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January, 2013

  1. Pro-this, Pro-that

    January 31, 2013 by admin

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    The world’s a complicated place, and everyone has their own opinion about how it should work.  So how do we help our kiddoes to form their own independent world view?

    TR Mom and Dad attempt to teach our children to:

    • think critically
    • question authority
    • judge NO ONE based on their appearance or beliefs
    • form your own opinions based on your own experiences
    • explore
    • argue your conviction with as much respect and calmness as you can muster
    • allow yourself to be wrong and to admit when it happens
    • follow your bliss

     

    We think that many families can relate to these basic tenets.  We see plenty of examples in our day-to-day of one or more of the above being enacted.  But we are consistently surprised by judgment rearing up within the interactions we witness.

    We understand that not everyone will agree with the way we live our life.  Usually, we welcome debate on our opinions and beliefs as we find that it either solidifies our convictions, or forces us to question our stance.  Either way, we grow and learn from the experience.

    What we can’t tolerate is when an antagonist attempts to cast us as an evil doer, as naïve and misinformed, as a sinner, and/or as a victim.  Argue your point all you want.  Believe in whatever works best for your family.  But don’t degrade anyone, either overtly or covertly, that doesn’t follow your own personal tenets.

    It is extremely hypocritical to suggest that you have an open heart and mind if you then present your opinions while cutting your opposition down, or pigeonholing them with a label.  You can be proud of what you believe, of who you are, and of what you stand for, without belittling others.

    Our goal is for our children to become proud adults, who can calmly and kindly defend their own choices, and can allow themselves to learn from others.

     

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  2. Almond Joy

    January 29, 2013 by admin

    IMG_1497TR Mom has never had a good relationship with cow milk.  Though not officially diagnosed as lactose intolerant, cow milk has always done horrible things to her digestion.  TR Mom never consumes straight glasses of cow milk and avoids large quantities of it in other products to prevent gastrointestinal distress.

    As a step in our well discussed move to better health, we’ve been searching for alternatives to the cow milk we use in our coffee and recipes.  We were not thrilled with considering soy milk for a myriad of reasons, including concerns about the effects of consuming too much soy.  We didn’t really know where to turn for more alternatives to cow milk.  And then TR Dad discovered almond milk.

    You can store almond milk in your cupboard, unopened, for about 1 year.  It has a delightful taste and we easily add it to our coffee with no complaints.  You can even get chocolate almond milk!  The only drawback that we can see thus far is the price.  At around $2.40 for 32 ounces, it would be quite an investment to replace the gallons of cow milk consumed by the typical family with the equivalent amount of almond milk.   At the moment, only TR Mom and Dad are using almond milk.  Plum doesn’t drink cow milk unless in cereal or as a rare chocolate milk exception.  But Bluey still loves an ice cold glass of cow milk and we aren’t pushing him to make a change.

    We have yet to explore making our own almond milk, though it appears to be incredibly easy and is definitely on our to-do list.  We’ll let you know how that turns out!

    Category Groceries & Meal Planning | Tags: , | 1 Comment

  3. Backroad Bonus: Steve’s Pizza Palace: Platteville, WI

    January 27, 2013 by admin

    IMG_1464We love discovering local restaurants when on the road.  When you have small kids, it is very easy to default to a known and trusted favorite – like Culvers or Subway.  Those restaurants are prevalent, consistent, and relatively cheap.  But there is no culinary experience to be had, no adventure, and no memory to be made by sticking to the same old thing.

    Recently, we made a trip to Dubuque, Iowa to visit the National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium.  Since we had a little extra fun money for this trip, we decided we’d eat out for lunch.  We did a quick internet search to see what sort of restaurants were along our route.  Sure enough, we found plenty of Culver’s, Subways, and McDonalds.  Although we took note of their locations, we weren’t interested in eating at those establishments, not as a first choice anyway.  We decided to head into the town of Platteville to see what they had to offer on their main street.  Since they have a small Co-Op and a university, we felt confident that we’d find something to eat.

