A RoosterFin Game Night Review!

I love trying new products, and love it even more if it means I get to do so for free and with friends! That's why I'm so excited about Tryazon, a new marketing company that connects brands with customers to help spread the word about exciting new products and services. Recently I hosted a game night using games from a company called RoosterFin, which they sent me to try for free in exchange for my review. This was the perfect fit for my family, because we are crazy about game night. I received three games from RoosterFin: Lumpy Cubes, Mohawkz, and Rooster Race. They were each played by adults and four kids ages 5 to 8. We took them to a picnic at the local park, and played them after dinner.

Lumpy Cubes is a memory-based game for 2-4 players. Each player is given four cubes that have faces on the sides. A card is drawn from the center that shows a pattern of four faces in a particular order. You have a few moments to memorize the order, then everyone races to try to put their own cubes in the matching order. This was a fun game and the kids and adults enjoyed it, but it doesn't have enough variety to hold an adult's attention for long. Eventually it was just the kids playing, and because its a game that requires quick thinking and memory skills, the older kids had a distinct advantage over the younger ones, and the younger ones ended up in tears. We quickly switched to another game, but since the party, this game has been the one my kids have gone back to the most because its simple, no set up required, and the cubes are just fun. My youngest is only 2, and although she can't play the game, she has had a lot of fun practicing her fine motor skills by stacking the blocks!

Rooster Race is a game that requires little skill and a lot of luck, so its a big hit with kids, especially since its the kind of game they can play against adults and still win. Adults and kids both had fun with this one. It involves a stack of cards that are distributed to each player, but the player does not look at their cards. A card is placed face up in the middle, and the first player to go has to guess whether the card they flip from their own hand will be higher or lower than the card in the middle. If they're right, they get a little plastic corn on the cob. If they're wrong, they have to give up a corn from their own stash. At the end of the game, whoever has the most corn wins. Its simple, and as long as your child understands "higher" and "lower" and knows a little bit about likelihood, then this game will be a hit.

Mohawkz is a simple game but requires some fairly sophisticated fine motor skills. The pieces are small balls like tennis balls but with faces and mohawk hair-dos. The object of the game is simply to bounce the pieces into a little goal, sort of like a very mini game of basketball. Because of the mohawks on the balls, they don't bounce straight, so its a bit of skill and a bit of luck to get them in the goal. The kids at the party loved this game as long as we didn't keep score, but when keeping score they were frustrated by it. However, by this time the adults were taking over the game, and in fact it was the dads at the party who ended up playing it the longest.

You can find RoosterFin's full line of games on Amazon.com. If you haven't heard of Tryazon, you should check them out!

BeautyKind: A New Online Retailer! PLUS $25 for joining!

I am always on the hunt for a bargain, especially when it comes to beauty products. I am *such* a sucker for a good lipstick. Enter BeautyKind, a new online retailer that gives a portion of your purchase to a charity of your kind! What? Buying all the best brands of make-up and body care AND supporting a charity? Every business should adopt this model. For a limited time BeautyKind is offering a $25 bonus for new accounts only, and you can use my referral link (and then generate your own!). The new site is working hard to fill orders and increase their stock, so many items are sold out, but you can follow them on Facebook for notifications when new stock is available. You will need to make a purchase of $50 or more, but that will also earn you free shipping. Beauty products at half price! I'm supporting JDRF International, which seeks a cure for Junior Diabetes. Hop on over and choose your own charity to support! <3 Rose

Coppertone CLEARLYSheer Sunscreen Review

Today I'm going to complete my first product review! Squeeee! So excited to share about a new product I tried through a product sampling website called BzzAgent! First let me tell you about BzzAgent. I LOVE being a part of this social marketing company. After completing profile surveys, the company matches you up with great products to sample -- for free! -- in their awesome BzzKits!  Then you can share your reviews of the product with your social network and friends, and earn points to use toward prizes and rewards.

Today I'm going to review Coppertone CLEARLYSheer Sunscreen, a new offering from one of my go-to suncare brands. This new line offers a thinner application and a different, lighter and less "beachy" scent than most sunscreens on the market. It comes in two varieties: "For Sunny Days" is a daily wear sunscreen with a citrus scent, and "For Beach and Pool" is a water-resistant formula with a more tropical scent.

