What to do, Poopsy-woo?

Q&A with Registered Dietitian Melissa Dobbins

noreply@blogger.com (poopsy) — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 00:56:00 +0000

Here is the Q&A from Melissa Dobbins, RD. I chose composite questions for the second and third, since they were the most popular questions submitted. Enjoy!

Question 1: "I leave one stick of butter on the counter in a closed butter dish so that it is spreadable. It only takes my family a few days to use on toast, popcorn and other foods. Is this safe?"

Answer: It is always recommended to keep perishable foods at the proper temperature (below 40 degrees or above 140 degrees) for food safety. For more information see: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Fact_Sheets/How_Temperatures_Affect_Food/index.asp Having said that, butter can be left unrefrigerated but it will go rancid much faster than if it were refrigerated. There are special containers (called butter keepers or “French butter keepers”) that you can purchase that holds butter and water that makes it possible to keep butter at room temperature for a longer time before it goes rancid.

Note from Sarah: I was actually going to mention butter bells if Melissa didn't. You can find them here: http://www.butterbell.com/

Question 2: The role of dairy in weight loss.

Answer: Enjoying three servings of low-fat or fat-free dairy foods each day in a reduced-calorie diet along with exercise can be a healthy part of a weight maintenance plan for adults. A significant and growing body of scientific research continues to strengthen the connection between dairy consumption and weight maintenance. The Dietary Guidelines also concluded that consuming milk and milk products is not associated with weight gain and therefore children and adults should not avoid these foods because of concerns about weight gain. It is very important to get three to four servings of nutrient rich dairy foods every day to help get the nutrients our bodies need. Together, milk, cheese and yogurt provide 9 essential nutrients including calcium, protein, potassium and vitamin D. This powerful package of nutrients helps nourish your whole body – not just your bones.

Question 3: The role of dairy in the diets of diabetics.

Answer: As a Certified Diabetes Educator, I’m often asked this question. The bottom line is that people with diabetes can eat any foods that people without diabetes can eat – they just need to pay more attention to portion sizes and amounts of carbohydrate so they can keep their blood sugar levels more stable. And, since people with diabetes are at increased risk for heart disease and stroke, it is recommended to follow a heart healthy diet. Therefore, I recommend choosing low-fat or fat-free milk and dairy products. One cup of milk or yogurt typically contains about the same amount of carbohydrate as one slice of bread or one half cup of pasta. People with diabetes should talk with a registered dietitian to find out how many carbohydrate servings they can have at each meal and snack. Including nutrient rich dairy foods in the diet is always a good choice because you’re getting calcium plus eight other essential nutrients your body needs.

Simply Fresh Prints Winner

noreply@blogger.com (poopsy) — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 00:52:00 +0000

Our winner is Autumn B. Thanks for entering!

Layette Set Winners!

noreply@blogger.com (poopsy) — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 02:06:00 +0000

The winners of the First Impressions Layette sets are:

Kimberly Ripley and Margaret Smith.

Congratulations ladies! We will get those out to you soon.

Wall Candy Arts - Nightly News

noreply@blogger.com (poopsy) — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 22:24:00 +0000

My eye is always caught by wall decals. As long as my husband is in school, we'll be renters. And as renters, I'm always on the lookout for a way to spice up the joint without permanent changes. We recently added the Wall Candy Arts "Nightly News" decals from All Modern Baby to Violet and Finn's room.

The decals are quite simply, peel and stick. They are removable, movable, and restickable. They include:

4 owls
4 branches
41 leaves
Over 50 glow in the dark stars
Glow in the dark moon

The kids were thrilled with the change, and actually successfully participated in the redecoration. I'm looking forward to 8:00 darkness, so we can better enjoy the glowy capabilities of the moon and stars.

Giveaway - Simply Fresh Prints

noreply@blogger.com (poopsy) — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:16:00 +0000

Jordan Elyse is a photographer and graphic designer who has combined her passions to create Simply Fresh Prints. She offers fresh and modern birth announcements, invitations, and thank you cards, and retouches your photographs, combining them into a personalized and enchanting result.

