Choosing The Right Orthodontist

There are many factors that go into choosing the best orthodontist.  For many, the first thing they need to consider is their budget. Check with your insurance provider and see if orthodontic work is covered, this differs from plan to plan, but it is always worth checking.  Call orthodontist and ask for quotes. Some may offer financing, which may be worth considering depending on your circumstance.

Figure out what type of orthodontic work you are interested in.  If you need sugar land braces, but your teeth are not too far out of line, then you may be a candidate for invisalign sugar land.  Like braces, invisalign slowly adjusts your teeth into a correct bite by gradually increasing tension.  However, invisalign is invisible. This can save you the unfortunate aesthetic of a mouth full of metal. Unfortunately, it can be an expensive option, although some insurers do provide a limited amount of coverage.

Next you need to see which of your options are actually the best.  Do not solely base this research off of online reviews. Ask your friends if they’ve had any orthodontic work.  Who did they use and why did they like them? If there are any glaring reviews online, then they may be worth considering.  However, some of the most extreme reviews can be the result of agitated patients. Keep this in mind.

Now it’s time to set up a consultation. Pay attention to the staff. It’s relatively easy to notice how they treat you.  Look at how they interact with each other. A responsible orthodontist with good patient outcomes will create a positive environment.  If the staff seems on edge take this under consideration.

Next you will have your consultation.  Remember that you have not committed to their plan yet.  If something makes you uncomfortable you can still find another orthodontist. Pay attention to how the staff during the consultation.  If they are in a hurry and working to get you out the door quickly, this may be worth taking under consideration. If they’re polite and take time for your questions then it probably reflects on the leadership.   Prepare a list of questions beforehand. This will help you ascertain whether the team is on top of their game.

When you get home look at the plan they’ve given you.  Are the treatment costs in the same ballpark as the estimates they gave you? Orthodontic work is expensive, but it is a worthwhile investment.  Not only can it give you a better smile, but it can dramatically improve your bite. Correcting your bite can reduce jaw pain and tension in your jaw and neck.  This tension we carry in our jaw can radiate to other parts of your body. Fixing your bite will improve your chewing, and so much more.

Finding the right orthodontist in sugar land will make your experience dramatically better.  They will ensure you choose the right approach that works for you and your unique situation.  Don’t be intimidated by not knowing what the best option is. They will work with you to identify what work needs to be done.  A good orthodontist will provide several options for you to choose from, and recommend a treatment plan that fits your budget.

Piano Movers New Jersey

New Jersey Piano Movers – My Story

I moved last month across town from my condo in Newark to a home in Jersey City. I gained an additional 800 SQFT of floor space which allowed me to move my mothers Baby Grand Piano from her house to mine. My dad had a truck with a massive bed that would have worked, but we had no way to get the Piano lifted up into the back of the truck. We decided to hire a New Jersey Mover to transport the Piano from New Jersey U Haul TruckNewark to Jersey City. We called Bluebell Relocation services and the team of movers came out with a truck that looked like a big Uhaul style truck. It had a motorized lift on the back of it that allowed them to roll the Piano onto the back of the truck and lift it with a powered lifting mechanism. The distance from Newark to Jersey City was only about a 20-minute trip so it didn’t end up costing very much. The worst part, once we arrived, was that my new home was two stories and the room I wanted it in was on the second floor. I ended up buying a home in Greenville and was surprised to see how nice the neighborhood had become since I was there last. My cousin had lived there when we were kids and I always recall it being a little rough. best lounge in jersey cityWe used to go to the best bar in Jersey City, at least according to my uncle. The food and atmosphere are pretty cool. When I was 21 years old I always remember it being a little more obnoxious, but my first night as a Jersey City residence it seemed like a pretty decent place to hang out and have a beer. We ended up swinging by for a few after we got the Piano moved upstairs to the top floor of my new place. Moving is always such a drag, and I hope I have finally moved into my forever home! If for some reason this isn’t my forever home and I end up moving again, the Piano is staying in Jersey City!!

Options for Braces During Your Visit To Orthodontist

You have decided to invest the time and the money into straightening your teeth. You may have made this decision for purely aesthetic reasons or to improve your overall dental health but either way, you will want to be fully prepared and know what to expect. There are many different options available to straighten your teeth and you will want to discuss your options with your orthodontist to find the best treatment plan for you.

