Diagnosing Ear Infections on Your Smart Phone

Have you heard of this?  As a parent of a toddler who has had 3+ ear infections in her 16 short months of life thus far, I am thoroughly intrigued by the Oto Home.  This handy dandy device attaches to your smartphone, where it takes a video of your child's ear drum.  Then, without visiting the doctor, you can send the video in for a diagnosis.  

What will they think of next?!

image/soundshc

Goals for 2015

Following my own traditions, I prefer to make goals for the new year instead of resolutions. 

+ worry less

I worry about everything.  I worry about my daughter, my husband, my parents, my friends.  I worry about illness.  I worry about my students.  I worry about the emails I get from their parents.  I worry about what could happen, did happen, or won't happen.  I've been told I worry more than the average person.  I am so sick of worry.  Time and time again I'm told "don't worry," and I wish it were that simple, that I could just flip a switch and my worries would vanish, or at least be dimmed and muted.  Hence, this my goal for 2015, do whatever I can to worry less.  I would say "don't worry," but I know that's inevitable.  Baby steps.

+ read more books

I used to read all the time. Then I became a mother and my reading quota declined significantly.  Which is expected of course, but I do truly enjoy reading and would like it to become a more frequent activity.  According to my goodreads account, I only read 2 books in 2014.  Gasp!  That is peanuts for me.  The moral of that story is read more in 2015.

+ get outside

With my darling now walking - more like running - I want to take advantage of our fair weather and get outside more often.  Whether that be a stroll around the neighborhood or a hike on a nearby trail, my goal for this year is to spend more time outside as a family than we did in 2014.

+ try and shop/spend locally

I feel like this is a buzz phrase right now, so bear with me.  And one might argue, well in Seattle, Starbucks and Amazon are local…right? But seriously, when I think about my year, I recall way too many frequencies in the drive-thru Starbucks line.  I'd like to change that.  This year, I'd like to strive to buy produce at Farmer's Market during the Spring/Summer months when the pickings are better.  Aim to try and buy coffee and snacks at local establishments rather than always relying on Starbucks to stifle my hunger or thirst with a quick fix.  

+ other random goals and ideas

…successfully make a poached egg

…memorize a recipe for homemade pie crust

…wait to get to work to check email (i.e. not right when I wake up)

…make chocolate babka

…drink more water

…finish baby book 

What are your goals or resolutions for 2015?

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Past goals for 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009

Dinner Last Night: Mushroom & Wild Rice Soup

I love it when images I pin become realized!  Another Pinterest dinner in the books - this time, mushroom and wild rice soup.  The recipe calls for the addition of tofu, but I've never been much of a tofu fan so I left that out.  However, I don't think it's really necessary, as the soup is surprisingly creamy considering it's dairy free.  A healthy vegetarian soup for a rainy day.

image/tastelovenourish

Mashup

I'm sure you've seen this circulating around the internet, but it was too good to pass up in the event that you haven't.  I love Taylor Swift's new album, 1989, and these two croon a pretty superb mashup of "Style" and "Blank Space."  Take a listen.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year's Eve to you and yours.  We have a pretty low key New Year's Eve lined up for tonight; a plateful of homemade pierogis (courtesy of yours truly), a chilled bottle of pink champagne, and a sweet baby cozy in her crib.  We have a lot to be thankful for in 2014.

Happy New Year!  Cheers to all the goodness ahead in 2015!

Quote of the Week

"For last year's words belong to last year's language

And next year's words await another voice.

And to make an end is to make a beginning.

~ T.S. Eliot, "Little Gidding"

image/bbb

Dinner Last Night: Pan Roasted Steak with Creamed Kale

I ripped this recipe from my Real Simple magazine over a month ago, and it's been taunting me ever since, as if to say "make me, make me" every time I glimpse it lying there watchful on the counter.  Well, I finally did make it, and creamed kale might just be the next great way to eat your veggies!  We cheated and went with a pre-marinated steak from Trader Joe's, but the creamed kale and cannellini bean concoction was a stellar (and might I add, healthy) side, one I will definitely be making again!

image/realsimple