Birmingham is incredibly lucky to have many talented food writers, bloggers, photographers and stylists who write about and make food look beautiful. (I'm lucky enough to work with some of them.)
Thanks so some of them (especially the multi-talented Shaun Chavis), the Magic City is home to a new food blogging conference, Food Blog South. The conference, which will be held January 22, is drawing national attention.
Organizers have assembled an amazing roster of talent, including New York Times writer Kim Severson, cookbook author Virginia Willis, and blogger (and author) extraordinaire, Christy Jordan.
I'm thrilled to be moderating a panel about the safety of Gulf Coast seafood after the oil spill. I'll have more to come about panelists (they are excellent).
In the meantime, I'm gathering questions. What do you want to know about the safety of fish and shellfish now? Are you cautious when buying seafood at the grocery store or ordering from restaurants? Are you asking where your food comes from?
Please let me know, and I'll take these questions with me to the panel.
I love watching TV segments about reducing stress at the holiday. Oh really, I never thought about taking deep breaths and scheduling time for a bath to relax. (To be fair to my TV friends, I know what it's like to get that assignment and groan a little bit. I had to do the same thing once upon a time.)
Stress is a bit of an area of expertise of mine. Let's just say I've had a lot of practice. Say, when I had to go to a certain office during my vacation last week. Twice. But now I've checked out for vacation for real, and just have Christmas & family fun coming up. No stress there, right?
In honor of the most wonderful time of the year (ahem), I bring you my secrets to a stress-free less holiday. Some I've recently discovered; others are tried and true remedies. And yes, I know they aren't applicable to everyone, but it's what helps get me through ...
1. Make candy that involves pounding the hell out of candy canes: Peppermint Bark!
We made it for the first time last night (after I'd eaten ever last crumb from a co-worker, as well as a tin from Costco) using this recipe from Savory Sweet Life.
My duty: to whack the living daylights out of candy canes. And unlike other kitchen duties that involve high temperatures and finesse, I excelled!
Before:
After:
Crushing up the candy canes was actually therapeutic, and the end result was delicious. We're rolling around after eating half of it last night going to give some away as gifts.
2. Skip sending Christmas cards
Even typing this I feel a little sacrilegious. I've never had a year where I didn't obsess over my Christmas cards, i.e., hiring a designer friend and spending countless hours concepting and scrutinizing fonts and layouts. It kind of goes back to my "if it's worth doing, it's worth doing better than anyone else," philosophy, which I've been working on dissembling, much like candy canes.
I do believe in the tradition of the mailed Christmas card, the feel of the paper and photos of their families.
The truth is, I scrutinize images and layouts and words every single day. It was more of a stress this year, and I wanted to put my energy toward other projects. So I didn't do it. And I'm sure no one is standing at their mailbox crying because I've ruined their Christmas. (If they do feel bad, they can read my dad's amazing Christmas letter to hear about our family. It's posted on his blog.)
Oh wait, that was hugely stressful. (Yes, preschool parents who didn't RSVP, I was shooting you a look during our children's Christmas program at school.) But the kids enjoyed it, and I got to eat all the leftover peppermint bark. See #4.
4. Move your peppermint bark-filled body.
To quote my favorite Richard Simmons line (from one of his records that my mother owned in the 80s): "You put it there/now lift it up and put it down." For me, that's starting to take Pure Barre and going back to yoga. (Even if my yoga teacher did say during class last week, "Well thats remarkable, Erin, especially since you haven't been in three months. Busted by the yogini.)
5. Stock up on bagel bites.
They are my specialty. One year during Christmas when we ran out of food I pulled them out. We opened presents eating delicious bite size morsels of goodness. Just like Grandma made. And you can get them in packs of eight zillion at Costco. I am totally serious.
6. Schedule time for champagne for the soul.
Chicken soup is ok, but champagne is better. Last weekend I got my winter blonde highlights and today I spent the day at Ross Bridge Spa with my good friend Amy. (Birmingham residents get 20% off on Monday and Tuesdays - score!)
Ross Bridge is one of our favorite places to get away, and what better time to do it than when everyone else is running around trying to do last minute things? One of the best things about Ross Bridge is that when you get a service you can take advantage of the spa facilities all day long, including the jacuzzi, steam room, and quiet room.
I had the Highland Foot Scrub/Scalp Therapy. It was divine, and the day a great pause from the hustle and bustle.
[For the record, I made Amy wear the hat. But she was so blissed out she was ammenable.]
