A review for you, or is it for me? Well, anyway . . .

Recently, one of my favorite bloggers and role models wrote a great book review. It got me thinking, maybe I should do a review. Then I went to the grocery store, and one thing led to another, and here we are.

I will review CHOCOLATE, Emily's Chocolate Covered Fortune Cookies. This is an entirely self-serving review I have burdened myself with simply because writing a review is as good an excuse as any to try new chocolate. (This is not an ad, nor will I receive any sort of compensation, other than rewarding myself with copious amounts of chocolate.)

The shiny, red Chinese take-out box caught my eye from the Valentine's Day display at the grocery store. (Shiny and red. Oh boy.)

So how are they? The sweet chocolate coating is complimented nicely by the crunchy and delicately sweet fortune cookie beneath. It is a nice change of pace from the average boring boxed chocolate you see every year.

The love message fortunes inside the cookies are a nice touch too, although not exquisitely inspiring.



The one criticism I have is that the chocolate is not the highest quality. It's clearly built to have a long shelf-life. Still, I must admit I was amused by the warning on the bottom of the box: Temperature Sensitive Chocolate. (Ah yes, as opposed to the non-temperature-sensitive chocolate that wouldn't melt if you held it directly over an open flame.)

All in all, the packaging and originality make for a cute gift for a special someone, even more so if combined with Chinese take-out and a good bottle of wine.

Mombot Monday -- When Specials Are Not Special

It's on special!

The special at a local grocery store this week was to sell my favorite brand of laundry detergent for 2 for $9 rather than 1 for $3.99.



Mombot tip of the week: Beware of the special. Just because the flyer says it is special does not mean it is. For example, I fell for this ad because it said 63 oz. to 100 oz. sizes were on special for 2 for $9. I assumed that must mean that the 100 oz. was on special for 2 for $9 because I knew the smaller size was regularly priced at $3.99. Oh yes, we all know what happens when we assume. So, I wasted my time.

Another time saver bonus tip, I try to make a mental note of which stores use this type of advertising frequently and avoid them all together. Although I noticed today, there are times when I might not.

2000 Bloggers -- Blogging Buzz

Tino had a great idea. What fun!

Click here to see:

Good News from the State of the Union Address -- The Arrival of Senator Jim Webb

The best news from this week's State of the Union Address was the response delivered by Democrats' newly elected Senator James Webb of Virginia. Compared to the careful, stilted response speeches in recent years, Senator Webb's response was a huge step forward, breathing new life into the image of Democratic leadership.

Confidence, honesty and levelheadedness came through his plain words, body language and tone. There was no hint of fear, nervousness or contrived manipulation.

Webb is a man on a mission, clearly intent on victory, a man you could feel confident following into battle.

His military past and continuing connection give him a perspective most members of Congress will never be able to achieve. His Vietnam war service, as a Marine awarded the Navy Cross, the Silver Star, two Bronze Stars and two Purple Hearts, speaks volumes about who he is.

It is not surprising he raised a son who is serving in Iraq. If you've never held a soldier's combat boots, you can't see things the same way as someone who has. This idea was emphasized by Webb's campaign symbol, his son's combat boots.



For the 70% of Americans who disapprove of Bush's handling of the war in Iraq (Newsweek Poll conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International. Jan. 17-18, 2007), this is the sort of perspective and leadership needed.

Stay tuned for more from James H. Webb. He undoubtedly has more to say.

Share the Love -- Like Screaming Teenagers at a Beatles Concert

Okay, well maybe not that fanatical, but all the same, here's our chance to acknowledge some great female bloggers. Heather at One Woman's World is hosting the Share the Love Blog Awards. I am nominating and will be voting for several of my favorite bloggers and encourage you to do the same. Just click here to go to the One Woman's World Share the Love Blog Awards page and learn how.

Weekend Inspiration

Feeling overwhelmed? Too much on your "To Do" list?

Cruise on over to Cooks on the Coast, a military mommy blog, and check out "Timeline of an international move" about their recent international move over the holidays . . .

After reading this, my laundry pile looks so much smaller.

Thank Goodness They Won't Know What She's Saying -- Part of the Thanks Giving Series

Thank goodness most people wouldn't be able to decipher what my 18-month-old, rosy-cheeked, blond-haired little cherub was saying today. Today, all day, she ran around my quaint suburban house saying repeatedly, "Oh Sh_t!"

Drop the spoon. "Oh Sh_t!" Toy fell down. "Oh Sh_t!" Looking for something. "Oh Sh_t!"

All day long.

It is her Daddy's favorite expletive. Coincidence? I think not.

Ah yes. We discussed this. Did he listen? Hmmmm.

This is certainly not a phrase my little rosebud learned from me. Here's the smoking gun: "Sh_t" is positively, absolutely my least favorite word in the English language, and perhaps in any other language in which it exists as well.

Recently someone commented on our "cute" Christmas card and asked, "And how did you ever get your husband to dress up like that?" Well, he was all for dressing up, but trust me I would so trade the picture of him in the giant mouse costume for not teaching our baby to say, "Oh Sh_t!"

For now, I'll just have to settle for the fact that her bad language is largely unintelligible, our saving grace.

Family Kicked Off Plane After Toddler's Tantrum

(The Wacky Wednesday post comes a day early this week. The following was just too good to pass up.)

From Yahoo! News
Toddler's temper ousts family from plane
By JIM ELLIS, Associated Press Writer
Tue Jan 23, 12:54 PM ET

ORLANDO, Fla. - AirTran Airways on Tuesday defended its decision to remove a Massachusetts couple from a flight after their crying 3-year-old daughter refused to take her seat before takeoff . . .

Toddler Files Tuesday -- Little Miss Dispose All

Last week the younger of my 18-month-old twins watched me cleaning the living room and decided to help. As I picked up things and threw them away, she found a crumb of food on the floor, picked it up, came to where I was and threw it into the trash can.

This astounded me and I praised her mightily. (I thought I would have to wait until they were pre-teens to have them help with the housework.)

Little did I realize the coming consequence of my actions. She is so pleased with her rubbish ridding skills that she has become Little Miss Dispose All. She buzzed around the trash can repeatedly today, and I had to keep waiving her off. Throwing stuff away came easily, but the mental discernment to make the distinction of what is to be thrown away and what isn't it is more difficult.

Today she picked up a flashcard with a picture of a truck and, before I could stop her, dumped it into the trash.

"No, no," I told her. "We don't throw away our toys."

She was unfazed.

"The toy is gone now. We threw it in the trash."

Yeah, who cares?

"Do you know what happens to things we throw in the trash? A big truck comes and picks them up and takes them away."

"Yeah," she said as if she understood every word.

"It takes them away, and they bury them."

"Yeah," she said again, like she already knew.

"And sometimes they burn them."

"Uh-Oh!"

For some reason this struck a chord. I will throw my toy away, and the trash truck can take it away, and men can bury it, but whatever you do, just don't let them burn it.

Who knows how the toddler mind works. It never ceases to surprise me.


*Broom illustration is a scan of one of the aforementioned flashcards -- Picture Words Pocket Flashcards, by TREND enterprises, Inc., www.trendenterprises.com.

Mombot Monday -- Quick Tip

Having two precious baby girls who spent a brief little stint in NICU, I quickly learned two things: 1) keeping baby's things clean is important, 2) time is always in short supply. I like to clean fabric books and dolls every week or two, but if I waited until I had time to wash them each by hand or "spot clean" as many of them recommend, they would be relegated to the Island of Lost Toys.

My solution? Mommy's little lingerie bag doubles as baby's toy washing bag. That great little zippered mesh bag that keeps delicate apparel safe on the gentle cycle so you don't have to hand wash (Yeah, right. Hand wash. Ha ha.) makes washing baby's fabric toys simple. Toss them in, zip up the bag and wash on gentle with a small load of delicates.

*A couple of disclaimers: Not every toy can withstand this treatment, so choose wisely, don't overcrowd the bag, use gentle detergent and no fabric softener, and be sure to examine toys closely for any tears before returning them to the play circuit.

