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Eating like the French

Food, Parenting, Travel & Culture3

Back in this post, we had talked about French parenting – discipline, manners, and more.  Yet there was one topic that I avoided, simply because I thought it deserved a post of its own:  Eating like the French!  Food is one of my favorite topics, and the French are very skilled at raising great eaters.  Their children, even very young ones, know how to behave at the table, they have expansive and mature palettes, and they also seem to enjoy eating healthy.  How do they do it?!  There is so much theory and education around this subject in France that Karen Le Billon has written an entire book on it, French Kids Eat Everything, and it was quite enlightening.  An American mom raising her two daughters in her husband’s hometown in Northern France, Karen tells the story of her family’s food journey – the pressure she feels from schools, family, and friends to educate her children about food and cure their picky eating habits, and how she creates a “family food revolution,” leading to happier children and happier parents.

Both French Kids Eat Everything and Bringing Up Bébé, the book that had inspired my French parenting post, give tons of tips and tricks on the topic, but there were a few points that especially stuck out to me which I have listed below.  My own parents prescribed to the majority of these techniques, so even though we don’t have kids yet, I’d say that most of these theories are tried and true in my family to some extent.  The others will be interesting to practice with my own children someday to see how they work!  Certainly each of these principles take effort and planning to implement, but I believe they are probably well worth it for the effect they have on children over the long term.

  1. Nudge your baby (or child) onto an eating schedule.  The French start this early, basically from the first few months.  The goal is to get the baby onto the family’s regular eating schedule as soon as possible, which, for the French, roughly corresponds to breakfast at 8 am, lunch at noon, afternoon snack at 4 pm, and dinner at 8 pm.  This can be tailored to the needs and schedule of the family, but the idea is that kids (and even adults) will eat better, balanced meals if they’re forced to have to wait rather than snacking throughout the day whenever they feel hungry.  The effect of getting small babies adjusted to this schedule is a full night’s rest for the parents.  Of course, this is easier said than done, but the French seem to pull it off quite well, so it would certainly be something to try.  While snacking throughout the day is something that French don’t really believe in, the afternoon snack, or le goûter (pronounced “luh goo-TAY”), is very important to French children.  It is something substantial enough to tide them over until dinner and often includes something that satisfies their sweet tooth as well – maybe a combination of dairy, fruit, and sweets.
  2. Serve food in courses, vegetables first.  I’ve never really thought to do this, but it makes sense: when kids are hungry, and veggies are the first thing served, there’s a good chance they will eat them.  Everyday meals don’t have to be fancy, but some cooked or raw veggies before the meal isn’t too difficult to serve.
  3. Everyone eats the same thing.  There is no “kid food.”  You’re not doing anyone any favors to make special versions of your “adult meal” to cater to the tastes of the children, because kids will learn to expect it (which means more work for you) and they will never get accustomed to trying new things or learn to like something that they previously disliked.  If you serve several items for each meal – some familiar and some familiar – and they watch you eat it and enjoy  it, they will be more inclined to want to try it, which brings us to the next point…
