Lyndsay and the Johnsons

Eclipse

2012-05-20T19:40:00.002-07:00

Here in SoCal we got a pretty good view of the eclipse. The shadows and reflections turned to crescents. The wan light felt strangely eery and beautifully peaceful in the same shared moment. Wes has a gaffer's glass, so we were able to safely see the shy sun. It was a unique end to an otherwise typical week.

Mommy Notes

2012-05-14T18:40:00.001-07:00

I hope everyone had a nice Mother's Day. Mine was low key. But since it included a nap, I consider that alone a success. Today when I picked Finn up from school, he handed me this. :) Not really sure what it says there on the third line. Maybe "kiss kiss spin?" Either way, my heart just melted!

Fancy Dancer

2012-05-07T15:25:00.003-07:00

Hooray!

2012-05-04T13:26:00.000-07:00

I was so happy to see that my designs are now for sale on Minted! I feel very "official"—I'm not gonna lie. :) You can find Alphabet in the Round HERE, and Sticks and Stones HERE. They are each available in a number of color options, too!

They didn't ask me to say this, but Minted has great gifts and personalized cards for Mother's Day. Find more HERE.

Freebies for you!

2012-05-01T17:36:00.004-07:00

I thought it might be a nice change of pace to offer some freebies on this first fine day of May! I have some printables as a gift to you. All of the files are formatted to 8.5x11 for your printing convenience. I've included wall art, gift tags, and a birthday reminder calendar. Feel free to share and gift, as well! Click the links below to download and print the files. Happy May!

WALL ART

GIFT TAGS (2x2)

BIRTHDAY REMINDER CALENDAR

Health Update

2012-04-28T16:57:00.003-07:00

WARNING: This is a very boring and sometimes overly informative post on my health issues. If you want to still view me as the generic blogger mom, don't read any further. I might have to mention bathroom habits...no promises, people. It is what it is.

I've been putting this off. I feel like I've been doing really well mentally/emotionally with my health issues. And writing about them only makes me dwell on any issues I am still having. But I have received so many emails from people in a similar (or worse) situation than mine. And I do feel like it's time to answer their questions, and let people know how I am carrying on.

If you would like to read my previous post on SIBO, you can find it HERE (there are clarifications/corrections I will make from that previous post, so if you are here researching SIBO, you'll want to read this post, as well).

So I was in my doctor's office the other day (the wonderful Dr. Stein of Cedars-Sinai GI Motility Program), and he said, "Are you the one who blogged about me?" What? Well, yeah, that was most likely me. I tend to do that—blog about things. :) And it turned out it was me. Someone had read that post and contacted Dr. Stein to see him about her own issues with SIBO. I was momentarily a bit intimidated that my doctor had perused my personal blog, but he said he liked the post, and it was well-written and informative. High-five. (OK, I didn't really high five him...) But after our conversation this month, I realized I needed to amend that first post. Let's start with food.

To read the full post, click on the link below that says "read more"

Dr. Stein explained that all of the restrictive food intolerances may not all be completely accurate. At least not all of the time. I had the IgG blood test done to see what foods I was reacting to (I was tested last June, with overwhelming results). It tests for antibodies and food intolerances—NOT allergies, which can be life-threatening (like my brother's peanut allergy). Here is a little info on this:

"An immunoglobulins test is done to measure the level of immunoglobulins, also known as antibodies, in your blood. Antibodies are substances made by the body's immune system in response to bacteria, viruses, fungus, animal dander, or cancer cells. Antibodies attach to the foreign substances so the immune system can destroy them."

