if I think about it $34.43 is a lot cheaper than going over to Southside Bistro for their raspberry creme brulees twenty times a year. I'd be saving money by buying this. Yea.

11. An Electric Tortilla Maker
Sure you can buy your tortillas at the grocery store, sure you can roll them by hand but that's how the silly people who don't have electric tortilla makers do it.

I have torn feelings over this--I've been itching to try to make my own tortillas. I buy the take-and-bake ones they have at Costco and love them but what if I could take it up a notch and make my own? Would they be even that much better?

But then I came across this $79.99 little showstopper and had to laugh. I mean isn't the tortilla kind of the embodiment of earthy, basic, humble food? It doesn't get any more down to earth than tortillas folks and then the good people at Saachi appliances find a way to take that staff of life and turn it into a kitchen status symbol that so tempts me. It seems too ironic.

I doubt I'll get one of these--where on earth would I put it anyway? Unless I decided to open up some competition for the local Taco Bell people, then it would make sense, but nonetheless I find myself desiring it.

12. Mini Tagines
I've been wanting a tagine for quite a while and I'm pretty sure I'll eventually break down and splurge for one. Or maybe I'll ask for it for my birthday or Christmas though if I do I'm pretty much guaranteed to get it--for some reason anytime I ask for a gift item that in any way contributes to the food consumption around here it seems to appear like magic under the tree but I'm not sure I want to use up a birthday wish like that. It has to be some-thing to make me use up a birthday wish on it.

Anyway, I've wanted a tagine which is used for baking Moroccan-style dishes but they're terribly expensive here and will run upwards of $70.

Then I saw the minis. Tiny little itty bitty tagines that are so small I'm not sure that they're big enough for a full serving, they're better for roasting a head of garlic if you ask me, but darn it they're so cute who cares? Who cares that they're running $20 a piece here in town (i.e. $120 for a set of six to feed this crew) I want them, I love them, I need them. That is all I have to say.

13. Bread Bowl Makers
I nearly bought this pan a couple years ago I was so intrigued by the idea of being able to pour in batter or bread dough and have it come out shaped like a little bowl suitable for filling with whatever my heart desires--fruit, chili, pudding--the sky's the limit. Or actually my kids are the limit, I doubt they'd allow a bread bowl filled with cream of asparagus soup for example.

At $16.95 they're not a bad price but I keep looking at the design and thinking "I can do that without buying a fancy pan" though have I got my fanny up out of the chair and done it yet? Nope. One of these days.

14. Apple Bakers
I saw these at Christmas time a year ago and thought they looked so homey and sweet--anyone tried one before? You're supposed to put an apple on the shaft and it bakes it perfectly. At least that's the sales pitch.

You can sprinkle stuff in there while it bakes and I've read you can use them for potatoes and squash as well. I think I can smell the cinnamon-apple smell right now if I close my eyes. At under $10 on this site they're cheap enough to test drive without breaking the bank and I think I may get one some time.

Sponsored by Manfred Mantis for play sets for play equipment for the 21st century and by Alaska Easy Job.com, Alaska's most comprehensive job website.

Perfecting Your Easter Egg Hunt and Other Easter Crafts

Thank you for all the good wishes on the new Scribbit Newsletter (have you signed up yet?) I'm looking forward to the first issue April 1st just in time for Easter but in the meantime if you're planning an Easter egg hunt this season and if that Easter egg hunt happens to include children (just hypothetically of course) then I've got a great tip to share.

Color code your Easter egg hunt.

Buy plastic eggs in different colors, one color for each child and then assign each child that color for the hunt. The beauty of the system is that if you have children of different ages and they each must find a certain color egg then you can hide all the light blue eggs in tough places for your oldest child while also hiding the pink ones in easy spots for the toddlers to find (you might save one extra empty egg to give to each child at the beginning to show them exactly color they're looking for).

That way you don't have a pack of older kids coming through and strip mining before the others have a chance to get out of the gate while also having the added benefit of drawing out the hunt a bit. If every knows they have 15 eggs to find and they're all the same color then they're looking for specific eggs and not just grabbing any old thing until their basket is full. Trust me, it'll make it go so much more smoothly.

Unless of course you like to plan your Easter egg hunt along a "running of the bulls in Pamplona" theme. Then by all means, every child for himself.

