>Ah, the magical fifteenth.

>I read Nina’s post at Mid-Century Moms and thought how sadly common it has become for teens and young adults not to read. My teen reads for pleasure, but my college student doesn’t read unless it’s online. This struck a chord with me because I informally joined Melanie of The Refrigerator Door in her quest to spread the book-buying habit. Those interested in being a part of this project have a simple job: buy, then read, then review. Reviews and new titles are usually posted on the 15th of every month.

October’s calendar was spilling over with commitments, so it’s amazing that I even had time to pick a book off a store shelf and plop it on the checkout counter. Somehow, I managed to pick up three. I finished one and started the others.

I bought Nicholas Evans’ The Divide because I enjoyed his other works so, so much. This book was shorter than the others, but every bit as dramatic and intense. It was haunting. Powerful. It’ll stay on my shelf for future rereads.
I also bought Amerithrax: the story of the Anthrax killer. It’s a heavy read at times because of the scientific detail, but that’s also what makes it fascinating. I haven’t finished it. I might have to wait until a break or even next summer to really devote some time and thought to it.
I’ve started Seabiscuit, too. I saw the movie, and when I see a movie based on a book, I usually like the books better. So far, so good. It sits on the table next to my rocking chair, and I’ve been reading at a relaxed pace when I can.

I’ll find time to visit another bookstore soon. Amigo wants a Carrie Underwood or Taylor Swift CD, and I think they’ll have that in another dept. He and I can make it a team visit. I’ll post my new reading material titles as soon as I buy them. Oh, and family? Books always work for my birthday…hint…hint….

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>I’ve got daisies….in green pastures….

>I’ve been humming “I’ve Got Rhythm” ever since Amigo and I went to his high school’s production of Crazy for You. Now I have even more reason — reasons, really — to sing my own songs and blow my own horn!

Glennia of The Silent I has given me the Nice Blogger award and compounded it with a Rockin’ Blogger award, too! When I stopped over to visit her yesterday, she had a post up about rockin’ liberals. Oh, she’s my kind of blogger! Thanks, Glennia, I think we share some political leanings as well as enjoying each other’s family-related posts.
Update: Nicole from Not Just a Working Mom and Silicon Valley Moms also offered me a Nice Matters Award! I feel like I’m swimming in pink, and I should be blushing!

MammaCheryl, another Wisconsin blogger, posts on Red Pens and Diapers. She thought I should participate in a great meme from BlogHer. It’s short and simple and doesn’t require any html, so I thought I’d go right ahead!

1.) State the name of your blog, your online name, and link to your “about me” page.
Hello, BlogHer fans and others. My blogging name is Daisy, my blog is Compost Happens. I also post poetry at A Mother’s Garden of Verses and contribute to Mid-Century Modern Moms. My profile/ about me page is here.

2.) Say you want to be profiled on BlogHer as a family blogger and link back to (this post).
Okay, this is easy. Nordette, come on over, I’d like to be profiled as a family blogger! Really. I’ll sit down at the computer and talk to you, now that it’s too cold to garden. 🙂

3.) Tell how long you’ve been blogging.
I’ve been blogging since June 2006. It started as cheap therapy, and became an enjoyable outlet and connection to a whole new world with a whole new network of people.

4.) Pass this meme on to three other bloggers that you think should be profiled/interviewed.
The hard part of this one is limiting my choices to three! I read and enjoy so many.

I’d like to read in-depth interviews with Farmgirl Susan; Boogiemum; and for a Dad, how about Joe from Club 166? His son had the cutest Halloween costume ever.

Celebrate! I expect to register my 15,000th hit any day now. I hope some of you will take off your coats and stay a while. I have tomatoes ripening on the windowsill, and the coffeepot’s always on.

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>Three, no, four reasons why I’m glad my kids are too old for toys

>1. Dora with lead paint
2. Diego with lead paint.
3. SpongeBob Squarepants notebooks with traces of lead.
4. Winnie the Pooh, Thomas the Tank Engine, and who knows what else? — all contain lead.

I could go on, but what’s the point?

