My First Giveaway!

I started this blog to promote Mac & Fitz, my clothing company for little kids.  

It sounded like a good idea to chronicle the process of starting a business, 

making the goods, the successes and failures.  

Well, life butted in, like it usually does, and all my sewing time is now spent in a factory with 25 dirty men, processing invoices, figuring out worker's comp claims and wiping the filth off of the break room tables.  

Sounds glamorous, huh?

When that day arrives, and, God help me, it better be soon, that Tom fires me from my job as "Mrs. Wiggins" so I may stay home and eat bon bons for the first time in my entire life,

(if any of you stay at home moms eat bon bons, speak up.....

...hmmm all I hear are crickets...)  

then the sewing machine will be dusted off. Mac & Fitz will return!  

I sure miss it...going to a fabric store is like going into a candy store for me, 

except that I don't get a large butt there.

Unless I toss in an Almond Joy at the check out....

Anyway, since I can't share the mishaps and victories of Mac & Fitz for now, the blog has turned into a lot of whatever... you know, the everyday stuff we all deal with.  

I loved Erma Bombeck and her take on family life.  She made the mundane seem funny 

and we could all relate to her musings.  

My favorite quote is,  

"I childproofed the house, and they still get in!"

So, my friends, today, let's muse about Christmas cookies... 

Those two words conjure up so many memories for me and I'll bet they do for you, too.  I remember helping my mother and my grandmother make their special selections of cookies each year, from scratch, of course.  

My grandmother had a Norwegian background, so she made Fattigmanns Bakkels, lovely, fried with lard cookies, dusted in powdered sugar, and rosettes,which are fried, too.  They were awesome.  

My mother made spritz cookies in all sorts of shapes.  The dough was fragrant with almond and she colored the tree shapes green.  My job was to sprinkle the red sugar or silver dragees on top.  

Then we made the infamous cornflake wreaths with green marshmallows melted in 

and decorated with red hots.  

What a sticky mess!  

They had to dry in the basement for two days before we could dig in and it was torture to not go down there and sneak a few....which we did anyway...

Mom also made the chocolate and vanilla pinwheels in perfect rounds.  So tasty!  

I loved those years we would get flour up to our elbows and bake dozens of cookies.  She had and now I have a cool wooden cookie holder shaped like a christmas tree to display the various cookies on three tiers.  Christmas has arrived when we get it out.  

More recently, my sister in law contributes her buckeye candy that she makes.  They are deadly.  I can throw down four of them and a glass of milk before I know what hit me.   

SO.... the title today is my first giveaway.  I never win anything but I did win a reusable lunch bag a few months back and it was so exciting!  It was to me, anyway..

Most bloggers have giveaways to increase their audience and to get feedback.  

So shameless and exactly the reason I am doing it... 

Besides the same five or so loyal friends who "like" my blog posts on Facebook or who make a comment and oh, how I LOVE you!!!, it's pretty quiet out there.  

Have you been reading my blog all along, or are you a new reader?  

Any thoughts out there...Buhler....Buhler?

I'd love to hear from you.  So I am going to lure you into talking to me with a giveaway contest.  

I had to do it before the silence of 0 comments was too deafening.  

Heck, it this goes well, I may even do ANOTHER giveaway!

Echo, echo, echo........  

Isn't this yellow felt pin from my new friend, Sherri of Belle Blossoms adorable?  

It would look so cute on your coat or pinned to your winter cap..

So, to win this sweet pin, comment and tell me your memories of Christmas cookies and what your favorite cookie is.  Recipes welcome!  

I am putting together my holiday cookie list as we speak.  Contest closes at midnight Friday....

Sentencing in absentia....

Don't you love it when your husband declares punishment that you end up having to carry out?  "No TV for the next two days!" he ordered my son, who deserved a punishment for something or other.  

Sounds good in theory, except for the fact that the other kid can't watch TV either, then.  

And how in the wide world of sports am I going to get dinner on the table and other household duties done at the usual 50 yd dash after school??  

I mean, it's a babysitter of sorts.  Oh come on, let's all fess up to that fact!

Either you turn on Sponge Bob so you can get the laundry folded or else you are refereeing an ultimate fighting match between siblings,

or you are setting up an elaborate art project to keep them busy for, oh, about 7.5 minutes.  

Until the next fight....  

You can imagine my glee upon finding out my dear husband laid down the law that I would have to enforce.  

Thanks, Honey....  

That'll cost you an extra bottle of wine AND those boots I have been eyeing in the Garnet Hill catalog.  Good thing we are broke or else I would follow through... 

Ok, so back to reality.....   

I have these two tired kids, just home from school, with no vegging in front of the TV.  

What to do....  light bulb!...Get the little loafers to cook!  

