Over the last few days, I have been adding blogs to my "Blogs that I Follow" list, and I am trying to figure out who I am online. Who is Stephanie? Yes, I have the typical answer of "Wife of Adam, Mom of Two, Employee at a great company . . . . and I like to read and bake. . . . . and I would like to get into shape. . ."
It is pretty blah . . . . . . IMHO.
Who did I want to be? I wanted to be happy when I grew up, and I am happy. I wanted to be a wife, and I wanted to a mom . . . . . and I am those also. But what do I want to be? I want to be a dependable friend. . . . a committed community member . . . . . and I want to be healthier. . . . and I want my kids to grow up to be caring, independent, successful adults. . . . . and they can build on top of that.
More about me. . . . .
Baking and be healthier . . . . doesn't seem to go together, but somehow, I am going to blend the two. I am kicking off healthier eating habits. . . more fruits and veggies, and more water, and I should be walking more. . . . . but I still want to bake those Oreo cakes and chocolate salted brownies.
Of course for the next 10 months, we are in Bar Mitzvah count down, and I will be using the blog to give updates on that. . . . so basically over the next ten months, I hope to eat healthier, exercise more and plan a meaningful Bar Mitzvah for my son, all while being a wife, a mother, an employee and a baker.
Thursday, July 31, 2014
Wednesday, July 30, 2014
Cookbook Flipping
Some nights, I like to curl up with a cookbook and read each page. I like to revisit the recipes that I have made (and the notes I have put on the page), and I like to post it note other recipes that look good to me. I go in phases, and I don't seem to be in sync with the seasons. In summer, I crave cherries and strawberries. . . . but I also crave those types of recipes in the summer too! I love looking at how different cooks design a mozzarella and tomato salad, which is one of my favorite salads of all times. Do you add olive oil? Do you add fresh basil? How does each component work with each other?
There are some nights that I look at my specialty cookbooks and review what I have made. One of the cookbooks I really like is the "Ultimate Brownie Book" by Bruce Weinstein. Sooo many different options, and so many notes. One of my favorite things about my cookbook, is that many of the books open to a tried and true recipe, complete with notes - "Adam loved" or "needs 10 less minutes in the oven." Or, when the book is so tried and true, there are food particles stuck to the page. Tomato sauce on my lasagna recipe!
Sometimes while flipping through the books, I find a new recipe, and it is a complete success. Complete success in my book is when all four family members give it a thumbs up, and a make again. Talk about success! The icing on the cake is when it is an easy recipe too!
Maybe tonight will be one of those nights that I find a new favorite recipe.
There are some nights that I look at my specialty cookbooks and review what I have made. One of the cookbooks I really like is the "Ultimate Brownie Book" by Bruce Weinstein. Sooo many different options, and so many notes. One of my favorite things about my cookbook, is that many of the books open to a tried and true recipe, complete with notes - "Adam loved" or "needs 10 less minutes in the oven." Or, when the book is so tried and true, there are food particles stuck to the page. Tomato sauce on my lasagna recipe!
Sometimes while flipping through the books, I find a new recipe, and it is a complete success. Complete success in my book is when all four family members give it a thumbs up, and a make again. Talk about success! The icing on the cake is when it is an easy recipe too!
Maybe tonight will be one of those nights that I find a new favorite recipe.
Tuesday, July 29, 2014
Good Bye Marblehead
Today is the day that my parents are selling my childhood home. Sure, many parents have downsized and sold the family home, but this time it is my parents. I moved into that home when I was 18 months old, and moved out when I got married/finished graduate school.
Many of the neighbors have sold, and the buyers are people with young kids. It is a great neighborhood.
It is a great neighborhood to learn to ride your bike - not too busy and flat sidewalks and roads.
It is a great neighborhood to sell girl scout cookies - although by top buyers have long moved out. I remember arranging my sales so I would start out at the "Cookie Monster's House" since they always bought cookies (and gave me cookies while I waited) and then I always finished at the Katz's house, since they had an endless supply of Pepperidge Farm Gingerbread Men cookies, which of course I needed to eat, since I had just walked the whole neighborhood!
It was a great neighborhood full of kids my own age, and growing up we went to school together and we played outside together. If you were home, you were outside!
Not close enough to any elementary school to walk to school, but plenty of families to carpool with!
My pink bedroom with the green rug (my color choices) will be sold to someone else. The house where Thanksgiving, Passover, Rosh Hashana, will belong to another family as of this afternoon.
I hope the new owners have years of joy in the house!
Many of the neighbors have sold, and the buyers are people with young kids. It is a great neighborhood.
