Diet Coke Detox Diary

About two years ago I realized that aspartame wrecks havoc on my system. Now, I don’t consume anything with aspartame, including diet soda. Diet Coke sweetened with Splenda is a totally different story, and has been my go to non-alcoholic beverage ever since. I can easily chug a six-pack a day. I have come to realize it is a sickness. Therefore, I’ve decided to break my addiction to Diet Coke with Splenda. In an effort to be held accountable, I give you my progress.

Day 1- Wednesday: It is rainy and dreary out. I get lots of emails and baking done. The kids are playing together nicely, shooting each other with their new cap guns. I drink coffee most the day because it is cold out. This seems to help me not think about DCw/S and I don’t go through caffeine withdrawals. My friend is in labor, so that is also a nice distraction- for me, not her!

Day 2- Thursday: My Godson is born. I have a lot to do before I can get to the hospital for a visit. I don’t have time to think about my addiction, or partake in it. I drink an ice tea in the evening. It’s no soda, but it is better than water. When I return from the hospital I tell Patrick that I am giving up DCw/S, his response is, “Why the hell are you doing that? DCw/Splenda is your thing.” I explain to him that it is full of chemicals and that the hot doctor on The Doctors says you shouldn’t drink it. Plus, it is expensive considering how many I drink daily. More importantly, my stockpile has run out and I refuse to shop at chain grocery stores. He laughs at me.

Day 3- Friday: I cling to my morning cup of coffee like a junkie to a cigarette. I’m sluggish in Zumba. I tell my friend Bridget that I am on day 3 of DCw/S detox. She gives me a horrified look and asks if I have given up all caffeine. I tell her I haven’t, and am trying to drink tea instead of soda. She informs me that tea makes her stomach upset. I mentally file this away in case I fall off the wagon and need a plausible excuse as to why. I suffer my first caffeine withdrawal headache. I try not to snap at the children. I snap at the children.

Day 4- Saturday: Patrick’s brother Jimmy was in town for business this week so we got to spend the day with him. We went to lunch (iced tea for me) and played around at his suite at the St. Regis. Then we hit the beach for an hour or so. The kids had fun running from the waves. I don’t know what it is about the beach- maybe the glare off the water and sand, but I never leave without a headache. A venti Starbucks iced coffee was needed stat.

Day 5- Sunday: I realized when I got up in the morning that this was probably the worst week, besides next week, to start my detox. This realization came at 5:30 in the morning when I hit bumper-to-bumper traffic on the freeway. At 5:50 a.m.! I was armed with my coffee, and pushed through. I ran the Long Beach Half Marathon and met my time goal. They had coconut water at the finish line. It has a lot of electrolytes but it tastes like ass. In the evening Patrick and I hit Toys R Us for some birthday present shopping. I really needed a pick me up, but I resisted. Patrick still doesn’t understand why I am doing this- he is probably concerned for the children.

Day 6- Monday: We are gearing up for a crazy busy week. Additionally, it is the day of the week that I try to get the big household chores done. My feet hurt from kicking so much butt last week. I don’t really want a DC today, until Monday Night Football. If the Bears win, I win the pool for the week. The Bears lose, so I tie with my best friend. Ugh!

Day 7- Tuesday: It is Vincent’s fifth birthday! Where has the time gone? I am helping with picture day at school, I have a birthday party, a class party, and two at home celebrations to prep for, as well as soccer camp stuff to get ready and the photo fundraiser this weekend. Coco and I are away from the house all day. Patrick picks up ice cream for the cake on the way home, and offers to pick up “anything else”. I know this is code for DC w/S. But I don’t want it. This is the first day I haven’t NEEDED it. We celebrate VW at home in the evening. No DC for me- cake helps.

Welcome Dominic!

I think if you ask most parents they will agree that nothing transforms your life as much as the birth of your first child. You focus changes from yourself to this new little life you have been entrusted with. You suddenly become acutely aware of the fact that you don’t know anything! I remember when Patrick and I became parents. There was so much we didn’t know. But we muddled through it. Everyone survived. We were better with subsequent babies. They also survived.

This shift has begun for my dear friends NaKesha and David as they welcomed their first child, Dominic into the world yesterday...after 26 hours (yes, 26 HOURS) of labor, a fact I’m sure he will hear from his mother many, many times. He is perfect in every way.