I also found this:

"Given the lack of correlation between the presence of IgG and physical manifestations of illness, IgG testing is considered unproven as a diagnostic agent as the results lack clinical utility as a tool for dietary modification or food elimination." source

Our bodies produce antibodies all the time. So these tests can be changeful in nature. I asked Dr. Stein what would happen if, for example, my perfectly healthy husband had an IgG test done. Would it show he was intolerant to a handful of different foods? The answer: Probably. Would they affect him negatively? Probably not. Sooooooo. Where to go from there? I'm avoiding a lot of foods based on this test. And guess what? Changing my diet caused my health to immediately improve. And I've kept that stable for a year (I'm not 100% all the time, but I am functional and happy many days if I am careful about my diet). So when Dr. Stein asked me to think about reintroducing some variety back into my diet, I almost freaked out. I don't want a repeat of last summer! I am scared. I admit that. "I'll give you dairy," he conceded. "Avoid dairy. You are definitely lactose intolerant. Take Lactase/Lactaid if you have to encounter cheese." (I've had lactose issues in the past, as well.) And when I do start to reintroduce foods, just don't go overboard. In fact, don't go overboard with any meal. He would rather I eat half a meal and save the other half for later, to save me from a bad IBS-type reaction (to recap, IBS and SIBO often go hand-in-hand). I haven't started reintroducing major trigger foods just yet. But I plan to. Right now I am starting slow with some of the gray area foods on the gluten-free menu (salsa and vinegar, for example). I just have to muster the courage before I eat a hamburger on a bun. I need to block out a week of my life in case I relapse. I told you I'm freaked out—last summer was awful! In the mean time, he recommended the low FODMAP diet to start (info HERE).

On a similar note, a doctor in my family suggestion that this could be immune-system related (seems well-founded). He prescribed a week of steroids, and also asked that I reintroduce a food that normally would be harmful as a test (hello burger on a bun again). Then I would see if my body reacts after that round of steroids. So that is also in my plan. Again, I just have to psych myself up for it. **For those who have emailed me and are experiencing other illness and unexplained issues, I might recommend looking into an immune system response as to what might be going on.

To address another issue, Dr. Stein did not think "leaky gut" was exactly happening. He shook his head at the idea that the bacteria was causing damage to my small intestinal lining (as thought on some websites). From what I read on immune system response, it is more likely that the SIBO bacteria is causing immune reactions, but it's not boring tiny holes in my gut and leaking things out into my blood stream. I trust Dr. Stein. He's a smart cookie. So I am going to let the leaky gut theory slide for now. Maybe it's true for some people. But for me, it's one less thing to have to worry/postulate about.

So food aside, how have I been doing this year? Well, I took the aggressive treatment for SIBO back in December. I felt OK after the 10 days of rifaxin/neomycin. My original, more problematic IBS symptoms were in check. But I had new issues like intense small-intestinal cramping 20 minutes after I ate, and heartburn like crazy. The heartburn was so bad that it started to cause the sensation of a lump in my throat (a common thing, apparently), exacerbated by stress (ugh). So I wasn't totally fine all the time. I would have "iffy" days and good days, depending on what I ate. Dr. Stein said only 40% of patients respond to the antibiotic treatment. Sure, I could have had some initial relief, but it's only a matter of time before the bacteria comes back. It could be 2 weeks, it could be 2 years. Some patients become antibiotic dependent (no fun). What I really needed was to get my "gastrointestinal motility" back on track (Google "cleansing waves" it if you want more info on that).

Since I was still having symptoms, Dr. Stein decided to do an endoscpoy/colonoscopy to rule out any other issues. Woah. That was no fun. I won't go into all the details, but going through colonoscopy prep when you are already feeling depleted leaves you thinking you might be dying at 3am when you wake up dehydrated, shaky, and seeing stars. Two tiny sips of water and my husband's reassurance did the trick. Everything else went fine. I HIGHLY recommend asking your doctor for the pill form of the colonoscopy prep (called Osmoprep) if you have to go through that. I didn't have to drink anything gross. I didn't get nauseated. Worked like a charm. And the results of all scoping was completely negative. No ulcers. No cancer. Not even any minor damage from the acid reflux. No celiac. And all biopsies came back normal. Awesome! Wait. I am still getting sick. Wha???

Dr. Stein said I looked great. Which was great (no more Osmoprep until I am over 50). But I still need to address my continued issues. Here were his options:
• low dose anti-depressants to reset the brain/gut connection
• hypnotherapy (popular in Europe)
• acupuncture/herbs
• a motility drug like erythromycin or Motilium

He recommended I try the low dose antidepressant first (Elavil). It was HORRIBLE. I was so drugged on even the low 10mg that I was in a dream state and couldn't wake myself up. When I was awake I cried all day. Then when I quit the drug, it took 3 full days to leave my system. It was scary. Dr. Stein pulled me off that immediately. He offered to let me try a different antidepressant. No way. "No problem," he responded in his email. "Let's try Motilium."

