Traveling With Your Baby-Toddler-Child

suitcase ride

Don't be afraid to travel with your little one!  

We took our daughter on 7 roundtrip flights before her 2nd birthday.  We definitely learned a lot in the process, and were so glad we didn't miss those special moments with family and friends.  Here are some tips to help plan your fun low-stress family getaway.

Pick your travel times wisely

- Look for the fewest connections possible.  This will reduce your overall travel time and help avoid those long walks between terminals.

- Travel during awake daytime hours rather than aiming for overnight or nap times.  The likelihood your child will sleep while in a strange moving machine full of strangers is small (unless he's <6 month old).  Don't set yourself up for crankiness and exhaustion when your child fails to sleep .

- Try to avoid early morning or late night travel times which adds stress for whole family's schedule.

Choose the best seats on the plane

- Use SeatGuru.com to avoid crampy or noisy seats, or ones that don't recline.

- Choose window seat to give you best privacy (appreciated by nursing moms) and quiet when your child needs to relax.  Also great distraction/entertainment just looking out the window.

Save money by sharing a seat (<2 years old)

- This works best from newborn through early walking stage, and is toughest for active toddler or baby who can't rest in your lap.

- It helps to have two parents who can take turns holding child.

- Keep your car seat handy in case there's an open seat nearby for your child to use.  All airlines will accept car seats as gate-checked item, so just bring it to the gate with you and ask before you board if there happens to be an extra open seat.

Choose a kid-friendly hotel

- Look for recommendations on TripAdvisor.com, narrowing down to best "Family" hotels.

- If you can find a hotel with suite (separate bedroom), this goes a long way toward adding comfort for everyone, especially around nap/bedtime.

- Request a quiet room.

- Ask for a crib.  If you have a toddler ask for the dimensions to make sure it is big enough (some hotels only have small infant-sized cribs).

- Plan for extra bed for toddlers who are too big for crib.  See below 'in your hotel' section for advice on making it cozy.

- See if they offer roomservice and whether there are kid-friendly options on the menu (next best option would be restaurants very close by).

- Bathtub is great, but you can also improvise using the sink to clean infants and shower for toddlers.

- Swimming pool is a bonus.

Pack as light as possible

Here's what you will definitely NEED

- Diapers, wipes, bib, change of clothes on you at all times.

- Milk, water, snacks on travel day.  Use tupperware to compartmentalize food options.

- Pacifier if your baby uses one.

- New toys/books for entertainment.  Choose small, lightweight ones (i.e. paperback books).

- Comfort item such as blanket or plush toy for snuggling and (hopefully) napping.

- Nursing-friendly clothing and/or cover up

- Medications (Acetaminophen/Tylenol and Diphenhydramine/Benadryl are always good to carry just in case).

You MAY NEED these items

- Stroller versus baby carrier, especially if there will be lots of long-distance walking on your trip.  Consider borrowing/renting at your destination instead.

- Car seat if you will be driving (including taxi) at destination.  This is one thing that is much cheaper to bring than to rent from rental car company.  Consider buying a lightweight inexpensive seat for travel.  We chose this highly rated one from Walmart.com for $39.

You DONT NEED to pack these with you

- Crib.  Find a hotel that will provide you what  you need, borrow at your destination, or rent one (ex. TravelBabees.com, BabysAway.com, Baby-Equipment-Rental.com)

- Booster or other dining seat, use what's at the restaurant and improvise when in your room (parent's lap works great, or pillow on a chair with arms)

- Tons of books and toys.  Just a few will do.

- Daily vitamins/fluoride they can go without for several days with little consequence.

- Napkins, straws, tissues, plasticware.  These will be easy to find at any coffee shop, fast food place, mall, etc.

In Transit

- Wear your baby to free up your hands, such as Ergo or travel backpack. 

- Hang up a 'curtain' for privacy when nursing on plane (safety pin a small blanket between the seats)

- Make each distraction last as long as possible:

       1. Point and narrate what's going on around you, especially during take off and landing (window seat works great for this).

        2. Offer just 1 toy/book/activity at a time, saving the next for when that one is no longer entertaining.
        3. Take a walk up and down the aisles, practice saying "hi" to friendly faces and other kids.

        4. Bring out the more exciting options for last, such as fun apps on your phone (see my suggested iPhone Apps for Babies and iPhone Apps for Toddlers).

