Go-Go Mommy

Sweet Pea's Preschool Prep

So far, Sweet Pea has had a pretty easy time meeting and making friends.  And there's a good reason for that - since she was born, her big sister, Poppy, was always there to make the introduction.  Whether it was at the park, in the play zone at the mall, or wherever the two happened to see another kid who would instantly become the girls' new "best friend," Poppy was always there to take the lead.

A few weeks ago I realized that all of this was going to come to a screeching halt when Sweet Pea would walk into to her own classroom at her very first session of preschool.  So... we began the first of many practice sessions entitled "meeting new friends" and "asking new friends to play."  

I'm happy to report that the following unsolicited questions have been asked in the Go-Go Household about half a dozen times a day for the last week - I just hope Sweet Pea will not forget all this on her first day of preschool this week!

Sweet Pea:  "Hi Mommy, I'm Sweet Pea.  What's your name?"

or

Sweet Pea:  "Hi, my name's Sweet Pea.  Would you like to play outside?"

or

Sweet Pea:  "I'm Sweet Pea.  Would you like to play with me, Mommy?"

Friday's Findings: 08.14.09

The easiest salad ever!  

Who doesn't like to make good-tasting and simple recipes?  Here's one that will have you literally licking the bowl.  It's from the newest Food Network Star, Melissa d'Arabian, of "Ten Dollar Dinners."  Check out her Cafe Green Salad recipe here and enjoy.  

Thanks for the incredible recipe, Melissa!

Awesome Creation

Poppy said to me this morning: "Look mommy, I made God!"

What an inspirational way to start the day -does it get any better than this?!

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Not Many Years of This Left...

The other day Poppy had a question for me that came completely from left field:

"Mommy, how do you and Daddy know so much about so many things?" 

After I get done dancing a jig and patting myself on the back, I answered; "Well, daddy and I went to school for many many years.  We also learned a lot from our mommies and daddies, and we learned a lot, and still do, just by reading on our own."

Poppy; "Wow, so that's why."  (And I see the little wheels spinning in her head.)

Me to myself; "Hmm, I'd better get this conversation on the books so I can dust it off in about 10 years."  At least, I hope I have that long!

Mommy Knits for Poppy

It turns out that I like to create and I like to work with my hands.  While I would love to be able to paint masterpieces or produce sculptures to rival Rodin, I have found that it just isn't in the cards for me.  At the same time, I found a medium that is... knitting.  

Knitting challenges me to decipher code, it lets me work in a strict pattern so I know exactly what I will create or I can choose to improvise my own combination of patterns so I can be surprised at the result. Knitting let's me refocus my mind - taking me away from any craziness going on around me (and with Poppy and Sweet Pea that can sometimes be a lot) and narrowing my thoughts to the task at hand. And finally, at the end of my project, I can then share the fruits of my labor with those I love most.  I find comfort in the fact that a piece of me will be with the person who will be wearing or using something I made even when I cannot be there with them.

Here's a little something that was going to be a baby gift but turned out to be big enough to fit Poppy.  Looks like I'd better get back to actually knitting something for the baby!  If you like this hat, the pattern is in a book called Oneskein by Leigh Radford (shown below).  Happy knitting!

Best Summer Tunes for Screaming Car Trips

Ah.... what could be better than a few extra days off for the holiday weekend, enjoying time with friends, good food, and chillin' out with Bob, Marley that is?!  Yes, Bob's memories live on in an awesome music CD devoted to bringing the sounds of summer and Bob to kids called "B is for Bob" and you can check it out here.

As soon as I put our CD on in the car for our trip, Poppy and Sweet Pea started automatically quieting down so they could sway to the rhythms of the songs.  After the first song, "Three Little Birds", I asked Poppy what she thought of the music and her comment was; "Mom, I like it but please let me keep daydreaming." I don't know about your toddler car but any CD that keep my little minds busy with lovely thoughts and a mellow-like-Bob atmosphere is definitely a keeper for the Go-Go family!

Hope you get a copy this summer to enjoy a relaxing atmosphere for yourselves.  As for me, not only do I anticipate many more "B is for Bob" sessions, I can't wait to break it out in the middle of winter to bring these lovely summer memories back!

