Monticello: Grounds & Gardens on Lost in DC

"I am savage enough to prefer the woods, the wilds, and the independence of Monticello, to all the brilliant pleasures of this gay capital [Paris] . . . . for tho' there is less wealth there, there is more freedom, more ease, and less misery."                                                                       - Thomas Jefferson (to Baron Geismar), 1785

The front of the house at Monticello (top right of the collage, below) looks a lot like the back of the house.  The major differences are the drive in the front and the brick path in the back that winds around the West Lawn, a huge expanse of green.  [read more...] 

A Brief Visit to Monticello on Lost in DC

I have an announcement to make (quasi-proclamations are fun, you guys): I have been overthinking and putting off this post for too long.  Seth and I took this trip back in August, when it was still unbearably hot here in Virginia.  We didn't get to spend a lot of time in  Charlottesville or at the Monticello plantation, so I had endeavored to make my way back there before posting anything.  Or, at least, to do enough research to feel like I had an idea of what I was talking about.  In the end, there is just so much to learn about Monticello and Jefferson and far too many interesting things to write about the man, his ideas and the times he lived in, to do justice to any of the above.  Of course, since I also forgot my camera and had to use my cellphone for pictures, this isn't the ideal photojournal of the trip, either.  Thus, I am resigned to just enjoy writing what I do know and sharing with you the few decent pictures I managed to take.  I offer you a wealth of rainy-day cell-phone photos and my first impressions of/lingering thoughts about the places we saw, to start with.  As time allows, I will definitely be going back to Monticello to explore and do the other tours (hopefully, with a decent camera next time).  [read more...]

Once in a Lifetime Kindness on Lost in DC

I want to put out there how much I appreciate Andi, of Once in a Lifetime Travel, for posting something related to Hurricane Sandy.  The particular blog she posted it on is usually about Italy, which is why I love reading it and checking out her Featured Photo Friday posts.  But yesterday Andi's post was titled Simple Kindness After Hurricane Sandy.  [read more...]

So...What Do You DO?

I have been thinking a lot lately about what people I know do for a living.  I know a lot of people who care about what they do.  But I believe I only know a few who truly enjoy, even love, their day jobs.  

I have had jobs which I did not look forward to on a daily basis, but when I was there I still gave it my all.  I have always cared enough to do my best because I knew it impacted other people.  That said, I can't think of a job I've had in which I truly didn't care.  Even when I knew it wasn't the right place for me anymore, I still gave a damn.  

Sometimes you have to accept that you are not the right person for the job.  And if that is the case, it will eventually make you miserable (and likely everyone around you, as well).  In those situations, you work as hard as you can and give plenty of notice when possible, because a firm work ethic means not leaving a mess behind.  Then again, many of us have had that experience where giving notice meant a swift kick out the door.  It's always a shock when someone you have worked so hard for takes it a bit too personally when you decide to move on.  

In any case, what I've found is that there is a big difference between wanting to be good at what you do and actually looking forward to showing up every day - with a huge smile on your face, ready for the next challenge.   I've also found that quite a few people think that the latter doesn't exist for them.  

Then again, for some it simply is not worth the sacrifices that sometimes come with searching for the right fit.  There are people who make a lot of money doing what they love.  It just happens that for some of us, what we really enjoy doing may never make us wealthy.  We also may never have the kind of stability that a standard office job tends to give.  

In 2012, I made three major life changes, simply because I knew things had to change somehow and the opportunity presented itself.  I moved to the East Coast from the West.  I gave up living alone (I can't begin to tell you how hard that was for a hermit like me) in order to be closer to my family.  And I decided to do the things I love, to see if I can earn a living without becoming miserable.  And by that, I do not mean normal ups and downs - there will always be bad days or weeks or even months.  It isn't about things being easy.  It's about them feeling worthwhile just the same.  

So I now have two jobs.  One is this blog, which some of you may have thought I'd quit, but it was more like a health hiatus mixed with being busy starting the other job.  And there was definitely some laziness and irresponsibility to blame, which seems to be something that only occurs when I'm self-employed.  Dangerous, that.  But I also admit to concentrating on the other job because it actually pays and it can take a long time before a blog generates revenue (granted, some of that is up to the keeper of that blog).  Balancing the two certainly presents its own set of challenges.