I've been using the "For Sunny Days" version for five days on my 1st grader. She needs a daily sunscreen because she spends a lot of time in the sun at school, and has incredibly fair skin that burns in even just five minutes outside. CLEARLYSheer sunscreen is super easy to rub in and only takes a minute in the mornings. Since its noncomedogenic it has not caused any rashes or breakouts on her skin (which can sometimes be sensitive to some formulations). Plus it is so much easier to wash off in her daily bath than thicker versions.

Coming soon... product reviews!

I'm so excited... every blogger's dream is PRODUCT REVIEWS! Ok, well maybe not every blogger, but definitely this girl! Over the next couple of weeks I will start featuring product reviews from fantastic companies that I really respect and can get behind. And maybe some I don't!

I will always be real and share my honest-to-goodness opinions, whether or not I've received a sample or free product to review on this blog. So you can trust my reviews as honest assessments of products and services you might be considering.

A Valentine's Day Scavenger Hunt!

Ru is 4 1/2 years old and has been reading independently for several months. I wanted to think of a Valentine's Day activity that would be fun but also challenging so I threw together this scavenger hunt. She has to read the clues and figure out where the next one is located. Do you have any special Valentine's activities for your little ones? How about ideas for better clues for my hunt...?

1. (This clue is given to Ruby when she finishes breakfast)
It's time for Ruby
To play a game.
Find the place
Where magnets spell your name.

2. (On the refrigerator by the magnets)
Now is the time
To find the place
Where your daddy
Washes his face!

3. (By Daddy's sink)
Now go to the place
Where you sit to eat
Breakfast, lunch, or dinner
And dessert that's sweet!

4. (By her stool at the table)
Now go to the room
Where you take your bath;
Where Mommy and Daddy
Remind you not to splash!

5. (In the tub)
Find the room
Where the laundry goes.
Then look in the place
Where we dry our clothes.

6. (In the dryer)
Now go to the place
Where Ru sleeps.
Where she says her prayers
And closes her peeps.

7. (In Ru's bed)
Take a minute
To stop and think:
Where do you go
When you need a drink?

8. (In the fridge)
This is your last clue.
There won't be any more!
Your surprise is waiting
Outside the front _____!

For the final clue she has to figure out the rhyme and location... of course its the front door =)

when your child is "that child"

the process of locating friends for my child is something i've avoided far too long. we moved across the country when my daughter was only one and was still too young for "friends." in my graduate program there are very, very few students with children, and none with children her age- so meeting people "at work" has been an impossibility. since andrew works from home, he's even less likely to meet parents of preschoolers than i am. we live in a childless bubble, minus our own children of course. consequently, ruby's three years old and friendless.

till now.

two weeks ago, ruby and i took the baby out in the stroller. it was a sunday, but since we had missed the mail the day before we headed to the mailbox. another mommy with a stroller and a preschooler was there, too (a testament, i guess, to the fact that mommies of small children have no time for menial tasks like checking the mail on time). we stopped and chatted for a bit-- her daughter and mine are only two weeks apart in age. eureka! a friend for ruby! and she only lived a building away. the two girls played while we mommies chatted, feeling each other out to see if our children would be a match. we exchanged numbers and tentatively planned to meet up again for a playdate-- after all, our children seemed to be hitting it off.

but as soon as we told our children it was time to head home for dinner, the unthinkable happened: ruby had a meltdown. apparently she was having a bit too much fun playing, and didn't want to go home--- so she did the logical thing and threw herself on the grass, screaming. i just stood there in shock. sure, ruby isn't perfect, but didn't she KNOW she was supposed to impress this new friend's mommy with her good behavior so they'd want to play again? i was dumbstruck. to make matters worse, her new friend spied her bad behavior and decided to follow suit, throwing herself down in a mock fit as well. dumbstruck turned to mortified-- i sputtered something about "i swear she's a good kid..." and we parted ways.

