Asparagus Citrus Salad

Do you ever have those nights where you go to fix something and the ingredients you were so sure you had on hand have magically disappeared?

That was the case when I went to fix this favorite of mine though if I were being completely honest it could have been because I've fixed it so many times I didn't actually check the recipe when I made out my shopping list and just spaced it.

At any rate, I love this spring salad. I love the asparagus, I love the fresh orange flavor, I love the pasta, and when I've served it to others they've been as excited as I am about the whole experience.

12 ounces penne (you see I used macaroni but that's only because I forgot to buy the penne which works better)
7-8 asparagus spears (I used about half a bundle but you can pretty much eyeball it and add as much as you'd like)
8 ounces sugar snap pea pods (again, I messed up so you see regular peas, the snap peas are better)
2-3 green onions, chopped on the bias
juice from one orange
zest from one orange
4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
salt and pepper to taste

Cook the pasta, rinse it in cold water and drain it well. Cut the asparagus into thirds then boil for one to two minutes then plunge into a cold water bath to keep them crisp and green. Toss the pasta and asparagus with the snap peas then mix up the dressing by combining the olive oil, vinegar, orange juice, salt and pepper then toss. Sprinkle with the zest of the orange.

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Little Stamp and Kimochi Giveaway

I have a really fun package today--all from some companies I'd never seen until recently but who make some really cute things for kids.

First, there are Kimochis--these cute little plush guys that I'm hugging (isn't that butterfly adorable? The octopus is also completely cute).

They're not only soft and sweet but they're made for a child's development by helping them learn about feelings. You see the little pocket on the front? Each Kimochi is made to hold little pocket pals with different expressions of emotion on their face.

The one the company sent Lillian had a complete set of little happy/sad/angry/surprised figures and one that was blank (presumably for one's own unique feelings) which of course the boys grabbed with a war-whoop and would have really done a number on with their own macho graffiti if I hadn't intervened and liberated the plushy. Long live emoticons!

So Kimochis? Two thumbs up.

And next there is Little Stamp which had the great idea of making customized self-inking stamps for teaching children to print their names.

You can order the dashed-line names in either all capital letters or in standard print so kids can stamp their name and practice writing it till the cows come home. I can just imagine the fun a preschooler would have doing this.

They can be order in fancy fonts or standard block letters and in several different colors. What a great idea huh?

Two more thumbs way up. I'm running out of thumbs.

Anyway, today you can enter to win your choice of Kimochi (Go for the butterfly! Go for the butterfly!) and a learn-to-print stamp customized to your needs all by following the directions below. Thank you very much Kimochis and Little Stamp! Great giveaway!

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!

Someone I'd Like You to Meet: TJ Hirst from TJHirst.com

Please welcome TJ Hirst who writes at TJ Hirst.com and was also kind enough to be the guest judge for this month's Write-Away Contest.

I had the pleasure of speaking with TJ several months ago and it was the kind of pleasant conversation that left me wanting more. I have the feeling that if I lived a bit closer to Minnesota (which at one point I did) I'd be hanging out with her all the time. Probably in her fort with her three cute kids and her designing husband (she was full of sympathy when we were going through our remodel as she and her husband have built their own home and knew exactly what I was dealing with).

What else can I say? She's a lot like me: pale, no rhythm and likes to garden and write--apparently I have a long lost sister living in the midwest. Her answers here are wonderful . . . I agree with her on so many things but she said it better than I could

***

Recently in a post you mentioned feeling stressed and fearful—would you elaborate on what’s made you feel that way lately?

I’m a pretty sensitive person and feel any change in my core. I like to plan my life, but just like everybody else, I can’t control it. Lately, changes in the economy touched my husband’s business and our livelihood at the same time as we faced changes in our normally good health. Juggling the unexpected initially causes me to stress and fear the unknowns that may lie ahead. I write to illuminate the experience for myself so I can learn from it. Sometimes that process gets me through and on to the next life lesson. Other times, writing provides respite and calm to be able to face it.

You’ve lived in Minnesota for a while now, does it feel like home or do you still think of another place as “home”?

I’m a Midwest girl at heart, growing up in St. Louis, Missouri. When I settled in Minnesota with my immediate family nine years ago, it felt like an extension of those Midwest roots. I played the memory game with my children recently to see how far back they remember. Only our oldest daughter recalled a time when we didn’t live here. For the present, what they consider home is home for me. That doesn’t mean I won’t give in to my wanderlust once they leave home, though.

You talk quite a bit about creativity in your blog—what benefits do you get from different kinds of creativity? i.e. from writing or gardening or nurturing your family?

Creativity stirs my perspective. It’s not a product, it’s a process. I start with a few raw ingredients like a new thought, a conversation, some materials or a need and allow the key parts to mix with what I know or already have. Then I ponder, brainstorm, and analyze my discoveries and shape them into a purposeful endeavor.

Creativity manifests itself in all aspects of my life—writing, cooking and entertaining, gardening, home décor and personal style, family and personal relationships—and sparks new connections and purpose for me.

Are there areas of creativity you’d still like to try or learn?

My children are all musically talented. I’d like to be, but I don’t have rhythm. I’ve tried to play piano, dance, sing or lead music, but I just can’t keep the beat. I’ve taken steps to learn, but I’m not there yet.

Your husband is a designer and you’ve survived building a house together—is there anything you’d offer as a suggestion for those facing a creative project together? Particularly a remodel or building a home?

When my husband and I receive a catalog in the mail, we independently find the same products on our wish list. I will say, “Did you see the lamp on page 30?” He might add, “The one with the aluminum base?” And of course, I’ll say, “Yes. Isn’t that perfect for your office?”

We did this over and over for so many years that I didn’t hesitate to plunge into building a house with him since our tastes are so similar. However, I never imagined we’d find the big difference was in our working styles, and I didn’t know how to adjust mine or work with his. That was tough to find out, especially in the middle of the project.

Maybe I had been reading too much Fountainhead, but I didn’t think creativity could handle compromise. I figured we’d gone through the design process and we just had to steer our project to it’s conclusion, but when challenges with our contractors, budget and timing changed our course, I learned that flexibility and compromise in a marriage and a shared creation are essential to moving forward.

After moving to Minnesota and making it through some Midwest winters now, what are your favorite and least favorite things about the place you live?

I don’t particularly like the long, dark, bitter cold winters. Everyone seems to retreat inside themselves, not just their houses, and it’s a bit lonely and depressing. On the up side, these drastic conditions reveal some of the most beautiful landscapes of snow and ice over the forests and give me time to be productive indoors. Now that summer’s here, the mild weather and prolific lakes draw everyone back out to enjoy it and each other. We won’t go back inside for months.

Do you have a favorite post that you’ve done? What subjects are your favorite to write about?

I love to interview and write about other people’s lives. Last year I did a lot of interviews, but I’m putting that on hold to focus on writing fiction this year, which is still about people, just a different approach.

I also like to write about spirituality because I believe those moments of insight we receive when we’re still and pondering life tend to motivate our more active pursuits.

Is there anything you’re looking forward to this summer? Any plans or events you’re anticipating?

My 15-year-old daughter is getting her driver’s learning permit next month. I’m not sure I’m looking forward to it, but I think it’s a milestone in her life that signals some big changes in mine.

How do you most enjoy spending a quiet afternoon if you happen to have one? Any luxuries you like to indulge in?

