Picture of the Day: Thirty Tiny Pedicured Toes

I love baby feet, and the girls love to get their teeny tiny toenails painted (easier said than done sometimes--best accomplished while they're in their booster seats eating a snack).  They relish the opportunity to paw through my box of polish colors and choose the perfect shade, and they take sitting still very seriously so as not to smudge the paint.  Just a little moment that brought us all joy this morning :).

The Joy of Turning 27

I turned 27 last week.  The big 2 - 7.  Three more years until 30.  Before the big day, I posted on Facebook something like "...is underwhelmed at the idea of turning 27 next week. "Eh." ".  (The Eh was supposed to be interpreted as a shoulder shrug.)  People took this post entirely the wrong way, like I was feeling anxious about the reality of my descent to the grave, suddenly confronted with my own mortality, OH THE AGONY of the idea of turning 27.  Nope.  Nuance and tone are impossible to decode via social networking site.  I was trying to convey that I had no real feelings at all about this particular birthday, not exciting like 16 or 18 or 21, and as a stay at home mom, I knew the day would unfold much like all our other days: breakfast, bath, gym, errands.  So "Eh."  *shoulder shrug*

But it was a great day.  The girls behaved.  I got 70-ish Facebook Happy Birthdays which blew me away.  And I took pictures of almost everything that gave me joy that Friday.  Little feet in the tub, Ashton hosted Regis and Kelly, Dad brought Starbucks!, Linz got me a Happy Book to journal in, the fam took me out to Red Robin and I got my standard (and delicious) Crispy Chicken Salad, Holly slurped noodles, Doug and my parents got me a NatureBright light therapy system for my self-diagnosed Seasonal Affective Disorder, and Doug took me out to a movie of my choosing (No Strings Attached...Ashton, naturally).  Joy in the little things was the theme for the day. 

27 isn't a big deal.  It's not the year I learned to drive, the year I could buy lottery tickets or win a sweepstakes, the year I could finally have a glass of wine ;), or even the year I could rent a car in most states without putting six million dollars down for a deposit.  But great things are happening this year that I will remember for the rest of my life.  I'm running my first marathon.  Doug and I are celebrating our 6th wedding anniversary.  Our oldest munchkin is going to start kindergarten.  27 isn't a big deal for Hallmark, but it is going to be a spectacular year around here--nothing "Eh." about it.   

[New Year's Resolution] Joy, Marathon, Minimize...and a Real Housewives Reality Check

It's that time again--the beginning of a new year, the opportunity to start fresh.  Lindsay, for as long as I've known her, has had a Word Of The Year to go hand in hand with her New Year's Resolutions and I love this idea of trying to set the tone for the months ahead.  Her word two years ago was Simplify, and her word for last year was Enjoy.  

At the risk of sounding redundant, the word I have chosen for myself this year is Joy: choosing to have joy rather than dwell on other, less productive emotions like anxiety or impatience, raising children who radiate joy and consciously spread joy to others.

I chose this particular picture because it screams joy to me.  Uncle B, a devoted and involved uncle to say the least, got a gift from friends out of state and it was packed in pink confetti.  He saw an opportunity for JOY and seized it.  He told the rest of us 'responsible adult types' not to worry, he'd clean up the mess, enjoy the moment!  And he was so right.  The happiness was tangible.

Real Housewife Confession:

I don't want this post to sound smarmy.  I'm really tired.  And I'm a complainer.  Mostly to Lindsay, sometimes my mom, sometimes Doug...sometimes I just mutter to myself at the sink in the kitchen about the cantankerous nature of a particular day.  Choosing joy over griping does NOT always come easily to me, although I am aware that in the grand scheme of things, I have very little to complain about.  Another confession?  I'm tired of having all the kids at home.  ALL. THE. TIME.  I am responsible for the three of them every second of every day and it can be tiresome to say the least.  I am ready for Haley and Hannah to start school.  Isn't that terrible?  I'm ready for sleepovers and PTA and extracurricular activities--a different kind of responsibility.  Now all the grandmas who are reading this can say in unison:  "Cherish this time!  They're only little once!  Forget the chores and obligations and just enjoy this time with them!  They're so precious!  You're going to wish they were this age again!  Don't be so impatient for these years to end!"  Does that about cover it?  I know, I know.  I'm trying.  Hence my 2011 Word Of The Year! 

