Tate is officially 2! If you ask him, though, he’s more likely to say that he’s 9 or 13, his favorite numbers of late.

Upon realizing that his birthday would fall during the Winter Olympics, I had a flashback to a jellybean-Olympic-rings cake my mom made when I was little. (I’m guessing ’84 in LA?) With my theme established, I started scouring the internet for other Olympic-related party ideas. Here’s what we ended up with:

• My brother downloaded the Olympic theme song to be playing as the guests arrived.
• The colors were red (for Team USA, with a nod to the Canadian host country) and silver, since it was a second birthday.
• Awesome 3-D paper snowflakes – awesome because of how great they looked, and also because I didn’t have to make them (a leftover Christmas decoration from the MagnetStreet office – thanks Rene’!). If you have older kids, though, it would be a fun craft.
• Chocolate gold medals for the kids – you can buy them here. Or for our cheapo version, use super glue to attach chocolate gold coins to plastic gold medals.

• Olympic Flag posters – Using Lindsey’s watercolor valentines as inspiration, Tate and I painted six half-sheets of posterboard, one in each of the ring colors*. The next day I traced around 2 different-sized plates, then cut out the ring shapes. A little glue stick under each ring, and we had a flag. Since there was plenty of painted paper, I made 3 flags to hang around the house.

• Tate helped to put a flag toothpick in each of the corn muffins. We had chicken chili and tater tot hotdish for lunch.

Some other fun ideas that I didn’t end up using:

• Assigning a different country to each family, asking them to come to the party dressed accordingly.
• Preparing an international menu that represents a variety of countries – ideas at Kids Birthday Idea Guide.
• Decorating with a banner of international flags. (I had great intentions of sewing these, but then remembered that I never finish sewing projects. Also decided not to pay for a plastic one online.)
• Sledding or skating activity – maybe we’ll do this in 4 or 8 years, when Tate is having parties with friends.

Unfortunately, my “inspiration piece” cake was less than spectacular. I started off feeling all chef-ly, slicing off the rounded top and frosting a base layer. Then I ran out of frosting and ended up putting the whole thing back into the pan so the unfrosted edges wouldn’t show. I added extra toothpick flags around the edges, as a distraction from the mess. The peanut M&M rings worked, at least!

The real highlight of dessert was the Olympic torch ice cream cones that my sister made. Earlier that morning, she filled the cones with vanilla ice cream and doused them in yellow and red sprinkles. We lined them up in a plastic container and put them back in the freezer.

In addition to being adorable, this strategy made the dessert-serving go quickly, since we weren’t scooping out ice cream on each plate. Everyone got to enjoy a cone while I was cutting the cake.

I’m a big fan of having a theme for parties – it makes the planning easier by providing a focus for the food, decorations, invitations, etc. What party themes have you used for your child’s birthday?

*For our Olympics, I went with “brown is the new black” because there was no black paint in the 10-pack of Crayola paints. And also because a standard bag of M&Ms has brown, not black candies (for the rings on our cake).

I’m finishing a post about Tate’s birthday party…here’s a sneak peak:

Yes, we still call him Tater Tot, even at the ripe old age of two. Yes, we live in Minnesota, home of the hotdish. Yes, his birthday is right in the midst of the Winter Olympics.

Stay tuned…

Ah, the hospital bag. For me it was the first time I’d ever packed for someone besides myself, as well as my first time packing for a hospital stay. I ended up with everything I needed, but lots of things that never left the bag as well.

Since my actual labor time at the hospital was very short, I didn’t get to wear my cute outfit (yes, I had a laboring outfit planned, including shoes!). My husband ate the “laboring snacks” as we welcomed visitors to see the new baby.

But one of the frustrating things about pregnancy and parenting is the feeling that all the knowledge you’ve acquired may not be helpful in the future. Like once you learn to ride a bike or drive a stick shift car, you can transfer those skills to other bikes and cars. With pregnancies and babies, that’s not always the case  – every one is different!

There’s strength in numbers, though, so I asked friends who’ve recently had babies to share their bag-packing advice. Since there are lots of comprehensive lists out there, I asked for items that might be out of the ordinary. Could be what they wished they’d brought, or what was the most essential during their childbirth hospital stay. Thanks Cara, Mindi, Melissa, Sarah & Sarah!

