Baby Walmart

Do you know what really upsets me?  (Cruelty? Intolerance?) -Wasted Effort.  It is because of this that I rise from the blogging grave to bring you these pictures.  She was a mere 5 months old!  She couldn't sit up straight in the cart! After making her t-shirt/costume I had to drive all the way out to Forest Grove to get a picture in the guns & ammo section of Wal-mart. (You should have seen the looks I got from women waiting in line for licenses.  Shouldn't I have been staring at them?) Whitman came along screaming and pooped his pants on the way into the store.  "When in Rome".  

 "You don't know me!!"

After all that, I didn't feel like I got the shot. So I planned to take a redneck picture of her sitting infront of the run down camper trailer that sits in a newer housing development.  Only she didn't know how to sit.  As proof of how much I love her, I didn't do it because it was turning cold outside and I didn't want her to freeze in her tank top,mini-skirt, and flops.

 A couple of months later, and colder still, I tried to make it happen in my garage.  She was confused.

Jana, always angry, accuses "so now Bumbos's are trashy??!!"  No, it's the only way I could get her to stay in one spot.  I was hoping it looked like an armchair. I was forcing it. What I really need is an old trailer!! And bottle of Mt. Dew!

My parents have an Oregon camping trailer.

I love her 5month chubby baby legs.

Ha!  Now that I've lured you here with baby in wig photos, how about you stick around to hear my opinions:
If you have every had the pleasure of hanging out with me in a social situation when Wal-mart is brought up, you already know I have strong feelings about the world's most profitable retailer.  In short: they are unethical bullies.

Almost everyone I know has a story about something terrible that Walmart has done in their community.  So why are we still shopping there?  In Oregon there are not very many Wal-marts- another reason I love Oregon!  They tried and tried to build a new store just a mile or so past our neighborhood and it took years and umpteen protests to keep them out. They recently succeeded in opening a  "smaller" Wal-mart into a struggling retail area and my blood boils every time I drive by.

I have a personal shopping ban on Walmart (that I try to persuade everyone I know to commit to).  Mostly is is because they make money at the expense of others, and hurt America over all.  I don't want even the smallest amount of my money to support their dirty business.  If I can't change laws to make some of their worst practices illegal, than at least I have the option of voting with my money. And I think Wal-mart is really starting to feel it!  (small joke)  I realize that not everyone has this luxury.  If you live in a rural area, not by accident, Wal-mart my be your only shopping option. Or maybe saving $2 on diapers isn't selling out your fellow Americans to you, but rather it is the difference between diapers and eating or just diapers. I'd pick Wal-mart in that senario.

With its low price focus, Wal-Mart may appear to help the U.S. economy. But, the reality is that with its poor wages and benefits, massive China out-sourcing and tax avoidance, Wal-Mart makes its workers and the communities where it operates poorer.
"Wal-Mart routinely dodges state and local taxes, meaning money spent at a Wal-Mart store won't end up in your community. Wal-Mart actively works to challenge property tax assessments and creates complex real estate arrangements to obscure how much taxes the company owes. When Wal-Mart dodges its tax burden, it takes precious revenues away from cities and states to pay for roads, schools and other services. In turn, individual taxpayers are forced to pay more to make up the difference (which takes more money out of their pockets) or get by with less."  from-David Nassar, "Why Wal-Mart Does Not Strengthen Our Economy"

I could go on and on.  Instead I will say how much I love shopping the fresh local produce and meats at New Seasons, the stylish and pleasant smelling Target, the Hillsboro Farmer's Market where I feel like I'm practically stealing from the vendors, Fred Meyers for a little bit of everything, and Goodwill when I'm on a treasure hunt.

Oh!  But in the same way that Hitler really loved his mother, I hear Wal-mart sells CD's with the swear words bleeped out. 

Rose Lunch, Y'all

 Violet has a BFF named Charlotte Rose.  She just turned 1 and Violet got it in her head to throw a small Rose-themed lunch in honor of Charlotte Rose.  Just a small little lunch, no big deal.

Here is each place-setting.  My favorite part is in the tiny baby sized silver and real plates on the left, where the bread plate would normally reside.

 Oh, and the flowers.  Stolen roses as far as the eye can see.  Thank you to Audrey, Audrey's next door neighbor, Yuan, the house up for auction across from Yuan, Kristen, the bank parking lot next to New Seasons... (No well manicured gardens were injured in the making of this lunch.)