It’s the stuff of which late night jokes are made, when their writers are working, that is. Who would believe the sheer number of new recalls in the last six to twelve months? It’s been unbelievable. Simply unreal. No one can blame it on terrorism, either. At least no one at the White House has tried…yet.

My children are no longer children, thank goodness, so I didn’t have to find a way to explain why their favorite toys had to come out of the toy box or their favorite new notebook was better off under the sea. Mine are 15 and 20, and their holiday needs are, well, different from the wish lists of their younger cousins.

So in the spirit of the Twelve Days of Safe Shopping, here are twelve ways I’m considering to help get the lead out of our family’s holiday.

1. Read the boxes. The bags. The packaging.
2. Look for those magic words “non-toxic” on the label.
3. Watch the news.
4. Look for water soluble paints and dyes. Lead isn’t.
5. Give homemade gifts to family and close friends.
6. Know your sources (like Dale and Thomas Popcorn: Mmm. Fresh.)
7. Buy music. Support artists and musicians making their living.
8. Buy clothes.
9. Look for country of origin, buying closer to home whenever possible.
10. Buy fair trade.
11. Buy from local craft fairs and farmer’s markets.
12. Stop buying toys (I can do that; my “kids” are older).

I didn’t need to clean out a toy box with each new recall, but I did wonder about families who did. It had to be difficult to handle with children to young to understand the dangers.
Many sites can give you up to date information on recalls. Try these.
The League of Maternal Justice
Consumer’s Union (Not in My Cart! is their mantra.)
Consumer’s Union’s blog
And finally, if you’d like to join Consumers’ Union in making a difference, check this site, their Safe Shopper movement.
Parent Bloggers Network is chronicling many bloggers who are addressing this topic in today’s blog blast. Find them here.

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>Sing it with me: It’s a small world after all —

>Blogging has expanded my worlds, er, world in ways I never expected. I started blogging as inexpensive therapy. As I surfed through other blogs, I developed networks of acquaintances and (dare I say it?) new friends. One of the great things about blogging and reading blogs is the networking. I’ve discovered so many people with whom I share so much.
Other parents of teens.
Other parents of college kids.
Working moms with many different experiences.
Parents of children with autism and Asperger’s. (Too many to link!)
Other teachers.
Other gardeners.
Other coffee lovers.
Other Green Bay Packer fans (Okay, maybe not, but I know they’re out there!)
Other women of my age (and not) with the same sense of humor. (Again, too many to link, snicker)

I took a leap, despite my relatively low readership, and added BlogHer ads. This network has the added advantage of seeing links to other enjoyable blog posts and discovering more favorites.
Well, a few days ago, I got an email from a favorite local coffee drive-through kiosk. Upon seeing my post mentioning their lovely beverages, they offered me a sweatshirt for the positive word-of-mouth PR. Word of keyboard? Well, customer relations. I will wear it with pride! My coffee-fiend friends will be jealous.
Today I received more good news. My blog blast post about our LoveSac Rocker and its wonderfully funny warning tag won honorable mention from the Parent Bloggers Network. Fun! Now I like the rocker even more.

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>Are you sneaking snacks from your child’s Halloween candy?

>

Halloween Candy Quiz
(courtesy of the Wellness Coordinator at my place of employment)

Which of the mini version is lowest in calories & fat — Milky Way, 3 Musketeers or Snickers?

Answer: 3 Musketeers has 24 cal. & less than 1 g. of fat/mini, Milky Way has 38 cal. & 1.6g of fat/mini & Snickers has 42.5 cal. & 2.25g of fat/mini.

Which has fewer calories — 2 Twix Fun Size or 1 Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup?

Answer: 2 Twix Fun Size has 80 cal./cookie, so 2 Twix bars have 160 cal. One little Peanut Butter Cup has 180 cal. – 11g. total fat; 3.5g.. saturated fat!

Which is highest in calories & saturated fat — Mounds, Almond Joy or 2 packs of Fun-size M&Ms?