As you learn to be a parent, there will always be questions that only time, and the baby, will answer. When he is an infant you wonder when he will sleep through the night. Does he like to be swaddled? Will he take a pacifier? When will he smile, and will it be at me? Is he going to keep that red hair? Will it get redder?

When they are toddlers: Will he talk early? Will he be afraid of the dog? When will he get rid of those diapers? Does he like tacos, or prefer spaghetti? Will he be a morning person or a night owl? Is he going to sleep with that lovey until he is a teenager?

When they are school age: Will he be the class clown or a bookworm? Will he make friends easily? Will he prefer the arts, or sports, or enjoy volunteering? Does he need glasses?

As a teenager: Will he choose the right friends? Where will he go to college? Will he break curfew? Will the cops call me if he does? Will he be a safe driver? When will he learn to do his own laundry?

And as an adult: Will he be a doctor or God forbid, an attorney? Maybe a landscape architect, or a priest? Will he get married and have kids? Will he travel the world or be a homebody?

Only time will answer these questions, but no matter what Dominic does or becomes one thing is known- he will always be loved. Loved by his parents and grandparents, aunts and uncles, maybe one day his brothers and/or sisters. And always by Patrick and I, his Godparents. Always.

Thank you NaKesha and David for humbling us with the honor and privilege of being a special part of Dominic’s life. We promise to be a support to you and him. Always.

Good Pickin'

For the last few years I have been wanting to take the kids apple picking. It seems like there was always something that prohibited it. Last year we were getting ready for the kids’ Godmother’s wedding. I’m sure those apostrophes are all wrong. I apologize to the grammar police out there. The year before that Colette was an infant. This year I found only one weekend day from September thru November where nothing was planned, therefore I had no excuses.

With super hero movies in the DVD player, we headed about 2 hours southeast to Julian, which by Southern California standards, is apple country.

After careful research (we Yelped it- duh), we decided on two orchards to visit.

The first was Raven Hill Orchards. The orchard is run by Irish brothers, complete with heavy accents, and they have 7 varieties of dwarf apple trees- perfect for the kids to reach. The end of the rows are marked with the varietals, but the owner told us the best thing to do was eat the fruit off the trees to decide what we wanted.

Vincent reminded me that his favorite apples are Fujis, so we started our search.

We often forgot to look at the end markers, so we took the owners advice and ate as we went.

And ate.
And ate. About 45 minutes into our picking, Vinny bit into an apple and declared it a Fuji. I gave Patrick a skeptical glance, but when we got to the row marker, sure enough, it was a Fuji! The kid knows his apples!

Franklin had fun running up and down the rows.

We picked Empires and Pippins, McIntoshs and Fujis. I think each child consumed five apples in the hour we spent roaming around. Patrick and I ate a few too. It would have been rude not to.

Our second stop was O’Dell’s Organic Orchard where we got to pick pears. Tasting was not encouraged, but the kids did it anyways. I have to admit that after the apple tasting it was hard to tell the kids not to sample the fruit. So I joined in. We decided the uglier the fruit the better it tasted. We then sought out the lumpiest, most multicolored pears we could find. We picked Bartletts, Anjous, and Boscs. The orchard also has chickens and horses, and farm equipment.

We went for BBQ for lunch. It was good, but living in the South for a few years has ruined all hopes I have of finding decent BBQ in CA. A big shout out to Gary’s in China Grove, NC and to Kelly and Scotty for introducing us to it. We miss you guys.

On the way out of town we stopped at the Julian Pie Company to pick up a whole dutch apple to go. At this point in the day I had 14 pounds of apples in the car, and could have baked my own pie, but I was tired like to support the local economy. It was the right thing to do.

When we got home I told the kids we were having pie and ice cream for dinner. They didn’t believe me until it showed up on their dinner plate. It was declared the best dinner ever. Fitting for the best family day ever.

Now what am I going to do with 20 lbs of fresh apples and pears?

Pumpkins and a Grocery Store Tangent

While I am still wondering where the first 9 months of the year went, I am so jazzed that tomorrow is October 1. I think of October as the month of all things pumpkin...including my two little pumpkins born in the middle of the month.

Pumpkin is a wonderful source of beta-carotene and potassium, and very versatile in baking. When you add pumpkin to a recipe there is no need for added oils.