Oh!  And what is in the boxes you ask?  Each baby was given their own fancy bib!  In rose colors or prints, with pearls, lace, or buttons or bow-ties for the boys.  You can see them wearing them in most of the photos. Rachel made them, you can read about them on her blog.

Violet saw to each place setting.

Napkin folded as a rose.  Which I didn't even use.

Another something I didn't use but wanted to: I had several images like this along with short poems about roses layered over them and I had creamy paper to print it all on and cut out and place on the table but at the last minute, my printer was out of ink!  Violet is still irritated about it.

printable source here

Here is little Charlotte Rose.  She was the perfect Guest of Honor, maybe a little bit of a ham. Charlotte's ancestry is Southern, and she has charm to prove it.

Kylie was also an ideal guest.  Friendly, sociable and good natured, but didn't try and steal the spot light.  She is very mature for her age.


Each baby was given a wrist corsage or boutonniere. Charlotte is a model child.

Graham nobly wore his boutonniere and his fancy bib without complaint.

Not all behavior was ideal.
Perhaps Violet over did herself, stayed up too late arranging roses and baking.  That can partly explain her cranky behavior over lunch.

 Here is what she thought of her corsage. It actually angered her.

 I overheard her spreading gossip...

"Do you see how Eliza didn't show up today?  She's afraid to show her full head of hair at my house apparently.  See if she gets invited to another party in the next 5 years."  Charlotte, "gasp!"

"Well, I heard that Sawyer isn't here today because a few particular sores from a particular hand, foot, and mouth virus refuse to heal in a particular area, and he might still be contagious!"
Graham, clearing his throat and clearly embarrassed, "certain things should not be said."

Here is where the day turned a little.. too Southern.

Charlotte insisted on eating with her feet on the table.  There was no talking her out of it.  She's just like her mother.

In the end, Graham paid us the ultimate compliment. (see inside joke here)

What did we serve for lunch, you ask?

The photo-less menu:

Chilled Strawberry Soup

Pimento Cheese, and Ham and Pickle finger sandwiches with Oven Fried Okra and Greens

Southern Rose Pound cake with strawberries and cream

If you would like to read Charlotte's version of the day, and you do, go to here.

May Day! May Day!

Today, May 1st, is May Day.  And you know what that means- protests and worker's rights?!  No, (though I do have that in me), flowers on doorsteps.  Of course.


Don't you love these vintage May Day cards?  

Suckers!  I printed them from here, onto cream paper. 


 I like the sentiment of May Day flowers coming from your own yard. As you can see, we have lilacs, which I love, but I am allergic to their intoxicating smell.

Another easy option is to make baskets out of lunch sacks.  

I filled them with lemon bars and daffodils, but next year I think next year I will fill them with garden section blooming plants, still in the containers.

Hmm, I should have cropped this photo.  Still, Violet is on board.  She carried her flower the whole time. She's the only one I bother dressing anymore.

Completely effortless.  No one fought over who was going to pull the wagon and who was going to carry the cards or who rang the doorbell last or who gets to sit in the wagon.  And it barely rained.

What did you do for May Day?  Does anyone else remember this mini-holiday?

What's for Dinner

Dear Alisha,

I'm offering up the #1 common complaint of women everywhere. What's for dinner??? I'm almost afraid to ask what you serve up, fearing it to be so gourmet and fresh that a person such as myself could never hope to duplicate such dishes. Nevertheless, could you give your eager readers a sampling of what you serve your family for dinner?

Sincerely,

Dinnerless in Arizona

Dear Dinnerless,
Do you know who I like to copy?  Jana.  As in my BFF, Janalee of It's the Little Things, Jana. She posted what her family ate for dinner in a month.  Quick to copy her idea, I have started writing down what we have eaten for dinner fo the past 2 MONTHS.  You read that right.


Before you sum me up or judge these meals, here are a few things to bare in mind. 
1) I have had a terrible time with vertigo or vestibular migraines these past 2 months.  Sometimes my cooking reflects that.  I marked some of the days when I was having real trouble at dinner time.  Other times I had a lousy, dizzy day but my one and only accomplishment was making dinner and keeping the children alive with the help of friends.
2) It was birthday season and Easter.  So we had more celebratory meals or dinners out.
3) Sometimes I tried an item from Costco that came in bulk, like apple chicken sausages, and then we ate them for 2 or 3 meals.  It's not like 'Wow that family sure loves their sausage'!  'Alisha's coming over, quick! Get some fatty sausage, it's the only way to appease her!'  For the record, I don't like sausage.  The garlic-less lower fat chicken was fine but I may never buy it again.  And really easy.  Enough about sausage.
4) I didn't write down what I made for dessert, if I did make dessert.  I might have had a day of elaborate baking followed with a simple meal, and you'll only know of the meal.  I don't make too many desserts during the week.