The second job is working in retail for a company I have wanted to work for since I first heard about them, several years ago.  It's a part-time job.  In a mall.  And some people who have known me for a long time are a bit horrified that I would take a job that doesn't pay what I'm used to and isn't behind a desk.  But most of the people I know are overjoyed because they know how much I love this company.  They know that office work isn't for everyone and that I'm happier than I've been in a long while.

Let me take a moment to describe how I feel when I arrive at work:  Relieved to be there, even though I'm still outside of my comfort zone.  Excited to see my coworkers and the regulars who are so charming and lovely and quirky like we are.  Genuinely interested in the things we sell and always curious to know more.  I honestly enjoy myself.  Not every day is perfect.  The work can be hard, people can be brutal and my feet, legs and lower back hurt by the time I walk out the door.  But I look forward to it anyway.  And when I'm not there, I'm usually thinking about it.  Reading up on new products, trying out items that I've brought home, or searching for new ways to apply the knowledge I already have.  I even dream about it sometimes.

The point is that I didn't want to just keep doing something because I knew I was good at it and making money.  I wanted to do something that would make me happy and bring back a part of my personality that I felt I'd lost.  The person I am on the sales floor is unrecognizable.  Every so often someone will remark on my enthusiasm and I am reminded just how delighted I really am to be where I am right now.  Money cannot buy this kind of joy.

~
Some questions for you guys:

Do you believe that what you do for a living reflects on who you are as a person?

Should making money and having stability be the most important factor when job hunting?

Or do you value creativity, a dynamic setting, believing in the company you work for, etc?

Three Things

1.  Being sick for a full month is stupid.  Therefore, I must be stupid.

2.  Today is the last day to vote early!  I also love that I can go online to find where I'm supposed to vote, because I'm so unbelievably lazy that I don't want to dig through my mail for that information.  

3.  If you neglect your blog for too long, spam happens.

DON'T LET SPAM HAPPEN.

I'm Still Alive and I've Been to C-ville on Lost in DC

Seth came for a visit in August, to celebrate my birthday with me, and we decided to take a brief trip to Charlottesville.  Neither of us had been to Thomas Jefferson's Monticello (our adventure will be detailed in the next Lost in DC post) and wanted to spend most of a day there.  But first we wanted to check out C-ville (as it is evidently referred to by the locals).  

Charlottesville is located in the Piedmont Plateau, at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains, with the Rivanna River running through.  The city has been independent (not part of a county) since 1888, but serves as a cultural center for the surrounding area.  You will not only find Thomas Jefferson's mountain-top home, Monticello, but the home of learning he founded, the University of Virginia.  [read more...]

Breaking the Surface

I have officially received a much-needed kick in the pants from Meg.  I was working on the post The Silence Stops Now this morning and I kept feeling like something was missing or that I was really skirting the issue at hand.  Mary and I talked about it and she told me that if I felt something was off, I should sleep on it.  But I hadn't posted in a few days and I couldn't see how else I'd change things, so I published the post anyway.  

I can't say it was an absolute mistake, as I don't think it's a horrible piece of writing, but I have to say that I should have listened to Mary.  I'm also thankful to both her and Meg for having my back, while still being able to call me out when I don't say something that I should.  As Meg did in an email to me today, pointing out (very gently) the fact that harassment is what Marcotte was addressing, specifically, in It's Really Time for the Harassment to End on The Raw Story.  From Meg:

I read your post.  It's good, but I think I was still hoping for more.  I feel like it only scratches the surface of how serious and prevalent sexism and harassment are.  Women deal with it every day, to the point that it's regarded as commonplace.  But we are still having to legally combat sexism in the workplace, church, etc.  

I think this is just a hot button issue for me.  I see it, I hear about it from my closest friends, I have to deal with it myself, and it doesn't seem to be getting that much better.  When I read your post, I realized that you didn't go down the harassment road so much as the general sexism one.  And then I was reminded of all of my working-in-church moments, and growing-up-in-private-school moments - where women were truly treated like second class citizens in the most passive and unassuming ways.  The "it's for your own good," "we're protecting you," and "you were actually created not as smart and not as strong as men, it's okay."  Then when you are as smart and strong as the men you're working with, it seems difficult for them to swallow.