P is for President: A Political Primer

The media attention focused on the upcoming 2008 presidential primary and the already common use of polls to predict who might win could give people the impression that the winner of the popular vote would be the winner of the presidential primary. Unfortunately, it is not that easy.

For example, following state primaries and caucuses, Delegates at the Democratic National Convention will select the party's presidential candidate through a complicated process, in which some Delegates are obligated to vote for a candidate based upon primary election results and other Delegates may vote for whichever candidate they favor, regardless of the popular vote.

Surprisingly to many voters, the candidate who receives the most votes in your state may not receive all of your state's Delegates' votes. Some are allocated based upon the percentage of votes candidates receive in primaries or caucuses.

In some states, however, the presidential primary is only a "beauty contest" or "loophole primary," a non-binding primary intended to gauge public support for candidates. Participants at party caucuses may ignore the primary vote and elect Delegates pledged to support a different candidate.

Additionally, at the Democratic National Convention, the popular vote may be ignored by up to about 20 percent of the Delegates known as "Superdelegates," a group comprised of the elected Democratic National Committee Members, elected Democratic Governors, U.S. Senators and House members, and "Distinguished Party Leaders." Superdelegates constitute a significant slice of the Delegate pie and may "vote their conscience," selecting any of the candidates still officially in the race.

Add to the mix that states do not have an equal number of voting Delegates, but instead are awarded Delegates, by the Democratic and Republican parties, based not only on population, but also on how well the state has performed in electing that party's candidates to office, and it is easy to see why a candidate who is incredibly appealing to the general public may have no chance of winning the nomination.

The whole process is something of a quagmire on both sides. Unfortunately, the only way to have an impact is to jump in and swim.

Helpful links:

The presidential primary process explained by Answers.com.

Explanation of the math behind Delegate allocation for Election 2008 from The Green Papers.

A synopsis of the Republican Delegate allocation process from Republican Source.

CNN article discussing the 2004 Delegate selection process.

Democratic proposal pending to coax state organizations to have their primaries later in the season by awarding extra Delegates to states who have their elections later from The New York Times Politics Blog.

Shared Experience of Parenting -- Part of the Thanks Giving Series

How wonderful is the shared experience of parenting that it can make us breathe a giant sigh of relief when we realize someone else is a parent too. Like, oh thank GOD, they understand why I am wearing a T-shirt decorated with baby spit-up, sweatpants and a diaper bag.

Priceless is the moment you realize your shared experience renders you free to do things like speak in incomplete sentences so simple they resemble primitive hieroglyphics, a mutually understood shorthand language of the sleep-deprived parent.

When one parent says to another, "Teething," it is simply understood this means, "My poor baby is teething. She cannot sleep, bless her heart, so neither can I. I am here only to buy Infant Tylenol and large bags of coffee."

Wonderful is the fraternal order of parenting.

Picking the Spring Lineup -- Trying It on for Size

Following a little reflection, I've decided this about the blog. The free-form ramblings of my mind published online seem to lack focus. So here's the goal for Spring 2007 -- a little more focus. Consequently, I'll be zeroing in on the parent perspective and developing one or two weekly columns.

You can expect to see the following making frequent appearances as I test the blog waters:

Mombot Monday -- quick tips for parenting efficiency from a busy mom of twins.

Toddler Files Tuesdays -- vignettes of toddlerdom from a toddler twin mom. That is a mom of twins who are toddlers, not a mom who is a toddler or a twin.

Wacky Wednesdays -- wacky stories of interest to parents, children of parents and parents of parents.

Thanks Giving Thursdays -- with more of a parenting spin.

And the weekend feature, appearing whenever the mood hits me, Friday through Sunday -- Mom's Political Punditry -- political commentary from a parent's perspective.

I'll be trying each of these on for size, so to speak, so if you see something you like, by all means, let me know.

The Toddler Files -- No Dancing Please

Somehow I thought this day wouldn't come for awhile. I could envision it happening maybe as we chaperoned a junior high school dance, but certainly not now. This Saturday morning as our darlings sat in their highchairs eating homemade waffles, the Dooodlebops played in the background and Hubby and I danced. The younger of our twin daughters looked at us, squinted, shook her head and clearly told us, "No."

Perhaps this incident could be brushed aside as sheer coincidence, or attributed to her recent discovery of and overzealous use of the word "No."

Unfortunately, yesterday afternoon, as Disney tunes played in the background, I danced again, carefree and fun. That's me right? The cool mommy of the toddler twins? Apparently not. Again troubled, the same twin observed for a moment, shook her head and said flatly, "No."

I will interpret this as an early appearance of the inevitable, "Mom, stop it. You are embarrassing me."

I suppose I will react as any reasonably sane mommy would. I will continue to shake my groove thing 'til it just won't shake anymore. It should be a good lesson for the girls in learning to accept the rhythmically challenged.

Obama Forms Presidential Exploratory Committee, Promises to Announce Plans February 10

Obama Announcement via YouTube



View his announcement by clicking above, and get the scoop in today's article in the Chicago Tribune.

Visit BarackObama.com for more information.

Low Calorie Cauliflower Soup

This is a yummy, filling soup, low in calories, perfect for chilly winter days. While most soups leave me feeling empty in an hour or so, this one keeps me feeling full for hours.

The recipe is my adaptation of a Weight Watchers recipe and should still add up to about 1 point per one-cup serving for the Flex Points program.

Ingredients:

1 Medium Head Cauliflower (chopped)
1 Block Non-fat Cream Cheese (8 oz.)
1 Red Bell Pepper (chopped)
1 Yellow Bell Pepper (chopped)
(May substitute frozen peppers for fresh.)
1 32 oz. Container Nonfat Vegetable Broth

Directions:

Add all ingredients, except cream cheese, to large pot. Simmer on medium/low for 45 minutes. Turn off heat. Add cream cheese. Stir until cream cheese has melted and is well-blended with soup.

Pour yourself a bowl and enjoy.

Makes approximately 7 one-cup servings.

Political No No of the Week Award

This week I just can't let President Bush's speech on Iraq go without pointing out the the obvious -- "What took you so long?" His statements "Honorable people have different views," and "It is fair to hold our views up to scrutiny," must have garnered a collective "Duuuhhhhh" from viewers across the nation.

What was it, though, that finally led to this long overdue conciliatory speech? You know, the one this week, where he switched tactics from -- Let's club the Democrats over the head and drag them off to our caves to roast over an open fire -- to -- Gee, we're all just people with different views. Was there some serendipity with Karl Rove's departure from the helm? Was it the giant crushing blow the American public landed squarely on the jaw of the Republican Party in November? Or did he finally realize that the situation in Iraq is too dire to keep playing political games?

I would really like to know the turning point where the Bush Administration switched from -- If you disagree with us you are clearly unpatriotic, don't support our men and women in uniform, and are a pinko liberal -- to "Honorable people have different views."

This week the Political No No of the Week Award goes to President Bush for failing to acknowledge all along that honorable people have different views. Acknowledging that very important fact is absolutely essential to finding a solution to the growing problem in Iraq.

Vintage Frosty the Snowman

If this doesn't make you want to dance, nothing will. Just click the play button in the middle.

Friday Fun

Cold weather's a'comin', even to sunny Californ-I-A. Better bundle up and stay inside.

For anyone who has toddlers like mine who are simply entranced by Teletubbies, here's a fun link with lots of Teletubbies activities.

Teletubbies Fun

Picking the Spring Lineup

I've been toying with a few fairly regular features on the blog. I'm in the process of putting together a spring lineup, deciding what to keep, what to get rid of and what to add. If you have suggestions, I would love to hear them.

Muchas gracias!

Thanks Susan -- Part of the Thanks Giving Series

Susan and I have always said she has the other half of my brain, and I have the other half of hers. Very convenient, as when we do something half-witted there is always someone to share the blame.

When we met in school, we simply had to be friends. We had too much in common to not be. We were two farm girls in the big city, not that the city was all that big. We knew with a glance the internal dialogue that was running through the other's head when a professor did something ridiculous or a himbo made an ill-fated pass at one of our friends, or a himbo professor made a ridiculous, ill-fated pass at one of our friends.