With out further ado, I give you, unedited,  What We Ate:


Late February through end of March

Feb 24- orange chicken, asparagus, red peppers (out of rice)

25th-fish soup with veggies and sprouted oat bread

26th crockpot chicken with salsa, black beans, corn, and salad

27th spagetti with meatball, stewed lamb (from freezer), salad, and wilted spinach,= a big mess

28th Blue and Gold dinner

29th apple sweet potato soup left from lunch, leftover chicken, veggie plate and dip, Irish soda bread for kids.

1st-chicken salad sandwiches or salad, cucumber slices, cinnamon bread for kids {Vertigo}

2 turkey chile with black beans, peppers, veggies, sour cream, cheese.

3-(Justin made it) Chicken marinara  {Vertigo}

4 AT FRIEND's HOUSE! What a treat!

5 Balsamic pork chops and onions, cauliflower puree, salad.

6 Green chicken and beans and lettuce and tomato with toppings {Vertigo, really bad}

7 asparagus soup, Stroganoff -turkey and extra mushrooms, peas {Vertigo}

8 Turkey tacos, lettuce, tomato, avocado, toppings, protein corn tortillas

9 Grilled and cheese, veggie plate, leftover chicken with beans.

10 Pizza for kids (Justin and I on date... until Whitman threw-up, then pizza for us too.)

11 BBQ chicken and coleslaw, sandwiches for kids.

12 I can't remember, {Vertigo stew}

13 Chicken soup, noodles involved -really sick kids, especially Davy at Dr. 

14 mac and cheese for recovering kids, cucumbers, Justin and I ate leftovers.

15 Marsala chicken, zucchini, butternut squash; chicken quesadillas with corn salsa and 
orange bell peppers for kids (some still recovering).

16 Indian chicken tacos.

17 Date out, after temple Reuben's, "garlic" chicken pasta for kids.

18 Asparagus soup with parm, spinach and cheese stuffed chicken breasts, salad, Gouda bread, brownies.

19 lightly breaded tilapia, skillet "fried"onion and potatoes, wilted spinach with lemon, sliced bell pepper.

20 Taco salad -turkey taco meat, avocado, Romain,  tomatoes, pickled corn salsa, corn tortillas or chips, cheese, salsas, sour cream.

21 chicken and apple sausages, (buns for kids), black beans, asparagus, cucumber slices.

22 Chicken and white parm sauce over penne pasta, (delivered dinner, hence the pasta) veggie plate and salad, homemade ranch, green salad for Justin.

23 Chicken sandwiches, quinoa salad, coleslaw, cucumber slices

24 (we ate lunch out) sandwiches again

25 Broiled salmon, cucumber dill salsa, mushroom stuffed ravioli in light cream parm sauce

26 Indian chicken, zucchini, broccolini

27 taco salad, back by popular demand

28 balsamic porkchops and onions and fennel, only we forgot the fennel, and broccoli

29 turkey Spaghetti, noodles for the kids, big salad, veggie plate dressing

30 Thai shrimp soup :http://www.food.com/recipe/south-beach-thai-shrimp-soup-with-lime-and-cilantro-195711, added stir fry veggies, cherry tomatoes and fish sauce.  Don't over cook the shrimp! But I did anyways.

31st

April through current:

1st chicken sausages, WW buns for the kids!, big salad and veggies, toilet paper cake

2nd oven tilapia (breaded) with lemons, brown rice (kids) goat cheese and sundried tomato ravioli with light cream sauce (adults) brocc. tomatoes

3rd (birthday)  Cheeseburgers (homemade! of course) and veggies

4th salad and Chicken bean soup

5 turkey, black bean and corn chili

6 Dinner out!  kids ate mini chicken tacos with tomatoes, sour cream, cucumber spears

7 (birthday) I refused to make dinner.  I went to conference then ate steak salad with the girls. kids ate----?

