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Kids Matter (my kids, your kids, ALL kids)

June 30, 2010 By 13 Comments

baby eating licorice Kids Matter (my kids, your kids, ALL kids)Yesterday I asked my 15-month-old, “Are you a baby?“

She waved her head resolutely from side-to-side. A decided “no.”

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Then I looked at her – and SAW (again, for the millionth time) a little person. So smart. So affectionate. So creative. With so many opinions + intentions already.

In our society, we too often hush the minds and spirits of small children. We treat them as less important because they are little, because they don’t have money or means or majesty.

The truth, though, is that kids are wise in uncertain times, brave in difficult times, and kind in unkind situations. Kids feel things deeply, they often see things more clearly than the adults around them, and they think about things intensely. When given the words and the wings, kids can do incredible things. They can write books, engage in politics, defend their families, help the needy, start businesses, etc.

And I’m not just talking about when they’re 30 [see examples of amazing kids here and here].

As I have conversations with my girls in the coming years, I hope that they will HEAR, loud and clear, that they can do anything. I hope that they will resist the message from the media and pop culture that kids are too young to be capable. I pray that they will have the strength and the confidence to do big things. For good. For God.

hair in her eyes bw Kids Matter (my kids, your kids, ALL kids)To BOTH of my girls –  If you read this someday (whether you’re 6 or 16 or 26), know this: I believe in you. Always have. Always will. You are smart enough, strong enough, and savvy enough to change the world – starting today.

(And I’m not just saying that because I’m your mom).

* This post was inspired, in part, by Too Small To Ignore by Wess Stafford (one of my favorite books and most certainly the best book I read last year).

Do you think our society underestimates children? What do you do to counteract that message? Also – have you read Wess Stafford’s book?

Filed Under: Philanthropy Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Tuesday Tours: What’s Happening on the Web

June 29, 2010 By 11 Comments

j02933381 Tuesday Tours: Whats Happening on the WebWelcome to “Tuesday Tours: What’s Happening on the Web” where I serve as your tour guide and showcase the best contests, freebies, deals, and reads for moms on the web…all in one convenient location.

Contests

Enter to win a $250 Marriott gift card over at NWI Parent Magazine. Deadline: July 1.

Enter to win a $50 Aeropostale gift card [Classy Mommy]. Deadline: July 4.

Good Reads

Kristen challenges us to “yearn and strive” for something bigger than the American Dream: Your Weekly Guilt Trip.

Michelle gives us something to think about: So How Busy Are You Really?

Emily reflects (and inspires): dear me in 20 years.

Marcela describes a positive parenting episode w/ her son: The word HATE.

From UANews: Reusable Grocery Bags Contaminated with EColi, Other Bacteria. Do YOU use them? If so, do you clean them?

Another reason to NOT buy juice boxes for your kids: 85% of Kids’ Drinks, Snacks Could Contain High Levels of Lead {via Inhabitots}. Yes! Lead!

From Reuters Health: Induced labor may double the odds of C-section.

Miscellany

Craft Idea: Cardboard Tube Campfire and Marshmallows.

A cute way to share the big news: We’re having a…(Gender Reveal Party).

From the Telegraph: Swimming babies: underwater photos of babies learning how to swim. AMAZING!

Someone needs to put together a Kids Restaurant Week for Southern AZ.

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*** If you have a contest or an announcement that you think might be a good fit for Tuesday Tours, e-mail me at stephanie@metropolitanmama.net.

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this is the way we shop for clothes

June 28, 2010 By 47 Comments

Hi there!

hi there this is the way we shop for clothes

As I mentioned in a previous post, we’ve been pretty FOCUSED around here as of late (and that’s a good thing).

We’re making great progress on the new website/blog and that dream is so beautiful, so expansive…we can’t possibly keep it just in our hearts. I can’t wait to invite you to be a part of it. Let’s see. I should give you a clue. It’s about making the world better – one day at a time. For now, we rush-rush-rush and stay-up-late. Because we hope to launch this baby before…ahem…we conceive a real baby. But we’ll see how the timing works out. Both Tim and I are ready for baby #3.

On another note, thanks for your summer ideas on my Nanny Nature post. Today, we woke up at 8:00, ate cereal and blueberries, delivered whole wheat bread and sparkling cider to my sister-in-law (who just had a sweet baby boy last Tuesday), went to a local consignment store, and stopped in at the library. All before 11. Sa-weet. Right at this minute, my 3-year-old is watching Anne of Green Gables (the cartoon version) and my 1-year-old is napping.

And me? I’m typing one-handed (as I always do – crazy, but true), thinking about my to-do list, and missing Tim.

