A Mom's Year

Creating a comfortable life one moment at a time

Knitted Headband

I knitted this headband for my friend Christina. Happy birthday! Doesn’t she look great? I used this pattern from Martha Stewart Living. There are garter-stitch and cable versions. I stuck with garter stitch, but I’d like to try the cable version once I get my courage up. The pattern gives directions for making I-cords for the headband’s ties, but I like visual directions when possible, so I went here for help.

I love the Chloe sweater from Never Not Knitting. I have a little goddaughter with a birthday in March. If I got started now, I just might finish this in time. I’ve never done buttons before, but I’m sure Knitting Help will have a video to walk me through the process.

  • Day 5 of the 100 Push-Ups Challenge. It’s not too late to join in.
  • Are you in an organizing frame of mind? Take a look at this fantastic project board from Marta Writes. I have an empty bulletin board just waiting to be filled.
  • Doesn’t this peanut butter pie look delicious? I think we’ll be having it for dessert this weekend.

(Update: We made the peanut butter pie and it was so good. Michelle at One Ordinary Day said it was rich and she wasn’t kidding. Definitely a keeper.)

Will’s Science Lab: How to Make a Volcano

Hi, I’m Will. Welcome to my Science Lab. Today I’m going to show you how to make a volcano using just a few materials that you probably have around the house.

First, make a volcano out of clay. My sister used most of the clay for American Doll food, so I had to make a small volcano. But it’ll work. Make sure there’s a deep hole in the middle for the lava to come out of.

Next, gather the rest of your materials. You’ll need a cup or two of white vinegar, a few drops of red or orange food coloring, and a few tablespoons of baking soda.

Pour a few tablespoons of baking soda into the hole in your volcano. It’s okay if some spills out over the sides.

Pour some white vinegar into a measuring cup. Add a few drops of food coloring to make the vinegar look like lava. I’m using red.

Now pour the vinegar into the volcano.

Lava!

When the baking soda and vinegar mix, it causes a chemical reaction that makes a gas called carbon dioxide. The gas pressure builds until the “lava” bubbles out of the volcano. Give it a try.

Introducing the Love Bucket

This is the Love Bucket, faithful companion to under-the-weather Taylor children. Lexie came home sick from school today and I tucked her in with a warm blanket, “Cats and Dogs 2”, and this old warhorse. I don’t remember what inspired this particular project. Maybe it was the helplessness I felt as a new mother watching my toddler suffer through his first bout with the flu. I couldn’t wave a magic wand to make him feel better, but at least I could give him a plastic purple bucket covered with heart stickers. I like to think it helped a little. Traditions come in all shapes and sizes, and it’s kind of nice to pull out something old and familiar when someone hollers “Mom! I think I’m gonna be sick!”

Do you have special rituals or comforts for your child when he or she is sick?

Happy New Year!

There are so many elements that make up a mom’s year, but as Count Rugen says in The Princess Bride, “If you haven’t got your health, then you haven’t got anything.” So to that end, I’m starting the year with a good workout. Since I completely fell off the fitness wagon in December, I need to reboot my system. My favorite jump-starter is Jillian Michaels’ 30-Day Shred. There are three levels, so I start with the first one and do it until I feel I can move on. Super intense, but at 20 minutes per level it’s wonderfully quick and efficient. I use two five-pound weights and think that’s plenty. Do you have a favorite way to jump back into exercising after time off?

(Lexie and Britta working on their spins)

This morning, the kids filled out these 2011 Fitness Resolution sheets from the December/January issue of Family Fun magazine. Here are some of the things they came up with: learn karate, do 100 jumping jacks, participate in the Prescott Daze 1-Mile Fun Run, do a spin in ice-skating, and go on a 10-mile hike. Great goals. I’d better get moving so I can keep up.

  • Ran out of time and didn’t make homemade tiramisu for New Year’s Eve. But Real Simple’s modified version worked just fine. I added whipped cream and powdered cocoa on top.
  • Wouldn’t you like to attend this ice skating party? Magical.
  • Gretchen Rubin suggests you create a one-word New Year’s resolution. For 2011 my theme is “peace.” What’s yours?