Jordan is offering 2 of our readers their choice of either Simply Fresh Prints' gift stickers, or return address labels. I'm partial to the squiggly sheep, but I suppose it's up to the winners.

For your entry, just visit Simply Fresh Prints, browse, and let me know your favorite design in the entry form. If you're keen on extra entries, you may tweet, facebook, blog, link, sky write, mime, Morse code. Just let me in on your extra efforts in the comments section. Best of luck!

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Oh, the places we'd go.

noreply@blogger.com (poopsy) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:41:00 +0000

Madsen Cycles is giving away 2 cargo bicycles on July 15th. Get thee over there, bloggers and link up! Click the bike up there. See the pretty blue bike? Click.

Giveaway - Six Piece Layette Set

noreply@blogger.com (poopsy) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:50:00 +0000

We're giving away a 6 piece First Impressions layette set from Macy's.

Six Piece Layette Set:
Available in sizes for preemies, 0-3 months, 3-6 months or 6-9 months
Includes 1 coverall, 2 bodysuits, 1 pant, 1 cap and 1 bib
Available in assorted colors and patterns: yellow, khaki and teal
100% cotton, machine washable
Sold in store and online as an everyday value, regular price $19.98 per set

Important: The size and colors (gender neutral) in the giveaway will be random. So best to get this for a new baby, or baby not yet born. Good Luck!

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Wing It

noreply@blogger.com (poopsy) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:20:00 +0000

As I'm a miserable follower of directions. In everything from cooking to sewing, I tend to wing it. I've made a few wing it items lately, to varying degrees of success. I adore these wing-it-pants. I made them by pinning a pair of pants that fits to the fabric and cutting around them, leaving extra room for seam allowances. I needed to leave much more belly room in these, so they'll only fit for a few weeks. Bummer, but I lived and learned. There may even be enough room for me to cut off the waistband and move it down, thus fixing the problem entirely. I'll probably wing that too.

Early Harvest

noreply@blogger.com (poopsy) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 23:06:00 +0000

Thinning carrots and beets might as well be the bountiful harvest,
for all the excitement it brings.

Winner of the MDC giveaway!

noreply@blogger.com (poopsy) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 20:11:00 +0000

...was Mary M, whose question was:

"I leave one stick of butter on the counter in a closed butter dish so that it is spreadable. It only takes my family a few days to use on toast, popcorn and other foods. Is this safe?"

I will submit your questions, and post the answers ASAP. Thanks for entering!

Happy Father's Day

noreply@blogger.com (poopsy) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 03:59:00 +0000

hoping it was filled with manly bonding....

Science Chicago

noreply@blogger.com (poopsy) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0000

There are 3 months left to take advantage of Science Chicago, an assortment of exciting science events and activities for all ages. There are opportunities for Saturday excursions examining everything from fungi, to sound engineering, to cosmetics manufacturing. There are also discussions on a variety of relevant topics with scientists who are leaders in their fields. And don't miss out on the LabFest! nearest you. LabFest! is a series of science festivals held in local parks, libraries, and other locations for the rest of the summer. Each festival offers its own assortment of activities, with something for each age group. (My own personal favorite: The opportunity to use the police software FACES to make your very own suspect sketch!) I'm marking the Morton Grove LabFest! on my calendar.

How to gauge the quality of your day:

noreply@blogger.com (poopsy) — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 22:45:00 +0000

The Blessing

noreply@blogger.com (poopsy) — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 23:24:00 +0000

There is little more satisfying than watching your children shovel in salad grown from a seed in your garden. In an effort to be mindful of our food, and where it comes from, we have taken up a "blessing". It is intended to go:

Blessings on the blossom,
Blessings on the fruit,
Blessings on the stems and leaves,
Blessings on the root.

Here is Finn's rendition:

Untitled from Sarah Jensen on Vimeo.

Why buy the cow...

noreply@blogger.com (poopsy) — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 19:10:00 +0000

...when the Midwest Dairy Council will give you the milk for free?