P.S. Here are our finds from the consignment shop. We brought in a bag of our old clothes and left with these. Total at cash register: $0.

kids clothes from consignment shop this is the way we shop for clothes

Do you shop at consignment stores?

ALSO – Have you seen the animated version of Anne of Green Gables (For the record, it’s not even half as good as the non-animated version starring Megan Follows…)?

Filed Under: About Me, fashion Tagged With: , , , , , ,

National Camping Month GIVEAWAY from The North Face

June 26, 2010 By 119 Comments

It makes me sad whenever I hear someone say, “I never really went camping or hiking until I became an adult.” Or, even worse, “I’ve never been!” Every kid deserves the chance to swim in a lake, to run through the forest, to watch the sun set beyond the mountains, and to feel small next to the grandeur of the earth.

out walking creek National Camping Month GIVEAWAY from The North Face

June is National Camping Month and The North Face is trying to encourage families to get outdoors together. Overnight or otherwise. When they asked me to host a giveaway and share resources, I obliged with enthusiasm.

Here are THREE things to know about…

planet explore logo National Camping Month GIVEAWAY from The North Face1. The North Face has an online community database called PlanetExplore, where you can go to search for cool, fun, and (often) FREE outdoor events happening in your local area. All you have to do is go to PlanetExplore, type in your zip code, and choose from a list of activities like hiking, biking, camping, boarding, skiing, volunteering, and more! (I typed in my zip code and only 2 activities were listed so hopefully they’re working to populate the site more heavily…)

explore fund logo National Camping Month GIVEAWAY from The North Face2. The North Face recently announced a grant giving program called the Explore Fund that will give away 300,000+ in grants to help support organizations that encourage youth outdoor participation. Deadline: August 15.

3. The North Face is offering a super fun outdoor-themed giveaway RIGHT HERE. The winner will receive all of this:

interval 25 day pack National Camping Month GIVEAWAY from The North Face subscription to backpacker magazine National Camping Month GIVEAWAY from The North Face

Screen shot 2010 06 25 at 4.05.47 PM National Camping Month GIVEAWAY from The North Face planet explore water bottle National Camping Month GIVEAWAY from The North Face

Pictured: Interval 25 Pack ($119), 1-year Subscription to Backpacker Magazine ($12), Stowable Vaporwick Endurance Hat ($24), and Planet Explore Water Bottle (unknown). Total Prize Package worth: $155+.

Screen shot 2010 06 25 at 4.25.22 PM National Camping Month GIVEAWAY from The North FaceWIN IT! One winner will receive all four prizes listed above, courtesy of The North Face. To enter, leave any topic-related comment on this post prior to Saturday, July 3rd at 11:59 p.m. All generic comments like “Enter me!,” “Love it,” and “Cool stuff!” will be disqualified. Winner must provide a U.S. mailing address.

The North Face has generously donated this prize package. I received no product or monetary compensation for this post. I’m just excited to help YOU get outdoors with your family!

*UPDATE* The winner is #102 kathy pease. Congratulations!

Filed Under: Giveaways Tagged With: , , , , ,

Nanny Nature

June 25, 2010 By 48 Comments

It’s harder to be a parent in the summer in Arizona.

For me anyway.

by the water Nanny NatureIn the spring, fall, and winter —> I have “help” with the kids. No, I’m not talking about a nanny, an Au pair, a daycare, or even school. I’m talking about NATURE. She accompanies us all through the day, teaching my kids so many lessons about beauty, growth, sorrow, and kindness.

For nine months of the year, we spend HOURS outside every day. Walking. Hiking. Skipping. Running. Biking. Gathering Flowers. Going on Picnics. Swinging & Sliding at the park.  Dancing in the breeze and Watching the rain.

But then…Summer arrives. Sweltering. Unwelcome. The sidewalks burn our feet. The sun scorches our cheeks and shoulders. The playgrounds are scalding. 100+ degrees means we’re stuck inside with our friend A.C. (who is not nearly as entertaining as Nat).

We’re not really mall-play-area or going-to-the-movies kind of people. We’d rather not wander the aisles at Target or go to Peter Piper Pizza. It’s not really our style.

So we make our own fun at home:

reading while wearing a tutu Nanny Nature tutu cute Nanny Nature

BUT we yearn for the billowing trees, the fresh air in our lungs, the cool splash of river water on our cheeks. We keep talking about an escape to Seattle. Perhaps Portland. We watch the airline Twitter streams for discounts.

We are also hopeful that a weekend camping trip is in our future. Good old-fashioned tent camping in a cooler place. Under the stars. With sticky fingers from s’mores, stories around the fire, skipping rocks, singing songs, exploring. Being Together. Our very favorite place to be.