At your new destination

- Keep up your home routine as much as possible, especially waking, nap, and sleep times.  If you usually do bath and books before bed be prepared to continue this ritual.

- Set aside extra time for meals, keep snacks and water/milk on hand at all times.

- Bring entertainment (small toy or book) for downtimes, especially in restaurants where you usually will wait for your food.

- Ask waiter to bring out your food as soon as its ready, rather than trying to pace you.  This will help speed up the meal (2 hours is a long time to expect a little one to sit in a high chair).

In your hotel

- Set up dark corner/room of your hotel for sleep times, close curtains, hang a towel on side of crib that may be facing light source (be certain there is no risk of falling into crib or loops that could harm baby).

- Make a little sleep 'nest' for toddler in big bed, so it won't seem so huge.  We used extra pillows as a border and put familiar blankets, plush toys in middle.

little bed-within-a-bed for toddler

- Offer extra snuggling time and be prepared to break a few rules while traveling to help your child feel more secure and comfortable.

- Bring along soothing bedtime music (we use iPod with portable mini speaker)

Got Allergies?
- If your child has food allergies you will want to carry a card detailing this.  You will save  yourself energy having to shout out the specifics over noise of a crowded restaurant, and the kitchen staff find it very helpful to have the information passed to them.  We printed a few of our own and had them laminated.  Now we just pull it out and give to person taking our order.

Supplies we like:

Few crayons, a pen, and pad of paper.

 Some thin paperback books.


Bon Voyage!

iPhone Apps for Toddlers

As an update to my post about iPhone Apps for Babies, I have an expanded list of games our toddler loves to play with on the iPhone.  Comes in very handy for long plane rides or time in a waiting room, she will entertain herself with these for an hour at a time!  I know no other 'toy' that can accomplish that.

But first, some practical advice to prep those of you who are newbies to this.

Protect your phone contents
Assuming this phone belongs to you, not your toddler, you will want to have it back in the same shape.  Follow these simple tips to keep your settings safe before handing it over.
* Airplane mode- so there won't be any accidentally placed calls, texts, or emails.
* Restrict ability to install or delete apps, found in your general settings.

Two ways to let your toddler enjoy playing with your iPhone.
You may weight the pros and cons for either of these methods for introducing the iPhone apps to your child.
1. The One App at a Time method.  This is where you allow access to just one app by using a device to block the home button (see Toddler Proof iPhone post for practical suggestions).  Advantage is less fear about getting into places you don't want them to go (say you are expecting a call and so can't put in airplane mode).  Disadvantage is that your kid will bother you each time he wants to change the screen.

2. The Freestyle method.  In this case, you allow full access to your phone, no blocking of home button.  You start by teaching them to swipe your phone on, swipe to move screens, tap on their personal folder for games, and move through the steps to play them.  By far this is what your child will prefer, and you may be surprised at how quickly they learn to maneuver all the way from start to finish.  This method plays into their short attention spans, allowing freedom to select, start and stop games when they want.  This will also buy you more time from having to step in and help load up each new app for them.

Create a fun folder of apps 

Three ways to listen to the sound
1. Straight from the source.  Turn up the volume and let your little phone's speakers do their job.  This works great in most situations, even on an airplane.  I've never had any passenger complain about softly playing music or cute sound effects that come from the games.  (I'm sure they'd MUCH rather hear that than screaming!)

2. Headphones.  This is a great little set made just for kids, and has option of volume control so the sound can never get dangerously high.  We got this for our daughter but she refuses to keep it on- probably because she's used to using the phone without it.  If you start this way from the beginning your child may be more accepting.


3. Speaker.  We love this speaker and use it lots to play songs, especially when traveling.  The sound quality is really great, especially considering the small size.  Easy to charge by USB cable.  AYL Portable Mini Speaker System.


List of Recommended Toddler Apps (BEST ones listed first)
This is a list of apps not included in my iPhone Apps for Babies post (though she does still play with all of those, I thought I shouldn't repeat them here).  I selected only the ones our daughter selects frequently, and put them in an order of her favorites.

Earn Top Dollar From the Tooth Fairy

Everyone knows the tooth fairy wants to collect perfect teeth.  Kids leaving decayed teeth left under the pillow may find a few coins the next morning, but those leaving glistening white ones can earn as much as $5.  True story!