We shared the same beliefs and challenges and endless hours of late-night studying over cheese fries and coffee at The Kettle. (It's a wonder we survived.)

Twelve years down the line, Susan is still one of my best friends. She's like a rock, never wavering. When a family health crisis turned my world a bit upside down a couple of years ago at Christmastime, she made sure I came to her house for Christmas dinner with her and her family. When I arrived, I wasn't a bit surprised to find her kitchen filled with all manner of people she had done the same sort of thing for. That's Susan.

So, here's to friendships that last a lifetime. Thanks Susan. I'll call you tomorrow.

Thanks Cool Mom Picks

I'm a winner! At least that's what the folks at Cool Mom Picks tell me. Recently, they notified me I've won a genuine hand-picked bag o' goodies just for posting a link to their Holiday Gift Guide on my blog. I had no idea posting their button would even put me in the running for such treats (So you can rest assured my opinion wasn't biased.), but WHOOOPEEE I'm glad to hear it now.

Can't wait to see what they're sending my way. I'll be sure to post brag photos of the goodies when I get them.

Thanks, Cool Mom Picks!

Political Yes Yes Yes of the Week Award

Photo by Karin of DoubleDutyDiary.

This week the Political No No of the Week Award is replaced with a Political Yes Yes Yes. I mean, after all, the world's not all bad, right? Have faith. This week I'm awarding a Political Yes Yes Yes to Bob Seger for his rocking new song, "Between." The music, rhythm and most importantly the lyrics ROCK.

And here's the political part:

"World keeps getting hotter
Ice falls in the sea
We buy a bigger engine
and say it isn't me," Seger sings.

Hooray for reality and promoting social responsibility.

You can listen to the whole song on the NPR.org web site here. Get ready to download. You're gonna love it.

In addition, to my Political Yes Yes Yes of the Week Award, I'll be sending a little of my hard-earned cash his way for this awesome song.

Rock on, Mr. Seger!

Thanks to Francie -- Part of the Thanks Giving Series

Francie was my mentor, unofficially at least in my eyes, at the first law firm I worked for. I knew instantly I would like her when I walked into her office and saw the Albert Einstein poster looking back at me, saying "Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds," and the framed magazine cover emblazoned with "I don't think ladies should be lawyers." (Special Report on Gender Bias and Women in the Law, Cover story for the ABA Journal, The Lawyer’s Magazine, December 1, 1986) (Yes, someone actually said this, out loud, as recently as that, and he was, get this, a Judge speaking to a female attorney about to present her case in his court.)

Although Francie would probably never think it of herself, I saw her as humble, honest, down-to-earth and just so friendly, qualities you don't always associate with "attorney" or "law firm partner." She had the supreme quality of being able to joke about almost any challenge and always carried on without hesitation when dealt an unfair blow.

She is, hands down, one of my best examples of "Don't let the bastards get you down." And although I know in her humility she would likely say this is overblown, she is also one of my best examples of nobility, perseverance and compassion.

Thanks Francie for setting a great example and being a good friend. If it is true that what goes around comes around (and I believe it is), you've got lots of good things coming your way.

Oh No, He's Got a Hoe

In the steamy summer heat of the Oklahoma plains, yellow squash grew in my grandparents garden, to grand proportions. Despite their size, they were quite docile, so I never really understood why exactly my brother found them so intimidating. Perhaps it was their crooked necks or their bright yellow skin.

It never really seemed important until one day my young friend Amy and I found ourselves accosted by the typical younger sibling wanting to refocus our attention on something much more fun such as wrestle mania or monster truck rally, or some other such thing not at all appealing to two prissy grade school girls. Try as we might, we just could not convince him we did not want to play.

Eventually we retreated outside, where he followed and where we happened upon the perfect tool of persuasion, the yellow summer squash. Perhaps in my brother's mind it was somewhat akin to the giant squid, because when Amy and I each picked one up and turned toward him, he ran. And screamed. Like a girl. Now this was fun. Maybe playing with your younger brother wasn't so bad after all.

And so we ran, each with a bright yellow squash in hand, chasing him round and round the house, around the outbuildings, through the yard, up and down the drive way, Amy and I laughing all the way, with him occasionally looking over his shoulder to see if we still brandished our squash, the magnificent summer squash.

There was just one problem with our squash waving rampage. In this larger than life game of rock, paper, scissors we were playing, there were several things that would come out on top over squash. Something probably Amy and I should have considered. Then we wouldn't have been so surprised when he emerged from behind the house wielding a hoe.

"Oh no! He's got a hoe."

When we saw it we ran. And screamed. Like girls. And so he chased us both, round and round the house, around the outbuildings, through the yard, up and down the driveway, laughing all the way.

Political Spotlight of the Week

This week the Political No No of the Week Award takes a back seat to the political spotlight focused on the passing of former President Gerald Ford, the man who I, even as a budding Democrat, backed in my kindergarten mock presidential election. Can't say my decision was based on political positions, but gee he seemed like a nice guy. In all seriousness, I must tip my hat to anyone who is willing to endure the slings and arrows, incredible stress and never-ending work hours that the presidency brings.

Happy New Year!

After a brief holiday respite, I'm back, blogging away for your reading pleasure.

And the Winners Are . . .

The lucky winners of our Country Colloquialism Contest:

1st -- Karin of DoubleDutyDiary

The first thing I thought of when I read about this contest was a plaque that rests above the kitchen table in my Oma's (grandma's) house in New Jersey. It's written in the country German (Platdeutch), as opposed to the formal German (Hochdeutsh), as my grandparents were both born and raised on rural farmland in Northern Germany. So it's just perfect for the country angle of your contest.

Anyway, the text is written in "low" German, with very pretty script writing, and an illustration of a glamorous woman. So, until you ask for a translation, you'd never know that it really says:

This is my kitchen and I do as I damn well please.


2nd -- Jean

My mother would get exasperated with dealing with her six kids and the thing I remember most hearing her say was, "Sometimes I just want to get my bonnet and leave!" Guess the reason I remember it so vividly was because I was afraid she might just do it. I could picture her walking up the road headed east, going up the slight hill with her bonnet on her head and never coming back. Made me shape up!


3rd -- Jennie

Better to be pissed off than pissed on - until i had my son i had no idea how anyone would know...


Congratulations Ladies! You should be receiving your prizes soon.

Overheard at the Mall

"We faxed our list to Santa. So we don't have to wait in line, do we."

From the looks, several bedraggled mommies in the crowded Santa cue would have pummeled this woman with their designer diaper bags, if only they wouldn't have had to give up their place in line to do it.

Thanks Santa -- Part of the Thanks Giving Series

Dear Santa,

Just wanted to drop you a line to say thanks for your surprise appearance yesterday. I was beginning to think some strange sect of Christmas Krishnas was following us through Macy's, jingling bells and chanting, "Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas." A little dismayed by their persistent holiday spirit, I turned around to spy you waving your arms wildly trying to get my attention. If I had waited another moment, you might have actually taken flight.

There you stood in all your seasonal glory, beard disheveled, hat askew and slightly out of breath. "Merry Christmas," you managed to pronounce and then waited for our response. The twins and I stared at you, mouths agape, stunned by all the commotion and the crowd of people now surrounding us. Your bell-ringing posse alone must have numbered 15 or more and now customers and staff were gathering as well.

"Merry Christmas," I responded.

You looked at me as if, "Is that it Lady? I run through this store with my band of red clad zombie bell ringers, chasing after you, so your babies can have the joy of seeing Santa M. Claus, and all I get is 'Merry Christmas.' Didn't anyone give you the Santa M. Claus Guidebook that explains how to torture your children with threats that I am always watching. I am the greatest thing for childhood discipline since 'spare the rod and spoil the child.' I am the Grand Pooh-bah of the kiddy Christmas experience. And this, My Dear, is where at all begins."

The look in my eyes, must have said, "Yeah, sorry, I'm not into that."