I like Southern Arizona. I really do. But, for the record, summer is hard to bear.

What do you do when you’re stuck indoors due to hot, freezing, or stormy weather? Also – do you enjoy camping?

Filed Under: Family, Outdoor Family Tagged With: , , , , , ,

this is the way we eat our food

June 23, 2010 By 82 Comments

There’s been a mini FOOD REVOLUTION in our house over the past 5 years.

Rewind five years ago: We were in graduate school and working our way up in our careers. We ate out. We made things out of boxes. We opted for convenience and familiarity. It’s not like we ate Pop Tarts, Twinkies, and TV dinners (eew). BUT – we didn’t eat half as well as we do now.

organic produce this is the way we eat our foodThese days – you can verify this with Tim – we eat gourmet, flavorful dishes almost every night. Thanks to food blogs, Allrecipes.com, and our new way of thinking, I can make ANYTHING. So I do. Homemade is the name of the game ’round here.

I should clarify that we eat very simply. We don’t eat 5-course meals. We just eat WELL. A weekly menu might look something like this (That is, if we actually, you know, made a menu plan – usually we fly-by-the-seat-of-our-pants!):

  • MONDAY – Salad & French Bread.
  • TUESDAY – Lamb Burgers and Fresh Blueberries.
  • WEDNESDAY – Angelhair Pasta tossed w/ Basil & Avocados.
  • THURSDAY – Lemon Chicken & Asparagus on the grill.
  • FRIDAY – Grilled Cheese w/ Tomato Slices and Mandarin Oranges.

Nothing super fancy. But oh-so-good.

We almost always have a vegetable and/or a fruit as a side dish. Sometimes they are the main dish. In fact, we have been known to eat peas and peaches or sweet potatoes and blueberries for dinner. Happily.

Here’s a partial list of the food-related changes we’ve made over the past few years:

Screen shot 2010 06 23 at 10.23.49 PM this is the way we eat our food

Some of you are probably reading this and thinking, “Wow. Crazy Crunchy Girl. I could never eat THAT healthy.” Some of you are probably reading this and thinking, “She thinks SHE eats healthy? Ha! I tend my own garden, grind my own wheat, and rarely set foot in the grocery store.“

So I guess I’m “in-between.” For now. (But I think I want to be a Crazy Crunchy Girl). ;)

A few notes: We don’t make our own bread. We don’t garden. We still buy rotisserie chickens from the deli. We still order take-out pizza from local places when our cupboards are bare. Our 3-year-old has a thing for sprinkles and both of our girls love getting free cookies from the grocery store bakery:

grocery shopping with two kids this is the way we eat our food

All that to say, we’re not perfect. We’re just taking one day at a time, striving to be the best stewards that we can of our earth and these bodies God has given us.

Have you changed the way you eat over the past few years? Do you relate more to the left or right half of my table?

Filed Under: About Me, Food Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Tuesday Tours: What’s Happening on the Web

June 23, 2010 By 14 Comments

j02933381 Tuesday Tours: Whats Happening on the WebWelcome to “Tuesday Tours: What’s Happening on the Web” where I serve as your tour guide and showcase the best contests, freebies, deals, and reads for moms on the web…all in one convenient location.

Contests

Enter to win the Coleman 4th of July Campsite Makeover Sweepstakes. Deadline: June 25.

Have you seen Oprah’s Search for the Next TV Star? You can submit a video or audition in-person for a chance to get Your OWN Show on Oprah’s new network. Deadline: June 26.

GoodyBlog is hosting a Father’s Day Blog Party. Deadline: June 27.

Cool Deals

Bebe au Lait is having a Buy One Get One FREE Sale through June 28. Pick up a nursing cover for yourself – and give one to a friend too!

Good Reads

Don’t miss Kristen’s inspiring post about adoption: what I wanted to say.

Annie tells it like it is: Oh those technology obsessed neglectful parents…

Trent describes Five Challenges of Buying Used – and How to Overcome Them.

Jennifer James shares 6 Real Ways to Earn Money From Your Mom Blog.

I related to Steph’s post about wanting to do it all: let me have my cake and eat it, too.

I can’t get enough of home birth stories. This one is beautiful: Wow.

Corey explains How To Talk To Your Children About Sex.

Miscellany

Have you seen the Couch to 5k app for the iPhone?

The COO of Facebook says email is “probably going away.”

This farmer’s market skirt looks perfect for a hot summer day.

I want to copy this idea: One Family, Thirty Years.

It’s Tim’s 30th Birthday today! Go wish him a happy birthday on Twitter.

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*** If you have a contest or an announcement that you think might be a good fit for Tuesday Tours, e-mail me at stephanie@metropolitanmama.net.

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