8 (Easter) glazed ham (all natural!), asparagus, Gruyere cheese sauce, potatoes, orange rolls, (salad didn't show up) desserts

9 Grilled salmon with cucumber yogurt tapenade, potatoes with cheese sauce (leftover) and broccoli.  and rolls.

10 Turkey tacos and and extra helping of {Vertigo}

11 Ham and bean soup, toast. The kids informed me that they had eaten too much bread already today. a side of Vertigo

12 Roasted chicken ala Costco, veggie plate, simple green salad, dressing =other wise known as the kids favorite meal.

13 chicken salad sandwiches on raisin bread, green salad

14 take out Thai food

15 Spaghetti and green salad.

16 crock pot green chicken and beans and tortillas and green salad

17ham and cheese croissants and {Vertigo}.

18 skillet chicken enchiladas, lettuce and tomatoes.

19 beef and mushroom stroganoff and asparagus.

20 Dinner out, kids ate garlic chicken pasta.

21out to temple, kids ate turkey meatballs with spaghetti and veggies, adults ate veggie with shrimp stir fry via New Seasons.

22  Top sirloin, asparagus, roasted herb potatoes and onions, green salad/veggie plate.

23 Turkey cheese burgers, salad, zucchini with parm

24 Chicken, sweet potato, and onion mash with red curry sauce, green salad. Sauce-less for kids, olive bread for them too.

25 Turkey, bean, and veggie soup, WW rolls, {Vertigo for dessert}

A few notes:  Justin and I don't eat much bread or pasta, so if you see "turkey burger" that probably meant that the kids ate the bun and we had it plain.  I know, you're fascinated.  We were on a taco/taco salad spree thanks to Trader Joe's corn salsa.  It really made tacos memorable.

I shoot for a cooked vegetable and a fresh salad or veggie plate or at least one fresh veggie for every dinner.  With a lean protein.  Unless you see the word "beef", then the meat was turkey.  As in turkey taco salad or turkey chili.  Also, all my salad dressing is homemade.

You can see how the weather was teetering.  It was soup one day, grilling the next, and then back to chili when a storm rolled in.

 The only recipe I linked to is on March 30th.  I just don't work that way.

I don't plan out my meals for the whole week.  That is beyond me.  I usually plan for 3 days at a time plus I have some staples in my freezer to pull together a meal.  Like orange chicken and broccoli.  

I am tired of my current recipes and routine.  I will take new healthy-ish suggestions, please.

Babies Who Lunch

Violet recently turned 1 year.  While I am still coping with this fact, she decided it was time to host her first luncheon.
A Violet lunch.
First let me thrill you with the table.  Violets, lots and lots of violets. (Feel free to count how many times you read the word "violet" in this post.)

The place setting. Notice the violet on the paper place card?  I made that.  Really I did. You'll hear all about it on a later day.

It's too bad you can't smell these photos because the scent was a romantic spring day.

Violet inspects the silver.

The Guests.  

Meet Lady K.

Starling played peek-a-boo.

Chance tried to start up a conversation..

..but Abbey would not yield to his advances.

Sawyer was the joker of the bunch.  "Hey ladies!  Anyone dare me to fling this spoon?...Yeah."

Violet stayed calm and hosted on.

The Food

Violet loves croissants and chicken salad, so that was a must.  The green salad of pears, cashews, Irish cheese and blackberries with a lemon vinaigrette was not her idea.  She would have chosen a medley of bark chips, lego heads, stale bread, and refrigerator dust bunnies with a dressing of stagnant rain water.

Cucumber and cream cheese sandwiches. {Don't you love the silver platter from my Grandma and the linen tablecloth from my Mother?}

For dessert the babies enjoyed a slightly sweet vanilla custard and shortbread violet cookies.

The coconut cream on shortbread was the adult version.

The after party. Warning: these next photos are ridiculous.

When you are a baby, it is considered a compliment to take off your shoes and pants after a good meal.

Feeling mischievous, Violet and Sawyer broke into a basket of wigs. No one was safe.

Starling kind of liked it. "You know, I think I'm having more fun."

Abbey found it undignified.  

(Doesn't she kind of look like a cranky older lady who sits on her porch, in a recliner, and scolds children? Get on now!)

Eventually she was won over. And a new little Asian friend dropped in!

A veritable United Nations!

Dough!

Like I said, no one was safe.  A taste of his own medicine.

Hair pieces are nothing out of the ordinary for Violet.  She had a lovely day.

A birthday party for baby's first birthday?  Ridiculous!  But lunch amongst friends, why what could be sweeter?