i didn't expect a call for a playdate. obviously, my daughter is that kid, the one other parents avoid for fear of contaminating their own little ones. but the next day i got a text from my new mommy friend, and eventually we were able to coordinate and set up a playdate at my apartment. and happily, the playdate went great. the girls had a great time playing and the mommy was easy-going and friendly. i was hopeful for a second date. but just before parting time, the mommy went into the dining room where the girls had been playing and i heard a small, surprised "gasp!"

ink. on the walls. big, loopy circles and one small, smug happy face drawn in black over white paint. two nervous, startled three year old girls with pens in hand, looking up from their crime. and two nervous, startled moms not sure what to do next. this time we were both apologizing, swearing our children had never done anything like that before, not sure if we should laugh or yell or cry. after profuse apologies on both sides, they hurried off, and i just stood there. i took a picture. then i put ruby in timeout and wondered if i'd ever hear from them again.

that was just a few days ago, so who knows if there will be a second date. who knows which child started it-- ruby says it was the other girl, but wouldn't you say that if you were ruby? and ruby really hasn't ever done anything like that before, but she's also never been left alone with another three year old- so who knows what she might do if given the chance. now i'm left wondering if my child really is that child. maybe i should have gotten started on the friend thing sooner. for both of our sakes.

Its a funny thing, really

There is a point of utter exhaustion and desperation in every newborn's household when even the most loving, devoted mother cries (figuratively, or more often, literally) and says, "What was I thinking?" Because caring for a baby is full of impossibilities. Its impossible to get enough sleep, to satisfy the demands of parenting, to take care of a child and oneself, and especially to do any of these things without guilt and feelings of insecurity. Sometime in my ninth month of pregnancy, that impossibility made itself known: "Oh wait, I can't do this! I take it back... I don't want to have a baby!" And after he was born (and his sister before him), I thought it again. And again.

There, I said it. But you've thought it, too, if you're a parent. You didn't mean it, and neither did I, but there's a moment of fear (or maybe two, or ten) when you weigh your own capabilities and the task ahead of you and realize how lacking you really are. Its impossible to be all that society says you must be for your child. Its impossible to do it all without making mistakes and fostering regrets.

Then, of course, your baby does what babies do. He sleeps peacefully that first time, or smiles, or coos or laughs. And of course you don't care that you didn't want a baby or didn't think you could handle one... he's here, he's perfect, and he's yours.

Sister Wives

One of the benefits (or detriments, depending on your point of view) of being a communication scholar is a built-in excuse to spend excessive amounts of time watching television. I try to take in whatever seems to generate buzz, especially when religion is featured (and particularly Mormonism in all its shades). So of course I couldn't miss the first season of TLC's Sister Wives, a "reality" show about the Browns, a fundamentalist Mormon family living in Utah.

Although the show itself is not technically great in terms of production values, it has received quite a bit of media attention due to the family's unorthodox practices: by the end of the first season, Kody Brown has four wives: Meri, Janelle, Christine, and the newest addition, Robyn (though he is legally married only to Meri). Moreover, there are thirteen Brown children (with an additional three from Robyn's previous marriage). The show, according to TLC's website, is about "how they attempt to navigate life as a 'normal' family in a society that shuns their polygamist lifestyle." In fact, the whole of Sister Wives revolves around the Browns' desire to be seen as "normal," contrasting with production choices designed instead to showcase their abnormality. The juxtaposition of what they *say* they are and what they are shown to be, then, provides the drama that makes Sister Wives entertaining to watch.

But at what expense? Perhaps we'll never know, since the Brown family is unable to speak without mediated gatekeeping. This is, of course, what takes the "reality" out of reality television: we hear what we are allowed to hear about their life and choices, through conscious editing choices intended to maximize viewership rather than to tell the "truth" about the Browns situation.

In fact, one thing we don't hear about is why they are polygamous in the first place. Any meaningful discussion of the Browns' faith or religion-- specifically, fundamentalist Mormonism-- is surprisingly missing from the show's content. We hear that Meri and Kody met at church, for instance, and we know that they are not mainstream Mormons (who officially disavowed polygamy in the 1890s). But fundamentalist Mormon beliefs supporting polygamy and procreation as religious obligations are unspoken, and religion is not represented as the central focus of the Browns' lives (and in all fairness, may not be in reality). The family prays together briefly, and mention is made of Heavenly Father, but never in a didactic mode.