    As we walked down Main Street, we were happy to stumble upon Steve’s Pizza Palace.  Situated in a 2 story historic building, this very large restaurant had a ton of atmosphere (walk around and see if you can find the boat).  A quick glance at their menu assured us that everyone would have plenty of meal choices.  We decided to give it a try.

    Our kids wanted spaghetti with marinara.  Oddly enough, there was no kid’s menu, or items on the regular menu, identified as a child-friendly choice.  We thought we were stuck with an adult portion of $8.95 pasta with red sauce.  But TR Mom thought to ask if there was any way to get a smaller size.  Our knowledgeable waiter quickly pointed out that he could do a kid’s portion and wouldn’t charge extra for their drinks.  Excellent!  TR Mom and Dad both chose a Veggie Pita.  Again, our waiter helped by pointing out that the pita only came with tomato, onion, and sauce.  He recommended we order additional veggies for it and we followed that advice.  The kids wanted French fries, and again, our sharp waiter suggested we add them to our adult sandwiches to save money.  Sold!

    Our food came out quickly.  The portions were HUGE and quite tasty.  The pita bread on our sandwiches was fantastic and our kids loved the breadsticks.  The french fries were tremendous!  Our only complaint was that the marinara sauce was a bit heavy on the pepper and that spiciness turned off our Bluey.

    We thoroughly enjoyed our meals and our exceptional service at Steve’s Pizza Palace.  Our kids had a great time and we know we’ll be back soon!

     

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  4. Children’s Book Illustrators You Will Love

    January 25, 2013 by admin

    By Brenda Winter Hansen

    When my babies were toddlers, I spent a LOT of time in the picture book section of every library and bookstore I came across. While consuming between 5 and 500 picture books a day, I realized the world is filled with super cool creative artists who are probably having a lot of fun making kids happy. Of course, there are oodles of illustrators who we adore, but a few of our household favorites are brilliant stand-outs that I have to share, just in case you don’t know them already. Make sure you take a peek at their websites, which are gorgeous works of art in themselves.

    PaschkisJulie Paschkis has a bold style and a taste for contrasts. Her images catch you and draw you in for a closer look. She has a knack for drawing on historical and cultural context when creating illustrations that always deepen the experience of the story itself. Yellow Elephant: a Bright Beastiary, is a great example of how lush her work is. Every time we pour over the lovely poetry of the book, we see new details in her images. http://www.juliepaschkis.com/

    The first time I read The Incredible Book Eating Boy aloud to my daughter, she insisted I read it again immediately. Handwritten text, collage, and cheeky humor are standards of Oliver Jeffers’s singular style which is as refreshing as it is endearing for kids and adults alike. His images are simple in presentation and rich in subtext, captivating the reader with the promise of a mystery to be solved. http://www.oliverjeffers.com Jeffers

    SweetWith close to a hundred children’s books to her credit, Melissa Sweet is a living national treasury and her work is not to be missed. Her colors are pungent and magically luminous from within. In her hands, objects and creatures come alive on the page. She conveys a sense of wonder that children embody, but we older folk may lose on occasion. You can’t go wrong with any of her books, but I highly recommend the Life on Earth matching game (memory) illustrated by Melissa. I love playing with my daughter, just so I can look at the cards! http://melissasweet.net/

    Dan Santat creates impeccable illustrations that I can’t get out of my head, and I love it. Whether it’s a picture book (Oh No!) or a graphic novel (Sidekicks), his images take you on an adventurous thrill ride that you want to relive over and over again. The humor Dan brings to the page elicits guffaws from the kids, and the tidbits he stashes for the adults are brilliant (Bawk & Roll). Young artists in the making will love his website which is chock full of his finished art, sketches, and doodles. http://www.dantat.comSantat

     

     

    Category Advice & Reviews | Tags: ,, | Comments Off on Children’s Book Illustrators You Will Love

  5. Suddenly, I Hear A Symphony

    January 23, 2013 by admin

    IMG_1476Our Plum took up violin at school this year.  She is incredibly interested in music but doesn’t have a particular focus at the moment.  She had violin lessons when younger, then singing, then guitar, and now she’s back to violin.  We love being able to offer her opportunities to experience all genres of music.  Recently, we’ve begun trying to locate live music events to attend that are age appropriate.

