Bunchland

Cookie mogul Eden Hertzog shares recipes she enjoys with her family

For the very first time since the history of having Cedar as our very needy roommate (I mean, our very amazingly awesome kid), Bri and I went away. Just the two of us. To Niagara Falls. I can’t explain it exactly, but I really love it there. It is godforsakenly cheesy and supremely overtouristed, but maybe that’s what draws me there: it’s not trying to be something that it’s not.

Anyway, back to the romantic weekend… We went to an outlet mall, we ate a salted pretzel dipped in bright yellow mustard, we looked at Ripley’s Believe it or Not, and we catnapped AND slept-in.

Amidst the Falls, and the Merlot, and watching TV in a king-sized bed in our hotel, I’d say it was a good weekend. Man, it was good to have fun with my husband. I think part of what made it fun was that I offered to let him make all the decisions. I think he liked that.  Read more...

What we’re reading today:

1. Teach your baby to use the phone! A 2-year-old in Houston called her grandmother when her mom collapsed, indirectly saving her life.

2. A new mom writes to Cary Tennis saying that she was always content with her lot before having a baby, but now that she and her husband had a kid, she can’t help but feel envy towards all the moms with better strollers and less money-related stress.

3. Broccoli news! New research shows that cruciferous veggies like the mighty broccoli have immune system boosting powers.

4. Are educational apps for 3-year-olds really educational?

5. Here’s Tim Curry doing what he does best:

Photo by La Grande Farmers’ Market via Flickr

What we’re reading today:

1. All those corn mazes at the apple orchards and stuff sure do look fun, just don’t get so lost that you have to call 911 to come find you.

2. In broccoli news, experts say that like other cruciferous vegetables, it’s best to eat it raw or just steam for a few minutes. Carrots on the other hand unlock some nutritional antioxidant goodness when cooked.

3. “People think the wrong things about us and keep on thinking those things. Like that all home-schoolers are evangelical Christians who don’t believe in evolution, or that home-schooled kids can’t socialize, that we’re huge nerds who win spelling bees but can’t grasp simple pop cultural references.” A home-schooler goes to college. She’s right; as much as we know these charming, bright, social home schooled kids exist, we can’t help but think of “And on the third day, God created the Remington bolt-action rifle, so that Man could fight the dinosaurs. And the homosexuals.“  Read more...

Don’t know if you happened to come across that “Women laughing alone with salad” meme on The Hairpin that went around this week? We died a little. We guess the rationale behind all these stock photos is to show how great it is to eat healthy? That you wouldn’t be having nearly as great a time if your fork was plunging into a plate of poutine instead? And these pictures leave so many questions unanswered: Is there someone you’re eating with? Is he/she also eating salad? Are those greens all organic? And most importantly, what the heck is so funny??

Next, obviously, comes “Men laughing alone with fruit salad.”

We needed to get in on this fun. So in order to combat this vegetable stereotype, and for your viewing pleasure, we bring you: Kids laughing alone with broccoli.

Someone is excited for folic acid!  Read more...