I am allergic to E-Mycin, so Dr. Stein recommended I try Motilium instead. The clinical name is Domperidone. They don't make it in the US, but I could order it though online pharmacies without a prescription. "It's an awesome drug," he assured me. Low rate of side-effects. Doesn't pass the brain-whatever barrier. And it regulates/encourages GI motility. It is often prescribed for patients with SIBO, cancer patients with nausea, and even mother's who need lactation help.

Now here is where things get all Twilight Zone. Two years ago when I went to Greece and got so terribly sick (the catalyst to these unfortunate events), the doctors sent me home with 4 boxes of a drug called Cilroton. A drug whose clinical name is Domperidone. A drug still in my medicine cabinet. Wait a minute. Isn't that also Motilium? YEP. Indeed it is. I was asked to take the very drug by the Greek doctors asked me to take when I first got sick. I took that drug like it was going out of style just to get me through the nausea on my 2 day flight home from Greece, only to let the last 19 pills sit untouched in my cabinet for 2 years (good thing it wasn't expired). Dr. Stein got a kick out of that strange coincidence, and asked I try it for a week. Good news is I had a week's supply on hand. And I am super happy to report that I had no side effects (a little drowsy the first two days, but that could have been due to little kiddos in my bed at night). And all of my nausea was gone. My heartburn was better, and I only had one mildly "iffy" day all week. Granted, I still haven't reintroduced any new foods yet. But it's a start! Dr. Stein approved it, and wants me to take 10mg 3x a day. I ordered like 300 pills on discount from Australia. The idea is that this drug will help the cleansing waves of my GI tract, discouraging any bacteria from entering the small intestines. This week without it my heartburn returned full force. In a few days, I am sure the nausea will be back too (they tend to go hand-in-hand). So I will be very happy when my shipment arrives!

In the meantime, I am going to see a highly recommended naturopath (found HERE). She will do a little acupuncture, light-therapy, and prescribe a 6-month plan that will probably include dietary supplements/advice. So things are moving along. I am continuing to be proactive. And I am trying very hard to remain positive. I receive so many emails from people struggling with more intense versions of this illness. It breaks my heart to hear from mothers of young children battling depression on top of SIBO and IBS. My recommendation to you is to seek out a specialist. Whether is it a GI doc who focuses on SIBO (make a trip to LA if you need to), or an immunologist, or naturopath, it could be worth it. You might also try the low FODMAP diet. It could yield quick results.

And finally, in terms of staying positive, I do a lot to encourage that. I have my faith, and a supportive family. Those things are a tremendous support. But the days I get enough rest and fresh air (though that may sound small or simple) are the days that tend to be my good days. I am not expecting to suddenly beat this. If that happens, GREAT! But I would rather live with the reality that I could possibly be dealing with this for another 2 years or 20. I hope sincerely that I won't be dealing with it that long (or at least sending it into remission). But it's part of who I am right now. And the best thing I can do is listen to my body, and help give it what it needs. I have down days. Of course I do. But it doesn't make my day any better when I dissolve in a puddle of tears (though sometimes I do it just for good effect). I indulge in the things I can eat, and try not to focus on the things I can't. When things seem to come to a dead end, I try a different avenue. And when all else fails, I escape into a movie or book. It helps. There are lots of support forums on the internet for SIBO. I personally find them to be downers and generally avoid them. But some people love the community. So that is another recommendation. If you have specific questions, please feel free to email me. I try to answer as many as I can, but sometimes a big post like this is just better.

To good health! Or maybe least semi-stable health. Or at least the option of eating gluten/dairy-free cookies every now and then. :)

You guys should have seen the spell check on this post!

Happy Weekend!