There are certainly other good reasons to take care of those baby teeth.
* Establish lifelong healthy habits early.
* Save money, time, and pain of having to undergo restorative procedures at the dentist (drill and fill, or even worse- pulling teeth, yikes!).
* Bacterial causing tooth decay linger in the mouth long after baby teeth have fallen away, creating the same problems for permanent teeth.
* A mouth full of dental decay left untreated is like letting an infection fester, risking spread to other parts of the body.

first visit to dentist at 12 months

Best ways to prevent cavities (in order of most to least effective):
1. More frequent fluoride.  This is the single most important item on the list as it strengthens teeth and makes them resistant to decay.
2. Less frequent sweets.  Best time for sweets is with meals.  Juice, even diluted ones, are worst for teeth.  If you're going to eat a bag of candy, do it all at one time and with a meal; same goes for glass of juice.
3. Regular check-ups.  Every 6 months to a dentist who will monitor teeth development closely and build a friendly relationship with your child so they don't fear going.
4. Brushing.  Twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.
5. Sealants.  This is done on molars when they start to appear around 6 years of age to seal the deep grooves that toothbrush bristles cannot reach.

You may be surprised to see brushing so far down on the list!

How do we make sure our children's smiles are healthy as can be?
Take good care of PARENT's teeth!  You're assuming I'm referring to modeling good behavior for your children.  Sure, that is helpful.  But what you may not know is that a parent with bad teeth can DIRECTLY be responsible for their young child's cavities.  That's because germs that cause cavities are not inherent in every mouth, they are CONTAGIOUS and are passed down from one generation to the next, or from a child's peers.  This means you can prevent spread of these bacteria by keeping your own in check, especially during those first few years when a child's immune system is more vulnerable to new bacteria.  More in this LA Times article.

Watch WHAT and WHEN your child eats.  It is important to not only avoid sticky sugary foods that are a breeding ground for tooth decay, but also to minimize how frequently these are indulged in.  Having a glass of juice at once is not nearly as bad as taking sips of it throughout the day which gives it more time to linger and cause problems.  Same rule applies to bottle of milk, which is why we recommend never leaving bottle in baby's crib.  It's best to avoid putting juice in bottle as well.

New Baby Shopping List

baby gear helps to get around

Friends often ask me for suggestions of what to buy when expecting a baby.  The options and selection of things out there can be overwhelming.  It feels nice to have a personal recommendation, even with the availability of all those reviews out there.  For that reason I've decided to put together my list of things I was so happy we had for our daughter's first year and beyond.


Shopping Resources.
You may want to consult these detailed descriptions/reviews before making your decision, especially for the more expensive purchase items.  More info about the online shopping experience can be found at my post I Love Shopping From Home.

1.  Baby Bargains book by Denise Fields.  Down to earth advice about what you need, how much to expect to spend, what brands have best reputation.

2.  Consumer Search.  Great online site with compilation of reviews from other sources.
3.  Amazon Baby Store Sign up for Amazon Mom then order baby related items by 'Subscribe and Save' to save tons of money, and have them shipped right to your door.  For example we would get Pampers Swaddlers diapers for less than 16 cents per diaper, includes delivery.

Nursery Basics
Crib- this one is beautiful, durable, safe, and grows with your baby into toddler bed, then becomes full size headboard.  Delta Canton 4-in-1 Convertible Crib.

New Egg-Free Brownie Recipe, 1st Attempt

(if you want to skip to the recipe, scroll to end of post)

In my quest for an awesomely delicious brownie recipe that contains NO egg, I have hit some hurdles, but also made some great progress.

I started with a recipe from this book, Bakin' Without Eggs by Rosemarie Emro.
This book was given to me as a present, and I am very very happy to have received it since I often have to cook without eggs due to food allergy in my family.  There are several very happy reviewers of this book on Amazon, so it seems like it will be a great resource.

I had high hopes for the "Heavenly Brownie" recipe, promising to make the perfect eggless brownie.  As I stirred together the strange mixture of ingredients (corn syrup? vinegar?  sour cream?), I couldn't help but give it a taste.  Mmm, quite yummy, so it felt like I was on the right track.

Sadly, the final product did NOT pan out.  I blame the short cook time of only 20 minutes, which left my 9x13 inch pan of brownie dough just that- still dough-y!  No good!  Though it has already completely cooled by the time I realized this, I next tried what is never been recommended, and put it back in the oven to salvage it.  Alas, all this did was turn the mixture into brownie bricks, totally glued to the pan, and pretty much inedible.  Sad sad story.