This is not a new revelation...the kids bake and make salads with me plenty, but it is usually when all involved are not tired, cranky and ready to snap. 

(we are talking about me, of course...)  

Anyway, I made the suggestion for Mediterranean Chicken (recipe below) and they were in.  

Kate washed and sectioned the broccoli, put together the concoction for the garlic couscous, shook the bag of flour and chicken, cracked eggs and stirred the brownie mix.  

Jack, peeled and thinly sliced the fresh garlic, halved the kalamata olives, sauteed the chicken, made the sauce and became Jaques, the waiter, once dinner was ready.  

They stayed busy and even tolerated the meal.  After that, it was up for grabs, but I survived until 7pm and then popped Kate in the tub.  

Whew!  

It was fun and I got some help with the meal...not so bad... 

Would I choose Phineas Ferb over my child spinning the salad?  

No, but ask me tomorrow, I may change my mind...

Serves 8

• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 8 chicken legs (6 to 8 ounces each), split and skin removed
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 large onion, finely chopped
• 5 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
• 1 1/4 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1/3 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and halved
• 4 strips orange zest (1/2 by 2 inches)
• Coarse salt

Directions

1. Place flour on a plate. Dredge chicken in flour, shaking off excess.
2. In a Dutch oven, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high heat. Working in batches, saute; chicken, turning as each side browns, until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to a platter.
3. Add remaining tablespoon oil to pot. Cook onion and garlic, stirring frequently, until onion is softened, about 7 minutes. Add broth, tomato paste, olives, and orange zest; season with salt. Bring to a boil.
4. Return chicken to pot. Cover; simmer, turning chicken once or twice, until tender but not falling off the bone, about 20 minutes. Serve hot.

Read more at Marthastewart.com: Mediterranean Chicken - Martha Stewart Recipes

Bullet Proof

So, this is me, at the end of the party.

I might have had a few mango martinis at this point,

 but hey, it was a good party, after all.

 Yep, I'm gettin' all Charlie's Angels with those twenty something girls.

 Heck, I'm probably old enough to be their mother, but I'm holding my own, Spanx and all...

It was our long awaited grand opening party for our two year old experiment in patience, Heat Armor.

Tom Jedi-Mind tricked me into jumping off a cliff into the great entrepreneurial abyss to make bullet proof cars.  

Who knew?  

I thought I'd end up marrying some ex-jock banker, maybe an artist or something, and here I am, with a man who saves one imperiled businessman in Nigeria after another...  

The last two years have been semi-harrowing, with the usual start-up nightmares, combined with a near collapse of our home, plus paralyzing financial distress.  Somehow, time, patience, common sense from friends and family, mixed with lots of wine and vodka have pulled us through.  

We are still in the beginning stages of this company, but things are starting to roll.  

And it was time to celebrate.  

The weather was very cold and drizzly on the 4th, but so many friends, family and clients came to see the factory.  

J&L Catering did us proud and DJ Mike Tolva created a very cool ambiance.  

Cars, guns and laser cutters seem to create a buzz.....

Who knew?! 

So, by the time the last client left and those remaining were the younger of our employees, we let our hair down, cracked open a few more Buds and shook it to some bad music that only twenty somethings like.....

Mylie WHO?  

How about some David Byrne...."Burning Down the House..."  

Wow....am I old!  But hey, the patent heels were still on at midnight....not bad for an old chick....

Rock on, Heat Armor, Rock on.....

Tricks & Treats

It's been quite a week, so I'm keepin' to a short list...Ready?

Trick:  Dealing with lice in my house and on my (and Kate's) head.

Treat: Winning the war (I hope!!)

Trick: Doing load after load of laundry
Treat: Super hot water gets stuff REALLY clean...

Trick:  Being stranded in traffic while Kate is puking at school

Treat: Spending a recuperative day with her and her princess videos

Trick: Cupping your hands to catch your daughter's throw up in the makeup dept. of Whole Foods
Treat: People do get out of your way at check out!

Trick: Getting assaulted by the same flu bug two days later

Treat: Having a great excuse to stay in bed and not wear makeup

Trick:  Losing all interest in food

Treat: Compulsory weight loss plan!

Okay, so the week was mostly tricks, between disinfecting the house from either lice or flu bugs and getting my patooty kicked by the flu bug on Friday.  

But, the silver linings were there; the boys did not get either of the maladies, my house was a tad bit cleaner and the weekend showed promise.  

Although I was too weak to go out and enjoy the Halloween mayhem Friday night, tonight I enjoyed the good, old fashioned Halloween fun of carving pumpkins with the family and going candy hunting.  

We got out the face paints and did up the kids and Tom. Friends came over and we hit the streets.  

Kate and her buddy made about one square block before tiring out in the sudden, chilly air.  

The big boys did a 2 mile long dash and staggered home with buckets of loot.  