***

And it has come to my attention that the Better Homes and Gardens website has some cute Easter crafts. Some are things I've seen before but there were a few cute ones worth a peek:

Felt and Egg Rabbit (pictured at top)
Tips for an Eco-Friendly Easter Basket
Easy Tulip Display (pictured at left)
Terry Cloth Egg Cozies (pictured at right)
Framed Quail Eggs

And to end on a tragic note, these marbeled-chocolate-hazelnut-ganache-centered-quail eggs that I have been coveting for a year now are no longer available. Just as I was planning to get a box for this year's holiday they're all gone. Oh well, each one of those little buddies represents an hour on the Stairmaster.

Sponsored by Beauty Products Compared for finding the best wrinkle creams and by Hip Hop Baby for learning through music and movement.

The Scribbit Newsletter

Sign up for the new monthly Scribbit Newsletter for all kinds of insider stuff:

• extra giveaways
• coupon codes
• exclusive crafts
• recipes
• sneak peaks into upcoming giveaways
• early alerts on the Write-Away Contest
• along with blogging tips and fun things about Alaska

So sign up using the form below and join the group! If you have problems with the form please drop me an email at scribbit at gmail.com with the information you'd like me to enter and I can sign you up myself.

San Francisco for Kids

Located amidst the chilly summer fog, steep rolling hills and famous land marks, The City By the Bay offers many fun, family-friendly and often times free activities.

What follows is an insider’s guide to San Francisco from long-time resident and devotee, Kacey of the Three Bay B Chicks. If you only have a few days to spend in this amazing city with your family, here are several activities and restaurants worth checking out.

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Activities

1. The Pirate Store
Located at 826 Valencia, this is San Francisco's “only independent pirate supply store.” As you can see in the photo, the walls of the store are lined with drawers. Inside each nook and cranny, you never know what you might find. Items such as eye patches, designer glass eyes, Scurvy Begone medicine and pirate dice all could be awaiting your discovery.

Kids love this place almost as much as the adults. It’s really fascinating and quite unique. In addition, you can feel good about buying something like a spyglass because 100% of the proceeds from the store benefit the 826 Valencia Writing Center, an organization that works to provide tutoring and free workshops to students in San Francisco.

Store hours: Open everyday from 12:00–6:00 pm
Location: 826 Valencia
Phone number: (415) 642-5905

2. The Randall Museum
Located on a 16-acre hill overlooking San Francisco, this small, dynamic, city-run museum focuses on area wildlife and offers hands-on art and science classes for children and families.

In addition to hosting interactive exhibitions in its main lobby and a new, permanent, tree-house themed exploration zone for toddlers, the Randall Museum has over 50 species of live animals kids can view . . . and some they can even touch!

Pack a picnic and plan to eat on the grass surrounding the museum.

Cost: FREE
Hours: Tuesday–Saturday, 10:00 am-5:00 pm
Location: 199 Museum Way
Phone number: (415) 554-9600

3. Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory
Take a quick peek into the world of fortune cookies. Located in a small alley in Chinatown, your kids can see first-hand how that darn paper gets inside those yummy cookies.

Cost: FREE + cookie samples!
Hours: Monday–Sunday, 8:00 am-8:00 pm
Location: 56 Ross Alley at Jackson Street
Phone number: (415) 781-3956

4.California Academy of Sciences
Recently renovated and reopened in 2008, what sets this museum apart is its living roof, rain forest dome, and state-of-the art Planetarium. For this tourist attraction, do believe the hype. It is fabulous.

Cost: $24.95 for adults, $19.95 for youth ages 12-17, $14.95 for children ages 6-11, FREE for children under age 6; FREE admission to the public on the third Wednesday of every month
Hours: Monday–Saturday, 9:30 am–5 pm; Sunday, 11 am-5 pm
Location: 55 Music Concourse Drive, Golden Gate Park
Phone number: (415) 379-8000

5.Koret Children’s Park
Hands down the best playground in San Francisco. Kids love the cement slide and the nearby historic carousel.