And yet I remain undeterred in my quest.  Maybe that recipe would have worked if I cooked it much longer to begin with (I'm guessing it needs somewhere around 40 minutes) and done a toothpick test before calling it done (something the book recipe makes no mention of doing).  Right now I'm not ready to trust this book again with our family's urgent chocolate cravings.  Instead, I rummaged around for another recipe.

I found a recipe for Brownie inside this vegan cookbook, Vegan Fusion World Cuisine by Mark Reinfeld.

I can only describe the book and its recipes as highly pretentious, which is a funny thing to be when you are a cookbook!  Seriously, take a look at some of these items listed as ingredients for the brownie recipe:  sucanat, spelt flour, arrowroot powder, kava kava, flax seeds... HUH?  What the heck are those and what are they doing in a simple dessert recipe?  Not only that, but items that are actually familiar are twisted around so to make you feel like what you have isn't good enough, they require, "sea salt" instead of salt, "filtered water" instead of water, "vanilla extract, alcohol-free" instead of vanilla extract.  Come on!  Gimme something I can work with here!

Anyway, after some online searches for what the ingredients actually mean, I decided to use the recipe as a rough guide, substituting what I actually have in my pantry and adding things found in a normal brownie recipe.


So now, I will introduce you to my first attempt at my own personal recipe, made up by me, tried and eaten by our family, with happily delicious results!

mmm, brownie

---

Dora's NO EGG Brownie Recipe - first attempt

Grease 8x8 baking pan.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix together:
1/2 stick melted butter
3/4 cup whole milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup sugar

Gradually add in dry ingredients which have previously been mixed in separate bowl:
1 cup flour (I use whole wheat)
3/4 teaspoon corn starch
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
pinch of salt

Fold in 3/4 cup chocolate chips.  Pour batter into pan.  Bake about 30-35minutes, until toothpick comes out clean.

---

I call this first attempt because although they turned out great, I feel there is room for improvement.  My family agrees to serve as test tasters for as many future versions as I'd like to create, so of couse I must oblige.  If I had to criticize this batch I would say that it could be more fudgy, more chocolatey, and less cake-like.  I will be sure to keep you posted on my progress, but even if I don't come up with a better recipe, this one here is a crowd pleasing keeper!

Sleep Baby Sleep

Trouble getting sleep?  Baby cries whenever you put her in bed and leave the room?  Hoping to find a way to teach your infant to sleep without all the fuss?

First off, know that this is but one of the MANY new skills that your child is working on, and that he will learn this in his own time.  And even when he does learn to go to sleep on his own, there will be times needing extra help again (when vacationing, feeling sick, uncomfortable from teething, working on a new skill such as walking, experiencing separation anxiety, etc).

This may be the #1 most common "problem" for parents in the US, and a source for tons of books and advice for how to "fix" it.  I believe the true source for the disconnect is that our lifestyle is simply not compatible with a baby's natural instincts, which is to be close to mom and dad at ALL times.  That doesn't mean that co-sleeping or wearing the baby is the only answer (though it can be done safely-- parents should be aware that somewhere down the line they will want to have their own space, and the child will need to go through the same steps to get there).


Much of this is age dependent.  Newborns through about 3 months of age can't be expected to follow any kind of pattern, and all cries should be attended to.  This is the time for bonding, feeling safe and secure, needs being met.  In these early months, the chance your baby needs food or diaper-change at any given hour are really high, so you may as well be close at hand


At around 4-5 months of age is when I recommend starting a true bedtime (and nap time) routine for baby in his own crib and room.  This is about the earliest he can be expected to learn the patterns and feel safe without you immediately there.  
Remember, your child's desire to be next to you even in sleep is completely NATURAL, and actually a very good survival instinct!


Helping baby learn to sleep on her own 


- Anticipate sleepy times, don't let baby get overtired.  The stress from missing nap or bedtimes may lead to restlessness.  Look for classic signs like yawning, rubbing eyes, and crankiness.


- Create and stick to a pre-sleeping routine that follows a predictable schedule and pattern.  For example 6pm dinner, 6:30pm bath, 7pm books, 7:30pm soft music and cuddles before laying down to sleep at 8pm.


- Make sure baby's basic needs are taken care of ahead of time (diaper changed, well fed, burped).