Taking this into consideration and acknowledging the importance of a healthy lifestyle, I decided to make these Pumpkin White Chocolate Chunk and Candied Ginger Blondies from Picky Palate.

I did it for my healthy...because pumpkin is so nutritious.

These blondies are super yummy. They sound very sweet, but they really aren’t- they have a perfect balance of pumpkin, spice and chocolate. The ginger candies on top add a nice kick, but are a bit much for my kids. If you are not a fan of ginger candy, leave them off- they are an acquired taste, in my opinion. These blondies are just good without them.

For those of you who are not fans of white chocolate chips, I highly recommend the white chocolate baking bars from Trader Joes. They don’t have that fake chocolate taste and can easily be chopped up in place of chips.

Speaking of Trader Joes‘s, I have completely stopped shopping at the grocery store.

I have been a captive to the big chain grocery stores for years because it was the only place I could shop and keep all three children contained in one cart. Now that the boys have enough self-control to walk in the store without touching everything or breaking out in a wrestling match, I have a lot more freedom to shop where I want.

Trader Joes is my go to store. They are clean and well stocked, prices are competitive and often pretty cheap, and the employees are pleasant and helpful- what a concept! I was already sick of the awful customer service and quickly rising prices at the big chain stores, but this summer when they announced the stalled union contract negotiations and potential for another grocery worker strike I decided to stop shopping at traditional groceries all together.

If it is not stocked at Trader Joes, Sprouts, Costco or Target, I don’t need it.

I was able to get all the blondie ingredients at Trader Joes and the kids picked out this happy but ugly pumpkin for the porch.

Go enjoy some pumpkin yumminess. Happy October everyone!

Wisdom Teeth, Tomato Soup and Tyler Florence

As I told you last week, we have had a lot of dental appointments this September. My poor sweet husband had the unpleasant one. Patrick had four wisdon teeth removed. He also had a molar removed, which was cracked due to the wisdom teeth. Then there was a bone graph...because of the lost molar...due to the wisdom teeth. It is a vicious cycle. Anyways, the poor guy has had it rough the past week. His jaw is still sore and the bland diet he has been adhering to is boring. I bet he is dreaming of me Doritos at night.

In other September news, our tomato plants are still insane. It has gotten to the point that I cannot use the tomatoes fast enough. We have given them to friends, piled them on salads, topped tacos, added them to pasta and quinoa, made fresh salsa and guacamole and Sweet Corn and Tomato Salad.

Given Patrick’s current state and our out of control garden, I figured it was time to call in the big guns- enter the Barefoot Contessa.

Are you familiar with the Barefoot Contessa? Her real name is Ina Garten and she is a cookbook author and TV host on the Food Network. I’m going to keep it real here and admit that she kind of creeps me out. She has been married to her husband Jeffery for over 40 years. She speaks very fondly of him on the show...often and in a weird way. Then at the end of most of the episodes he shows up to eat. The whole thing gives me the willies. If you have seen the show you might know what I’m talking about...or maybe it’s just me.

Anyways, she has a couple things going for her.

First, I have never tried one of her recipes that I didn’t want to make again, and again.

Second, and more importantly, she is NOT skinny. This is good because I do not trust a skinny food professional. Paula Dean, Emeril Lagassee, Mario Batali and Ina Garten could all stand to drop a few lbs, but as food professionals it is necessary for them to maintain a certain weight for credibility.

And a quick shout-out to Tyler Florence...you are perfect just the way you are!

photo credit: Jeffery Ufberg

PERFECT!

I made Patrick this Cream of Fresh Tomato Soup from Ina Garten this weekend. It did not disappoint. Vincent ate a whole bowl of it and sopped up what he couldn’t spoon with sourdough bread.

Colette fell asleep at the table after eating hers. This alone merits my praise- it’s like a lullaby in a bowl!

Patrick got a nice reprieve from yogurt and applesauce, and the garden is four-pounds-of-tomatoes lighter. Perfect.

photo credit: Southern Living Magazine

PERFECT!!!

Happy First Day of Fall!

I love FALL! I adore just about everything fallish, from football to apple picking. Here are the things I am most looking forward to this Fall 2011:

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins Pumpkin muffins are the easiest thing in the world to bake and they make your house smell super yummy. It is like having a cupcake for breakfast...not that I have ever done that. Never. Ever.

