5 (yes, only 5) ingredient popsicles

Recently we signed our little one up for Kiwi Crate, a monthly delivery of age appropriate themed crafts.  One of the extra bonuses are e-mails with heads up on extra crates, craft ideas, and...recipes!!! If you are a regular (well, as regular as you can be with my irregular posts) reader of this blog, you know we love to try recipes around here.  This one was for homemade orangesicles.  It was 5 ingredients....truly 5.  Not like those ridiculous "6 ingredient" meals that include some sort of processed boxed ingredient with 50 components.  No. These were, and I'm doing this totally from memory right now:
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup orange juice
3 tablespoons honey
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon orange extract

Mix those together, pour into molds, freeze, done.  Not to mention, they are amazingly delicious.  Here is the link to the original posting on Kiwi Crate.  Next, our own pictures of Evie making her own yummy treats, and then enjoying them!

The New Domesticity

I once had a friend tell me I was the only woman he knew that could sit and cross-stitch something while at the same time yell obscenities at a hockey game.  To date, one of my most favorite compliments.  I've always loved that a combination of my parents' tutelage, my education, and my "life education" has given me the "New Domesticity."  A woman who can cook, sew, and (sort of) keep a house, but has also associate produced off-off-Broadway, hung out with pro-hockey players, took master classes with the Ballet Theatre in Boston, took the afternoon off to cheer the Patriots' through the streets of Boston after their 2002 Super Bowl Win...you get the picture.  The ability to sew helped get Mark and I through a tough economic time shortly after we bought our first house.  I interviewed for a promotion in a suit I sewed myself because we couldn't afford new clothing at the time.  I got the job by the way.

I understand that these days, schools do not teach Home Economics...at least not the way they did when I was in school.  Such a shame.  There are many things Mark and I want to teach Evie.  We want to give her the benefit of our combined talents.  My hope is that some day someone tells her she's the only woman they know who can change the oil on her car, star in a musical, and perform heart surgery...all in the same day.

To that end, I was looking for an appropriate way to introduce sewing.  I've tried those ready-made packs where they have pre-punched felt that little ones could sew together...neither of us found it very fun.  True, she was proud when it was finished, but she didn't love the process.  I recently went on a book buying spree, culminating in purchases of sewing books at JoAnn Fabrics.  One of these was a book of sewing projects for children ages 3 and up.  After looking at it, I'm going to have to question the age 3, but for my 4 year old, it worked great.  Evie and I spent a few moments this Saturday morning looking through the first part of the book to decide which project to begin with.

After much discussion and decision making, we agreed on the finger puppets.  Excitement really took over when she realized she would be able to put on a puppet play when we were finished sewing.  I'm really lucky she didn't suddenly decide we needed to make a finger puppet Joseph cast.  Then it was off to JoAnn Fabrics.  She was super excited that we were buying things for HER project this time...instead of waiting around while Mommy picked out fabrics. 

Happy Child. 

Picking our her first sewing kit!

Shopping trip completed, we headed home to get started.  Her first assignment was met with "but Mommy, I just want to sew, not take stickers off of the felt!"  Perfect way to learn that not every step of every project will be a favorite, but when you think about the end result, it gets easier!

We cut out the pattern pieces and then discussed which puppets we were going to make.  After remarking that we seemed to have quite a bit of pink felt, she thought it would be neat to make more than one of the pig puppets.  This then turned into "we could make the 3 Little Pigs!! and then a wolf! and then that could be our play!!"  Unfortunately, I do not have a video of this moment, but was adorable to watch the excitement build in her as we planned out the next steps.  While cutting out the pieces, we got to the ears.  I cut out three, and Evie said "Mommy, that isn't right"  I replied with, "we have three pigs, and each need two ears, so how many do we need?"  Without missing a beat I heard "well Mommy, three plus three is six, so you need to make three more."  Aaaand, her math is already better than her Mother's. 

Then, we got to work.  She did very very well.  She did most of the sewing herself, and only needed assistance a few times with "whoops" moments.  We worked for about two hours in the morning, took a break for lunch and nap, and then finished up in the afternoon. 

Such concentration...

Post nap, note the pink cheeks and Lambie supervising.

Finished project!  (Mommy made the big bad wolf)

PUPPET SHOW TIME!!!