It is a great neighborhood to learn to ride your bike - not too busy and flat sidewalks and roads.
It is a great neighborhood to sell girl scout cookies - although by top buyers have long moved out. I remember arranging my sales so I would start out at the "Cookie Monster's House" since they always bought cookies (and gave me cookies while I waited) and then I always finished at the Katz's house, since they had an endless supply of Pepperidge Farm Gingerbread Men cookies, which of course I needed to eat, since I had just walked the whole neighborhood!
It was a great neighborhood full of kids my own age, and growing up we went to school together and we played outside together. If you were home, you were outside!
Not close enough to any elementary school to walk to school, but plenty of families to carpool with!
My pink bedroom with the green rug (my color choices) will be sold to someone else. The house where Thanksgiving, Passover, Rosh Hashana, will belong to another family as of this afternoon.
I hope the new owners have years of joy in the house!
Friday, July 25, 2014
Plagiarism - Still Going On
As a former student journalist, I am so proud of the Newton South High School students who broke the story about Superintendent David Fleishman’s plagiarism of Governor Deval Patrick's commencement speeches. It is great, that these students did not give up on the story and that finally the Boston Globe and other media outlets picked up the story. Way to go student journalists!
What happened? Superintendent Fleishman used parts of Governor Patrick's commencement speeches in the Newton South commencement speech, without giving credit to Governor Patrick. Graduation happened in early June, and now the story is really being talked about in Boston (or at least in my circles).
What is the punishment? Losing a week of pay. What is the punishment of a Newton Public School student for the same crime? Getting a zero on the paper, and the second incident is a one day school suspension.
Students from the past and current students are given the warning every year not to plagiarize. Students are taught to give credit where credit is due. If you quote an article, a speech, a song, you are to give credit. It is okay to quote from other people, but you need to give credit.
And as an educator, does this punishment fit the crime? In my opinion, no. The punishment of losing one weeks pay ($4,900) when one earns over $250,000 doesn't hurt enough. And his press release did not include the words "I am sorry." Again, what are we teaching our kids.
Maybe Superintendent Fleishman should attend a Newton South English class or Social Studies class to hear how his team members explain what plagiarism is, and what the punishment is, and why it is wrong.
We have the opportunity to teach our children, how to say I am sorry and how to accept a meaningful punishment. Neither of which have been done, to date.
What happened? Superintendent Fleishman used parts of Governor Patrick's commencement speeches in the Newton South commencement speech, without giving credit to Governor Patrick. Graduation happened in early June, and now the story is really being talked about in Boston (or at least in my circles).
What is the punishment? Losing a week of pay. What is the punishment of a Newton Public School student for the same crime? Getting a zero on the paper, and the second incident is a one day school suspension.
Students from the past and current students are given the warning every year not to plagiarize. Students are taught to give credit where credit is due. If you quote an article, a speech, a song, you are to give credit. It is okay to quote from other people, but you need to give credit.
And as an educator, does this punishment fit the crime? In my opinion, no. The punishment of losing one weeks pay ($4,900) when one earns over $250,000 doesn't hurt enough. And his press release did not include the words "I am sorry." Again, what are we teaching our kids.
Maybe Superintendent Fleishman should attend a Newton South English class or Social Studies class to hear how his team members explain what plagiarism is, and what the punishment is, and why it is wrong.
We have the opportunity to teach our children, how to say I am sorry and how to accept a meaningful punishment. Neither of which have been done, to date.
Wednesday, July 23, 2014
Visiting Day - Overnight Camp
It still seems unreal. I sent my baby away to overnight camp for SEVEN weeks. My baby! Of course, my baby is 12 years old, and BEGGED for this treat. It seems like yesterday we dropped him off for the first day of daycare. It seems like yesterday that he had his first day of Meadowbrook Day Camp in Weston, MA. However, this is my baby's third summer at CYJ in New Hampshire.
During the summer of 2011, we looked at different overnight camps for him. He had asked to go, and I did not want him to go. I was his mom and I am the best person to care for him - just ask me! So after looking, we decided on CYJ, and he spent three and a half weeks there in 2012. At pick up, in July, 2012, he asked "Can I go for season next summer?" My automatic answer was NO. I missed him too much.
During the summer of 2013, he again went three and a half weeks, and again, the first question in the car at pick up was "Can I go for season next summer?" Ummmmmmm, I said. I would think about, and I did. I talked to the director and friends. It seems natural that after kids experience the amazing awesomeness at camp, that they would want more camp.
