Suzie Says...

I'm making EZ Mac for Eli's lunch, while hanging out with my awesome mom. I grab the washcloth so I can take the piping hot bowl out of the microwave

Suzie says: "If your dishes get SUPER hot in the microwave, they have lead in them!"

Awe mom, you have got to be kidding me! I have been microwaving these plates since my wedding day almost 4 years ago. Are we all going to die from lead poisoning? No way, the bottom even says... oh no... it just says "dishwasher safe," we all ARE going to die of lead poising (pity party of one)!
This can't be true!
Google search... awe man!?!
Go to IKEA to get new plates.
Get flustered at IKEA because everything is made in China... can't have that...
Find cute glass (made in France) dinner dishes for .99!
We are safe again.
Thanks mom!

FYI
Just because your plates say they are microwave/dishwasher safe doesn't mean they are lead free. Here is one helpful article. Lead testing kits are also available at the hardware store for around $10. Do some some quick research of your own. Following is a microwave safe test I found. I didn't actually try it, because my dishes got VERY hot in the microwave... I mean if you touched the post microwaved bowl you would have blistered and my mom said to get new dishes. She has her Bachelors in Consumer Science so I just listen when she talks... plus she is my mom.

Microwave Dish Test
To test whether a dish can be used in a microwave oven, make the following test: Pour 1/2 cup cold water into a glass measure. Set a measuring cup inside the dish to be tested. Cook 1 minute.
Use: If water is warm and dish remains cool, or if dish is warm yet can still be picked up with bare hands, the dish can be used.
DO NOT use the dish if water remains cool and dish gets too hot to handle.

Nie Nie Benefit Sale...

I have recently become slightly obsessed with the Nielson Family (picture above) of the Nie Nie Dialogues (Wow, I finally figured out how to create a link!).

Long story short...
Christian and Stephanie Nielson, parents of 4 children, were in a private plane crash. The flight instructor died in the crash. Christian and Stephanie survived but are in a burn unit in AZ recovering. Stephanie is in a drug induced coma and has had multiple skin graph surgeries. Christian is a bit farther along in the recovery, just waking up last week.

"Sad" (you're thinking) "but why are you obsessed with them KN?"
Well, thank you for asking!
What makes their story so compelling is Stephanie as a mother.
"Huh?" (you're thinking)
Well, thank you for asking!
After reading her blog you just fall in love with her and her family. If you are a mom or wife you can see a bit of yourself in her. She is able to pull you into her little family moments through her simple photographs. Plus, she has a simple classic style that is just so hip.

I was first introduced to the Nielson Family through my friend Donna at Blessed Nest who was donating her AWESOME nesting (nursing) pillows to a Nie Nie Benefit auction.
Wait a minute (the thought dawns on me a month into my obsession) I have a business! I can donate too!

Thankfully Morgan of 'One More Moore' is ramrodding an Etsy Benefit for Nie Nie.
Thankfully I was able to be one of the hundreds to donate items for sale.
Thankfully you get to shop it!!!

Go to the Nie Nie Benefit Etsy shop

Tuesday September 30th

7pm PST

shop your heart out!

For etsy shop updates visit One More Moore

To fall in love with the Nielsons visit the Nie Nie Dialogues

For Nielson Family updates visit C Jane Run (Stephanie's sister's blog)

Race for Pink Eye

7:00 am:
I'm awake! I'm excited because Eli's Lids is going to participate in the Susan G Komen Race For The CureGee... my eyes are watering...

9:20am:
I'm sill searching for parking... this is not fun... I start to cry and almost leave. Ouch, my eyes burn when I cry! Found parking. All Right... ready to walk.

9:30am:
Meet up with the group. Those of us bound by strollers will walk and the brave few will run the 5K (you go Adam, Ken, Alan and Bryan!!). Of course I would run if I didn't have a stroller... ha!!!
Sun glasses are a must! My eyes hurt in the light :(

9:30-10:40 am:
Enjoy chatting with my buddies (you go Jami, Lynne and Donna!). I am unexpectedly moved by all the people walking. Their shirts are covered in names of family and friends who have won or lost the battle with breast cancer. The survivors wear pink shirts. Donna wears a pink shirt.
Gee... it isn't sunny... why are my eyes burning?

10:48am:
I have been pushing 70+ pounds for over 3 hilly miles... I'm tired, sweaty and kinda depressed seeing the names of mothers, sisters, daughters, aunts and grandmothers who have been taken from their families.
We cross the finish line!!! They announce all the survivors names over the loud speaker as they finish the Race. Their group cheers for life. This is JOY!
Ouch... oh yeah I can't cry... my eyes hurt.

11:00am:
What do you do when you get a group together for anything??? EAT!! Me and my burning eyes get our food at Red Robin....mmmm. Eli puts all his oranges in his hamburger then proceeds to eat only the oranges.
"Gee, KN, are you OK? We can get this food to-go."
"Oh no no, I'm fine...(wincing in pain)."