Location: 320 Bowling Green Drive, Golden Gate Park

Cuisine
It’s hard to go wrong with cuisine in San Francisco. The biggest challenging is choosing a restaurant and not overeating. Here are a few places where my family and I enjoy dining:

1. Giorgio’s Pizza
This might not be the best pizza in San Francisco, but for kids it rocks. Every Wednesday night from 4:00 pm–6:00 pm is Kid’s Happy Hour. Kids make their own pizza and the restaurant cooks it to perfection. If you can’t make it on a Wednesday, the wait staff will always give your kids a little pizza dough to play with at the table. This is heavenly. Adults can actually relax a bit while waiting for their order because the little ones have “play dough” to keep them occupied.

Hours: Monday–Thursday, 11:00 am–10:00 pm; Friday and Saturday, 11:00 am–11:00 pm;
Sunday, 11:00 am-9:00 pm
Location: 151 Clement Street (between 2^nd & 3^rd Avenue)
Phone number: (415) 668-1266

2. Chenery Park
For starters, Chenery Park is located in the Glen Park district, which is a family friendly neighborhood nestled in San Francisco. This restaurant is for a family with young children who is looking for a nice dinner. Tuesday’s are family night and many locals from the neighborhood enjoy taking their kids out for dinner here in the hopes of helping them learn how to eat in a nice restaurant.

Hours: Tuesday–Thursday 5:30 pm–9:00 pm; Friday and Saturday, 5:30 pm–10:00 pm
Location: 683 Chenery Street (between Carrie Street & Diamond Street)
Phone number: (415) 337-8537

3. Ella’s Restaurant
This is my family’s “go to” spot for breakfast. Comfort food, homemade breads and lots and lots of kids from the neighborhood. The chicken hash is delish, and the pancakes and French toast are long-time favorites of ours. The restaurant can be a little pricey for breakfast, but the portions are generous. Arrive early to avoid the line out the door. It’s that yummy.

Hours: Monday - Friday 7:00 am-3:00 pm; Saturday and Sunday 8:30 am-2:00 pm
Location: 500 Presidio Avenue (between California Street & Masonic Avenue)
Phone number: (415) 441-5669

Lodging
It’s hard to make suggestions for lodging since I live here. However, I’ve found the reviews on travelsavvymom.comto be helpful. Most of the hotels reviewed for San Francisco are in very good and convenient locations.

We hope you find these tips helpful. Feel free to e-mail us with any questions you might have and enjoy your travels in San Francisco!

***

Congratulations to the Puddlegear giveaway winner, who has won her choice of pants and jacket from Puddlegear.com but has yet to claim her prize. Check your emails and see if it's you! Fabulous stuff--and I hope you caught my update that said that there was a miscommunication and that they do have larger sizes than just a 130 (approximately U.S. size 8 or so). It's fabulous news because I'd like to get some gear for David as well.

Sponsored by Mia Costello running for the Anchorage School Board and by Annette Lyon's sixth novel Tower of Strength

Did You Just Call Me "Granny"?

Thank you to those who sent kind comments and emails last week, what a pick me up! While I won't be taking off any time soon, it did give me some ideas for things I might try this spring to keep me feeling fresh and productive.

And speaking of fresh, Andrew and I spent Saturday afternoon skiing while the kids were busy with their own activities and without children we were free to go as fast and as hard as we wanted. It was great to be skiing just like in our early years together and the day was beautiful but by the evening I was already getting preliminary damage reports from my tired muscles that I'd probably pushed it too hard.

However, the night wasn't over yet because we were supposed to help chaperon a teen dance that Grace and her friends wanted to attend.

So with a minivan full of giggling, teenage girls twitching to the beat on the radio and arguing about whether Jacob or Edward were the better man (and unless you have a Twilight fan in the house you'll have no idea what I'm talking about) we headed across town for the evening.

When we pulled into the parking lot the girls scattered and when Andrew and I finally limped our tired bones into the gymnasium I happened to run into a friend of mine whom I hadn't seen in about seven years. She's a Tongan beauty who happens to be exactly the same age as I am, give or take a week, and it was great to see her again. It's the kind of thing where we moved from one side of town to the other and that's just the right distance to lose touch with someone. You're too far away to run into them at the school or at the store, yet not far away enough to send Christmas cards and follow the formal "keeping in touch" procedures.

We hugged and I told her how great she looked (she did, seven years hadn't touched her) and we started to catch up on the kids. How many do you have? How are they doing? How's Mele? Are you in the same house? Etc., etc., etc.