• Extra pillows – for laboring comfort and for dad to sleep on. The hospital probably won’t provide these. Add an extra pillowcase to keep them clean in transit.
• Camera - don’t forget the chargers and a USB cord to download photos
• Journal or laptop, to record memories while they’re fresh
• Comfy pjs, socks and robe. You may want pjs in a dark color, in case of “leaks”. A hoodie is great for nursing access. Remember that you’ll likely have visitors, although you may or may not care what you look like.
• Headband or barrettes – whatever you use to keep your hair out of your face
• Nursing pillow (Boppy or Brest Friend) – save the plastic bag it came in, for transport to the hospital or any other time you’re travelling.
• An extra bag or box to carry gifts home – laundry baskets work great. You may also want to just bring one huge suitcase, so that you aren’t lugging multiple bags and boxes out to the car when you go home – allow extra room when you’re packing, for gifts.
• Snacks for dad, including beverages, so you’re not relying on vending machines.
• A preemie outfit for baby to wear home (from a mom of 8 pound boys, and I would agree, the newborn outfit was too big for my 8-pounder too). Bring a newborn size too, just in case – they don’t take up much room!

General packing tip: Keep a list of last-minute items to add right before you leave, if there are things that can’t be stuck in a bag for weeks beforehand.

General hospital tip: Double-check the hospital’s visitor policy beforehand. One family found out on the day of their c-section that their toddler couldn’t be at the hospital, and was scrambling for childcare. Rules have become more strict with fears of H1N1.

What were your hospital bag essentials? Or what did you bring that was totally unnecessary?

Photo Courtesy:
kona99

What are you eating this Thanksgiving? Are you all about tradition, or always looking for something new to put on the table?

I remember one year as a child when my grandparents took us all to a restaurant for Thanksgiving. It was a lavish buffet which the grownups probably enjoyed immensely. I, however, was mortified that the potatoes had been mashed with the skins on. Not only that, but the cranberries were whole, in some sort of sauce instead of my mom’s smooth, yummy cranberry jello! Oh the horror!

Yes, I’m much more willing to try new things now. But I will admit a strong preference for the old favorites at Thanksgiving – that means cheesy beans and the cranberry jello. Yes, I know that’s very “Minnesota”, but there’s a cranberry cream cheese layer on top…don’t knock it ’til you’ve tried it!

If you need a recipe that your family and friends will love, try this one. I can brag about it since it’s from my mother-in-law, not my own creation. 

Granny’s Sweet Potato Casserole

Ingredients:
3 cups cooked mashed sweet potatoes (canned are fine)
½ cup white sugar
½ cup plus 2 ½ T melted butter, divided
2 eggs, well beaten
1 tsp vanilla
½ tsp salt
1/3 cup milk
½ cup packed brown sugar
¼ cup flour
½ cup finely chopped walnuts

Directions:
Combine the mashed potatoes, white sugar, ½ cup of the butter, eggs, vanilla, salt and milk. Mix well and place in a greased 8” square baking pan.

In a small bowl, mix together the remaining 2 ½ T butter, brown sugar, flour and nuts. Distribute evenly over the potato mixture. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. Makes 8 servings.

Hope your Thanksgiving is delicious!

Photo Courtesy:
xybermatthew

This evening we’re basking in the glow of a successful Mexican-restaurant meal. By successful, I mean that Tate sat in his high chair the entire time and was a very pleasant dinner companion.

Many other restaurant visits have been, well, less than successful. Tonight, I think the food may have been the key distraction. We never know what he’ll be willing to eat at a given meal, if anything. But he loved the chips and salsa and ate an entire cheese quesadilla! Ice water in a fun kiddy cup didn’t hurt either.

For more salsa action, check out the video at the end…

Our other restaurant strategies have included:

Going early: Like 4:30pm-early! When there are fewer people in the restaurant, your food comes out quicker! I’m also less worried about ruining someone else’s date night away from their own kids. 

Taking turns: One parent “enjoys” their meal while the other parent walks around outside with the antsy child. Switch places and repeat.

10-minute meals: No, not a great blog about getting dinner on the table quickly. This is where we inhale our meal because Tate is melting down and we need to get home quickly.

Know when to fold ‘em: We were enjoying an egg roll appetizer, and feeling optimistic about the steamed broccoli we’d ordered for Tate. He was less enthusiastic, and it was soon clear that he would be ruining not only our dinner but soon that of the other patrons as well. Our sit-down Chinese meal became takeout.