Reading and gardening. I don’t consider either of those luxuries but both are ways I can escape with few resources drawn from anyone else and come away with a contribution to my mind or the landscape.

Your children are getting older now—what changes have you seen in your parenting style as they’ve grown?

I’m much less controlling than I was when my children were little. I think that comes in a comfort level with my own personality but also in a desire to give them more freedom to choose for themselves and allow them to feel the consequences of their choices. While I don’t think parenting young children should be controlling, they do need a lot of structure and discipline in the early years. Then, as they gain experience, at ages 7-10, we can ease back gradually and give them room to practice. That becomes an even bigger step back as they move into the teen years. It’s a gradual process of teaching, modeling, practicing, evaluating what you’d like them to know before they head off on their own. And it goes so quickly.

What do you do to get your focus back in life? When you feel your life a little out of balance how do you remedy this?

Two keys things I do to get focus—pray and do something for someone else—which are really just part of the two great commandments to love God and love others.

What things do you try to emulate from your own childhood? What things do you try to avoid as a parent?

My parent’s gave us a foundation in the principles of work. We had jobs and responsibilities, and I appreciate the passion that instilled in me to do my best. I expect my own children to help in the kitchen before and after dinner, clean their own rooms and bathrooms, and help maintain the inside and outside of our house.

I came from a large family—seven children. We had big family dinners and memorable family vacations, but I often felt grouped together as a whole and not an individual. I consciously try to connect in an emotional and nurturing way individually with each of my three children every day.

How do you promote creativity in your children?

At first, when they were young, I just exposed them to all kinds of things—music, walks, coloring, reading, constructive materials. I communicated my belief in their potential. I didn’t talk to them at a lower level of vocabulary or tone of voice or subject material. We encouraged them to stretch themselves by giving them gifts that were always an age level just above their own.

Now that they are teens and pre-teens, I provide some structure and resources for creative pursuits like piano lessons, instruments and art and building supplies, but the most important thing I give them is unstructured time. That encourages them to use what they have to create something out of nothing, which leads to something to do or something to pursue.

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Songs to Make You Dance

It's done! This morning I booked our tickets to India!

We've waffled and waited, trying to decide if we should do it and yesterday I took the plunge and made the reservations--come January we'll be on our way to Bangalore to see Mom and Dad, ready or not.

The question now is . . . what to do with the kids?

Anyone out there want to babysit?

I'm kidding. Sort of. At any rate it's pretty exciting to finally have things solid, thanks to a VERY nice Alaska Airlines customer service rep who walked me through the whole thing (thank you so very much. Talk about your customer service--they deserve a plug).

Anyway, in celebration I'm doing little dances around the house so it calls for a list from my Happy Music playlist. The songs that I'm currently listening to while I'm doing the nasty Friday cleaning or working out. Enjoy.

1. Fort Knox by Goldfish
This probably means nothing to you unless I say the word "hamsters" which might then trigger memories of this:

This chunky beat gets me going every time and you know I'm grooving right along with those furry little rodents.

We Kia owners are very cool people you know.

Anyway, Goldfish is a South African group that has been rather difficult to get a hold of in the U.S. until just recently but I've got them on my itunes now and I'm loving it.

2. Major Tom by Peter Schilling
Grace has discovered the 80s in a major way. This song particularly appeals to her because she's taken three years of German and now can sing along with that techno beat (she used to go around reciting the Pledge of Allegiance in German which really confused me--I mean does it seem odd to anyone else? Of all the things to teach the students I'm pretty sure the Pledge of Allegiance is the one paragraph in all of English that is said pretty exclusively in English, right? Funny.) But nonetheless it's a great song. The recent remake? Not so great.

Anyway, the only part I can sing is "Four . . . Three . . . Two . . . One . . ." then I'm completely lost. Maybe I ought to introduce her to Def Leppard and Scorpions for some extra German. With afro?

3. Separate Ways by Journey
Speaking of 80s revival tours, Spencer is a BIG Journey fan. Yes, I've done something right as a mother. Not only does he love the original classics, his piano teacher has humored his fetish by giving him all the sheet music to every one of Journey's greatest hits.

First it was "Don't Stop Believin'" then it was "Separate Ways," "Any Way You Want It" and "Open Arms" and I think he's getting ready to tackle "The Girl Can't Help It" and "Wheel in the Sky." "Faithfully" can't be far behind though I suspect he's less favorable to the ballads. Just a hunch.

In fact he tends to have only one level when he plays: loud. Lucky for me I love the song. At least for now . . . You want proof? Here's a video of him playing just for me.

4. Everybody Got Their Something by Nikka Costa
Again another great soulful R&B tune with a hot beat. A great song to clean the refrigerator to though I do think I need more bass around here. Bigger woofers so I can really get that "boom boom" going.

The song kind of reminds me of "Juicy" by Better Than Ezra which is another favorite and has the added benefit of being totally fun to sing. "Juicy! Juicy!"

5. Human by The Killers
I'm a huge Killers fan and I think this is my favorite song of their's to date. (I'm sorry Mr. Appleton, I'm going to just have to agree to disagree with you on this one).

You notice that I'm giving you links to the song videos here? Well check out this one. While the song is Fabulous with a capital "F" one has to ask: "WHAT on earth is Brandon Flowers wearing?? Didn't anyone check to make sure he was properly dressed when he left that morning to film a music video? I mean really! Feathers?? He looks like an ostrich. Or maybe a muppet--I'm not sure which but either look probably isn't what he was aiming for when he stood out in the dessert and sang this beauty.

I'll cut you some slack this time but next time? Fire your wardrobe guy and get someone who doesn't want you dressed like grandma's coat.

6. Viva la Vida by Coldplay
I have to confess that I've never been a Coldplay fan. In fact I've thought their music was pseudo-eclectic, mechcanically manipulative and irritatingly omnipresent. Kind of like Starbucks--even with that whole Gwyneth Paltrow bonus going on there.

But in my old age I've softened and have recently come to appreciate a couple of their more popular songs and can be caught listening to "Talk" and "Yellow" regularly. However, "Viva la Vida" is terrific. I'm not sure if it's the Beatles-esque string accompaniment, the quirky lyrics or the 5/4 time signature that keeps me on the edge but I love it.

Had you heard of the accusation of plaigarism filed by guitarist Joe Satriani? Claims Martin stole the underlying guitar riff from him but I've listened to both tracks and I don't know that what Satriani had was that original first of all and then even if it was the inspiration for "Viva la Vida" sounds to me like Coldplay changed it enough not to justify the claim. I'm just saying . . .

7. Days Go By by Dirty Vegas
Probably a dance tune that I've picked up from chaperoning too many teen dances but go ahead and point those fingers, I don't care. It's a catchy beat and a great song to do those crunches to. Because I'm ALWAYS doing crunches around here. You know . . . Cinnamon Toast Crunch . . . Nestle Crunch . . . Captain Crunch.

8. Just Dance by Lady GaGa
Okay this one is really embarrassing to admit. Seriously! I couldn't pick a more embarrassing song to be caught listening to. Unless maybe we're talking Celion Dion. That would be worse. Or Barry Manilow. Worse. Or the Captain and Tennille. Much worse.

So maybe it's not quite as embarrassing as I once thought but still . . . it's a silly silly song that is much too catchy (I'm not going to link to the trashy video). Did you catch her performance on American Idol? There aren't really enough adjectives in the language to properly describe the scene but I watched the whole train wreck from beginning to end, yes I did. Fascinating.

