Saturday Charlotte and I had a great time at the Hudson Public Library’s Fancy Nancy Party.  She’s a popular children’s book character for girls.  I was invited to read two books about her to an audience full of tiaras, feathers and plastic princess heels.  Another woman talked with the little ladies about etiquette.  Lindsay Williams, the 2011 Cattle Congress Queen, impressed them with her crown and sash–she even wore ultra high heels.  Thomas, though not much interested in the affair, enjoyed fancy treats like frosted mini-cupcakes and little cups of lemonade.  He passed on the craft tables where Charlotte made a purse with her initial, paper doll, necklace and blinged-out butterfly.  The experience reminded me of how much I enjoyed library programs my mom took me to as a child.  Nice to know free and educational entertainment is available close to home.

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A busy but stimulating week for me as I have the pleasure of connecting with local women through special events.  Wednesday I emceed the Black Hawk County YWCA’s Women of Persimmon luncheon.  Deserving Cedar Valley ladies are nominated then selected for awards in business, philanthropy, etc.  Can’t sit through their acceptance speeches without tearing up, as I admire their selflessness and sacrifice.  The best part of this event, perhaps, is the personal accounts from YWCA members who’ve used the facility and supportive staff to turn their lives around.  This time a woman who lost her husband in three weeks after a  pancreatic cancer diagnosis shared how she was a depressed, overweight, diabetic widow who was on numerous medications having had a kidney transplant.  She stepped in the YWCA, joined water aerobics and transformed her body and spirit.  Today she has kept off the weight for a year, stopped needing some of her prescriptions and walked pain-free for the first time in a long time.  Yesterday I spoke to the Waterloo Women’s Club at The Snowden House which is always enjoyable.  Tomorrow Charlotte and Thomas will accompany me to a Fancy Nancy Party at the Hudson Public Library from 10-11:30am.  Fancy foods will be served!

Posted under Baby Thomas: Month 46

It’s bizarre how fashion works these days in mainstream American culture.  What used to be considered trashy or outrageous or, well, stripper attire is now for sale in local chain stores.  Exhibit A:  ultra-high heels.  For years I have worn lower-heeled shoes, pumps some people call them, because I do think flats aren’t always as flattering.  But good luck finding anything lower than a 4-inch heel on the shelves.  Today I was up close and personal with a shoe that with the wedge front would have put me at, I don’t know, about 6’5.  I like being tall, but I don’t need to walk around at the same eye level as college basketball recruits.  I am amazed that in this age of larger-sized women being the norm, many revolts aren’t happening nationwide over all the pain inflicted on feet.  I know this because the bigger and/or taller you are, the more weight that bears down on these stripper heels.  Next week I am emceeing a fashion show with other TV people and I fooled myself into believing I could find a fun and not-too-stacked heel to go with my funky dress.  No luck.  It’s either you pick shoes with no sole–totally flat–or ones guaranteed to cause a possible wipe out if I were stupid enough to wear them.

Posted under Baby Thomas: Month 46

Charlotte’s birthday is six-and-a-half weeks away.  I only know this because I just checked on my smartphone calendar.  With a thousand things on my schedule between now and May 26, I need to get a jump on planning her celebration for turning 6.  Today I confirmed through texts the deejay is available.  Dave came up with the idea when he talked with one who did karaoke at the KWWL holiday party.  A 2-hour children’s dance party!  Think hula hoops and Hokey Pokey, Cha Cha Slide and Chicken Dance.  Of course I’m all about a cheesy group dance–did someone say Macarena?  So I can’t wait to take part.  I am not above making a fool of myself in front of kids–and this group will be too young to think it’s uncool for parents to participate.  Book DJ–check.  Order invitations–check.  Pray rain will not force a crowd of unruly children to party in our basement–double check.

Posted under Baby Thomas: Month 46

After hearing some stories recently about how out-of-control the whole high school prom thing is getting, I am pitching a new reality show to cable producers called Prom Moms.  I’m not really.  But I should.  Friday I saw a girl coming out of a specialty shop carrying her garment bag that I confirmed was her prom dress.  It was beautiful, as I asked to see it.  But when I inquired how much–you know I’m a reporter–I was stunned by her answer.  “$400,” she said nonchalantly.  What?!@#  Behind every prom diva is a mom who is probably crazy enough to pay for all the extravagance.  I heard recently about $1,000 hair extensions and make-up requests on the level of a street walker–all with mommy dearest standing by ready to write a check.  There are practice runs for the up-dos and fake tans and nails to get.  Forget saving for college–better start your prom funds now.

Run for Ryan:  Saturday, April 14 @ Farley city park to help Ryan Burchard in his fight against Acute Myeloid Leukemia.  5K run/walk starts at 8:15am, free kids’ race at 10am, silent auction 8am-2pm, lots of fun/food/games.  All proceeds and donations go to his family. 

Posted under Baby Thomas: Month 46

Yes, I am a giant in 4-inch heels.