7. Drink!
I kid, I kid. In moderation, of course. One of the most memorable events of the Christmas season was last week when I went to a friend's house for our first annual "Bows And Baileys." Two of our resident mixologists created amazing conctions based on seasonal liquers, and we practiced making decorative bows.
It was all very civilized, but drinking things filled with cinnamon and chocolate and coffee sure was fun.
8. Have a snowball fight
I know what you're thinking: I don't like cold. It's true. The fabulous thing is that there are lots of places to access fake snow. We had a blast at Gaylord Opryland's "Snow" exhibit (which officially does not allow snowball throwing, although some little person of ours bent the rules).
And said little person was equally thrilled to play in the "snow" at the McWane Center's "Winter Wonderland" exhibit yesterday. There's just something about snow, especially when enjoyed in 72-degrees controlled temperatures.
9. Give to someone who really needs it.
The past few days I've been thinking a lot about the work of The Blogess. This Texas-based blogger offered 20 $30 Amazon gift cards through her blog to people in need. She got more than 500 requests. All of those people have been helped, thanks to the generous outpouring of her readers.
10. Bake a birthday cake (or pick one up at Publix).
As long as I can remember, every Christmas Eve after Mass my family gathers round and sings Happy Birthday to Baby Jesus. At times I played the flute, clarinet, saxaphone, and accordian. Now I just sing, and have introduced the tradition to Nate.
The best part about being sick right now? Being up at 1 a.m. gives me access to the best Cyber Monday deals. Ha. I'd take sweet sleep over cut-rate Blu-Rate discs so far (would be a different story if there were some Tory Burch flats up in here.)
I was sick throughout Thanksgiving break, but also in major denial since I was trying to make the holiday at Opryland special. And it was, despite me blowing my nose every two minutes (sorry for that, family).
I know the drill of being sick well, and for someone who spends part of life on the road, that means adapting, regardless where I get the sniffles (that's a nicer version of the full story).
Despite lots of hand-washing and antibacterial gel, combined with the other usual "stay healthy" practices, I'm predisposed to chronic sinus infections. The surgery I had last year helped, but I still get them, and they really don't care how busy I am.
Yes, I know that illness can be your way of your body saying, 'slow down.' And I do modify my activites. But there's a lot of living to do, and it isn't happening on my couch.
This time around, sickness hit while I was traveling with my family and working. (And kicking off the holidays, managing a major painting project at home, and planning for a huge kiddo Christmas party.)
How do I get through being sick slightly more than the average girl? One, by focusing on the positive in the present. Like watching Nate make snowballs at the "Snow" exhibit:
And jumping into the jacuzzi with Mom. (Ok, it might not have helped to go out in the 38 degree weather, but the warm water felt great and the steam helped.)
When I don't feel well, I try not to wallow in it. This is a fine line I often struggle with, realizing that I do need to take time for rest and let my body recover ...
But there's so much to do. So I focus on making the best of it. And bringing hand sanitizer.
Two important things happened on this date in history:
1)The Scissor Sisters performed their first show
2)I walked into Surin, shook hands with a stranger at the bar, and within five minutes knew that I would marry him. (If he wasn't a psycho killer.)
Shane doesn't believe the part about me knowing within five minutes, but it's true. Within a few weeks he met my parents. My Dad didn't look up from the Yankees game. "Figured he was just another one," Dad would say later.
This is the first picture we took together that night, at a Cancer Center event (and yes, we look much different today):
It happened.
And then this happened.
Shane and I are incredibly different. I tell stories for a living, and he explains nanoparticles to grad students. He's an introvert who likes nothing more than curling up on the couch with a book on Roman history, while I'm an extrovert who likes nothing more than being surrounded by a room full of friends, usually talking (loudly).
Sometimes our differences seem like a gulf. They are pretty staggering at times. Sometimes we don't even like each other very much. But we meet in the middle. We disagree about what "the middle" is, mope a bit, and cross to the other side, or at least wave.
We know each other's scars, the jagged areas where we've gotten hurt and healed, left with imperfections on and below the surface. I say that though we got married under Vulcan's bare bottom in 2004, I feel like I only got a real taste of marriage in 2007 when I saw him in the shower after his surgery to remove kidney cancer.
He's seen me through some doozies too: my anxiety during Nate's first few months, more than a few serious stress-related illnesses, deaths of people close to me. Not to mention the *typical* stuff: supporting me as I run from daycare to airport to God knows where next for my work, all the while I wonder if I'm on the right path.