Then she drops the bomb.

"Guess what?" she says with this crazy, dazed look on her face.

"What?" I said, wondering what was coming next.

"I'm a grandmother!"

It's a good thing Andrew was nearby because I'd forgot to bring my smelling salts and the gym floor is hard wood.

"A grandmother??" There is NO WAY a woman that young--hardly more than 20 or 25 right?--could be a grandmother but sure enough her oldest daughter who was at college had married young and now at 19 had just had a baby of her own three weeks ago. Making my friend, this wonderful youthful woman who practically shares my birthday a bona fide grandmother.

Forget AIG bonuses, forget troubles in Afghanistan, forget our shattered economy this was undoubtedly the most disturbing news I'd heard all week.

Between my sore thighs reminding me of long lost days of skiing youth and the news that I had officially reached the age where I was physical capable of producing a second generation I could practically feel the liver spots forming.

It reminded me of how I'd been shopping a couple weeks ago at Fred Meyer and heard them playing the Ramones over the music system while I wheeled my cart up the canned foods aisle. Since when were the Ramones a riff away from Muzak? Since when did "I Wanna Be Sedated" cross into the realms of "adult contemporary"?

While cognitively I realize I'm nearly 40 I swear I'm still 20 as if I've never aged a year and only when I happen to stop working long enough to look down at my hands--the hands of a middle-aged woman--do I suspect otherwise. It's a strange feeling to realize that I have somehow grown my mother's hands: pleasing to see the continuity and connection between generations but shocking to see how time hasn't a clue how old I'm supposed to be.

Oh well. While aging is difficult, as my father says: "It's better than the alternative." But I'd just as soon have Grace wait a few years--say ten or fifteen?--before bestowing the title of "Grandma" on me. I think I'd like to enjoy the anticipation of the event for a few more years yet.

Sponsored by Wedding Paper Divas for wedding invitations and My Good Greetings for earth-friendly cards and stationery.

Pita. The Homemade Kind.

I love all types of bread--in fact, there really isn't a bad bread out there. What's particularly wonderful about this recipe is that I whip it up in my bread machine until about 45 minutes before dinner then I shape the bread (carefully, the less you handle it and the less you fold, crease or knead the better) and let it rise a bit then bake it at such high temperatures so quickly that it's ready by the time dinner is on the table.

And while a loaf of fresh bread really needs to cool for an hour before serving for fear of things getting mushy and doughy these are thin enough that they can be served immediately nice and hot and deliciously soft. Perfect for the lamb recipe I posted earlier this month.

1 ¼ cups water
3 cups flour
1 ½ teaspoon salt
2 tablespoon olive oil
1 ½ teaspoon honey
1 tablespoon yeast
2 tablespoons cornmeal for sprinkling on pan

Combine the above ingredients in your bread machine and set to "dough" cycle. When ready, divide the dough into 8-10 circles and carefully flatten the dough into an oval. If you want it to puff properly you don't want to fold or crease it and to work the dough as little as possible.

Transfer the dough to a pan sprinkled with cornmeal to raise. Preheat the oven to 475 degrees and after 30 minutes of raising bake until slightly browned. If they didn't puff properly you can always gently cut them with a serrated knife after they've cooled a bit.

Sponsored by Tiny Prints for the holiday party invitations for children and by Tiny Totties for crib bedding sets.

Puddlegear by Abeko Giveaway

I enjoy trying out new products but getting to try this week's stuff out was extra fun. As soon as I opened the box and took out the rain pants and mittens Puddlegear sent me to test even though it wasn't exactly for me to wear you would have thought it was a new pair of peep toe pumps the way I was clapping with excitement.

With spring coming hot on our heels (speaking of shoes) I'm starting to think about "break-up" gear and getting ready for a summer of camping and fun outdoors and Puddlegear has the absolutely perfect stuff for kids--and I'm not even exaggerating.

They sell rain gear, specifically rain coats, pants, hats and mittens that are "PVC and Phthalate free" but waterproof, warm and toasty for long days of fun whether the sun is shining or not.

Lillian, our tall six year old, received a pair of perfect pink Jesper pants in their largest size (size 130, these are European sizes) and a pair of mittens and the pants have these handy little foot straps to keep them down in the boots as well as these helpful little side buttons for extra room in case you need to wear layers.

