THROWBACK THURSDAY: MY BROCCOLI BOY

Every now and again, I start feeling a little sentimental about how much I miss Jonah's baby and toddler years. Though age 6 is proving to be fantastic in a million ways,  there are moments, like this morning, when I wish I could go back in time... just for a little... The new words he'd use, the developments he'd make, the way he ate... I know this sounds silly, but when a 6 year old eats, let's be honest- it looks, well, like eating and usually just looks like a mess (on the floor). Eating is for survival at this point.  But when a 1, 2, or 3 year old eats... Well, to me it was like watching a rare bird (scratch that, I hate birds. What am I thinking?!)-- it was like watching a rare, baby tiger eat for the first time. It's fascinating, sweet, and produces some special moments that for whatever reason, stick with you forever. (For the record, I'm actually not one of those people that find it fascinating when animals eat. Like, at all. But since the majority of world does care, I used that analogy for them. I do what I can).

Since it's Throwback Thursday, and since I'm feeling particularly mushy this fine 43 degree - SoCal morning, I thought I'd share a clip I found from a few years ago. Jonah was about 3 1/2. Just before this video started, he was asking about how people swallow and to tell him about "Spit," which I explained was called "saliva."  As an expert on saliva, ahem, if you're a fellow parent, you'll find my answer to be quite comforting, if nothing else. And trust me, there's nothing else. I only know what I know people.

Anyway, enjoy and cherish the small moments. And eat your broccoli. xo, JB

BATCH COOKING: HOW TO MAKE CHICKEN TAGINE

It seems like every Monday, I'm on a hunt for a recipe that is sort of a one stop shop-- a recipe that I can get all the ingredients literally in one shop, put them all in one pot, and walk away. However, not only is this crock pot-codependent relationship hurting the feelings of my 5qt Le Creuset pot (I'm not bragging, I'm just saying it's really pretty), but it's starting to bore Jonah and Peter to tears: There's only so much shredded chicken tacos and turkey chili a man/boy can take.

Luckily, a few months ago, I went to New York and had the opportunity to cook with the very talented Tamara Reynolds for Lifetime Moms. One of the recipes we made was Chicken Tagine. This two-pot Mediterranean dish may sound challenging, but let me tell you it's super simple, flavorful, and is a perfect dish to satisfy my Le Creuset calling. The best part: it's a batch recipe. With batch recipes, you can make a large portion and save/freeze it for another meal or, as Tamara suggests, swap half with a neighbor or friend that is making another batch of something delicious. (Though, good luck trying to match my batch, she says mockingly).

Happy batch cooking!

THROWBACK THURSDAY: FOUND VIDEO

We are in the process of moving and I'm in clean up mode from top to bottom, inside and out... Including all things tech. So, I found this video while cleaning up my computer. It's probably about 3 years old, as Jonah was really only about 2 (though his silliness and sense of humor was quite evident even then). I'm a total dork in the video and I'm not quite sure where exactly I was looking or why I even shot it... but boy, I can't believe how time is flying. Next week is the last week of school... and then it's on to Kindergarten (the real Kindergarten). Videos like these remind me to savor every moment... and to also burn whatever blouse that was that I was wearing.
xo, JB

#throwbackthursday

A "MIRACLE" WEIGHT-LOSS PROGRAM

2 weeks exactly before D-day

I gained 33 pounds during my pregnancy with Jonah. Thirty-three. I lost exactly 12 the day he was born. Not that it was anything I cared about DURING the 24 hours of labor/no sleep. But I can remember coming home from the hospital, looking down at what appeared to be a five month pregnant, but blob like belly and thinking, "in addition to the 7lb 5 oz human that emerged from my womb, I muuuust have lost more weight..." So, like a sicko, I hopped on the scale and cursed the amniotic gods for only shedding 5 lbs of fluid.... THEN exhaustion and WTF just happened to my life-ness set in and I didn't think about how much I had or needed to lose again. Well... at least not for another couple months.... Eventually, it all evened out and I was back to my pre-baby weight and bod (minus the newly deflated-breastfeeding ruins everything chest area).

A couple months ago, my buddies at How to Be a Dad asked me to participate in a video they were producing for Kin Community. With pleasure, I said of course and showed up to shoot a little video about losing said baby weight (kind of). Though my days of theeeeater and acting are long behind me, I must admit it was fun doing a video with Charlie, Andy, and my girls Jenny Feldon of Karma (Continued) and Morgan of the818. It's no embarrassing meet and greet with Ashton Kutcher, but it still ought to make you laugh. What do y'all think?

