Foodmomiac

Dispatch from BlogHer

Love this shot!
Originally uploaded by Foodmomiac

Haven't been blogging for a variety of reasons. As always, it's just so overwhelming to be surrounded by so many amazing, amazing women. I also seem to have caught Mr. Max's cold, which is REALLY a bummer.

Yesterday, late afternoon was the community keynote. As I mentioned the other day, one of my blog posts was selected, and I stood up in front of nearly 1,000 people to read it. I wasn't nervous ahead of time, but when I walked off the stage, hugged Eden and then made my way into the wings, tears started rolling down my face. It was only after I spoke and saw people respond to my writing that the nerves bubbled up and out of me.

The tears didn't stop at that point. The posts that were read were AMAZING. I sat on the floor of the stage, just inside the wings, and cried and cried. Posts about addiction, parenting, body image, suicide attempts and even bra shopping were read to a giant group of women, and the electricity in the air was palpable. Every year, I love being here at BlogHer, but never before have I experienced something that manifested that feeling more than this keynote. It was a briliant idea, and it came off perfectly. I am so unbelievably honored to have been a part of it. I think I've typed this word 5 times in this one post, but the only way to describe it is overwhelming.

Yes, I'm feeling fine. Why do you ask?

Weiner Mobile
Originally uploaded by Foodmomiac

Yesterday, my mother-in-law called me on my cell phone and asked me if I was OK. I assured her I was, and asked why she was worried. Ah yes, I hadn't updated the blog in a while. Oops.

I am indeed feeling fine, but just a weeee bit overloaded. The weekend was filled with activities, which was great, but just busy! We are making a concerted effort to actually do things on the weekend (versus sitting around watching the kids act up). On Saturday, we went to the local community pool. It's a giant pool that is actually very clean and well-maintained (in fact, it was just rebuilt this spring). It is free to anyone and is just 2.5 blocks from our house!!!

On Sunday, we went to the beach, and I'm pleased to report that we have finally found OUR beach. It's not filled with drunk twenty somethings who make me feel like a crotchety old woman. The water is safe for swimming, in terms of both bacteria and depth. There is a sand bar about 10 feet out that has the net effect of creating almost 30 feet of shallow water for playing. This place was just made for kids and families and we loved it.

So, that was the weekend in a nutshell (fascinating only to the grandparents, I'm sure). This week hasn't been any less busy. Yesterday featured a 6 hour round trip road trip to Madison, WI to visit my BOCA client. They share offices with Oscar Mayer, which led to the above-pictured highlight of our trip; THE WEINER MOBILE! I also snagged a Weiner Mobile Hot Wheels for Mr. Max and a Weiner Mobile whistle for Dylan. The whistle is a bit, um, shrill, but all were happy.

Last night I had a one hour turnaround before heading to my new "thing;" art class! I'm taking a glass fusing/metalworking class. It's three hours every Tuesday evening, and I love it.

Of course, tomorrow I leave for BlogHer, and the craziness will continue. I have two of my own clients there (BOCA and 3-A-Day), and then a bunch of other Edelman clients who aren't mine personally, but who are still very important to me. :-) So, lots of running around.

Oh, and did I mention I'm speaking at the opening keynote? In front of approximately 1,000 people? ACK!

Yes, I'm feeling fine. Why do you ask?

Weiner Mobile
Originally uploaded by Foodmomiac

Dylan dancing to "Girl Talk"

Dylan dancing to "Girl Talk"
Originally uploaded by Foodmomiac

Based on a recommendation from our buddy Howie, Michael downloaded a new CD by the DJ Girl Talk. The language is a little, um, rough for the kids to listen to, but when he put it on for the first time, Dylan went NUTS. The dance is so funny that we keep making her do it. Here she is demonstrating.

Standard summertime breakfast

Standard summertime breakfast
Originally uploaded by Foodmomiac

This is my favorite breakfast when local berries are in season. Strawberries, blueberries and raspberries (all from Michigan, purchased at the Logan Square Farmers' Market), Heritage flakes cereal (I prefer the Heritage O's, but they didn't have any at our local market this week), and vanilla soy milk.

