Month: November 2013

Scandalous Holiday Season Confessions

You know it’s the holiday season when a certain local radio station—the call letters rhyme with NOSI—busts out sleighbell-laden songs. ‘Tis the season to deck the rooftops with partridges. I love Thanksgiving, Christmas, and any holiday that falls during this time of year. If Administrative Assistants Day fell during November and December, I’d totally get an Administrative Assistants Coffee Mug Tree and string it with paper clips. I’d sing carols like, “Carol of the Tasteful Ringtones.” I guess I’m in a partying mood at the end of each year. However, there are certain norms and rules regarding this time of year. Sometimes, I fear I’m doing the holidays wrong. Or, I get irritated by some of the traditions and only begrudgingly cele...

Gifts That Give Back: As Seen on 9News

This year you might consider purchasing a gift for someone that goes beyond the person you purchase it for. Consider buying a fit that Gives Back to the greater good of society. I was excited to present the following items on Channel 9 this morning and hope you will be thoughtful with your gift giving this season or through the year. The products that were features were: 1). Baby Teresa (baby-teresa.com) Baby Teresa was founded by two women who wanted to do something that would allow them to give back.  Rather than simply profit from their organic baby clothes and accessories, they decided to set their company up under a one for one giving model.  For each baby outfit they sell, another one is donated to a child in need somewhere in the world through one of Baby Teresa’s many charity partn...

The Books Showing Up on Christmas Wish Lists for Denver Moms

This holiday season, many parents are hoping only that Santa delivers the answer to their most pressing parenting issue. Why won’t my toddler eat anything but candy? How do I help my daughter make friends? Why is my son failing math? Why is every family but ours able to balance sports, an instrument and homework? Will she ever put that cell phone down? Our carpool is a disaster! A girlfriend!? Dear Santa, please help! So here’s a list of great books about parenting, our children and education. Some will make you laugh out loud at yourself or your kids. An occasional chapter may make you cry. They all provide guidance that you can take or leave. But the best thing about these books is that you realize you are not alone. My favorite of 2013 was Masterminds and Wingmen by Rosalind Wiseman. Wi...

Delicious Cranberry Salsa Served Over Cream Cheese

Disclaimer: I’m not a fan of cranberries but I can’t get enough of this delicious cranberry salsa served over cream cheese. My friend Eva regularly brings this dish to our Christmas potlucks and I love it. It’s perfect for Christmas but gosh darn it if I’m not adding it to our Thanksgiving line-up. You can either serve it with your turkey or as a side or appetizer while people are waiting for your turkey to cook. As as bonus, it’s totally easy. Every year, my family participates in Volunteers of America’s service project to serve Thanksgiving dinner to low-income seniors. This year, I brought our cranberry salsa and it was a hit! Talk about the perfect way to spend this holiday–in service and sharing a delicious meal. Enjoy!

Denver Deal: Black Friday Tips

I honestly LOVE to shop on Black Friday. I think it has something to do with just saying I am there – among the throngs of people. I try to get some amazing deals too. Which means that I have to be savvy enough to know what to look for. Lucky you, I have some tips that I have learned that I would like to pass along. 1. Go with a friend – but in separate cars. I go shopping with my sister. When there is a store that we know that will have doorbusters but we both want something. One of us goes for one item and the other goes for the other. We have also had one person stand in line while the other shops and then switch places. We find that the line works best for stores like Best Buy. Also when you have a friend you have someone who can help you lift large and bulky items into our...

Denver Deal: Black Friday Freebies, McDonalds Coffee and More

This time of year, I grab meals on the go far more often than it feels like I do during summer. I recently tried Firehouse Subs. They are amazing!! They are served warm and they have tons of meat (not the three measly pieces that are put on a Subway)! As matter of fact – I would not even put Firehouse Subs in the same food universe as Subway. It really feels like a full MEAL with generous portions of  top quality ingredients. The people are super nice – including calling “Welcome to The Firehouse” upon entering the store. They have kind of become my new obsession. History Colorado Center Explore Colorado’s history in the experiential exhibit, Living West at the History Colorado Center. Zebulon Pika takes kids through the activities and sharing fun, interesting...