    The Madison Symphony Orchestra is one of the only symphonies in the nation to open up rehearsal sessions to the general public free of charge!  It is a tremendous educational opportunity for both young and old.  Since the rehearsal is free, there is no guilt for leaving early if you aren’t enjoying it, or if you have a child that just can’t sit still for too long.  We ended up leaving after the first hour, but not because we weren’t having a good time—it just got too late in the evening for our family.

    We had thought that the audience would be comprised mostly of high school and college music students.  Oddly enough, Plum was the only young person in attendance, surrounded by middle aged adults.  When the doors opened, ushers helped everyone find a seat in one reserved section of the theater.   We settled in while the musicians were warming up with scales, and tuning their instruments.  Then, with limited introduction, the conductor got down to business.  The orchestra played an entire piece,   heard feedback from the conductor’s assistant, and then replayed only certain sections.

    After the first piece, half the players were dismissed, and a smaller contingent stayed on to rehearse a Beethoven Piano Concerto with Gabriela Montero.  Ms. Montero played at President Obama’s first inauguration alongside Yo Yo Ma.  The Beethoven piece was definitely more rousing than the first piece and managed to really engage our Plum.  When we were ready to go, we waited for a break when the orchestra stopped playing, and then snuck out quietly.Overture-Center

    The Madison Symphony Orchestra’s Open Dress Rehearsal is a fantastic way to expose children to the symphony, to get a chance to see a live show that you might otherwise not be able to afford, or as an option for a great budget-friendly date night!  Check out their schedule and get on the reserved list!  Plum is already asking about when she can go again.

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  6. Take Off All Your Clothes

    January 21, 2013 by admin

    We have ever-growing kids at the TR home, so we are always looking for ways to keep clothing costs from spiraling out of control.

    Some of our techniques:

    • Thrift Stores:  Great for all ages and styles!  A trip to the thrift store is as much an adventure as a shopping trip.  You never know what you’ll find out there.
    • Coupons: For Clothes? YES!!  Old Navy, Boston Store, Famous Footwear—all have coupons either on-line, or in the paper.  You may be surprised to note that evenIMG_1467 some Thrift Stores offer coupons or frequent shopper discount programs.
    • Buying A Size Up:  If you have growing kids, don’t pass up the chance to grab discounted clothes that they’ll grow into later.  We have a box in the basement to put things that we expect will fit the kiddoes in the future.  And remember to save those sibling hand-me-downs!
    • Avoid Impulse Shopping:  You’ll overpay, or end up with clothes you won’t wear, or you’ll have clothing that fits poorly.
    • Watch For Sales:  Especially Target post-holiday sales!  And Old Navy!  We have picked up everything from shirts, to socks, to shoes during post holiday sales.
    • Recycle:  Our clothes tend to move from Work attire, to Everyday clothing, to Project/ Sleep Clothes, to Sewing Projects/ Dress Up Play scraps.  By the time something actually gets thrown away, we have definitely gotten our money’s worth.
    • Repurpose:  Worn out knees in those favorite pants? Maybe now you have a new pair of shorts?
    • Vegan clothing:  Payless and Target both have many affordable options for vegan shoes, belts, and purses!

     

    We’d love to hear how you control your clothing costs!

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  7. Top 5 TR Recommendations for Young (Birth-8) Kids Books and Tween (8-12) Books

    January 19, 2013 by admin

    Of course, we could list countless books that our family enjoys reading.  But here is a small group of our faves.

