Summer is....

The pool.
Is there really anything better than dipping your feet or plunging yourself into the pool in the summer? I think not. Little Berry thinks not too. Where's your favorite place to go swimming?

Sunshine.
Just make sure you put on sunscreen. Pappa Starbucks never wears sunscreen and so I finally showed him research stating that African Americans can also get skin cancer. Little Berry is always needing a re-coating because she sweats it off so much. What's your favorite sunscreen?

Fresh Foods.
Tomatoes. Zucchini, eggplant, cucumbers! Cherries, watermelon, pineapple, mangoes, raw garlic, basil! I love summer foods and we go through them so so quickly. What's your favorite summer food?

The smell of summer.
Grass growing, freshly cut grass, the smell of water. The neighbor's grill, even sunscreen has a distinct smell that I can't really get enough of in the summertime.
What are your favorite summertime smells?

What I keep

I've been doing a lot of deep cleaning lately. In preparation for an eventual move and the knowledge that a lot of what we have in our home we don't need, I am scaling back, freecycling, goodwilling and selling things that are worth my energy to even TRY selling. We have so much baby stuff, we were extraordinarily blessed when I was pregnant. Everything we needed we got, mostly as gifts but a few items, like my $300 breastpump, we bought ourselves. In the process, I'm noticing the sweetest things we own. A box of love letters


collecting dust on our cheap Ikea bookshelf, a vintage wind up radio


Little berry's beautiful book


collection, a vintage ride on horse


and Pappa starbuck's old Teddy bear bank. These things, sweetened by my sentiments and the knowledge that they can't be bought at anyoldmart, are the things I keep. The rest I am happy to pass on to anyone who needs them because in their place I'll get more room to love on my girl, a place to put fresh flowers, a chance to see my girl's pretty handmade dresses, and a better view of the two smiling faces I love the most.

- mamma pie

What's on your plate this summer, mate?

(baked artichokes instead of chips with fresh salsa)


I was talking about grocery shopping with some friends recently. Around here, we spend around $125 a week on groceries. Yes we coupon.
At least $60 of this is going to produce each week. Then dairy (cheese! Milk! Yogurt! Kefir! Local fresh eggs!) and bread and tofu/ice cream/other random groceries such as couscous or maple syrup!
It got me thinking about how much fresh food we eat (comparatively speaking) and I thought I'd ask as well as share in hopes of picking up some new ideas (because I'd honestly rather spend less but not get less quality and fresh food, and I think if I learned more fresh food recipes then my prepackaged (I.e. Veggie burgers) meals would be even more reduced. Here is what we buy most weeks in the summer (and all from the farmer's market) that is fresh::
Eggplants 2-3 large
Yellow squash 7ish
Carrots
Artichokes 4-6
Onions (green/red) lots
Tomatoes 4-6
Aparagus 1 large bunch
Mangoes 6
Strawberries 1pint-1quart
Blueberries 1pint-as much as a gallon
Sprouts
Peaches 5-6
Apples 1-3
Corn 9cobs
Bananas 1large bunch
Pineapple occasionally
Lettuce red/purple lettuce and spinach both
Bell peppers red/green 5-6
Watermelon 1-2
Lemons 9ish
Garlic of course
Avacadoes 2-3
And I think thats it. So tell me- what would you make with those veggies and maybe just one or two other ingredients? I want to make the most out of our summer meals and we really love food, so please share!



- mamma pie

Working Mama

The reason I've been away so much lately? I have a job. I'm nannying part-full time for a family who share many of my own views about parenting (not "child rearing," because I don't think children need to be "reared.")
They're very nice, their daughter is a joy. I don't love working, I won't lie to you about that.
It's hard. My girl gets a bit jealous, she is a copycat of the finest sort, picking up the few things I'd rather she didn't notice. Their girl can be a bit bossy to Little berry, and naptime is a killer.
In many ways it feels like having another kid. It makes me not want anymore to be precise. The rivalry, attention seeking behaviors, and the balancing act of handling two is more than I want.
I know many women with more than one child and while I don't think they regret it, I do see that they seem to be able to balance things much better than myself.
And I think I would regret having two or more. I need more than two hands for my one kid as it is.
- mamma pie

Let's call her baby starbucks

How to make the best cup of coffee, a story in pictures by little berry.
First turn on dada's coffee mach-masha-mashene.



Are you paying attention? It's this belly button right here. Don't touch those other belly buttons.


Hey! Look at me. I'm trying to show you something!


Now get some more coffee. Dada says you can't ever use too much.


Pour some in the cup.


Check and make sure you got it in there, alright?



Now stir it around so it looks pretty. Mamma says it smells like poop.



Hmmmm. What am I forgetting....?


Oh, some magnets would be yummy. Let's add those. Mamma says that's a no-no, but I think it's a yes-yes!


Now taste it to make sure it's yummy. Sometimes the magnets don't dissolve very well.


Yep! It's good. We sure did make it yummy! Those magnets give it a real earthy flavor.

*no coffee was harmed in the making of this post. Thanks for dropping by!