I made some really easy sides the other day for Christmas dinner. Now, these won't be winning any awards for the "from-scratchiest-bestest-hardest-ever" category, but if you've only got 30 minutes and you need something to bring to a dinner party, they are delicious.
Candied Yams:
I went right for the canned yams with this one. My mom does it from sweet potatoes proper, but I'm just not at that level right now.
Large can of sweet potatoes / yams in syrup, drained
cup of mini marshmallows
2/3 cup of packed brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg
1 teaspoon of cinnamon
1 teaspoon of salt
2 tablespoons of melted butter
Mash the yams and melted butter together in a big bowl.
Add the sugar and spices, and 1/2 cup of marshmallows.
Spread in a casserole dish (I used a pie pan)
Spread the remaining marshmallows on top.
Bake for 20 minutes at 350, or until the top marshmallows are golden brown and puffy.
Green Bean Casserole:
I used real green beans for this, but I'm sure you could use canned.
Four to six cups of green beans (steamed)
can of cream of mushroom soup
1/2 cup of milk
salt and pepper
cup of French fried onions.
Mix green beans, milk and cream of mushroom soup in a big bowl. Add 1/2 cup onions and spices and stir well.
Pour into 8x8 casserole dish and spread the remaining onions on top.
Bake for 20 minutes at 350.
Monday, December 31, 2012
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Preschool Pointers - 18: Wait, Just Wait
Problem:
You want to take your kids out but they're playing so incredibly nicely. You know if you hazard into their 'pretend' territory, you will ruin this idyll, you will turn it to tears and tantrums...just by being you.
Alternately:
You want to take your kids out, but they're being complete pills. Throwing tantrums, fighting, making a big deal out of nothing, intentionally setting verbal traps for you, etc. You can't move them into public in this state.
Solution:
If you happen to have nothing scheduled in stone where you absolutely must be somewhere at a certain time, do not stress over when you leave. Let it happen, don't force it to happen. (You can do this with a scheduled event, too, if you start early enough, and have a backup plan for if they actually get in the car at a reasonable speed.)
For instance, this morning, I told the girls I'd take them rollerskating. Now, usually this would mean me moving immediately...grabbing the skates, putting on socks and shoes, harassing them out the door, let's get a move on.
But, since we had nothing else to do today, I told them, and they got excited, but when they didn't move toward getting out of the house at all, I waited. I let them play their games. I did some work. Then when they brought it up again, I immediately set down my work and got their socks and shoes. By the time I got out of their room with the supplies, they were playing again. I let them play. I picked my work back up. When they brought it up a third time, I put their socks and shoes on. I went to get them out of the house, but they had begun playing again. Same thing. About an hour from when I first mentioned it is when we finally got out of the house. With no muss, no fuss, and everyone on the same page.
I've said before that you only have between 5 and 30 seconds from when the children decide to do something to actually do it. The difference in this pointer is that if you happen to miss that window, don't sweat it, don't force it. Wait for another one to come along.
You want to take your kids out but they're playing so incredibly nicely. You know if you hazard into their 'pretend' territory, you will ruin this idyll, you will turn it to tears and tantrums...just by being you.
Alternately:
You want to take your kids out, but they're being complete pills. Throwing tantrums, fighting, making a big deal out of nothing, intentionally setting verbal traps for you, etc. You can't move them into public in this state.
Solution:
If you happen to have nothing scheduled in stone where you absolutely must be somewhere at a certain time, do not stress over when you leave. Let it happen, don't force it to happen. (You can do this with a scheduled event, too, if you start early enough, and have a backup plan for if they actually get in the car at a reasonable speed.)
For instance, this morning, I told the girls I'd take them rollerskating. Now, usually this would mean me moving immediately...grabbing the skates, putting on socks and shoes, harassing them out the door, let's get a move on.
But, since we had nothing else to do today, I told them, and they got excited, but when they didn't move toward getting out of the house at all, I waited. I let them play their games. I did some work. Then when they brought it up again, I immediately set down my work and got their socks and shoes. By the time I got out of their room with the supplies, they were playing again. I let them play. I picked my work back up. When they brought it up a third time, I put their socks and shoes on. I went to get them out of the house, but they had begun playing again. Same thing. About an hour from when I first mentioned it is when we finally got out of the house. With no muss, no fuss, and everyone on the same page.
I've said before that you only have between 5 and 30 seconds from when the children decide to do something to actually do it. The difference in this pointer is that if you happen to miss that window, don't sweat it, don't force it. Wait for another one to come along.
Friday, December 28, 2012
Use Goodwill with Good Will
Being the holiday season, we've made a few trips to Goodwill, dropping off old, unused toys, and picking up new (to us) ones!
I'm not really big into huge causes and I can't contribute much to society at this point in my life, but I love Goodwill because it's an easy and local way to show my kids that giving is not only important, it's also fun.
We've been going since they were two. I bring them with me so that they understand that their toys and clothes don't just 'disappear,' they go to other people.
My kids will say, afterward, "Hey, where did our little chairs go?" or "Where did that shirt I loved go?" And I get to remind them that we gave them away. And they'll say, "Oh yeah! They were too small. We gave them to other babies who need them!"
Now, at first, they just knew that when we went to Goodwill, they could pick out a toy.
Cool new racecar? Neat! They didn't know it was supposed to be remote-controlled. In fact, we still have this car. Because they really like it.
Other toys they have picked, we have used for a while, then given back. Almost as if we're borrowing them or renting them. The girls are getting a good sense of use and reuse from our quarterly trips.
And some of these toys are amazing. We plan on keeping these for a while (well, the horse will go back soon as they're getting too big to ride it. But the keyboard is gold. And when they've outgrown it, someone else will be able to use it for years for $4.)