But all that aside I'm still twisting and turning to the beat, yes I am.

9. Eye in the Sky by Jonatha Brooke
Switching gears just a tad here to a little ballad. Not really a workout song but a good one for the cool down mode because it's a terrific remake of the classic 80s Allan Parson's Project song you all remember so well. Something about her reminds me of Alison Krauss. Not sure what it is--because her voice is much lower and more nasal but there's something there that appeals. Did I ever mention that I have this weird talent for being able to distinguish singing voices? Andrew is always picking up songs on itunes, playing them for me then trying to get me to guess who it is singing and I'm pretty good at the whole thing. Not that it's really got me anywhere I guess.

10. Falling Slowly by Glen Hansard
I mentioned this one a couple weeks ago and while I know it's been out for a while it's had a revival on my ipod. I do that periodically--dive down into my playlists and pull out oldies that I haven't listened to for a while then listen to them all over again--and this one is on the rotation right now.

While I like the duet he did for the movie Once I can't decide if I like The Frames' version better than the accoustic. Tough call.

11. I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy by U2
From their latest album (do they still say "album" nowadays? What's the alternative?) No Line on the Horizon this is my favorite track and right now it's on my playlist. Though it's not really their best work and I tend to think it'll fall in my rankings within six months. Not like "With or Without You" that I can still listen to with a tear in the eye or "Mysterious Ways" that can get me sweeping the floor with some suh-weet moves. Now those are classics that are beyond classics.

Even their Vertigo live album had a remake of "Where the Streets Had No Names" that was possibly better than the original it was so good. This one? I like it quite a bit but not in that "true to the death" way that some of their other songs have me.

12. Knights of Cydonia by Muse
I know it's been out a few years but you can chalk that up to my huge un-hippness. I only discovered Muse in the last year so I'm still going strong on this amazing song. I totally love their Live at Wembley Stadium version that is so cool it pretty much melts the speakers into pure energy. Yes, it's that cool.

And while I may not be so hip as to catch these songs the minute they come out I think I've got a six year old who is the other extreme. Having older sibs and a mom who loves her music means she is unusually up on such matters. I heard her singing "Knights of Cydonia" in her best operatic soprano voice while playing out in the sandbox a couple days ago. "No one's going to take me alive . . . the time has come to make things right . . . " right out of her sweet little mouth. Hmmm . . . means I'd better watch what I listen to I suppose. So much for "C Is for Cookie" huh?

Man the guitar in that song is amazing.

13. Super Massive Black Hole by Muse
And in tribute to number 12 and to reinforce how much I'm loving Muse right now (did you all catch that? I LOVE Muse. Completely.) I'm including this other ear-popping number in the list. LOVE LOVE LOVE it. When I'm listening to this I can clean at three times the speed of other mortals, I promise.

Okay I'll stop now.

Sponsored by Dimples and Dandelions with the Serena and Lily Bedding Collection for children.

Matryoshka Pirates

As promised here is the first week of a summer of crafts for kids.

Now don't panic, I'm not going to try and tell you that my child painted these dolls but the activity is terrific for any age.

Did you realize you can get a set of blank wooden nesting dolls (also called matryoshka dolls) for decorating on your own? Well I'm telling you now and I made this set with my wood burner and paints while the boys and I were reading Treasure Island a couple months ago.

You've got big ol' Long John Silver (notice his parrot on his shoulder) with an eye patch and red scarf on his head, then you've got Doctor Livsey (or it could be Squire Trelawney or Captain Smollett in a pinch) with the yellow cravat and tri-cornered hat (I have to explain what he's wearing because heaven knows my painting certainly doesn't give much of a clue).

Then there are a couple assorted pirates in baby blue (because pirates always wear baby blue puffy shirts--my pirates are enlightened) and stripes then tiny little itty bitty Jim Hawkins. Cute huh?

Though upon completion I'm suspicious that some of my pirates are strangely reminiscent of Larry the Cucumber . . . maybe I've been forced to sit through that movie too many times and it's seeping into my subconscious.

Anyway, the dolls are fairly inexpensive (you can find a huge selection here) and it's fun for younger children and older children alike to decorate their own set of dolls. Plain old craft acrylic paint works well and if you want to give them a coat of shellac for protection it's not a bad idea (though I haven't).

Some possible ideas for the dolls:

• Favorite fairy tale characters such as The Princess and the Pea, Sleeping Beauty, The Three Bears, Cinderella or Red Riding Hood.


• Family members (different sets come with varying numbers of dolls)


• Book characters such as Little House on the Prairie, Anne of Green Gables, Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings.


• Movie characters-Star Wars is the obvious choice here but you could go with Spiderman or Batman or superheroes too.


• Animals of any kind.


• Plain old stock characters like knights, cowboys, aliens, princesses, ninjas, fairies, whatever.


• Or just let them decorate in an abstract way. Nothing says it has to look like a person does it?


• Or you could have small children paint them each a different color then play a game of collecting things that are that color to hide inside each doll.
  

And you know what matroyshka pirates say don't you? "Ahoy! Comrade!" You can see more pictures of the set at my Flickr page.

***

Congratulations to April of We Are the Duvalls for winning this weekend's Itty Bitty Bookworm and Corner Stork Baby Gifts giveaway!

Sponsored by Dimples and Dandelions with the Serena and Lily Bedding Collection for children.

Memorial Day, Alaskan Style. Now with Added Zip.

I'm posting this picture for two reasons: A) Because that's what I'm seeing at 11 pm right now as I type. The sun is still up and I'm having a hard time going to bed while there's sunlight to enjoy.

And B) Because I've been gone all weekend and have been very, very lazy. A real post? Surely you jest. Nothing but casual snapshots of the backyard to see here folks.

We were up north at my parents' cabin where the temperatures were at the exact optimal point for human contentment: a steady 70-75 with a nice gentle breeze to waft through our hair (yes that was the word "waft" you read because I'm feeling so darn poetic.)

There was not a drop of internet to be found and I took a complete break from all things digital. Kind of like Lent. Only without the benefits of any religious significance and with a lot more calories because I'm afraid I ate my way through the weekend as compensation, from start to finish (don't worry, later I'm posting the recipe to the passionfruit cheesecake I made . . . they don't call it "passion" fruit for nothing folks.)

Here's a shot of the drive up and while at first glance it might not seem noteworthy there are three things that are quintessentially Alaskan. First, there's the "awesome" view of Denali--and yes, that is an appropriate use of the word "awesome" I'd say.

Second, you see the half-form of a bicyclist. Bikers seem to come out with the blossoming of the trees, you can't swing a dead cat without hitting someone on a bicycle, even 80 miles from civilization. Not that I'd advise doing so, they tend to get irritated when you do that.

Third, a truck. Probably driven by a male under the age of 30 who pays exorbitant insurance premiums. They're everywhere and often sporting mullets and towing a set of four-wheelers or snowmachines, depending on the season.

The only thing missing to complete the ambiance of the scene is a road construction sign and a flagger to stop traffic because once the sun hits it's all about construction until the ground freezes again.

So we had a great time and you see here what my children can look like after a build up of three days worth of grime and grease. Somewhere under that dirt is my daughter.

But to make the weekend particularly grand, to top off the whole experience--our Memorial Day was sponsored by Oscar Mayer. Yes, it's the first time I've had a holiday sponsored but I have to admit it is kind of fun. We ate a LOT of hot dogs and I'm finishing up with the recipe I used.

