Month: November 2014
If holiday ennui makes for a bad parent, then I’m downright terrible
I am not religious. And I’m not really interested in celebrating the Hallmark holidays, either. Add to this an aversion to candy and an inherent laziness when it comes to decorating/cooking/shopping/costume-making, and you end up with a person who doesn’t appear to do very much in the way of “celebrating.” This would be a non-issue, except that I have four small children. These four small children attend schools and daycares. And these schools and daycares are CONSTANTLY reminding said children that they need to wear green, or buy Valentine’s Day cards, or bring their Easter baskets with the plastic grass to school on Friday. But it’s okay! Holidays are OKAY. They just tend to make me look like an abhorrent parent when… I’m actually pretty go...
Turn turkey leftovers into this turkey and napa cabbage salad with lime-ginger vinaigrette
When I was a child, my grandmother used to roast up two enormous turkeys during the holidays. And of course, that was on top of all the usual gravies and sauces, sides and pies. For days after, the entire family would eat Grandma’s famous “blue plate special,” which was our euphemism for leftovers. Fast forward to today, and I think turkey actually has a bit of an identity crisis. On one hand it is associated with a day reserved for feasting with abandon. On the other, turkey is a lean protein whose versatility should be celebrated. Just one serving of skinless turkey meat has over half the protein you need for an entire day (and less than 1 gram of fat!). Plus, turkey is a good source of vitamin B and selenium. Not only is turkey a healthy choice, but it’s a versat...
Happy Thanksgiving From the Mamas!
Today’s inspirational quote: Thanksgiving comes to us out of the prehistoric dimness, universal to all ages and all faiths. At whatever straws we must grasp, there is always a time for gratitude and new beginnings. ~J. Robert Moskin Today’s not-so inspirational quote, as shared by Mile High Mama Connie via Twitter: Ordered my Fresh Free Range Thanksgiving Turkey…feel good knowing it was raised in a caring environment before it was beheaded. We’re grateful for your continued support of Mile High Mamas. Happy Thanksgiving!
Contest: Win Catering from Noodles & Co. for 20 of your friends!
“I’m so full!” my son declared after going to a tasting at Noodles & Company with me. Understand, this is not an easy task. He’s not a tiny child (at just 14 years old he’s already 6 feet and has a football build–plus, he had just played a game when we went). My daughter, The Foodie, declared “This is awesome, Mom! Can we come again?” I am not certain if everyone does this but we love to order several different dishes and share them. So they are the perfectly trained kiddos to go with and Noodles & Co. has certainly upped their game to offer so much more than just noodles. Upon arrival we were warmly greeted by Brandice who is the manager and were ushered to seats at the back of the restaurant where there were sweet treats and d...
Denver Deal: Awesome Black Friday Deals, Reindeer Games
Shhhh! Black Friday is the best shopping day of the year. Or so we have been told. Yes, there are steals and deals to be had on Black Friday (the Friday after Thanksgiving – for those living under a rock). But more and more, I am finding out that while there are some deals that day – the days leading UP to Thanksgiving may be better. Also, several stores have released their ads early (it used to be such a family tradition to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and peruse the newspaper for plans on the next morning’s shopping excursion – but now I don’t get the paper and everything is online). For some really great tips, don’t miss Black Friday retail veterans share their secrets to buying smart. The majority of the Fantastic Black Friday door-...
10 Fun Activities & Tips to Reduce Holiday Travel Stress
There is some good and bad news about the Thanksgiving travel season. The Good: According to AAA, the national price of gasoline has fallen below $3.00 per gallon for the first time since Dec. 22, 2010. AAA predicts most U.S. travelers likely will pay the cheapest Thanksgiving gas prices in five years. More than 89 percent (41.3 million) of holiday travelers will drive to their destination, a 4.3 percent increase from 2013. The Bad: AAA also cautions that the Thanksgiving holiday travel volume is expected to reach the highest level since 2007, with 46.3 million Americans taking a trip. That’s a lot of people on roadways and in the air. Don’t miss our travel tips for staying sane this holiday season! Family medicine kit. It never fails: When I fail to pack vitamins and medicine,...