Perplexed, you rather huffily asked if the girls could have some candy. To which I responded "No, sorry, but thank you. They're really too young for candy. It's kind of a choking hazard."

A choking hazard? Too young for candy?!!?!! Where are you from woman? This is the United States of America. There's no such thing as too young for candy. If you won't let them have candy, Christmas will be ruined. What is the point of Christmas if they can't have candy?

Your band of bell ringers collectively took a step back, as if they expected you might collapse from shock.

The twins watched you closely and then glanced at me as if to ask, "Mommy, is he going to be okay?"

"Thank you, Santa, for stopping to talk to us. That was very nice of you."

You spun on your heels and turned away in a daze, baffled by the strange reaction from this woman who clearly did not understand Christmas and her two mutant children who did not squeal in delight at the sight of you. Then off you trundled with your band of merry bell ringers to surround some other unsuspecting soul and bring them Christmas joy.

Thanks Santa for your surprise visit and may you have a very merry Christmas.

Truly,
Shannon

Can Can It Get Any Better -- Dancing Lights

From www.lightupxmas.com. Hours spent shopping online only to click on at least 37 items that said "Out of Stock" or "This item has been added to your bag and is expected to ship 1/30/07" (Oh yeah, that will be helpful.) have led me to this. I am mesmerized by pretty flashing lights. My conclusion -- Christmas shopping sucks big lemons, even online. More proof giving birth must have given me a big dose of reality. I no longer love spending hours at the mall looking for just the right strappy sandals. I would rather clean my house. How sick is that?

Just See Those Snowflakes Falling -- Web Funtivity

Here is a great way to while away a few spare moments and reminisce about those third grade arts and crafts days when the most dangerous tools in your arsenal were rubber cement and round-tipped scissors.

Make your own snowflakes online here.

Thanks to DoubleDutyDiary for the 411. What a blast!

Here are two of mine:

Mimi's Peanut Patties

This is one of my favorite candies. My Mimi used to make them every year at Christmas and, if we were lucky, at Thanksgiving. I think they tasted extra good because of all the work that went into them, standing over a hot stove and stirring . . . and stirring . . . and stirring. Oh, but they are so worth it. Try this recipe out yourself and taste the love.

2 ½ Cups sugar, 2/3 Cup Karo Light Corn Syrup, 1 Cup evaporated milk, 2 Cups raw peanuts, mix together in heavy three quart pan, cook over low heat 1 ¼ hour, stirring frequently. Add 1 teaspoon vanilla, 1 teaspoon butter and 3-4 drops red food coloring. Beat until creamy and loses its gloss. Drop from tablespoon onto waxed paper to form patties. Let stand one hour before serving.

Political No No of the Week Award

This week's award goes to CNN for their inappropriate focus on and repetition of their hard-hitting (not) story regarding the possible shift in power from Democrats to Republicans in the United States Senate. The real story is that a man, yes a real live person, Senator Tim Johnson (D-South Dakota), who is devoting his life to serving our country, is gravely ill. CNN jumped over that story, past several stages of logical thinking, and straight into the hyperreactive story that power in the Senate might change hands.

I suppose that is one way to get ahead of your competitors, by jumping past what is happening and reporting what might happen. Unfortunately, it is difficult to predict the future. In their haste to beat competitors, CNN has gotten it wrong many times in the past and apparently may have this time as well. At the very least, they have come across as ghoulish and so competitive that they are more concerned about sensationalism than reality and human emotion.

It is hard to trust a news source that repeatedly reports bad information in an effort to be first or draw attention through overblown sensationalism. CNN just took another step down in my list of reality-based news sources.

Internet Outage

Sorry folks, no news available for Friday because of an Internet outage thanks to AOL, the less-service-more-monopoly people.

From the Toddler Files

As we relaxed on the floor together before nap time yesterday, the youngest of my 17-month-old twins pointed to her knee and said, "Knee." Encouraged by my response, she pointed to her sister's knee and said, "Knee." Realizing she was on a roll, she pointed to her mouth and said "Mouth." Excited by her sense of accomplishment, she then proudly stuck her finger up her nose and said, "Nose."

My Kind of Cooking

I like to shop at estate sales. A couple of years ago, I came across a lovely little recipe book that was charmingly vintage, with front cover illustration, printed tabs and hand-written recipes. It was so lovely, in fact, I asked if they were sure they wanted to sell it. They said yes, so I carried my little treasure off home.

More interested in its look than its contents, I occasionally gazed upon it admiringly, but never explored it thoroughly until about a week ago when I opened it and found that the only things behind the basic cooking advice and recipe tabs were recipes for desserts and spaghetti and the wine guide seen above.

Now that's my kind of cooking!

Today's Special Feature -- The Virtual Cookie Exchange

Fun, fun, fun 'til Mama takes the cookies away.

The recipes I have posted for today's cookie exchange make me think of fun, the first (Doggie Cookies) because of the all the tricks and happy doggie smiles they inspire, the second (Microwave Pecan Toffee) because it comes from my Aunt Jean, and the third (Date Pinwheel Cookies) because of the many family memories they bring flooding back. Their sweet aroma takes me away.


Doggie Cookies -- Don't Forget Fido

Don't forget Fido this holiday season. These fun cookies make an apparently tasty treat. I can't recall where I picked up the recipe, but it has been a hit with our poochie pals.


Ingredients:

- 2 cups whole wheat flour

- 1 Tablespoon baking powder

- 1 cup peanut butter

- 1 cup milk

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375. In a bowl, combine flour and baking powder. In another bowl, mix peanut butter and milk, then add dry ingredients and mix well. Place dough on a lightly floured surface and knead. Roll dough to 1/4 inch thickness and use a cookie cutter to cut out shapes. Place on cookie sheet and bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until lightly browned. Cool, then store in an airtight container.

And in show of appreciation:

Apparently the appropriate way to claim something as your own is to rub your fanny on it. I will keep this in mind next time someone hits on my husband.


Aunt Jean's Microwave Pecan Toffee

Here is a recipe you will love for Pecan (or you can use almonds) Toffee. It's quick & easy.

MICROWAVE PECAN TOFFEE

First, butter a cookie sheet and chop or break up the nuts. Then these are the ingredients--

½ lb. Butter (no substitutes)

1 C. Sugar

2 Tablespoons water

1 Tablespoon white corn syrup

1 & ½ C. Broken or chopped pecans

1 pkg (6 oz.) Milk Chocolate chips

Melt butter in 2 quart glass bowl (takes nearly 1 & ½ minutes). I use one of those that looks like a big measuring cup with a handle. Add sugar, water and corn syrup. Stir thoroughly until creamy, like lemon pudding. Cook 4 minutes on high. Stir. Cook 3 minutes on high. Stir.

Continue cooking on high for one minute at a time until mixture is a golden brown (about the color of khaki). This takes two times on my microwave - may take more or less time on yours. If you cook it too long, it separates and is oily and sugary instead of crunchy! When it is ready, add nuts and pour immediately onto a greased cookie sheet. Spread quickly (it won’t cover the whole sheet). Mixture hardens rapidly. If it is too thick, just mash it down with your spoon. Sprinkle hot mixture with the chocolate chips, and spread the chocolate with a knife as it melts. Let cool on the counter for about an hour; then in the refrigerator for at least an hour. Break into pieces and serve.


Date Pinwheel Cookies

My great-grandmother, Mamaw P., passed down the recipe for these delicious date filled cookies to my grandmother, Mimi, who passed it on to my mother, who passed it on to me. Not only are they yummy, but beautiful too. They look like you just swept them off the baker's shelf and onto a plate. The spirals of date and nut filling surrounded by cookie always make me think of holidays and big family gatherings.

I hope your family will enjoy them as much as mine has.

(Note: My great-grandmother cooked with instructions such as a "pinch" of this and a "dash" of that and "cook it until it looks like this," so the recipe may not be the most detailed.)

Filling

- 2 cups chopped dates
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup chopped pecans

Mix together, cook until thick and cool.