They're called Zippy Dogs, which recipe I found at The Big Red Kitchen and which she found in an old cookbook and it goes as follows:

2 cups ketchup
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/3 sweet pickle relish
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons dried minced onions
1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Mix all the ingredients in a pot, add 16 hot dogs and let them cook up nice and plump then serve on buns (I'm afraid I got rather sloppy in the picture you see above. The family was getting HUNGRY and I didn't have much time for niceties such as tidy dogs.

The kids loved them and I loved them--we all loved them!--and right now I'm thinking that Oscar Mayer really ought to get into the Zippy Dog market because they're gold. Solid gold.

As for more serious posts, I'll get back on it right away. Right after I exercise off those Zippy Dogs, tackle the seven loads of dirty laundry, the vacuuming, the hair cuts for the boys and washing the cars (my schedule for the day). Right after we get back from baseball practice, I promise.

Sponsored by Wedding Paper Divas for wedding invitations.

What Makes Us Happy?

I hope you're having great weather and great fun this Memorial Day weekend. I'm taking a bit of a break today while we're all up at my parents' cabin north of Anchorage but while this weekend is partly about picnics and fun and being together with loved ones there is also a somber side to Memorial Day as we remember those who have sacrificed for freedom.

In keeping with that more introspective tone I offer you a link that Andrew sent me to an article appearing The Atlantic by Joshua Wolf Shenk called "What Makes Us Happy."

The article (it's very long, I warn you) examines Harvard's Grant Study where a couple hundred sophomore men from the class of 1939 were studied and catalogued over a 70-year period, becoming what is very likely the most comprehensive study on mental and physical health ever accomplished.

While the men involved in the study have mostly remained anonymous some of the participants have posthumously been revealed--such as John F. Kennedy. But to study such a group of men at such a close range for so long yielded fascinating results. I quote:

. . . as the Grant Study men entered middle age—they spent their 40s in the 1960s—many achieved dramatic success. Four members of the sample ran for the U.S. Senate. One served in a presidential Cabinet, and one was president. There was a best-selling novelist (not, Vaillant has revealed, Norman Mailer, Harvard class of ’43). But hidden amid the shimmering successes were darker hues. As early as 1948, 20 members of the group displayed severe psychiatric difficulties. By age 50, almost a third of the men had at one time or another met Vaillant’s criteria for mental illness. Underneath the tweed jackets of these Harvard elites beat troubled hearts.

Almost as fascinating as the Grant Study subjects is the man who directed the study in the last phase: George Vaillant and the article intertwines the lives of these anonymous men with the doctor who made their lives his passion.

While the article is long-winded and tedious in parts (it could have been cut down to half its size by a good editor and been much improved) the meat of the piece is thought provoking. What I came away with is this:

• Happiness has very little to do with income or social position.


• Happiness has everything to do with relationships.


• Just because someone is behaving a particular way at one point in their life doesn't mean they'll continue to act that way throughout the remaining years--either for good or bad.


• Perhaps the greatest inhibitor of happiness is ease and lethargy.


• Mental illness is a terrible thing.


• Don't count someone out, we all mature and progress at different speeds.


• Only an omniscient and divine being could properly make judgments as to the success or failure of an individual. We know too little from our cursory observations to make an accurate assessment.


• Psychologists are just as crazy as the people they study.


• What happens to us in this life is rather inconsequential. How we deal with it is everything.


• The four levels of psychotic "adaptations" or responses to life's difficulties that Vaillant describes seem to have some validity and purpose for understanding our emotions.
  

Anyway, if you have half an hour this weekend and are interested in what science may have to say about your psyche then give it a peak. I can't promise any truth but it does give you something to think about.

You never know what you're going to find here do you? One day it's macaroni and cheese the next it's this . . .

Sponsored by Tiny Prints for the holiday party invitations for children.

Cashew Fettucini Alfredo

I've saved this recipe up as one of the most brilliant and amazing things I've ever created in my kitchen and I decided that I'm ready to finally share it.

No really, this is one of the craziest recipes I've ever seen and what makes it strange is that this fettucini alfredo recipe is healthy, easy and good for you.

If you love alfredo as I do but feel as if you're betraying your body with every bite of fat-laden goodness then this is your lucky day.

Regular alfredo recipes use butter and cream then reduces the sauce to thicken but this . . . THIS version has got a secret ingredient: cashews.

If you puree the cashews and add plain old water to create a runny mixture then heat it on the stove top it thickens just as if you were using flour or cornstarch or some other less-healthy invention. While there still is fat in the recipe, the overall fat is reduced and then instead of using the unhealthy saturated fats found found in butter and cream you get the healthy monosaturated fats found in nuts.

So how does it taste? Terrific! The key is to making sure you blend the nuts enough to make a smooth texture. You want to pulse and pulse and grind until you get a butter-like consistency and then add the water a little at a time.

It tastes slightly different than regular alfredo but not unpleasantly so--more nutty and roasted as you'd expect which blends well with the Parmesan. The kids call it fettutroni--rather than fettucini. I'm not sure why, that was just their quirkiness coming out but the name has stuck. Fettutroni it is.

1 cup cashew pieces
2 1/2 cups warm water
olive oil
1/2 tablespoon minced garlic
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup grated Parmesan
18 ounces linguini
chopped fresh parsley for garnish (optional)

In a food processor pulse the cashews until they form a paste then add a bit of the water and continue to process until you've got a smooth texture (or as close as you can get to smooth).

Set aside, then in a saucepan heat a tablespoon or two of olive oil and saute the minced garlic until it's beginning to brown slightly. Add the cashew/water mixture, stirring and scraping as it heats, until it begins to boil and thicken. Once thickened, removed from heat and stir in the salt, pepper and Parmesan, stirring until melted.

Boil the linguini and drain then add to the cashew mixture and stir to coat the noodles. Serve with chopped fresh parsley if desired.

***

And speaking of glorious fat. Have I mentioned that I totally love hot dogs? I know, I know. It's not something that one confesses in polite company but seriously I love them. Especially sliced up in macaroni and cheese. White trash through and through but oh how I love it.

Anyway, Oscar Mayer is doing something wonderful and giving away a million packages of hot dogs just in time for summer so if you'd like your free package go to Oscar Mayer's website and fill out the form. Yippeeee!

Sponsored by Beau-Coup for unique baby shower favors.

Itty Bitty Preschool Curriculum and Corner Stork Baby Gifts Giveaway

I've heard many of my friends say that they've considered the idea of homeschooling. Here in Alaska there is a lot of support for families who decide to go this route but if you're like me you might wonder how well you could handle being responsible for your child's education.

Well a good way to find out is to try some home preschool classes as a test run. The Itty Bitty Book Worm is a literature-based preschool curriculum for children ages 18-36 months and ages 3-5. If you're considering homeschool as an option why not try out a preschool curriculum aimed at fostering a love of reading and increasing creativity? Each week has you reading a different classic children's story then doing activities and play to reinforce the topics and lessons the book describes.

Check it out--when my children were young I did home preschool classes (none of my kids went to formal preschool) and it created some wonderful memories and gave the kids a great start at their education. I would also recommend checking out the Itty Bitty Bookworm blog as well for other great ideas.

Also today I'm mentioning Corner Stork Baby Gifts which has a fun selection for the baby in your life--don't you love this little mink coat (of course the price tag is telling me that it's not really mink but the idea is too cute isnt' it?)