First, you will want to get a recommendation for a qualified orthodontist from your regular dentist. Schedule a consultation with the orthodontist to ensure you and he or she share the same vision and to make sure you are comfortable with the doctor’s expertise. Ask to see photographs of his or her previous clients and ask about the doctor’s orthodontic philosophy. You will also need to see if you have payment options or if the orthodontist accepts your insurance, if you have dental insurance. Many doctors accept other forms of payment like CareCredit or Access One may be available for you to finance your braces. Make sure to ask questions!

Many people believe braces are just for kids or teenagers; today, more and more adults are deciding to invest in their smiles! Braces will straighten your teeth and close gaps that you may find uncomfortable or unsightly and make oral health care easier. Having orthodontia can help line up your jaw for a better bite and also assist with a variety of speech problems. And, it is never too late to reward yourself with a straight, beautiful smile!

There is a time commitment necessary to wearing traditional metal braces. You will need to see your orthodontist once every four to six weeks to assess your progress. If you don’t have the time in your schedule to commit to seeing your orthodontist, you may want to reconsider getting braces. You will also have to brush and floss with more care; keeping your teeth clean may be more difficult but it is imperative to ensure your orthodontia is successful. In line with keeping your teeth clean is making sure you eat properly. Avoid hard, sticky food that can break your brackets or wires; this will only prolong your orthodontic treatment time!

Believe it or not, there are many different options available to someone interested in straightening his or her teeth. The majority of people wearing braces, especially teenagers, wear traditional metal braces with brackets. While the most noticeable type of braces with the metal brackets and wires, they are also the least expensive. The orthodontist glues brackets onto your teeth and connects them with a wire. The wires are tightened at each appointment, gently moving your teeth into place. These braces use rubber bands to align the jaw and bite and the rubber bands are connected to the brackets. Many teenagers like to use colored rubber bands to give their braces a unique look. Adults may opt for a more subdued look. The length of time you will wear metal braces depends upon your specific case and will be determined by your orthodontist. The typical cost for metal braces is anywhere from $3000 to $7000.

Another option that might be available for you is ceramic braces. They work essentially the same way as metal braces—the doctor tightens the wires to move the teeth but the ceramic brackets are the same color as your teeth, making them much less noticeable than traditional braces. The wires can even be tooth- colored, as well. The major drawbacks with ceramic braces are they can stain if not well cared for and they are more expensive than metal braces. Ceramic braces will set you back anywhere from $4000 to $8000.

Want to hide your braces? Your orthodontist has thought of that option, too. Ask about lingual braces—metal braces that are attached to the backside of your teeth, making them less noticeable. Lingual braces enlist the metal brackets and wires of traditional braces but hide the brackets from view. These braces are a little more difficult to adjust, making appointment times longer. Lingual braces may be more uncomfortable at first and it may be hard to keep your tongue from running over the inside of your teeth, which could cause the wires to bend or break. Expect to pay a lot more for this option, anywhere from $5000 to $13000, if your doctor offers this option.

Gaining popularity, especially with adults, are orthodontic aligners. There are several on the market, including Invisalign, Clear Correct and OrthoClear. Instead of brackets and wires, aligners are custom molded plastic aligners that gently move your teeth. New aligners are fitted every two weeks and it generally take the same amount of time as traditional or ceramic braces. One of the biggest benefits to clear aligners is that they are virtually invisible, so no one has to even know you are wearing braces. Many celebrities including Tom Cruise and Khloe Kardashian have worn clear aligners to make their smiles Hollywood perfect. Another plus to wearing aligners instead of braces—you can eat what you want. You can remove the aligners at meal times and to brush your teeth, but they should stay in for at least 20 to 22 hours each day for the best effect. There are, however, some drawbacks to invisible aligners. If you are not diligent about wearing your aligners, the process will not work or the treatment will need to be extended, usually at additional cost. The cost for clear, removable aligners is more expensive than other orthodontic options. The cost for aligners will run anywhere from $3000 to $8000 depending upon your needs and the length of your treatment.

With any type of orthodontic treatment to straighten your teeth, you can expect to wear a retainer after your braces are removed. Retainers are to be worn every day to make sure teeth do not shift back to their original spaces. Depending upon your treatment plan, your orthodontist will let you know how long you will need to wear the retainer on a daily basis. You can then switch to wearing the retainer only at night. Make sure to take care of your retainer; they are expensive to replace.