Answer: Almond Joy & Mounds tie for highest calories at 200cal. each. The 2 packs of Fun-size M&Ms has 180 cal. Mounds and Almond Joy also tie for highest in sat. fat with 8g/serving which is more fattening than a Quarter Pounder at 7g. of sat. fat. Who knew! The 2 packs of M&Ms also has 8g. total fat with 5of those grams being sat. fat.

Which has more calories 5 mini Kit-Kats or 35 pieces of Candy Corn?

Answer: 35 pieces of Candy Corn have 12 more calories than 5 mini Kit-Kat bars. One Candy Corn = 6.36 calories each. But the Kit-Kats have 8g of sat. fat/serving.

Which has more calories — 20 peanut M&Ms or 7 Hershey Kisses?

Answer: Each Hershey Kiss has 22 calories each, so 7 kisses add up to 155 total calories. 20 Peanut M&Ms has 220 calories. However, the peanut M&Ms have a little more nutritional value with 4g of protein and less sat. fat.

And then she adds this disclaimer: “Remember that one occasional mini candy is always an okay treat. Occasionally is the key!”

All I know is that they all taste better with a cup of good coffee on the side.

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>Outstanding Cranberry Muffins

>Ah, a perfect fall day. Leaves raked to the curb, a chill in the air, Packer football on the television, and the clocks set back for an extra hour of sleep. This calls for a fire in the fireplace and home baked goodies.

I pulled a bag of cranberries out of the freezer to make these. Buy the fresh cranberries between now and Thanksgiving and freeze them; they’re a little hard to come by out of season.

1 1/4 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
2 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon grated orange peel
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons canola oil
3/4 cup sugar
2 large eggs or 1/2 cup egg substitute
2/3 cup orange juice
3/4 cup chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Prepare 12 muffin cups with nonstick cooking spray.
Place the cranberries and walnuts in a food processor or blender and pulse until chopped. Set aside.
In a medium bowl, mix flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and orange peel. Set aside.
In small saucepan, combine the butter and oil and heat until the butter melts. Stir in sugar. (Note: sugar will not dissolve.)
In a large bowl, stir together the eggs and orange juice. Stir in the sugar-butter-oil mixture, then add the dry ingredients and mix until just moistened. Stir in the cranberries and walnuts.
Fill the muffin cups until almost full. Bake for 18 — 20 minutes or until muffins and golden brown. Test for doneness with a toothpick.

Serve warm with a mug of steaming coffee next to a roaring fire in the fireplace. Okay, the coffee is optional, and they’ll still taste good without a fireplace by your side. But really, these are not just for Thanksgiving Day breakfast!

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>Just a note… a personal, handwritten note

>Note writing is not, repeat, not, a lost art. I have a file of nice notes from parents in my file cabinet at work. That file is separate from the encouraging notes from coworkers. Despite the numerous emails I send and receive each day, I still keep a box of notecards in my desk drawer at home and at school.
When I saw Just Being Notesy personalized notecards from The Wooden Porch, I had to pass on the offer. Who says you can’t mix old and new? She uses new technology to make something personal and unique. If you order, be sure to mention you heard it here. The maker of Notesy wants to know where her referrals come from.

Enjoy! Click here to find Just Being Notesy.

notesy long banner

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>The Post Holiday Letdown

>

My school is one of the few that still allows kids to dress for Halloween. We call it Storybook Character Day, and we encourage students and staff to dress up. I have a Bah, Humbug! attitude toward Halloween costumes and lost learning time, but they talked me into it. I dressed as (did anyone guess this?) Minerva McGonagall from the Harry Potter series. With a simple black cape ($12 from Lillian Vernon), my hair in a bun, my reading glasses on my nose, and a name sticker that proclaimed, “Hello, my name is Minerva” I greeted the incoming students at the morning bell.

Down the hall are three very creative teachers. They dressed as a unit in black from head to toe, with….

Oh, a picture is worth a thousand words, or in this case, three. I present to you:

Three Blind Mice.

Extra Costume Credit goes to my darling son, Amigo, who loaned them an old cane so that they could make theirs look authentic.

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