In celebration of National Dairy Month, the Midwest Dairy Council has put together a prize package including a reusable shopping bag (I have 2 of them myself. They're enormous and flat bottomed, and I love them), a jump rope, recipe booklets, a magnetic fridge pad, and 10 VIP coupons good for a free gallon of Dean Foods milk. The winner will also have a submitted question answered by Registered Dietitian, Melissa Dobbins. 2 runners-up will also have the chance to have their questions answered. Fill out the form below, and best of luck. The contest will run until noon Sunday, June 21.

For dairy facts, shopping tips, recipes, and more visit Dairy Makes Sense.

Mary Poppins

noreply@blogger.com (poopsy) — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 00:11:00 +0000

It was a toss up as to whether or not Violet would be able to sit through and enjoy a full length theater production. The first act was a little rough, but we plied her with popcorn during the second, and that went much more smoothly. She doesn't talk much about her experience, though she does talk a lot about Mary Poppins, and listen to the soundtrack. In true Violet form, she seemed to be more interested in the orchestra. I still vividly remember going to see Into The Woods as a child. Though much of the humor was over my head, the experience stands out amidst an otherwise hazy memory bank. I'm stingy with my standing ovations, but Bert (Gavin Lee) made me through my cautionary applause to the wind. If you haven't been to see the US tour of Mary Poppins, take the opportunity. It is still in Chicago, running through July 12th.

Summer Afternoon

noreply@blogger.com (poopsy) — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 23:25:00 +0000

My body is manufacturing Vitamin D at a delightful rate.
May you drink from a hose today.

Summer afternoon - Summer afternoon...
the two most beautiful words in the English language.
~Henry James (1843 - 1916)

1 weekend a month, 2 weeks a blah blah blah

noreply@blogger.com (poopsy) — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 00:11:00 +0000

2 weeks a year started on Saturday. The National Guard has whisked Conor away to some exotic locale (Arkansas). The sad thing is, for Conor, this is kind of a vacation. No school. No 4 am shifts at Starbucks.

I'm exploring the quirky thing that happens when Conor goes away. I seem to get productive. We go to the park, and picnic outside. I'm on top of every bill. I'm juicing, and salad making, and baking. So why is it that I'm a little more of a lazy schlub when Conor is around? And "around" is a term I'm using loosely. He does work full time, go to school full time, have the National Guard, and just for good measure tutors a fellow in math. It really isn't all that different than now. He comes home to sleep. It certainly isn't like he's the bad influence in the relationship. He is not. I am.

I suppose I just come to the conclusion that no break will be forthcoming, so I'd better just plow through and get everything done. And I'm doing pretty well. I've had my frustrations. Like the 30 seconds yesterday during which one of the four of us in this house (me, V, F, or the dog) pooped on the floor, followed seconds later by a clogged toilet, punctuated by the string that raises the blinds snapping. I braved the grocery store with both children in tow. For those of you who do that every week, I salute you, but I generally consider grocery shopping my opportunity for alone time. I bought 4 apples. Well not just 4 apples. I bought other things. But 3 of the apples mysteriously were missing portions by the time I was done cooking dinner tonight. Aside from a few missteps, we are not only persevering, but thriving. No offense, dear.

Speaking of thriving. I'm apparently doing so well, I was ready to part with Finnegan's locks. Behold...he's a boy under there.

*Next week I'll be reviewing some snappy wall decals from All Modern Baby. I'm so thrilled. They carry some beautiful lines, including my favorite baby investment, the Tripp Trapp chair by Stokke, as well as brands like Maclaren, and Baby Bjorn (maker of the best wee potty chair that has held up so tremendously.) Look for it!

In Celebration of Sunshine

noreply@blogger.com (poopsy) — Tue, 05 May 2009 02:48:00 +0000

noreply@blogger.com (poopsy) — Tue, 05 May 2009 01:09:00 +0000

Fresh Air Fund

noreply@blogger.com (poopsy) — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 23:17:00 +0000

In 1877, the Reverend Willard Parsons, minister of a small rural parish in Sherman, Pennsylvania, asked members of his congregation to provide country vacations as volunteer host families for children from New York City tenements. This was the beginning of The Fresh Air Fund tradition. By 1884, Reverend Parsons was writing about The Fund for New York’s Herald Tribune, and the number of children served grew. In 2008, close to 10,000 New York City children experienced the joys of summertime in Friendly Towns and at five Fund camps in upstate New York.