So, for the summer of 2014, I (a day camp flunkie) signed my son up for seven weeks of overnight camp. Drop off went well, and then he was off. We just had visiting day, and my kid was beaming with happiness. I don't remember seeing him so happy! We spent a little over four hours with him, and there was no arguing, there was no sibling fighting. . . . there was happiness. And when it was time to say good bye, it was okay. I knew he was happy at camp, and he would be okay without me for another three and a half weeks.
And here is my souvernier from visiting day: Happiness
During the summer of 2011, we looked at different overnight camps for him. He had asked to go, and I did not want him to go. I was his mom and I am the best person to care for him - just ask me! So after looking, we decided on CYJ, and he spent three and a half weeks there in 2012. At pick up, in July, 2012, he asked "Can I go for season next summer?" My automatic answer was NO. I missed him too much.
During the summer of 2013, he again went three and a half weeks, and again, the first question in the car at pick up was "Can I go for season next summer?" Ummmmmmm, I said. I would think about, and I did. I talked to the director and friends. It seems natural that after kids experience the amazing awesomeness at camp, that they would want more camp.
So, for the summer of 2014, I (a day camp flunkie) signed my son up for seven weeks of overnight camp. Drop off went well, and then he was off. We just had visiting day, and my kid was beaming with happiness. I don't remember seeing him so happy! We spent a little over four hours with him, and there was no arguing, there was no sibling fighting. . . . there was happiness. And when it was time to say good bye, it was okay. I knew he was happy at camp, and he would be okay without me for another three and a half weeks.
And here is my souvernier from visiting day: Happiness
Wednesday, July 2, 2014
Less than a year away
So in addition to my normal parental duties (making meals, doing laundry, cleaning house), my new hat is planning a Bar Mitzvah for my first born. It has hit me that on May 30, 2015 our friends and family will be in Boston for this great occasion.
Sure, two years ago, I booked the stuff . . . . I booked the venue for the Saturday night party. I booked the caterer for Friday night dinner. I booked the photographer for the occasion. And the DJ for Saturday night. . . . . and then we got the email . . . the Bar Mitzvah was one year out, and we had to start weekly lessons!!!
As a super organized person, I then started to think, I need to break this job into separate tasks and make a timeline for ME. I am the person responsible for this.
In June, 2014, I researched the various hotels around me, and asked friends for recommendations. After a bit, we visited a hotel and reserved a "block" of rooms and sent the email to friends and family. Yes, it is really happening! My mom tested the block and it worked! She has a room reservation.
Before the boy left for overnight camp, we talked about the invite list, the color scheme and a potential invite list. I have a draft of the invite list, that I did in Excel. I have columns galore in this spreadsheet: Names, Formal Names, Addresses, Emails, Out of Towners, Hospitality Bag, Kid Count, Adult Count, and many more. And I am busy updating this list with family members sending me updates. When do I update the list? After 9 PM!! Once I get a hold of the family computer.
My next steps are to contact the Saturday evening venue to take another tour (to remember what the place looked like) and meet with the caterer about Friday and Saturday night meals. Meanwhile, the boy, is having his weekly lessons at Jewish overnight camp.
Organization is going to be important to having a great Bar Mitzvah weekend.
Sure, two years ago, I booked the stuff . . . . I booked the venue for the Saturday night party. I booked the caterer for Friday night dinner. I booked the photographer for the occasion. And the DJ for Saturday night. . . . . and then we got the email . . . the Bar Mitzvah was one year out, and we had to start weekly lessons!!!
As a super organized person, I then started to think, I need to break this job into separate tasks and make a timeline for ME. I am the person responsible for this.
In June, 2014, I researched the various hotels around me, and asked friends for recommendations. After a bit, we visited a hotel and reserved a "block" of rooms and sent the email to friends and family. Yes, it is really happening! My mom tested the block and it worked! She has a room reservation.
Before the boy left for overnight camp, we talked about the invite list, the color scheme and a potential invite list. I have a draft of the invite list, that I did in Excel. I have columns galore in this spreadsheet: Names, Formal Names, Addresses, Emails, Out of Towners, Hospitality Bag, Kid Count, Adult Count, and many more. And I am busy updating this list with family members sending me updates. When do I update the list? After 9 PM!! Once I get a hold of the family computer.
My next steps are to contact the Saturday evening venue to take another tour (to remember what the place looked like) and meet with the caterer about Friday and Saturday night meals. Meanwhile, the boy, is having his weekly lessons at Jewish overnight camp.
Organization is going to be important to having a great Bar Mitzvah weekend.
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