Archives for January 2019

A Recipe for Eskimo Ice Cream!

January 29, 2019Food, Travel & Culture29

Eskimo Ice Cream, or Akutaq, pronounced “AUK-goo-duck,” is a unique version of ice cream made by the indigenous people of Alaska. It is traditionally made with hard fat (from a reindeer, bear, or muskox), sea mammal oil (from a seal or whale), freshly fallen snow or water, fresh berries, and sometimes ground fish. The type of berries used was based on the region in Alaska, and each family had their own favorite recipe. Akutaq was an important part of the native Alaskans’ diet, as living in extreme cold required a diet high in fat, and the berries provided them with vitamins. Hunters would bring Akutaq on their long hunting journeys, and women traditionally made it after the first catch of a seal or polar bear. It was eaten as a meal or dessert and was made for almost every type of celebration. Because it was mixed by hand and time-consuming to make, many oral traditions were passed down while making Akutaq.

Today, Eskimo Ice Cream is generally made with Crisco, and sugar is often added. Here is a recipe for modern Eskimo Ice Cream:

Eskimo Ice Cream

Serves 5

Ingredients

1 cup Crisco Vegetable Shortening

1 cup sugar

2 cups loose snow (or 1/2 cup water)

4 cups mixed berries

Directions

Slice the Crisco into pieces, place in a saucepan, and warm over low heat. Stir slowly and constantly until liquid. Never let the Crisco get hotter than what is comfortable to touch with your finger. Once Crisco is completely liquid, gradually add sugar while continuing to stir. Continue stirring until all sugar is dissolved and liquid. Remove the pan from the heat, but continue to stir. Add in 1 cup of snow (or 1/4 cup of water). As the mixture starts to cool, it will thicken and get fluffy and white. Stir for another couple of minutes, then add the other cup of snow (or 1/4 cup of water). When the mixture is as fluffy and white as you can get it, fold in the berries. Place in a container and freeze until firm. Let sit for 1 hour before serving.

NOTE: I have not tried it, but you can also add a drizzle of sweetened condensed milk before adding the snow. I might have to do this next time… it sounds pretty tasty.

I love that Eskimo Ice Cream is not overly sweet and really takes on the flavor of the berries. It has that rich, coat-your-tongue mouthfeel. It’s an easy recipe and would be a fun one for kids – put them in charge of placing a bowl outside to collect fresh snow, and then they can stir and stir the Eskimo Ice Cream until their hearts are content!

3 Children’s Books for Chinese New Year

January 26, 2019Holidays, Parenting, Travel & Culture5

One of the reasons I started this blog is to collect ideas for teaching my (future) children about the world. There are so many amazing places and cultures to explore and so many customs and practices to learn about. A great way to expose kids to different cultures at a young age is through children’s books, which can really bring places and customs to life for a child. I like the idea of pairing the books with real-life activities or places that relate to the books.

For Chinese New Year, also known as Lunar New Year (coming up on February 5th this year), I picked out three fun children’s books that teach a little bit about the holiday’s traditions. It’s never too early to start building our little family library!

The first book is a board book for the littles, Bringing In the New Year by Grace Lin. It’s a fun little snapshot of a Chinese American family as they prepare for the Lunar New Year with all the festivities – dumplings, fireworks, lanterns, and a colorful dragon parade. This is a fun book to introduce young children to teach them about the traditions of Chinese New Year.

Sam and the Lucky Money by Karen Chinn is great story about giving. Sam receives the traditional gift of lucky money in red envelopes called leisees (pronounced “lay-sees”) from his grandparents, but when he goes shopping with his mom in Chinatown, he’s disappointed when he finds out that he doesn’t have enough money to buy what he wants. An encounter with a stranger helps him realize that the best gifts come from the heart. It’s a sweet message with beautiful, colorful illustrations.

Ruby’s Wish by Shirin Yim Bridges is based on the inspirational story of the author’s grandmother, a bright young girl living in China who aspires to attend university when she grows up – something unusual for women during that time. The book recognizes the struggle of balancing Chinese tradition with big dreams of doing more, and it’s wonderful to see Ruby’s hard work and courage get rewarded by her family. This book inspires kids and adults alike to follow their dreams.