Annual Crafting Extravaganza Causes Annual Ulcer

It’s the time of year again that my husband Jamie dreads. That time when I become delusional and somehow forget that I cannot do crafts. That I have never been able to do crafts and I never will be able to do crafts. Every year, the female members of my church gather for Super Saturday (or Fabulous Friday) in an event that can only be described as Martha Stewart on Steroids. This year, I recruited my creative and craft-loving 9-year-old daughter to assist me which, in incompetent craft terms, means do it for me. For the first time ever, we had a wonderfully bonding experience as we learned how to decorate cupcakes and paint darling decorative blocks for the holiday. A few years ago, I wasn’t so lucky. The classes included photography, dutch oven, bread making and fondue classes...

Chicken (or turkey) Vol-au-Vent Recipe: Perfect for Apres Thanksgiving!

My mom has been making Chicken Vol-au-Vents for as long as I can remember. Sounds fancy? When you’re from Canada, you don’t think twice about incorporating French dishes into your cooking repertoire. I’m not quite sure what vol-au-vent means but following the enthusiastic response this tasty recipe received from my picky kids, I’d translate it as “miracle food.” Chicken Vol-au-Vents are essentially a light puff pastry shell filled with a ragout of meat, veggies or fish. They’re super easy to make and delicious. The first time I introduced them my husband when we were first married, he didn’t get it. Me: Voila, dinner tonight is Chicken Vol-au-vents with Parmesan couscous and fresh broccoli from the garden. Husband: Errr..why do these them tha...

Your 2013 Holiday Movie Preview

‘Twas the night before Thanksgiving, and all through the movie-house … Well, you get the picture. Starting Wednesday, movie theaters will be stuffed. And with a very few exceptions, turkeys don’t seem to be on the menu. Far from it. Here are some of the goods film studios — big and indie — are serving up this holiday season. “Black Nativity Writer-director Kasi Lemmons updates Harlem poet Langston Hughes’ 1961 Christmas musical with more than a little help from Jennifer Hudson, Forest Whitaker and Angela Bassett. Jacob Latimore plays manchild Langston Cobbs, sent by his mother to her estranged parents’ home over the holiday. Nov. 27 Philomena Judi Dench enters the Oscar fray with this moving portrait of a birth mother searching for the son taken from her...

Kids & Cars: 20+ Boredom Busters for your Holiday Road Trips

Family getaways into the mountains can be amazing and relaxing, at least once you arrive! Kids and car rides can lead to chaos or make wonderful family memories. The challenge of spending time in an enclosed car space with little physical movement can be difficult for even short rides. Any parent can have a panic attack if facing hours in a car with kids. Sure you could just pop in a DVD, but why not establish car time as a unique time to bond, learn to use car time creatively and quietly, or actually learn something. Most importantly, remember to have fun! Quiet Activities

Austin Sigg sentenced to life in kidnap/murder of Jessica Ridgeway

As Austin Sigg was sentenced on Tuesday to a life behind bars, a judge and prosecutor said Sigg himself offered the best word to describe what he had done to Jessica Ridgeway: evil. “Evil is apparently real,” said Jefferson County District Court Chief Judge Stephen Munsinger. “It was present in our community on Oct. 5, 2012. On that day, its name was Austin Sigg.” In a complicated sentence, Munsinger imposed the maximum sentence for several of the 15 counts, ensuring that Sigg, 18, will never leave prison. Sigg pleaded guilty to all of the counts against him in October, including first-degree murder in Jessica’s death and attempted kidnapping for an attack on a jogger at Ketner Lake in May 2012. Because Sigg was 17 when he killed Jessica, the first-degree murd...

Potty Training in Public: A mom’s inaugural encounter

A mom and a toddler walk into a public restroom… This is uncharted territory for the both of them. Up to this point their potty training efforts have been confined to the house, daycare, and grandparents houses. But this? This was public. The mom’s palms were a bit clammy as she entered into what was surely a toddler mom’s rite of passage. Luckily the giant public space was empty except for the two of them. Relieved the mom ushered her son into the “cleanest” of the stalls and started explaining to the boy how this was not like home.