Sunshine on My Shoulders Makes Me Happy

Dang Right, It's Sunny and 65 in Cleveland Today!

Can't believe it! Officially started my spring break yesterday (I say officially since mentally I was on it a few weeks ago), and it started off with sunny blue skies and temperatures in the 50s! Been pining for warm weather, smell of earth, crocuses, throwing the kids outside, airing out sheets, and hanging laundry on the line. Finally, it is here. All for me--I'd like to think so anyway!

And then today, 60s and blue skies! Coincidentally, I received my first issue to Martha Stewart in the post (I know, I know, but her people have really good ideas; and thank you Scharf family for the lovely gift subscription). As Phin lay napping in his crib, and Lizzie visited with Grammy at her house, I dug out the gross plastic sunbathing chair (cobwebs and pine needles included), poured myself a cool glass of water, wired myself to my iPod, and baked in the afternoon sun for about 30 minutes as I read about decoupage Easter eggs and poached black trout. Result = a really good idea for Easter eggs, a dose of Au naturale vitamin D, and a pinkish glow to my wintry-grey skin.

In my heart of hearts, I know this weather will not last, that winter will rear its ugly head one last time, but I'm livin' the most of it today. For it is unknown, even by weather.com, what tomorrow will bring.

I'll Save Your Heart

Self portrait taken June 2008, Penns Creek Backpacking Trip

...Lizzie exclaimed while we were getting ready for bed tonight. I was lamenting over her scaly skin, which has been plagued by a serious case of eczema, and said to DH, "This is just breaking my heart, Mark, to see her skin like this and to see her all itchy." During the summer, Lizzie has the most beautiful skin. It's usually nut-brown from the sun and no trace of eczema anywhere. But as we head into the winter months, Lizzie loses her sun kissed glow and out comes the viciously itchy rash all over her young waterproof and breathable shell. Mark and I go back and forth about what we think causes it--soy, dairy, wheat--but most notably, we always come back to the fact that there is little sun in these parts of the world from November to March, and so she lacks a sufficient amount of vitamin D to ward off skin irritation and inflammation in the winter. Thinking of tossing her in a tanning booth during these dark days.... (I digress)

So then Lizzie wrapped her little hands around my face and said, "I'll save your heart, Mommy." I nearly died right there. All the sudden the eczema was gone and the lotion in my hands evaporated. I grabbed my little girl as tight as I could and snuggled her close while I breathed in the fresh wetness of her hair. I laughed to clear my throat and to ward off any potential tears from escaping my eyes.

Mark tussled her hair, " You already did, honey,you already did."

(At this point, I am sending out an official APB for information on getting rid of eczema. We welcome any suggestions of the natural persuasion (no steroid creams, please, we're trying to get rid, not suppress)).

Going, Going... Green

Thanks to my friend Laura's green recommendation, Phin's bottom is finally on it's way to reducing it's biohazard footprint here on good ol' Mother Earth. How can an 8 month old go green, you ask? Well, we, the Kasubick's, have opted to use gDiapers. gDiapers were developed by an Australian family who was concerned about their childern's future on Earth. It is a flushable, compostable, or tossable biodegradable diaper. No plastic, no guilt, and virtually no mess... well, most of the time. AND the starter kit comes with a swizzle stick so that you can stir the contents of your bowl to break down the matter before you flush. Totally rad!

So, as I was trying to sell this new, environmentally friendly concept to my DH, we realized that we have really super old plumbing in our almost century old home. That means no flushing for us! Instead, we set up two trash bins in Phin's room--one for uber soiled refills, and another just for the wet ones that we will add to the garden compost. This is the cool thing--it will take about 50-150 days for these to break down as opposed to 500 years for a regular plastic diaper to decompose. Again, totally rad!

Needless to say, Phin's tushy is glad, groovy, guilt-free, gorgeous (hee, hee... I think so), and most importantly, GREEN.

Smoothie Recipe for Lex

My whole family loves smoothies. They are an easy, light meal/snack that packs a big nutritional punch. I started drinking them for three simple reasons:

1. I needed something to take in the car with me to work that wouldn't crumb everywhere;
2. I needed to get rid of rotten fruit in my refrigerator and I felt guilty pitching it (although, now I compost, but it has to be really, really, super disgustingly rotten to make way to the compost bucket);
3. My friend Judy Fitch had a Smoothie Card Deck. We were training for a marathon and needed a lot of protein.

After a few non-commital relationships with fruit in a blender, I finally settled on this recipe:

**1 banana (1 per person, adjust accordingly)
**A cup or so of frozen fruit (you can freeze anything; Whole Foods has affordable frozen fruit. I buy the 365 brand. When in season, I pick a bunch of blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries and freeze them. You can freeze bananas as well. Frozen peaches are yummy, too. Oh, and cherries!)
**8 oz or so of apple juice, pear juice pineapple juice, banana/orange juice, typically not from concentrate and with minimal/no added sugar

Zip it in the blender, pour, and enjoy.

Depending on what flavor you are trying to achieve, you can mix fruit families or keep them pure. I like a pure peach smoothie with apple juice or a berry blend, for example, but the banana is key as it provides the suspension.

Also, I tried using ice cubes once, but that just watered it down. Then, once while visiting my friend Laura, she inspired me to use frozen fruit as an alternative.

If you are really looking for a powerful antioxidant/immune booster, try this recipe that my friend Jen told me about:

1 banana
A handful of kelp (depending on what kind you buy, this will change the flavor slightly)
Pineapple juice

I used to add protein powder, but I get that from other places now. You can add peanut/almond butter, soy milk, or yogurt, but I prefer to keep this dairy/soy/nut free. Again, I get those essentials in other parts of my diet.

On the Rise Decedance

Early Sunday morning
On the Rise, the best bakery in Cleveland Heights
Purchasing one-of-a-kind Cinnamon Raisin loaf

One skinny girl said to the other skinny girl, "We have all sorts of recipes to make you fat."

I wonder if she had this one in mind.

Mark's Divine French Toast
thickly sliced bread of any kind, preferably wicked stale
saturate in heavy cream and egg
fry to perfection on piping hot griddle
butter really isn't necessary, but heck, why not?