Treating Your Back With Chiropractic Methods

You are sitting at a red light, minding your own business when…wham!… your car is rear-ended by someone not paying attention. Suddenly, your day takes an unexpected turn—gathering information from the person who hit you, towing your car to a body shop, talking with police, answering questions of insurance agents—so much is going on, you don’t even notice that pain until the next day, radiating in your neck and lower back radiating from every muscle, joint and ligament. The pain is so intense; you wonder how you’re going to function. What are your options? Who can you turn to for relief? While you may be inclined to see your regular physician, a chiropractor might be a better answer.

A licensed chiropractor is trained to deal with many of the common injuries sustained in a car accident. The back and neck injuries, whiplash and soreness that accompany a car wreck can sometimes be debilitating and a chiropractor can help you through this painful process. When you first meet with a chiropractor, have a frank discussion about what happened, how you are feeling and what you hope to achieve while working through your pain. Then, having x-rays taken is an important step to uncover any hidden injuries that you may not have noticed just yet. Other side affects you may experience after an automobile accident include headaches, achiness, and soreness in the upper body and shoulder area. These injuries might be the result of whiplash, another result of the crash. Believe it or not, untreated whiplash can develop into long-term health problems like arthritis and degenerative disc disease, so it is important to have an evaluation by a chiropractor as soon as possible after the accident. When you visit a chiropractor, he or she can adjust your spine and neck, if necessary, provide physical therapy to help strengthen your muscles and even provide you with nutritional advice to expedite your healing. An experienced chiropractor will complete a comprehensive examination to help with muscle spasms, stress related conditions, and chronic fatigue, all of which can be developments which emerge after a crash. A compassionate, professional doctor will concentrate of effective pain treatment

When going to see a chiropractor, recognize that they cannot perform surgery and cannot prescribe any medication. They can, however, use a variety of techniques to help alleviate the pain. The most common is spinal manipulation or adjustment, where the chiropractor gently applies pressure to a targeted area which forces a popping effect known in Laymen’s terms as “cracking your back”. One adjustment may not be sufficient to correct your problem; you may have to receive multiple adjustments. In addition to relieving pain, spinal manipulation can help to improve muscle function after an automobile accident, and it can also help with movement, circulation and relaxation.

spineChiropractors enlist several different types of adjustment techniques, depending upon your needs and area of pain. The Toggle Drop is when the chiropractor crosses his or her hands and asserts pressure onto a particular part of the spine. This procedure helps to adjust the spine and improve mobility. An effective lumber roll, where the chiropractor turns you on your side and places one leg in a bent position and then places a hand on your shoulder to stretch the lumbar area, can loosen the back muscles. A chiropractor an also apply gentle pressure with his or her fingertips to separate the vertebra in a procedure called release work. If you are not receptive to the manipulation treatments, a chiropractor can also use table adjustments, where you lie down on a table and there is a drop piece of the table, eliminating the need for you to twist. This provides you with a lighter adjustment if your range of motion is limited. The doctor can also use a spring loaded activator instrument to administer your adjustment, the gentlest form of adjusting the spine. If none of these methods are working, a chiropractor can apply the methods while you are lightly sedated in a hospital outpatient setting.

Depending upon the chiropractic professional, there are a myriad of other treatments that are available to you. In addition to spinal manipulation, a chiropractor may offer comfortable treatment of the nerve system by therapeutic stretching and exercise, ultrasound therapy, ice and heat therapy and even a procedure called TENS or transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation. TENS is utilized when there is nerve related pain and it consists of a machine that emits stimulating pulse waves across the skin’s surface and to the nerve strands. Other chiropractors use cold laser therapy, physiotherapy, and acupuncture and it is best to discuss all your options with your chiropractic professional.  Chiropractors can also suggest dietary and nutritional counseling as well as lifestyle modifications, all in an effort to ease pain and get you back on track.

One of the most effective tools in the chiropractor’s arsenal is massage therapy. Massage therapy can accelerate accident recovery and provide consistent injury relief. Furthermore, when used with various other chiropractic methods, massage therapy is an integral part of pain relief. Massage therapy has shown to be beneficial in increasing blood circulation, reducing swelling, relaxing the muscles, relieving muscle pain and spasms. Specific massage and muscular therapy based upon your individual condition and or injury while be determined by the chiropractor.