They have pages and pages of gifts for under $25 too, of which this snake toy pleases me most heartily. What a fun and creative (and inexpensive) baby gift!

So this weekend's winner will receive one of the Itty Bitty Bookworm curricula (their choice) for themselves along with a $25 gift certificate to Corner Stork Baby Gifts. You could get three snake toys and pass them out to everyone!

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!

Happy Memorial Day Weekend

And before Andrew and I leave town for the weekend I wanted to leave you with a few extra pictures I've been drooling on . . .

Chaos in the Kitchen has Pizza Bites and this is only the first of the photos--the second one pretty much sends me over the edge into pure pizza bliss.

WikiHow has the instructions for making a plastic crane out of a drinking straw . . . just in case all you sculptors out there get bored while waiting for your burger to come at McDonald's.

You've had ice cream cones, you've had waffle cones, now try Bread Cones from the Bread Blog. Oh the stuffing possibilities! Cream cheese, ham and chives, a bit of chicken salad or even green salad . . . too bad it's not water tight and you could take your tomato soup on the go!

Southern Plate promises Melt in Your Mouth Donuts (though to paraphrase the great Wimpy "I'd gladly pay you tomorrow for a donut today!").

The running joke around here is that someday Andrew is going to build a sailboat and sail around the world. I found a site where you can buy a wooden boat kit and build your own classic pirogue and I'm hooked. It's a great deal, though I bet the shipping to Alaska is tons more than they're advertising for the rest of the U.S.

We have a shed in our backyard that we turned into a playhouse for the kids and while it's fine like that after I saw this shed on Shellterrific I'm already making plans for when the kids outgrow it. That baby is coming down and I'm building this . . . you can get the plans from the link on the website.

The Idea Room has instructions for building not only a mini Marshmallow Gun from PVC pipe (looks easy enough--the boys would love it) but the safety goggles to go with it. Because kids all over the country have lost eyes to a vicious marshmallow fatality. Though I love the idea I'm thinking my boys would prefer a big gun. "More Firepower" is the code word here.

And thank you again to those mentioning the ebook this past week:

The 6 o'Clock Stitch
Heavenly Homemakers
Happy Harper Stories

May's Write-Away Winner

Thank you to Teresa Hirst at TJHirst.com for serving as the judge for this month's contest. You must all be out enjoying the great spring weather since there weren't as many entries this month . . . though on the bright side, it should be a manageable list to read if you're in the mood for some spring reading!

So what do you think? Should we give the writing contest a break for the summer while you're out playing? I love reading the entries and seeing your talent but maybe two and a half years of topics means we're due for a break . . .

. . . And the winner is:

Divergent Pathways with Give, Said the Little Stream

Honorable Mentions

Babysteps with Spring it On
Stories for Us with Spring Reawakening
Girls to Grow with Spring Scenes

***

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

1. In the Mom Zone with A Life-Changing Spring
I've been thinking back on all the "Springs" in my life. Thinking hard. Trying to see if there were any Springs that were monumental. Did I learn something? Did I go somewhere? Did something happen to me? In my 30 years of springs, there is exactly one that I keep going back to when I think of Spring with these questions in mind.

2. Stories for Us with Spring Reawakening
It’s been six years since I’ve seen spring. After living in Florida for 5 ½ years, we returned home to Michigan at the end of March – just in time for spring. (And just in time for one last whopping snowfall of five inches!!)

3. Summer's Nook with A Season for Growth
It’s spring time again. Or so I’m told. The changing of seasons, the passing of time holds little meaning for me since my wife died.

4. Babysteps with Spring it On
Today was Zaya's first track meet, and I have to confess that quite a few of my childhood bogeymen came slithering out on this cloudy, thundery spring morning.

5. The Scholastic Scribe with Leslie Geraldine Sherman April 9, 1987-April 16, 2007
Two years ago today, winds gusted up to 60 miles an hour, vanquishing the blossoms from the trees. Mr. Superintendent worried that the hundreds of classroom trailers...known euphemistically in the biz as Learning Cottages...in Our Humble School District were in danger of blowing away, so he closed the schools 3 hours early.

6. I Most Definitely Control the Spice with Cusp Wing
There was a time in the cool cusp of spring that I completely believed that I was a fairy queen. I was little. I didn’t know that there are adults who spell it faerie queene and purchase butterfly wings at Renaissance festivals…I luckily didn’t grow up to become one of those women, although sometimes I wonder if I grew my hair long and put nothing but Lorena McKennett and Dead Can Dance on if I would be transformed for a few minutes.

7. Thrifty Girl with Nomadic Spring
Spring 2006. Move to Atlanta from Tampa. Spring 2007. Move 45 miles across town. Spring 2008. Move another 60 miles back across town, again! May 2009. Stay put!

8. Girls to Grow with Spring Scenes
The sights and sounds of Spring…..

9. Divergent Pathways with Give, Said the Little Stream
Meet the proud owner of a babbling brook. Uh-huh. Me.We have a flowing stream running through our yard. But only about once every three years.

10. Another Day, Another Thought . . . or Two. with I Hate Spring
Okay, maybe hate is a little strong, but Spring is my least favourite season. Summer is about ice cream, vacation, and warm sun on your face. Fall is apple cider, pumpkin pie and crunchy leaves under your feet. Winter is hot chocolate, fireplaces and snow angels. Then there’s Spring.

11. I'm (not) Crazy Mommy with Despicable Drosophila and Other Tales of Spring
I stayed up too late last night. You see, I was waging an epic battle against an enemy both foul and insidious, that wins its wars by sheer number, fortified by an incredibly prolific reproductive ability: Drosophila melanogaster, the common fruit fly.

12. No Sex in the City with Women in Black and the Witch Hunt
This post is not about the women's organization that protests war in Israel or any other part of the world. It's about women wearing black and not standing out in the crowd. Iris Baron, a sexologist and marriage counsellor (link is to her Hebrew site) often mentions the issue of women wearing black at events, meetings, parties. etc.

Sponsored by Unique Wedding Invitations in Paper and Wood by Oslo Press

Faux Agate Bracelet

Today marks the very last day of school here in Anchorage. Yes, you heard me--the last day.

So my plan is this: I'll be posting one kid-friendly craft each Wednesday from my files all summer long to help you with ideas for entertaining your kids. Because we're in this together you know.

I did this two years ago and it was great so trust me on this.

Anyway, today here's a fun and easy craft (it's easier than it looks). You'll need polymer clay, something to string the beads on and you've got yourself a fun pebble bracelet.

I used Sculpey brand polymer clay in "translucent" because it turns slightly yellow as it bakes, giving it that nice agate look. All the kids need to do is roll out a small little ball of the stuff then poke a safety pin through the center and bake at 275 degrees for 15 minutes. Let it cool then string it on dental floss or bead wire, depending on how fancy you'd like to go.

For the bluish and greenish agate pebbles I used a tiny ball of blue or green then put a very thin layer of the translucent over the top then worked it in a little bit before shaping. If you want the rocks to be a little shinier you can brush them with a thin layer of Mod Podge to give them a very slight luster such as the real rocks would have but that's just icing.

I think it's quite pretty--a nice little Mother's Day present or Christmas present down the road.

As for this one, I'm sticking it in my Etsy shop.

Sponsored by Pink and Blue for unique baby gifts to make them "ooh" and "ahh."

