DARLING, PLAY WITH YOUR FOOD part two

                                                      HOW CAN   
                KIDS LOVE VEGGIES?


I have no idea why there is a stereotypical opinion that kids hate broccoli. Most kids that eat at our home love broccoli and other veggies. The best way I think for kids to develop a palate for different types of vegetables is to let them play with them. I remember steaming a whole bunch of cauliflower and broccoli and the kids built an entire forest out of them. To make them look like they were topped with snow they dipped it in a yogurt dressing. Presentation is very important with kids. My husband is very creative with the way he presents them. For example, corn on the cob is a lot of fun for the kids if it's cut into one inch wheels. Kids adore "the longest cucumbers in the world". Cut those long supermarket cucumbers length wise in long strips and serve them with kosher salt sprinkled on top.

The other day we had a picnic, and I forgot to pack a teaspoon to serve the salsa. My son cut the top off a small pepper and pierced it with a stick. All the kids wanted to try that. The deal was that they had to eat all of their creations. The whole bag of peppers was gone at no time!

GOOD QUESTION

Ask your kids if they know why Parmesan cheese is called Parmesan next time you make pasta.

PARMA is the city in Italy where the famous cheese comes from. 






     BEST VEGGIE TO COME FROM YOUR      
               ORGANIC GARDEN


my husband keeps an organic garden for years now. He introduced our children to a huge variety of veggies herbs, and the many creative ways of preparing them.

Green snap peas flash boiled (and plunged in ice water) and dressed with fresh pesto (basil, pine nuts, parmesan cheese, olive oil) and orange peel, and a bit of heat! Amazing!

TRAVEL WITH KIDS

               TRAVELING WITH A TREASURE


It's exactly what it is! Traveling with young kids (and not so young) is like traveling with a treasure. Exciting and wonderful on one hand, and scary on the other. It's just because most of us already organized our lives and activities, play dates and babysitting at home. Just when we get content, we want to kick it up a notch. That's when we get our treasures, and they us, full time. If you have multiple kids - they get each other, often with different personalities. It's not the only thing you are getting. Your spouse is also yours full time.     
Not to worry and panic! These are the best times! Tons of pictures, adventure and laughter. If your kids, like ours, have a personality clash they should engage in different activities at different times. I don't think the idea of siblings bonding on the trip really works. Save yourself the stress and plan ahead. If you are on a road trip prepare yourself for those restless moments. That's when good old "I spy with my little eye " makes a glorious come back. When you are driving in any town look for a playground - it's a great place for kids all ages to get rid of some extra energy and for you to relax a bit.

  OTHER GAMES TO PLAY WHILE    TRAVELING

These are fool-proof  for a car, airport, or being in line in the amusement park. You don't need to bring anything.
Words: someone says a word. Let's say "APPLE". The next person has to say a word that starts with an "e". Let's say  "ELBOW". The next person - "w"- "WATER". Words cannot be repeated.
How many fingers: a game of trust. A number game from 1 to 5. One person hides his hand behind his back with some fingers opened. Another person  tries to guess the number of fingers. It's a game of trust because another person has to be honest not to change the number of fingers.




                                      NO MESS ICE CREAM 


       If you serve ice cream to the kids - do it in disposable cups. All the mess is contained inside.

IMPORTANT REMINDER

now is the time to schedule a physical examination for your children. They will not be allowed to play sports without a doctor's approval!

SUMMER BUTT WATCH

                    SUMMER BUTT WATCH
IT's used to be so easy to get into bikini shape when I was a teenager. Skip a couple of dinners, and those hips are gone. These days it's not that easy anymore. I have a theory about this. It's not just our metabolism that gets in the way. I believe that the older we get, the more we enjoy food, drink and lovely dinners. I can't say "no" to a nice glass of wine and some fantastic cheese. That's why vacations can be a little dangerous. We tend to let go more, drink more and snack more. We feel entitled after a tough year. So is there a way to have your cake and eat it too? I think so, if you have a plan. First of all, if you have kids - they can put you in shape. I started playing tennis with my boys this year. Anywhere we go we bring our rackets.
Every time we plan a road trip I keep my eyes open for a new piece of equipment that is compact. I don't know why I do it. I end up not using it. It's just not fun! A hike however can be interesting. Last year my girlfriend and I hiked to the lake and then skinny dipped. That didn't even feel like exercise. This year I hike up a very steep road and back. Basically, I'm earning my dinner and wine, and enjoying nature at the same time!

