For my dearest Lori...

I have been AWOL lately, and I need to rectify that, with an explanation and a post of substance.  I will get to that later.

Right now, though, I need your help.  I need your prayers, your good thoughts, your candles, your vibes, your crossed fingers, anything... I need you to show you care.

Lori over at Random Ramblings of a Stay at Home Mom is bearing the brunt of the personal tragedy that has struck her family, and needs as much support from all corners of the blogosphere (and the world.)  Her husband is in critical condition, and while yes, he's the "breadwinner," he is also her greatest love, and the father to her beautiful teacup humans.

Link up, spread the word, spread the love, and if you can, drop by her blog and tell her you're sending your love.  Remember, the kindness and caring we show to the strangers with whom we share the world shapes our reality for the best.  <3

Via KB of Wanderlust:

Here is what I’d like you to do as you link up today:

• If you haven’t already, please read Lori’s searing and heartfelt post from last night (it’s first on the Linky) and leave a comment of support for her.
• Send your prayers and/or good vibes to her and her family.
• Link up for Lori. Let her know you were here.
• If it is within your means, consider donating some money to help her family through this difficult time (her husband is the breadwinner and regardless of the outcome, this will be a rough financial ride for them). There is a paypal widget on the sidebar.
• Spread the word about the Linky so she can have as much support as possible at this time.

The rest of the Linky instructions are below. Thank you so much for your kindness and support. 

We love you Lori. We're rooting for you, babe. Stay strong. xo

The Rules (according to the big boss)

1. Follow my blog, the Random Ramblings of a SAHM. I never seem to get to reading all the links here. But believe me, I try. Not that any of this is my idea anyway- FYBF is MummyTime's brainbaby. I stole it.
2. Grab the bubbly button and post it on your sidebar.
3. Link your First Name and/or Blog Name and URL of your post or blog.
4. Add a short description (max of 125 chars). It could be a description of yourself, your blog or a teaser to your latest post.
5. Follow at least 1 linkyer/blogger (Be nice and spread the love).
6. The list will be open for linkyers on Fridays (and for the foreigners Friday as well).
7. A new and fresh link list will open every Friday. And you will have to link up AGAIN. The previous link list does not carry over to the following week.
8. And lastly, have lotsa fun. I mean it. If I detect anyone not totally loving the awesomeness, I will bump you off the linky list. (Joking) (Kinda).
9. Ripping off my stuff- including these rules- makes baby Jesus cry. If you are doing your own blog hop, please write your own rules. You know who you are.

Happy Birthday, Baby!

Happy Birthday, Bug.  I love you more than words will ever be able to express.

Review: GoGreen Pocket Diapers

So, I have had the pleasure of reviewing a pocket diaper from GoGreen Pocket Diapers.  Before I go much further, I will say that this is a sponsored review in that I asked if I could review them, and was sent a diaper for free.

Now that the disclaimer is out of the way, I want to tell you guys that this is really a nice little diaper!

I was sent a diaper and an insert in the "Twinkle Tush" design shown above.  (I don't have my own pics, so the ones to follow are from the website.)

Leah, the owner, is also an accidental mommy and was very recently a student, as well. I like to support family owned businesses, and also like to know a bit about the method behind the madness.  I inquired as to whether or not Leah had designed these herself, or if she had found a manufacturer she loved, and she responded with the following:

Somehow I ended up with a great connection to the factory that makes the diapers. I had bought some for my 3 kids (all in diapers) because I thought they were really pretty, and they kicked a@$. The ones I started using over a year ago still look/work new, and that is in contrast to some bad experience I had with the quality of my happy heinys. Subsequently, I developed a borderline unhealthy obsession with the diapers, and after saturating all of my friends' diaper needs, I had to find a way to get my fix :-) This whole thing is only a couple weeks old, and (since I can now make really large orders since it appears there is a market) the factory is putting our logo on the diapers of our specifications and working with us to develop our own inexpensive accessories (pail liners, wipes, etc). I hope to get to help design the fabric prints, I haven't asked about it yet but I have to take it one step at a time (language barrier and opposite time zone make efficient communication difficult). Basically, there is an awesome quality product that was out there and for some reason no one had access to it. Also, there is virtually nothing in terms of pocket cds under ~$20 and that's not fair.  End rant. Thanks for asking!

Customer service was remarkable, with lightening-fast shipping.

As with all diapers, they need to be prepped before wear.  There's a thousand and one different methods for this, but mine is a quick dunk in water heated to a boil on the stove, and then two washings.  Since I was doing diaper laundry that day anyway, I just tossed it in to wash with the rest of the diapers.

The construction is solid, the PUL is consistent, and YOWSA are they trim!

I put this diaper through hell, friends, and let me tell you... it held up beautifully.  I even forgot it in the car for a couple of days, and it cleaned up beautifully.  Can't say that with all pockets.

I really feel that these are better than the Happy Heineys and Bum Genius I've used.  They're comparable to Haute Pockets as far as bulk goes, and better constructed than all of the above.  The inside is a decadent sherpa that I just kinda want to roll in.

My only cons are these:  No crossover snaps.  For a one size diaper, I really like to be able to cross over when necessary.  The insert could use to be another couple of layers, but that's trivial.  That could be solved with a doubler without adding too much additional bulk.  I am emailing Leah to find out if a doubler will be in the works for purchase, or if she can request that the liner be a bit more absorbent.

Overall?  For under ten dollars, this diaper blows all the other pockets out of the water.  Nine out of ten stars from me!