"I'm the Best" by Nicki Minaj is Meg's new anthem (at least, this part of it): 

All the girls will come in, as long as they understandThat I'm fightin' for the girls that never thought they could win'Cause before they could begin you told 'em it was the endBut I am here to reverse the curse that they live in

So the question of the day is why did I hesitate to talk about harassment directly?  I suppose because there are so many levels to it - things get complicated very quickly.  And I don't actually want to bash men in general or be negative at all.  But, admittedly, I kind of wussed out on that last post, though I did not intend to.  So here is what I feel, at the end of the day, having talked to other women about this and examined where I stand:

As women, we are not required to treat men the way they want to be treated.  While I prefer to use courtesy with my fellow human beings, I am not required to give my attention or anything else to anyone, if I do not want to.  I do not owe anyone anything.  My preference for courtesy, tact and diplomacy come from wanting to have a nice, positive experience with other people and hopefully get the same in return.  However, I will not respond well to acts of intimidation or attempts to make me feel guilty.  I will not put up with someone who tries to control or overpower me.  I would never do that to another person, why on earth would I allow them to do that to me?

There is a difference between being courteous, which both sexes benefit from, and being the one who always has to be in control.  That is, in the end, what the harassment is about - power, domination, control.  I don't care if you think you're better, stronger or smarter than me - you might be all three - you do not own me, control me or get to have me.  

The Silence Stops Now

A friend of mine posted a link to an article the other day that inspired this post.  Part of the inspiration was about things being said that really needed to be, but that no one wants to talk about or even acknowledge.  The other part of it was that I found the article so hostile and raw (which is absolutely appropriate for the site that it's posted on) that I wanted to address it in such a way as to reach those people who might turn away from something so strongly worded.  

When it comes to sexism and harassment there are so many lines that could be crossed.  And those lines do differ from person to person (we are certainly each allowed our own boundaries).  Some women feel that the majority of men they interact with are trying to get something out of them.  Some women think that any act of courtesy, like opening a door for a woman, is misogyny.  And then some women think that the rest of those women are crazy banshees who should stop complaining.  And, unfortunately, some women attack anyone who tries to point out that there is a great imbalance between the sexes.    

Allow me to take the middle ground here.  I do not feel it is necessary to reprimand every person who invades my personal space or attempts to demand my attention.  I prefer to be diplomatic when I can and get along with everyone as much as possible.  At the same time, I do have my boundaries and I am not afraid to enforce them.  I believe that both boys and girls should be raised to be assertive, to stand up for themselves as well as others, and to have respect for people who are not like them, whether that means of a different gender, a different race, a different religion - you get the idea.  

I do not want to lessen anything that Amanda Marcotte wrote in It's Really Time for the Harassment to End.  Although maybe I am compromising too much of myself, maybe I'm using diplomacy when I should be suckerpunching people (not that she's saying that).  I'm fairly certain that's how most of the men I know would respond to some of the things I've experienced.

FINDING YOUR VOICE

When I was younger I didn't have the skills or the internal strength to fight back or walk away.  And whether they meant to or not, there were men who treated me in a way that made me fearful.  Now I am stronger and wiser, and possess at least some skills to deal with uncomfortable or unpleasant situations.  But I recognize that not every person feels strong enough to stand up for themselves and I do not think less of them for it.  Those of us who have strong voices would do well to use them when we see that others don't or can't.

TOXIC PERSONALITIES

I wrote recently about "trolling."  It remains a great fear in the back of my mind and when I see other bloggers dealing with it, I step in and help them wherever I can.  I hope that they will continue blogging, but I also understand why people get sick of it.  It is abuse, plain and simple.  It serves no constructive purpose and is harmful to everyone who comes into contact with it.  They benefit no one and they discourage those who haven't found their voice yet from ever finding it.  I suppose that's exactly what trolls are aiming for.  And I cannot begin to understand what makes a person want to be so toxic.

BEYOND THE DAY TO DAY

Aside from the day to day attempts we make to find balance in a world where too many people feel that their gender/sexual orientation/religion/etcetera should dominate and control, there are some very serious issues that get completely ignored.  I'd like to encourage everyone reading this post to check out the Facebook pages for Stop the Worldwide War on Girls and their new sister site, The Silence Stops Now.  Both pages provide information about abuse and violence that women suffer.  Neither are meant to tear down men.  They are about respect.  Equality.  Peace.  Understanding.  Making the world a better place for everyone.  These are the things we should be striving for.