POKER FACE

Last night, I took a trip down iPhoto lane and stumbled on a slew of old videos from when Jonah was about 21 months old. Watching them, I started to feel very sentimental... Though I love watching this child bloom and truly become a little boy right now, I must admit, part of me misses "Baby-Ko...." First steps, first words, first songs... Now he's putting concepts together. Like big concepts. Take this conversation for example... From the back seat... where the most meaningful conversations seem to start....

J: Mommy, tell me about the day I came out of your PA-CHINA.

And cue the poker face.

Me: Um, wha-- Oh. Um. Uh, okay. Uh, the day you were born...?

J: Yeah, tell me.

Me: Okaaaay....

J: Did it hurt when I was coming out of your pa-china.

Me: Yes. It did.

J: For how long?

Me: For about 40 minutes.

J: Is that a long time?

Me: Uh, actually... It's pretty good. Not bad.

J: Did it hurt me?

Me: No, it didn't hurt you.

J: What did it feel like?

Me: Uh.....

(Is this where I tell him about anaesthesia?)

J: Did it feel like a pinch?

Me: Uh huh. Like a pinch.

J: Like a shot?

Me: Yep. Like a shot.

J: Like a big, big poo poo coming out?

Me: Um. Yes. Definitely like that.

Silence.

J: But Mommy, I'll never have a baby...

Me: Well, one day you wi--

J: No. Mommy, no. I don't have a pa-china.

Me: That's true. You don't. But you'll marry a mommy and she will have one.

J: Where will you be?

Me: Well, I'll live very close by.

J: Will you live with me?

Me: No, not when you're married.

Silence.

J: Mommy, do you want to marry me?

Me: Jonah, I .... Mommies can't marry their sons. But I will love you forever.

J: Even when I'm an old man.

Me: Even when you're an old man.

J: Do I get to step on the glass at my wedding?

Me: (laughing). Why, yes, Jonah. Yes, you do.

J: Turn on Lady Gaga.

Me: Okay.

Speaking of Poker face...

I do. I miss the A, B, C's.

VACATION OR "STAY-CATION?"

So the word around town these days is that more and more families are opting to take "stay-cations," rather than yes, you guessed it VAAAAAAAY-cations. Okay, to be completely fair, I don't really actually know for certain that more families are doing this... I mean, I haven't seen a statistic or poll on this, BUT given the general state of our economy (which, feel free to email me and actually explain what the eff is happening to our economy and why Wall Street is crumbling. Hi, I majored in theater.), taking a stay-cation with your family actually seems like a wise and quite lovely choice. Recently, I shot this segment for Her Say, sponsored by Oscar Meyer. I really don't know what to tell you except that, I mean, you know... Quality time means quality lunch meat. Or something like that.

Enjoy.

Well if you want a real vacation with a real tan (and maybe a cabana boy), head to Her Say! We're giving away a 5 day/4 night Beaches Resorts Luxury Included® Vacation in Jamaica, with airfare for 4, provided by Delta Vacations! Amazing, right? AND It's super simple to sign up. DO IT. And take me. CLICK HERE.

CHEESECAKE KIND OF GAL

Recently I filmed a branded video for Kraft in which Jill Simonian and I take a quiz to see what the desserts we love say about our personalities. Given my options, I determined I was a cheesecake kind of gal. But in truth, I'm actually a french fry, loaf of bread, butter, and bottle of wine kind of a gal. What that says about my personality? I need to move to France.

Alright, so I want to know, what dessert style are you?

BRAGGING RIGHTS

Lately I've gotten a little flip cam happy.... especially during meal time.  The other morning as Baby-Ko ate cottage cheese (with his hands), I felt like I was once again witnessing a moment in time that had to be captured. While the sound of my voice makes me want to become a mute (and makes me think I have a speech impediment) and my parenting/ discipline skills, (or lack thereof),  could use some serious fine tuning, it is his rendition of ABC's that makes me feel like the proudest mom in the world.... 

P.S. Clearly,  The Mommy Dearest/ Vacuum Monster shtick didn't last long.  Just ask the carpet cleaners....