The sting of losing their music table didn't hurt so badly when we got a little horse in return. And while right now the girls are associating giving with getting something physical, soon, they'll associate giving with getting a good feeling. Helping is important. This broadens their world view. They don't just see our living room, their toys. They know that those toys can go to other homes and that sometimes we bring home toys from other people too. It's one big giving tree (with a few dollars, of course.)
And for me, the clothing is amazing. Some of our best stuff is from Goodwill. Yeah, I can get the $3 shirts on sale at KMart, and I do. But there's some real quality and unique clothing I've gotten at Goodwill for the same price. Because I'm just not at a place right now where I can spend $20 on a shirt or $50 on a sweater that they'll outgrow in two months.
That amazing sweater? Goodwill. No way I could afford something like that firsthand.
That shirt with the personality and flair? Goodwill.
And as we grow out of our clothes, we donate them right back.
It's important to teach your kids about charity and giving in ways they can see and understand. Doing this has shown my kids that it's easy to give. It's also shown them that there is no shame in taking when in need. And most importantly, it's shown them that everyone can have excess of something and not enough of another thing and we all need to share together.
This week we'll be packing up some barely used tricycles (the girls grew out of those in a hot second before we could use them enough), gently used comforters for kids' beds, and a plethora of clothing and toys we no longer use or need.
Goodwill. It's about good will.
I'm not really big into huge causes and I can't contribute much to society at this point in my life, but I love Goodwill because it's an easy and local way to show my kids that giving is not only important, it's also fun.
We've been going since they were two. I bring them with me so that they understand that their toys and clothes don't just 'disappear,' they go to other people.
My kids will say, afterward, "Hey, where did our little chairs go?" or "Where did that shirt I loved go?" And I get to remind them that we gave them away. And they'll say, "Oh yeah! They were too small. We gave them to other babies who need them!"
Now, at first, they just knew that when we went to Goodwill, they could pick out a toy.
Cool new racecar? Neat! They didn't know it was supposed to be remote-controlled. In fact, we still have this car. Because they really like it.
Other toys they have picked, we have used for a while, then given back. Almost as if we're borrowing them or renting them. The girls are getting a good sense of use and reuse from our quarterly trips.
And some of these toys are amazing. We plan on keeping these for a while (well, the horse will go back soon as they're getting too big to ride it. But the keyboard is gold. And when they've outgrown it, someone else will be able to use it for years for $4.)
The sting of losing their music table didn't hurt so badly when we got a little horse in return. And while right now the girls are associating giving with getting something physical, soon, they'll associate giving with getting a good feeling. Helping is important. This broadens their world view. They don't just see our living room, their toys. They know that those toys can go to other homes and that sometimes we bring home toys from other people too. It's one big giving tree (with a few dollars, of course.)
And for me, the clothing is amazing. Some of our best stuff is from Goodwill. Yeah, I can get the $3 shirts on sale at KMart, and I do. But there's some real quality and unique clothing I've gotten at Goodwill for the same price. Because I'm just not at a place right now where I can spend $20 on a shirt or $50 on a sweater that they'll outgrow in two months.
That amazing sweater? Goodwill. No way I could afford something like that firsthand.
That shirt with the personality and flair? Goodwill.
And as we grow out of our clothes, we donate them right back.
It's important to teach your kids about charity and giving in ways they can see and understand. Doing this has shown my kids that it's easy to give. It's also shown them that there is no shame in taking when in need. And most importantly, it's shown them that everyone can have excess of something and not enough of another thing and we all need to share together.
This week we'll be packing up some barely used tricycles (the girls grew out of those in a hot second before we could use them enough), gently used comforters for kids' beds, and a plethora of clothing and toys we no longer use or need.
Goodwill. It's about good will.
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Gifting Books Giveaway WINNERS
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Guest Post - Dangerous Bugs for Dogs
Sometimes we're so busy looking out for our kids, we forget about our pets! I'm lucky enough to have a guest post on some outside dangers to dogs...bugs.
...
Have you ever watched your dog chase fireflies after dark? They run and hop around, just trying to catch something. Then, perhaps it occurred to you, what if those bugs were dangerous? Are they bad for your dog if eaten?
Insects have been around since the beginning of time, outliving even the dinosaurs. In all that time, they
have developed measures that allow them to defend themselves against predators. Unfortunately, this
often means they can be toxic or downright dangerous to our dogs.
Yellow jackets, wasps, and bees, oh my!
The most familiar threat is the sting. Many insects like bees and even ants carry venom as a defense
against anything that violates their territory. Be sure you keep your dog away from any nests and have
insect nests such as bees relocated if possible.
Creepy crawly spiders
Another dangerous insect is the arachnid. Spiders and scorpions often carry some of the most deadly
venom in the world. Keep areas like under the porch and storage areas cleaned to reduce the chances
your dog would wander into a hazardous place.
Caterpillars and cocoons
Here is something that many people would not consider- the danger of a bug that children used to play
with at the park. They inch along and eat leaves. But, did you know that caterpillars and similar pupa can be hosts for the toxic chemical Omphalea, which can be secreted by various caterpillar species. Don’t let your dog eat or play with these creatures.
Like a moth to a dog’s mouth?
Then there is the moth and butterfly. These dancing, fluttery creatures float around lights or flowers.
But, much like their previous state, their wings can contain harmful toxins. Various species of moth
actually host trace amounts of hydrogen cyanide on their wings. In large quantities, these insects can
cause upset stomach and vomiting.