    
                            There is still hope for my Pilates Power Band. I got it out of the box!

                    THE SNAKE I SAW ON MY LAST HIKE. LOOKED POISONOUS!

      HOW TO TRICK YOUR APPETITE AND        EAT LESS!

just when you start cooking or changing for dinner, drink two 9 oz bottles of water. It works!!


                      
                      AMAZING PRODUCT

ORIGINS SPOT REMOVER

I was skeptical about this product because I've tried several brands with minimal or no success. This one really works. Even a big blemish that would usually take 5 days to go away was gone in two days. Thumbs up!


         PRODUCT I DIDN'T CARE ABOUT

                                                    ORIGINS ORGANIC DEODORANT




I am looking for a good deodorant. Someone said that antiperspirants are not the best choice. There is a reason why we sweat. This one has a very strong herbal scent. I had to shower twice to get rid of it. Not the one!








                                           PRACTICAL ADVICE  


If you travel with young kids, even if they are potty trained always have an emergency bathroom back up. An empty bottle for boys, and a pull up for girls.
The other day we got stuck for an hour in the middle of a freeway due to a massive accident. We needed both. 

                                                                            It's not OJ

HOW TO MAKE YOUR KIDS ENJOY VEGGIES.      

SEE MY NEXT BLOG.

CREATE A HOME AWAY FROM HOME

HOW CREATE A HOME AWAY FROM HOME


Traveling is always fun. Being away from favorite things, however can be tough. That's why they say that there is no place like home. There are ways to make your stay at the hotel or rental property more comforting. Little things can make a big difference. There are people who bring their own pillow anywhere they go. Our friend Bonnie always makes fun of my husband because he is the only person she knows who travels with his own truffle oil. That makes sense, though. If you like your food a certain way some adjustments are not hard to make. He also travels with sea and kosher salt, and the spices he likes, like smoked chipotles. It doesn't take much space if you put them in the zip-lock, just enough for a trip. We are big fans of our morning cappuccino. When we go on a road trip we bring our espresso machine and cups (how about that, Bonnie?!).
To make a place where you are staying feel more like home buy or find some fresh flowers. 

       My son and my husband found this gorgeous lilac bouquet that made our rental home more beautiful!






          BRING YOUR SCENT WITH YOU


I like to spray lavender or eucalyptus essence on the pillows at home, so it's nice to bring it on the trip for a better sleep.

   


BIG WORD TO USE WITH YOUR KIDS FOR A      
                  BETTER VOCABULARY


                           FASCINATING 








Don't ruin an outdoor excursion with your child by applying regular sunblock on his or her face! Kids get super cranky if it gets in there eyes - and it will! 

                                                     Make sure you use tear-free sunblock.




              A WOMAN WHO INSPIRES ME


      Bonnie, our dearest friend from New York 
Upper east side gal, who gave up diamonds and now builds schools in Ecuador when she's not too busy running her successful business in NYC! BRAVA!!


BONNIE: the best advice I got in life was from my father, who said: "no matter what, make sure you can stand on your own two feet and are financially independent."
My dearest friend told me: "no matter how bad you screw up in life, always look forward and move on."


                                                        THANKS BONNIE!!      

       DELICIOUS MEALS TO MAKE IN    
                SOME ONE'S KITCHEN
Contributed by my hubby Serge - the best chef in the world! (who said that the way to woman's heart is only through her children?)
Even when you're on vacation and renting it's nice to stay in and cook something yummy. Sometimes it can be a challenge, since rental properties usually have a minimum of utensils.
The key is to buy best fresh ingredients, and keep it simple. Do not experiment with souffles or some other sophisticated dishes.  

