media, culture and girls

I live in my testosterone dominant household, so while this article doesn't directly apply to my life, I found it thought-provoking. And my boys interact with girls, and may one day marry one or father one, and at the very least befriend and/or work with women, and so maybe it does apply to me, and I think the topics and conversations raised should be pondered by all.

"Little Girls Gone Wild" in Redbook (is it on or in when it's an online version of a paper magazine?), which I saw linked on Simple Mom.

Valentine's Day on the Horizon

Inspired by Elizabeth Foss's post and instructions, I made the Valentine Dots that I mentioned a few days ago. We're not white chocolate fans, and milk chocolate kisses were all I had on hand, so our dots don't have the variety Elizabeth's batch did.

It was fun, and again, what's not to love about pretzels and chocolate. And thanks to my friend Susan, I got my first valentine card, with adorable beagles, and a temporary tattoo to boot.

Another cold chilly day

We're sitting by this

reading this

Seems like the perfect thing to be doing today.

Snow day photos

Who'd have thought we'd have snow two winters in a row? The boys made the most of it. Credit for the snowman goes to our next door neighbors.

Wanderings on the Web

My camera had gone AWOL for a couple of weeks, but now that it's returned, I have every intention of getting back to regular posting. Summary post with accompanying photos coming soon.

I've had my new to me and first ever laptop for about two months now, and it's either the best thing since sliced bread or destined to be my downfall and largely responsible for the borderline neglect of my children. Either way, it's really exciting to be sitting in a comfy chair by the fire, and "wandering" around online. Here are some things that I've stumbled upon lately and find interesting/thought-provoking/amusing:

• One Dress Protest
• Hugh Jackman eating 6000 calories a day. One would think I was trying to become the Wolverine, judging from my snack habits the last couple of days.
• Daryl Hall has an online web show. Reliving 1986, although Daryl looks older.
• Chocolate Pretzel Tart. It's the sophisticated version of balancing your M&Ms on the twisty pretzels
• Valentine Dots I obviously really like pretzels and chocolate.
• $100 rule
• Working out in nature. This appeals to me from my fireside perch.
• Fibershed Challenge

So many creative people out there doing and eating and thinking about so many interesting things.

{this moment}

{this moment} - "A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember." See Soulemama

Author Dick King-Smith

Sorry to hear of the passing of author Dick King-Smith. The boys have enjoyed many of his books, and I've found them especially appropriate for that transitional stage with a reader who is strong, but not quite ready for long, intimidating chapter books. A homeschooling friend of mine first suggested his books when Bike Monkey was about 7 or 8, and we've been enriched by his work.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/jan/05/dick-king-smith-obituary

While The Sheep-Pig which became Babe is his most famous book, my boys really enjoyed The Water Horse and A Mouse Called Wolf.