- Keep lights dim, voices and activity mellow for about 30 minutes before naps and 1 hour before bedtime.

Why Portland is the BEST

Is Portland the right city for you?

Portlandia

I love Portland.  It's by far my favorite city to live, play, work, and raise a family.  I can say from personal experience of having lived in many other cities on both coasts and in between that this is the best place to be.


I know many people who are seriously considering relocating to the Pacific Northwest.  They are drawn for a variety of reasons, and here are just a few:  

Stuffed Peppers with Moroccan flavors

Wow, I served my family a vegan meal for dinner tonight!
(Note-- we're not even vegetarian)

As you may expect, it was super healthy, packed with nutrients, and completely balanced.  However, we were surprised at how filling and satisfying it was.

Living in Portland means high exposure to lots of alternative types of dining experiences, including vegetarian/vegan.  We used to live near the Blossoming Lotus, which is a well known completely vegan restaurant.  We first stopped by on a whim on one of our too-lazy-to-cook evenings, and got hooked on the complex interplay of textures, flavors, and fresh produce.

It seems the lack of meat as a protein is a great incentive to get creative with your ingredients.  Usually the meat-free protein comes from beans, tofu (soybean), seitan (wheat gluten), or nuts.  There is a much shorter prep time, and no worries about the dangers of being undercooked.

What I made tonight, and completely made up as I went, was stuffed peppers with a twist.  While definitely a savory dish, the fruit and the cinnamon give it a sweet taste as well.

See recipe below if you want to try it for yourself, it's too delicious not to share!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Moroccan Inspired Stuffed Peppers

Sign Language for Babies

Teach your baby to sign.  You'll be so glad you did!

"more" 

"apple"

If there's one thing I recommend parents teach their infants besides how to eat, sleep, and snuggle with you, it's this.  Sign language is the best form of communication for babies and toddlers who aren't fully verbal yet, and it makes them smarter too!

Babies are more clever than you might think.  In the first year of life they go from crying anxiously for their every need to toddlers who are anticipating the day and interacting with others.  During this time their brains are primed for soaking up knowledge about this strange and marvelous new world.

This is the best time to learn one more super valuable new skill.  There are so many great benefits to be gained from this small investment.  Caregivers can easily work the signs into their ongoing interactions with their little ones, and use them in conjunction (as opposed to in place of) with words.

See this wonderful example of signing between mom and child.

Here's a simple breakdown of the advantages:
1) Your baby will be smarter because of the language stimulation.
2) Baby will be happier once his his needs are communicated effectively.  This means a LOT less frustration, and a lot less crying.
3) Parents will be reassured in knowing what baby wants instead of having to guess.
4) Your toddler will be able to "read" a signing book to himself, and to you.  So darn cute.
5) Your child will make up signs, sparking his creativity.

Examples from our own daughter:
- at 9 months old, telling us when she wants milk, and when she's tired.
- at 12 month old, excitedly signing elephant when she sees them.
- at 13 months, using her all-done sign to let us know when she's full.
- at 15 months old, using the hurt sign after falling down, instead of crying.
- at 16 months, using the potty sign to tell us that she's soiling her diaper (first step in potty training).

Now, to get into more detail about signing and why I am such a strong supporter.

Banana Molasses Bread

If you like banana bread, you've GOT to try this variation!  It's the most delicious quick-bread I've ever invented (and first).  I basically merged two different recipes together, then added my own twists such as replacing the egg and changing to whole wheat flour.

Here's the recipe for you to enjoy.

Banana Molasses Bread

Mix together:
- 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1/3 cup oil
- 3/4 cup molasses

In a separate bowl mix dry ingredients:
- 2 cups whole wheat flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Mix all of above together, then in a separate bowl mash and mix:
- 3 very ripe bananas
- 2 tablespoons milk

Stir all ingredients together until blended, then pour into greased loaf pan.
Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour (toothpick should come out clean).

Serve immediately, or my favorite way- sliced then toasted then topped with cream cheese.  Delicious!  And also healthy as far as desserts go!  See below (thanks to this website where you can calculate nutrition based on ingredients).

Toddler-Proof iPhone

I've done it!  I figured out how to make my iPhone safe and fun for our little toddler to play with.

Here's what was the problem.  