In case you are wondering—a chiropractor is a doctor! While not considered a “medical doctor”, a chiropractor specializes in neuro-musculoskeletal system and generally have eight years of college. The founder of chiropractic care, D.D. Palmer, called it “a science of healing without drugs”. Chiropractic care is an excellent alternative for those seeking pain alleviation without the use of pharmaceuticals, or a more holistic approach to pain care. Owasso Chiropractic care helps in several ways but after an accident, the most important of these is healing the pain. Some car accident victims report up to an 80 percent reduction in discomfort after just a few weeks of chiropractic care. Going to a chiropractor will help restore your mobility. That stiffness and soreness you are experiencing can be all but alleviated so help you regain a full range of motion. Lastly, strengthening your muscles around your spine can improve your flexibility and help you avoid re-injuring yourself. If you’re ready to feel new again, consult a licensed chiropractor.

 

Losing “it”

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I’m pretty sure that I’ve lost “it” – my parenting mojo.

The Feral Threesome have out-grown me.

They no longer buy into all of my bullshit, and actually realise that I am not the be all and end all of the world.


If I threaten to count to 3 – they actually wait for it to happen

They have called my bluff.



MSTR 8

My beloved Mstr8 has worked out how to push my buttons.

He’ll still profess undying love, and still wish out loud that I was younger / he was older, so that we could get married….just not so often, and definitely not on video.

In fact, if I think about it, he usually only whispers it to me nowadays.

And usually only after I’ve discovered his ‘Crunch-n-sip’ veg from the previous week, festering in his backpack.

Or he’s been busted watching Clarence / TMNT on the iPad, under his bed, at 9pm on a school night.

Gone are the days of blowing me kisses across the playground.

My last kiss is still lingering in the breeze, unrequited.

Instead, I got some beat-boxing in return.

Yes, really.



MISS 8

Miss8 has worked out that she can pretend she can’t hear me  –  in a way more mature way than my own “lalalala I can’t hear youuuu” fingers in ears version that I have, until now, relied on when they ask awkward questions.

I can rant and rave, beg and plead, and her single excuse is “wait…what? Oh sorry Mum, I didn’t hear you…” – and I have NO WAY OF PROVING OTHERWISE….

Despite being a people-pleaser – especially an adult-pleaser – she has worked out that there’s more kudos in saving her adult-pleasing for teachers.
She’s also worked out that I’m entirely embarrassing, as far as parents go.

I was all professional, work mode, at the school cross country the other week – blow me down if one of my besties (a parent volunteer), didn’t have to convince me that, it was in fact my Miss8 (and not another student) coming down the straight – winning.

I completely lost my professional work persona shit and stood in the middle of the finish line, arms wide open, in full staff uniform, screaming her name….

….and she very obviously veered to the right, with a look of horror.

So I regained my staff persona and pretended I did not see her cross the finish line first, until she had to report to me for her official finishing position, and I ripped her off the ground and squeezed the living crap out of her little body.

She loved it, and she hugged me back – but only after checking that nobody else was watching…



MISS 11

As for Miss11…she is, believe it or not, the least of my worries!

We did have a rough patch with the hormonal, pre-tween attitude – but her need for me has superceded all of that.

Obviously she now gets all of the jewellery in the will, and I’ve advised her as much.

It’s like she’s won lotto, even though she isn’t interested in jewellery – let alone old or wise enough to realise that I don’t own anything nearly as large and sparkly as her $10 Lovisa costume jewellery.



Thank the Vodka Gods for Facebook memories….

For the first time ever, I’ve found myself genuinely reminiscing over Facebook “You posted this XXX years ago….” pics of the kids.

As opposed to continuing down to the latest cocktail / DIY / food / celeb post.

All that professing of unconditional love over the years has come back to bite me in the arse.

They know they’ve got me.  That they’ve got the upper hand.
This is unfamiliar territory.

I’m used to being the unquestioned centre of their everything.

Clearly, I’m going to have to work out what their kryptonite is, and regain the prized power position / unconditional love and respect.



FYI….it was their random refusal of my previously loved sneaky veg soup that actually prompted this post.

It sent me into a tail spin of reflection, on listening to their negotiations over dinner / bed times / upcoming school holidays.

They weren’t remotely interested in pleasing me, listening to my firm insistence that they loved my soup and it would make them strong / healthy / awesome.



But, whatever, the point is – they are clearly turning into manipulative little a-holes (apple, tree, obviously).

And I’ve lost the “it” factor….I don’t have IT anymore….


PS – FOUND ANOTHER WHITE EYEBROW HAIR TOO.  Insult to injury….

How Is Tummy Tuck Different Than Liposuction?

A typical misconception among individuals considering plastic surgery procedures like tummy tuck or liposuction is that they will generate similar outcomes. Typically, an individual is significantly better prospect for possibly liposuction or a tummy tuck as these procedures aren’t very similar.