National Portrait Gallery on Lost in DC

When I'm not busy planning outdoor adventures for stormy days, I like to plan poorly for indoor activities.  Which is why the photos in this post are such crap (I forgot my camera and had to use my phone - remember that one time I went to the NY Met?  Yeah...) and there are so few of them (we left really late and didn't get to explore the whole museum before it closed).  So instead of telling you all about the fabulous National Portrait Gallery and American Art Museum in Washington DC that I didn't really get to explore for very long, I'm going to share with you some of my favorite pieces currently on display that I did get pictures of.  I plan on going back to this one soon - definitely worth a visit.  It's also free and open till 7pm (a lot of the museums close around 5pm).  [read more...]

Great Falls Park on Lost in DC

You could go to Great Falls, one of the National Parks in Northern Virginia, on a nice, sunny day.  You could go early in the morning to avoid traffic and crowds, even.  But wouldn't it be more exciting to go on a rainy day?  Especially if one of your companions is already sick?  

In April, I planned a trip to Shenandoah National Park on a foggy day and we couldn't see two feet ahead of the car once we were halfway up the mountain.  And just wait, I went to Monticello this month on a rainy, foggy day.  Best of both worlds, right?

I really have the worst planning skills.  I just shouldn't be allowed to plan things.  [read more...]

Happy Birthday, Matt!

I am so very lucky to have the friends and family that I do.  Today, on my birthday, I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to this blog, be it by writing a post, taking a picture, sharing an idea or helping me edit and revise my own work.

And I can't even fathom how to show my appreciation to all the awesome people who have already made my first birthday on the opposite coast magnificent (hyperbole is not enough!).  I've had friends and family in town (which is why I've been such a neglectful blogger lately, shame on me) and my Best Jess is still here, celebrating the actual day-of with me.  Over the last two weeks I've been to Monticello, Great Falls Park and the DC Botanic Gardens (and we're not done exploring yet).  I have Lost in DC drafts backed up, so there is much in your future.  

In fact, I've taken far too many pictures and will probably spend most of tomorrow editing, then get at least one post out tomorrow night.  My crochet has completely gone by the wayside, but I will pick it back up this weekend.  It would appear that there is also sewing in my future...that should be...interesting.  The basil, mint and blackberry plants are all still alive, so happy birthday to me on that (poor things).  Seth and I are working on our next Breaking Down Beauty post.  And my friend Ludka took some great pictures at our local LUSH store so we can share some newness with you that we're really excited about.

And now the thanks part that is probably only interesting if you actually know me:

For those of you who sent snail mail birthday wishes - you know I love it and I got some new stationery just for you.  A super huge thank you to Cristian and the crew for kicking off my actual birth-day with a phone call from the other coast at midnight - so great to hear all your voices again, but seriously - no Billy Joel serenade?!  Best Jess and I honored Cristian's awesome birthday surprise by sharing a  bottle of Chilean wine (do I have to return her to the West Coast?).  And much, much, much appreciation to my super creative, lovely, funky lady-family, The Youngs, who left birthday wish pictures in various places for me (often involving swearing, so delicate sensibilities beware).  And of course, I've received all kinds of gifts, from things to help me be crafty to fancy owl-y accessories and, of course, lovely bath products from LUSH.  A birthday without those just wouldn't do.

Happy Birthday to Kevin, my eternal birthday buddy.  Sorry, you're totally stuck with me. 

And Matt, I know it's not your birthday, like ever, but HAPPY BIRTHDAY!  Go watch Titanic and think of me.  No, wait.  Don't.

Oh the Humanity

I do not consider myself a particularly fashionable person.  While I have my own style, it's more about comfort and function than being on trend.  But I do appreciate fashion, even if you'd never know it by looking at me, and I do occasionally check out fashion blogs.  I've been pleased to find that my body type is actually represented by some blogs.  And I've found even more diversity since I became a member of CapFabb (Capital Area Fashion and Beauty Bloggers).  Obviously I'm not going to be writing about style or fashion any time soon, but I do write about beauty products on The Thinnest Skin.  Since joining CapFabb I have noted that it is mostly about the fashion world, but my fellow members are a very kind and generous group who take the time to answer all questions, go to each other's blogs and events, and really just support each other in full.  