Friday's Findings: A Photographer that is Part of the Family

Living in a new area is giving me a chance to meet new people and make new friends.  Sometimes it's overwhelming knowing who to turn to ask those everyday questions like:  Where can I find a good pediatric dentist?; Who has the best sales on party/holiday goods?; and Do you know a great family photographer?

I found the last question, however, easily answered when I met the mother of one of Poppy's newest best friends.  

It's strange when you meet someone that is so good natured and easy-going right off the bat.  Stranger still when you get to know each other a little better and find out that you share the same birthday.  And maybe the strangest of all when, through casual conversation, you find that that person is living and working in one of your ultimate dream jobs: family photography.

Her name is Jessica Galeazzi and you can read her blog here or view her website here.  With two kids of her own (miraculously close to Poppy's and Sweet Pea's ages - yeah for playdate time), she really knows how to just have fun with kids and grown ups alike which allows her to truly capture the personality of her subjects.  One look at her photographs and you'll see when I mean.  

Jessica just has that "photographer's eye" that I wish I had.  Viewing things from a new perspective and getting just the right expression of sweetness and charm in her shot.  If you're in California's East Bay Area and are looking for a good photographer, have I got the friend for you!

A Girly Playdate

What better way to celebrate having new friends over for a playdate than to share beautifully made desserts?  I certainly can't think of a better way to say: "We really appreciate having you here and I would love to be able to make something like this myself but since I have two girls under 5, it's best just to go right to the source."  And I think these raspberry mousse delicacies speak for themselves! 


I found a wonderful local bakery called City of D'Lights, and it is truly a perfect bakery to stop by if you are ever in the area.  They have a wonderful coffee house selection along with the most delicious looking pastries, cakes, and cookies.   When you combine this incredible selection with its cozy atmosphere and colorful artwork, the result is a great find for the recently relocated Go-Go house.  It's sure to be a regular haunt for our food-lovin' household! 

BTW, the playdate went so well the girls didn't want to stop playing to eat, but once they saw these "Princess Cakes" they didn't need any more coaxing!

Friday's Findings

Instead of the old "Photo Friday", I decided it was time to expand the category so I can include more than just photos.  Please feel free to comment and share your own "findings" every Friday!

Today's Find: Sweet Pea can now participate in jokes!

While sitting next to each other in the shopping cart at Costco:

Poppy:  Why did the elf run out of the kitchen?

Sweet Pea:  (Shrugging shoulders with hands raised and palms up) I don't know. 

(Said in absolutely the sweetest, cutest, baby voice you could ever imagine.)

Poppy:  Because the recipe said "crack one egg and beat it"!

(Followed by belly-shaking laughter by both girls..)

And somehow, it remained funny the next 8 times it was repeated:)!

National Chocolate Cake Day

January 27th is National Chocolate Cake Day... need I say more?  Visit this page to review some fun ways to celebrate as you homeschool your children or if you just want a fun picture to color on the computer - I had a blast with it!

http://allrecipes.com/Feeling creative?  Go to one of my new favorite sites called All Recipes.  You'll find hundreds of chocolate cake recipes from real people.  You'll even find reviews and star-ratings for each recipe so you can get a variety of opinions on whatever recipe you are thinking of trying.  Some reviewers even tell how they changed the recipe which is inspiring too.  I could spend hours reading about all the yummy recipes on this site but if you don't have the time (and with Poppy and Sweet Pea I never do) here's a link to the top 20 chocolate cake recipes.

If you don't feel like messing up the kitchen or don't have time to run out for ingredients, why not treat yourself and head to your favorite bakery to pick up a little chocolate cake today?  While I no longer live near Cupertino, CA, I must say that if I did, tomorrow would definitely include a detour to La Patisserie on Stevens Creek Boulevard.  You could ask my mother-in-law (who, by the way makes the most incredible carrot cake on the planet) that this is a bakery that is head and shoulders above the rest.  Whenever my in-laws come into town, we seem to find some reason to have something to celebrate just so we have an excuse to stop by and pick up one of their most popular cakes which just happens to be entirely make of chocolate.  I'm talking chocolate cake, chocolate icing, chocolate filling...what could be better?!  I know, maybe their individual desserts....

Whatever your chocolate cake obsession, enjoy and happy Chocolate Cake Day!