  4. You just have to taste it (but it will be served again).  This was a non-negotiable at my house growing up.  My mom has this theory that if she started serving rattlesnake every week for dinner, it would even become normal and we even might start liking it.  It sounds crazy, but it does take time to get used to different flavors and textures, and tastes change as we age, so continuing to try something often leads to acquiring a taste for it.  At our house, we had to try all the foods, even the things we didn’t like, each time they were served, and strangely, our former “dislikes” became tolerable and eventually even good.  Funny how that works.  One thing to note: making kids taste all the foods on their plate shouldn’t be confused with making them finish what’s on their plate, as you don’t want to force them into unhealthy habits.
  5. Educate – Talk about food often and in a positive way.  In France, people talk a lot about food, both with other adults and with their kids.  It goes beyond what’s “good for you” or what kids like and don’t like; instead it’s a full sensory experience.  Sour, tart, sweet, or salty?  What is the texture like?  How is one food different from anther, and how is it similar?  How does it look and taste when it’s raw versus when it’s cooked?  How does each type of fruit or veggie grow?  Go explore the produce section of the grocery store together and pick out some new fruits or veggies to try!
  6. Avoid emotional eating, food rewards, etc.  As Karen Le Billon describes it, “Food is not a pacifier, a distraction, a toy, a bribe, a reward, or a substitute for discipline.”  This is a difficult one, as I think many of us remember getting taken out for ice cream as a reward for something – good grades, winning a game, or something similar – and personally, I don’t really see anything wrong with that.  I do, however, understand how giving cookies or candy to an upset child to soothe them could lead them to poor habits like emotional eating when they get older.  And instead of threatening children that they won’t get dessert if they don’t eat their meal, they make it more of a logical sequence that they follow – “first we eat our meal, then we eat dessert.”  Being cautious about associating food with emotional experiences is something to consider, although I personally think there doesn’t have to be a hard and fast rule on this.
  7. More color, less processed.  Encourage kids to try fruits and veggies in all colors of the rainbow, and work on eliminating processed foods where you can.  It’s healthy, yes – but it’s also good to promote adventurous eating.  The more they are exposed to unprocessed foods, the more they will learn to like them (see #4), and as they try more foods, they will learn to love tasting new things.  Variety is really important for the French when it comes to the menu, and as a general rule of thumb, they try not to serve the same thing in a week (or at least not served the same way).  This even goes for the side dishes.  While it’s normal for children to still have a preference for sugary, high-fat processed foods (even French children), planning and exposure will help kids learn to appreciate unprocessed foods as well.
  8. Make it fun.  The French love food, and they want their children to love it too, so they do what they can to make mealtime fun.  The family meal is social – a time when they gather together to laugh and share stories.  Kids get parents’ undivided attention, and there are often family rituals that form during this time.  Parents will experiment with flavors and textures and serve foods different ways each time to make it a more enjoyable experience for the child, building on things that they already like and serving them with something they may not have tried.  They don’t disguise healthy foods, but instead make them into fun shapes or create a fun presentation, like a happy face, on their plates.  A festive table can go a long way as well.  Most importantly, if you enjoy mealtimes, your kids eventually will too.