They also prove that you can be fashionable at any size, in any shape, etc.  I feel my self-esteem rises more from looking at their blogs (and seeing all differents kinds of men and women represented) than it ever could by looking at the advertising in magazines, on television, or on billboards.  I am proud to call myself a member of this extremely diverse group of people (size, shape, age, color, ethnicity, religion, gender, etcetera).  If anything, I feel a bit guilty at times for not participating enough.  Perhaps that is why I feel I would be remiss if I did not state my utter dismay at an article from Washington Post Express that was shared with our group.  I may not be a fashion blogger, but I do support the fabulous fashionistas who brave the blogging world every day, in DC and elsewhere.

Mary and I have had quite a few conversations about haters.  We are often disappointed (and mystified) to find women hating on other women.  We just can't get used to the idea that anyone would find it necessary, but some women seem to consider their entire sex competition and do their best to keep other women from succeeding.  And though this article states that both men and women write fashion blogs, women are clearly targeted (see all of the examples the author lists throughout the post) - men appear to be just an aside here to cover the author's ass.

Jennifer Barger's My Blog, My Self post from August 24th 2012 is a remarkably negative and catty view of fashion bloggers in general.  She seems to typecast all fashion bloggers as insecure ninnies who need regular validation of their fashion sense.  Or "mostly 20-somethings...fishing for compliments...without much useful advice."   Both petty and inaccurate.

I have no doubt that some fashion bloggers fit the bill here, but to throw the entire group into that pigeon hole shows a serious lack of research and some misplaced vitriol.  What self-righteousness!  Criticizing these people for not allowing modeling agencies or fashion magazines to dictate who gets to have their picture taken and shown to the public.  Oh, the humanity!  Thou dost protest too much, my dear.  Your insecurities are showing.  

When I shared this with Mary, she said, "The article itself is pretty shallow.  While there are narcissists who blog about their style, there are many (perhaps more) who are creative, artistic and entrepreneurial.  And why not?  Women are getting their names out to the public - it's a form of networking, of developing business contacts, a career, or just sharing something fun.  To look down one's nose at these people shows a lack of insight into the whole blogging phenomenon."

But don't take it from us, since we don't even blog about fashion.  Instead, read the eloquent and well-researched response that Rachel posted on Fair Vanity.  It is far kinder to the author than I'm feeling right now, but I appreciate that Rachel took the high road.  Don't forget to scroll down - a couple of the bloggers that Barger wrote about left comments under the Fair Vanity post.

One thing I can attest to, though I haven't had the experience on this blog, is that weeding out negative comments isn't a way to make ourselves look good.  It's a way to eliminate trolling.  I have seen some pretty vicious trolling on other blogs and I am fully aware that whether or not my blog is successful, I could easily fall victim to the same thing.  Internet trolls have only one purpose - to harass other people.  You can disagree with me all you like, you can comment in a negative way on one of my posts and I will keep it, as long as it's appropriate (constructive, not offensive).  But if someone leaves a comment that is only meant to harm one of the LostGirls contributors or another reader, of course I'm going to delete it.  I'd also like to note that it's easy to criticize how other people moderate comments when you don't have to. If you'd like to let the editor know how you felt about this article, contact the Washington Post Express at inbox@readexpress.com.

Breaking Down Beauty: Tampons & Dioxins on The Thinnest Skin

Why start with dioxins, you ask?  Well, this whole discussion about possibly toxic beauty got started with two things.  

The first was a rumor I heard in the late nineties and only recently asked Seth, my chemistry guru, about.  What I heard was something along the lines of, "I don't use mainstream tampons anymore because they bleach them and they get contaminated with dioxin."  Of course, I had no idea what dioxin was, but I also don't use tampons (I'm weird that way), so I didn't really think about it again until...

The second was information that I came across online that stated there are several "toxic" ingredients being used in the cosmetics industry.  The information seemed to be presented in a pretty reasonable way and I'm no chemist, but I tried just doing a general search online and came up with all kinds of things being used in cosmetics that various people were claiming to be toxic.  My thought was, "Why are they allowed to put all this stuff into cosmetics?!"  

Instead of letting the panic continue, I called Seth and and gave him the skinny.  He felt it was an interesting thing to research.  Since I had just remembered the tampon/dioxin rumor, we started there.  So, in case you were worried, we do realize that tampons aren't cosmetic.  [read more...]