Summer Activities in Anchorage, Alaska 2009

"When are you going to put out your summer activities list?"

Ask no more because here it is--just in time for school to be out--and I've added half a dozen or more new things so look carefully.

If you wish to download this list in a pdf format for distributing you can click here. Just please leave the URL and credits in place (it is copyrighted after all).

1. Visit the Loussac Library
Sign up for the 2009 Summer Reading Program "Be Creative" where children earn rewards for reading. The big kick off was Saturday May 16th on the Loussac lawn but if you missed it it'll be repeating May 30th at the Muldoon branch.

Some extra Loussac events throughout the summer held at 2pm in the Wilda Marston Theater (see the website for repeat performances at the other branches around town):

June 2 Fractured Fairy Tales
June 9 Creativity the Mad Scientist Way
June 16 Create-a-Circus with Megan Holtan
June 23 Get Crafty! Get Creative!
June 30 Rockin' Reptiles
July 3 Alaska's Fiddling Poet
July 21 Cosmically Creative

Join one of the reading groups at the story theater in the Loussac Library:

Mother Goose (birth-18 months) on Thurs 10:30 am, Fri 3:00 pm
Lapsit (18 months-3 years) Tues 10:30 am, 11:30 am Wed 10:30 am, Fri 10:30 am
Storytime (3-5 years) Thurs & Fri 11:30 am
Family Storytime (families and children under 5 year olds) Thurs 6:30 pm

2. Enjoy outdoor concerts at the "Music in the Park" concert series.
These free outdoor concerts are Wednesdays & Fridays noon-1pm at Peratrovitch park downtown and are always fun. We never miss the bagpipes because who doesn't like bagpipes, kilts and a picnic in the sun?

June 3 Melissa Bledsoe Fischer
June 5 Alaska Brass
June 10 Jalmon Salmon Dixieland Band
June 12 Marcia Knorr/Barbwire Twisters
June 17 Dixie Express
June 19 Top Cover
June 24 The Greatlanders
June 26 Bagpipe Competition
July 1 Canada Day Celebration w/Alaska Brass
July 3 Karenodie and Paul
July 8 Dixie Express
July 10 Army Brass Quintet
July 15 Carhartt Brothers
July 17 Terri & Jerry Holder
July 22 Northern Lights Brass
July 24 Nuther Brothers
July 29 Derry Aires
July 31 Galway Day Band
Aug 5 Jared Woods/Robin & Caiti Hopper
Aug 7 Top Cover
Aug 12 The Greatlanders
Aug 14 The Asteroids
Aug 19 Matt Hammer
Aug 21 Hawaii Statehood Celebration
Aug 26 Midnight Starlight
Aug 28 Button Box Gang

Then there are "Cultural Saturdays" concerts at the same location (unless otherwise noted) each Saturday:

June 6 Oceans Fest on the Park Strip
June 13 1-3:00pm John Damberg Quintet
June 20 10:00am – 6:00pm G Street Artists Market
June 20 All Day AWAIC Festival in Town Square
July 11 10:00am – 6:00pm G Street Artists Market
July 18 1 – 3:00pm Bucket of Bolts
July 25 10:00am – 6:00pm G Street Artists Market
Aug 1 All Day Galway Days (Irish Music) Festival on G Street
Aug 8 1:00pm – 3:00pm Woodrow
Aug 15 10:00am – 6:00pm G Street Artists Market
Aug 22 1:00pm – 3:00pm Hawaii Statehood Celebration
Aug 29 1:00pm – 3:00pm Rank Strangers

There is also "Music for Little Ones" concerts every Monday noon-1pm July 13-Aug 3, "Theater Thursdays" productions every Thursday noon-1 pm, "Live after Five" concerts every Friday 5-8pm and "Cultural Faire" cultural events every Saturday 2-3 pm. All are held at the same location downtown.

3. See auto racing at The Northstar Speedway.
This track in Wasilla has Saturday and Sunday racing May 23rd through August 29th. The gates open at 2 pm and races start at 5pm. GCI customers can go to any GCI store for free tickets, otherwise it’s $10 for adults, $5 for kids and free for kids 10 and under. We went a couple years ago and had a great time--there was even a demolition derby before the races.

4. See a free movie at the Dimond Center Theaters.
Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 10am the theaters hold their Free Family Family Film Festival where two movies are shown, no age limit. Movies are shown concurrently all three days.

May 26-28 Veggie Tales: Pirates Who Don't Do Anything/Evan Almighty
June 2-4 Kit Kitredge/Nim's Island
June 9-11 Horton Hears a Who/Inkheart
June 16-18 Tale of Despereaux/Kung Fu Panda
June 23-25 Everyone's Hero/Surf's Up
June 30-July 2 Igor/Journey to the Center of the Earth
July 7-9 Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium/Bee Movie
July 14-16 Curious George/Alvin and the Chipmunks
July 21-23 Space Chimps/Madagascar 2
July 28-30 Wallace and Grommit/City of Ember

Also note: The Century 16 theater also has a summer movie clubhouse event running all summer long where shows are $1 at 10 am or prepay for 10 shows for $5 and get 50% off.

June 4 Daddy Day Care
June 11 Daddy Day Care/Pippi Longstocking
June 18 Igor/Pippi Longstocking
June 25 Igor/Horton Hears a Who
July 2 Space Chimps/Horton Hears a Who
July 9 Space Chimps/Tale of Despereaux
July 16 Kit Kitteredge/The Tale of Despereaux
July 23 Kit Kitteredge/Kung Fu Panda
July 30 Madagascar 2/Kung Fu Panda
August 6 Madagascar 2

5. Catch a Bucs Baseball game.
Playing at Mulcahy Stadium several evenings a week (usually at 7pm) June 9-August 2 (see their schedule here), this is great fun. Bring a big bag of peanuts and show your kids what baseball at sunny 10pm feels like. The library's summer reading program often gives out free passes for four to the games otherwise admission is $5, six and under are free.

6. Go gold panning at Indian Valley Mine or at Crow Creek Mine.
Off of the Seward Highway just before the turnoff to Indian and open from May 15th-September 15th 9am-9pm. Admission is $1 per person for the mine and museum and then $5 and up for a bucket of dirt to pan--depending on the amount of dirt. It's very clean and very easy for small children and the views of Turnagain Arm are worth the trip. This isn't quite free but it's nearly so.

You might also try Crow Creek Mine a bit further down the road for a couple dollars more. We went last summer and you can see pictures here.

7. Build something at The Home Depot and Lowe’s kid clubs.
Free to children of all ages, each store's kids' club provide aprons (to keep), tools, safety goggles and kits to build various easy woodworking projects such as birdhouses, bookshelves and wooden toys. Home Depot on Abbott holds their kids' club the first Saturday of every month 9am-12pm while supplies last (and I've never seen them run out but it can get crowded around the tables). Lowe’s on Old Seward and O’Malley holds theirs the 2nd Saturday at 10am. Children get certificates of completion and patches to put on their aprons each time they complete a project. It's great fun and our kids have loved participating.

8. Go fossil hunting in Sutton.
Anywhere where the rock is layered and loose you can find plant fossils from the late Cenozoic period (50-70 million years old). Bring a good map, take any road into the Talkeetna Mountains, find a good place to turn off and you'll find fossils. The kids like carrying picks and buckets--but the picks are more for fun than necessity. It's just fun banging rocks. I've got a post coming on this one later this summer with pictures from when we went.

