Archive for September, 2008

I’m making EZ Mac for Eli’s lunch, while hanging out with my awesome mom. I grab the washcloth so I can take the piping hot bowl out of the microwave

Suzie says: “If your dishes get SUPER hot in the microwave, they have lead in them!”

Awe mom, you have got to be kidding me! I have been microwaving these plates since my wedding day almost 4 years ago. Are we all going to die from lead poisoning? No way, the bottom even says… oh no… it just says “dishwasher safe,” we all ARE going to die of lead poising (pity party of one)!
This can’t be true!
Google search… awe man!?!
Go to IKEA to get new plates.
Get flustered at IKEA because everything is made in China… can’t have that…
Find cute glass (made in France) dinner dishes for .99!
We are safe again.
Thanks mom!

FYI
Just because your plates say they are microwave/dishwasher safe doesn’t mean they are lead free. Here is one helpful article. Lead testing kits are also available at the hardware store for around $10. Do some some quick research of your own. Following is a microwave safe test I found. I didn’t actually try it, because my dishes got VERY hot in the microwave… I mean if you touched the post microwaved bowl you would have blistered and my mom said to get new dishes. She has her Bachelors in Consumer Science so I just listen when she talks… plus she is my mom.

Microwave Dish Test
To test whether a dish can be used in a microwave oven, make the following test: Pour 1/2 cup cold water into a glass measure. Set a measuring cup inside the dish to be tested. Cook 1 minute.
Use: If water is warm and dish remains cool, or if dish is warm yet can still be picked up with bare hands, the dish can be used.
DO NOT use the dish if water remains cool and dish gets too hot to handle.

I have recently become slightly obsessed with the Nielson Family (picture above) of the Nie Nie Dialogues (Wow, I finally figured out how to create a link!).

Long story short…
Christian and Stephanie Nielson, parents of 4 children, were in a private plane crash. The flight instructor died in the crash. Christian and Stephanie survived but are in a burn unit in AZ recovering. Stephanie is in a drug induced coma and has had multiple skin graph surgeries. Christian is a bit farther along in the recovery, just waking up last week.

“Sad” (you’re thinking) “but why are you obsessed with them KN?”
Well, thank you for asking!
What makes their story so compelling is Stephanie as a mother.
“Huh?” (you’re thinking)
Well, thank you for asking!
After reading her blog you just fall in love with her and her family. If you are a mom or wife you can see a bit of yourself in her. She is able to pull you into her little family moments through her simple photographs. Plus, she has a simple classic style that is just so hip.

I was first introduced to the Nielson Family through my friend Donna at Blessed Nest who was donating her AWESOME nesting (nursing) pillows to a Nie Nie Benefit auction.
Wait a minute (the thought dawns on me a month into my obsession) I have a business! I can donate too!

Thankfully Morgan of ‘One More Moore’ is ramrodding an Etsy Benefit for Nie Nie.
Thankfully I was able to be one of the hundreds to donate items for sale.
Thankfully you get to shop it!!!

7:00 am:
I’m awake! I’m excited because Eli’s Lids is going to participate in the Susan G Komen Race For The CureGee… my eyes are watering…

9:20am:
I’m sill searching for parking… this is not fun… I start to cry and almost leave. Ouch, my eyes burn when I cry! Found parking. All Right… ready to walk.

9:30am:
Meet up with the group. Those of us bound by strollers will walk and the brave few will run the 5K (you go Adam, Ken, Alan and Bryan!!). Of course I would run if I didn’t have a stroller… ha!!!
Sun glasses are a must! My eyes hurt in the light

9:30-10:40 am:
Enjoy chatting with my buddies (you go Jami, Lynne and Donna!). I am unexpectedly moved by all the people walking. Their shirts are covered in names of family and friends who have won or lost the battle with breast cancer. The survivors wear pink shirts. Donna wears a pink shirt.
Gee… it isn’t sunny… why are my eyes burning?

10:48am:
I have been pushing 70+ pounds for over 3 hilly miles… I’m tired, sweaty and kinda depressed seeing the names of mothers, sisters, daughters, aunts and grandmothers who have been taken from their families.
We cross the finish line!!! They announce all the survivors names over the loud speaker as they finish the Race. Their group cheers for life. This is JOY!
Ouch… oh yeah I can’t cry… my eyes hurt.

11:00am:
What do you do when you get a group together for anything??? EAT!! Me and my burning eyes get our food at Red Robin….mmmm. Eli puts all his oranges in his hamburger then proceeds to eat only the oranges.
“Gee, KN, are you OK? We can get this food to-go.”
“Oh no no, I’m fine…(wincing in pain).”

12:00pm:
Time to drive home. “Umm… I really can’t see to drive, can someone give me a ride?”
Writhing in pain the long ride home. I’m just sure I have some disease…

1:30-3:00pm:
Waiting at urgent care with my hot hubby and my adorable children. Too bad I can’t see anything. I’m just sure I’m going blind… I’ll never see Cora grow up or Eli play tee ball… pity party of one…

3:15pm:
PINK EYE!!!!!! You have got to be kidding! This hurts like… and I have been through natural child birth.

5:00pm:
Home. Hot Hubby lovingly puts drops in my eyes. I disinfect EVERYTHING in the house.

My mom (Suzie Says) describes Pink Eye the best. “It feels like someone lifted up your eyelid and blows a handful of dry sand up there and smashes it back down”

Eli slept and ate through the whole Race. Yes, I bribed him with fruit snacks. And No, I’m not ashamed.

Cora cried about 85% of the time. Is 7 months too young for fruit snacks?

Oh my dear husband! I’m about to share a story about my man that could be considered somewhat male bashing… but it isn’t… it is just a typical husband story (we all have them). Before I share the story, just to be sure it isn’t taken the wrong way I’m going to use one of tools we learn our premarital class: “It takes 5 positive comments to cancel out one negative comment.”