Welcome to Florida in the fall!

A lot of people will say that we have no real season changes here - just moving from really hot to less hot - but that's not true.  Most years.

This year brings a very definite turn in seasons, and true to subtropical climates, it's very rapid. 

With it comes the standard round of illnesses - colds, coughs, sinus infections... Autumn Agues.

Oh, woe... what to do with sicky babies and sickie kids?

Well, do what I do - kick 'em outside to play the snot away, and then bring them back in and feed them well.

It is now well-known that it is not the weather itself that causes illness, but rather the effects of the body's adaptation to changes in temperature and atmospheric pressure that wreak havoc on all systems, including our immune system.

One of the best ways to assist the body in fighting back and retaining its strength during these adaptations is to feed it well.  This is particularly important for children, since their immunities are still forming and their metabolisms are lightening fast.

A very simple, tasty, nutritious meal is a thick stew, or pottage.  I like to make pottage with meat, but vegetarians and vegans shouldn't depair, since it's equally as tasty and nutritious without.  Here's a rough recipe... please keep in mind that I'm one of those cooks that doesn't measure, but rather goes on instinct.  If in doubt, always use less.  More can be added, but little can be removed without starting all over.  Additionally, don't be afraid to adapt or stray, or to tailor to the tastes of your family.  If you dislike one of my ingredients, don't despair about it.  Just change it up a bit!  Most importantly, enjoy yourself.  Enjoy prepping and cooking, and savor the meal.  It does equally as much for your spirit as it does for your health.

Beef Pottage ala Accidentally Mommy

• Beef for stew, well marbled***
• Beef broth, consomme, boullion or stock (I love love love "Better than boullion" concentrate.)***
• Root veggies of your choosing - potatoes, turnips, carrots, yams - anything works, really.
• One or two good sized onions
• Garlic.  I like a LOT of garlic - but that's your choice, really.
• Celery
• Butter***
• Flour***
• Seasoning - my usual defaults are sea salt, ground mixed pepper (pink, black, white peppercorns,) ground rosemary, a dash of parsley, a sprinkle of herbs de provence mix, and sometimes a little paprika and turmeric, if I'm using lamb, venison or rabbit, or if I'm making it vegetarian with seitan, TVP or tofu.

Chop your veggies and toss them into the pot, covering them with your liquid of choice. This includes your onions, but not your garlic.

Put a dollop of butter in a pan, and brown the stew meat with your garlic and your seasonings.  I like to get it really brown, so that I can deglaze the pan later with either broth or red wine.  You could use olive oil here, but I feel it imparts a flavor that doesn't mesh so well with the rest of the ingredients. 

Deglaze the pan if you so wish, and add that to the pot, along with the meat and garlic.

Cover and let simmer for as long as you want.  Depending on the thickness of your veggies, it could take as little as 45 minutes or as long as two hours.  You can go even longer, if you'd like.  Just make sure your root veggies are at least fork done before moving on to the next step.

So now that the veggies are done, you're going to make a medium roux.  The trick to a good roux is making sure you're using equal amounts of fat and flour, and that your fat is a high-quality fat.  I use salted butter, full-cream spring butter, if I can.  If not, the best butter you can find/afford will work.  Hell, whatever you have on hand will work, too.  Melt the amount of butter you're using (say, 1/2 cup,) over low heat.  Slowly whisk in 1/2 cup of flour to the melted butter.  Keeping it on low heat, whisk constantly until mixture begins to turn a light tan color.  Then do it some more.  You're looking to get a pretty, rich carmel color and smooth texture.  Whatever you do, DO NOT turn the heat up, and DO NOT stop whisking!  You will burn the roux, and it will smell awful.

Once you achieve that golden carmel color, incorporate it into your pottage/stew.  I use the whisk to whisk it into the top layer of the stew, and then a long-handled wooden spoon to mix it the rest of the way.

Experiment, have fun, and eat up!

*** Better than Boullion makes an awesome veg*n veggie and a mushroom base.  TVP, Seitan, Tofu... use whatever you prefer to sub the beef.  If you're veg*n, use a corn starch slurry to thicken instead of roux.  (To make slurry, add cornstarch to cold water and whisk.  Gently temper in mixture to pottage, taking care to make sure you mix as you incorporate.)

Wordless Wednesday: Tooth Fairy Finally Visited.

Wordless Wednesday: Re-connect. Starring Kinder Major, Bug, and Little Blonde.

The one where she gets all teary...

My baby starts kindergarten in the morning. I am busily gathering together the last minute necessities - re-packaging her peaches so she can open them up, chilling her apple juice, making sure her jacket and backpack and lunch box are labeled, jotting down the things I need to remind her teacher of when I meet her tomorrow.

I can't believe she's this old. I can't believe five years has gone by so quickly. My beautiful baby has morphed into my beautiful little girl, and in the next blink of my eyes she will be my beautiful big girl and eventually my beautiful adult daughter.

I don't want the time to go. I want to hold her close to me while she's still small enough to fit on my lap, and whisper in her ear for ever how much I love her more than life. I want to always keep her safe in the same way I did when she was tucked away inside of me, nurtured by the very essence of my being.

I can't, though. I must put away my tears and nostalgia and my fear of change and instead dust off my confident smile. I must soothe her trepidations with assurances that I will be there the moment the bell rings to scoop her into my arms and tell her how proud I am of her for being herself.

I don't want her to go.