The firefly
This childhood favorite is actually a very toxic creature. The enzyme luciferase is secreted in order to
create the light we love to see. But, that very enzyme is very toxic to your dog. These “lightning bugs”
are very intriguing and are bound to catch the attention of any pet around. Be cautious about your dog
ingesting any number of these insects. If there is toxicity, it will commonly show signs within the first
thirty minutes.
Pesticides in bugs?
In general, bugs are seen as a pest. We spray with pesticides to keep them from invading our living
spaces. Unfortunately, this does affect our pets as well. When you spray an insect, they carry those
chemicals with them. If your dog manages to munch them up faster than you can toss them out the
door, you could be poisoning your pet. Be cautious when selecting pesticides and it’s preferable to
utilize traps instead so that the poison is contained.
Bugs can be intriguing and often beautiful, but that doesn’t mean they’re a healthy part of a dog’s diet.
Sure, we dog owners may know better than to eat a bug, but our dogs may find it an irresistible, but
dangerous, treat. Keep your dog safe and beware of what they put in their mouth.
Author Bio:
Brandon Kennington is the inventor and owner of the Porch Potty – the world’s first automatic grass doglitter box. As dog owner and a busy business owner, Brandon invented the Porch Potty when he didn’twant his dog to have to wait all day to go. Porch Potty admires dog owners and also provides great tips for dog lovers on the Porch Potty Blog.
...
Have you ever watched your dog chase fireflies after dark? They run and hop around, just trying to catch something. Then, perhaps it occurred to you, what if those bugs were dangerous? Are they bad for your dog if eaten?
Insects have been around since the beginning of time, outliving even the dinosaurs. In all that time, they
have developed measures that allow them to defend themselves against predators. Unfortunately, this
often means they can be toxic or downright dangerous to our dogs.
Yellow jackets, wasps, and bees, oh my!
The most familiar threat is the sting. Many insects like bees and even ants carry venom as a defense
against anything that violates their territory. Be sure you keep your dog away from any nests and have
insect nests such as bees relocated if possible.
Creepy crawly spiders
Another dangerous insect is the arachnid. Spiders and scorpions often carry some of the most deadly
venom in the world. Keep areas like under the porch and storage areas cleaned to reduce the chances
your dog would wander into a hazardous place.
Caterpillars and cocoons
Here is something that many people would not consider- the danger of a bug that children used to play
with at the park. They inch along and eat leaves. But, did you know that caterpillars and similar pupa can be hosts for the toxic chemical Omphalea, which can be secreted by various caterpillar species. Don’t let your dog eat or play with these creatures.
Like a moth to a dog’s mouth?
Then there is the moth and butterfly. These dancing, fluttery creatures float around lights or flowers.
But, much like their previous state, their wings can contain harmful toxins. Various species of moth
actually host trace amounts of hydrogen cyanide on their wings. In large quantities, these insects can
cause upset stomach and vomiting.
The firefly
This childhood favorite is actually a very toxic creature. The enzyme luciferase is secreted in order to
create the light we love to see. But, that very enzyme is very toxic to your dog. These “lightning bugs”
are very intriguing and are bound to catch the attention of any pet around. Be cautious about your dog
ingesting any number of these insects. If there is toxicity, it will commonly show signs within the first
thirty minutes.
Pesticides in bugs?
In general, bugs are seen as a pest. We spray with pesticides to keep them from invading our living
spaces. Unfortunately, this does affect our pets as well. When you spray an insect, they carry those
chemicals with them. If your dog manages to munch them up faster than you can toss them out the
door, you could be poisoning your pet. Be cautious when selecting pesticides and it’s preferable to
utilize traps instead so that the poison is contained.
Bugs can be intriguing and often beautiful, but that doesn’t mean they’re a healthy part of a dog’s diet.
Sure, we dog owners may know better than to eat a bug, but our dogs may find it an irresistible, but
dangerous, treat. Keep your dog safe and beware of what they put in their mouth.
Author Bio:
Brandon Kennington is the inventor and owner of the Porch Potty – the world’s first automatic grass doglitter box. As dog owner and a busy business owner, Brandon invented the Porch Potty when he didn’twant his dog to have to wait all day to go. Porch Potty admires dog owners and also provides great tips for dog lovers on the Porch Potty Blog.
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Merry Christmas '12
Christmas at age four has been better than Christmas at age three, for sure! (As much as they loved the holiday last year, I remember crying by 9 a.m. (and that was me. Who knows when they started!))
Anyway, great day, great day! We started with the stockings.
The winner there was the rainbow lollipops.
Then they attacked the presents under the tree.
Their favorite toys were some $3 grabbers I got out of the Toys R Us bin. Obviously.
Although Natalina did a 10-minute happy dance when she opened the cotton candy maker. I'm sure I'll be just as thrilled when I actually have to make cotton candy for them.
Of course, that all fizzled into fights over who got more maple syrup on their French toast, and who the drum set actually belonged to. Nice.
I leave you with this: This is Natalina's genuine expression when told there were no more presents to open.
Dead laughing. Oh, you spoiled child. Merry Christmas!
Anyway, great day, great day! We started with the stockings.
The winner there was the rainbow lollipops.
Then they attacked the presents under the tree.
Their favorite toys were some $3 grabbers I got out of the Toys R Us bin. Obviously.
Although Natalina did a 10-minute happy dance when she opened the cotton candy maker. I'm sure I'll be just as thrilled when I actually have to make cotton candy for them.
Of course, that all fizzled into fights over who got more maple syrup on their French toast, and who the drum set actually belonged to. Nice.
I leave you with this: This is Natalina's genuine expression when told there were no more presents to open.
Dead laughing. Oh, you spoiled child. Merry Christmas!
Monday, December 24, 2012
Recipe Monday - Christmas Cookies
For this recipe Monday, let's just recap a few cookie recipes with new pictures!
