If you were to come to my house for dinner this week, there's a good chance this is what I'd be serving. We would gather around the big round table on the front deck, and watch the sunset while we dunked crusty bread into the sweet and spicy curry in our bowls... The boys would slurp down their food with some delighted groans, and then ask to be excused so that they could skate the new bowl in front while there was still a bit of light. Nights on the porch with warm food and friends? One of my
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The Great Skate Park Reveal
So far, 2015 is an epic year for the Swanson family.For those of you that have followed my blog for a while...(bless your hearts,) you've heard more than one mention of The Great Skate Park Project.It's been in the works for an eternity. Or at least a year or two. I'm not sure, but it's been a long time. Dave started thinking, and dreaming, and designing a skate bowl for our family, all on his own. I showed somewhere between little-and-no interest, so this was his baby,
Answering the Question: “What Do We Do About Our Boys and Dating?”
So, I am often asked, "What do we do about our boys and dating?" And I'm like, "What!? They're all still three, what are you talking about?" (So, one of my three year-olds is taller than me, what's your point?)But really. I guess I'm pretty lucky/blessed/super relieved to say that so far we haven't had to do much of anything. My oldest is fifteen, and so far it's been pretty smooth sailing. It may not always be that way, but so far the girl-thing just hasn't been much of a
The Key to Achieving and Maintaining your Ideal Body Weight.
If you've followed my health and fitness posts, you probably know that about twelve years ago I made some really big changes in my thinking, which totally changed my life. I left behind a lifestyle of obsessing about food and my body, and found freedom and a healthy weight which I have happily maintained ever since.I talked about it in this Vlog, and then followed up with a bit more detail in this one. And I also opened my big mouth and started talking about writing an ebook on the
The Three Best Fruit Smoothie Recipes
Smoothies are pretty much an every day thing in our house. And not to be braggy, but...we kind of consider ourselves experts on the subject. I had a few smoothie recipes up on my blog back when it was still thegrommom.com, but since my re-launch last summer, I haven't gotten around to posting more. I think the reason why is because there are about a gazillion smoothie recipes available on line (hello Pinterest,) and I figured who really needs more smoothie recipes? But then I thought: Maybe
What Preschoolers Need Most from Their Parents (and a few things they don’t need.)
Since I first shared my "What a Teenage Boy Needs Most from his Mom" post, I began receiving requests for all of the other ages/stages of a kid's life. I've done my best with middle school and elementary kids, and then last week I took a break to cover what us Moms need most...But I've put off the one age group that might be requested more than any other: Preschoolers.And I admit that part of the reason I have put it off is because my current preschooler...Levi...the fourth one I've
Winter Juicing. Hot Ginger Tonic {and more.}
Over this past year, I have become a big fan of juicing. I used to be a pure smoothie person, knowing that using a blender (or my favorite--the vita-mixer) was the best way to keep the fiber and avoid the sugar spike that pure juices can give you. I might have been a bit of a smoothie-snob. But with all of the tropical fruit that we grow, I was striking out on blending some things...and I finally realized that some things are just better juiced! So I've finally found a happy place for both
Blogging in the New Year. My Thoughts…Your Feedback?
You know, it takes me the entire month of January to process the New Year. In fact, am I getting old (don't answer that) or do you agree that we need to slow down all of the holiday madness, and make it last a bit longer?...Here's my idea: Let's move Thanksgiving to mid-October...Then start the Christmas hoopla as soon as Thanksgiving is over. We can take our time. Don't rush Christmas. Then, when Christmas is over, let's give it a good three or four weeks before the New Year. Take down