crazedparent

Unplugged...

I learned of Michael Jackson's early demise yesterday evening, hours after the news broke.

"How sad! Did you know Michael Jackson died?" I asked my husband as our laptops were back to back at the dining room table.

"Where ya' been?" he said, his voice aghast at my lack of news knowledge. "It's been all over the news. How could you not know?"

If it had happened three weeks ago, his comment would have seemed more appropriate. But since the boys started their summer vacations, I've unplugged all day. I'm not monitoring news sites all day, waiting for breaking stories to write about on Shine. I'm not scouring my iPhone for updates. I'm not in the car listening to NPR or other radio stations, as Nol and Q., my frequent passengers have requested I play CDs of late.

The combination of no television, very limited time spent online in the day, and resisting the pull of my iPhone, has made me very detached. I've been getting my news old-school; I read the newspaper every morning. Or I'll skim the headlines at night when I'm wrapping up work for Shine.

A friend recently asked me if she should call me to reach me, since I'm not checking email as frequently.

"Yes, call me. That's the fastest way to reach me," I answered, and we both laughed because it acknowledged just how much of my life is spent online.

This unplugging experiment, it won't last much longer. Both boys will be in summer camp soon, and I have things to write, web sites to work on. But for now, it's been nice step away from my desk and laptop, especially since it seems I've been glued to the same spot for 18 months.

Stepping away has changed me. And change is good. Really, really good.

And to Michael Jackson: Thank you, thank you, thank you, for bringing music and dancing to my life. For "Beat It" and your amazing video that I grooved to in the fifth grade talent show. And for that ridiculously lame yet cool jacket in the "Thriller" video that made little boys try to copy your style (you know who you are). For "PYT" and the lame crank calls I used to receive from kids in class using that riff. For "The Girl is Mine" with Paul McCartney. For "Smooth Criminal," with its amazing sound and rhythm (could we expect any less?) and for letting Alienl Ant Farm remake the song. And for "Human Nature," my all-time favorite song of yours. RIP, MJ.

Losing space...

I gave up my home office this week. (Even writing those words is painful.)

It was a parenting decision that resulted in the boys getting their own bedrooms. And mom's desk, artwork, photos, and peaceful slice of bliss was related to, well, we're not sure yet. The desk has been taken apart, the photos and pieces of my work and writing life are all packed away temporarily in a closet that is already overflowing with mementos of the past few school years. 

In the process of moving the rooms around, I've created about 20 more home projects that need to be complete to get our family organized. And so the list making begins.

I'm on a staycation this week while Seven is home from school and Q. wraps up his first year of preschool. We've been crafting up a storm. Now if only I could cross more things off of my list.

Welcoming summer vacation...

There is nothing more heartbreaking than picking your preschooler up from class and having him crumble in your arms while hard, hot tears stream from his face, his voice begging you to "just go home, mama." The subtle reminder that being four, being a younger sibling, and learning how to play with friends is so, so hard. 

The start of summer vacation marks the end of the the school year. I've always felt some trepidation at managing the juggle of various schedules and activities that the three months bring. But this year, I am breathing a sigh relief for the break from school, and sporting a smile of excitement at the possibilities that summer will bring.

Distractions and inspirations...

Distractions.
Originally uploaded by crazedparent

I bought a yard of Japanese canvas from Etsy a few weeks ago and it finally arrived yesterday. I'm making a gardening apron with the bug pattern. But the strawberry canvas was a surprise treat from Bytinser (thank you! thank you!), and I have so many ideas with so little time!

See dog jump...

See dog jump.
Originally uploaded by  crazedparent

The dog, she has recovered. Luna Lovegood still shows some pain in her hind leg, lifting her paw when she retrieves things during a light game of fetch. But when the boys blow bubbles? She turns back into her Wonder Dog self. Check out the air.

Get crafty: DIY purse for little girls...

Whenever our schedule is running us ragged, I find myself feeling more inspired to be crafty. Perhaps because it forces me to shut down my laptop and focus on creating something in a different medium. 

Over the weekend, I spied instructions to sew this adorable little purse on Skip to my Lou. Since my niece's birthday party was the next day, I had to make it. Added bonus? The tutorial is meant to include the assistance of a preschooler. Translated: Super easy sewing project.

I used TinkerBell fabric (1/2 yard for $1.50), two hot-pink flower buttons, $1) and rubber bracelets from Anchor Blue (I found a five-pack on sale for $3). The bag took about 25 minutes to make. The most challenging part was sewing the bracelets into the fabric. I opted to use the machine instead of hand sewing, mostly because I'm impatient and wanted to finish the bag before bedtime. 