I modified her "tv" with some leftover fabric from another project.  She was quite pleased to have curtains for her production.  Daddy served as the story narrator, then he was recruited to be the pigs so Evie could play the wolf.  It was a fun little interlude and something different on a Saturday! Next weekend we won't have much time at home, so it was nice to do something Mother/Daughter that then turned into some nice family bonding time.

 

 

Go, Go, Go.....

It has now been over a week since the closing of my most recent theatrical endeavor.  For those of you who know me, I feed my inner Leslie Caron, Grace Kelly, and okay, I'll admit it, Norma Desmond on occasion by participating in the local community theater.  For two months we rehearse (and rehearse, three weeks and it couldn't be worse...oops, wrong show), we rehearse after work and on weekends.  Most of us have day jobs, one of my best friends is a civil engineer by day, force to be reckoned with on the stage by night (or matinee).  It is all volunteer, we do it for the love of it. Of course, as with all volunteer groups, there are some that seem so miserable you wonder why they auditioned in the first place, but on the whole, it ends up a good group.  The cast for this show, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, was more than good, they were amazing.  So much so, that after spending the end of November, all of December and January rehearsing with them, and most of February performing, I'm having one of the worst cases of PSD (Post Show Depression) I've ever endured.

Actors' portrayal of PSD. (thank you ladies)

As discussed in a previous posting, I was part of this cast by sheer luck.  I hadn't auditioned because of a scheduling conflict for the rehearsal process, plus, I hate auditioning.  However, one of the "wives" had to drop out, and I was one of their past performers called to check on my availability.  High honor indeed...especially when I learned about the rest of the cast.  My first rehearsal was mostly me sitting in awe of the voices.  Many of my friends and family who attended the show said the vocals could have been prerecorded they were that good.  One even accused us of this!  I promise you, those performers really did sound that good and were live.  That freakishly amazing pit orchestra and music director might have had something to do with it as well...

The dancing for this show was full of tricks gymnastic and difficult for an old gal like me, but I persevered.  I feel for the poor guy who had to heft me, but he did a super job, not one complaint the entire run.  My hope is that some day the doctors figure out what is going on so that I'm not "the fat one" in the ensemble.  However, the fact that I'm nearing 40 and can still throw a cartwheel over a guy's lap reminds me that I'm lucky to do what I can.  The lovely ladies I danced with were hard workers and did super with their partners as well.  The leading lady should be on Broadway with those legs alone, but for now, she's with us, and audiences are happy about that. 

As always, Steven, the director/choreographer must be credited for his work.  He is the best choreographer for all levels that I have ever met.  The man can take pretty much anyone and get them moving in the right direction. 

My first show back after a loooong hiatus was Curtains in 2010.  Evie had just turned 2 years old when it opened for it's three week run.  She would sing a few phrases and talked about Mommy being a mermaid in the show.  My second show was Gypsy in June of 2011.  Then Evie was 3 1/2 and while still too young to see such a show, she did get to witness the kids practicing their numbers and got to see Mommy do her dancing cow bit.  So, for months, when someone asked my daughter what her Mommy did, she'd reply "Mommy's a cow."  Now, Evie is 4, and got to attend her first full length musical...with her Mommy in the cast!  So, even though I rave above about the friends, new and old, as well as the fun I had and the amazing talent I witnessed, my favorite part about this show is my daughter's obvious enjoyment of it as well as the constant question "Mommy, when can I be in a show with you?" 

With Joseph AND his coat!

I wasn't able to take the time to write out messages to each and everyone of my cast and crew mates, but THANK YOU to all of you for being part of my life,  more importantly my daughter's life, and part of our little family's history.  Each and everyone of you have been mentioned by her in some form or fashion and many of you are part of the stories I shared with my husband when I came home from shows or rehearsal.  Some of you welcomed my husband and daughter into the fold when they were around, and some of you are part of our life outside of the theater.  However it is that you've touched our lives, please know we are so grateful.  Merde a thousand times...and take a look at some of the moments Evie shared on our last day of JoTech.

Director, Choreographer, and Issachar (also, "Uncle" Steve)

With Simeon (Mommy's dance partner) and Mommy

Miss Maggie and Mommy...the two halves of the camel!

She loves Miss Maggie and Miss Mandi!