Breaking Down Beauty: Definitions on The Thinnest Skin

Some Basic Definitions from Seth:

Before proceeding we should first agree on the definition of the following key terms: chemical, toxic, organic, synthetic chemical, natural chemical.  [read more...]

Lazy Ramen on Uncrafty

Meg shared a pin on Pinterest with me the other day that she was really excited about.  A great, but simple ramen recipe that she ended up making the next night.  We were talking about how expensive fresh noodles are and how you can just get a package of Top Ramen for 59 cents, toss the spice packet, add your own mix of sauces, veggies, meat, whatever and -  voila.  Seriously, why didn't I think of that?  Loving her idea, but not liking some of the ingredients in the recipe she pinned, I decided to make a very dumbed-down version.  [read more...]

Stumbling Uncraftily Along on Uncrafty

I've heard mention of Stumble Upon for quite a while now.  It's one of those things that I kept meaning to get around to, but then I'd get distracted by, you know - a puppy...or something shiny, and forget.  I finally took the time to check it out when I saw how many site views I get thanks to Stumble Upon.  The majority of my new visitors come through that way, so of course I had to go see what people are on about.  I wish I'd joined earlier.  I really like the concept.  There are so many things to read online and doing searches only gets you so far.  It's nice to select your interests, click the Stumble button and get something fun to read or interact with.  [read more...]

The Culinary Revolutionary

Julia Child, who would have been 100 years old today, broke a lot of rules and defied a lot of standards during her lifetime.  She did not fit the standard of television beauty (taller than most men and middle-aged, to start), but she was the first celebrity chef, thanks to her TV show on PBS.  She did not grow up obsessed with the culinary arts, but went from having little interest in food to being a cultural kitchen icon who wrote and collaborated on several cookbooks, having survived a rough start at the famous French culinary school, Le Cordon Bleu (her characteristic optimism and fearlessness at work).

Julia was determined, joyful and inspirational.  With her husband Paul, who is said to have sparked her initial interest in French cuisine, she started a food revolution, and what a team those two made.  Their love story is extraordinary.  The kind of story too many of us no longer believe in - a successful partnership involving both friendship and romance.  And Paul never seems to have felt threatened by his wife's success.  On the contrary, he inspired, supported and worked alongside her.  Given the times they lived and loved in, their accomplishments in life, work and their marriage are impressive.

Julia Child left a lasting impression on me.  When I was a kid watching her on TV, she looked too tall and sounded too funny to not be a bit awkward, but she was terribly confident and had a great sense of humor.  The first cookbook my mother bought herself was by Julia.  As well as the first one she gave me (you can read more about that on Uncrafty).   Julia was a remarkable role model for women.  She proved that you can be a feminist, a chef, a successful businesswoman and be happily married - all at the same time.  I am currently looking forward to reading the newest of her biographies, Dearie.  But there is a slew of books that celebrate her life available, including her own memoir.  If you feel the need to be inspired lately, here's your chance:

Dearie: The Remarkable Life of Julia Child by Bob Spitz 

My Life in France by Julia Child and Alex Prud-Homme

Appetite for Life by Noel Riley Fitch

A Covert Affair: Julia Child and Paul Child in the OSS by Jennet Conant 

Julia's Cats: Julia Child's Life in the Company of Cats by Patricia Barey and Therese Burson

As Always, Julia: The Letters of Julia Child and Avis DeVoto from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Breaking Down Beauty on The Thinnest Skin

I have spent the last four days getting my house ready for visitors from California and Utah (for my birthday).  Lots of dusting and furniture moving and reorganizing and more laundry than you can shake a stick at.  During my breaks from extreme housecleaning, I have been researching cosmetic ingredients and terms for a series that Seth and I will be doing on The Thinnest Skin called Breaking Down Beauty.

Breaking Down Beauty: Introduction

There is a glut of misinformation out there about beauty products and cosmetic ingredients.  It can be very hard to figure out what is true and what is misunderstood.  Misinterpretation of scientific findings can lead to erroneous and alarmist statements.  Having worked in the natural foods industry (which includes beauty products), I heard a lot of different things from supposedly reliable sources and I never thought to question the accuracy of the information or do my own research.

These days it is also becoming more difficult to separate fact from fiction because certain key words appear to have been redefined by the industry.  Seth, PhD in Chemistry from MIT, has volunteered/been coerced into exploring the different meanings of toxic, organic, synthetic, natural and chemical.  Are these terms just savvy advertising?  A way for one cosmetic company to slam another?  Or are there real reasons to worry about what companies are adding to their products?  I imagine it may be a mix of all three.