2012-04-28T12:22:00.001-07:00

Maya learns a little bit about the nature of God (also known as good listening skills)

2012-04-25T20:40:00.000-07:00

I have this pretty good track record of finding things when I lose them. It hasn't always been that way. I've had my fair share of lost treasures. But I now have a little secret that is almost so simple that it's not really a secret at all. I say a prayer. I learned this trick after I met Wes. I was not sure it would work the first time. But when it did, I wanted to try it again! And I am serious when I tell you that every single time I pray to find something, I find it (with the exception of one really valuable personal item that is just gone for good). Sometimes I find whatever is lost in a day or week. But it's always a mini thrill ride when I do say a prayer and then immediately know where to look—bingo! Now I don't want to go jinxing anything, but I seriously challenge you to try it. There's a trick, though. You have to listen after you say the prayer. A very little voice (or sometimes a loud voice) will tell you where to find it. OK, so it's not a voice, per se, but more of a feeling. But when that feeling speaks, I listen. Even when it's something as seemingly silly as a doll:

This week Maya lost a doll. Not surprising, seeing as we have a gazillion toys, and they all go missing on a rotating basis. But this was no ordinary doll. This was JESSE. Jesse, the reward for all of Maya's potty training hard work. Jesse, who Maya had endlessly pined for. So after a week of missing Jesse, Maya was in tears. Tonight a lightbulb went off. I asked Finn and Maya to kneel down and say a prayer with me. Now it should be said that I am not likely to kneel down in the middle of what I am doing and just burst into prayer in front of an audience (actually, that has never happened). And I could tell by the look on Finn's face that he was a bit leery of my spontaneous heavenly entreaty. All the better. This was going to work. The kids came over, and knelt with me on the living room rug (giving me odd sideways glances). We folded our arms, and I helped Maya say her own little prayer (a feat in and of itself). But she was desperate, and complied. We asked for Heavenly Father to please help Maya find Jesse. Maya pulled out all the stops, ending in a tearful Amen. This was golden. Then I asked Finn what he thought. With wide eyes he said, "Heavenly Father tells me it's behind the couch!" (chuckle...so cute) Alas, not behind the couch. "Heavenly Father tells me it's in the car!" (oh great, treasure hunt ensues) Not in the car. "Under the bed!" And as the fruitless search continued, I admittedly began to worry. I sent out a well-meaning warning to the heavens that if this didn't work, all of my spiritual credibility as a mom would be down the drain. Then I heard it—or felt it—the still small voice. In the ballet bag. Of course! Maya had taken Jesse to show her dance teacher last week. And just like that we found Jesse. Call it what you will—process of elimination, chance. But Maya knew what had really happened. She was so overwhelmed with the magic of the moment that she said another prayer thanking Heavenly Father right then and there. I was kind of bowled over. This was clearly a 5 star moment! I felt all warm and fuzzy. I was instilling the lifelong lesson that God hears our prayers and loves us! This would be a defining moment in their little lives! These are mothering moments that mothers dream of! Then Maya turned to me and said with renewed tears, "We no find Jesse HAT!!" Then stormed off in anger, locking herself in the bathroom. Lesson learned.

Week in Review

2012-04-22T18:16:00.001-07:00

I've been suuuuuuper lazy about my good camera (much to Wes's chagrin, and I don't blame him). But I have been pretty good with Instagram! Thought I would post a quick recap of this past week via the marvels of modern technology.

Love Letters

2012-04-19T14:53:00.000-07:00

Dear UPS Man,
Thank you for coming to my house 3 separate times today. Sorry that it couldn't have been organized into one drop-off. But my newly potty-trained daughter has very specific taste in My Little Pony undies, and I could only find the 6 pack on Amazon...and then there was the Disney Princess undie pack...and finally the "piddle pad" for her carseat (you know—in the event of emergencies).

Dear House Appraiser,
I am SO SORRY that no one told me you were coming just as I was leaving for "fancy dance" with Moody Miss Maya. If I had known you were coming over with the landlord to take a tour of our little house, I would have removed the popsicle sticks, old raisins, crushed chips, legos, stickers, and dirty laundry from my floor. I hope you weren't too appalled (though I know you probably were).