Do you know any great books for Chinese New Year? I’d love to hear your favorites.

P.S. The cutest kids clothes and accessories for Chinese New Year, and making holidays special.

Happy Saturday!

Microfashion: Inspired by CHINA

January 19, 2019Fashion, Travel & Culture4

Chinese New Year is just around the corner! It begins February 5th this year, and 2019 is the Year of the Pig. In honor of the holiday, I’ve rounded up a few fun Chinese-inspired clothes and accessories for kids. Gotta love all that red and gold!

A few other favorites:

This fiery red dress with a touch of purple lace.

These Minnie Mouse ears for your Disney-obsessed little lady.

A Chinese takeout bow tie – so hilarious and fun! And can we PLEASE talk about this cute Chinese take-out purse?! I want one.

This realistic dumpling charm that can be made into a keychain or necklace… I would have been obsessed with this when I was little. Or a sweet fortune cookie necklace!

Just make sure that you don’t wear black or white clothing OR buy any shoes during the Spring Festival period (New Years Day and the 15 days that follow). It’s bad luck!

Much happiness and good luck in the coming year!

A Hotel at the Top of a Waterfall

January 13, 2019Travel & Culture5

One summer after I had recently graduated college and while my brother was interning in Seattle, my parents surprised us with a room at the Salish Lodge, which is literally at the top of a gorgeous 268-foot waterfall in the Pacific Northwest about a half hour from Seattle. We literally had a balcony overlooking the drop-off, and could sit outside watching the water pour down the cliff or leave our balcony door open to listen to the water crashing. It was incredibly cool.

The lodge was woodsy yet luxurious, and we had a big stone fireplace in our room. We ate wood-fired pizzas in a cozy space called The Attic and went on a hike the next morning. The best part was getting to observe the waterfall at different times of the day – at sunset, at night, and early in the morning.

This is the place to come if want to really impress your kids (adult kids too, haha)! We had never experienced anything like it. It really is a unique hotel and a fun way to appreciate the great outdoors.

Do you have a favorite hotel in the Pacific Northwest? It’s such a picturesque part of the country.

8 Ideas for a Hygge January

January 10, 2019Fashion, Food, Parenting, Travel & Culture9

We talked a little about hygge and parenting in this post… if you don’t know about hygge, you’ll definitely have to check it out! Today I’m sharing some of my favorite family-friendly hygge items for the month of January:

Comfy PJs – Hanna Anderson has some of the cutest matching family PJs right now! Aren’t these “Cookies Love Milk” printed ones darling?!I also love the pizza printed ones (I’ve been known to have a pizza obsession, haha), and these dogs + bikes printed ones are fun too.
Candles – A hygge necessity! My favorite candles always come from Anthropologie, like the one below. They always have a great selection that smell amazing. I actually like to light more than one scent at a time, but if that’s too much for your nose, you can buy unscented candles.If you have small children, try buying some realistic-looking flameless candles to set the ambiance without the safety hazard.
Soup on the stovetop (or in the crockpot!) – My mother-in-law made a delicious beef and vegetable soup for the family over New Years weekend at the family cabin in the Black Hills of South Dakota. It warmed our tummies and was so tasty that we all drained our bowls and went back for seconds. Here’s her basic recipe: Put a chuck roast in a crockpot along with 5 cups of water. Add diced carrots, potatoes, onions, and celery, as well as a 32 oz bag of mixed vegetables (green beans, corn, peas, carrots). Cook on low for 6-8 hours or overnight. Then add dried thyme, basil, salt, and pepper (about 1 teaspoon each or to taste), as well as 3-4 bay leaves. Depending on how much broth you’d like, dissolve 2-4 beef bouillon cubes in water according to directions and add to the pot. Add about a quart of canned diced tomatoes, switch crockpot settings to high and bring to a boil, and let simmer for 20 minutes. Serve hot with crusty bread or salty crackers.
Cozy socks – Bombas socks come in men’s, women’s, and kid’s sizes and are designed to keep your feet warm and comfortable. The pairs below for toddlers have grippers on the bottom to prevent slipping. Best of all, for every pair of Bombas you buy, the company donates a pair to someone in need. Warm fuzzy socks that give you warm fuzzy feelings are the most hygge of them all!
Games – Playing games together as a family is always fun! Try Blank Slate, a fun family game where you try to predict what the other players are thinking for kids ages 8+, or GeoCards World, an educational geography-themed set of cards with five games in one for ages 4+. My favorite adult game right now? Codenames, a social word board game that requires strategy and thought.
Snuggly blankets – To be honest, I’ve never been much of a TV-watcher (too many other hobbies to keep up with!), and before Jamie and I got married, I had a small, terribly uncomfortable couch that I never sat on. But thankfully Jamie’s giant L-shaped comfy leather sofa came with him, and we kicked my stiff-as-a-board little number to the curb. It was only then that I truly understood the value of a softer-than-soft, comfy blanket, big enough for two, that you can tuck around you as you watch a movie, and that doubles as a decorative throw for the sofa back. I don’t know that there’s anything more hygge than that. I love this gorgeous Faux Fur Ruched Throw from Pottery Barn. Pay the price for a pretty blanket with a super-soft material – it’s worth it.
Hot drinks – You can always go with hot chocolate or cider (or mulled wine or hot toddys for adult beverages), but here’s something that’s a little more unique:On our honeymoon in Bali, after an amazing couples massage, they served us Bandrek, a hot Indonesian drink made with ginger, spices, and palm sugar. It was SO good and very relaxing after our spa experience. To make, simply bring 5 cups of water, 6 cinnamon sticks, 20 whole cloves, 6 thick slices of ginger (old, not young, pounded a bit to release the juices), and the juice from one lemon to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer, partly covered, for about 10 minutes. Add about 4 tablespoons of Indonesian palm sugar (substitute 1/2 dark brown sugar and 1/2 maple sugar) and simmer for a few more minutes. Add more sugar to taste and strain out solids. The Bandrek we had was lightly sweet, lemony, and cinnamony. Feel free to adjust ingredient measurements to suit your taste.
Soft sweaters – If you have to change out of your pajamas, a comfy sweater the next best thing. My personal favorites for kids come from Zara – they’re soft and cute. I love the jacquard one for girls below, or this one for boys.

Happy Hygge, friends!

All About Hygge

January 8, 2019Parenting, Travel & Culture7

Has anyone read The Little Book of Hygge? Hygge (pronounced “hoo-ga”) is a Danish way of life, and is described in the book as “a sense of comfort, togetherness, and well-being.” It can be an atmosphere, a feeling, or an experience. The Danes are famously the happiest people in the world, and the author of the book, Meik Wiking, is the CEO of the Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen. He believes that a hygge environment and hygge activities make people feel calm, peaceful, and happy. I love how he gives tangible items and specific experiences that can help create a hygge home. Here are some hygge items and concepts:

Candles and soft lighting
Fires in the fireplace
Togetherness/the gathering of family and friends
Pleasurable sweets like cookies, cakes, and candy
Gratitude and harmony
Hot drinks and soups on the stove
Sweaters, woolen socks, and comfy clothing
Books
Nature
Blankets and cushions

Sounds lovely, doesn’t it?

My family has been all about hygge lately. It was the theme of our Christmas, and my mom gave us hygge-themed gifts. She even had a hygge party with her book club and has another one scheduled with my parents’ wine group as well! It kind of makes me want to have one too…

As I read about hygge, it got me thinking how hygge parenting might have a positive effect on a child. A hygge parent would be happy and relaxed. They would be present in the moments with their child, not distracted or on their phone. They would read to their child, and would cultivate a calm, quiet, casual atmosphere in their home. They would explore nature with their child. They would let their child indulge on sweets, but in moderation of course. They would play games and do crafts with their child. They would host gatherings for friends for friends and family. They would ride bikes and go on walks with their child. They would cook, play, and rest together as a family.

It’s a lot easier said than done, of course, but it sounds very much like a parent I would want to be someday. We can have goals, right? What are your thoughts on hygge parenting? Do you have any ideas or activities that you find to be very hygge in your own family?