I found these tips to be inspiring to me as we look to start a family some day, but I realize that everyone has differing experiences and opinions.  I’d love to hear what you guys think.  Have any of these tips worked for you and your children?  Do you have additional advice to share?  Please feel free to leave a comment and let me know your thoughts!

Our “Just Us Two” List

Parenting6

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Planning, creating lists, and setting goals not only brings me joy, but also makes me feel most like myself.  Everyone is different, but I’m the type who feels a sense of purpose and also excitement and anticipation for the future when I can dream about it and plan the things I’d like to do.  Jamie and I are in this season of life where we’re (almost) past the newlyweds stage of marriage, but we’re not quite ready for the “having children” part.  And even though we both greatly look forward to the day when we do have kids, we have some things to do first!  I like the idea of making a pre-baby checklist to help set goals and hopefully accomplish them, since I hear that having kids is a bit of a time-suck (in the best sense of the word!).  Here’s our little list for “just us two,” if you’re interested:

  • Get to know our neighborhood!  Our condo is in such an amazing location, and we plan on enjoying every bit of our ‘hood while we can.
  • Eat balanced, homemade meals during the week.  I’ve been on a role with this one, and we’ve been focusing on less red meat and more vegetarian options.  And a lot of Mediterranean dishes!
  • Drink less.  I enjoy a fun craft cocktail, a glass of wine, or a cold brew as much as the next guy, but I’ve been realizing lately that I’m past the point of enjoying the over-indulging – or at least the morning after.  Yes, there is the occasional wild night, because hello, we’re not dead.  BUT we’ve been keeping those nights to a minimum because honestly it’s not worth the hangover.
  • TRAVEL, of course!  New York City is on the books, Europe is in the works, and some other trips have been discussed.  Stay tuned.
  • Stick to our prayer schedule every night!  I created one for us when we first got married, but I’m not going to lie – sometimes it’s tough to keep up with.  I know we can do better!
  • Read before bed.  Jamie isn’t much of a reader, but I started reading aloud to him a few weeks ago – just a small quote, excerpt, or thought (which I’ve been collecting in journals for six whole years!).  It takes no more than 30 seconds, but it’s kind of wonderful to end the day with.
  • Get settled in our jobs.  There have been lots of changes recently, so we’ve been taking some time to develop routines.
  • Find a church.  This is really important to Jamie and me, and we know it’s going to take time and lots of church-hopping, but we want to be intentional about it.  We had such an amazing church in Denver!  We’re still trying to find the right church home for us in Dallas.
  • Discuss parenting and what’s important to each of us when we have kids.  It’s never too early to have the convos.
  • Get more exercise.  Yes, running and weight training, but also yoga, core exercises, and taking walks.  We have found walks to be such a stress reliever and a time to catch up after work.
  • Start family traditions and holiday traditions.  If you could only see the list of traditions that I want to start… you’d probably think I am crazy.  I eat this stuff up!  Better get started now…
  • Find a home, but also make our home.  We are waiting on our condo to sell before we buy a house, and it is taking forever!  Amidst the frustration of wanting it to sell SO BAD and the anticipation of someday having a house and yard, I’ve come to also realize that the making of a house into a home is so much more than the house itself.  (Thank you, dear condo-that-we’ve-lived-in-for-so-long-while-trying-not-to-live-in-it, for helping to teach us this invaluable lesson!)
  • Plan financially/save $$.  I’m hearing that kids cost money, yeah?  …There’s no time for saving for them like the present!
  • Have a garage sale and get rid of things.  It is time.  I’m surprisingly very excited to do this.
  • Blog more!  This not-having-enough-time in the day situation is only going to get worse when I have little kiddos to tend to, so I guess the time to blog is now.
  • Have fun and enjoy being just us!  This might be the easiest item on the list.  Being married is fun, and I pretty much pinch myself every day because it’s way too cool to get to have dinner dates and sleepovers with my best friend every night!

What was/is/will be on your “just us two” list?  I’d love to hear.  Let us know if there’s anything we should add!

Mastering the Art of French Parenting

Parenting, Travel & Culture9

To say that I’ve always been fascinated with other countries’ cultures and ways of life would be an understatement.  As a kid, I would pore over any information about other countries that I could get my hands on.  When I was in fourth grade, I fell in love with the book Water Buffalo Days: Growing Up in Vietnam, which is based on a true story, and I wanted to learn everything about life in Vietnam.  I vividly remember going through an Ireland phase and documenting everything out of my parents’ old 1971 encyclopedias that I could about the country – the landscape, food, people, holidays, and culture.  And it wasn’t just other countries; in first grade and second grade, I wanted to know all about Alaska, and in fourth grade, it was the Cajun people of Louisiana.

My passion for studying cultures around the world hasn’t ceased (hence, this blog!), and as I’ve gotten older, I’ve become interested in the subject of parenting around the world.  After all, one of the best ways to understand a people and their culture is to learn about how they parent their children.

Several years back, I became intrigued by the New York Times Bestseller Bringing Up Bébé by Pamela Druckerman, which is about an American mother raising her children in France and comparing French and American parenting.  I bought it for fun and learned all about how the French parenting style.  French parenting has long been a topic of interest, since French children are, in general, known to be well-behaved, particularly when it comes to dinner time manners and eating habits.  As with anything, there is no “perfect” way to parent, and I’m not one to idolize any culture or find the negatives of my own culture.  But I always love learning about other ways of doing things, and it opened my eyes to some new concepts regarding parenting, and also to a few topics of discussion that I found rather interesting/amusing, such as giving your newborn baby a house tour and allowing your child to use the French kids’ curse word (caca boudin, which literally translates to “poop sausage”!), but only when it’s appropriate.  (The concept is that they cannot use the word with their teachers or at dinner, but they can say it in the bathroom or when they’re alone with their friends.  You’re just going to have to read the book – it’s quite funny!)