First, anisette cookies. These came out better than last year's! I cooked the whole batch this year, and ended up with nine dozen cookies.
RECIPE:
Next up: Sugar cookies.
These also came out better than last year. The full batch yielded six dozen cookies. (I halved this one last year, too).
RECIPE:
Here are some action shots.
Of course, not all of them were artistic masterpieces...Natalina apparently takes after me in the kitchen.
Oh well. Sorry, gingerbread man.
First, anisette cookies. These came out better than last year's! I cooked the whole batch this year, and ended up with nine dozen cookies.
RECIPE:
Next up: Sugar cookies.
These also came out better than last year. The full batch yielded six dozen cookies. (I halved this one last year, too).
RECIPE:
Here are some action shots.
Of course, not all of them were artistic masterpieces...Natalina apparently takes after me in the kitchen.
Oh well. Sorry, gingerbread man.
Sunday, December 23, 2012
Moment of the Week - 122: Christmas Lights
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Preschool Pointers - 17: How to Hide Presents
Problem:
You went out shopping for your kids' Christmas presents, and you think, man, they'll never check here! (At four, my kids aren't looking for presents specifically. They're into the Santa thing, hook, line and sinker.) But they will check there, and everywhere. Because they just find stuff. They just do. So, what to do?
Solution:
Use the goldfish attention span to your advantage. Have most of the presents in bags, slightly harder to see. This will, hopefully, be enough. Leave two more boring presents out in front. Hopefully, in the two seconds between them finding the stash and you hearing them find the stash, they are distracted by your decoy and don't go farther. Then shove them out of the room, and tell them that those are presents for them from you, but not to look anymore because they're only for Christmas day.
Now, this won't work for every child, and hopefully your hiding is better than mine. But it somehow magically worked for mine. They know they're getting a Rapunzel comforter from ME. And they didn't see all the other gifts...only three more days to go, right?
You went out shopping for your kids' Christmas presents, and you think, man, they'll never check here! (At four, my kids aren't looking for presents specifically. They're into the Santa thing, hook, line and sinker.) But they will check there, and everywhere. Because they just find stuff. They just do. So, what to do?
Solution:
Use the goldfish attention span to your advantage. Have most of the presents in bags, slightly harder to see. This will, hopefully, be enough. Leave two more boring presents out in front. Hopefully, in the two seconds between them finding the stash and you hearing them find the stash, they are distracted by your decoy and don't go farther. Then shove them out of the room, and tell them that those are presents for them from you, but not to look anymore because they're only for Christmas day.
Now, this won't work for every child, and hopefully your hiding is better than mine. But it somehow magically worked for mine. They know they're getting a Rapunzel comforter from ME. And they didn't see all the other gifts...only three more days to go, right?
Friday, December 21, 2012
In Defense of the Big, Bad Media
I want to take a tiny, inconsequential sliver of the gruesome tragedy in Connecticut and apply it to the broader hatred and ranting I'm seeing pop up everywhere...against the media. And it's not like this is new. Everyone hates the media, it's cool. I hate it, too, promise. For some reason, though, I'm seeing a lot of backlash against the workers of news themselves. And, honestly, they don't want to be there. But what are they going to do? Quit? They need to eat, too, and 20 years ago, they thought journalism would be a cool thing to do, yo. Or they're kids and they just decided it would be cool, like, last year. But either way, they don't want to be there.
Now, I have been fighting for fewer words and less coverage since the event itself, but we need to get to the root of the coverage problem.
I'm just going to list some things out here:
1) The media is not profiting off this tragedy.
To help you understand this, I first want to break down the hierarchy of news money makers. The local affiliates get nothing. I mean, seriously, people, the local newsrooms don't even make enough money to hire a decent staff. I'm sure you don't keep up on journalism postings, but given my background, I do. I just saw a job at a CT local, considered a medium to large market, for a reporter who can shoot and edit her own packages, produce and run cut-ins, and update the website.
That's five jobs. That's FIVE jobs. And this particular station had just laid off ten people. They're hiring two people to replace those ten.
And the people on the street? The glamorous reporters, the cool producers in the booth, the chic photogs behind the camera? They make nothing. They're not pulling in hundreds of thousands of dollars (well, some are, but even in national news, that's a lot more rare than you would think.) These people are just doing their jobs, for probably $10 an hour, maybe $20, and you know what? If they don't do their jobs? If someone else does their job better than them (like, say, Facebook and Twitter or the other stations?) then their station lays ten more people off.
It's not about making money. It's about feeding families. Just like when you go to your job.
2) The media is not its own thing.
Let's move on from the little guys, though. If anyone is profiting off this, it's corporations. GE, Meredith, and the like. You think that's a joke on 30 Rock? It's not. The next time you want to ram into some news organization, look one rung up. They're all run by huge companies now, many of which have nothing to do with news.
We're blaming the wrong guys. I mean, it's really easy to blame the 24-hour network idiots you actually see camping out in Newtown, attending private child funerals. Who doesn't hate those guys? But this is not the investigative piece of the story. These reporters are not there of their own volition. Their corporate bosses are telling their bosses are telling their bosses are telling them to do something that makes their skin crawl, that makes everyone's skin crawl.
Media really isn't it's own thing. And this is the problem we have all over the country that we're keenly aware of in other businesses, but somehow we forget when it comes to media...that they're also just another penny in the pocket of multi-million-dollar corporations.
Now, in order for these corporations to get paid, they will have to keep their ratings high all the way until February. Because advertisers look at TV in February, in May and in November. These are called sweeps. What they could possibly do is go to the advertisers in question and show them the numbers from this month, but, honestly, it's not going to matter all that much.