9. Visit some of Anchorage's lakes.
Rent paddle boats at Cheney Lake (on Baxter road), swim at Goose Lake (the corner of East Northern Lights and Providence Drive) or picnic at Lake Hood (near the airport) and watch the planes take off at the world’s largest and busiest float plane harbor.

10. See paragliders jumping off the mountains.
In Girdwood (near the Alyeska Prince Hotel) on a clear day the updrafts start around noon and though it's free to sit and watch them land down around the hotel grounds for the best view take the tram ride ($14 with an Alaska ID, $7 for kids 7 and under) up the mountain for a picnic and first-hand view of their takeoffs. Hatcher’s Pass is a bit farther from Anchorage in the opposite direction but also has a great view and is popular with the paragliders--and it's free from all viewpoints.

11. Pick blueberries on Flat Top or at Hatcher's Pass.
The Flat Top Trailhead starts at the top of Upper Huffman Road and though the entire trail (2 miles) may not be suitable for small children, the lower alpine area known as Blueberry Hill is great for picking berries in town. It's best to check about the first week of August to see if the berries are ripe, if you wait too long they'll be all gone.

Hatcher's Pass, though farther, has more blueberries than you could ever pick if you're up for a two-hour drive. For an easy hike (even with a stroller) try the beautiful Thunderbird Falls. Follow the signs from the Glenn Highway twenty minutes north of Anchorage. For a longer hike that has a spectacular prize at the end try the Winner Creek Trail in Girdwood. Andrew and I were there for our anniversary last year.

12. Ride Alaska Live Steamers miniature train.
In Wasilla between the Museum of Transportation and the airport this 7.5 gauge miniature train is big enough for children and adults to sit on the individual cars as the train travels through the woods on a 20 minute train ride. The train runs the 1st and 3rd Saturdays the middle of May through the middle of September 10am-4pm. Cost isn't free (they don't accept credit cards) but it's minimal ($4 for adults, children under 2 are free) children under 3 need a car seat but the owners have one to loan in a pinch. We did this in 2007 and had a fun time if you'd like pictures and video footage.

13. Attend the Alaska statehood celebrations.
This year Alaska is been celebrating its 50th year of statehood and June 27th 12 pm-5 pm on 4th Avenue between C & H Streets there will be street performers and artists, an antique car show, a science exhibit for the kids including a giant sandbox and friendly competitions between the police and fire departments (they're calling it the "Hero Games"). From 5:30-8:30 pm the evening will finish off with a street dance so it ought to be a fun day.

Then of course there are also festivities for the Independence Day celebration July 4th which will include a parade, kite flying, fireworks, all free to the public. The governor's picnic is an annual event usually held toward the end of July at the Delaney Parkstrip between 9th and 10th Avenues downtown with activities and free food for all. Check the Anchorage Daily News for times as July draws closer. There are usually summer solstice events as well every year.

14. Visit the Eagle River Nature Center.
I have wanted to visit ever since I discovered their claim to be home to Alaska's 27 indigenous species of orchids (or something close to that, the details were sketchy). Who would have thought? Open every day from 9am-5pm (7pm on Fridays and Saturdays) the center has nine miles of hiking trails and conducts free nature events for kids all summer long.

Each Monday through Friday from June 2 through August 29th 1-2:30 pm they have guided nature hikes on their trails. Then there are also their "Junior Naturalist" programs on Saturdays at 2pm for children ages 5 and up where they can earn a Junior Naturalist Badge after attending 12 sessions.

Here in Anchorage there is also the Campbell Creek Science Center that has trails of its own where you can see eagles and bunnies and even eagles eating bunnies (seen it). Check their calender for lectures and programs.

15. Visit Seward for the 82nd Annual Mountain Marathon.
Every 4th of July Seward, Alaska hosts the Mountain Marathon and though you may not be prepared to participate it's fun to see. I quote from the website:

The foot race is a climb and descent on Mt. Marathon - a mile and a half up and a mile and a half down, complete with cliffs, scree fields, waterfalls, and a spectacular view. This annual event draws runners from around the world.

Over the years, this home town historical event has drawn increased participation ~ resulted in new milestones. 54 women finished the first-ever women's race in 1985, juniors began logging their records in 1994, and 2005 heralded the beginning of the "staggered start" for the senior races. The popular Mini Marathon race starts them out young - toddling just a few feet to victory!

The tradition of the Mt. Marathon Race, according to folklore, began when two sourdoughs had an argument about whether it was possible to climb and descend the mountain in less than one hour.

If you think running is hard, you need to see running Alaskan style. When they come down they're sliding and skidding and tumbling--usually a bit cut up--but it's quite the sporting event to see. We're thinking about going this year.

16. Visit Elmendorf State Fish Hatchery.
Here you can view fish at various stages of growth at the facilities located at the corner of Reeve Boulevard and Post Road. The best time for viewing coho salmon is September but the hatchery is open from late May-September 8am-10pm.

17. Join a bookstore reading club.
Most bookstores in town have a reading hour for kids, some with crafts and other activities. Many have reading programs that offer rewards in the form of coupons and free books to children who complete the reading goals. Barnes and Noble has Preschool Storytime on Wednesdays at 11am and Beginning Readers Storytime on Saturdays at 1pm. Borders has their Storytime on Tuesdays at 11am and 1pm and Saturdays at 11am, call the stores for more details.

18. See dogs catching frisbees.
Skyhoundz is the organization for dogs who love to catch frisbees and the local canine frisbee catching championship (not to be confused with the canine catching frisbee championship--watch those modifiers folks) will be held June 7 1 pm at Delaney Park strip on the soccer field at 10th and L Street. All the cool dogs will be there.

19. Bike the coastal trail.
The Tony Knowles Coastal Trail reaches 10.5 miles from downtown Anchorage, along the coast of Cook Inlet and down to Kincaid Park. With easy terrain and beautiful scenery it's a great bike ride for kids--there are plenty of parks along the way as good places to stop for a picnic if little legs get tired. The Copper Whale Inn on L Street above Elderberry Park near the beginning of the trail has bike rentals. Pictures of one of our trips can be seen here.

20. Visit some gardens.
The Alaska Botanical Gardens gets better each year and I particularly love the herb gardens with their gorgeous raised beds. There are lots of events going on all summer long (check the website for details but May 24-September 2 Tuesdays through Sundays families with children ages 4-9 can rent $5 "Discovery Duffles" that are filled with activities for children (presumably related to the botanical gardens). I haven't tried it but it sounds like it could be fun.

Also, June 3-September 2 each Wednesday at 6 pm is Storytime in the Garden for children ages 3-5 (weather permitting). They meet in the lower perennial garden area.

21. View some wildlife.
Eleven miles past the turnoff for Girdwood on the Seward Highway is the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center with 140 acres of room for the buffalo to roam. Or rather the moose. You can see all sorts of Alaskan animals from 8 am to 8 pm May to September.

I've heard several people say it's a great trip--be sure to bring cameras, warm layers, binoculars and shoes for walking. Admission is $7.50 for adults and $5 for kids or $25 per car load.

Of course you can always visit the Alaska Zoo for about the same price and they also have Storytime at the Zoo on 10:30 am each Wednesday April 1-September 1 which is free with the price of admission.

22. Study the planets.
From the website which explains it best: "The Anchorage Light Speed Planet Walk is a scale model of our solar system. Taking the walk, you experience the relative size of the planets and their distance from the Sun. The scale was chosen so that a leisurely walking pace mimics the speed of light. On this scale, each step equals the distance light travels in one second (300,000 kilometers or 186,000 miles).