 Tomato, avocado & red onion salad with Amish Gorgonzola, and freshly-dried marjoram.

Salt & sugar brined roasted chicken. Always a hit!

Accompanied by roasted potatoes marinated in olive oil with salt and Spanish paprika!  

                                                      WE LOVE YOU, HUNNY!!








MORE TIPS FORE A SUCCESSFUL ROAD TRIP OR A FAMILY VACATION IN MY NEXT BLOG! HAPPY MONDAY!

IT'S AMAZING HOW DIFFERENT WE ARE!

                     ON THE ROAD AGAIN!!

It is a well known fact that people are very different. Even members of your own family are all different. Some are Democrats, some Republicans. Some carnivores, some vegetarians. Some like rock, and some classical music. When we are at home though, we tend to fall into a comfort zone where we follow our routines, see the same people that we like, dislike or just plain tolerate. Even when we fly somewhere we are prepared for a change: OK, I'm flying to Italy - there will be bunch of Italians and they'll be speaking Italian. When you go on the road trip though, you never know what to expect or whom you'll meet. Not only that. You learn a lot about your own family. Yes we live together, but when everyone is taken out of their rooms and put in the same car for 11 hours strait - that's another story. First lesson: guys and girls have different sized bladders. As my husband explained to the children: "when God made mama he gave her a big noise and a small bladder".
We were hosting several dinner parties lately, and there is always a question: any vegans or vegetarians? I am not so sure they worry about it in Utah. This one guy had a big sign on his truck that proudly said "I killed Bambi's father!". Guy looked like he really did!



FUN APP TO HAVE ON YOUR I-PHONE
                                CamWow
                    It kept the kids occupied in the car for a while. 

DID SOMEBODY SAY SOMETHING FUNNY?


My 6 year old to his older brother: " be quiet, you little  pimple!"

                         We've unpacked!




If you are renting a vacation place - what to bring so you don't feel deprived? See my next blog.

CURE FOR STRESS?

                        CURE FOR STRESS
IS there such a thing? I am not so sure. Not in today's word. A lot depends on personality. There are some people who live a stress-free life, as they say. Those are the few lucky ones who simplified their lives. However, there are many things that can affect your day where you end up being annoyed, frustrated and worked up.
On days like that it's nice to do something to comfort yourself. Comfort foods are so big these days because people want to go back to times where they felt secure and happy. The downside of stress combined with comfort food is it affects your waistline. So is there a solution to relieve stress if you don't have the energy to work out? Let's look at house cats. They always have a spot where they love to take a nap.  It's nice to find a place in you home where you feel happy and nothing is bothering you. It can be a corner of your garden that you like - put a chair there. Or a couch - put a pillow and a blanket there. Remove everything that might aggravate you or remind you of work, like bills. Take a favorite magazine and relax!

If you can make one exotic area in your home where you don't know which country you're at - you can be on "vacation" every day!

A deck is a wonderful place to escape. Flowers and oxygen at the same time are very therapeutic!

This is a beautiful patio at the hair salon Duc -Duc in Torrance, CA. It's always nice to come someplace where you can relax, pause and enjoy something serene and wonderful for a few minutes.












             THREE QUESTIONS TODAY


Q from L: I recently had an argument with my brother's wife. I love my brother. Is it OK for me to see him outside his home?


A: Seeing your brother outside  family life might make him feel strange and can put strain on your relationship with him. I suggest you find a way to reconcile with your sister-in-law. You don't have to be best friends but it's better in the long run to be civil with each other.


Q from two different teachers : While we teach little kids sometimes they get really excited and pee. Should we be concerned, or do something about it?


A: We don't freak out when puppies get excited and pee. No reason to be alarmed with a 6 year old. Their urine is just as organic. If it happens regularly, though, you should make sure he or she goes to the bathroom before class.