There's a Wilco line from their song "Reservations" that goes, "Oh I've got reservations/about so many things/ but not about you."
That's how I feel this September 21. But the song that most sums up where we are now is this one by Ingrid Michaelson.
Happy Anniversary Shane Street. Thanks for taking me the way I am.
If you've seen me the past few days, you may have noticed that I've been a tad bit hobbled over. That's because I've had a major flare-up of lower back pain, which all the Aleve in the world is not helping.The heating pad and my yoga practice are about the only thing that bring me a little relief.
So I am particularly interested in this upcoming workshop by my teacher Suzanne. It focuses on low back and hips, an area that bugs lots of us. Here are the details from Suzanne. See you on the mat:
This photo available under a Creative Commons Non-Commercial Use, non-commercial license
Photo by Chossne
Yoga for Low Back and Hips
@ The Yoga Circle SouthPoint Bldg, 1425 R. Arrington Jr. Blvd Sept 11th 2-5pm $35 Call (205)223-7281 to reserve a space
"Summer is winding down and perhaps your body is feeling the effects of being more physically active. Heal and preserve your body for all the activities you love and greater general well-being with yoga.
This extended practice will address low back strength and flexibility and proper alignment of the hips. The hips and lower back are central to our daily functions and our leisure activities.
The low back is frequently injured and even subtle misalignments in the hip can cause major problems up and down the body chain.
Join us for an in-depth yoga exploration of these key areas and leave feeling strong, supple and well aligned; ready for the other pursuits you love. Practice handouts will be provided to help you continue these yoga sequences on your own.
Instruction by Becca Impello, PT, RYT and Suzanne Graham, RYT
Becca is a physical therapist who has worked in orthopedic settings for ten years. She teaches yoga to groups and individuals and is well regarded for her therapeutic application of yoga practices. Suzanne is a registered yoga teacher trained at Kripalu. She teaches in many settings throughout the community and is known for her accepting nature and adaptive style of teaching.
This practice is appropriate for all experience levels. Those with acute injuries or chronic conditions should contact their physician and call Becca at (205)568-6040 with questions."
11:15 - 1 p.m. -- Free mat Pilates and hooping demonstrations
As I've written about before, their yoga classes have helped me de-stress, recover from a serious illness, and find my own strength. (It's a work in progress, but having a teacher and studio I love is the lynch pin.)
Resources like SoHoPiYo make me excited about the future of Birmingham, too. A community of progressive people who care about health, wellness, and the community? Pretty exciting stuff.
It was a great break to be home this weekend after three days of insane travel. I was really just on the road for two days, but our friends at Delta decided that instead of getting home Tuesday night, I'd be returning Wednesday morning.
This afforded me the pleasure of spending an evening at the Atlanta Comfort Inn without any luggage. Needless to say, I've been recovering from the trauma ever since (it took about three showers once I got home to remove the Comfort Inn soap smell.)
Luckily I got back to Birmingham in time for the 100 degree + temperatures. So this weekend of recovery has also been about staying cool.
Today Nate and I figured a new approach to the situation: The Apple Store. It was his first trip there, and he loved playing in the kids area, aka, computers with Dora. I like to pretend that he's designing a new app in these photos. (Sidenote: not only was it a fun trip for him, the Geniuses were great once again, replacing my wireless iPad keyboard.)
And another week begins ... watching "Mad Men" season premier, drinking cucumber martinis, staying cool.
When Nate was not more than a week old, the pediatrician, after measuring his sweet little head, said,
"I don't want to alarm you, but I'm not sure his head is measuring right. He may -- and it's a small chance -- have a malformation with his skull. It's going to take images to determine if this is the case, and if it is the good news is that it's reparable by surgery but it's a small chance. Don't panic. Don't go online."
Within an hour (this was before the iPhone), we'd researched everything available online about the condition. Dad found the best specialist. I cried. And then, a few weeks later, we found out everything was perfect, I cried again, broken open by the realization that all my planning meant nothing.
Welcome to parenthood.
We've been fortunate to avoid major mishaps with him (not us). He's had so few fevers I can count them on one hand. Aside from viruses and ear infections, we've been fortunate. So when something goes awry -- more than the usual runny nose -- it screws with my equilibrium.I can deal with my own issues -- which there are plenty of -- but feel the air knocked out of my chest when my little boy is hurting.