Viral video: Convos with my 4-year-old “Bedtime Battles”
Bedtime battles. What parent can’t relate to them? Matthew Clarke, the dad behind “Convos with My 2-Year-Old” (which has now gone on so long that it’s been renamed to “Convos with My 4-Year-Old”) hilariously illustrates nighttime procrastinations. Only instead of a 4-minute video, our battles sometimes take hours.
THE POLAR EXPRESS Delivers Big Holiday Fun for Colorado Families
For years, the Colorado Railroad Museum has been a popular destination for railway lovers of all ages. Fans of all things chugga-chugga and choo-choo always find something interesting to explore as the museum is constantly restoring and adding to their deep collection of railway cars, engines, and artifacts. They host many creative and innovative events throughout the year. Fittingly, they are capping off another fantastic year of fun with something extraordinary. For the first time, the Colorado Railroad Museum is hosting THE POLAR EXPRESS™ experience. It is more than just a train ride. It’s a theatrical re-telling of the beloved modern holiday classic written by Chris Van Allsburg, which was adapted into a film in 2004. Elements of both are incorporated into every thoughtful detail...
The tools every parent must know to keep your kids safe on the Internet
One of the parents from my daughter’s class, Chris Roberts, created this checklist for ensuring our younger “web surfers” remain safe. I think it’s a great list, so, with his permission, I am sharing it here for safe explorations. For the younger children – 12 and under: 1. Create separate user accounts for each child on the home computer. 2. Enable strict content filtering on the computer. 3. Install anti-virus, malware software, etc. 4. Establish a select list of sites they’re allowed to visit. (We talk about the sites they want to visit, spend time on them together, and then I go through the sites and click through as deep as I can to understand the site content, culture, links, and ads...
Barnes & Noble Discovery Weekend includes Puppet Making and Holiday Singalong
I can’t say I love love love shopping. At least not in the way that several of my friends can make sport of it. I usually am more like a “guy” when I go in get what I need and get out. It may be because of the way my mom and sister shop. When I was a child I would dread my mom telling us (my sister and me) that we were going to Lee Wards (a craft store) or lest we allow her in the shoe department of ANY department store. We could be there for HOURS trying on shoes that all seem to look a bit alike. But everything is a bit different in a book store. I could escape to my location and my sister and mom could go to theirs. It was a discovery of something new every time I went. I got to do a little bit of discovery myself this week. I discovered that Barnes & Noble still h...
Recipe: Peppered top sirloin roast with sautéed broccolini
There are few things that make my mouth water more than a top sirloin roast and this recipe is bursting with flavor that includes a Top Sirloin Petite Roast, blue cheese and onion. As we head into the holidays, overeating is almost a give-in but it doesn’t have to be. Try eating higher-protein diet (about 30% of daily calories from protein) and you’ll feel more satisfied, which may help prevent gorging on too many sweets. Did you know? • Don’t be left unsatisfied. A 3-oz serving of lean beef provides 25 g (about half) of the Daily Value for protein, which is one of the most satisfying nutrients. • Get your workout in! Exercise is more effective when paired with a higher-protein diet. • Interested in heart health? Research shows that including lean beef, even daily as part...
Denver mom’s day out: Snowshoe and Fondue adventure!
Last summer, we fell in love with Vela Adventures, Colorado’s premier provider of all-inclusive adventure outings just for women (read about our SUP and yoga adventure here). Founded by two busy moms who wanted to add a little a little adventure to their lives, they are passionate about helping you enjoy enjoy the adrenaline rush of trying an exciting new adventure while getting pampered and making friends along the way. As it turns out, they do winter adventures as well! Join Vela Adventures and me for their Snowshoe and Fondue adventure on Saturday, December 6 from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Nederland. One of the best ways to enjoy winter in the Rockies is by crunching through the snow with snowshoes strapped to your feet. On this popular adventure, our private gui...