Tired, satisfied kids, showered up and collapsed into bed.  

Yup, the tricks were rough, but the treats were sweet.....

20 Things I Know...

1. Plagues sweep through PreK like the Test of Job...

2. First Lice, then Stomach Flu, then, what? Locusts?!

3. Preschoolers give you 2 seconds notice before they barf...

4. ...In the shampoo section of Whole Foods...

5. At those moments I never seem to have a cup or wipe...

6. Women hold out their hands to catch their kid's vomit...

7. Except for some female Whole Foods shoppers in the same aisle.  They glare and back away...

8. All men back away.....even fathers....

9. Kids bounce back 24 hours later...

10. Have an activity ready to take care of boredom...

11. Decorate a pumpkin like your favorite book character...(Homework..)

12. Ping Pong Pig!

13. Okay, so I helped make PPP (Ping Pong Pig)...

14. 4 year olds can paint & draw, but I draw the line with glue guns...

15. Sick kids love liquidy Jello through a straw...

16.  So do I, with vodka or as a Jello shot...

17. Spending the day at home with a sick kid slows things down..

18.  I kind of like that....

19. It was Disney Princess Film Festival...

20.  And I kind of liked that....

Itch...

It all began this morning when Kate climbed onto my lap for a snuggle.  

And then I saw it; tiny, stealthy, gnat-like.  

I gasped, 

killed it then found another and then another.  

Still gasping, 

Kate looked at me in alarm, 

"What is it, Mama?" 

"I think you have lice, Kate", I replied with a sick feeling in my stomach. She burst into tears of humiliation.

I started to pick through her hair like a monkey and found scores of eggs and nits.  

The realization of what lay ahead felt like a lead weight.  

The rumor mill swirled late last week about a lice outbreak at school and now it was coming home to roost.

Today, like most days, are busy with stuff going on.  Jack has a big karate event followed by a much anticipated sleep over at the dojo.  Kate has a birthday party and a sleep over at her nanny's.  

And WE had a night ALONE for the first time in a LONG time.    

All dashed to bits...  

The next thought was my battle cry...Let's nail these nasty bugs!  

The kids and I prepared to jump into the car for a Walgreen's run.  

With found lice on Kate's pretty head, I knew the cashier's reaction to having my kids in tow as I slapped the Lice Rid medicine on the conveyor belt would be of fear and disgust.  

I had to come up with a proactive measure that would satifsy even the guy selling Streetwise at the Walgreen's entrance.  

A kerchief....  

So I found a bandanna and wrapped it around her head to quell the arobatic vermin.  Once we got back, fifty dollars worth of lice remedies in hand, we stopped by a neighbor's home for quick advice.  They had suffered twice over the summer and were unwilling lice experts.  

"No, you have the wrong stuff...they are immune to Rid.  You need "QuitNits".  

Off, kerchief clad victim in hand, we went to Whole Foods, to drop another fifty bucks.    

I dosed Jack with the stuff, just to be safe and fine tooth combed his head.  

Whew....the kid was clean.  

Miss Kate got smeared with QuitNits, like she was in the salon for a single process coloring.  On went the lovely shower cap for 4 hours.  

Since Jack was cleared to go to his karate event, we had a little logistical problem.  Dropping him off with Kate, donning her cap of shame, would cause some alarm.  

She needed a better disguise...Kerchief Plus Raincoat.  

The hood  and kerchief covered her plastic baggie head.  Now she just looked like a cancer patient. 

Oh well, the pitying stares were misguided, but she WAS worth some level of pity...

We dropped the boy off and headed home to commence the shock and awe attack.  

Having lice creates a good excuse to really clean your home.  I am not at all happy about it, but now that it's done, I feel better.  

I sprayed (detoxed) the mattresses, upholstery, rugs, toys, backpacks, lunchboxes, you name it... with Rid lice spray.  Then I vacuumed the bejeezus out of all that.  Piles of clothing went to the dry cleaner.  

Huge-r piles were dumped near the laundry room for super hot cleaning. It looks like we are candidates for the "Hoarders" show....  I think I'll be doing laundry until my son gets his first armpit hair....  

Next came me.  I found three of those 6 legged bastards on my head and my husband found one more.  

I think he has more primate in him than he is willing to admit, because he had a little too much passion for picking at my head.  

It was truly gross.  

So now, as I write this, I have the Quit Nits glopped on my cranium, shower cap holding it in.  

Facebook is good for unique wisdom and a great friend of mine suggested throwing tea tree oil and olive oil into the mix.  

You can bet we are going to bed with a spa treatment of olive oil in our hair.....sexy.  

Trader Joes sells tea tree shampoo for pennies and I will be buying a case tomorrow.  

It will be ALL we use until, oh, about 2050.