Cookie Dough

- 1 pound light brown sugar
- 1 cup Crisco
- 3 eggs
- 4 cups flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt

Cream sugar and Crisco together. Add eggs. In a separate bowl mix flour, baking soda and salt. Combine all ingredients. Chill dough 1 hour. Roll out. Spread filling. Roll up dough. Wrap in wax paper. Chill 3 hours. Slice in 1/2 inch slices. Place on cookie sheet 2 inches apart. Bake at 375 until golden brown.


Mad Props to Jenn for the Virtual Cookie Exchange

The great idea for a virtual cookie exchange was brought to us by Jenn of Jenn's Journal. Thanks Jenn!

For more recipes on the blogs of other cookie exchange participants, just click here.


Thanks for Visiting ZoKai

Click here to go to the ZoKai.blogsot.com homepage.

Under the Heading "Duh"

M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E!

Okay, the long sleeved shirt with the mini I can understand, totally. Sexy if done right.

But really, adding the yellow rubber boots and white knee socks? And the scarf, obviously because someone stopped the photo shoot and said, "Wait, she's dressed exactly like Minnie Mouse. Here, let's add a scarf and maybe no one will notice."

"It's a small world after all."


If this poor girl showed up at a party wearing this outfit, I would not make fun of her. The design person responsible for this "look," however, should be forced to drive six screaming toddlers around in a minivan for an afternoon with "It's a Small World" blaring in surround sound. If Mickey and Minnie can be singing it, all the better.



If, after my glowing review, you would like to purchase above outfit for yourself or someone you loathe/love, you can do so here. They actually have a special page encouraging you to buy this, eh-hem, "look" as a complete ensemble.

And yes, I do note the irony of yesterday's post regarding my girls' fashion sense, but wearing bloomers on your head so pales in comparison to this.

Shootin' Flies

I come from pioneer stock, the sort of folk who teach their children basic survival skills before they start kindergarten, you know just in case the teacher takes the class on a field trip to the woods and abandons them there, or maybe a rattle snake shows up on the playground for recess, or the cafeteria runs out of food and you really need to be able to know which part of the cactus to eat. So, it's only logical that along with our advanced survival skill training, each of us kids received a few little perks in the way of things you might need to survive in the wilderness, like pocket knives and BB guns and fully operational little motorcycles, at age five for boys and ten for girls. There's that darn glass ceiling again.

It was normal too for us to be left to our own devices to explore our surroundings and implement these treasured survival tools we had been given. In fact it was our mission. On any given weekend, my brother, cousin and I could be found riding our motorcycles through the gully on my grandparents' acreage or stealthily tracking down some hapless furry creature. Perhaps it was cruel of our parents to loose us on Mother Nature like that, in all our glory, but Mother Nature has a way of keeping things even.

It was not long after the three of us began our little adventures, terrorizing crawdads and blazing motorcycle trails through grassy fields, that a mystery arose. Uncle Joe's prized orange 1973 Volkswagen Beetle began showing unusual signs of wear, little dings, like little pock marks in its otherwise glowing complexion.

He couldn't imagine what was causing this apparently spontaneous phenomenon. For some time it had been safely parked near his home, away from prying eyes and offensive road debris that might be kicked up by inconsiderate drivers.

The mystery continued for a few weeks, all the while more pock marks appearing in the once flawless complexion of the little Beetle.

Then one day, as Aunt Kathy stood washing dishes and looking out the window over her kitchen sink, she saw it. My cousin, brave frontiersman that he was, stood BB gun scoped in . . . on the Beetle.

Ping!

Ping!

Ping!

Later that night, Uncle Joe asked him why was he shooting the little Beetle.

To which he responded, "I was shootin' flies."

Thanks to Aunt Jean -- Part of the Thanks Giving Series

Just when I thought I couldn't possibly write today, a little gift showed up in my email, the picture above, with a precious note from my Aunt Jean. That's how Aunt Jean is, always dropping a line or an encouraging word at just the right time. I'm beginning to think she can read my mind across the miles.

I can never feel sour when I encounter her sunny disposition.

So, thanks Aunt Jean for:

1. Being my best role model.

2. Living a life to always be proud of, leading by actions rather than words.

3. Showing me, with style, what a loving, devoted marriage looks like.

4. Telling me stories about our family I've never heard from anyone else.

5. Accentuating the positive, eliminating the negative and not messing with Mr. In-Between.

6. Showing me how beautiful 75 can be.

7. Ignoring my faults and finding my strengths.

8. Telling me about our similarities. It always makes my day.

9. Marrying a great guy like Uncle Bob and sharing your family with all of us.

10. Showing me a softer side of Papa as your big brother.

And the bonus, the $20 accidental gift from the Tooth Fairy (You and Uncle Bob) which I shall never forget.

Letter to Santa

Dear Santa,

My mom told me when I was 8 you didn't exist, but I knew she was wrong. You kept coming, right up until I got married anyway.

So, what's the dealio?

Look, I can understand if you're a little intimidated by Hub-a-dub's 6'8" frame, but he's a heavy sleeper. He once slept through our smoke alarm going off while I got up, found the source and eliminated the smoke, even though I woke him three times. Trust me. He won't notice you dropping off a few presents, especially small shiny ones.

So, I hope you'll reconsider and come visit me again this year. Here's what I really, really want:

1. Magic pixie dust to sprinkle on Hub-a-dub's head to cure his blindness to dirty messes and make him thoroughly enjoy cleaning house, mowing the lawn and pulling weeds -- in extra-strength please;

2. Flying diapers that fly right off babies' bottoms when they're dirty, taking all the poop and pee with them, the kind that fly straight to the dump without ever sitting in a stinky trash can in my garage;

3. Surfer girl hair, shiny, thick and long down to my waist -- wash and wear, dries in two minutes flat;

4. Bodacious beach babe body to go along with aforementioned surfer girl hair, think Beyonce meets Beach Blanket Bingo;

5. The good sense to appreciate having said body while it is in its prime;

6. Certificate for surfing lessons;

7. Maximum load memory chip for my brain, so I can store all the memories of my babies and family and never ever lose them or let them fade;

8. Stylish self-cleaning luxury SUV, built toddler-tough; and

9. Happy place distractor ray to zap myself with when I watch Sing and Dance with Barney for the 589th time.

Oh, and the perfect stocking stuffer, a T-shirt from here.

Love and kisses,
Shannon

p.s. I'll make sure the chimney is unlocked.

This letter was written in response to a Meme started by Tater and Tot. I'd love to hear what you have to say to Santa. Karin (if you have the energy after NaBloPoMo), Sonya (if you have time in the midst of your international move) and Kelly, tag your it!

Seller's Market

Hub-a-dub sometimes likes to sell CD's. He had over 600 when we married.

The problem with his little hobby is he "accidentally" sells my CD's and keeps his own. I've grown tired of losing my little gems from retroville -- The Beastie Boys, Til Tuesday, The Cure, Depeche Mode, Garth Brooks (How did that get in there?). So after his most recent trip to the CD shack, I asked to see his receipt.

AH yes, mine, yep, that one was mine, and "Oh My God! You sold my Billy Squire Signs of Life CD? The CD that my freshman roommate and I listened to like a thousand times my first semester of college? You have to go and get it back."

And so he did, bless his little soul, the same exact one, with the little crack in the middle of the front cover of the jewel case, lucky, lucky man. This Billy Squire Signs of Life CD he sold for $10 cost him $40 to buy back.

As a result I have shared with him this little bit of advice that seemed so obvious to me, but then again it's not like I have a degree in mathematical physics or anything, like him -- "If you don't like it and can't remember why you ever would have bought it, maybe you didn't. No more CD selling until I preview what's up for bids, please."

Of course this would be the same advice I shared with him last time he sold a bunch of my CD's. I suppose it continues to be a seller's market.

Simple Cinnamon Citrus Air Freshener

A simple recipe for do-it-yourself air freshener. I was a big fan of scented candles until I learned that many have lead in their wicks. Now I opt for other options, such as the following.