Next time, I plan on adding liner to make it more sturdy. 

What crafty goodness are you working on? And what do you turn to when you're super busy?

Songs of summer: Chris Isaak, "Baja Sessions"

The blue skies and warm breeze this morning made me think of Chris Isaak. I came home after dropping the boys (all three of them) off at school and work, and turned on my copy of "Baja Sessions." It was the first time I'd listened to it in about eight years, but the sound of the first song began playing, I felt instant peace.

The entire album is summer. It's relaxing on the sand while staring out at waves as they alternate between screaming and whispering across the shore. It's making out with your love on a chaise lounge, while the sun keeps you warm. It's margaritas and Mai Tais on a porch while the sun drops into water so far and so deep and so dark.

I'll be playing it endlessly.

What songs transport you to those peaceful, dreamy summer moments?

Simple things kids love: A jar of buttons...

A large jar filled with colorful treasures, large and small, can lead to many moments of kid-inspired happiness.

They will take the buttons out, one by one, and line them on the floor. They will sort them by color, by shape, by size, by feeling, or by season. They will pour them into a larger container, and for the perfect piece.

Give them glue, construction paper and a paint brush. And they they will make art.

And if you're lucky, they will come to you the next day and ask, "Mom, where is the jar of buttons?"

Getting her groove back.

Luna Lovegood has been sick for the past week. And when you have a pet who is ill, your reaction is similar to that when your kids are sick. You worry when they mope and sleep all day and night. You grow sad when things that they adore, like stuffed animals and food tidbits dropping on the floor, are of no interest. Your heart aches when you hear them moaning and in pain.  

The cause? Apparently an infection behind the plates in her left hip from this surgery 18 months ago.

On day two of "the woes," as I call them, I found Q. on the floor next two her like this:

And it was pretty much the cutest thing. Ever. But if you look at Luna's reaction, you get a sense for just how sick she was.

Today, nine days and nearly $1000 later, she's 90 percent better. She's happy and playful, but she's still light on her left hind leg. She'll be on meds for the next month and here's the stink of it: if she doesn't fully recover, the vet will have to replace the plate on her left hip. 

In the meantime, the rest of us have been crafty. We've baked. We've played baseball until our arms hurt and our voices can no longer yell, "Hustle! Hustle!" And mostly, we've been waiting for our puppy to get her groove back. Like this:

Dispatch from the test kitchen: Rainbow cake...

The second I saw this post over at Omnomicon with photos of an amazing rainbow cake, I knew I'd be trying it at home. It was just a matter of picking an occasion. I wrote about the cake over at Yahoo! Shine for my Itty Bitty Bites series because I think it's one of those feats that will truly knock your kids' socks off when they see a slice. A Shine reader commented that it would make a cool Easter cake and, mira, that was all the inspiration I needed.

I followed the directions over at Omnomicon to the letter with only exception: I did not use soda in my cake mix (side note: I used Duncan Hines white cake mix). 

Should you want to try to make the Rainbow Cake, let my lessons learned be your tips:

1. The cake: You're using one box of cake mix for each layer. After you're done baking, pick the layer that isn't as pretty for the bottom of your cake. You'll need to trim about 1.5 to 2 inches off the top of the cake to get it to a reasonable height for layering. Use a serrated knife (I use our bread knife) to cut that layer after it has cooled. Be careful, be slow, and don't worry that you're cutting out too many colors. No one will notice.

2. Food gels: Instead of mixing colors to get orange and purple, pick up a pack of regular AND neon Betty Crocker Gel Food Colors. You'll need way more gel than you expect and it's nice to have purple and orange already mixed. And if you are looking to get the kids involved, the mixing of the colors with the batter is the perfect time.

3. Frosting: Use cake frosting instead of a whipped topping mix. The flavor of the whipped topic mixed with pudding is good, but it's really, really difficult to move on the cake. Even after being out for a few hours, the whipped topping wasn't very smooth. It felt like I was pushing spackle on plaster. Also? It would pick up lots of crumbs and sometimes would break the cake a bit.

So use frosting that is at room temperature. It'll add extra creaminess to the cake and be much easier to push.

4. Once frosted, don't be shocked that this cake ways a gajillion pounds. It's a thick mutha. But so tasty!

I highly recommend this cake for any party. Forget the "wow" factor -- it's just a clever cake that will make guests smile (especially if they are small and under the age of 10.)

Plus, the photos! My favorite is the cake spatula after several slices. Pretty! (and yummers!)