The aim of this series is to try to help you (and me, because I want to know too) sort through all the marketing, hype and misconceptions.  [read more...]

A Beat-Box Kind of Day

I got completely absorbed by Incredibox last night, which I found via Stumble Upon.  It didn't take long for both Meg and me to record our own geeky compositions and share them with each other.  This is a great program just for fun or for showing the kids how to make up their own songs.

They don't have the embed option up and running yet, but if you'd like to listen to my composition for Meg called "Shabumpkin" here.  And you can listen to the one I made for Mary called "Pita" here.

For the Moblins

I have been doing a bit of babysitting this month for a friend of mine.  Her toddler is not afraid of monsters and completely understands that the moblin (which is how she says goblin) that lives in the storage closet of my house is not to be disturbed, but is not mean and won't eat her.  Unless she's stinky - moblins like stinky things.  Did you know?

I am always amazed at the way kids' minds work and the amount of joy they get from the littlest things.  Every time I show this little girl something new, she is so delighted and it is so genuine.  She is smart and fearless and she told me today that my cat Ricochet is her friend (he's in love with her, so yeah).  I think less about the stress in my life when I'm around her and after I drop her off with her mom, I feel lighter, if more sleepy than usual.  She makes me use my brain and gets me off my behind and out of the house.  I even write better because I'm not sitting in front of the computer all day.  It's a nice change.  From here on out, I'm going to refer to her as The Moblin on this blog, at least until someone tells me to cut it out (it might end up coming from The Moblin, herself).

Anyway, I have quite a few friends who have kids and I've promised all of them that I will try to include some stuff for kids and parents on this blog whenever I can.  This has been a bit difficult for me, as I don't have children of my own yet.  But I have been inspired by the moblin child I've been looking after, so I now have a few things to share with you.

California Baby Overtired and Cranky Bubble Bath:  I love the smell of this bubble bath - it is very subtle and calming.  We tried it out the other day and The Moblin loved it - especially because it comes with a bubble wand.  I don't know that the essential oils in this changed her mood at all (she wasn't overtired or cranky at the time), but I can tell you that the next time I'm stressed out, I'm going to use it for my own bath.

LUSH Rocketeer Bath Bomb:  I bought one of these when they first came out, then completely forgot about it.  Now I'm glad that I did - it was a big hit with The Moblin.  It even got her to scrub all over (thanks to the blue foam it left on her skin) and it didn't irritate her skin at all.  This bath bomb fizzes and floats around the tub, leaving trails of brightly colored foam in its wake, turning the water blue, then yellow, then green (without leaving a stain in your tub).  As with all LUSH bathing products, it left the whole house (and the child) smelling lovely.

Classic Disney, Vol. 1: 60 Years of Musical Magic:  The Moblin knows all the melodies to these songs, but is now also learning the words.  She has most of Part of That World down (she knows more than I do).  I'm very sad that this doesn't include Poissons from The Little Mermaid (I'll have to get Vol. 3 for that), but at least it's got Under the Sea.  Sorry, we're big on Ariel this week.  This doesn't have all my favorites, but it does have a lot of hers and that's more important...I guess.

Rick's Reads: A Collection from the Blog:  Rick Riordan is one of my favorite children's authors (Percy and The Olympians, The Kane Chronicles, The Heroes of Olympus).  He has written reviews for a wide variety of books for all ages.  I adore Riordan even more now that I know he's a Jim Butcher fan (a great recommendation for anyone who enjoys SFF).  He is also a dad and his reviews often reflect whether his kids liked the book he gave them to read, which is pretty darn cool.

We haven't had a chance to try out 123 Favorite Kids Song 1-3 yet, but it's going to be in the rotation fairly soon.  We enjoy Disney music, but there is more kids music out there to enjoy and quite a bit of it is educational to boot.  Once I've gotten the kid reaction, I'll let you know how this one turned out.  I'm pretty sure it will be well-received, considering how many songs I recognize from my own childhood from the very long list.

This post is for Sarah, a very sweet lil moblin.  For Tepi, who always trusts my book recommendations for her kids.  And, of course, for Tam-Tam and Wyatt - sorry it took me so long to write this!