Regarding which cosmetic surgery procedure is most useful the choice should be produced together using a certified cosmetic surgeon but the following is a basic guide line:

tummy-tuck-liposuctionTypically, the abdominal region requires a tummy tuck and can not benefit from liposuction. Because liposuction is an operation that removes fat and the skin is unaffected. Therefore if there’s stretch marks or substantial free skin to begin with, liposuction won’t eliminate the stretch mark. Furthermore, the epidermis rests, i.e. the underlying fat thus leaving even looser epidermis than the individual began with. Liposuction to the region is right in circumstances of younger individuals with company, taut abdominal skin whose problem is fat that is extra. Over the liposuction, epidermis shrinks in such instances a fantastic aesthetic outcome along with area could be obtained. The ultimate decision about which process(s) is most useful for you ought to be produced within a personal consultation with a plastic surgeon that is qualified.

Who’s An Applicant To Get A Tummy-tuck?

A tummy tuck can benefit people who have the subsequent characteristics of the region:
(1) stretch marks, like after pregnancy
(2) body fat on the abdomen
(3) extortionate, free, sagging skin

A tummy-tuck entails numerous measures that are surgical, each created to improve the aesthetic look and feel of your body. By creating an incision low-down to the wall, the tummy tuck starts. Depending on your own body construction, totally hiding the incision scar may possibly perhaps not be feasible. Excision and elimination of as significantly extra epidermis and fat as achievable, and keeping the umbilicus (belly button) in to an anatomically satisfying place on the abdominal wall. There are two scars which can be left with a tummy tuck. These are a scar put low-down above the round scar as well as pubic region carefully-placed throughout the bellybutton. These two scars are completely required in case a tummy tuck is effortlessly and to be completed precisely. Any tightening, total abdominal elegance, and flattening. scars in basic are dynamic.

How Painful Is It?

Carrying out a tummy tuck, individuals explain an important feeling of tightness throughout the abdomen. The discomfort is explained as a powerful muscle ache related to the sensation after an aggressive abdominal workout discomfort. If your tummy tuck does not harm at all, the abdomen was probably maybe not tightened acceptably. Bruising and swelling is usually observed following liposuction or a tummy tuck.

Do I Require To Keep Overnight?

Most individuals are in a position to depart the hospital on the night of the day that is surgical. Arrangements can be designed for for individuals if therefore preferred, to keep over-night. Although straining, heavy bending and lifting should be prevented, tummy tuck sufferers should begin leg workouts and mini Mal walking the day of the surgery. Lying in mattress for hrs in a time is hazardous and has to be prevented to minimize the chance of blood clots. When going to sleep, several pillows beneath the knees and behind the the top will act to to help relieve the the stress on the surgical incision and certainly will help alleviate distress.

Exercise and Diet:

The human human anatomy is constantly in circumstances of change and dynamic. No surgical treatment exists to re-shape recontour or tighten a human anatomy area which is permanent. Therefore, liposuction requires to be preserved. A healthful life-style has to be adopted after surgery to sustain the flattening and tightness of the location that liposuction or a tummy tuck gives. Poor life-style and diet will, over time cause epidermis and weight-gain stretching even after tummy tuck surgery.
Happily, most individuals locate that after liposuction or a tummy tuck, they sense so excellent both mentally and physically that workout and healthy eating become a natural component of the post surgical lifestyle.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder

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Okay you guys. I have a bazillion excuses for you re: my absence.

Not in any order….

I found a whole lot more Real Housewives of the World style reality TV shows
(that would totally be #1 if this was in order).

I started studying – because who else would you want teaching young impressionable minds?

(Don’t worry, I’ve spent a few years working at The Feral Threesome’s school to ensure I could control the swears when I’m on premises – who knew I could?! Anyway, university gahhhhh so much work).

I’m lazy.

I’m still lazy.

I’m lazy about doing something about being lazy.

I also happen to have suffered from writers block.

Seriously – as kids grow up they do way less stuff that I can exploit for my own humour.  It’s a little disappointing, and I have tried to set them up on occasion, just for a laugh.

I bought a treadmill.

I BOUGHT A TREADMILL.

And I used it for a good 3 weeks prior to a holiday.

It was extremely exhausting.

The kids are now all doing homework-y stuff on the laptop.  I have to fight for screen time.  Imagine the horror!

And carnage….

I discovered home delivery dinner – Uber eats, Menulog, and all the othes I am yet to conquer!