Q from D: My husband asked me not to use my perfume. Does it mean he doesn't like how I smell?


A: Our tastes change all the time. He might have gotten tired of the scent or maybe your body chemistry changed, and  perfume doesn't smell the same anymore. Perfumes are tricky. They react with your skin depending on the temperature, and even your hormone changes. There is a nice trick to try with your husband: use no perfume while you are ovulating and watch him pay more attention to you. After all, he is attracted to you for a reason.  


        

SUMMER IS HERE!!

                       SUMMER IS HERE!!
Congratulations! Today is the first day of summer! Ready or not it's here. Many of my friends are getting ready to go on trips. Excitement is in the air about summer get togethers, new activities, barbecuing and entertaining. 
We were invited to our friends house for a casual dinner. It was just the 4 of us but it ended up being very special. We arrived just on time to enjoy fantastic Belinnis on  the  deck and watch the sunset.
Then we slowly relocated inside, and dinner was served on antique china and silverware accompanied with a flower arrangement set in a gorgeous Murano vase. Apres' dinner drinks were served in the living room.  
There were two things that made this evening a beautiful event. First is that we enjoyed several areas of the house, and second the beautiful tableware. Why not use it if you have it? What are we waiting for? Sometimes Monday night can be that special occasion!

NOW IS A PERFECT TIME FOR THE KIDS TO TAKE UP A HOBBY. Something you do for fun ( t.v. and video games  are not an option).
I would love for my kids to start a hobby this summer. Any ideas? We will go biking, hiking, and fishing. I think botany is cool. Collect interesting plants and pressing them. 
Photography is another good one. Now that everything is digital you don't have to print every single picture. 






     WHAT ARE THE APPS YOU LOVE?


Last year when we were on a road trip I discovered Doodle. We downloaded it on I-Pad and I- Pod. Kids were busy finger drawing for hours!






                      MIRACLE CREAM


There is nothing that works faster and better on scratches, rashes and sores than A&D ointment. Get it in the diaper section of the pharmacy. I buy one and divide it in several smaller jars and put it in every bathroom, and sometimes give it to my friends.

                       HOUSEKEEPING

Our organizing guru Andrew Merskin  recommends taking an hour a day and going through guest rooms in the house, so if you have guests this summer you are ready for them at any time!

WHO IS YOUR BEST FRIEND?

    HOW MANY BEST FRIENDS CAN YOU     
                                 HAVE?


Happy Monday! Are we allowed to have more then one best friend?  In one of my blogs last week I referred to Sven as my best friend, and a couple of days ago, in my Father's day blog I said that my dad and I are now best friends. I also consider my mom my best friend. Of course my husband is my bestest friend( is there such a word?). I adore both of my brothers. They are individually my best friends. 
Now, how about my kids? We are, as a family, developing our relationship into a very profound friendship. Then there is an ex-best girlfriend. Can someone "best" be one day "ex"?
So is there such a thing as Best Friend? One and only!? I am very confused. I am confused and guilty even more when I introduce one best friend to another. I sound like a liar and a phony.
Isn't it ironic that as we get older we have less friends, but more "Best friends". When we were kids we had lots of friends but only one best friend. So when are we more honest? Then or now?






                  DRAWER -A- DAY


Well, ok. That was not a drawer. It was an obscure broom closet, that I was avoiding for years. The reason I even decided to take this project on was my 13 year old son who was seriously acting up  and needed labor therapy. After 2 hours in a dim closet unearthing all kinds of "treasures"he was sooooo happy to be done!

                                                                     BEFORE

AFTER

I found some artworks that I displayed. I am not afraid of this closet anymore!

TREASURES I FOUND

Almost every time I have a project like this I find something interesting, useful or something somebody lost a long time ago. This time I found fabulous things.