 After-Strike Cast Gathering, Evie saying her good-byes

Hugs for her Mr. Kerry

Mr. Darren, aka Simeon

Mr. Steve, aka the man who beat out the Muppets for Evie's listening enjoyment!

Evie holding court...Mommy's theater friends are good sports

Huggies for Miss Becky!

 

Last, but not least, the actor who portrayed Pharaoh with Evie doing their best "Elvis Hands"

It's About Time!

I had a couple night break from the show, so Mommy was home!  We finally got our act together and were able to try another new recipe!!  Mark's been craving a good curry ever since our visit to Barbados in January and a great Fusion restaurant there.  We looked up a few ideas, found this one, and after a trip to Wegman's the night before, were ready to go!

Our sous chef was otherwise engaged creating this year's valentine's, so we had to make do ourselves.

 

Right off the bat, we decided the sauce didn't have enough kick.  Since we're sharing with a 4 year old, we kept the heat factor down, but did add more red curry paste than suggested (they said 2 teaspoons, we added at least 2 tablespoons) and we added some curry powder.  Other than that, we followed the rest of the recipe to the letter.

Don't know if you can see it, but we're not done and already making notes on the recipe...

I love theater, but I miss our evenings together!

And of course, I miss our little artiste

Okay, back to cooking.  It was a pretty quick process...would have been faster if yours truly had defrosted enough chicken in the first place.  Oops.  Also, Thai ginger?  My new nemesis.  Hard to work with, and really, not as flavorful as the regular ginger I buy at the grocery.  Couldn't peel it, it was hard to chop, grr... 

Limes, chopped peanuts, cilantro for garnish.  Used all three: YUM

I think we need a bigger boat, er, I mean skillet

Thumbs up from Evie!  She liked her rice more though (of course)

All in all, it was a very tasty dish.  I would definitely add more curry, and possibly some kosher salt next time.  I would also not serve it directly over the rice, the rice soaked up too much of the sauce, I would have rather kept the rice on the side.  We now have this recipe, with our notes, in the recipe binder as a "keeper."

Happy, Rested Family

The thumbs up could be for any of the following:
A. Our first international trip as a family
B. Our awesome hosts in Barbados, Mark's Aunt and Uncle
C. The ten days we spent together in the States, traveling to Barbados, and on     
     vacation...uninterrupted, no work, no rehearsals, no school

Without the generosity of Mark's Aunt and Uncle, who are more like Sister and Brother-in-law really, we could have never taken such a trip.  We basically just needed to get there!  They put us up, fed us wonderful meals, and showed us wonderful sights.  In return, we tried to be good house guests, replenish things we took, and treated to a wonderful dinner at a restaurant they found right on the water.  Pure luxury, it was a much needed respite for us.  We even got to see the U.S. Embassy thanks to Uncle George, who is Head of Diplomatic Security for the Embassy (the reason why they're currently living there).  Evie had a blast, from the trip inside the Embassy to feeding monkeys, to learning how to boogie board.

I am so very happy that we could give Evie the opportunity to have a stamp on her passport at the age of 4!  This was also Mommy's first trip outside of the US (Canada in HS not withstanding).  We had a wonderful time, can't wait to go back next year! 

Four Years of Winnie the Pooh

Four years ago this month Miss Evelyn arrived.  I still remember how cold the garage was that morning as we climbed in the car to head to the hospital.  I remember the care Mark took getting us there as snow fell.  We checked in, and the surgery prep began.  At 8:25 a.m., a 6 pound 14 ounce beautiful baby girl was born.   She was an alert, happy, contented baby from the start, except for when she was hungry...  I also clearly remember Mark standing in the middle of the hospital room holding her and crying.  My favorite quote from him was "I just hope I stop this crying by the time she's 30"  Daddy was smitten.  Okay, we both were. 

One of her first presents was a Winnie the Pooh bear from her Grandma Blessing (aka Bop these days).  This bear had a special purpose: to help show Evie's growth over her first year and then every year after.  What follows is the Evie and Pooh Bear timeline, beginning at the end of January 2008, when she was one month old. 

One Month

Two Months

Three Months

Four Months

Five Months

Six Months

Seven Months

Eight Months

Nine Months

Ten Months

11 Months

One Year

Two Years

Three Years

FOUR Years!