BOOK CLUB: FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS

I have been neglecting my book club. The reason is that I wasn't particularly inspired by our last read, The Post Office by Charles Bukowski. The story can easily be summed up this way ... copious amounts of drinking, endless mail sorting and constant womanizing.

Our most recent book promises to be different. Considered one of the best books written about sports, Friday Night Lights by H.G. Bissinger is a fitting read with the upcoming Super Bowl on Sunday. I'm not a football fan. To me, the game seems to always be in a state of interruption with its constant starting and stopping. I must be missing something. That said, I am a fan of the TV series Friday Night Lights (based on this book), which depicted the phenomenon that is high school football in rural Texas. I'm eager to see how the book compares ... and of course to learn more about who Coach Taylor really is.

DESIGN DO OR DON'T: BLACK & WHITE KID'S ROOM

Would you decorate your child's room in black and white? The simplicity appeals to me, but it might be a bit too stark for little ones.

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RECIPE: TURKEY PUMPKIN CHILI

For me, chili is the epitome of winter food. Its name even speaks to cold winter days. Turkey pumpkin chili is by far my favourite kind of chili. It's so good. And, chili seems to be synonymous with Super Bowl Sunday, which is coming up this weekend. So, if you're hosting a party or you just want to get in the football spirit, check out this this crockpot recipe.

Ingredients:
2x 15oz cans dark red kidney beans
1 28oz can pumpkin puree
1 28oz can crushed tomatoes
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup onion, chopped finely
3 cloves of garlic, minced
1 zucchini, chopped finely
1/2 green bell pepper, chopped
1/2 yellow bell pepper, chopped
1 pound extra lean ground turkey
2 tablespoons chili powder
1/2 teaspoon cayenne powder
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon sea salt

In a crockpot, add beans, pumpkin and tomatoes and turn heat to high.

Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a pan on medium heat. Add onions and garlic and cook for about two minutes. Add the zucchini and peppers to the pan and cook until all vegetables have softened, stirring often. Add all vegetables to the crockpot.

Add one tablespoon of oil to the hot pan. Add ground turkey meat and cook, breaking up the meat with a spatula as it cooks. Cook until the meat is no longer pink. Add to the crockpot with spices and stir. Cook on high for 4 hours or on low for 8 hours.

Serve with shredded extra old cheddar cheese and enjoy!

(Makes 6 generous portions)

HAPPY WEEKEND!

The deep freeze is expected to end on Saturday. Hurray! It's been too cold to spend any time outside so I'm excited to get outside again this weekend for some winter fun. Here are just a few things happening in Toronto this weekend ... Foodies will rejoice with the start of Winterlicious, the Interior Design Show offers an abundance of design inspiration and the ROM kicks off its sleepovers for kids.

Here's a song to help start your weekend off right. It's Home by Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros. Let the toe-tapping begin!

Happy weekend!

A BAD REACTION

Yesterday was a day I will not easily (or quickly) forget. It was one of those days that you dread as a parent. Monkey had his first serious allergic reaction. The culprit was lentil soup. We were happily eating our lunch and then suddenly his lips swelled up and white patches appeared on his cheeks and chin. Off to the doctor we went. It was a scary time. Thankfully, he was back to his happy little self by late afternoon.

The unnerving part is that I had introduced lentils a long time ago and, although he didn't like them, there was no reaction at all. According to our pediatrician, an allergy can show up after a few exposures to it and each time the reaction can be worse. And let me pass along another tidbit I learned yesterday, if your child starts coughing (Monkey didn't do this) while having any allergic reaction, call an ambulance immediately.

Needless to say, legumes are now banished from our home until we see an allergist for more definitive help.

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CURRENTLY LOVING: THIS BACKPACK

No question, backpacks are practical. But oftentimes, I find that backpacks lack style with their reflective strips, numerous zippers, bungee cords and outside mesh compartments (all very helpful if you're trekking along the Bruce Trail or Rogers Pass). For everyday use, I like the backpacks from The Herschel Supply Co. Brand. Simple in design, these backpacks omit the techno-colour gadgetry and are perfect for daily city life.

TRAVELLING WITH A TODDLER

Monkey and I are back from our winter getaway. Luckily for us, Florida had a record-breaking heat wave so we spent a lot of time perfecting our sand-sculpting skills at the beach. It was a great vacation, but it's nice to have our little family back together again at home.

This trip marked Monkey's third time on an airplane, but it was the first time he didn't take a little snooze (or two). Thankfully, it was only a three-hour flight and I was prepared to be a non-stop entertainer to avoid any toddler meltdowns. Here are some of the things that helped our trip go smoothly ...

Snacks -- I packed a lot of little containers with bite-sized snacks (blueberries, dried cranberries, crackers, cucumber slices) to occupy and keep Monkey well-fed. 