I don't know, I could be wrong about all this. I'm only talking from the view point of someone who once produced news shows.
3) The media has a job to do.
So, why do they do it? Why are they there?
Well, because it's a job, really. It's their job.
For some in news, it's a noble drive. They truly believe that through coverage of such events they can evoke public outcry, public thought, political change. Perhaps the angle they take on a story will prompt letters to congresspeople, will prompt votes for or against gun control, accessibility to mental health care, or any other of the myriad of political agendas people have glommed onto. Because the public is no better than the news. The public is just as blowhard-y, just as loud, just as full of hot air in the face of tragedy. All that meme sharing, all those viral blog posts. The public is hungry for this story. And maybe with enough information, they can actually create change for the better.
There are, of course, those out for the glory. For the show reel. For the 'career-maker.' And even those not in it for that can get carried away, can forget, can distance themselves, purposefully or not, from the story. Because to deal in that environment takes a lot of nerve, in the best and worst sense of the word. So, yes, the shots of the millions of cameras, the bragging about the media descending upon Newtown--gross. I agree.
It's a sickly competition, isn't it? But what can one do?
We certainly can't change it by crying outrage and bringing more attention to the business. That, you see, is what makes the business. Attention from the public continues the story. If you don't want to know the gory details, stop watching them.
And there is some good to be done here. Check out the Hartford Courant's coverage. Now, I have no love lost on the Hartford Courant. They laid my husband off, plunging us into two years of grief and poverty. So, I'm not like, their secret champion or anything. But they are being heralded for their "tasteful and complete" coverage of the story.
That's a bit more how you enact change. Make a big deal out of the corporations doing it right. Heap accolades upon them and other news outlets (meaning the organizations behind them) will want to do the same.
But going back to the Courant, they are searching not for "angles" but for the stories that will affect change across the nation. Uncovering the background of the gun-loving townspeople, and looking at whether or not this outlook is dangerous, or whether it's just a coincidence. There are deep questions here that need to be answered. We could let the NRA do it, the politicians do it, the public Facebook meme-ers do it, or the journalists do it. Actually, we can't let any of them do it. Because all of them are going to do it anyway.
4) There is no thrill to this story.
It's okay, you can disagree on this one. But I highly doubt you'll be able to find one newsperson, in even the darkest depths of the most private newsroom reveling in this. Stories that are thrilling are investigative pieces, Watergate would be a good example. A piece where you get to play detective, where you get to right a wrong, bring an evil to light. This story is not one of those. It's just a horrible, horrible thing that happened.
Honestly, the Onion posted the best take on this, in my opinion.
5) The media is all the same (and this includes armchair Facebook journalism)
And I hate this.
Actually, I love it in its way. Genius, really. The Denver Post reports about how awful the news is by hanging out at local Newtown restaurants and eavesdropping on conversations. By harassing a woman for an interview who had already told television crews no several times. It's a whole other angle. And one that makes the Denver Post look so sanctimonious, all by doing exactly what every other news organization is doing.
Great job, guys.
And horrible job.
What we should have done, in my opinion, is had a media blackout out of respect for this community and this tragedy. I hoped when I turned on the news that day at ten p.m., I would see nothing. A time to mourn, to process, to grieve.
But that is not the news. And by watching it when it shows stories we're tired of or think have been completely overdone, we are pushing the very stories we say we don't want to see to the front page again and again.
And by posting on Facebook about how everyone just needs to leave the community alone, we are not leaving it alone. We are continuing the conversation. And by crying out against the politicization of the issues at hand, we are furthering those agendas.
If we want quiet on this issue, we have to be quiet.
Now, I have been fighting for fewer words and less coverage since the event itself, but we need to get to the root of the coverage problem.
I'm just going to list some things out here:
1) The media is not profiting off this tragedy.
To help you understand this, I first want to break down the hierarchy of news money makers. The local affiliates get nothing. I mean, seriously, people, the local newsrooms don't even make enough money to hire a decent staff. I'm sure you don't keep up on journalism postings, but given my background, I do. I just saw a job at a CT local, considered a medium to large market, for a reporter who can shoot and edit her own packages, produce and run cut-ins, and update the website.
That's five jobs. That's FIVE jobs. And this particular station had just laid off ten people. They're hiring two people to replace those ten.
And the people on the street? The glamorous reporters, the cool producers in the booth, the chic photogs behind the camera? They make nothing. They're not pulling in hundreds of thousands of dollars (well, some are, but even in national news, that's a lot more rare than you would think.) These people are just doing their jobs, for probably $10 an hour, maybe $20, and you know what? If they don't do their jobs? If someone else does their job better than them (like, say, Facebook and Twitter or the other stations?) then their station lays ten more people off.
It's not about making money. It's about feeding families. Just like when you go to your job.
2) The media is not its own thing.
Let's move on from the little guys, though. If anyone is profiting off this, it's corporations. GE, Meredith, and the like. You think that's a joke on 30 Rock? It's not. The next time you want to ram into some news organization, look one rung up. They're all run by huge companies now, many of which have nothing to do with news.
We're blaming the wrong guys. I mean, it's really easy to blame the 24-hour network idiots you actually see camping out in Newtown, attending private child funerals. Who doesn't hate those guys? But this is not the investigative piece of the story. These reporters are not there of their own volition. Their corporate bosses are telling their bosses are telling their bosses are telling them to do something that makes their skin crawl, that makes everyone's skin crawl.
Media really isn't it's own thing. And this is the problem we have all over the country that we're keenly aware of in other businesses, but somehow we forget when it comes to media...that they're also just another penny in the pocket of multi-million-dollar corporations.
