I Am a Disaster in the Kitchen

I am a disaster in the kitchen.

You can read the full story on twitter here  

This is not a thread about my disastrous cooking skills. This is about SCIENCE. It starts with figgy pudding. A few weeks ago, my good friend said "lets drink tea, eat my mom's homemade figgy pudding and watch The Crown!"

— Elizabeth (@OneSweetWriter) May 2, 2018

2018 Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run

This was my eighth year running the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Run, and again I loved it. A lot of my training happened on the treadmill and in my chilly, dim basement I'd look forward and picture the Washington Monument rising above the trees covered in blooms.

Things started getting real when I loaded up the new face on my Garmin.

I drove down to the Expo (at the very cool National Building Museum) with my friend Sandy. We spent some time finding our names on the poster with all the runners' names printed as small as possible. 

Then we headed to the Expo HQ and did some volunteering. We labelled lightsabers, taped boxes, bagged shirts, lugged things and generally helped out. I love doing behind the scenes work like this, especially on events that mean a lot to me.

As a thank you for the social media work I did this year (I was focused on fundraising) I received a new pair of UA Hover shoes. I'm looking forward to trying these out…when I'm recovered from the race.

My volunteering in the months leading up to the race was focused on fundraising for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. Since I've started fundraising, I have raised over $8000. Very soon I will have raised over $10,000 and I'm incredibly proud to support this organization.

Race morning was chilly but clear and sunny. I ran without my phone so I don't have any race day photos (sad face) but I did run a great time with a great effort. I felt wonderful the whole way, satisfied with both my pace and effort. I was able to enjoy myself as we crossed the river, the monuments glowing in the sun, the blossoms blooming overheard, the spectators cheering us on. It was a magical morning. It doesn't hurt I got a little faster each mile as the race went on!! That just shows how great I felt. 

After the race, Sandy and I celebrated at Cuba Libre. One of those mojitos is mine, and we definitely deserved them!!

It's been 8 years since I started running the Cherry Blossom. I'm looking forward to running next year and I'm so grateful for the chance to be out there every year!

The World in 100 Years

On a trip to the Catskills, we embarked on an adventure to find Rip Van Winkle related murals. 

I hadn't read the story in years and was trying to recall the details to share with the kids, and luckily I found it in a country store in Tannersville. 

The biggest differences Rip experienced were escaping his "shrewish wife" and hanging with his dog. 

What will be different about the world in 100 years?

Let's Play Spring-O!

Mother Nature tempted us with a taste of spring last week. She's turned the thermostat back down this week, but we know spring is on the way.

I can't wait.

I love spring. For me, spring means cherry blossoms, running in shorts, bees buzzing, outdoor soccer, longer days, track season.

For others, spring means different things.

What symbolizes spring for you?

Last week a friend of mine commented that spring was almost here because she saw the robins return. I had never thought of robins as migrating birds, so I wondered if they really did leave during the winter. It turns out some robins migrate, but not all. And it's not just weather that motivates their migration.

Our family loves to play games and I decided to make SPRING-O, a fun little game to play while we're waiting for spring to really arrive.

The best part is, you can make this game at home and play it with your family. Make it simple for younger players, or make it complex for older kids and adults.

So let's play Spring-O!

 Play SPRING-O!

1. On a piece of paper, draw a grid of nine squares. 
2. In each of the squares, write down signs of spring. You could write down things about new plants growing, insects and animals, warmer weather, or outdoor recess and sports seasons.
3. Put a free space in the middle of your grid.
4. Play SPRING-O with your family and friends and mark off a square when you see that sign of spring. You can play to win when you have a row of three or when you fill up the entire card. 

Things That Count

Things I Count

Steps I take in a day

Ounces of water I drink 

Miles I run per week

Words I write in a story 

Dollars coming in a month 

Likes on social media posts

Pounds I weigh 

Dollars going out in a month 

Emails in my inbox 

Calls I make as a volunteer

Hours I sleep a night

Books I read a year 

Things I Can't Count 

Cookies I have eaten 

Moments spent in daydreams

Laughs shared with friends

Kisses from my husband

Tissues I’ve used on runny noses

Hugs with my children

Raindrops that have fallen on me

Phone calls to my mom 

Problems my friends have helped me handle

Bandages I’ve put on skinned knees

Licks of ice cream cones

Waves that have washed over my feet

What To Do When it Rains on Family Vacation

Oh no - the worst has happened! You're staying at a hotel with your family and it's pouring down rain. 

