Non-Challenge Day 10

Day 10 – Share your favorite recipe (or two)


ALLISON'S SESAME SALMON

Ingredients:
1 salmon filet
1/8 c sesame oil
1/2 tbsp lemon juice
1/2 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp brown sugar
1/2 tbsp dijon mustard
1/2 tsp minced garlic

Directions:
-mix ingredients
-pour over salmon
-put under broiler for 10 minutes

So simple and so good!

Non-Challenge Days 6, 8 and 9!

Okay, so I'm a little all over the place here, but I'm playing catch up from yesterday and I actually just thought of a response for Day 6, so bear with me...

Day 6 – When was the last time you tried something new? What was it and what was the result?

I had a really hard time with this one... that's the main reason for the delayed response. I did come up with something that's relatively new for me though: Driving. I know many of you probably can't imagine not driving or knowing how to drive. Jen is the same. She learned when she was 15 and got her permit the day she turned 16. She's been driving more than half her life. While I did go and get my permit as a teen, we didn't have a car and I never did my test to get my level 1 license (we have a weird graduated licensing system here). Anyway, when Jen was pregnant we talked about it and decided I should go back and get it. It wasn't hard to get the permit, and over the course of the year I did all the classes and whatnot and got my license in November, about two months before The Bean was born. I still don't drive a lot and I've only driven on the highway once, but it's a start.

Day 8 – If you had to teach something, what would you teach? (If you DO teach, when did you discover your love for teaching/the subject?)

Like a number of other bloggers that seem to be participating in this non-challenge, I DO teach. I'm a Senior Kindergarten teacher at an independent school. I've taught SK for four years now, and for two years prior to that I taught Pre-Kindergarten. I love what I do. I always did a lot of work with children and decided towards the end of my high school career that I wanted to go into teaching. I got accepted into a great Ed. program. I spent two years following my graduation trying my darnedest to get a teaching job and found it next to impossible. I subbed and tutored and nannied and did pretty much all other related jobs that I could and FINALLY got hired by the school I still currently work for.

Day 9 – What is the most important lesson you learned from your own mother (or other primary caretaker)?

My mom has taught me a lot of things. The most important thing she taught me is hard to articulate. I guess in a nutshell it was to be independent.

Non-Challenge Day 7 - Meals

Day 7 – What’s your favorite thing to eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner? If you have children, what are their favorites?

Breakfast -I love crepes with fresh berries, but we never make them! Most days I have a bowl of cereal with a cup of Earl Grey tea.

Lunch -In cold weather I really like a creamy soup like butternut squash with some fresh bread. In warmer weather, a big spinach salad with dried cranberries, slivered almonds, maybe some chicken and a balsamic vinaigrette dressing.

Dinner -Three words: Maple glazed salmon. I have a fantastic recipe that I will share later this month. I love vegetables and think this goes well with green beans and some kind of rice or couscous.

The Bean is still having milk for all his meals. Although, he did try some mushy blueberries (without their peels) this afternoon and they were a hit! I have a feeling early solids are in his near future.

Non-Challege Day 5 - Birthdays

Day 5 What do you prefer to do on your birthday? If you have children, what do you prefer to do for their birthday?

I’m going to just jump in here on Day 5.  That’s what’s great about two people blogging, we can totally steal each other’s ideas!  (Sometimes I also steal Allison’s t-shirts, but that’s a story for another day.)

Thinking about this question made the few neurons who are straggling to stay awake in my brain do a little happy dance.  I never really thought about it before, I’m not really into big celebrations on by birthday, but I do love to celebrate with treats.  And, not just any treats, but chocolate filled doughnut treats.  

Can I get an “Mmmmmmmmm?”

“Gee, Jen, why do you like to celebrate with donuts?”  

Well, dear reader, let me tell you.  It all goes back to my childhood.

My birthday is in September, so when I was in elementary school I was always one of the first kids to bring treats for the class.  I’m not positive how the donut thing started; my guess is that with both of my parent’s working, my mom didn’t have time to undertake all of her usual motherly duties, plus bake a cake for my at home birthday bash, plus get my present ready, PLUS make a treat for me to take into school.  Enter her solution, order a couple dozen donuts from our local Dunkin’ Donuts.  

I was always psyched to bring donuts in because they’re BIG and that must mean they’re better, right?  Plus, it was awesome getting to walk down the aisles of my classroom every year and give my friends the option to choose which kind of donut they wanted.  We’re not talking about everyone getting the same old treat on my birthday, no ma’am.  

I always snagged a chocolate filled one and to this day still prefer donuts to cake on my birthday.

January is pretty far away still, so we haven’t chatted about what we’ll do for The Bean’s first birthday.  I know smash cakes are big in the U.S., but I don’t think they really even exist in Canada.  Plus, when my nephew turned one and was presented with his smash cake, he got kinda freaked out.  Parents spend so much time trying to get their kids NOT to play with their food, then we give them this cake who’s only purpose is to be played with.  Hello mixed message!

Whatever traditions are established for The Bean, I want him to look forward to his birthdays and when he’s an adult, to be able to look back on them fondly.

Non-Challenge Day 4

Day 4 What has most surprised you about parenthood?

There have surely been many things that I didn't expect from parenthood, but I'd say the top three are:
1) How fast time passes. I feel like The Bean's baby-hood is going by so quickly and any moment his toddler days will be upon us. I'm trying to enjoy the moment, realizing they don't last.
2) How it takes at least twice as long to get ANYTHING done.
3) How I think our baby is the most amazing baby ever. I think babies and kids in general are pretty awesome, but our little guy seems just that much more awesome. (Except for at 5:00am on a Saturday when he decides it's time to start the day. Yawn!)