Ingredients:

Water
1 Orange
1 Tablespoon Cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon Nutmeg

Directions:

Fill small saucepan half way with water. Add cinnamon and nutmeg. Cut orange in 1/2 inch slices and add to water. Heat over medium heat until mixture begins to boil. Reduce heat and simmer on low. Be sure to add water as liquid reduces. Do not leave unattended.

*A dash of ground cloves can also make a nice addition to the mix.

Just the Funniest

The funniest story I have read in ages. Cruise on over to Call Me Soccer Mom and Die and take a minute to read Lizard in Labor. Just scroll down to November 16 and the big picture of the lizard.

Call Me Soccer Mom and Die will be added to my "Good Reading" list to the right as soon as I can stop laughing.

Political No No of the Week Award

This week's award goes to C-SPAN for making former President Jimmy Carter's mention of eventual funeral plans one of their top stories in "Capital News" online this afternoon. With all due respect to Mr. Carter, with laser-like focus on such crucial matters, who has time for discussion of Palestine Peace Not Apartheid? C-SPAN we know you can do better.

Shopping Paradise -- Finding the Finds

I've had a spin around the Internet and I've reached this conclusion. It's a shopping paradise. All sparkly-eyed and eager, I said a while back I was going to do my holiday shopping on the Internet and promised to share my best finds with you. Well, yes I am doing my shopping on the Internet, but the finds, the finds, the finds, they are so many. Plus I've found that this idea of sharing finds, yes, well, it's already been done, and so much better than I could hope to do it. So, I will simply share with you the links to the other hip sharers of finds as follows:

- It's a hiptastic list extravaganza over at Mom's Daily Dose (props to my friend Karin at DoubleDutyDiary for cluing me in);

- check out the Indie Collective 2006 Holiday Gift Guide for funky finds of a different kind;

- Popgadget.net is the hip spot for techy girl in all of us;

- Babygadget.net boasts smart things for the metro baby; and

- lots of lovely goodies are in store in the Cool Mom Picks 2006 Holiday Gift Guide.

Under the Heading "Duh"

Okay, does anyone else see a problem here, or is it just me? Am I the only one who looks at this picture and sees a trampoline with a big stick attached?

"New this year, our Trampo-Stick-O-Riffic -- for concussions, broken ankles and blunt force trauma all in one. Pick one up today at your local broken glass and lead-tainted candy retailer."



What were they thinking?

Trampolines are far too dangerous for children this young, unless of course we attach a big stick. Yes, that solves everything.


(*This item, the Kid-Riffic Jump Smart, actually available on Amazon.com from Kid-Riffic Toys.)

Snowed In With the Kids?

If you've been blasted by that supersized storm sweeping the plains and midwest, you might want to check out the fun things for parents and kids at the BBC web site. Just click here.

Welcome to Family Memory Month

Throughout December ZoKai will feature fun family stories and interesting, huhuhm hopefully interesting, tidbits.

Secrets of a Real Life Mom

I go out with out makeup sometimes, on purpose. I mean no makeup at all, not just like I forgot my mascara. This never would have happened before babies. I could have been running a 102 temperature and on my way out to buy TheraFlu, and I would have stopped to put on makeup. I don't know. It's like giving birth gave me a big dose of reality or something.

You know what else? I have used diaper ointment as hand cream. And it works great! No, it's not some beauty secret I found in a magazine or on the internet. Just something that came to me one day between diapering bottoms and washing my dry, cracked, bleeding hands for the 89th time.

Here's a good one. I go to bed when I am tired. No more of that "it's too early to go to bed" nonsense. Oh yeah, bring on the jammies and the soft cotton sheets, Baby.

I'm a little less of a daredevil. I've lost the urge I used to have to go skydiving, because, gee, wouldn't it just be silly if Mommy died jumping out of a perfectly good airplane.

And here's one I hate to admit. I have a lot better perspective on where my mother was coming from. I know. I know. We all thought this day would never come, but it's inevitable. It's like the changing of the seasons.

These and other secrets I blame on motherhood and the sudden rush of sanity it brings with it.

It's Only a Day Away

Tomorrow begins Family Memory Month on ZoKai. Hope you'll come back and hang with us for some fun stories and a little reminiscing.

Thanks Mom, Part of the Thanks Giving Series

My mom will be surprised by this post. I don't think she realizes how grateful I am for the life lessons she has taught me. She is not always an optimist. I like to call her my little gray storm cloud, but she has taught me to see the world in a way I like. I hope to do as well teaching my daughters.

So, thanks Mom for teaching me:

1. Never be defined from outside yourself. Never let anyone else tell you who you are.

2. You can be anything you want to be, and I will love you no matter what you are.

3. Be colorblind. Race does not matter.

4. Men can cook and women can mow the lawn. I will never forget getting the answers wrong on a matching worksheet in kindergarten because I matched the mommy to the lawnmower and the daddy to the stove. Despite my repeated objections, the teacher still marked my answers wrong. What can I say? Thanks to my mom, I was ahead of my time, at least for Gotebo, Oklahoma, circa 1975.

5. Stand up for what you believe, even when you won't be rewarded for it, perhaps especially when you won't be rewarded for it.

6. Appreciate nature, respect it, and care for it.

7. It's okay to be different. Different is good.

8. Don't care so much about what other people think.

9. Janis Joplin, The Beatles and The Rolling Stones rock.

10. Don't judge others. They're not perfect and neither are you.

One last thing, thanks for being the cool mom. There is just not much better in fifth grade than the day your mom picks you up in a flaming orange Corvette.

Yes Sir, Yes Sir, Five Bags Full

In response to Kelly's good-natured comment on my "Did You Know Coffee Is Good for You?" post earlier today, I decided I should share the rest of the story with you.

As I wandered through the aisles of our local grocer Sunday afternoon, dazed from the glory that is twin motherhood combined with the hustle and bustle of the holidays, it dawned on me that my shopping cart floated along with five, yes five, bags of coffee tucked neatly in the bottom. I realized that the folks up front, and now my friends in the blogosphere, might think I have a wee bit of a problem.

Not so much. I just like coffee, one or two cups a day usually. I just couldn't decide which coffee would be best. Hazelnut is my favorite, but I can't find the kind I like. So, I picked up Hawaiian Hazelnut. Is there a difference? Vanilla Nut is a safe bet. I've had that one before. Into the cart it went. Starbucks Sumatra, one of my favorites, and Mom will like that when she comes for Christmas. Serena Organic Blend, also good and it's organic. And finally, Cinnamon Vanilla, just so holidayish, sounds perfect for family visiting during the holidays. With all these at my house, there will surely be something for everyone. Until I got home and remembered, uh oh, I think Mom only likes Starbucks French Roast.

Obama in '08?

If you are one of the many who would like to see Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) run for President in 2008, you can sign a petition encouraging him to do so. The campaign web site of Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) now features an easy fill-in form letting you express your support for an Obama presidential run. Click here to go to petition form.

While I am not yet certain who I will vote for, there is one thing of which I am certain, having Obama in the race would be good for the party and good for the nation.

Did You Know Coffee Is Good for You?

I take comfort in the fact that Dr. Mehmet Oz, author of You: The Owner's Manual, and frequent guest on Oprah says coffee is good for you. A little coffee is not a bad thing, my saving grace.

Just the Coolest -- The Science of Snowflakes

If you, like me, live somewhere where you are not getting a good dose of holiday snow, you might find Snowcrystals.com extra fun. The web site developed by Kenneth Libbrecht, a Caltech Professor studying the physics of snowflake growth, features fabulous photos of actual snowflakes. Some of the photos are so fabulous, in fact, they are featured on a series of US Postal Stamps this year.

As an added bonus, the site offers snowflake wallpaper you may download to your computer for free.

Mama Always Said

Top Five Things I've Said that I Never Would Have Imagined Before Becoming a Parent:

1. "Don't put that in your nose." This is my constant refrain. I'm just waiting for the day I turn around and find one of them with a green bean wedged in a nostril.

2. "Don't step on your sister." Why this is so appealing escapes me.

3. "We don't eat things off the floor." Ah yes, a crusty bit of dried cheese from breakfast looks much more appetizing than the chicken and carrots Mommy was just trying to feed me.