Dear Literary Agent,
Thank you for requesting the full manuscript of the YA novel I worked on for over 2 years. Now I will be biting my nails to the bone for the next 4-6 weeks waiting for your (hopefully positive) response.

Dear Gatorade,
Thank you for Fierce Melon, by golly.

Dear Antibiotic,
Thank you for curing my throat of the awful inferno that has consumed it this week.

Dear Wes,
Thank you for making time to go to the Temple, so that you can bring some much-needed spirituality into our lives.

Dear Finn,
Thank you for taking the bribe and helping clean up the popsicle sticks, old raisins, crushed chips, legos, stickers, and dirty laundry from the floor. You're a good sport. Now go play Mario Kart.

Dear Maya,
Thank you for being the cutest Prima Ballerina I've ever seen (with the attitude to match). Your dance instructor says it will make for a great performer. Bless her.

Winner Winner, Chicken Dinner!

2012-04-16T13:13:00.004-07:00

Thanks to everyone who voted for my Minted designs! I am happy to report that Alphabet in the Round was one of the top winners (and "Sticks and Stones" received a jury selection). Both designs will be for sale on Minted very soon. So I will keep you posted.

I've been at it again—entering more challenges. I always appreciate a vote, because those with the highest scores are selected to be sold! The others have to just resign themselves to being Minted wannabes. :) So if you like any of my designs, and want to help get them onto the Minted site for sale, feel free to click on over. You can find all of my designs HERE (voting is currently open for the modern wall art, but I have also recently designed for bridal shower invites, baby showers, and corporate Christmas cards).

Not all of my designs were selected to be sold on Minted for the most recent challenge. But since I had such a positive response to some of those prints, I will be offering them in my own personal shop soon. I had so many sweet emails about my work—I really appreciate it, friends!!

Easter

2012-04-12T20:01:00.000-07:00

Hope everyone had a lovely Easter! We sure did. Evidence to follow:

Jelly beans! Our sweet neighbor Dolly.

Little Scoot

2012-03-30T16:04:00.000-07:00

Maya's the proud new owner of a princess scooter. She's pretty pleased!

2012-03-29T22:12:00.000-07:00

I've not been feeling 100%. Today I'm getting back into the swing of things after a routine procedure. Nothing much to report. Everything came back very normal (which is great but also a little baffling). So we will continue to look for causes and solutions. Until then, Easter is approaching, and I've been watching THESE videos, pondering, and praying.

Rainy Day Schedule

2012-03-17T17:18:00.001-07:00

Burbank weather is fickle. In January it might decide to be 85, and in March it's rainy and 55. The trees don't quite know what to make of it. We've got some losing their leaves just now, and others blossoming in full glory. I was amazed at the colors today as Finn and I were out seeking puddles. Hence the overload of botanical shots. But I just couldn't resist! It's so rarely dreary, gray, and vibrant all at the same time, that I had to capture it. And then there's Finn. What a little ham! He would throw in a pirate hook in every shot if I let him. Hope your weekend is unexpected in some way, too!

Maya turns 3

2012-03-11T23:21:00.003-07:00

I am a big fan of simple family birthdays before the "age of remembrance." And I have to say, my kids seem to have just as much fun at our simple celebrations, as they do when friends come (maybe even more so). Today it was Maya's turn, that wonderful, crazy little girl. The day dawned with Maya deciding to take full advantage of her sassiness and embrace the word "NO" as soon as she opened her little hazel eyes. She didn't come out of her Birthday funk until the presents appeared. But presents usually have a way of doing that, don't they? Happy Birthday my sweet girl! Who would I be without you?

Keeping it Real: Play Date Disclaimer

2012-03-08T19:36:00.002-07:00

There is something that all first-timers at my house should know: I am a cleaning freak (not to be confused with clean freak). As in I freak out if I have to clean when I am not in the mood to clean. Therefore you will likely encounter some less-than-savory situations at our house on any given occasion. Here is just a sampling of what you might expect to see when you come and stay for longer than a few minutes:

• Stickers on my floor. Your home may not be adorned with these well-trodden, impossible to remove accessories on every wood surface. But our home boasts many. We just can't seem to avoid it. You'll probably find a scattering of offenders dating back to 2010.