    Tip:  Although we’ve noted the books are available on Amazon, we’ve found most of these at book sales and garage sales, so keep your eyes open.51vzlGr0LVL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA300_SH20_OU01_

    Young Kids  (Birth to 8 Years Old)

    1. Bread and Jam for Frances –by Russell and Lillian Hoban.  Frances, a young badger, learns what happens when you refuse to try new food and instead eat only your favorite thing, day after day, for all 3 meals.  Frances is wonderful role model and we greatly enjoy all of her adventures.
    2. Alfie Gets in First by Shirley Hughes.  Alfie is growing up and experiencing the thrill of independence.  This simple but delightful story shows how the neighborhood comes together to figure out how to open a locked front door.  Alfie is trapped inside his house and the rest of his family is stuck on the stoop
    3. A Morning in Maine by Robert McCloskey.  Wonderful pictures accompany a charming story of a young girl’s first loose tooth.  You may remember the main character, Sal, from another highly recommended story – Blueberries for Sal.
    4. Ramona Quimby, Age 8 by Beverly Cleary.  Ramona is a fantastic role model.  She is every bit an 8 year old struggling to find her place in the world and within her family.  You can’t help but get drawn into her day-to-day experiences.
    5. Nothing Good Every Happens On My Block by Ellen Raskin.  A young boy says he’s bored.  He is so busy complaining about being bored that he misses the life happening on his street.  Enjoy your search for the witch!51pMRDTly-L._SL500_AA300_

     

    Tween (8 to 12 Years Old)

    1. Are you there, God?  It’s Me, Margaret  by Judy Blume.  This book poignantly explores the coming of age of Margaret.  Judy Blume is an incredibly honest writer that has a magnificent ability to translate true experiences of life onto the pages of a book.
    2. Into The Wild:Warriors by Erin Hunter.  In the first book of this mega-series, a housecat leaves home to test his mettle with a clan of wild cats in the woods.  Our cat-loving, Plum, has read most of the twenty some books of the Warriors series.  ‘Nuff said.
    3. The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien.  A classic.  Action, adventure, keeping your promises-  all while doing what’s right!  And setting up the epic Lord of the Rings.
    4. Another Fine Myth by Robert Asprin.  Who doesn’t like puns mixed with adventure?
    5. City of Ember by Jeanne Du Prau.  Two smart young people solve the problems of their city, while unearthing corruption and learning secrets lost in history.  The first of a four book series.

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  8. Takes A Little Time

    January 17, 2013 by admin

    Part of our Continuing Series on Improving Health for Your Family

    As we’ve discussed, we believe great changes can be made by taking a series of small steps in the right direction.   We’ve been practicing this method at the TR house for some time.  We thought that we’d share some of our results with you.IMG_1421

    We have made some radical, and some minor, changes for the better to our family’s food choices over the past three years:

    • Brown Rice:  Just as easy to make as white rice but so much healthier for you!  Our kids love brown rice with Tamari and TR Mom takes brown rice and salsa into work for lunch almost every day.
    • Homemade Gnocci:  An easy entry into exploring with homemade pastas.  Make a large batch and freeze a bunch for a later date.
    • Homemade Bread:  Nothing, absolutely nothing, beats fresh and warm homemade bread with real butter. And have you read a label from manufactured bread lately?  Why not make it yourself and skip all those chemicals and additives?
    • High Fructose Corn Syrup:  You don’t need it.  It isn’t good for you.  It hides in all sorts of food, so read your labels!
    • Homemade Hummus:  Super easy to make and so much cheaper than those little refrigerated containers of prepared hummus.
    • Homemade Refritos:  Again, super easy and cheap.  And you control the ingredients as well as avoid BPA in the canned offerings on the shelves.
    • Homemade Marinara:  Not as much of a cost savings.  But again, you get ultimate control of the ingredients and you will definitely taste the difference!
    • Homemade Pesto:  Fresh is so much tastier and healthier!

     

    All of the above items are in addition to the positive shifts we made much earlier, like making our own applesauce and avoiding MSG in foods.  At first, choosing to pursue homemade alternatives can seem overwhelming.  But we can’t stress enough how simple it is once you get into the swing of things!  We found that a good food processor is key to easing into the transition.IMG_0874

    What will we change next?  We’ll keep you posted with our progress.  And we’ll be sharing our recipes for delicious dips, pastas, and whole grain meals!

    Category Rambler Ramblings | Tags: ,,, | 3 Comments

  9. Coming Out On School Choice

    January 15, 2013 by admin

    Once Bluey turns 5 years old, we’ll need to get the ball rolling on formally announcing to the State that we are choosing to homeschool our son.  We felt that until that time arrived, our plans were only relevant to our TR Family.  Thus far, we have kept this choice very quiet.