Puddlegear's products are made by Abeko, a European manufacturer, and they have a good range of products. There are pants with or without bibs, full suits (they call them "Muddy Buddies" isn't that great?) and even pants with reinforced knees for kids like my boys who tear through every pair of snow pants and jeans they've ever owned ( I only wished they had larger sizes for my boys!) *UPDATE* Apparently they do have sizes up to 160 cm which is 12-14 in the U.S. Great news!

While the pants are sturdy, water proof and tear proof, they're also completely washable and I've been very impressed with their performance. I'm looking forward to being able to give them an even better workout this spring when all that schloppy mess is happening in the yard.

So here's the good news: this week's winner will receive their own pair of pants and a jacket from Puddlegear by Abeko in the style, size and color of their choice. A big BIG thank you to Puddlegear for sharing their great gear, I'm a big fan.

Here's how to win:

Before 12 am Monday morning click here to reach the giveaway entry form then enter your name and email. I will pick one of the names at random, contact the winner via their email and publish the winner's first name and home town in next Tuesday's post. See the bottom of the entry form for more details.

This giveaway is open to all readers so good luck!

Maybe More Volcanoes Are What I Need . . .

This winter has been fun and it's been hard. While the snow is slipping beautifully into spring and I've got all the daylight my soul could crave blogging has been difficult.

Not that I haven't got plenty of things to write (I will write forever) I've just had a hard time wanting to keep up with it. I guess if I had to describe the feeling, it's as if I'd "lost all my starch" as my Mom used to say.

It's a combination of things: too many self-doubts (the "why did I ever think I could write?" syndrome) along with a few recent disappointments as well as having so many other wonderful things happening that I feel rather lethargic when it comes to thinking about my blogging future.

Twelve hundred posts, four years and to simply walk away seems unthinkable though I find myself wanting to do just that. I've never been so tempted to shut things down and run off, skipping merrily into the sunset which is why I suppose it's a good thing I can't just walk away. I've worked Scribbit into a business complete with business obligations so even though I may feel like pulling the plug I can't. Not yet . . .

Which is probably a good thing and will keep me from doing anything too rash.

Do you ever get in moods like that? Like the time I was up studying at 2 am in college and got my friend to give me a haircut right then? I needed a pick me up, some change, some excitement and a haircut seemed like a good idea at the time. Hey, it could have been worse, I could have got a tattoo, right?

When I get tired or low I tend to get desperate. Maybe that's all this is, just a mood, which will soon pass and it'll be business as usual. I really hope so because blogging has been so wonderful I'd hate to have it gone from my life.

Well enough introspection. I'm never good at naval gazing anyway . . . so I'll leave you with a link that is truly amazing. An underwater volcano near Tonga erupted yesterday and footage of the eruption can be found at the Guardian. It's the most spectacular thing I've seen in quite a while.

Maybe I should bag the blog and become a vulcanologist. If nothing else wouldn't it be cool to be able to say at a party, "Hey, I'm a vulcanologist"?

March's Sweet Write-Away Contest Winner

Thank you to Annette Lyon at The Lyon's Tale for judging the "Sweet" entries. If you aren't hungry after reading these then there's something wrong with you.

And my thanks to our entrants for making this contest so fun each month.

. . . And the winner is:

MamaBlogga with The Bitter and the Sweet

Honorable Mentions

Babysteps with Sweet Weedy Spring
In the Mom Zone with A (Not So) Sweet Treat
What Is a Sundial in the Shade? with My Little Valentines

***

Here are a list of the entries in the order they were received:

1. Babysteps with Sweet Weedy Spring
I have to admit, I've always had a special place in my heart for Henbit, although I didn't know what it was called until I married a farmer's son. I guess it would be more accurate to say, "I've always had a special place in my heart for that little dark green plant with the funny shaped stick-like flowers with nectar in them", which is what I called them for a good many years.

2. mum2twelve . . . Now My Baker's Dozen with Lesson Learned . . . A Stroll Down Memory Lane
I have always loved chocolate though it was not until I was an adult that I learned to appreciate the finer qualities of dark chocolate. So it was that at the ripe old age of seven I was fully in love with milk chocolate and happy to consume it in whatever form it appeared in.