And believe it or not, on that note, our dinner has arrived!

So I will now go and make a fuss about decanting the takeaway onto real plates so that I can appease the takeaway guilt.



Anaphylaxis : It’s a long term commitment

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Nothing like a hilariously inappropriate auto-correct fail to make light of a serious situation!



A few months ago we found out the hard way that Miss9 is deathly allergic to bees.

Whatever levels or measurements they use to gauge the severity of a bee allergy, she was right at the top.

Her first bee sting was a few years ago.  Her hand swelled and we thought nothing of it.

Her second was a few months ago, and resulted in a speedy ambulance trip to the childrens’ hospital.

She was totally psyched to have ridden in an ambulance and prompted the use of the sirens.  Not remotely fussed or phased by any part of it.  I, on the other hand, nearly gave myself a heart attack…

Given her extremely rapid increase in allergic reactions from first to second bee sting, things did not bode well for future bee stings (bee allergy reactions become more severe with subsequent stings).

And so last month we met with the Immunologist, who recommended Miss9 commence a 3 – 5 year desensitisation treatment plan, in the hopes of reducing her allergy from deathly allergic to severely allergic.

We started last week.  Miss9 was all la la la, I can’t hear you when the Immunologist explained that the treatments consisted of being injected with bee venom in increasing doses, multiple times, at each visit.

She’s kind of an ignorance is bliss type of kid.

Thanks to the numbing cream, she didn’t really feel the injections, and quite enjoyed her day off school, sitting in the special chair, watching TV, and ordering the chicken sushi from the hospital lunch menu.

For my part, I spent the first day pacing around, epi pen in hand, kind of like a ye olde worlde hunter with a spear, ready to stab her at the first sign of a reaction (I plan to play it much cooler at tomorrow’s appointment).

Miss9 was fine, we left, and all was right with the world.

Until the next day when she experienced itching, swelling and welts where she was injected.  All totally normal.

But, child of mine, milked it for all it was worth.

I was working in the school library, and her teacher came to warn me that she was all kinds of woe is me over her itching arms.

I think the morning’s crowd of concerned friends had lost interest and she was not really enjoying being out of the spotlight.

And so, somehow, her pain extended to her leg.  Either the knee, the ankle, or the whole front of her leg, depending on who was asking.

She was going for gold.

Her teacher and I had a laugh, and let it go.

Until the Teacher Aide returned to the library later that day to advise me that she was still banging on about it, and I had to sign her out of school early and keep her in the library with me until school finished for the day and I could collect the twins and head home – IN LESS THAN 10 MINUTES.

Friday came and she was still going on about her extending pain (but not at recess or lunch time when she was able bodied enough to play and run around).

It really ramped up after lunch, just before Friday afternoon sport.

But I am pleased to report that it was instantly cured when she found out that they were playing her beloved basketball.

I’m slightly apprehensive about tomorrow’s second round of injections.  Not so much for her anaphylaxis, more for the lagging effect in the following days – when she realises that she is now ‘old news’ at school, and no matter now many fictional side effects she complains of, she will not see the spotlight move from the school’s Easter parade back to her.

I’m super psyched for the next 3 – 5 years of the same…

The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach

Of course I took to Facebook to brag about my success.
Action shot taken from the Cuisine Companion bowl before plating.


I shunned chocolate over Easter.

Yes, thank you, stop applauding and sit down. I am already patting myself on the back so you don’t need to.

To be honest, I’m more a savoury person, so it wasn’t that hard.

Give me a holiday that worships at a temple made from soft cheeses and I am all in.

Crackers optional.

#1Hubby had to return to work in the city, so he left Easter Monday, and I stayed on with the #1Grandparents in the country, so that the kids could further acquaint themselves with fresh air and grass, while riding their bikes on the actual road (Mstr6 finally rides without training wheels or tantrums, thanks to this).

Shut up safety experts. We’re at the end of a cul de sac that nobody drives down.  And I was standing guard (wine in hand) on car watch.  More focus on my awesome non-electronic device parenting than the whole OMGTHEYRODEONTHEROAD.


It was while on car watch that I pondered how to reward reward myself for excelling at maintaining the health of my family, via shunning sugar and embracing exercise.

I mean, apart from the Nobel Prize and United Nations committees fighting it out over who gets to use me as their parenting role model and spokesperson.

A long holiday.  Four weeks in Bali for Christmas.