There was a canned pumpkin shortage last year, so if you plan on making anything with canned pumpkin this season, stock up. I would hate for anyone to miss out on “getting your pumpkin on.”

This is the recipe I like to use for Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins, from Our Best Bites. It’s very complicated.

Soups- In my book, the most homey comfort food is a big bowl of soup, preferably with a crusty bread, but at least with crackers. You can find my favorite taco soup recipe here. I have also wanted to try some of the Soup Chicks recipes. The great thing about soup is it can be thrown in the crock pot on a busy day.

How awesome are these Buddah Bowls? Love!

Sweaters and Jeans- If I could, I would wear jeans everyday. And on most days I can- it is a job perk of being a SAHM. Now that the weather is cooling down (maybe) I am looking forward to some nice jean weather, with a few sweater and jacket days thrown in.

How cute is this jcrew sweater? It's available in lot of colors, including orange. Swoon.

Or this Gap Puffer jacket.

Thanksgiving Dinner- It's all about the potatoes, gravy, turkey, potatoes, cranberries, buttered rolls and pie...and potatoes. This is always how I dress when I serve Thanksgiving dinner.

Pie- I have never met a pie that I didn’t like. I am thinking of trying Ree’s this year. Come to Mama!

My Godson- Due to arrive October 2^nd, but I predict he will keep his mother pregnant and miserable for a few extra days. I CANNOT wait to meet him!

Pumpkin Spice Lattes- PSL’s need no introduction or explanation. Word.

Orange and all other fall colors- Living in SoCal, we don’t get the beautiful fall colors that other regions get to enjoy, so I have to get my fix at the pumpkin patch, and with whatever centerpiece I can throw together for my kitchen table. This was last year’s pumpkin patch adventure.

Caramel Corn- Yes, it has a lot of sugar and you have to pick out the old maids first, but on a cool fall day homemade caramel corn is so yummy and totally worth the effort! You can eat it while watching football, or at the park, or at 1:00 in the morning while watching the new episodes of Saturday Night Live. It is a flexible treat. This is next on my “to try” list.

I think the thing I like most about fall is that it ushers in the two seasons I most associate with family. Halloween rolls into Thanksgiving, which quickly turns into Christmas. Add to that 8 family birthdays and you have yourself three months of get-togethers... and food.

Food and family- my favorite things no matter what the season!

Adventures in Dentistry

The kids had their dentist check-ups and cleanings this morning.

I DREAD taking the kids to the dentist. I have vivid memories of my childhood dentist. He was a horrible, wretched man. He had no bedside manner. He wouldn’t let my mom stay with me when I needed fillings- and I needed a number of them before turning 6. I remember biting his latex covered fingers-hard. It was my only defense. He died a few years later, at a pretty young age, in a horrific speedboat accident.

Luckily, my kids love their dentist’s office. The staff is patient, calm, and kind. The kids all sit lined up in their chairs, in the same room where they can see each other and me. They watch cartoons while their teeth are being cleaned. They get to pick out a toy when it is all over.

Sweet, sweet Vincent. He is such a trooper! He has already had some extensive dental work done- most of it before he turned four years old. I felt terrible and cried for days when I learned the state of his teeth. I brushed and flossed him everyday since the time those teeth had come in. I never put him to bed with a bottle- in fact he stopped using a bottle when he was 16 months old. Juice was an occasional treat. Where had we gone wrong?

It turns out that it is a combination of genetics (my contribution, not Patrick’s) and a compromised immune system his first year of life (due to his bad kidney) that left his teeth weaker than most. It couldn’t happen to a nicer kid, who still remains cooperative at night when we brush- and we brush a lot... with prescription toothpaste. We had a good report today. Nothing needs to be done. I feel like we have dodged a bullet.

Then there is Franklin. While Vinny tells me when it is my turn to brush and wants his teeth flossed, Frank turns and runs the other way. I struggle with him every night. Of course, his teeth are perfect. Go figure.

And Colette. We are still waiting on her last molars to come in, which is fine because there is lots of room in there. Her teeth are looking more like Franklin’s than Vincent’s, without Franklin’s overbite. Third times the charm, I guess.

We have a really fantastic dentist, but I’m happy not to see him for another 6 months.

I hope he is not a boater.