I'm curious why religion is missing from Sister Wives-- either it is in fact possible to be both fundamentalist Mormon and polygamous but not religious, or the Browns are more religious than they seem and the show's creators are shying away from the topic. Is it too complicated for Americans to understand, or might they just not care? Is it more interesting/tv worthy to make polygamy about sex and power instead of religious obligation? Or maybe those in charge of production don't buy the religious explanation, don't think its important, or don't understand it themselves.

A reason to write... or two or three

I'm a compulsive blog abandoner. I can think of four, off the top of my head, that sit gathering dust off in a corner of the Web-- blogs that never had a chance, really. They were all sad, ineffective attempts at putting my voice "out there," although I never publicized my ownership of any of them and thus never had a readership of any kind. Sort of like standing at the Grand Canyon and yelling, hoping someone might hear and care- despite the echoes and the vast distance between me and any other human being.

The point is, I love to write. And I think I have things to say-- but of course, who doesn't. And who has time to follow yet another blog of someone else's musings. So I'm starting anew, this time thinking only of my own need to write and not my desire to be heard. There are lots of reasons to write, and lots of subjects to cover-- I won't limit myself to one or two. But incidentally, expect cooking, parenting,religious studies, and graduate school frustrations (not necessarily in that order) to take center stage on this blog; they are the epicenter of my real life, so why shouldn't they be here?

A bit of background. I'm 26 years old, born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma. If you've never been to Tulsa, you may not understand the slow pace, old-fashioned values, and good cooking that make up the core of who I try to be. I married Andrew in June 2006 then graduated from the University of Tulsa six months later. Our daughter Ruby was born in August 2007, and in 2008 we moved to Philadelphia so I could start a doctoral program in my field: I study religious communication.

Talk about a culture shock-- two years later, we are still just Okies in the City, trying to figure out who we are and how we can possibly fit in here. Incidentally, Philadelphia is a whole 'nother country, and we have had to relearn such basics as grocery store etiquette just to get by here.

Add to the chaos that I am currently six weeks postpartum, having delivered our second unexpected (but very welcome!) child, Cortez, at the start of what would have been my fifth semester in my PhD program. My maternity leave is coming to an end (today, as a matter of fact), and now to figure out how to be a mother to a newborn and three year old, a wife, and a full-time student and research assistant... I have fodder for blogging, yes, but maybe not time to do it.

You'll get to know more about me as I find time to write. Add me to your feed, and I'll do my best not to be an imposition... and hopefully I'll get to know you, too.