"It should take you about 8 minutes to walk from the Sun station at 5th and G to the Earth station at 5th and K, just as it takes 8 minutes for a light beam to travel from the real Sun to the real Earth. Similarly, it takes you and a light beam 5 1/2 hours to reach Pluto at Kincaid Park."

Sounds like a fun activity for a sunny summer day, huh?

23. See some salmon.
Anchorage has lots of waterways within the city and if you haven't already you must go down to Ship Creek and see the salmon run. The hatchery is just up the road and last time we were there we spent time watching a beaver at work above the bridge making a dam. You can read more about the activity at the link above.

24. See some glaciers.
You might be really adventurous and head all the way down to Seward to hike out on Exit Glacier (we did that several years ago and had a great time) but closer to Anchorage there are always the billions of glaciers you can see around Portage. The Begich-Boggs visitors center is free and always has fun things for the kids to see and you can walk into Williwa campground to see salmon at the right time of year.

You can even take a trip through the Whittier tunnel. It's not as if there's really lots and lots to see in Whittier once you get there, but if you want to see a very long tunnel that would be the place for it.

25. Visit some museums.
Now everyone knows about the Anchorage Museum at the Rasmussen Center but there are a few other little museums around town that can be fun.

The Alaska Heritage Museum at Wells Fargo (301 W. Northern Lights) has 900 pieces of Native artifacts, gold and fine art. The Anchorage Fire Department (100 E. 4th) has fire department memorabilia. The Oscar Anderson House Museum (420 M. Street near Elderberry Park) is open for tours for seeing what life was like in the early days of Anchorage. The Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum (4721 Aircraft Drive) has exhibits on aviation and a flight simulator and of course there's always the Imaginarium at 737 W. 5th Avenue for fun science exhibits for kids.

However, the one I'd like to check out is the Alaska Museum of Natural History which has a summer line up of classes for kids that looks pretty interesting (dinosaurs, whales and space) and the activity fees are reasonable ($1 for ages 3-5, $3 for 6-12, $5 for over 12 and $15 per family).

June 9-12 Dinosaurs: Teeth & Claws
June 16-19 Wild Whales
June 23-26 Fire & Ice July 7-10 Dinosaurs: Tiny & Huge
July 14-17 Mission Mars
July 28-31 Unlikely Predators August 4-7 Dinosaurs: Feathers & Scales
August 11-14 Weird, Wild & Wacky

The Anchorage Museum at the Rasumusen Center is having their free day May 30th with details here.

To Phone or Not to Phone?

Have you noticed the new ad on my sidebar? There's a bit of an explanation behind it--a firm representing T-Mobile approached me to see if I would like to take part in their new Family Allowances campaign in exchange for a paid sponsorship to which I said, "Why yes, yes I would! Thank you very much."

The set up was simple enough, I was supposed to take a quick quiz on their site to see what my "parenting style" was like then share it with you good people (and if you've read my blog for any length of time I bet you can guess what kind of style I have . . . I'm not exactly quiet about those kinds of things am I?)

Well (surprise surprise) after taking the quiz I was informed that I am "Sergeant Strict" when it comes to parenting. I guess that's because they didn't have anything stronger than that . . . like maybe "Fascist Female" which is what I'd probably have been labeled if the quiz had been longer and more in depth.

But I have to put a word in my defense because I'm actually a firm believer in allowing someone as much freedom as possible unless they give me a reason to think that's not such a good idea. But the thing is, the quiz didn't measure that, it kind of started on the assumption that I would give my children cell phones. (Pardon me while I giggle here).

Now while I really and honestly do think T-Mobiles new "Family Allowances" campaign is a great idea--it's focused on helping parents manage their kids' cell phones and promote responsible cell phone use by kids--and I tip my hat to the great idea of reaching out to moms to help spread the word, I have to say that after thinking about it I have come to the conclusion that I'll never give my kids cell phones. Nothing against the technology really, I think cell phones are a fabulous modern convenience--they're just that. A convenience. Not a necessity.

Nowadays it's kind of assumed that children "need" certain things: television, video games, a car, a computer, an ipod, a cellphone . . . when in fact not only do they not need them, and I would argue that those things are often downright dangerous.

Why? Oh the reasons are plentiful but here are five:

1. More electronics just mean greater distance from reality.
The more involved you are with technology whether it's through television, chat rooms, the internet, texting and the latest download the less time you have for real life relationships and endeavors. The teen years are especially important for building (or at least trying to maintain) interpersonal relationships and handing out an electronic device that will be your competition for their attention seems like a huge mistake.

Besides, handing a child a cell phone just gives you a false sense of security that somehow you're keeping tabs on them or keeping them safe--and that same cell phone that you think is somehow magically protecting them is the vehicle for their friends "sexting" them and sending them pornographic pictures in Biology class. Great. There's irony for you.

2. Toys are a status symbol.
You realize don't you that as soon as you present your child with the latest and greatest gadget that the first thing they're going to do is brag about it to their friends, right? We've become a society that looks for all sorts of measures of success and I really don't want my children to start thinking they're cooler or better than the next kid just because they've got the latest video game system.

3. It's important for children to want things but not get them.
I once heard someone say that a child should always have things that they want but will never get and while that sounds harsh it's true because that's life. There are plenty of things I'd really like but will never be able to have . . . like a private jet or my own Caribbean island or even a room full of Godiva keylime truffles or the body of a supermodel. Learning that you don't always get what you want is a rather important thing to learn in life.

4. Gadgets are expensive.
In a time when Americans are saving next to nothing and spending more than they earn the last thing anyone needs to hand their child is a $2oo gadget. Hey, maybe you're one of the ones who can afford it but with four kids I certainly can't. The money would be much better plopped into a savings account for my retirement or for their college or used for paying off our home. Or, if a treat is in order, using the money for a shared family experience like a vacation together where we can actually talk together rather than spend time looking at screens.

5. Media and electronics are addicting.
I know this sounds all conspiracy-theorist and all that but I really do believe it. There have already been plenty of studies about how we watch too much television but I'm convinced that texting and video games and the internet can also be addicting. How many times have I come out of a movie only to see a dating couple both flip up their cell phones and immediately start talking to someone else rather than the person they're with? Or how many people have I seen at restaurants having dinner with that special someone only to be on the phone chatting with their girlfriend? Don't get me started on video games and computers in kids' bedrooms . . .

So now that I've mouthed off about this subject and I'm very aware that I'm probably in the minority here and way out of my league I'm curious. How many of you have cell phones (I myself do not, I had one but the contract ran out and I never renewed) and how many would give them to their children?

You can take the T-Mobile quiz to find your style of parenting here--I'm curious what other styles there are out there.

But here's my own little quiz:

Which of the following are true for you?

• I have a cell phone.
• I would allow my child to have a cell phone.
• I would carefully regulate my child's cell phone usage.
• I think having a cell phone is a modern necessity.
• I think you're crazy--what's the big deal with kids having gadgets?

Created on May 19, 2009

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Congratulations to Janet of Fayettville, North Carolina who won this weekend's triple giveaway and to Jennifer of Family Musings who won a copy of A Sane Woman's Guide to Raising a Large Family.

Sponsored by Dimples and Dandelions with the Serena and Lily Bedding Collection for children.