   1. A brand new tanning mat I got as a free gift many years ago when I bought a truck load of cosmetics.

          2. Four brand new wedding picture albums. Have no idea where they came from. My wedding was a century before we even bought the house.

3. A portrait of the Prime Minister of Ireland and his wife with my face photoshoped between them by my father-in-law.

4. Beautiful shell shaped candles

   

POST -FATHER'S DAY QUOTE

"I had great relationship with my father - I never met him!"

FATHERS

                                FATHER


IS it an opposite of a mother or just different. I guess it depends. However that is - father is a complicated occupation. Most people I know love their mothers unconditionally, but had difficult  relationships with their dad at some point of their life, including myself.  My dad is now my best friend, but there was a time when I was a teenager, I thought that the generation gap with my dad was the size of the Grand Canyon!
Starting with poor Oedipus, philosophers and psychiatrist try making sense of this triangle: mother - father -child. Well, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. That would be my answer. We all need a Father Figure in our lives, and that's a big job! So, lets give our dads a break! 

                                                               My daddy and I this spring




                     FATHER'S DAY GIFTS 
It's more difficult to buy for dads than for moms. There are ways however, of making it a fun day. I think men don't like being in a spotlight too long, so an easy-going day with the family is a must. I always call my dad  and talk to him before I remind him it's Father's Day (we live an ocean apart). Other wise he'll cut our conversation short. 
I don't buy a gift for my husband but I always make sure our kids are prepared.
The most successful Father's Days I remember included some outdoor activities. Guys are physical and a bike ride or just plain playing ball at the park will put them in a good mood.
Finish it with their favorite meal, and you are in business!


                                QUOTES ABOUT FATHERS


A father carries pictures where his money used to be.  ~Author Unknown


Why are men reluctant to become fathers?  They aren't through being children.
There are three stages of a man's life:  He believes in Santa Claus, he doesn't believe in Santa Claus, he is Santa Claus.  ~Author Unknown


Fatherhood is pretending the present you love most is soap-on-a-rope.  ~Bill Cosby


When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around.  But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much he had learned in seven years.  ~Author unknown, commonly attributed to Mark Twain but no evidence has yet been found for this (Thanks, Garson O'Toole!)

             
               TRIPLE SMOKED BURGER


1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 1/2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons minced chipotle in adobo, including some sauce, divided
8 bacon slices
1 1/2 pounds ground beef chuck (not lean)
2 teaspoons sweet smoked paprika
1 large red onion, cut into 4 (1/2-inch) thick rounds, each stuck with a wooden pick to keep it together
1 firm-ripe avocado, quartered lengthwise, peeled, and cut lengthwise into 1/3-inch thick slices
Olive oil for brushing on onion and avocado
4 hamburger buns, grilled or toasted

Accompaniment:
lettuce; cilantro sprigs

Special equipment:
instant-read thermometer

In a food processor or blender, purée mayonnaise, mustard, and 1 tablespoon chipotle; transfer to a bowl. 
Cook bacon in batches in a skillet over medium heat, turning occasionally, until crisp; transfer to paper towels to drain. 
Gently mix beef with 1 tablespoon chipotle, paprika, and 1 teaspoon salt until combined. Form into 4 (4-inch) patties. 
Prepare a grill for direct-heat cooking over medium-hot charcoal (medium heat for gas). 
Meanwhile, brush both sides of onion rounds and avocado slices with olive oil. 
Oil grill rack then grill onion rounds, turning over once, until slightly charred, 2 to 3 minutes total. Discard wooden picks. 
Grill avocado slices, turning once, until grill marks appear, about 30 seconds on each side. 
Grill patties, covered only if using a gas grill, until they reach 160°F on an instant-read thermometer, approximately 5 to 6 minutes on each side.
Put sauce on buns and make burgers with lettuce, avocado, bacon, onion, and cilantro.

                                                        HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!!








HAVE A FUN AND SAFE WEEKEND, EVERYBODY!!


More sunblock and beauty products next week. Creating    
                personal spaces and much more!