    IMG_1221Our Bluey will be homeschooled.  There are no significant developmental impetuses that bought about this decision.  Bluey is very much a typical young boy even though TR Mom and Dad feel that he is extraordinarily gifted.  Our girls are within the public school system and we have no intention of withdrawing them.

    But for Bluey, homeschooling is the choice that seems to fit best.  He’s an adventurous learner!  Bluey enjoys discovering things with his family and going on explores to experience his world.  We are confident that he will get a great education.

    Why have we remained so guarded over our decision to homeschool Bluey?

    • Our Plum is very sensitive.  She will often attempt to prove that she is treated differently than her brother and her older sister.  She is trigger-quick to point out any exception to a family rule for a sibling.  Plum is also quite content to stay in her pajamas all day long and chat with her friends.  We felt that if we were to provide homeschooling, it would actually be a detriment to Plum’s growth.  She needs the structure, routine, and socialization of a public school environment.
    • It seemed weird to us to declare our intent prior to Bluey even being eligible for public school.  A lot of great plans turn to seed.  We didn’t want to set expectations for anyone that we couldn’t then meet.
    • Talking about homeschooling a 2 or 3 year old struck us a rather snooty intellectual conversation that would be more about us than our child.  Yes, TR Mom and Dad had conversations and planning sessions.  But no one else needed to be in on it at that point.
    • A majority of our relatives and friends still view homeschooling as that “hippy choice that results in bizarre kids with no social skills,” or as “a choice by religious zealots that don’t believe in dinosaurs,” or finally as “a choice that will ultimately fail the child as no parent has a trained teacher’s skill set in all grade levels.”

     

    Honestly, we would have continued to keep our homeschooling choice on the hush but for our experience at Bluey’s recent annual doctor visit.  Our pediatrician started asking all sorts of questions about pre-k and suggesting to Bluey that he would be going to school next year.  We realized it was time to be vocal and honest so that no one gets the impression that we are hiding our choice because we are ashamed about it or because there is something wrong with homeschooling.

    Bluey needs to know the path that he will be on, and we need to be confident advocates and guides for that path.

    We are beyond excited to begin this journey with our son.  In fact, in subtle ways, we’ve been on this path for as long as we’ve been parents.  We take every opportunity to enhance our children’s education in large and small ways.  And we will continue to do so with all of our kids (and future grandkids) for as long as they’ll tolerate us.

    Tip:  Check out our ThriftyRambler Pinterest boards for lots of great homeschooling ideas.

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  10. Everybody Makes Mistakes, Everybody Has Those Days

    January 13, 2013 by admin

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    We washed off the front of our TV stand today because it was covered in pencil and marker.  Many parents we know, and parents we were raised by, would FREAK about pencil marks and such on the furniture, floors, or walls.   But we calmly washed it off, with a reminder to draw on paper, rather than the furniture.

    You know what? Kids make mistakes.  So do parents.  We try our best to remember this fact when we encounter an aggravating situation.  We don’t always succeed at remaining calm, cool and collected.  And neither do our our kiddoes.  But we all try our best.

    And when we get angry with each other, we do our best to apologize and to bring it back around.  This helps keep one rough moment from becoming an entirely Bad Day.  And it helps your kids know that adults aren’t perfect.  The important thing is to recognize your mistakes, own them, and to make amends when necessary.IMG_1430

    We take care to keep our priceless heirlooms out of our kids reach in order to avoid accidents.  And we try to remember that whether it’s letting a four year old hang breakable glass ornaments, or handing a vintage Star Wars toy over to be played with—sometimes things get busted.  Blowing your top about a broken object doesn’t un-break it.  Yelling about writing on the TV stand doesn’t make the furniture clean.

    And we also try to remember this:  we can always get new stuff.  But our kids are the only truly irreplaceable part of our home.   We recommend that you try to keep this in mind while sweeping up great-grandma’s 90 year-old china plate that just bit the dust.

    It’ll be OK.  Bring it around.  Hug your kids.  And have a great day.

    Category Parenting | Tags: , | 2 Comments

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