So it was a major challenge to my system last week when he experienced a traumatic visit to the dentist for an appointment we'd put off as long as possible. One of his bottom teeth came in weak, and actually fell out on its own long before it should have. The issue was that the root remained, and our dentist, a great pediatric specialist, recommended that we have it removed to prevent infection.
All of this logic, and prevention, and straightforward thinking went out the window last week when, while holding him in a bare hug in a tiny dentist chair, six people had to help me keep him still just so the dentist could administer the liquid anesthesia.
They were as kind as they could be, and he needed the meds, but damn, this kid is like a heavyweight, with a grip that would threaten even the most serious competitor.
"What you have is a very determined, strong little boy," said the dentist.
I apologized profusely, made some lame joke about requirements for martial arts to be a pediatric dentist, and gritted my teeth.
After suffering considerable dental trauma as a kid (and later as an adult) I remembered the feeling, and now was subjecting my own son to the same thing. But there wasn't much of a choice -- proceed at the dentist office or take him to the hospital for general anesthesia, with a risk that seemed to outweigh the benefits of the simple procedure.
They took the tooth, and handed me the boy, who looked at me with a deep mistrust that I'd never seen.
"The dentist is a bad man." Ug.
Three days later kiddo was crying in pain and refused to eat even the most soft and bland foods, clutching his mouth and refusing antibiotics and pain meds. This being the Fourth of July weekend, it was the absolute worst time to have such an emergency, with both our dentists out of town (one out of the country). For three days we watched and waited and pleaded him to eat something, take his medicine -- all of this without forcing him in the way he'd been forced days before.
His lips were chapped, his coloring pale. We were scared. Nothing -- not pleading, or straight-talk, or promises of the super duper new tricked out Buzz Lightyear, would convince him to eat or take his medicine. We went online, freaked out about the possibilities. Jaw infection spread to bone?
Then four days later, our dentist's partner, back in town, met us on a day when the office was closed and gently took a look. Nate was crying, and I wiped the tears from his cheeks while Dr. T. spoke in the softest tone, looking into this scared boy's mouth. Within seconds (at least once he could get past the screaming) the dentist called it: the pain was from a rather large ulcer. His tooth was fine. He was hurting, but it would go away.
On the way home we got him a chocolate milkshake and fries, which he gobbled up the second he got home. Then he asked to chase fireflies under the July sky. My worries: about having to take him to the hospital before he starved, about having made the "right" decision about having the tooth pulled, the days of pain and fatigue and lack of sleep all starting to fade.
People like to tell you how resilient kids are, and they share their stories demonstrating that. But it doesn't take a lot of the edge off when it's your child. On day four of this little journey I watched mine eat fries as I started to fade on the couch.
A week later the dull headache sets in. I'm at work in a marathon meeting, rubbing my temples and drinking green tea. I am tough. But when I walk out the door a co-worker says, "feel better." Huh? I'm not sick.
Something is coming to Birmingham that I've been waiting for for a long time -- a children's yoga class.
As an avid on again off again yogini (which is the female version of yogi), I've often thought how incredible it would be for the Magic City to have regular yoga offerings for kids.
(In fact, from time to time I think about going through teacher training, especially to work with toddlers. Cause I am crazy like that, and love nothing more than getting on my mat and rocking it out.)
So, I was thrilled to get an email from my teacher Suzanne at SoHo PiYo that kiddo yoga (and Pilates) classes for children are indeed starting at the Homewood studio (located in SoHo Square).
Here's the rundown from them:
"Pilates and Posture
Beginning Tuesday, July 13th for 5 weeks. $65.00 per child
Children 6 and over welcome
Tuesdays 10:30-11:30 - parents can drop off or stay and take part
Class taught by Robyn Meche. For info or to register contact Robyn: [email protected]
Introducing kids to a safe and effective form of exercise that will increase flexibility, core strength, coordination and self-esteem! Posture and Pilates will teach mind-body awareness along with balance and correct posture. Breathing techniques will help reduce stress and improve endurance.
Pilates is a great way to exercise and relax while building and stretching muscles, no matter the weather, or if you are traveling, you can do pilates anywhere with no equipment to buy.