The Fresh Air fund is still looking for hosts in the Northeast. If you have a little room for a little kid, and a little fresh air, please look into being a host family at http://www.freshair.org/

A celebratory heart shaked cake, having nothing to do with the fact I failed to make one for Valentine's Day and am carrying guilt.

noreply@blogger.com (poopsy) — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 00:27:00 +0000

Just a grand way to celebrate the completion of a nasty tummy bug. And no, the preemptive vomit sniffer, didn't fail me. We all had about 24 hours notice before the festivities began.

All-Purpose Colored Macaroni (well, don't EAT it like that...other purposes are fine),

noreply@blogger.com (poopsy) — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 21:15:00 +0000

I have a deep abiding affinity for macaroni art. The in-laws gave us a metric ton of macaroni, which tickled me down to my very toes. So here goes my first experience with dyeing macaroni:

1) Ziplock bags (or similar more environmentally sound containers). One bag for each color you're planning to make. I went for your basic Roy G Bv (remember when the Biv had an I? What happened to the whole Indigo/Violet business? Did it go the way of Pluto? What's become of my childhood mnemonic devices? No Roy G Biv, no My Very Educated Mother Just Sent Us Nine Pickles.)

2) Rubbing Alcohol

3) Food Coloring

4) MAC-aroni. Or Wagon Wheels...those are fun too.

Pour about ooooh....say a scant 1/4 cup or a little less (I'm not much of a measurer) of alcohol into each ziploc. (Should I say resealable storage bag? Is this a trademark issue?)

Then add your food coloring (I'd say 5 drops at a minimum) in your chosen colors and combinations to each bag.

Add 1/2 cup macaroni to each bag. Or more. Who am I to put a limit on your macaroni business?

Squish about.

I let them soak about 5 minutes, swishing them around periodically.

I then drained each batch with a wire mesh strainer, and blotted it with paper towels and placed it in little patches on my most disgusting cookie sheets.

I dried mine in the oven by warming it up to it's lowest temp (170 on mine), and then turning it off and popping them in. Let us remember that rubbing alcohol is flammable (and inflammable, doncha love English?). So don't go setting the oven on fire by leaving it on. They dried quite easily and quickly, so the oven is definitely not necessary. I'm just not a patient creature.

And voila!

To be quite honest, the yellow macaroni is a bit redundant. It's a teensy bit more colorful than regular macaroni. And what appears to be black in the photos, I promise is much more purple in person.

Poopsy-who?

noreply@blogger.com (poopsy) — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 14:46:00 +0000

Hello, my poor neglected blog. (Pats on bloggy head)

Sadly, I have been incapacitated lately. I'll spare you the photo of my purple and green foot.

But more than the fact that my foot is keeping me from doing much that is bloggable, I seemed to find myself constantly taken out of the moment with the little voice in my head saying "take a picture so you can blog this later." And this displeases me.

I always swore I would never get to the point that I'd be mobile blogging from some delightfully kid saturated activity "took kids to park. having so much fun, l8er!". Beyond the fact, of course, that I really have no idea HOW to mobile blog, I can't help but think....how much fun could you possibly be having?

Now I realize there are the "play in the dirt" parents and the "I'll sit on this bench while YOU play in the dirt" parents, and that's fine (as long as they're not the Omigosh! Don't play in that DIRT!) parents. It's just a requirement I have for myself. I don't want to detach from the moment, and for me, that's what that voice does to me.

Also, I had some rigid ideas for this blog, and separated it from my personal blogs. This seems to have resulted in infrequency. So I'm pondering a little collaboration of my fractured bloggy life. And for no particular reason, I leave you with a happy small person.

Embroidery

noreply@blogger.com (poopsy) — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 15:19:00 +0000

With a fabric remnant and a blunt tapestry needle,

Violet undertakes her first embroidery project.