On Making Holidays Special

January 7, 2019Food, Holidays, Parenting4

Growing up with a dad as a pilot, we weren’t always able to celebrate holidays on the actual day if we wanted to celebrate as a family. Often, my dad would have to fly on Thanksgiving or Christmas or on our birthdays, so we would have our family celebration on another day that we were all together. I’ve had several women who were dating pilots or married to men who were in pilot school ask me in recent years what it was like to have a dad as a pilot. I told them the truth – that my dad was often gone on holidays, which can be hard, but that it taught us to be flexible and to make the day(s) that we did celebrate as special as we could. While it might seem sad to others that we didn’t always get to be with our dad on Christmas day or that we didn’t always have a celebration with family on our birthdays, we were used to it, and it really didn’t bother us. The great thing about it was that we learned early on that what matters is that we celebrate together, not the actual day itself.

My parents always made sure that whatever holiday we were celebrating was special and fun, so we barely even noticed that it wasn’t on the actual day that everyone else celebrated on. My mom would make dinners fancy and festive, and she ensured that our birthdays were exceptional even if we opened gifts on a different day. And Santa always seemed to know to come early or late to our house (depending on what my dad’s schedule was that year)! On whatever day we would actually celebrate, we would stick by our family traditions – an elaborate Thanksgiving meal; fancy hors d’oeuvres for dinner as we opened family Christmas gifts in the evening; Santa gifts, stockings, and waffles with whipped cream, fruit, and chocolate chips on whatever day we considered to be “Christmas morning”; and our favorite meal and a cake of our choice made by my sweet mom for our birthdays.

It’s easy to stress about the holidays and how to divide out time between families, and I know plenty of people who go to great lengths to celebrate with both families ON Christmas day, because they can’t imagine doing it any differently. If that works for you and your family, then more power to you! I respect that. However, given my dad’s job and the fact that my grandparents lived in two different states, we didn’t have that option growing up, and I don’t know that our holidays could have felt any more special. I have such fond memories of holidays with both sides of my family as well as our little family of four, and truth be told, I don’t remember when we celebrated. I just remember spending time together and all of the festive fun! And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Thankfully, I married into a family who feels the same – Jamie’s family actually celebrates Christmas on New Years weekend every year because that’s when they can all get together. Everyone meets at the family cabin and we celebrate Christmas and have a relaxing time. It’s wonderful.

This year, Jamie and I weren’t with any family on Christmas, which was a first. We didn’t have any vacation days because we took them all for our wedding + honeymoon, and with Christmas falling on a Tuesday this year, it was difficult to travel to another state to visit family. Luckily, we were able to celebrate Christmas with my family several weeks before and Jamie’s family the weekend before New Years. They were short and sweet little trips, but so much fun. On Christmas Eve, we had a quiet, low-key evening with just the two of us, and we exchanged gifts while sipping on champagne and eating hors d’oeuvres at the coffee table. The following morning, we opened our stockings and made waffles with whipped cream and fruit. Everything about it was festive and momentous for both of us as our first Christmas as a married couple.

It’s all about the traditions and putting a little effort in to make the holidays special, no matter when you celebrate. We can’t wait to start new traditions with our own little family and also carry on some of our own from our families growing up. What traditions do you and your family hold dear to the holidays? What things do you do to make them special, and how do you feel about celebrating holidays on a different day? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

An Introduction

January 5, 2019Miscellaneous5

Hi there. I’m Jessica and my husband is Jamie.

Wedding Photo — www.nbarrettphotography.com

Jamie: Engineer, Entrepreneur, and Encourager with some mad computer skills.

Jess: Food Scientist, Foodie, and Wanderluster with way too many hobbies.

We recently got married, and are enjoying the start of our life together in Denver. I’ve been a blogger for over 7 years, but it was time for something new, and that’s why we created Thursday’s Child. Jamie and I were both born on a Thursday, and the saying goes that “Thursday’s child has far to go.” I’m the daughter of a pilot + a former travel agent, and I’ve always had a love of traveling and learning about other cultures. I have hopes of combining these interests with my passion for children’s clothes and my fascination with parenthood. As Jamie and I look to build our family, we are also looking to fulfill our dreams, and this is mine.

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Archives for January 2019