3. All Stace, All the Time with Three o' Clock Chocolate
Okay, so I've been walking. Still loving it. I lost five pounds. Five pounds. Five stupid-that's-all-there-is pounds. I'm walking like a fiend and all I have to show for it after three weeks if five pounds. To be honest, I have not been all that careful about what I've been eating so I guess I've just been walking off all of the junk I've been eating. I never claimed to be some sort of genius.

4. In the Life of a Child with Moonstruck
It had been a long week. A long very long week and I was tired. As I trudged through the living room picking up toys, a silver moonbeam glinted through the window. I curled up on the couch with a sigh.

5. Glacier Racing with U Sweet!
Before my father passed, I was fortunate to travel with him across the country to buy an antique car. The trip was pure joy. Dad lived it up, swapping geezer stories at every rest stop and flirting with waitresses in ten states. We were Route 66 freedom flyers, a greyhair and a whitehair, wishing it would never end.

6. Cymry-Pa with Chocolate Covered Caramel Slice
I recently came across Julie Powell's Julie and Julia: 365 Days, 524 Recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen and gave in the urge to buy a new book, for what's my life without lots and lots of books, especially if they happen to be about food.

7. Tiaras and Tantrums with Sweet Chocolate
Second addiction - sweets. Like chocolate but love chocolate peanut butter cups. Like licorice, but love licorice nibs. Also love tangy taffy because I can stick it up into my gums where the sugar gets absorbed really fast, and make faces at the kids.

8. In the Mom Zone with A (Not So) Sweet Treat
When I think if chocolate, my mind flashes back to the Spring of 1997. My birthday was nearing. A big one. Eighteen. My boyfriend and I were going through what you might call a rough patch. He was 8 hours away at college and we had found that the distance made things difficult.

9. Ceasless Praise with The Sweetest Sound
My ears have just begun to hear the sweetest sound.
The sound that I have been waiting and longing to hear for so many years.
A tiny voice, knowingly calling me 'mama'.

10. What Is a Sundial in the Shade? with My Little Valentines
I've been married for almost 15 years and though my hubby-man is my sun, moon, stars, and favorite hot cocoa, we've never made that big a deal about Valentine's Day.

11. Past Continuous with The Great Chocolate Divide
When we were young, many many moons ago, chocolates were not as plenty on the ground as they seem to be now. Now, every passing guest will bring a gift of chocolates to my two daughters; the fridge is full of yet-to-be-unwrapped Dairy Milk Chocolate bars and other goodies.

12. Here Is Where Our Story Begins with My Guilty Pleasure
I have an awful obsession, one that I'm embarrassed to admit. I love Little Debbie Fudge Brownies. A Lot.

13. The Little Things with A Sweet Six Years
There is no pain like the pain of wanting something that you can’t have. Especially, when what you want is good. Especially, when what you want is a child. Hoping for something with your whole heart and being denied that is painful for the heart, soul and spirit.

14. TJ Hirst.com with Sweeter Still
After five days without sugar, my dessert box craved something sweet on date night. After eating half of our two-for-one custard brownie sundaes, my husband and I looked at each other with the sickly feeling of overindulgence. “It’s almost too sweet,” he said.

15. MamaBlogga with The Bitter and the Sweet
The stereotypical image of the forbidden fruit of the Garden of Eden is an apple. I must respectfully dissent from popular opinion here—if I had to choose a modern fruit to grow on the tree of knowledge of good and evil, I’d have to go with the plum.

16. What about Mom? with Bittersweet
I got a message on Facebook today from an old friend, who, if I had not ended our relationship thirteen years ago, I wouldn’t be in this life I have here. I wouldn’t curl myself up next to Dick every night. I wouldn’t read Mr. Fine Porcupine with Spot or play tooth fairy for Sally or cuddle a cranky Susan.

17. An Unnamed Woman with What Kind of Dessert Are You?
What is your favorite dessert? No doubt you've seen personality tests flying around that relate you to some type of delectable treat. They bug me a little. Because I can never make up my mind on questions like the above. I love them all!

Sponsored by Hip Hop Baby for learning through music and movement and by Manfred Mantis for play sets for play equipment for the 21st century.