by Mindy Lockard on May 29, 2013
Today our little Elle turns ten.
teetering on ugly cry.
In preparing for her arrival ten years ago, one might have thought I was getting ready for a natural disaster or a visit from the President of the United States — my mother did visit, so that’s a close second. Boxes of diapers purchased, meals prepped and enough paper goods purchased to care for a small army.
Shortly after her arrival, I realized that the outside world was still going-on and that it needed to be in it. Showered or unshowered. Over time, my idealistic, perfectionistic, need-for-control twenty-something, evolved into a mom of two thirty-something–still with some control issues–who has learned to let go of a lot and to find beauty in the imperfection, as well as other gems along the way:
- When you start to worry. Pray. When you don’t have the answers. Pray. And, when you wake-up in the middle of the night with crazy thoughts, pray, pray, pray!!!
- There will be days my children leave the house looking like the von Trapp children dressed in curtains, only in our case it’s every shade of pink from head to toe. Did I mention the plastic princess shoes? I’d actually prefer the von Trapp’s footware.
- Never judge another mother, no matter what she is feeding her children or if her child knows every unedited lyric to Thrift Shop. But follow your gut and host the playdate at your house.
- Should you ever suffer from P.T.L.D. (post traumatic lice disorder) just know it’s normal and you will recover.
- If at first your child doesn’t care for kale, try, try again.
- The pitter patter of baby feet will turn into clomp clomp of a women’s shoe size. Embrace it.
- When your children ask for daddy and not you, it means you picked a great mate.
- Dirty laundry is a sign of a good and active day. Buy stock in Oxiclean.
- Be creative with consequences and do not resort to empty threats of missing an event or party. Mama doesn’t like to miss social events.
- No matter how slow the day, the years fly by. So cuddle a little longer, dance to one more song and sometimes forgo bedtime for ice cream.
Motherhood is a journey in unconditional love of self and family. With ten years of lessons and adventure under our belt, we look forward to what (oh my stomach just dropped at the thought) the next ten bring.
What little gem have you picked up along the way?
by Mindy Lockard on May 27, 2013
Okay ladies I have a couple of favorite days of the year.
Christmas
Easter
Thanksgiving
my birthday
my children’s birthdays
my husband’s birthday
AND…
national doughnut day.
Did I say the last one out loud? I guess I did.
In case you’re wondering and love doughnuts as much as I do… National Doughnut Day is just around the corner, Friday, June 7th.
Now that my sweet secret is out, I might as well share a new recipe for Gluten Free Apple Cinnamon doughnuts that I have been keeping up my gracious little sleeve. These sweet little bites can be eaten for breakfast or dessert. Served warm, with ice cream. Can you stand it?
Heaven.
Here’s the “hole” doughnut story.
It starts with …
- 2 cups Gluten Free All Purpous Flour (we use Bob’s Red Mill)
- 3/4 Cup Almond Milk
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup apple sauce
- 3/4 sugar
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspon salt
And don’t forget butter, cinnamon and sugar for the topping!
Mix the milk, eggs and apple sauce in your mixer. In a large bowl mix together the dry ingredients flour, sugar, cinnamon, baking powder and salt. Combine the two and wisk until smooth.
Fill a doughnut pan 3/4 full of the batter. Side note: I picked-up my hand-dandy pan from Sur la Table.
Bake at 350 degrees for 7 to 10 minutes.
Pop out and brush with butter.
Sprinkle or dip into sugar and cinnamon.
Enjoy with freshly squeezed juice and berries…
or a ice cold milk.
Happy Eve of the eve, of the eve, of the eve, of the eve… I’m pretty sure I covered all of the eves.
See you ’round, doughnut!
by Mindy Lockard on May 25, 2013
Q: Over Memorial Day weekend we are hosting a party and want to make sure we respectfully display the U.S. flag. Do you have any tips?
A: There are a lot of details when it comes to flag etiquette. Here are some simple tips for respecting our national flag on the day we celebrate the freedom it stands for. For a more detailed links see below.
Using at a Party
U.S. Flag Taboos - don’t use as…
- a table cover.
- to cover speakers.
- draping a platform (use bunting).
- container to hold or carry anything.
- part of a costume or clothing.
U.S Flag Dos
- Display in a prominent area.
- When hanging against a wall: vertically or horizontally the union (stars) should be at your top left.
Parades
U.S. Flag Taboos
- When carrying the flag don’t let it touch the ground.
- Should not be used as decoration on a float.
- Never display on a vehicle or hood of a car.