As a baby, our daughter was happy to look into the phone, hold it, and flip it from front to back.  The best apps were those that would hold her attention, make interesting sounds, and not escape when she touched a certain part of the screen.  (see "iPhone apps for babies")

As she grew older, she learned how to hit the "home" button.  The little round button on the bottom of the phone that allowed you to escape any app you were in.  This caused frustration for her when the game would end sooner than expected, leaving me to jump in every few seconds to fix it.  The home button also made my phone vulnerable to her accidentally placing phone calls, moving things around, or even deleting programs.

So I searched high and low for the solution.
I figured all we needed was a way to temporarily block the home button, perhaps with a special case.  Simple, right?  WRONG.
Many google and amazon searches later, I had come up empty handed.  I even visited those phone kiosks at the mall, the Apple store, and the AT&T store.  They all said the same thing: "There's no iphone case that covers the home button, that would make the phone useless!"

Toxin-Free Kids

I didn't used to have any concern about the food available in the US.  I believed our regulating bodies of government had our best interests at hand, and that all food on grocery stores shelves were safe for consumption.

My feelings have changed, especially when it comes to feeding my young child.  There is clear evidence that a developing child's brain is highly vulnerable to toxin exposures.  Even those found in everyday goods.  See below for details, and how to keep your kids safe.

ORGANIC PRODUCE

For years I ignored the "organic food" section of the store, which appeared simply to be a more expensive version of the same thing.  Why pay more?  It all seemed like a fad, or a ruse that I wasn't going to fall for.  All the while that section just kept growing, with organic labels popping up on all types of food imaginable.

Bella Organic Farm, Sauvie Island

It's NOT Hard to be Healthy

Being in good physical health is so very important to our well being.  In this modern age filled with decadence and convenient shortcuts, it has become too easy to live a dangerously unhealthy lifestyle.  The cause of most of the medical problems US adults are facing today can be directly traced back to poor choices made in food, lifestyle, and activity.  In other words, we are often the cause of our own accelerated mortality.

We hear everyone talking about the problem: high and rising rate of obesity, heart disease, diabetes.
We know about the solution:  sensible balanced diet and exercise.

But all this talk seems to mean little to the masses who would rather try out a quick gimmick to reverse weight loss so they will feel like they look better.  Since when is this only about how we look?  What about what goes on inside our bodies that fuels our minds and guides our lives?

I though I'd share my point of view on being healthy.  I've never found it difficult to maintain a healthy weight.  People may say that I'm lucky, that it's genetic, that I'm blessed with a good metabolism.  Or even that I suffer and don't eat as much or as pleasurably as I want to.  I can tell you that none of that is true.  Why?  Because I have family members who are obese, and those who are healthy, and the difference between them is clearly the choices they make, the foods they eat, the activities in their day.  Nothing to do with luck.  And about my enjoyment of food?  It is 100% wonderful and satisfying, without ever going hungry or missing any type delicious experience.

As you will see, it is mostly about the food since it's much harder to exercise off extra calories than it is to avoid them in the first place.

Here's how I do it.

New Home Dreaming

The market is ripe with low interest rates and abundance of homes on the market, an opportunity that has us seriously considering buying our first family home.

I find myself dreaming of things that would make our new place ideal.

EASY Egg-Free Cupcakes

Baking for vegan?  Got allergies?  What to do about the egg part of the recipe?

What to do when you CAN'T use these?

I needed to make some egg-free cupcakes for a birthday party recently, and after perusing many options and suggestions, I decided to try a few different versions to see how they would turn out.  I did NOT want to make them from scratch, if at all possible.  It turns out you don't have to!

Let me tell you all about you

People love to analyze themselves, to figure out why they do things a certain way, what motivates them in everyday life, and what draws them to others.

Moving one step further, people really enjoy it when someone else can give them the answers and fill in the blanks for them.  This I think explains the love of horoscopes and fortune telling.  I was surprised to learn that more than 1/4 of all Americans believe in astrology.  This reality has been highlighted recently with all the buzz about zodiac signs and shifting planets that has been in the news lately (and much talked about).

In case you are one of the last to know, here is the article that explains why the sign you thought you were may not be your true one.  And here is an article (one example of many) that highlights the identity crises that are happening all across the country.

In honor of all this frivolous hubub, I'd like to offer an alternative system for identifying your strengths and characteristics.

Twelve Signs of the Garden
Based on what delicious produce is at its peak of perfection.  What better way to connect with your roots?

How Clean is Your Favorite Restaurant?