There were lots of helpful tips and tricks that are part of the French culture that I would love to be able to try with my own kids someday, with probably the most notable being centered around food, which I can’t wait to share in another post.  When it comes to non-food related topics, these were a few of my favorite concepts of French parenting that I learned from the book:

  1. Don’t stimulate your child all the time. Of course babies and children need love, attention, and conversation from their parents.  However, it’s important to give them downtime too – a quiet time where they’re not being constantly watched, spoken to, or played with.  You don’t have to facilitate your child’s playtime, but instead you can let them explore and create their own fun.  It’s healthy for both you and them.
  2. There are four magic words in France that all children know – “please,” “thank you,” “hello,” and “good-bye.”  In America, we are used to “please” and “thank you,” but in France, it’s also imperative to acknowledge and greet people when they walk in the room.
  3. Don’t rush structured learning.  It’s important to read to kids, but it’s not important that they learn how to read themselves at the youngest age possible.  As the book states, “French preschools teach kids how to have conversations, finish projects, and tackle problems.”  They learn how to be “organized, articulate, and empathetic.”  They are given lots of free time to play on their own.  I found it interesting that the author mentions that in her daughter’s Parisian kindergarten class one day, the assignment was for each child to give a talk on “justice” or “courage,” but they won’t learn to read until age six, and they will learn it in much less time than it takes to teach a four-year-old.  This is vastly different from the American education system, and although there’s probably not a right or wrong in this case, it was interesting to me to hear about a different take on education.
  4. Your child needs to learn to wait.  Kids will learn how to distract themselves if they are forced to have to wait sometimes.  Instant gratification does not lead to a happy child.  It’s good to slow down your response times and not be at your child’s “beck and call” at every moment, as they need to learn how to have reasonable expectations.  Most importantly, don’t let your child interrupt!  In the same manner, don’t interrupt your child during an activity.  If they are happily absorbed in something, don’t butt in with questions or a change of plans.
  5. Build a cadre, or framework with boundaries for your child.  Kids are happiest when they know the expectations.  Parents should decide what they will be strict about, and they should not budge in those areas, but they should allow a certain amount of freedom as well.  Some examples of this are:  “When we go out, I can veto your outfit if it’s inappropriate, but at home you can wear what you want,” and, “You have to taste a bit of everything at a meal, but you don’t have to eat it all.”  Once you set these expectations, you must stand by them.
  6. Don’t raise a praise addict.  The author says, “A French mother tells me that instead of saying ‘Bravo’ when her five-year-old does something well, she sometimes prefers to ask, ‘Are you proud of yourself?'”  You don’t want to prevent your child from trying new things because they’re so focused on maintaining your high opinion of him.  It’s important to be encouraging, but don’t overdo it.
  7. The perfect mother doesn’t exist.  Don’t allow yourself to feel guilty, and take pride in taking time for yourself.  It’s okay for your kids to know that you have a life apart from them.
  8. “C’est moi qui décide,” or “It’s me who decides.”  You’re not a dictator, but you are the parent.  Your kids must know that you are the final authority.  You should say “yes,” as often as you can, but if you’re saying “no,” you must say it with conviction and stick by it.  Explain the reasoning behind the rule, leave the drama out of it, and try to give your child some autonomy over the way that she complies.  Punish rarely, but make it matter.  

Coming from a childhood with a very structured household, I really like these points because I want my children to be well-behaved and likable by both kids and adults.  I find this book to be very descriptive in explaining the ways to encourage your children to be more well-behaved.  However, I do realize that it’s so much harder to stick by these values than it sounds!  What are your thoughts?  Do you have any tips or tricks for raising well-behaved and well-liked kiddos?

P.S.  Life inspiration from the French, and some sweet French-themed kids clothes.