Now, in order for these corporations to get paid, they will have to keep their ratings high all the way until February. Because advertisers look at TV in February, in May and in November. These are called sweeps. What they could possibly do is go to the advertisers in question and show them the numbers from this month, but, honestly, it's not going to matter all that much.
I don't know, I could be wrong about all this. I'm only talking from the view point of someone who once produced news shows.
3) The media has a job to do.
So, why do they do it? Why are they there?
Well, because it's a job, really. It's their job.
For some in news, it's a noble drive. They truly believe that through coverage of such events they can evoke public outcry, public thought, political change. Perhaps the angle they take on a story will prompt letters to congresspeople, will prompt votes for or against gun control, accessibility to mental health care, or any other of the myriad of political agendas people have glommed onto. Because the public is no better than the news. The public is just as blowhard-y, just as loud, just as full of hot air in the face of tragedy. All that meme sharing, all those viral blog posts. The public is hungry for this story. And maybe with enough information, they can actually create change for the better.
There are, of course, those out for the glory. For the show reel. For the 'career-maker.' And even those not in it for that can get carried away, can forget, can distance themselves, purposefully or not, from the story. Because to deal in that environment takes a lot of nerve, in the best and worst sense of the word. So, yes, the shots of the millions of cameras, the bragging about the media descending upon Newtown--gross. I agree.
It's a sickly competition, isn't it? But what can one do?
We certainly can't change it by crying outrage and bringing more attention to the business. That, you see, is what makes the business. Attention from the public continues the story. If you don't want to know the gory details, stop watching them.
And there is some good to be done here. Check out the Hartford Courant's coverage. Now, I have no love lost on the Hartford Courant. They laid my husband off, plunging us into two years of grief and poverty. So, I'm not like, their secret champion or anything. But they are being heralded for their "tasteful and complete" coverage of the story.
That's a bit more how you enact change. Make a big deal out of the corporations doing it right. Heap accolades upon them and other news outlets (meaning the organizations behind them) will want to do the same.
But going back to the Courant, they are searching not for "angles" but for the stories that will affect change across the nation. Uncovering the background of the gun-loving townspeople, and looking at whether or not this outlook is dangerous, or whether it's just a coincidence. There are deep questions here that need to be answered. We could let the NRA do it, the politicians do it, the public Facebook meme-ers do it, or the journalists do it. Actually, we can't let any of them do it. Because all of them are going to do it anyway.
4) There is no thrill to this story.
It's okay, you can disagree on this one. But I highly doubt you'll be able to find one newsperson, in even the darkest depths of the most private newsroom reveling in this. Stories that are thrilling are investigative pieces, Watergate would be a good example. A piece where you get to play detective, where you get to right a wrong, bring an evil to light. This story is not one of those. It's just a horrible, horrible thing that happened.
Honestly, the Onion posted the best take on this, in my opinion.
5) The media is all the same (and this includes armchair Facebook journalism)
And I hate this.
Actually, I love it in its way. Genius, really. The Denver Post reports about how awful the news is by hanging out at local Newtown restaurants and eavesdropping on conversations. By harassing a woman for an interview who had already told television crews no several times. It's a whole other angle. And one that makes the Denver Post look so sanctimonious, all by doing exactly what every other news organization is doing.
Great job, guys.
And horrible job.
What we should have done, in my opinion, is had a media blackout out of respect for this community and this tragedy. I hoped when I turned on the news that day at ten p.m., I would see nothing. A time to mourn, to process, to grieve.
But that is not the news. And by watching it when it shows stories we're tired of or think have been completely overdone, we are pushing the very stories we say we don't want to see to the front page again and again.
And by posting on Facebook about how everyone just needs to leave the community alone, we are not leaving it alone. We are continuing the conversation. And by crying out against the politicization of the issues at hand, we are furthering those agendas.
If we want quiet on this issue, we have to be quiet.
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Gifting Giveaway Post!
#XmasGIVEAWAY
Gifting Books Christmas hop was organized by Reading Romances!
Time for a great giveaway hop! Look below for lots of freebies and new friends! The question is what's the best book you've gotten? For me, it was Jane Eyre. My favorite book.
Check out Finding Home!What you can win here: Finding HomeNumber of winners: 2Open to (INT, US or US/CAN): INTHow to enter: Use the Rafflecopter below!
Jessica
Deitermeier is on the run from her family and from herself. The rings her mother
bequeathed to her upon her untimely death are worth money, and her uncle will
apparently stop at nothing to get them.
She makes her way
from Boston to Minnesota and finds work on a small farm. Everything goes
smoothly for four months...until the farmer's “prodigal son” comes home. The
dark, moody Ben Elkers shakes Jessica on a level she doesn't understand.
Ben Elkers is a
failed businessman. When he loses all his money in bad investments, he makes his
way home to Sauk Centre. After leaving his parents without so much as a phone
call for the holidays, he's surprised when they welcome him with open arms, but
even more surprised at the fiery red-headed girl sleeping in his old
bed.
Together, they
discover the importance of family and decide to do whatever it takes to find
home.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Make sure you check out all these other great prizes, too!
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Finding Home Release!
Just in case you didn't know...I'm also an author, and my newest book came out today!
I'm so proud to announce the release of my next book, Finding Home, today!
It's a holiday romance with some suspense thrown in, the story of two people desperately searching for home in their own different ways. It's got farm living, a bar fight, coveted family heirlooms, dark family secrets, city life, Christmas and of course, sexy tension etc.
The cover is beautiful. At this point, you've seen it, but let's show it again, shall we?
****
I'm so proud to announce the release of my next book, Finding Home, today!