While waiting to pick up some take-out food from one of our favorite local restaurants last weekend, my eyes fell upon this most unfortunate sign in the window:

"Public notice

Upon last inspection this establishment 

FAILED TO COMPLY 

with the acceptable sanitation standards 

of the Oregon Health Division 

of Sanitation"

A few questions came to my mind:
What?  Was I reading that correctly?
They're still in business?  Is that even legal?
Is my food ready yet?

Funny thing was, I seemed to be the only person who noticed the sign.  I happened to be waiting outside for my order, enjoying the crisp wintery air and the peaceful night.  There was a steady stream of people wandering in for their take-out packages, oblivious to this important public announcement posted right by the door.

When I got home my husband and I did some researching on the topic (over a plate of pad thai...hey we were still hungry!).  Here's what we learned:

The Power of Choice

When I was a kid, I knew I could be whatever I wanted to be when I grew up.  It was a wonderful feeling.  My first big dream was to be a singer.  As a little girl I would perform from my "stage" in the living room and belt out my favorite songs (ah, Dolly Parton) and show off how I could sing my A-B-C's in vibrato (like the opera), which I considered to be very advanced.

As the years passed, my world of possibilities became more limited.  By the time I was a teenager I could feel the pressure to make the right decision for my life's purpose and direction. 

I came to the conclusion that I had two choices:
1) lawyer
or
2) doctor

For some reason I thought those were the "best" jobs out there.  Even though I knew very little about what either of them would actually entail, let alone what the various other options might be.  After more thought, some very enjoyable science classes, and an inspiring health class, I decided I would be a doctor. 

What had started as a wide open meadow of limitless possibilities, had now evolved into a well defined path leading toward a distinct goal.

This is NOT a story about ending up in the wrong place.
Today I am completely in love with what I do for a living.  Working with kids and their families, learning new things on a daily basis, watching technology advance with the field, and teaching.  It is an honor and a privilege to be a part of these patients lives.

It's about finding my voice again.
What I also love is my ability to define what, where, and when I do my work.  Without this power, the joy is much harder to come by.

I Love Shopping From Home

Let's say you want a garlic press.  You're tired of holding those little cloves of garlic on the cutting board while you mince them.  You want a nice one that works well and is comfortable to hold.  You don't need it right this moment, but it would be nice to have it soon, so that it's handy when the urge to make stir fry strikes.

So you wait until the weekend when you have some free time, get in the car and drive 20 minutes to your store of choice (Target perhaps), try for a close parking spot but fail because everyone else shops on Saturdays too, walk about a mile's worth circling the store for not just the item you want, but other departments of interest too (might as well, while you here...), wait in line to check out, pay for your cart full of stuff (half of which you probably didn't actually need), run through the rain back to your car, and drive the 20 minutes back home.

OR

Pop online (Amazon, for example), type "garlic press," search through the results for your perfect fit and price, see that a hundred+ reviewers have given this product an average of 4.5/5 stars, click in into your virtual cart, then find the lovely item on your doorstep a few days later.

Is there any contest here?

The (Bad) News

I literally grew up watching the evening news.  As young as I can remember, I would perk up when hearing the theme music.  I would mimic my father as he stood before the TV screen unconsciously stroking his mustache, carefully studying the events unfolding.  Each night we gladly welcomed Dan Rather into our home (we "knew" him way back when he was a local news reporter).

I carried on this tradition when I left home for college and beyond.  My day didn't seem complete without a nightly recap of the latest events from one of the trusted anchors.  Even with the availability of online news articles, I kept up my ritual, enjoying the tidy 30 minute package of stories, conversation, and video footage that brought it all to life.

It's been many months now since I stopped watching the news, and I know I am much happier because of it.


Why did I stop?
Because it's mostly bad news!  Bad in more than one way.
1) For some reason it's the rare but horrible things that happen in the world which qualify as newsworthy.  Threats, murders, accidents, disasters, and scandals get top billing.
2) Stories are sensationalized, with snippets made to grab your attention rather than deliver true substance.  "Coming up, an amazing new discovery that will add years to your life..."  or "the hidden danger inside your own home that could be making you sick..."  The answers to these teasers are almost always a fairly boring one, that put in the right context isn't actually a breakthrough at all.
3) Because of the need to report the latest updates about headline stories, the shows are often repetitive.  Think of day #xxx of the BP oil disaster and you get my point.