• The absolute LAST THING on my list of priorities is my baseboards. For shame, you say. But that's the truth of it. So just avert your eyes.

• I sweep things under my rug. I do. And every time I do it, I think of the age-old saying. But I still do it. Not often, and not big things. Mostly coins and smallish mysteries that refuse to get sucked up by the vacuum that I am too lazy to pick up. I'll get 'em when we move, right ladies? Right? ...

• I assure you my bathroom floor is clean. I know the original 1920's tile says otherwise. But believe me. It's clean. I spend an inordinate amount of time steam cleaning it in hopes that some of that grime will eventually lift off, to no avail. Good thing the tile's gray to begin with.

• I don't care if you see dishes in my sink. But for your benefit, I try to limit it to just a few, preferably used the same day, and only on one side of the sink. Hey, I like to make things nice for my guests.

• Pledge cleans WAY more things than you'd think. If you walk in the door and smell that signature lemony goodness, consider yourself special.

• I bribe my kids to clean up their toys. Then I vacuum. If they aren't taking the bribe that day, my vacuum job may be spotty at best (or the canister might just suck up the toys, depending on my mood).

• Please don't feel like you need to clean up before leaving. Unless it's minutes to bedtime, chances are my kids are going to trash the place again before I can bat an eye. So just get out while you can.

• If you are coming with your small and/or crawling baby, my floors will be mopped. (Come on. I'm not an idiot...)

• When all else fails in a play date, I am not above resorting to the TV. And I let my kids have treats when friends come over. Some of those will contain sugar. If you prefer to bring your own snacks, I will not be offended.

• Not all of my toys are made in the USA, all-wooden, educational wonder toys. You'll probably find some MacDonald's gems in the toy box. But we have a pretty good selection across the board. Did I mention we have three pirate ships? I think those alone make up for the dollar bin specials.

• If your child dumps an entire bag of goldfish on my floor and then crushes them with their tiny, sweaty toes, I am NOT going to freak out. I'll grab the dust buster and then we can go back to talking about summer sandals and preschool prices. But please don't play the "I am SO sorry" game. Honestly, my kids would probably just eat them up off the floor before I had a chance to clean them up, anyway.

• Maya will, in all likelihood, remove her pull-up and deposit it right in your path 5 seconds before you ring the doorbell, as she strips naked and commences a scream fest while she empties the laundry bin in search of a tutu. I may have just spent an hour or so prepping for the play date, cleaning up messes, and making snacks. But it will all be dashed by Maya's efforts to create the illusion of utter chaos. Just remember that it's her fault. Not mine. thankyouverymuch

I wish I was a wizard. Because then I would have a wand. And a house elf. Until then, I will continue to find animal crackers and decapitated Lego guys nesting in my couch. Now who wants to come play?!

Designs for a good cause

2012-02-29T11:14:00.003-07:00

Alphabet in the Round print

I recently submitted a few designs to a new Minted challenge. And the voting is now open! The great thing about these designs, is that the proceeds from the winners will go to benefit Every Mother Counts. I have submitted a few designs, and if you like what you see, I would really appreciate a vote! Find my all of my designs HERE. (Note: As soon as you rate a design, it takes you to another, random design. So if you feel like rating more than one of my designs, you'll need to go back to my designer page.) Many thanks! :)

Love at Home

2012-02-19T14:55:00.003-07:00

Finn and Maya have to share a lot of things in our little home—much to their chagrin. But then I see moments like these, and I think maybe they're doing alright. I'm so glad I have one of each to love the other.

Saving my sanity with french fries

2012-02-12T01:00:00.000-07:00

It's true that I am still eating very limited sugar, and adhering strictly (and successfully) to my insane diet. I really have no other alternative. (Although I have had a cold and spent all day Tuesday watching made-for-BBC Jane Austen movies, drinking chamomile tea, and eating dairy-free chocolate chips hoping they weren't doing more harm than good...) But on a normal, more lucid day, I am diligent because I know it's what my body currently requires of me. So I am obliging. The ONE THING that keeps me from dissolving on the floor in a pool of my own cake-craving madness is french fries. French fries. A normal person's food! But (of course there's a but), I have to make them myself. And I have them down to a science. Just see below for evidence.

