FAMILY FINDS: 50% Off Annual Pass to Underwood Family Farms

50% Off Annual Pass to Underwood Family Farms

Underwood Family Farms has it all -- petting zoo, train rides, pony rides, tractor-drawn wagon rides, pick-your-own fruit, and more! And on April 23 and 24, there will be Easter egg hunts, egg-dyeing, and visits with the Easter bunny -- perfect for photo opps with the kids.

And Underwood Family Farms is a fantastic family destination anytime: Animal shows and tractor-drawn wagon rides every weekend, admission to the Animal Center with pigs and ponies kids can touch and feed, a wooden train play area, kids' corral with sandbox, and more are all included. Take your family to Underwood Family Farms for guaranteed fun all year round!

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE!

Refer a friend to FamilyFINDS.com and get $10

CLICK HERE TO SEE MY POST ON UNDERWOOD FAMILY FARMS....

ROASTING FOR DUMMIES

A couple months ago, I was approached by Stacie of One Hungry Mama to take on a recipe swap. After making Stacie's spiced up latkes and confessing that just weeks prior, I nearly burnt my kitchen down thanks to an inability to toast bread, I started to feel like I needed to spend more time in the kitchen. After all, cooking is therapeutic and I of course want to make dishes that my son loves because it's something only his mom can make. (I've come to terms that my meatloaf or spaghetti sauce won't win awards).

The point is, I want to cook more. Expose Jonah to more fruits and veggies than just spinach and broccoli, which luckily he enjoys. So when Reisha Fryzer, founder of Farm Box LA approached me I was thrilled. Farm Box LA delivers weekly organic produce to homes, restaurants, and institutions in Los Angeles. She sources from different local farms in order to put together an abundant farm box. It is aimed for ultimate health and wellness.

When Reisha made the delivery, I was so excited but I must admit, overwhelmed. Like I said, I'm used to a head of broccoli, a bag of baby spinach and maybe already cut up butternut squash depending on how well stocked Trader Joes was that week. What was I going to do with fennel, acorn squash, Swiss chard, butter lettuce, Maui onions, and a ton of other fresh fruits and veggies? I mean, I knew what I should do, but it felt a slightly daunting. Reisha shared some recipes and I also hit up people on twitter and facebook for ideas.

I decided to take a little advice from everyone and came up with my own plan. I decided to roast the fennel, acorn squash and Maui onions together with a little olive oil, salt and pepper. SIMPLE. (Why don't I roast everything???)

The Swiss chard, I sauteed with a little maple syrup and crushed red pepper. Delicious... though I admit, Jonah was not so in to it.

The one thing I did that was a major rookie roasting move, was use the stalk and leaves from the fennel- not just the bulb. I don't think it made it any worse, but now I know.

Anyway, LOVED that everything was organic and hand picked by Reisha. In my head, and maybe even in reality, everything tasted CLEANER. If I could tailor this service, or one like this so that I had enough fruits and veggies for me and a 38 lb picky eater, and not more than I'd ever really eat, I would totally do it. It seems worth the price. And the time it takes to rinse and cut up the veggies.

In the meantime, I plan on exploring all the other things I can roast. It's just so friggin' easy and tasty. I think I'm going to have to break out the Ina Garten Roasted Chicken Recipe that I used to make many moons ago. If only I could find an organic chicken farm that would deliver an already clean chicken for me, then I'd really be cookin'....

TIME IN A BOTTLE

I've always thought it was strange when people talk about babies and children by saying  "oh, it's such a great age..." or "that was the best age..." It makes me sad-- as if Baby-Ko turning 24 one day won't be as special as him turning 2.

But after I saw these photos that T-Ko took over the weekend, I kind of understood that "aww, enjoy this right now" thing that people do.  I get it...  Seeing these DOES make me want to stop and relish in every second of every minute RIGHT NOW.  

I probably won't be able to carry him when he's 24, but I can still explore the world and spend hours looking at turtles with him, can't I?

EXPECTING

When we got to the Studio City Farmer's Market yesterday, I was feeling pretty good. T-Ko and I had our double-shots on ice in hand, Baby-Ko was in great spirits and I was feeling sort of cute ( for not having taken a shower), dressed in a long maxi dress and scarf in my hair. Walking through the stalls, bumping into all the cute LA Mommies & Daddies and their little Chloe's and Max's as we search for asparagus under 3 bucks, I felt in my element.

As I stood at the gate of the pony rides with Baby-Ko, pointing out that "the horse says 'nayyy!'," a Tall Daddy, taking pictures of his daughter on one of the ponies started up a conversation with me.
"Aw, he's so cute!"
"Thank you."
"He's about what- 9, 10 months old?"
"Yeah, 10 months."
"10 months. Such a big boy," he says nicely and adds, "AND YOU'RE EXPECTING ANOTHER ONE TOO, HUH?"

(I'll give you a moment to digest this).

I'm speechless. Under my aviators, my eyes say it all.
"NO?" He says as if this is fucking funny.
"Uh. NO." I turn away with attitude. I cannot believe it and search for T-Ko who is across the pony rides, taking pictures of us.
"Ooops," he says. "I guess I need to keep my mouth shut." UH, YA THINK???
I want to say something horrible and rude to him, but nothing comes out. All I can do is ignore him AND THEN he had the friggin nerve to tell me my arm was in his shot when he was taking a picture of his ugly little daughter when I was showing Baby-Ko the ponies.

At that point, I obviously walked away. Stunned, hurt and wanting to throw goat poop in his face, I find T-Ko and tell him what happened.
"Can you please go defend my honor?" I say half serious.
"He's an idiot, babe. Ignore it."
"This seriously just ruined my day."
"Don't let it...." and adds, "I guess you won't be wearing that dress again though."

HA. HA. HA. Jerk.

Needless to say, my diet is in back in full effect today and anything with an empire waist is going in the trash. Or at least being saved for the next time I'm REALLY pregnant....