It's a holiday romance with some suspense thrown in, the story of two people desperately searching for home in their own different ways. It's got farm living, a bar fight, coveted family heirlooms, dark family secrets, city life, Christmas and of course, sexy tension etc.
The cover is beautiful. At this point, you've seen it, but let's show it again, shall we?
Here's the blurb, and
below the links, I'll give a new excerpt!
Jessica
Deitermeier is on the run from her family and from herself. The rings her mother
bequeathed to her upon her untimely death are worth money, and her uncle will
apparently stop at nothing to get them.
She makes her way
from Boston to Minnesota and finds work on a small farm. Everything goes
smoothly for four months...until the farmer's “prodigal son” comes home. The
dark, moody Ben Elkers shakes Jessica on a level she doesn't understand.
Ben Elkers is a
failed businessman. When he loses all his money in bad investments, he makes his
way home to Sauk Centre. After leaving his parents without so much as a phone
call for the holidays, he's surprised when they welcome him with open arms, but
even more surprised at the fiery red-headed girl sleeping in his old
bed.
Together, they
discover the importance of family and decide to do whatever it takes to find
home.
Buy it HERE at Resplendence Publishing today to get your holiday
romance read on!
If you'd like a
little taste, here's an excerpt from the first few chapters.
****
Ben inhaled the steam as he stepped into
the recently used bathroom. What a vision his parents had procured. And as a
farmhand? That girl should be royalty. Her crimson hair curling around her face
where the tie couldn’t hold it back, her delicate features and little snub nose,
the way she held herself—they all spoke to good breeding and wealth. And her
eyes, a vibrant emerald that nearly held him hypnotized.
He saw from her hands she wasn’t accustomed
to life on the farm and from her sweater and posture she had style and grace.
His mother had said from the girl was from Boston but she never talked about
home. Ellie had been warning him not to broach the subjects during his father’s
arrival and their homecoming dinner, but Ben didn’t know if he could hold back.
He wanted to know everything he could about the beautiful creature helping his
mother cook downstairs.
He’d had a lot of girls in the city,
especially in the beginning when he was so confident he’d spent loosely, out to
impress. Fancy dinners, investor meetings, penthouse suites…Ben had done the
whole thing. On his own dime. A dime he didn’t even have yet and now probably
never would.
But none of the wealthy blondes or
brunettes had called to him the way this girl was after only a brief meeting.
She had an innocence about her, tied to a protective barrier he couldn’t quite
make heads or tails of. He got the impression she wasn’t in Minnesota because
she liked the weather. Her accent was fully Massachusetts. He wondered what had
brought her all the way out here.
He folded a towel around his powerful hips
and went out into the small hallway. From habit, he headed for his old room. And
he ran straight into Jessica. The girl had just been coming upstairs, and Ben
reached out his arms, grasping her to stop her from falling backward. The feel
of her soft sweater on his naked skin sent goose bumps down his spine, and he
felt an unwelcome arousal creeping up beneath the towel.
“Are you okay?” he asked, his voice a bit
breathless. “I almost killed you.”
She looked up at him, those soulful eyes
capturing his own and not letting go. As they stood there, a crazy impulse
swamped Ben and before he could stop himself, he drew the girl against his
chest. She gave no resistance, just a soft whimper of surprise. Her head rested
on his damp shoulder. She smelled of cookie dough, the old farmhouse and
everything he loved. His heart rate quickened, and he dropped his arms, allowing
her to step back.
She glanced at him again, under her long
fiery lashes, before moving past him, holding up the bundle in her hands. “I was
just going to replace the linens.”
She closed the bathroom door behind her
before he could respond.
When Jessica returned downstairs, Ben was
waiting for her, his hand on the banister. He was dressed in a black button-up
and tight European-style jeans. He’d combed back his black hair, and it stayed
that way because it was still wet. He looked sleek and sure of himself, a lazy
smile on his bow-shaped lips.
“My lady, the parents of the house request
our presence at the dinner table.” He swooped out his arm with a flourish,
twirling his hand and taking a mock bow.
She giggled and slipped her fingers into
his palm, her nerves tingling at the touch. He led her to the dining room,
rubbing the back of her hand with the pad of his thumb. Every muscle in her body
tightened at his movements.
“A true family dinner?”
Ben stopped and turned her toward him. “Is
there any other way?” he asked.
Jessica thought about it. She was an only
child, and before her parents had died, they’d treated the Christmas holiday
like any other time. Sure, on the day itself, there had been presents, maybe a
few carols, but certainly no special dinners. No visiting with relatives,
either. That had been completely out of the question. Her father didn’t have any
family, and while her mother had a brother who lived a half hour away, just
outside Boston, they didn’t speak. Even the mention of Uncle Travis’ name had
put her mother in a huff. Jessica had learned early on that she would never meet
her family, that she shouldn’t want to. She only knew she had some young cousins
from the note Travis had written her after the funeral. Whatever had happened in
those years before Jessica had been born, it was
unforgivable.
A throat cleared from the other room, and
Jessica found Ben's father, Harold, staring at them from his spot at the head of
the table. She felt sure he would reprimand them for stalling until the stern
lines of his face softened into a smile.
“It’s time to eat,” he said gently, “but
before you head over here, look up.”
Hanging above their head was a sprig of
white berries and dark green leaves, tied to a hook on a
string.
“The mistletoe?” she
asked.
Harold nodded. Strong arms drew her close. Of all the ways
she could have spent the Christmas season, she’d never imagined she’d be in the
arms of a dark, handsome stranger, sharing a kiss.
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Guest Post: Thinking of Going Back to School? How to Balance Education with Motherhood
Today I've got a guest post about going back to school as a mom, which is great, since I'll be starting on my Master's degree come January.