 

 

5 Denver Restaurants to Expand Your Kid’s Palette

Food, Parenting, Travel & Culture0

Jamie and I can’t deny it – we’re a couple of foodies.  We love trying new foods and new restaurants when we travel as well as in our own home city of Denver.  As we’ve continued our ongoing “restaurant tour” around Denver, we’ve enjoyed many ethnically more diverse dishes, and we’ve found that several of them would be great places to take kids to expand their palettes.  These restaurants in particular cater to kids, make their dining experience more fun, and/or offer great menu options that encourage kids to branch out on flavors and textures.  Here are our top 5 that I would recommend to parents to promote more adventurous eating.  Side note:  A good rule of thumb for parents with picky eaters is if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again!  In other words, make them taste everything, then revisit at a later date, make them taste again, and repeat.

1.  Ace Eat Serve – This happening place is perfect for an adult night out, but one that you can feel comfortable bringing your kids to as well.  Grab a drink at the bar and challenge your kids to a game of table tennis in their giant ping pong room while you wait to be seated.  The drinks are fun – I love the High Roller for something light and fresh to sip on.  The menu offers delicious pan-Asian options like Prawn & Lobster Ramen, Thai Crab Fried Rice, and Korean Fried Chicken Bao Buns.  We enjoyed the Bibimbap along with the Gyoza and the Brussels Sprouts & Shishitos (SO good!).  The kids meals come out in a bento-style tray with sticky rice, fresh fruit, and veggies in addition to the main entree (I would recommend the Pork Belly Bao Bun… it’s a fun textural experience for kids).  For dessert, Ace Eat Serve even offers shaved ice on the house for kids.

2.  Biju’s Little Curry Shop – Biju’s is a bright, casual spot for south Indian food.  You order through a line and pick out what you want on your bowl, so no waiting required for the kiddos.  I love their Coconut Curry Chicken bowl – it’s fresh and spicy and loaded with all kinds of goodies.  There is a kids version of the Coconut Curry Bowl for your littles, and they will love the mango lassis.

3.  Sushi-Rama – Who doesn’t get excited about conveyor belt sushi?!  Kids will love getting to watch all the different types of sushi pass by, picking out what they want, then then stacking the plates up by color and counting how much of each they have.  It’s a colorful, fun vibe and a unique experience for both kids and adults.  Because the sushi is plated in small amounts, it’s a wonderful way to try lots of different kinds.

4.  Tocabe – This American Indian eatery is a perfect place to take kids as they’re learning about Native Americans in school.  Tocabe is one of the few Native American restaurants in the world, which is pretty fascinating.  It’s another fast-casual restaurant where you order through a line, and the build-your-own Indian tacos, posu bowls, and fry bread plates feature natively-grown items like wild rice, bison, hominy, pumpkin seeds, and sweet corn.  The kids meals includes an Indian taco with choice of meat or vegetarian.  Encourage your child to try the shredded or ground bison for something a bit different, and they will be sure to love the hot fry bread.  The combination of flavors is so good, and in a world of globalization, it’s a great spot to show kids the food that’s native to the United States.

5.  Jerusalem  – When I moved to Denver, Jamie introduced me to this quaint little gyro restaurant that’s been operating in our city for over 30 years.  It literally feels like you’re stepping straight into a little restaurant into the city of Jerusalem with all the colorful tapestries, and I immediately fell for it just like he had.  It’s amazing food for a great price.  We always get the same thing, the Beef & Lamb Gyros with Tzatziki Sauce, which come with curry rice, cucumber salad, and hot homemade pitas.  To be honest, I don’t know if they have a kids menu (maybe they do – I just have never inquired), BUT I still had to add Jerusalem to the list because those gyros would be a great way to introduce kids to Middle Eastern/Mediterranean-style food.  Plus they have beautiful, tasty desserts like Baklava, fancy Lady Fingers, Nammoura, and more.

What restaurants do you take your kids to, in Denver or elsewhere, that help expand their horizons?  I’d love to hear!

P.S.  Eskimo ice cream, and a Chinese New Years dinner.