These are not deep-fried (oven-baked instead), but taste just as good in my book. I use Simple Heinz ketchup because it is gluten-free and has the least sugar with all-natural ingredients. Here's my method:

Lyndsay's Oven Fries

• Rinse/scrub as many Idaho potatoes as your little heart desires (2-3 small to medium sized, in my case—I share with Maya)

• Peel first if you don't like the skins. Lately I am a fan of the skins!

• Cut into strips as thick as you like (hint: thinner = crispier + more authentic)

• Soak overnight in water. This is my secret step thanks to a recent tip. It may seem like it's not worth the wait. I assure you IT IS. The fries are SO crispy when soaked. If you're in a big hurry, at least rinse. But I am telling you. Soaking makes these fries!

• Rinse, drain, dry a little to remove excess water.

• Toss in a bowl with olive oil, garlic salt, and pepper.

• Bake on a parchment-paper-lined baking sheet at 400 degrees for 30-40 minutes until crispy and golden brown.

• Serve with ketchup or your favorite fry sauce. Enjoy!

I also like to crack a little extra sea salt over the whole lot for visual appeal before serving. Hey—it's the little things at this point. :)

Valentine's Day Freebies!

2012-02-11T01:00:00.000-07:00

Last year I sold these little numbers to raise money for a good cause. But this year they're all yours—for free! Just the right size for school. Simply click HERE to download.

Little Dancer

2012-02-09T13:50:00.000-07:00

Maya started ballet and tap today...

But not without her usual dose of sassafrass!

Valentine cheer this time of year

2012-02-08T23:48:00.001-07:00

Valentine's Day. Ugh. NOT my best holiday, I'll admit. But I wanted to try to get into the spirit just a bit. So I'll be handing out a few of these this year:

The jars were simple and fun to assemble. Here is how you do it:

Add ingredients in this order to a quart-sized, wide-mouthed glass jar

(you can get smooth jars for crafts if you prefer to add a sticker label):

1 1/3 cups flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp soda

1/4 tsp salt

wisk together, and pour in bottom of jar, packed down

Add to jar in this order:

1 cup oats, packed down

3/4 cup M&Ms

3/4 cup chocolate chips

1/2 cup brown sugar (packed)

1/2 cup white sugar

To bake the cookies, follow these instructions. They can be printed on a small label for the jar, as well, if you don't want to do a hang tag:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Stir dry ingredients in a large bowl and add:

½ cup butter almost melted

1 slightly beaten egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Combine thoroughly

Roll into 1 ½ inch balls

Bake for 10-15 minutes

I prefer not to have a sticky label on my jar because then I have to scrape it off. So I just printed out these small instructions, punched them out with a 2" round circle punch, and glued them on to 3" flower-punched cardstock to make my label. Add a little fabric and ribbon, and you're good to go!

Enjoy! I know Maya did...

Walls, adorned

2012-02-06T19:01:00.000-07:00

Despite demanding little ones, absentee husbands, and persistent colds, some part of me still asks to be a graphic designer. And I am definitely dedicated to adorning walls with beautiful things. So I stocked my shop. It includes lots of cheery and colorful new designs, some additions you might recognize, and it now even boasts a few prints perfect for Valentine's Day. So if your walls are begging for a little love, click on over and check out my shop, Sprig and Sprocket, for fresh and fun designs:

State of the Union

2012-02-05T14:25:00.002-07:00

Wes just got back from a week away on an IMAX shoot:

Normally a week without Wes isn't so bad, but this week was rough. The kids were really sick, and I have just started in on the first sniffles of what will become my illness, as well. But hopefully things are on the path to normal again. While I'm getting caught up, here are some shots (Instagram-style) from our rather uneventful week. I challenge you to create Neverland in your dining room. Super fun!

working through this pile o' books

bribing Maya to eat

ordered a little love letter

neverland

little sneak last night when Dada was occupied with Finn and video games

Hope everyone has a great week!