I don’t mean to paint a completely negative picture of my son. Sometimes the right snacks or a stack of books will keep him happy. Other times, it’s our fault for attempting a meal out that’s getting close to or even past his bedtime. I guess the bad ones make the good ones, like tonight, all the sweeter!

And speaking of sweet, check out this unabashed double-dipper…family and friends who share appetizers with Tate, consider yourself warned!

Do you bring your kids to restaurants – fancier than McDonald’s, that is?

What are your secrets to success?

My friend Sarah just gave birth to a beautiful baby girl – welcome, Addison! Another friend is organizing meals to be brought for their family. The same generosity was extended to us when I had Tate and it was so wonderful!

If you’re pregnant or wanting to help out a new mom, here are some things to consider:

General tips for bringing meals to others:

1. Ask about any food allergies or disliked foods.

2. Whenever possible, bring the meal in containers that don’t need to be returned.

3. Think out of the box – in addition to the main meal, include some fresh fruit, a breakfast item or a favorite beverage.

4. If you live out of town, or are unable to prepare a meal, send a gift certificate for a restaurant with delivery or takeout.

5. Get a group of the new mom’s friends together and go to Let’s Dish or a similar place for freezer meal preparation. Give her advance notice, though, so there’s enough room in her freezer!

Tips for the expecting/new mom:

1. Probably a lot of people people will ask what they can do to help you. Ask the most organized of these people to coordinate a meal schedule. Then when anyone else offers to bring a meal, direct him/her to this person. All of the following information should be shared with your organizer to simplify your life!

2. Decide when you want meals to start – perhaps a little later if you have family there to help right away.

3. Consider how often you want to receive meals. Daily might be too much, especially if it’s just two of you eating. For instance, Sarah is receiving meals for two days, then one day off to allow some time for leftovers.

4. Be sure to let people know about any food allergies or things you don’t like.

If you’re trying to fill your own freezer in preparation for baby’s arrival, check out these ideas from Erin at $5 Dinners. Her baby is due soon, so most of the items are crossed off her checklist, but there are links to most of the super-affordable recipes. 

Another idea is this cookbook by Lisa Jost – it looks great, does anyone have it already and can give a review? The Doula’s Cookbook for New Moms: Ideas & Recipes for a New Parent, Busy Parent or Doula.

What are some favorite meals you’ve received? What’s your go-to meal to bring to a family with a new baby?

Photo Courtesy:
EraPhernalia Vintage

Nice dramatic title, huh? Truth be told, I couldn’t think of anything to blog about tonight- Tate hasn’t done anything particularly hilarious or frustrating lately. I’ve been reading lots of other great blogs, hoping for inspiration. Then suddenly, there it was…

Travel back in time with me to mid-September. We were out and about early one Saturday morning, and planned to grab breakfast on the go. I assumed it would be McDonald’s or maybe our favorite neighborhood bakery. My husband had something else in mind:

Him: How about if we go outside the box a little?

Me: Sure, like what?

Him: Castillo Blanco

Me: Sure, great!

Me: Where is Castillo Blanco again? (thinking that it’s that cool new Mexican place I’ve been reading about)

Him: It’s White Castle.

Me: Nooooooo! No, no, no, no! Turn the car around.

Him: (slightly wounded) No, really, I’ve heard that they have great breakfast sandwiches.

Me: Ugh, fine, we’ll try it. But we have to go somewhere else if it’s awful.

Yep, of course, you guessed it. While known for their (in my opinion) disgusting, greasy sliders, White Castle has great breakfast sandwiches. I can’t recommend the coffee, but the egg sandwiches, especially the one with bacon on an English muffin- yum!

And to bring the story full-circle, my inspiration came from the breakfast item coupons at Mommy’s Wish List. The White Castle coupon is for the sandwich on a bun, which my husband said was good too. If I were you, though, I’d splurge and get the English muffin.

Let it never be said that I keep all the good things to myself.

You’re welcome.

Photo Courtesy:
Eddie~S

This post is inspired by a love story. My friend Whitney is 35+ weeks pregnant and getting to that “I’m ready to have this baby already” stage. Her thoughful husband didn’t get her flowers or chocolates, but something much more romantic, in my opinion. Click here to read the whole story.