Now what do you do? 

Don't worry - I've got some great ideas to help you stay sane during the rain.

It's not the time to turn on the TV, this is a golden opportunity for real family time. Here are great ideas for entertaining the kids (and keeping the adults sane) from toddler to school age, as well as that "perfect storm" of all three! The best part is, these ideas rely on things you would have handy in a hotel, no special equipment or preparation needed. 

Toddlers: Lay out the bedspread on the floor and get on the ground with your cooped-up kid and make a toddler obstacle course with pillows and cushions. For older tods who aren't quite ready for Simon Says, play a simplified version of "Copy my silly face" or "Copy my clapping pattern." You'll be amazed at what your little one can show you!

Preschoolers: Hunt through your luggage and roll up some socks (a bigger sock ball is easier to catch) - practice tossing the socks back and forth to each other, moving back one step for each catch. Count your catches and keep track of the score. Winner gets to pick dessert at dinner!

School age kids: Why should smartphones be a distraction from family fun? Turn this downtime into something special and have your school age kid prepare some interview questions for you and your spouse, then use the video feature on your phone to record the conversation. It's the perfect time to create that digital scrapbook that's been on your to-do list forever.

Combined age groups: Work together to create a monster! Using the notepads in the hotel drawers, fold a paper into thirds. Each person can create part of the monster (head, body, feet) on one-third of the paper, but can't look at what the others have drawn. Unfold and reveal your "horrible" creation! And there's never a bad time to have a Sock Puppet Show. Older children can rehearse and perform the show while the younger siblings become thrilled members of the audience.

More ideas include Shadow Charades, No-writing scavenger hunt, and Paper Airplane Airport and Playing Card Bingo. 

What ideas have you used to stay sane during the rain?

As a traveling mom of three boys, I know the panic that can ensue when bad weather threatens to ruin a great vacation. But stay cool, moms and dads, and remember to enjoy the moment and create your own unique memories, regardless of sun or rain. 

The Puzzle Personality Test

We have three boys, and while they are similar in many ways, they are also astonishingly different. Sometimes their differences emerge unexpectedly and I'm surprised and delighted to discover unique perspectives and skills. Other times, I'm caught off guard in the midst of a major miscalculation.

I should have known that the puzzle I picked out as a 10th birthday present for our middle child was not a perfect fit. While the image on the puzzle was just right - a wizard and dragon playing a magical game of chess - the box sat unopened for months. I suggested it as an anti-boredom activity numerous times, but he always turned it down. I should have read the signals.

When I found a dinosaur puzzle, 1000 pieces, I knew right away it would be a great Christmas gift for the oldest. He's always loved puzzles and has even completed 3D spheres and fun shaped crystal puzzles.

The oldest and I plowed right into the dinosaur puzzle two days after Christmas. It was a family effort, and I did stay up a little too late one night even though we were leaving for the airport early the next day.

It turns out, I also love the challenge of a good jigsaw puzzle. I think, even though it takes a long time and there are lots of mistakes, I really love the definitive feeling of completion that puzzles guarantee.

When we returned from our travels, the middle son pulled his wizard puzzle off the shelf. He and I started with the systematic process of overturning pieces and building the outer frame. Thanks to a two-hour delay, we had a chance to work together one morning, and I promised I wouldn't proceed without him. The next day, I asked if he wanted to work on it again during the two-hour delay, and he declined. I couldn't resist the call of a puzzle and while he was at school, I made significant process on the wizard.

I thought he'd be pleased when he got home, but I was very, very wrong. He was devastated. His reasons for being upset were complicated, but my belief is he was frustrated that I did something he was struggling to do, and he didn't like feeling 'behind.' He didn't really want  to do the puzzle, but he wanted the same connection I had with the oldest on a project. He also hated how hard it was and how frustrated it made him. He was already off-kilter that day and eventually cried a total of four times. The puzzle wasn't really the problem, it was just learning that he didn't like doing the same things his brother, dad, and I enjoyed.

You can't force pieces together that don't fit.

We hashed it out and I encouraged him to try and let himself acknowledge when he doesn't like things and not to force himself to do things just because others seem to enjoy them. He's still figuring this out about himself. I'm still figuring this out about myself.

Maybe one of the oldest human behaviors is trying to be like others, because it can be scary to head off on our own and follow our hearts.

Is it better to be happy on our own, or miserable with those we love?

Does this have to be an either or choice?