12:00pm:
Time to drive home. "Umm... I really can't see to drive, can someone give me a ride?"
Writhing in pain the long ride home. I'm just sure I have some disease...

1:30-3:00pm:
Waiting at urgent care with my hot hubby and my adorable children. Too bad I can't see anything. I'm just sure I'm going blind... I'll never see Cora grow up or Eli play tee ball... pity party of one...

3:15pm:
PINK EYE!!!!!! You have got to be kidding! This hurts like... and I have been through natural child birth.

5:00pm:
Home. Hot Hubby lovingly puts drops in my eyes. I disinfect EVERYTHING in the house.

My mom (Suzie Says) describes Pink Eye the best. "It feels like someone lifted up your eyelid and blows a handful of dry sand up there and smashes it back down"

Eli slept and ate through the whole Race. Yes, I bribed him with fruit snacks. And No, I'm not ashamed.

Cora cried about 85% of the time. Is 7 months too young for fruit snacks?

David Patrick Memorial Benefit

Eli's Lids has the honor of being a part of the 1st Annual David Patrick Memorial Benefit!!

3 month old David passed away on June 24th, 2007 to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). His family is holding the benefit on October 13th 2008 and all proceeds from the evening will go to First Candle http://www.sidsalliance.org/

For more information about attending the event in Fullerton CA or if you would like to donate please contact http://www.eventsbynikki.org/

The Eli's Lids gift tin includes the Rock n' Roll Lid and the Snowboarder Tee!!

Funny husband story...

Oh my dear husband! I'm about to share a story about my man that could be considered somewhat male bashing... but it isn't... it is just a typical husband story (we all have them). Before I share the story, just to be sure it isn't taken the wrong way I'm going to use one of tools we learn our premarital class: "It takes 5 positive comments to cancel out one negative comment."

1. My husband is a real Man. He is the culmination of everything a Man should be... a man of integrity, honor, responsibility, and compassion.

2. He is a total hunk! 3. He adores everything about me (even the things that aren't adorable). 4. He changes poopy diapers WITHOUT complaining (and all sorts of other daddy stuff too). 5. He works hard to provide for us and doesn't complain... in fact, he loves his job. The story...

We were having dinner guests and I asked my Love to pick up a "pre-packaged salad" from Trader Joe's on the way home from work. You know the kind... with dressing and toppings in the bag? Simple, right? Wrong. He comes home with a rainbow mix of just lettuce. No problem, I have cherry tomatoes, cucumber and bell peppers. I was in a rush so I chopped and served. Dinner starts. Salad is served. Salad tastes horrible... bitter. I'm cleaning up after dinner and actually look at the bag. It says "greens for cooking" & "cut cleaned and ready to cook." Um, yeah, he bought raw greens. Now I understand my mom's bright smile when she tells the story of sending my dad to the store to get tomato paste and he came back and said that the grocery store doesn't carry it anymore or when she sent him to get one green extension cord for the Christmas tree and he came home with 9 brown ones because they were on sale.

Our men... we love them!!

Make your own people...

We pretend that the tiny duplo blocks are people even though they don't look like people... till today...
You can't color on blocks!! Wait a minute... I'm the mom. I have fun. It is good to be "Mom!"

Joy...

I have the great luxury of a bit of one-on-one time with each of my kiddos because of their napping schedule. While I have this precious time, I try to do something special everyday with each of my beautiful children. Nothing major... bringing out the markers with Eli or splashing in the sink with Cora. Something that is hard to "regulate" with two kids, but just right for one. Today Eli and I were playing choo choos and he started to jump (a newly acquired skill). I fished out the dress-up bunny ears and flower from Easter and we hopped around the house for about 20 minutes.
"Hop hop hop hop" we would shout as we hopped throughout every room.
"Hop hop hop hop" we would whisper as we hopped in front of sleeping Cora's door.
And I felt JOY!!!

Worn-out...

I don't know about you, but this week has left me worn-out, drained, & weary. I'm looking forward to the weekend when my Knight in Shining Armor will be home with me all day!! Maybe I can request to be pushed around in an extra large stroller over the weekend.

Help Pass Senate Bill 1738—The PROTECT Our Children Act

I don't usually watch Oprah, but I heard about today's topic and I switched it on. I was... wow... completely floored. Whether or not you are a mom your heart would just break hearing the stories of children being groomed, taught or drugged by sexual predators. Following is one way to take action on behalf of the thousands of children being abused every day...

Help Pass Senate Bill 1738—The PROTECT Our Children Act
Hundreds of thousands of children are victims of sexual abuse each year. Due to the sheer lack of resources, law enforcement is unable to follow up on the majority of leads they have.The PROTECT Our Children Act will:
Authorize over $320 million over the next five years in desperately needed funding for law enforcement to investigate child exploitation.
Mandate that child rescue be a top priority for law enforcement receiving federal funding.
Allocate funds for high-tech computer software that can track down Internet predators.
Act Now! Your U.S. senators will be voting on the bill soon, so it is crucial you contact them immediately.Go to http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm to find contact information for the senators in your state. Search for your senator by name or state by clicking on the arrow from either dropdown menu. Contact information is provided here. To send an e-mail, click on "Web Form" below his or her name, and e-mail your letter to make a difference! Call Your SenatorsIf you choose to contact your senators by phone, be sure to tell them, "Vote yes on Senate Bill 1738—The PROTECT Our Children Act."Write to Your SenatorsIf you choose to write a letter, fax, telegram or e-mail, you may use the following sample letter—and modify it how you see fit.