And my 2011 New Year's Resolutions, keeping Joy in mind, are as follows:

Marathon: This is something just for me, my selfish thing, that brings me joy and it's all mine.  I signed up for my first full marathon in June and I am amped about it.  I just want to finish this first one.  Even if I have to crawl, I'm making it across that finish line.  And then I am going to party like a rock star.  I'm sure Mom will say, "When are you going to have time to train for a marathon???"  That's where Part 2 of my resolution comes in.

Minimize: Not just talking about "stuff" here, although we are beginning to accumulate quite a bit of it. (Our house that once felt giant now feels mildly claustrophobic).  I'd also like to minimize unnecessary obligations and time-wasters.  I take on a lot for someone with three small children at home.  And I spend too much time at the computer doing absolutely nothing.  If I'm not blogging or paying bills, there's really no reason for me to be sitting at my desk in the corner.  Less time spent on stuff, more time spent loving on my very affectionate herd of children and focused on my 26.2.

So, to sum up:  Spread joy.  Run far.  Lose stuff.

Reader question: What would your Word For The Year be?

Joyeux Kitchen: It's All About The Frosting, Baby

This weekend was crazy.  We had an Under The Sea themed joint birthday party for the girls; good food, great friends and family.  The culinary highlight of the evening, I think, at least for the grown-ups, was the Swiss Meringue Buttercream on these cupcakes.  Ooooooh Martha it was good.  I wanted to swim in it, like that old gal on Patch Adams whose life dream was to swim in a pool of noodles.  The cupcakes themselves were great too, all Martha of course, (click here for all the recipes--side note: I added the seeds of one vanilla bean to the Vanilla Cupcake recipe) but I really want to focus on the frosting.

I had no idea how many different preparations of buttercream existed--thank you Wikipedia!  The Swiss is magical, and not for timid beginners.  It took a lot of mixing and I don't know how you would do this one without a stand mixer.  It would be wonderful on any cake, or on sugar cookies, or in a bowl accompanied by a hot cup of coffee... I'm having strong feelings for this frosting.  I'm in love.  So what if the recipe takes two  entire  boxes of butter.  Throw caution to the wind!  Your happiness depends on you tasting this frosting.

From MarthaStewart.com
You'll need:

• 2 1/2 cups of sugar
• 10 large egg whites
• 4 cups (8 sticks) of unsalted butter, cut into pieces
• 2 tsp pure vanilla extract

Sheer joy.  This frosting (which isn't even an adequate word to describe it) is perfect for mounding on top of cupcakes or smoothing thin layers on a cake.  Because of the preparation it will never 'dry out' or form a crust on the top layer--it will remain glossy and sticky to the touch.  These directions are straight from the woman herself--I took no liberties with Martha's buttercream.

Place sugar and egg whites in the heat-proof bowl of an electric mixer. Set bowl over a pan of gently simmering water, and whisk until sugar has dissolved and egg whites are hot to the touch, about 3 minutes. Test by rubbing the mixture between your fingers; it should feel completely smooth.

Transfer bowl to mixer stand. Using the whisk attachment, beat on high speed until mixture has cooled completely and formed stiff and glossy peaks, about 10 minutes.

Add the butter, one piece at a time, and beat until incorporated after each addition. Don't worry if the buttercream appears curdled after all the butter has been added; it will become smooth again with continued beating. Add vanilla, and beat just until combined.

Switch to the paddle attachment, and beat on the lowest speed to eliminate any air pockets, about 5 minutes. If using buttercream within several hours, cover bowl with plastic wrap, and set aside at room temperature in a cool environment. Or transfer to an airtight container, and store in the refrigerator, up to 3 days. Before using, bring buttercream to room temperature, and beat on the lowest speed with the paddle attachment until smooth, about 5 minutes.