The moral of the story is, of course, to be creative in helping your pregnant wife/girlfriend/sister/co-worker. Here are some other practical ideas for helping out a mom-to-be who’s in the final weeks of her pregnancy:

1. Bring over a meal, even if it’s just takeout from her favorite restaurant. It will allow her to relax at the end of the day (unless she isn’t the cook in the family anyway, then keep reading! ).

2.  If she has older kids, offer to take care of them for awhile. Don’t just make an vague offer- give her a list of several days or evenings that you’re free.

3. Offer to paint the nursery, so she’s not inhaling icky paint fumes. Better yet, use a VOC-free paint - better for everyone involved!

4. Offer to put together baby gear or furniture - not so easy when your belly is huge and your ankles swell when you stand up too long!

5. Hire a maid service for a one-time house cleaning, or help out yourself if she’ll allow you. Again, the more time she can be off her feet, the better!

6. Ask her how she’s feeling, and let her vent if she wants. Don’t offer solutions unless she asks for them.

7. Talk to her about non-baby/pregnancy/mom things - she might want a break from it all.

8. If she’s overdue, do NOT say things like “you’re still at work?!” or “you haven’t had that thing yet?”! It’s already on her mind, and everyone else is saying this- avoid the temptation!!

9. Take her out for a pedicure, or offer to paint her toenails for her. She may not be able to see her toes well, but it’s nice to have them look good and she definitely can’t do it herself anymore.

10. Tell her she looks great!

What was the nicest thing someone did for you when you were pregnant?

Photo Courtesy:

Ed Yourdon

Are you hosting a couples baby shower? I’ve never been to one, but if done right, it would be a fun way to include both parents in the preparations for baby’s arrival. Rather than just adding men to what is typically an event for ladies, though, take some extra consideration in your planning. 

Not to be stereotypical, but the cucumber sandwiches and mini quiches might not be so welcome with a co-ed crowd. Go for something a little more substantial (translation: meat!).

Likewise, I know at least my husband would groan and roll his eyes at the average baby shower game. You could either skip the games altogether, or check out these sites for ideas that might go over a little better with the guys:

My favorite at Creative Baby Shower Ideas is the Stroller Obstacle Course. How fun would that be?!

On a Yelp message board, I saw this fun idea from Kristin C: It’s a variation on the newlywed game, where the husband and wife have to guess each others answers to questions about their child. For instance, how many diaper changes will the baby need in a day? When is our child first allowed to date?

And no shower would be complete without an adorable invitation to draw in the guests. As with all of our products, you can customize the colors, font and text. Tip: mention all the MEAT you’re having at the shower. There’s also a folded-card version of this design and you can view all of the shower invitations online.

Have you already hosted or attended a couples baby shower? What worked? What didn’t?

When I learned that I was going to the BlogHer convention, I asked my husband if he wanted to come along. It went something like this: would you like to watch Tate for two days at home, or in Chicago? Given his love for Chicago-style hot dogs and pizza, it was pretty much a rhetorical question. We were even able to go down early and have a family day before the convention began.

We’ve been to the Windy City enough that I didn’t feel the need to do any research ahead of time. Instead, as we drove, we tossed around some ideas, trying to figure out what might work with a 17-month old.

Around 11pm, we pulled into our hotel, and thankfully Tate transferred easily into his pack ‘n play to finish the night’s sleep. He was so well-rested, in fact, that he woke up at 5:30am. What a fun travel companion!

Our hotel was the Ambassador East (only affordable via a deal on hotels.com!) – old school elegant, not super kid-friendly, but a great location. After walking to breakfast at The Original Pancake House, we made our way over Michigan Avenue. Unfortunately, none of the stores opened until 10am and it was barely even 8. Suddenly I regretted my lack of travel research, which should have been on “early-morning things to do in Chicago”. We strolled along the Lake Michigan beachfront for awhile before heading back to a big playground just a block from the hotel.

After the too-early wakeup, all three of us took a morning nap. Our plan was to visit Shedd Aquarium later in the day, knowing that Tate would love all the fish. By the time we got our Giordano’s pizza, though, we needed to head west to meet our friends for dinner. (Even leaving the city by 3pm, we sat in rush hour traffic. I really don’t like driving in that city!) The aquarium will have to wait for our next trip.

While I was at the convention, the boys’ adventures included a trip to the Lincoln Park Zoo and of course a Chicago hot dog lunch. (Focus on the “thumbs up” in the photo, not the frown.)

Have you been to Chicago with your family? What do you like to do there?

Photo Courtesy:
infreshions