4. "It's not polite to grab there." How do they know just the wrong place to grab? It's like a homing beacon.

5. "Don't stick your hand in the poopy." You would think it was like water to a dying man the way the reach for it.

AND THE KICKER

* "It's 8:30. I'm going to bed."

Political No No of the Week Award

And the award goes to . . . Senator-Elect Sherrod Brown, newly elected Democrat from Ohio, for his exchange today with fellow Democrat, Senator-Elect Claire McCaskill of Missouri.

On "Face the Nation" this morning, Ms. McCaskill had the nerve to suggest that Democrats and Republicans should start working together seriously to fix Social Security rather than continuing to use the issue to try to make each other look bad.

Unfortunately, Senator-elect Brown responded pompously that he didn't know that was what was planned and launched into a self-serving spiel about what he personally had done to benefit those in need of prescription medications in his own state. Apparently he entirely missed Ms. McCaskill's point. So today, Senator-elect Brown receives our coveted Political No No of the Week Award, along with marks of "Does not pay attention" and "Does not play well with others" for his unwillingness to play nicely even with those in his own party.

Under the Heading "Duh"

In the whirlwind that is parenthood, if there is one thing that is drilled into your mind it is that nothing is safe. In order to baby proof your home, you must seek expert advice, because even the youngest children are capable of conjuring lethal danger from thin air in ways that you as a normal human could not possibly imagine. Parents this is to be your mantra, "Nothing is safe. I know not the dangers of the world. I must seek wisdom to baby proof my home."

In an effort to place some sort of bounds upon this limitless task of protecting baby from everything from electrical outlets to falling meteorites, I purchased a little guidebook called, Baby Proofing Basics: How to Keep Your Child Safe by Vicki Lansky. When I found the following inside, I realized perhaps even I, a first-time parent, do not need a book to tell me everything.


Click on picture to enlarge . . .

Let the Shopping Begin

A friend clued me in about the collection of good finds at Cool Mom Picks, so I thought I would share them with you too. There really are some cool things in their Holiday Gift Guide. This is not anything I receive any sort of recompense for, just some neat places to shop I thought you might enjoy. You can cruise through my favorite picks from the list below or go to the Cool Mom Picks Holiday Gift Guide by clicking on their button in the sidebar to the right. Happy holidays.

My picks:

Our Green House -- eco-friendly and something for everyone, my personal favorite.

Duck Duck Goose -- just the cutest children's boutique.

Uncommon Goods -- something for everyone, a little pricey, but just so hip. Their "Recycled" section is extra fun.

Chocolate Cake Club -- fun things for families. With a name so good, how could it be bad?

Mayhar Drygoods -- artisan crafted goodies for the kiddies.

Snapdragon Baby Socks -- socks that don't get lost. What a great idea!

Potato Ears -- very much about baby, not much to see for others on your list, but they get bonus points for the chic carseat covers.

The Big Reveal -- New Year's Day -- A Whole New Me

Look out folks. I'm going Kirstie Alley on you. Recently, Kirstie appeared on Oprah strutting her stuff in a bikini to show off her slender new bod after losing 75 pounds on the Jenny Craig weight loss program. She said it was very motivating knowing she would be sharing her results with the world. I can imagine it was.

For the past three months I've been on the Weight Watchers flex plan and have lost 25 pounds. I have 10-15 more to go. They say the last 10 pounds are the hardest. So, here goes. To make sure I stay on track, I'm giving myself a little extra incentive. No, I won't be posting a picture of myself in a bikini, (You can all breathe a sigh of relief.) but I will be posting before and after pictures on New Year's Day. I might even don an evening gown for the after photo.

Easy Cranberry Sauce Recipe

We eat cranberries once or twice a year and every time I think, "We should do this more often." I was a little intimidated by them as a cook until last year when I made my first cranberry sauce. This morning I whipped up a new recipe. It's actually very simple. So I am sharing it for anyone who, like me, has ever been intimidated by cranberries.

Easy Cranberry Sauce Recipe

Ingredients:

-1 cup fresh cranberries, washed and drained
-1 medium green apple, cored and chopped into half-inch pieces
-1/3 medium orange chopped into half-inch pieces, leave rind on
-1 cup carbonated limeade beverage (12 ounces of 7Up or Sprite may be substituted)
-ground cinnamon to taste
-ground nutmeg to taste




Directions:

Place all ingredients in sauce pan over medium heat. Cook with lid on until sauce begins to simmer. Remove lid and simmer, stirring occasionally, until cranberries pop open. Remove from heat. Serve hot over toasted English muffins or your favorite breakfast pastry, or serve cold along with turkey or ham.

Announcing ZoKai's Country Colloquialism Contest

ZoKai's new Country Colloquialism Contest begins today. Leading into Family Memory Month in December, we are requesting that you send in your favorite country saying, new or old, original or not, for consideration.

First prize: $25 Visa Gift Card
Second prize: Mary Kay Satin Hands Gift Set
Third prize: Mary Kay Mint Bliss Energizing Lotion for Feet & Legs

Click Here to Submit Your Entry to ZoKai.blogspot.com. Please type "Country Colloquialism Contest" in the subject line. Be sure to include your name and contact information along with your entry. ZoKai will not share your information and will not use it for marketing purposes. All entries become the property of ZoKai.blogspot.com and its owners. Contest open to residents of the continental United States only. One first, one second, and one third prize will be awarded. Chances of winning dependent upon number of entries.

Contest ends December 21, 2006. Winners will be announced by posting on ZoKai.blogspot.com on December 22, 2006.

Good luck to all!

Iraq -- Something to Agree On

Now this seems like something we could all agree on:

"These are serious times for our country, and with their votes two weeks ago, Americans demanded a feasible strategy with defined goals in Iraq – a strategy no longer driven by ideology and politics, but one that is based on a realistic assessment of the sobering facts on the ground and our interests in the region." an excerpt from Senator Barack Obama's remarks Monday to the Chicago Council on Global Affairs.

This seems pretty straightforward and simple -- ". . . a strategy no longer driven by ideology and politics, but one that is based on a realistic assessment of the sobering facts on the ground and our interests in the region." Fact-based decision making seems like a good idea. Why can't so many of our leaders come to a point where they are willing to work on it honestly and put the good of our nation and the men and women in our military ahead of the good of their party?

Christmas Shopping

I hate the crowds of Christmas shopping. Last year, someone almost ran into me for a parking spot. So this year I will be trying a new way of shopping. I am going to try shopping in the mom blog community online. I have noticed advertisements from big brand names, such as JCPenney and Baby Zone as well as really cute boutique lines like Javis Davis. It will be a fun way to shop. Plus I like doing business with the people in my community. I will be sure to clue you in on the best of what I find.

Will Obama Run?

As a mom of toddler twins, I rarely set aside time to watch any specific television programs, but today I will carve out a precious few minutes of toddler time to watch "The Situation Room" on CNN which will feature speculation on potential '08 presidential candidates.

My hope is that the discussion will reveal new information about the intentions of Barack Obama, perhaps the most exciting political candidate to hit the scene since JFK. He has hinted he is seriously considering running. I can't wait to hear his decision.

Why? His political views so far seem moderate, his rhetoric is reasonable, and his debating skills are exceptional. He exudes a warmth and genuineness that make his undoubtedly high IQ unintimidating. He has real potential to win a presidential race, but more importantly he has real potential to be a great President.

Under the Heading "Duh"

In sorting through the mountains of toddler paraphernalia that now fill our home, I ran across this little tidbit.

Back:




Front:




Sometimes you just have to wonder.

Isn't It Wonderful?

Isn't it wonderful when they learn how to feed themselves? Though I know I'll miss the cuddly bottle times.

The Political Mom

The soothing voices of C-SPAN drone in the background as I sit in front of my computer. "If you can't be a highway, just be a trail," pops out at me, and I realize I'm watching the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Groundbreaking. It reminds me why I care enough to share my political views.

