Maybe we're paranoid but...

We've had a few random and quite frankly wierd people comment on our Flickr pics. As a result, I've made them all private - you can still view them, but you'll either need to be listed as a friend in Flickr, or follow this link.

I'm so happy...

Thank you to my family for the totally AWESOME birthday gift. I love it. I have no idea how to use it, but I love it.

I need to take a lesson from Lauren perhaps...

Goldfish Photos

Josh's underwater photos from Goldfish Swim School are finally online - check them out!

Another stand-up citizen

So rumor has it that King Kwame's new Chief of Staff is fantastic. He's male, so that eliminates one temptation...(unless in addition to being a philanderer, Kwame's also on the down-low).

The new guy does however, owe the city $9k in back-taxes. Seriously, people - is it so hard to find a decent taxpaying citizen to work for the city? Come on, now.

Detroit listed as No. 2 In 7 Deserted Wonders of Modern World

In a recent WebUrbanist posting Detroit was featured as an deserted wonder of the modern world. They observed that "People tend to think that all urban areas grow over time, but Detroit provides a striking counterexample." A fairly prescient observation, this immediately causes a knee jerk reaction defending Detroit, saying the suburbs represent a vital community. Yet, really, it's true. Perhaps if King Kuame was more concerned about fulfilling his promises to rebuild the city than texting his thang, the city would be in a better position.

Then again, perhaps not... This is after all Detroit.

Caffeine & miscarriage

By now, pretty much everyone has heard about the new AJOG study linking caffeine to a significantly increased miscarriage rate. But also this month, a study in the Journal of Epidemiology showed no link between miscarriage & caffeine. So what should you believe?

I'm inclined to always err on the side of caution. It can't hurt to consume less caffeine - well, maybe a little. I know I'm quite fond of my Cafe Americano...but given the alternative, it's seems like an easy choice.

So if you're aiming for 200mg of caffeine per day, how does that translate? You could have around 5 cans of Diet Coke, but barely half of a tall Starbucks coffee. And I could comfortably have my beloved Americanos...visit this caffeine database for a comprehensive list.

When I was pregnant with Josh, I tried to limit myself to one caffeinated soda a day (Diet Mt. Dew - 55mg). If I was totally wiped out, I felt like I could comfortably have a second one and still be well below the 200mg threshold. And if I could survive on limited caffeine intake, believe me - anyone can. Except maybe Nate - I shudder to imagine him decaffeinated. Not a pretty picture.

Baby Loves Disco

Eden Nightclub in Ferndale offers monthly afternoon disco parties for children ages 6 months - 7 years. In addition to the DJ, they have bubble machines, healthy snacks & adult cocktails. How can you pass it up?

The next two are on February 16 & March 15 from 1-4 PM. Cost is $12. I think we're going to go - let me know if you're interested.

Update - I emailed them to clarify the price. Here's the email I received:

Sarah,

Thank you for your email. Yes, adults have to purchase tickets for themselves as well as their children. Babies that are non-walkers are the only ones that do not require a ticket. The $12 included admission, use of our dance props such as egg shakers, scarves, hula hoops and enjoyment of the ever-popular bubble machine. The DJ will be playing 70s and 80s music including favorite dances like the hustle, Cha Cha slide, YMCA, etc.

Also included is a whole array of healthy snacks for children and parents. There will be a cash bar serving alcoholic beverages for the non-driving parents. We also have a Chill-Out area where your child can look at books, and play with toys and puzzles. We also provide diaper-changing stations. We are planning on having raffles, giveaways, and other kid-oriented activities to be determined.

We are very excited to be bringing this awesome event to Detroit. If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask!

Thank you for your interest in Baby Loves Disco!

Podfitness

Have you heard of Podfitness? It's very, very cool. They offer personalized biking/walking/running/etc. workouts that mix in your own music. If you use this link, you can sign up for a free 8-week trial.

Still cooking...

Since I last posted about Deceptively Delicious, I've pureed a few more vegetables (cauliflower & squash - nothing quite so vile as the broccoli) and cooked a few more meals. Here are my impressions:

• Spaghetti Bake - frankly, this baked spaghetti pie has a lot of potential but didn't come off too well. For one thing, I would substitute jarred spaghetti sauce next time (I like TJ's garlic marinara). I think it needs the flavor. And secondly, green meatballs (thanks to my beloved broccoli puree) are just weird. I think if you have a child that won't eat broccoli, it might be helpful. Mine does eat it, so I think it would be better to leave it OUT of the meatballs and mix the florets in the sauce. All in all, a lot of effort for something not too fabulous. Next time I think I'll just make plain old spaghetti.
• Meatloaf - Even with carrot puree hidden in it, and celery/onions added, this was a total hit with both Nate & Josh. I didn't love it, but I never love meatloaf so that doesn't say much. We used bottled Trader Joe's spaghetti sauce on top and that was great.
  
• Mashed Potatoes - These were great. You could taste the cauliflower in it, but it was really, really good. Josh fake gagged and refused to eat it. We've had potato issues ever since my mom made sweet potato casserole - he actually threw that up @ the table. Not cool. Now he's on a potato strike.
  

Still a few more to make, including the mac & cheese. I'm making that for my super-picky 13 year old nephew tonight, so we shall see...

I am an...

***Here is my report if you want to read it***