YogaGarden
Beginning Saturday, July 10th for 5 weeks. $75.00 per child
Children 4 - 7 Saturday, 11:30 - 12 :15 - parents drop off Children 8 - 12 Saturday, 12:30 - 1:30 - parents drop off
Class taught by Jean Campbell. For info or to register contact Jean: [email protected]
Yoga isn’t just for grownups. Kids benefit from the lessons of yoga as well. In Jean Campbell’s Yoga-Garden classes children will be offered tools for enabling relaxation, self esteem building and physical fitness.
In our hectic, modern world, free time for children is often filled with sedentary activities. YogaGarden encourages kids to be active and excited about life. Yoga poses are taught in a fun way with games, books and activities. Kids are natural yogis!"
Nate has been practicing yoga for about six months (we follow the Itsy Bitsy Yoga program) and is excited about taking formal classes. (OK, whatever, I'm the one who is excited for now but know that once he gets on the mat he will be thrilled to show off his Tree.)
I became convinced of the power of children learning yoga during my many visits with Miami yoga teacher Terri Cooper, who reaches out to children across her city, including those in the most underserved and violent parts.
Watching Terri and her volunteers (who call themselves the "305 Spiritual Gangsters") work with kids in areas like Little Haiti was an exposure to the healing and calming powers of even the most basic yoga poses.
Here's a story that I wrote about Terri's work, which ran in the May 2010 issue of Southern Living.
I could go on and on about how yoga has changed my life. But instead I will say this: it is an amazing gift one can give to a child -- this ability to get centered and grounded, and stretch our bodies and minds in the way that they are meant to be stretched.
So think about it. And in the meantime, join me at SoHo PiYo for Suzanne's monthly Yoga Nidra, Friday, July 16, 6-7:30 p.m., $20.
Gentle yoga (suitable for first timers) and an incredible meditation that's more relaxing than any happy hour you'll go to. Call 879-2110 for reservations.
Garage Sale America The companion website to Bruce Littlefield's brilliant book about the magic of garage sales.
Bureau of Communication Wacky pre-worded communcations for every occasion, including "Happy Divorce" and "Grievance Letter" with Ad-Lib type room for your own special personalizations.
Jancee Dunn Blog Pop culture/rock critic wrote a great memoir about being a writer for "Rolling Stone" and VJ for MTV. Most importantly, she hits the 70s and 80s right on the head, particularly with her descriptions of JcPenny's, where her father spent his career. Her blog has great photos from 70s Penny's catalogs, as well as links to her essays, etc.
Disco Museum Brilliant. Check out the entry on Paul Jabara, a fairly unknown singer songwriter who wrote for Donna Summer and more. He was also the person who created the red ribbon to bring awareness to HIV.
Roadside Architecture The author spends much of her time traveling across the U.S. taking photos of giant faux food displays, neon signs, fairytale villages ala "Rock City," old diners and malls and pet cemetaries. Nothing short of genius and addictive.
Bad Fads After buying a squishy porcupine type toy for Shane and I -- I mean Nate and I -- to play with, I remembered the wonderful Koosh Ball of the late 80s. Shane didn't remember this, so I Googled the term and came up with this great page -- the Museum of Bad Fads. Excited to see that there is a reference to Sea Monkeys, my personal favorite. Though they are not a "fad" -- they are a lifestyle!
Dead Malls The guys that run this website travel the country documenting malls of bygone times. I love it!
Florida's psychic to the stars Gary Spivey has an amazing silver afro and a gift for seeing the future. Of course he's from my homeland of the greater Tampa Bay Area, Florida.
Graham Nelson Minnesota baby extraordinaire and son of Alisa!
Nat Reads Natalie writes about books, movies, and life in Birmingham.
Nikko's Blog Nikko is an American ex-pat living in Madrid. I met her through Cliff.
Hugh's News Blog of an exceptionally talented Dad, grandpa and Yankees fan. In-depth commentary on said Yankees, grandson and state of the world in general.
Pugs
http://www.nalldaniels.com/ This is the homepage for our vet. Lola's picture has been known to make an appearance here.
Lolita Pearl Lola enjoys prancing about, provoking her brother and being a vixen pug.
F. Scott Fitzpug F. Scott enjoys napping, pooping and being the cutest male pug in West Central Alabama.
Alabama Pug Rescue Wonderful organization that cares for AL pugs in need.
Moms Rising This site advocates for moms to decide how they want to raise their kids -- whether it be to work outside the home or to be a SAHM. Most of all, it's about fair, equitable conditions in which one becomes a mom and the chance to raise healthy kids.
Mojo Mom A site that helps moms reflect on the fact that they are actually people, not just baby-making beings.