Non-Challenge Days 1, 2 and 3!

Catching up from the past few days...

DAY 1 Provide a picture of the space where you normally blog.

I used to have a lovely large desk with a hutch, but it was Craigslisted to make room for the little one. Now I mostly blog from the sofa.



DAY 2 Describe your high school self. What extracurricular activities, if any, did you participate in during high school?

High school... neither the best nor the worst years of my life. In some ways I've changed dramatically, in others, not at all.

I was introverted but friendly, with a small group of close friends that I was comfortable opening up around. I took school seriously. I studied hard and got good grades. Most days I arrived at school early and sat in the hall or classroom reading. I'm quite certain I had my nose in a book during about 90% of my "free" time. I was involved in a few extra-curriculars, Art Club and French Club come to mind, but I also had a lot going on outside of school.

I was a competitive gymnast, and trained a few nights a week after school. I had been quite good in my younger years, but had to stop because of an injury. I went back probably around age 15 and started training again. I was able to compete, but it was never quite the same.

I was also very involved in my church... a Korean Presbyterian church, though I am not Korean. I started going in my early teens because my best friend was a member and ended up really loving it. I was super-involved there. I went to Youth Group on Friday nights and service on Sundays. I was in the choir, taught Sunday school, played on their sports teams like softball (I was awful) and dragonboat (I was good), served as an usher, was in the church praise band (bass and vocals), was the VP of the youth group for one year, etc. I had a lot of very close friends there, including my best friend who was like a sister to me. Eventually I became disillusioned and left the church, but that came later...

I also babysat A LOT. My sister and I pretty much watched every child in the neighbourhood under age 10. I also worked for a company that hosted kids' birthday parties in my later teen years. I think all the time I spent with kids then definitely influenced my decision to become a teacher.

I liked spending time with my friends, but never had a boyfriend (or a girlfriend). I didn't really think about that much, to be honest.

I think I was a pretty good teenager. I fought a lot with my sister, but that was probably the worst of it. I don't think my mom ever worried too much about me. We were pretty close and she was fairly relaxed in her parenting style with me... no curfew, no real "rules" other than letting her know where I was. I was probably harder on myself than she was on me. My "rebellious" phase came later.

DAY 3 What are your guilty pleasures?

I really don't think I have too many guilty pleasures. I buy a fair number of books, but I read them. I watch TV (including some crappy reality TV), but usually only about an hour a night. I love ice cream and baked goods, but wouldn't say that I over-indulge. I probably spend too much time browsing Etsy and the past four and half months I have overindulged in the taking of baby photos. Does that count?

30 Day Non-Challenge

I've decided (for now) to play along with 1 in Vermillion and An Offering of Love's 30 Day Non-Challenge.

That said, it might be a few days before I get on-track since I have all kind of year-end deadlines happening right now.

Here's their list of questions:
Day 1 – Provide a picture of the space where you normally blog
Day 2 -Describe your high school self. What extracurricular activities, if any, did you participate in during high school?
Day 3 -What are your guilty pleasures?
Day 4 – (for parents) What has most surprised you about parenthood?
(for parents-to-be) What has most surprised you about ttc?
Day 5 -What do you prefer to do on your birthday? If you have children, what do you prefer to do for their birthday?
Day 6 – When was the last time you tried something new? What was it and what was the result?
Day 7 – What’s your favorite thing to eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner? If you have children, what are their favorites?
Day 8 – If you had to teach something, what would you teach? (If you DO teach, when did you discover your love for teaching/the subject?)
Day 9 – What is the most important lesson you learned from your own mother (or other primary caretaker)?
Day 10 – Share your favorite recipe (or two)
Day 11 – In what ways does being a lesbian/2-mom family impact your experience of parenting?
Day 12 – Tell us about the first time you got drunk (as far as you can remember…)
Day 13 – Tell us about the best job you ever had, and the worst
Day 14 – How do you typically dress? How do you (or would you) like to dress your kid(s)?
Day 15 – What was your college experience like? Were you involved in any clubs, groups, etc?
Day 16 – How many friends do you have in real life that you talk to regularly? How many friends do you have that you feel are ‘true blue’ and how long have you known them?
Day 17 – (for parents) What is your favorite thing about parenthood? Your least favorite?
(for parents-to-be) What are you most looking forward to about parenthood?
Day 18 – How do you feel about astrology? What’s your sign, baby, and do you think it matches your personality?
Day 19 – How do you (and your partner if applicable) feel about PDA?
Day 20 – What is the kindest thing anyone has ever done for you? Did you repay the kindness?
Day 21. What child(ren)’s names do you like that your partner hates and thus you could never use?
Day 22 – What is your most beloved childhood memory? What memories are you trying to create (or will you try to create) for your child(ren)?
Day 23 – What are your favorite activities to do with your kid(s)?
Day 24 – What are your favorite activities to do without your kid(s)? (keep it clean!)
Day 25 – What did you want to be when you grew up? Why and/or how did that change over time?
Day 26 – What is/are the best piece(s) of parenting advice you’ve gotten or can give others?
Day 27 – Which movies or tv shows do you think are the most accurate portrayals of parenthood?
Day 28 – What size family do you come from, what size family do you want, and why?
Day 29 – What do you think about giving kids an allowance, and what chores do you or would you expect your child(ren) to help out with?
Day 30 – What is/are the most memorable questions or reactions you’ve gotten in regards to being a two-mom family?