Favourite things -- A few days before our trip, Monkey and I picked four of his favourite books and two of his favourite little toy cars and packed them together for the 'big trip'. He was very excited to see his favourite things magically appear again on the plane ride.

Sticker and colouring books -- Monkey was captivated by this sticker book that let him decorate all the rooms of a house in his own (interesting) way. He is also a big fan of this colouring book that comes with stickers. 

Cartoon narration -- Madagascar was playing on the in-flight entertainment system, so we made up our own story about the characters as we watched (without headphones). Monkey was partial to the zebra. When he's a bit older, it'll be fun to watch the cartoon with actual sound and see if he remembers any of our crazy, made-up tales. 

iPhone apps -- We don't let Monkey play with our iPhones, but before we left I downloaded some toddler-friendly apps in case I was desperate. The two free apps that I got were Toddler Counting 123 and The Wheels on the Bus. Surprisingly, I didn't have to use them.

Diaper changes -- A diaper change on the plane takes up time and is an adventure for your little one (so do it even if one isn't needed!). Monkey walked down the aisle himself so it was a good stretch for both of us too. There are peepholes in the emergency exits on either side of the plane that make it fun to peek out if you have to wait in line.  

Logistics -- Use a backpack for your carry-on to make it easy at the airport. Sit in a window seat so your toddler can see the action while you wait on the runway or at the gate. Put your stroller in a golf bag (or something similar) to avoid wear-and-tear when it's checked at the gate. Instead of sitting to wait for the plane, walk around the airport together so they aren't as squirmy when it comes time to sit on your lap for the trip.

That's all I have. Do you have any tips and tricks to share about travelling with babies or toddlers? I'd love to hear from you for our next adventure!



FUN IN THE SUN

Monkey and I are heading to Florida for the next few weeks. I see a lot of sand castles and swimming in my future, but not a lot of writing here at Monkey's Muse. Monkey is very excited to go on an airplane again. It will be just the two of us on this trek down to visit my parents, and I plan to share my travelling tips when I get back on flying with an eager and adventurous toddler. Until the next time ...

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CURRENTLY LOVING: THESE LEGGINGS

I love leggings. They are easy to wear and super comfortable for lazy days. My current favourite is this striped pair from Album di Famiglia. These leggings are made of the softest knit and really hold their shape so you don't have baggy knees or a saggy bum -- even after crawling around on the floor for hours. These are a staple in my winter wardrobe; I pretty much lived in them over the holidays.

CURRENTLY LOVING: THESE iPHONE APPS

I recently made the switch from the Blackberry world to the iPhone world. It was not an easy decision. In a strange way I felt an affinity towards my RIM device since the company was once the pride and joy of my hometown, Waterloo. But, now that I've made the switch, I'm definitely not looking back.

The camera is good, which will help me with my New Year's Resolution to capture our candid, everyday moments, and the world of apps is vast. Here are my two (free!) favourites:

Pixlr-o-matic: Add cool filters, borders and effects to your pictures and save the image right on your phone (unlike Instagram). If you haven't already guessed, the picture of me and Monkey playing hide-and-seek above uses this app.

Songza: Listen to music that suits your mood, the time of day and what you're doing. I'm stuck on the For Shame: 80s & 90s Guilty Pleasures...such a good playlist!

Do you have any must-have apps that I should check out?

MY NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS

Happy New Year! I hope you had a wonderful holiday.

I always feel like the New Year brings with it a fresh start. It's a chance to set your mind to doing the things you promise yourself you'll do whether it's living a more healthy life, going on new adventures, cooking more often or wearing a hat when it's cold outside. Do you make New Year resolutions? I try to make just a few to increase my chance of success. So, here goes my 2013 resolutions ...

Stop worrying about work. You might find this one a bit odd since I'm taking time away from my career to stay at home with Monkey and I'm choosing not to work. Well, I do worry (a lot) about how this time is affecting my career -- will I still be relevant, how far behind my peers will I fall? I have taken on a few freelance projects this past year, but it is still a worry. My resolution is to enjoy this time. Monkey is only young for such a short time and I will have many, many years ahead of me to continue to build my career.

Take more pictures. Somehow over the last year I've become a bit lazy when it comes to capturing candid moments from our everyday life. It's time to keep the camera close at hand once again!

Exercise. I've never been one to workout at a gym, but I walk a lot and I used to do yoga regularly. We used to go for long walks when Monkey was small and he'd sleep in the stroller, but it's not as easy to make those treks when he wants to get out and explore or walk himself. My new plan is to go for a fast morning walk with Monkey whether it's to the grocery store or around our neighbourhood (no more leisurely strolls with a coffee!) and, one night a week I'm going to make time to go swimming. I think this sounds doable.

I'd love to hear about your New Year's resolutions!

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