Yum.

I want to be "that mom"

(p.s. yes I missed posting yesterday. la la la can't hear you!)

When I was in junior high school, I babysat for a family that always had chopped up veggies in the fridge. It was usually just carrots and celery, and they were kept in an ice bath in a Tupperware. I spent many Saturday nights munching on veggies while watching Love Boat.

I've always wanted to be that mom. The kind of mom who has fresh fruits and veggies ready to go in the fridge for healthy and nutritious snacking. Sadly, I rarely have the time to do this, and even if I did, I find I'd rather curl up on the couch with Mia Michaels and Twitch and the rest of the So You Think You Can Dance Crew.

Somehow, though, I became that mom this weekend. When Max wanted a quick lunch yesterday, he was able to grab two hard boiled eggs from the fridge. There is also a container of clean cherries and blueberries. A quart of wild strawberries. A quart of Michigan raspberries. I have one plastic container filled with celery sticks and another with sliced purple kohlrabi (that link will provide you with a recipe for cooked kohlrabi, but I always just eat it raw and sprinkled with lots of salt - yum!) We also have a giant bag of pistachios, a big tub of homemade chicken salad, and some convenient tubes of yogurt.

I am so impressed with myself.

Oranges in beer

Last year, Chicago bars stopped selling Bell's Oberon beer. This is one of my favorite beers, and it's kind of a bummer.

Bell's is a wheat beer that is served with an orange. Last week when we were in Michigan, we stocked up on Oberon. It's the perfect summer beer, and it's been great to have it in the house.

Word is that Oberon is making its way back into Chicago under an assumed name. We are at our local bar right now for a pre-dinner beer, and they don't have Oberon yet. Apparently the higher profile bars are getting it first.

I did get beer with orange though. It's Allagash White and is quite tasty. But it's no Oberon. Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Happy 4th

We are sitting in the backyard right now, with our patio hearth going full steam. Good thing we had so much wood left over from the winter!

For dinner, we had some friends come over with their two kids. It was the perfect get together. Potato chips, onion dip, tortilla chips, guacamole, raw veggies and homemade ranch dressing started us off. Dinner was chicken and ribs on the grill and some potato salad.

For dessert, we had s'mores, of course! So good, and it was fun watching Paty and her friend Ane eat them for the first time. I guess they aren't a classic in Brazil.

Time to get back to this fire and the incessant fireworks being set off in our hood. It's so loud out here!

Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

Deep dish pizza!

Deep dish pizza from Pequods in Chicago
Originally uploaded by Foodmomiac

Nope, not a recipe. Just a short little video showcasing last night's dinner. And yes, the receipt is correct. It was $23.25 for one large pie, but after three adults and two kids had eaten, we still had leftovers!

The pizza is from Pequod's, our favorite place to get deep dish (that delivers).

Video courtesy of the new flip video camera I bought for our group at work. (just testing it out folks, just testing it out)

Lamb Chop, Sweet Potato Fries, Salad with Homemade Ranch Dressing

Lamb Chop, Sweet Potato Fries, Salad with Homemade Ranch Dressing
Originally uploaded by Foodmomiac

First let me say how much I love taking photos outside. This photo looks so much better than other food photos I take, just by virtue of it being taken on our deck. Yay natural lighting!

This was a perfect summer weeknight dinner. I peeled and cut the sweet potatoes on Sunday and just popped them in a ziploc. Yesterday when we got home, I put the appropriate amount on a baking pan, sprayed them with olive oil, sprinkled with salt and pepper, and baked at 400 degrees for 40 minutes, flipping them midway.

The chops were marinated all day in this marinade. Michael grilled them for about 15 minutes total. They were a little more well done than we usually like, but still very tender and delicious! EVERYONE ate them, which is not a common occurrence at our house these days.

The dressing was topped with a homemade Ranch dressing. That will be a future post. It is sooo good.