Not remotely related to Easter, and certainly more generous than a Cadbury Bilby, a Lindt Hen House and a Ferrero Bunny put together and coated in real organic corn fed, farm bred, free range, organic, rain forest alliance certified, fair trade gold.

Cheap airfares sealed the deal.  Which only left suggesting it to #1Hubby, letting him think he was making the guided decision to go for it.

Heh.

This required an impressive distraction.  Exhausted from my physical car watching, I decided to go with an impressive meal instead of other wifely means of distracting and persuading one’s husband.

We returned home yesterday and I seized the opportunity to overcome my fear of all things electronic (besides my phone, laptop, iDevices and TV, obviously) and opened up the Tefal Cuisine Companion I’d just received and agreed to actually remove from the box and use.  Not leave in some dark corner of my pantry like so many other devices before it.

I’m no food expert, obviously.  But I do like to try and cook as much of our food from scratch as possible, so I was keen to give it a try.  Anything to aid my inherently lazy nature.  Plus, I’m pretty confident I can use it to make cocktails.

Things started off really well…

I managed to leave a large piece of foam inside the base, and so I launched into a minor and ladylike tantrum when I couldn’t get the bowl to click into place as a result.

#1Hubby breezed into the kitchen for the 28th time to offer assistance.  This time I did not bite his head off and banish him.

Instead, I went for a petulant “FINE!”

Which we both knew really meant “Oh fine…if you must…I will do you a favour and let you play the hero even though we both know that I am superior in the kitchen and there’s no way you will work this out if I haven’t been able to”.

The added dialogue conveyed via sighing, haughty body movements, and a couple of indecent hand gestures.  Kind of like passive agressive interpretive dance, if you will.

Yeah.

He immediately found the very large and obvious piece of foam.

Remembering the end goal, I pleasantly and calmly agreed to #1Hubby having a gloat about saving the day/universe via Facebook status update.

While he did that, I flicked through the recipe book, completely ignoring the manual, because now I had an expert in the effing kitchen…

And I had consumed half the bottle of wine intended for the seafood risotto.

Okay more like three quarters.

So I found the first risotto recipe and quite literally threw the ingredients in, adding bits and pieces with wild abandon to make the recipe my own, and seafood-it-up in order to impress #1Hubby.

Mercifully, the Cuisine Companion comes with very easy to follow instructions.  Like pictures on their buttons that correspond with pictures on their recipes.  Even three quarters of a bottle of Sav Blanc in, I couldn’t screw this up.

And I didn’t have to stand over the stove, constantly stirring and adding liquid and fretting about the ratio of rice to liquid and whether or not it was going to work after I’d committed so much time and pricey ingredients to the process.

Something that would have taken me well over an hour manually, took just on 30 minutes from end-of-tantrum commencement, til hasty non-artistic plating.

While he was making all the right bedroom noises over the risotto that he was clearly enjoying, I seized the moment and casually mentioned how good it was to spend Christmas in Bali, and wouldn’t it be great if we could get cheap airfares and do it again?

Without looking up, he was all “oh yeah, yes”.  

Probably at the risotto, not me.

Regardless, I took that approval and ran with it.  I immediately went off to pretend to Google prices and OH LOOK – there just so happens to be a sale on right now and I will just book us some tickets.  Now.  Not 3 days prior.


NAILED IT

THE RISOTTO
THE MACHINE
THE HOLIDAY CHARADE

ALL OF IT


Here is a post-dinner shot of my “I only like fish and chips” seafood hating Miss9, sprung eating from the bowl….

Busted.  Eating from the bowl.
Next time I’m making a spinach and broccoli quinoa** risotto and handing everyone a spoon to eat from the bowl, since it clearly has magic powers.  Which would also totally make it a one-dish-dinner.




**Even my spell checker didn’t know WTF quinoa was.  Heh.  High five spell checker…

Rico, not Dave : What’s in a name?

We used to have a ginger cat named Chopper.

We loved him dearly, but he never ever forgave us for introducing a child to the mix, and was positively livid when we added 2 more at once.

So he took up residence next door with #1Brother, and only deigned to acknowledge us at meal times.

He passed away almost 2 years ago, and while I’ve missed him, I admit that I have enjoyed having one less mouth to feed and water.

One less person to crap on everything (figuratively, occasionally literally).

One less person to constantly whine at me for food.

The kids never really spent much time with Chopper, on account of his deathly hatred for them.  And so, they’ve never really been into pets, other than to acknowledge that we did have a cat at some point but he died and now he’s buried outside and can we dig him up to see what he looks like now?