Dear Senator:I know that you believe, like I do, that we must do everything possible to protect children from sexual predators. That is why I am asking for your help.Last year alone, U.S. law enforcement identified over 300,000 criminals who were trafficking in movies and pictures of young children being raped and tortured. Experts say that one in every three of these criminals has local child victims. Child pornography trafficking over the Internet has given us a trail of evidence that leads straight to their doorsteps, but the vast majority of these children will never be rescued because investigators are overwhelmed, outnumbered and underfunded.As your constituent, I urge you to do everything in your power to pass the PROTECT Our Children Act (S. 1738, Biden-Hatch). This bipartisan legislation passed the House 415-2, but it is now the victim of petty partisan politics.Now that we know where these children are and how to protect them, there is no excuse for the Senate to fail to take action this session.
(Your name here)

Get to share...

Eli was about a year old when he discovered that he didn't have to share his toys. You know, that pivotal moment when they loudly and clearly shout "MINE!" What a shock... surely I didn't teach him that... he learned it from that neighbor kid! Mmmmm.... wait a minute... "that's my cell phone... don't touch the laptop, it's mine".... oops!!! Reality check. He is listening. This was also a pivotal moment for mommy. I started to really think about how I phrased requests toward him.

Scenario A:
Eli: MINE!!!
Mommy: Eli, you share that toy right now!! Eli! If you don't share right now you will have a time out. Give her that toy.... Eli.... !?!?!!!
= Time out. Tears. And a general loathing for sharing (well loathing might be a bit extreme... but only a bit).

Scenario B:
Eli: MINE!!!
Mommy: Oh, Eli... your buddy is playing with you too. You get to share with her. You are so lucky that you have a friend over to share with. We are so blessed to have such fun friends to share this toy with.
= A fun perspective on sharing. Fun playdates filled with sharing bliss (well, bliss might be a bit extreme).

A picture of Eli and his "Bu-Dee" Iris SHARING a moment at the Eli's Lids photo shoot...

Have you heard...?

Suzie Says...

I have decided to start a segment called "Suzie Says..." Suzie is my beautiful mom. And she has come up with some good advice over the years... along with quite a bit of silliness!!

Suzie says...
"A person should remember their childhood as being magical."

And I can say mine truly was!!
I never had to worry with the difficulty of life. My parents knew that most of my life would be spent worrying about bills and cleaning pottys so for the brief time (and how brief it was!!) I was with them we would have fun! They made the decision that my childhood would be magical. Many of us think that it will just happen... but it won't, it takes some thought on our part. We need to make an intentional effort for our kids. Give your children memories of their tooth fairy leaving a "fairy dust" trail from the windowsill to their pillow, of Santa's jingle bells ringing from the roof or of making dinner for a neighbor in need.

small dress = shirt

I got this idea from my friend Ester (http://www.sewingtheseed.com/)...
Use your daughter's baby dresses for shirts as they grow! Here is Cora in a 0-3 month dress, then and now...

I'm starving...

Cora is almost 7 months old. It is time to start taking this baby weight gain seriously! It is time because we went to a pool party over the weekend and I couldn't hide behind jeans and a tee!

I have eaten healthy all day and now it is evening and I'm starving. My evening spoonful of cookie dough is the enemy. I will be strong!!

I think I'm so creative...

So I ran out of baby food and Cora needed to eat (so demanding... ha). I looked in the fridge to see what I could muster up. Bananas. Strawberries. Rice Cereal. Good! Mash up some banana... mash up a strawberry and add a bit of rice cereal... instant baby food. The whole time I'm doing this I'm thinking... "Wow, I'm so creative!" Mmmmmm... I just mashed up some fruit and added cereal.... so I'm not really creative.
Here are my not-so-creative baby food ideas:
(add rice cereal to thicken & water to thin on all of these)
1) Mash banana, strawberry. Nuke the strawberry to cook out potential allergy stuff.
2) Mash up mango
3) Mash up your sides at dinner. I've done rice, beans, noodles...

I'll add more to this blog whenever I'm not feeling creative!
~KN

Impromptu Picnic...

We had a picnic last night and it really helped to spice up our leftover dinner of pizza and spaghetti. I did roast some fresh yummy veggies. We ate and chatted in the almost Autumn air while Eli played basketball.
I wish I could say that the picnic was just my creative idea, but in actuality our dining room was an explosion of all my sewing!!!


I'm working on new shirts for Eli's Lids.
I love sewing :)