Life Inspiration from the French

Fashion, Parenting, Travel & Culture1

My grandmother, a fellow enthusiast of Paris (and perhaps the queen of all Paris enthusiasts!), gave me How to Be Parisian Wherever You Are:  Love, Style, and Bad Habits by Anne Berest, Audrey Diwan, Caroline de Maigret, and Sophie Mas, after a girls trip to Paris several years ago.  There is certainly a lot of mystique around the life of a Parisienne, and I’ve always been rather fascinated by it.  This book takes you on a fun journey through the specifics of what makes Parisian life so glamorous; however, also gives insight into the less endearing mannerisms of the Parisienne (being snobby, playing games with men, etc.) in a very tongue-and-cheek and unapologetic way that makes you smile and roll your eyes at the same time.  It’s very entertaining, and while it does remind me the reasons I’m glad I’m not Parisian, it is filled with a multitude of inspiring and brilliant tidbits on all sorts of topics that I would love to exemplify in my life.

Here are a few of my favorites directly from the book:

On style:

“You don’t have to spend a decade’s worth of salary on your wardrobe, or flaunt designer brands the whole time.  All you need is one signature item:  the one you wear when you need to feel strong.”

“The Parisienne never gives too much away.  When it comes to revealing herself, she follows one golden rule:  less is definitely more.”

“You don’t choose between comfort and elegance; for you, it’s all or nothing.”

“If you own only one sweater, make sure it’s cashmere.”

On beauty:

“Skin should look natural.  Freckles can appear in spring along with the first rays of sunshine.  Sometimes your cheekbones blush when you lie, and your whole face flushes when you are intimidated.  You must not stifle the stories behind the natural coloring of your skin.”

“Her hairstyle is never ‘immaculate’ and it’s rare that she goes for a blowout.”

“Despite all these routines, the Parisienne retains her little imperfections, cherishes them even (the gap in her smile or her slightly crooked tooth, her prominent eyebrows or strong nose):  these are the signs of a certain strength of character and allow her to feel beautiful without being perfect.”

On love:

“Be your own knight in shining armor.”

“When it comes to kissing, the Parisienne does it the same way she does everything else:  with cinematic flair.”

“The Parisienne is in love with the idea of love.”

On living life the Parisian way:

“Always put on perfume before going out, especially on the nape of your neck and your wrists.”

“Eat croissants and buttered toast for breakfast – because it’s Saturday morning and you burned enough calories last night, damn it.”

“Agree to (at least a little) exercise but only in ‘beautiful’ surroundings:  a run in a picturesque public park or swim in a historically listed pool.”

“Go to the market on Sunday morning with your wicker basket.  Prepare a delicious lunch with vegetables, fresh bread, and salted butter.”

On being pregnant:

“You buy things in extra-large at H&M rather than go to a maternity store:  you have flair.”

“You take advantage of your newfound cleavage to experiment with the décolleté:  you are sexy.”

“You replace your Bloody Marys with Virgin Marys, but that’s it:  you’re no saint.”

“You are not defined by this stage of your life.  This is a period of growth.  You are a pregnant woman, which means you are above all a woman.  With a little extra something.”

On raising children:

“The Parisienne does not stop existing the day she has a child… Indeed, she doesn’t give up anything, because she also embraces her role as a mother.  She wants to be there to educate her child, to watch him grow up, to pass on her values, her culture, her philosophy.”

“Her child is not king, because he is a satellite to her own life.  At the same time, her child is omnipresent because this satellite follows his mother everywhere, and together they share valuable moments.”

“According to the Parisienne, this joie de vivre is the best way of inspiring children to grow up.  And also the best way for mothers to never miss the lives they led before they had children.”

On aging:

“Either go all gray or no gray hair.  Salt and pepper is for the table.”

“And as your face gets messier with age, your hair can get neater, for balance.”

“Don’t be afraid of aging.  As the saying goes, don’t be afraid of anything but fear itself.”

I love the candidness of Parisians.  There were so many other thoughts and words of wisdom from the book that I would have loved to share, and it includes cool photos too.  This book would be a great gift for any Francophile!  I thoroughly enjoyed the little snapshot on life from the Parisian point of view.

P.S.  French-inspired clothes and accessories for Valentine’s Day.

3 Children’s Books for Chinese New Year

Holidays, 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!

8 Ideas for a Hygge January

Fashion, 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:

 

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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!
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
  8. 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

Parenting, 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

Food, 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.