Besides that morbid curiosity, they don’t really seem that fussed by the notion of having a pet.  And so we’ve gone pet-free since Chopper met his demise.

Recently, I noted my kids had developed a wimpy aversion to animals.

It’s like they’ve regressed from their curious toddler selves, who were all happy to pat a spitting alpaca on their grandfather’s farm (while Super Dad, #1Hubby, crapped himself at a safe distance from inside the car)…or Miss9’s approximately 4 1/2 year old self with this bad boy wrapped around her:

Coffee shop stop, Bali style.

I yelled to the cafe staff from my spot climbing atop the farthest table at the back, that they were responsible for her, and if shit went down, they had to save her because I. WAS. OUT.


Mstr6 is the worst.  He is the epitome of girly-man scared of anything with 4 legs.  One of my best girlfriends has a gorgeous little dog named Tammy – just screams vicious, child terrorising animal of doom, right?

Hardly.  She plods around the house, kindly allowing us a wide berth in her own territory.  She steers clear of my kids, because dogs are smart and she can’t be arsed with Mstr6’s girly-man-ness any more than I can.

And yet, still, he loses his shit when he sees her.

Miss6 plays it tough but she’s always slightly further away than he is – because she’s smart enough to know that the weak get taken first…

Miss9 is a cat lover and ignores Tammy for their newest family member, Daisy the tortoise shell kitten.  Daisy is all energy, tearing around the living room, and Miss9 loves it.  She shrieks with laughter, ignoring her friends playing outside to be a crazy cat woman in training instead.

It was after a recent visit that I decided we needed a pet.

I valiantly and selflessly declared that I would take one for the team and invite another mouth to be fed, another being to be loved and cared for, into our family.

But only if it was a ginger kitten, because my selflessness has limits.

Yesterday our 10 week old bundle of fur arrived – a total surprise to the kids who had just been whining for a ginger Fur Real Friends kitten they’d seen on TV.

Naturally I took all credit for exceeding their expectations.  #1Hubby rolled his eyes and I offered him a one finger salute in a loving flick of the wrist.

Mstr6 was totally confused.  Was he excited?  Was he shitting himself with  fear that this orange ball of fluff that weighs about as much as his glasses would come for him in his sleep?

Should I really be convincing him this is the brother he’s been asking for, in order to get him to man up and go within 4 feet of the kitten?

Yes, yes I did.  Because I’m fairly confident the potential therapy fees will still be far less than the cost of another child.

First things first, a name….

Here were the initial suggestions:

Donut

Cupcake

Icecream

Milkshake

Chocolate

Marshmallow

I’d just been out for lunch with #1Nana, so I’m guessing either #1Hubby forgot to feed them, or fed them the above list of nutritious items to shut them up while I was out.

A quick word about appropriate names for a boy kitten, and a second round of suggestions:

Chopper (not Chopper II, but exactly the same as its predecessor, who would likely be turning in his garden grave at being so easily replaced with a younger model – totally understandable).

Orange (the neighbours have a ginger cat named Mango, and the kids decided they wanted to call ORANGE AND MANGO).

Puss In Boots

Speedy

Meng (I have no idea…)

And finally, the kicker.  The one that came out of nowhere, and they all loved….

Dave

Yes…DAVE.

For some reason, they had their hearts set on DAVE.

I could just picture myself standing at the front door of an evening, calling for DAVE to come in…and being met by any number of middle aged Aussie blokes named Dave…


And so one final discussion about finding an appropriate name, while #1Hubby Googled pet names and started at A and we all wanted to punch him by the time he got to Anastasia.

Finally, Mstr6 emerged from the toy room where he had been watching the Penguins of Madagascar, and announced very matter-of-factly…Rico.

Now, ignoring the fact that Rico is a penguin, it just worked.

And so, without any further painful ado, I present to you Rico :

The latest love of my life (you had your chance, George), and current front runner for all of my jewellery when my time comes.

All of the cute.

I can’t stop myself cuddling this tiny little ball of cuteness, while whispering in his ear “My precious…”.

Fingers crossed Mstr6 comes out of his room / down from the lounge and makes nice with his little bro some time before his 21st birthday.

I am now going to start researching how to create catchy cat videos and various witty meme’s so that I can branch out from blogging….

Once I have harvested a kidney to pay for the little darling and its associated bloody expensive bits and pieces and fancy arsed kitty food that costs more than what I spend on meals for the rest of the family….