Jessica Ford writes about education, parenting and more. Her proudest work is on the best online masters degrees.
In this modern day and age, women are as much capable of providing for their children as men do. Yet in order to secure better paying jobs and a promising career path that can assure their family's financial stability, single mothers often have to go back to school to accomplish a degree. While throwing yourself back to college may seem physically and mentally challenging, the actual ordeal is balancing your educational responsibilities and family obligations. Absorbing all the things you are taught at school on a daily basis while making sure your baby has enough diapers or formula will be extremely difficult to juggle. Below are key pointers to remember in order to successfully balance education and motherhood.
Have a Plan
Planning thoroughly will help you balance these two exhaustively demanding aspects of your life. A daily and weekly plan will keep your baby needs well supplied while also allowing you to fulfill school requirements. Most colleges provide the privilege of adjusting your subjects and schedules. Make sure you take advantage of this privilege though. Remove as many free periods in between subjects as you can, so that you can go home earlier and attend to your children's needs. During your school breaks, use the time wisely by creating a shopping plan for your baby's supplies. You can also use this free time to accomplish school assignments in advance.
Online Courses
With technology advancing to immense heights, different industries are now able to offer better solutions, one of which is online courses. It is indeed possible and even increasingly prevalent to earn a college degree right from the comforts of your home. There are diverse benefits to securing a degree via the Internet. This option allows single mothers to finish a course while still being able to monitor their children closely. Moreover, it saves time and energy from having to commute back and forth from the facility, resources that mothers could be using to get some much needed rest or to care for their children.
Involve Your Children
If they are old enough, say 8 years old or above, teach your children to perform simple enough chores on their own. This may include tidying up their playroom after their finished playing, putting their dirty clothes in the laundry bin, or cleaning up after they finish eating. This not only helps you conserve time and energy, but also allows your children to establish a sense of responsibility. Of course, as a parent, you must always ensure the activities your children engage in are utterly safe.
Hire a Nanny
If you have a young children, it may be sensible to hire a nanny. Hired helpers can perform general home cleaning and child care while you're away. Though it does cost money, you will be able to ensure that your child is safe and given adequate care and attention during your absence.
Overall, balancing education with motherhood will be a very stressful process. However, given the right plan, family teamwork, and determination to achieve your set goals, the process is completely possible.
Have a Plan
Planning thoroughly will help you balance these two exhaustively demanding aspects of your life. A daily and weekly plan will keep your baby needs well supplied while also allowing you to fulfill school requirements. Most colleges provide the privilege of adjusting your subjects and schedules. Make sure you take advantage of this privilege though. Remove as many free periods in between subjects as you can, so that you can go home earlier and attend to your children's needs. During your school breaks, use the time wisely by creating a shopping plan for your baby's supplies. You can also use this free time to accomplish school assignments in advance.
Online Courses
With technology advancing to immense heights, different industries are now able to offer better solutions, one of which is online courses. It is indeed possible and even increasingly prevalent to earn a college degree right from the comforts of your home. There are diverse benefits to securing a degree via the Internet. This option allows single mothers to finish a course while still being able to monitor their children closely. Moreover, it saves time and energy from having to commute back and forth from the facility, resources that mothers could be using to get some much needed rest or to care for their children.
Involve Your Children
If they are old enough, say 8 years old or above, teach your children to perform simple enough chores on their own. This may include tidying up their playroom after their finished playing, putting their dirty clothes in the laundry bin, or cleaning up after they finish eating. This not only helps you conserve time and energy, but also allows your children to establish a sense of responsibility. Of course, as a parent, you must always ensure the activities your children engage in are utterly safe.
Hire a Nanny
If you have a young children, it may be sensible to hire a nanny. Hired helpers can perform general home cleaning and child care while you're away. Though it does cost money, you will be able to ensure that your child is safe and given adequate care and attention during your absence.
Overall, balancing education with motherhood will be a very stressful process. However, given the right plan, family teamwork, and determination to achieve your set goals, the process is completely possible.
Jessica Ford writes about education, parenting and more. Her proudest work is on the best online masters degrees.
Monday, December 17, 2012
Recipe Monday - Pumpkin Pie
I made my first pumpkin pie over the weekend, and it was a smashing success. The best pumpkin pie I've ever eaten, and I don't even like pumpkin pie.
9 inch pie crust
Pumpkin puree, 1 can(15 oz)
Condensed milk, 1 can (14 oz)
Eggs, 2 nos.
Ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon
Ground ginger, 1/2 teaspoon
Ground nutmeg, 1/2 teaspoon
Salt, 1/2 teaspoon
To make the whipped cream:
9 inch pie crust
Pumpkin puree, 1 can(15 oz)
Condensed milk, 1 can (14 oz)
Eggs, 2 nos.
Ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon
Ground ginger, 1/2 teaspoon
Ground nutmeg, 1/2 teaspoon
Salt, 1/2 teaspoon
Pumpkin Spice, 1/2 teaspoon
To make the crust:
I used 1 1/2 cups of graham cracker crumbs mixed with three tablespoons of sugar and 1/3 cup of butter.
I baked it at 350 for 8 minutes.
To make the pie:
- Pre heat the oven to 425 F
- Whisk together pumpkin puree and condensed milk, add the spices, salt and also beat in the eggs and mix well till they form a smooth mixture.
- Pour this mixture into the pie crust and bake for 15 minutes.
- Now reduce the oven temperature and continue to bake for another 30-40 minutes or until the fork inserted comes out clean.
- Let them cool. Serve it with dollop of whipped cream or as desired.
To make the whipped cream:
I mixed a cup of heavy cream with 1/3 cup of confectioner's sugar and beat until fluffy.
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