I do have a couple things to add.  As it says in step 3, the buttercream WILL appear curdled after you get all the butter in.  You will panic.  Have a glass of wine and step away from the mixer.  Everything's going to be fine.    It's magic!  Culinary magic!  Also, if you're preparing it ahead of time, there will be more moments of panic.  I pulled it out of the fridge the morning of the party and let it 'come to room temperature' for two and a half hours.  It wasn't long enough.  In the mixer, it turned into something that looked like aqua blue cottage cheese in blue milk.  Gasp.  Not the canned stuff....  I had a Plan B but I wasn't eager to use it.  In Martha I Trust.  I turned the Kitchenaid on Medium/High, put my hands around the bowl of the mixer to warm it, and closed my eyes.  Six minutes later all was well--smooth, creamy perfection. 

I hope you'll try it.  Leave me a note if you do.  It will be a looooove note, I'm sure. xo

The "Run"down

Crossing the finish line after the Rock N' Roll Half Marathon in Seattle.

"I decided to go for a little run." - Forrest Gump
I wanted this post to be a big deal, some major revelation about my passion for running.  Like, it gives me clarity and purpose or some b.s. like that.  But the reality is pretty straight forward: I started running to lose my baby weight for a friend's wedding and I was stunned by how fast it came off.  I continued running because I liked the way my swimsuit fit that summer.  I was hooked after I participated in my first 5k that fall, there's nothing like the rush of crossing the finish line after a lifetime of never excelling athletically in any way.  I run because I have an anxious personality, always worrying, but when I run my head is quiet.  And the crux of the matter: I run because I love to eat.  My metabolism, post-pregnancies and sans running, simply cannot keep up with my love for butter.  Bacon.  Chocolate.  Caramel.  Cheese.  Good wine.  Sigh.  So I run!

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit." - Aristotle
I run, but I don't consider myself a runner.  I'm not alone. I've heard this over and over from friends, as if, if you weren't on the high school track team, you missed the lifetime registration deadline for "Runner Status". 

"Desire is the most important factor in the success of any athlete." - Willie Shoemaker
I run.  And I have a secret.  I want to run in the Boston Marathon to celebrate turning thirty (which gives me about three and a half years to train).  This sounds benign enough if you don't know what you're talking about, which I didn't when I originally had the idea.  They don't let "just anybody" run this race.  It's for the creme de la creme of runners--the seriously dedicated and, in my case, seriously delusional.  You have to qualify and it's no easy feat.  A female in my age group needs to run in a qualifying race and finish with a time of 3:40 or better...just under 9 minutes per mile.

Boston Marathon Qualifying Times Page
http://run350.blogspot.com/  -- A great blog by a Boston Marathoner who started out a lot like me. 

"Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up." - Thomas A. Edison
But don't worry, I have a back-up plan.  I'm raising three small children and it's entirely possible that my lofty ambitions could be thrown off course by life.  The Cape Cod Marathon is one of the top ten most scenic marathons in America and you don't have to qualify.  It's held in Falmouth, MA, which is about a hour and a half from Boston, and I've always wanted to visit New England.  An equally great way to celebrate turning the big 3-0!!  Am I selling myself short by having a back-up plan or just being realistic?  Can't decide.

"The difference between the mile and the marathon is the difference between burning your fingers with a match and being slowly roasted over hot coals." - Hal Higdon
My [only] 5k time was 28:33 and my half-mary time (see above picture) was 2:17, slowed down by significant running-related stomach issues that day.  I know how much better I could have done if I'd been running at 100%.  My personal best mile (ever) is 7:47 and that's not fast by any stretch of the imagination.  I'll never win a race, but that's not the point. 

"I still bother with runners I call hamburgers. They're never going to run any record times. But they can fulfill their own potential." - Bill Bowerman
I'm a hamburger.  And I'm looking for a marathon mentor: some benevolent woman out there just dying to take a novice runner under her wing... for free.  I'm not after much--just someone to follow around who has a clue what she's doing.  If you know someone who fits the bill, give me a shout.

Why do YOU run?  I'd love to hear about the passion and addiction from another perspective.  Happy running!