Sure I love rap, glam rock and my share of country jams… but my favorite decade of music would have to be the 70s.  Riding around with my parents playing all the easy listening tunes on the 8-track.  Great memories.  So it was fun to do some Reminiscing last night with Dave when we saw Little River Band at Meskwaki Casino.  These concerts are always entertaining on many levels.  The band sounds just as good in person as on the radio–a rarity these days with over-produced performers.  One of the newest members, the drummer, is from Marshalltown!

What always cracks me up are the hard-core fans older groups garner.  One woman showed up in a shirt with the band’s name (knotted in the back), studded black jeans and a cowboy hat.  She and some other spirited women in the front were told to sit down by security.  “Nazis!” one of the ladies yelled at him.  The one in the cowboy hat didn’t let it quell her enthusiasm–she held her hands up in the shape of a heart, swaying them side to side.  When a crew member came out to switch the band’s guitars between songs, a guy near me started shouting, “Roadie!  Roadie!”  All this really cracked me up.  The same lady upset about being told to sit down later screamed twice at the end of two songs, “I would stand up and cheer for you but I can’t!”  It was hilarious.  I also saw LRB at The Isle Casino and found out last night they’ll be performing at one of the RAGBRAI stops.

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Of course I didn’t make it but, per yesterday’s entry with picture showcasing them, really enjoyed this Easter treat my mom brought to our house:

Chocolate Bunny Nests

3 tablespoons unsalted butter

10-ounce pkg mini marshmallows

1/2 cup crunchy peanut butter

6 ounces semi-sweet chocolate bits

2 cups thin chow mein noodles

1 1/2 cups square corn cereal, like Corn Chex

2 cups crispy rice cereal, like Rice Krispies

Line a baking sheet with waxed paper.  In a large saucepan over medium-low heat, melt butter.  Add marshmallows, peanut butter and chocolate bits.  Stir continuously until completely melted and blended.  Remove pan from heat and stir in chow mein noodles, corn cereal and rice cereal.  Allow mixture to cool until safe to handle.  For small nests, scoop by the tablespoonful onto the prepared baking sheet.  For larger nests, use about 1/2 cup.  Use your thumb or the back of a spoon (coated with cooking spray) to indent the center.  Cool until firm. Makes 20 small nests.

Click here for half-off Grout Museum passes in Waterloo.

Posted under Baby Thomas: Month 46

Nana/Papa, Aunt Bird (my sister Sara) and Li Li (my nephew Liam) are here!  They arrived this morning and, as is always the case when you go a few weeks not seeing a little one in person, Liam is so much bigger than I remembered him.  Of course they brought a carload of stuff… Easter baskets for the kids, plants from their bountiful yard, a Keurig coffee maker for Dave and (my personal favorite) holiday-themed homemade treats. 

So far I have had one heavily-frosted, egg-shaped cake and two bird nests made with Ghirardelli chocolate chips and topped with Cadbury sugar-coated, chocolate mini eggs.  Papa is hiding eggs in the back yard for the cousins to do a hunt while I’m at work.  Then we’ll have our Easter dinner early–glazed ham, grilled sweet corn and homemade macaroni and cheese.  I also bought Scratch gourmet cupcakes.  Note to self:  Save room for the black forest one.

Benny Barnard

Benefit for Benny a little boy diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) in 2009.  Just completed over three years of chemotherapy in March.  This Friday, April 6 @ La James International College (6322 University Avenue) in Cedar Falls.  Burgers, brats, brownies and activities from 11am-3pm.

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Surely I’ve mentioned before that pre-filled plastic Easter eggs are genius.  The bunny who hops through my house doesn’t want to take the time to fill them when you can buy them ready to hide.  (Too bad Lemonheads are in a lot of them, though! )  It occurred to me yesterday morning running errands that if I didn’t get the Easter Sunday goods now I would not have a chance to do so the rest of the week.  So alongside soup and milk in my cart I stacked baskets with big squirt guns and Hello Kitty art supplies.  Thank you, retailers, for making a non-crafter mom’s life so much easier come hectic holiday time.  Now back to cleaning as my parents, sister and nephew will be here tomorrow.  Oh, wait.  I’m at work.

Posted under Baby Thomas: Month 46

Dave told a neighbor guy you’d think I was pregnant.  It’s because yesterday I went on a nesting spree that started at 5:30 in the morning and only ended at 3:30 that afternoon because I had to shower for a barbecue and birthday party.  Multiple things are at play:  switching clothes out for the warmer weather, setting things aside for a garage sale, organizing closets and drawers and bins that have been in a state of disarray since we moved more than a year ago… and, amazingly, putting up pictures and original art work by my munchkins that needed to be displayed for its museum quality.    You know that feeling when you open the drawer where you keep all your pens and pencils and scratch paper?  Normally ours is a complete hodge podge of pennies and paper clips, cap-less pens and pads with scribbles.  But right now, at this very moment, it is neatly arranged and organized.  Let me go home and get one last look…

Posted under Baby Thomas: Month 46