Political expression is not encouraged in the United States. In fact, it's downright discouraged. Expressing your political views at the office is considered career suicide, unless maybe you are a political pundit or a politician and even then it can get you into trouble. For years I kept my political mouth shut in public. Who doesn't like having a paycheck and a place to live?

Finally, my conscience broke through and I got politically involved again, campaigning for candidates, leading meet-ups and blogging. Politics is not pretty. It's an ugly process. If report cards were given, many of the people involved, perhaps most, would receive marks like, "Does Not Play Well With Others," "Talks Too Much," and "Does Not Pay Attention." Nonetheless, it's the best way we have to shape our collective future. It's not always fun, and it's not always rewarding, but I just can't get over the fact that it's just too important to let go, especially now that I am a mom.

Beantastic Trivia

In perusing other mom blogs recently, I've noticed many of us seem to share let's call it an affinity for coffee. Probably has something to do with the acquired skill of surviving on 45 minutes of sleep.

Curious person that I am, it raised many coffee questions in my mind and I found some great coffee trivia at CocoaJava.com.

I liked this one:

"Caffeine is on the International Olympic Committee list of prohibited substances. Athletes who test positive for more than 12 micrograms of caffeine per milliliter of urine may be banned from the Olympic Games. This level may be reached after drinking about 5 cups of coffee."

Thanks to President Bush -- Part of the Thanks Giving Series

Lest you be confused, let me pause for a moment and clarify, I am not a Republican. (Repeat after me. I am not a Republican.) But as I reflect upon the past several years, there are some things that, really, I just have to stop and say thanks for. Way to go G. Dub.

I must stop and say thanks to him for single-handedly leading Republican politicians in the repeated, intentional mispronunciation of the word "nuclear" as nu-cu-lar, creating a class of apparently phonetically-challenged political lemmings.

I am also thankful for his many verbal foibles having forever left us with the term "Bushisms," and supplied comedians and humorists an ample supply of political material. (Here is just one example of a Bushism from "The Complete Bushisms" on Slate.com -- "You took an oath to defend our flag and our freedom, and you kept that oath underseas and under fire."—Addressing war veterans, Washington, D.C., Jan. 10, 2006)

And God bless G. Dub, with Karl Rove at the helm, they restored America's faith that dirty tricks are alive and well in our nation's capital. The orchestrated release of information revealing the identity of CIA Officer Valerie Plame let us all know, "If you oppose us, there will be a price to pay." Hey guys, thanks for the heads up.

So, as we approach Thanksgiving this year, I must say I am thankful to President Bush for making it abundantly clear to me that I am not, nor shall I ever be, a Republican.

Mom Blogging -- The Hip New Thing

"What is a Mom Blog?" you might ask. ZoKai is a Mom Blog. The key is, you guessed it, moms blogging. It's a way for moms to connect to each other and the outside world, even at midnight or 5:00 AM when the teething babies are finally sleeping, the laundry is almost done and connecting to a reality with more than a ten-word vocabulary once again becomes a possibility.

My friend Karin of DoubleDutyDiary clued me in about a year ago. I read her blog and was hooked.

There are many different kinds of mom blogs: baby blogs, complainer blogs, saccharin blogs, humorous blogs, opinion blogs, photo blogs, my-life-in-annoying-detail blogs and more. ZoKai was started primarily as photo/baby blog, an alternative to clogging up the email boxes of friends and family with newsletters and unbelievably adorable photos of my twin daughters Zoe and Kaia (ergo ZoKai).

During the 2004 election, I was a political blogger, an experience that graced me with just enough technical expertise to be dangerous as I began my mom blog. At its inception ZoKai featured primarily photos and updates to keep friends and family informed and create a kind of online scrapbook. As a stay-at-home mom with infant twins, that was all there was time for. Zoe and Kaia have now reached toddlerdom and as they are growing so is ZoKai. More sleep time for babies means more blog time for Mama.

Recently I've ventured out onto the blogosphere, reading other mom blogs and learning what a diverse group we mom bloggers are. I have found some real gems and some stinkers. Here are a few of the gems for your review:

DoubleDutyDiary.blogspot.com

SuburbanHippie.com

Loobylu.com

Chicken-and-Cheese.blogspot.com

Dooce.com (Brace yourself.)

Pull up a chair, take of your shoes and enjoy some easy reading.

What Would Your Super Parent Power Be?

This week I asked my husband if he thought it would hurt me if I ate coffee straight from the bag. He thought I was kidding. It smelled so good (Vanilla Nut) and seemed like it might just turn me into Super Twin Mom. More likely it would just make me sick and very, very jittery. But it did get me thinking. What if we could have parent super powers? Hence today's poll to the right for your participation pleasure:

Poll completed.
~And the winner is: Mood Mender Mind Meld -- The ability to make any child happy simply by placing your palm on their forehead and looking into their eyes.

Giving Props Where Props Are Due

A little explanation about the recent changes on ZoKai:

Hi Karin,

I’m dropping a line to say thank you for the inspiration. Your blog looks great and I love what you’ve been writing.

Thanks to you, I’ve spruced up the place at ZoKai a bit and am trying to post stories more often. I’ve figured out a few template hacks and even learned a teeny teeny bit maybe about making a header, but it has not been painless. Crazy fool that I am.

“Oh yeah, I think I can carve out four hours on Saturday afternoon. I’ll just teach myself web design.”

Nutty, nutty girl.

So with my vanilla nut coffee and my free trial version of Adobe Creative Suite, I sit down in front of my computer and watch every free online tutorial about AdobeGoLive they offer on their web site. Did I mention I am crazy? Three cups of coffee and 8 hours later, I had designed one puny little low resolution sort-of banner, which my husband Scott promptly appeared to lose into the vast computer abyss when he improperly (Yes, that’s right. I am blaming him.) inserted “The Wiggles Magical Adventure” into the DVD drive for the girls, and the computer became unresponsive and displayed three different colors of snow on the screen. I think if it could have coughed up blood, it would have.

The computer was miraculously restored to normalcy about 15 minutes later, undoubtedly because I wisely decided we (most notably Scott) should leave the computer alone (aka the Little Bo Peep method of restoring lost computer files – leave them alone and they will come home).

Anyway, since then I have designed two more banners, picked up a couple of template hacks from the Blogger Google group, and have actually started seeing a little sense in the html code (way different than the BASIC I studied in high school, but in some ways similar too). The third banner is currently implemented in my header, and I will be working on more.

Thanks so much for the inspiration! My brain needed a good workout and this has been lots of fun.

Shannon

Take a minute to check out Karin's great blog at DoubleDutyDiary.blogspot.com.

Site Remodel

The goal is to make the transition seamless, but in case you see strange things happening on your screen, be advised that a site remodel is underway.

Welcome to ZoKai

If you're visiting for the first time, I'm so glad you're here. Have fun, take a look around and drop me a line to let me know what you've been up to.

Thanks to Papa -- Part of the Thanks Giving Series

My grandfather "Papa" with his first turkey.

I'm thankful for the lessons my grandfather taught me, some traditional, some not. Here are just a few:

1) Don't hunt for fun. Hunt for food. (We actually ate the turkey seen here, and it was the freshest, best turkey I've ever had.)

2) How to find water with a small branch from a peach tree. (How many girls do you know who can do that?)

3) How to drive a tractor with a plow. (Well, that one didn't go so well.)

4) How to drive a motorcycle.

5) How to shoot a revolver.

6) Tell the truth. Lies are too hard to remember and only snowball.

7) How to tell when it's going to hail.

8) How to know when a tornado is coming.

9) How to see the rain in the distance.

10) How to work hard even when no one is pushing you.

11) How to listen for rattlesnakes.

12) How to make doughnuts. (I don't think he knew I was watching.)

13) Don't chase boys. Let them chase you.

14) Let men open the door for you.

15) You come from a good family.

16) Treasure the past and look to the future.

November Sky

When I came to California from Oklahoma one of the things I missed most was the dramatic sunsets of the spring storm season. I did live in Tornado Alley after all and the sometimes-threating clouds can really make beautiful sunsets.

More recently though I've been blessed with a vista of beautiful sunsets seemingly day after day.