Pad Thai

We had a nicely fulfilling meal of hot pad Thai for dinner last night. It took a handful of special ingredients, but since I know I'll make it again I don't feel like I wasted my money. Overall it was pretty affordable and really hit the spot. I adapted a Tyler Florence recipe to fit my taste and to use ingredients I could actually find. And the recipe calls for a wok, which is ideal for stir-frying, but since I caught mine on fire and burned up the non-stick coating, I actually used a large stockpot which worked just fine. Here's what I did: Pad Thai 1/2 lb dried rice stick noodles (break them up to make eating the meal easier, or leave them whole to make it prettier-- your choice) 1/4 cup fish sauce 3 tbsp. white vinegar 3 tbsp. brown sugar 3 tbsp. vegetable oil 2 tsp. sesame oil 1 lb. medium shrimp, peeled and deveined 1/2 lb. chicken breast, cut in strips with kitchen shears 4 garlic cloves, minced 6 scallions, chopped 1 fresh red chile, chopped 2 eggs 2/3 c. bean sprouts Garnish: 1/3 c. bean sprouts chopped peanuts (I had honey roasted on hand, but I think unsalted, dry-roasted would be ideal) 1 lime, cut into wedges 1/4 c. cilantro, coarsely chopped Soak the rice noodles in cool water for 30 minutes, or until they're limp but still al dente (NOT soft!). Drain; set aside. In a small bowl, stir fish sauce, vinegar, and brown sugar together till dissolved. Taste and adjust flavors (add a little water, or some lime juice to counteract the saltiness of the fish sauce if its too overpowering). Heat a wok over medium-high heat till hot. Add 1 tablespoon of the vegetable oil and1 tsp. of the sesame oil (if you really like the sesame oil taste, you could add more, but it is pretty strong). Stir-fry the shrimp until they turn pink and are almost cooked through; 1 to 2 minutes. Remove the shrimp to a plate and cover to keep warm. Add additional 1 tablespoon of the vegetable oil and1 tsp. of the sesame oil to hot wok; stir-fry chicken till cooked through, about 3-4 minutes. Add to the shrimp plate and keep warm. Add the remaining oil to the wok and stir-fry the garlic, scallions, and chile for 30 seconds or till fragrant. Push this mixture to the side of the wok and pour the eggs into the center. Scramble the eggs with a spatula till set. Add the drained noodles to the wok, stirring and tossing quickly to separate the noodles. Add the fish sauce mixture, tossing well to coat the noodles and keep them from sticking (if the noodles are still too firm, drizzle with 1 to 2 tablespoons of water to help them cook.) When the noodles are cooked to the desired softness, toss in 2/3 c. bean sprouts; save the remaining for garnish. Continue to stir-fry to combine. Return the shrimp and chicken to the wok and toss together. Serve the pad thai with garnishes on the side so people can add what they like.

The ONLY Way to Eat Salmon

I know we're supposed to get a lot of DHA in our diets, and salmon is a great way to do it. But as uncouth as this may be, I can't stand the fishiness of salmon. Dru says he once caught wild salmon in Alaska and ate them over an open fire... and that it tastes nothing like the cheap variety available here. I wanted to find a recipe that lightly masks some of the fishy, dirty taste of the frozen Oklahoman salmon fillets. I adapted this recipe from Emeril and find not only do I like the flavor, I actually crave it. Its a simple and elegant way to serve a healthy meal... use whole wheat pasta for added nutrients. Lemon Salmon with Caramelized Onions on Pasta 4 salmon fillets, skinned Salt and pepper, to taste 2 tablespoons olive oil, plus 2 tablespoons 1 medium onion, thinly sliced Juice of 1/2 lemon 1/2 lemon, trimmed and sliced into very thin rounds 12 ounces bowtie pasta 1/4 cup finely chopped scallions Lightly season the salmon on both sides with salt and pepper. In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil on medium-high heat. Cook the onions about 3-5 minutes or till softened. Squeeze the juice from 1/2 a lemon over the onions and spread the onions out so they cover the bottom of the pan. Place the salmon fillets on the onions; reduce the heat to medium-low. Top the salmon with lemon slices. Cover and cook until the salmon is just cooked through and the onions are caramelized, 8-10 minutes. While the salmon is cooking, cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling, salted water. Drain and toss with remaining olive oil, salt, and scallions. Serve pasta topped with onions and a salmon fillet.

A Reason to Write

So glad you could stop by. I am in dire need of an outlet- and an audience, even if its mostly in my head. I find myself at a crossroads in my life, and my conflicting emotions about who I am and who I can be make it necessary for me to write. A common story, I know. I will be 24 next month. Most of my life I have had little ambition but to be a good wife and a good mother. Not to belittle those ambitions, of course, as I still aspire towards those goals. But my ideas about what makes a "good" wife or a "good" mother have lately been challenged. Am I a good wife because I keep the home relatively clean and cook good meals for my family? Am I a good mother because I am currently available to my daughter full-time, and have been since her birth almost nine months ago? Or would improving who I am on my own, as an individual separate from my family, in turn improve my ability to care for my family in the right ways? The answer seems obvious. Cooking, cleaning, diapering... I don't mind filling these roles. I don't feel that they've been imposed on me by a chauvinistic society. But recently I have realized that its really not about learning to be the best wife and the best mom. I can simply be the best version of me, and that will take care of all the roles I fill.