U.S. Flag Dos
- Salute (sounds funny, but true) every U.S. flag in a parade.
- Carry the flag with pride.
- Carry the flag in front or above all other flags.
- Should be flown from a staff or hung (vertically or horizontally the union (stars) should be at your top left) so that it can freely fall.
Courtesies to Keep in Mind
- No mattter how big or small the U.S. flag should always be hung from a staff or suspended, so that it falls free.
- Treat the flag with care.
- Be mindful to not let the flag touch the ground or water what ever it is hung above.
- Mend the flag when it is worn or tattered.
- When the flag is too damaged to represent our country well it should be taken care of in a dignified manner: primarily burning.
- Pass on a legacy of respect for our nation’s symbol by talking with your children about why we respect the flag. By sharing some of these quick etiquettes they will know how to respect a flag that stand for freedom; a freedom we so freely enjoy!
by Mindy Lockard on May 23, 2013
What? Take to the Table Tuesday, on a Friday?
What can I say Gracious Girls, I live on the edge {wink}!
As many of you know, I am a brand ambassador for Sheaffer Pen, who just-so-happens to be celebrating 100 years of pen making this year.
And all the ladies say, “Congratulations Sheaffer!”
In preparing to help them celebrate, I did a little research about their rich history. This research lead to many past articles from the Sheaffer Newsletter and one of my favorite ongoing columns was titled “Strictly for Ladies” … you could say they had me at “Lady”
One day while researching, I stumbled across this recipe for banana cake and I just had to try it…
putting my own Gracious Girl spin on it. Of course I asked for permission first.
Are you ready to get started? My first stop was to favorite local market where I always find the freshest organic ingredients…
but before heading inside, I had to stop to smell the peonies. Don’t you love peonies? They are my favorite.
Cake? Oh yes, back to the banana cake.
After I had all of my ingredients, I made my way home to get started. If it was gracious to gloat I might tell you, “this cake is melt in your mouth amazing.” Since it isn’t gracious, I’ll keep it to myself and let you be the judge.
In getting started, this is what you’ll need for the Gracious Girl Gluten-Free | Banana Cream (I added the cream) Cake.
- 1 1/2 cup Sugar
- 1/4 cup soft buttah (or you can say butter, I just find it not nearly as fun)
- 2 eggs (brown organic)
- 6 Tablespoons (low fat organic) sour cream
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 3/4 cups (Bob’s Red Mill) All Purpose Gluten-Free Flour
- pinch of salt
- 3 bananas
Cream sugar and butter in a mixer. Add eggs and sour cream. Sift together flour and baking soda, three times and add your dry mixture to milk and sugar. Next, mix-in baking powder and pinch of salt. Finally mash your bananas and mix it all together well. Bake in two 9 inch rounds / 9×9 square pans on 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. You know the drill {wink}!
Allow to cool.
Now, for the icing on the cake… or should I say Vanilla Whipped Cream
- 2 cups organic whipping cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/2 cup confectioner’s sugar
- Whip with a hand mixer until the cream forms stiff peaks!
- 1/2 - 1 cup toasted coconut shavings
Next layer the cake by generously frosting the first layer with whipped cream and banana slices. Top the first layer with the second cake and frost with the second half of the whipping cream. Decorate with sliced bananas and toasted coconut shavings.
I sliced a piece just for you. I know you prefer just a sliver, but trust me, you’ll want more.
Enjoy and again “Happy Anniversary Sheaffer Pen!!!!!”
… and many more!
by Mindy Lockard on May 20, 2013
For me, one of the best aspects of motherhood is the opportunity to pass on history and tradition to my girls.
Boston is the perfect city for passing on history and tradition with places at our fingertips such as…
Paul Revere’s House
USS Constitution
Bunker Hill
and Cannolis in the North End. Okay so not exactly history… but delicious.
Along with these historical landmarks and tasty treats, we also celebrated traditions.
Traditions of sending our adventures in writing. Our first couple of days Elle loved collecting the cards from around the city and then during one of my meetings she sat quietly and wrote her friends and family. She was so proud of the process and excited to pop them in the mail. While this might seem like ONE more thing to do on a vacation, it really only takes a few minutes and a couple of dollars. The value of the tradition is worth the effort.
We also felt it was important for us to exercise the tradition of paying our respects to the victims of the Boston Marathon Bombings.
While very somber and sad, sometimes life is about putting our own needs and comfort aside to stand in silence to show we care.
How do you like to share history and pass on tradition to your children? Please do share.
