Navel oranges are seedless and are grown by grafting, not planting. The first navel orange trees in the United States grew in Riverside, CA. You can still visit them. Any navel orange you've ever had that was grown in the US came from one of those two trees.
Cuties are a brand name and not a variety. Cuties brand actually sells several different varieties of mandarins. The varieties differ mainly on when they are ripe, so Cuties brand can sell mandarins for a longer portion of the year.
Citrus picked fresh off the tree is amazing. Our guided tour allowed us to eat lemons, citrons, and two varieties of mandarins right off the tree. After eating one of the mandarins, Bonnie said to me, "Can you ask that guy if I can have another one of those. It was really good." The guide gave us several to take home. Bonnie ate them all, except for one I made her share with her friend.
We also learned that citrus trees can be grown in pots. This is great news for us renters! Citrus tree here we come!
Thursday, November 13, 2014
Friday, November 7, 2014
On WIC: It's a really great program
Starting with the layoff about 3 years ago, we've been on and off WIC. We were living on unemployment and qualified. (We made too much money on unemployment to qualify for food stamps, which still baffles me.) Then I got a job and as my pay went up or my hours went down or my pay went up again or we got pregnant we did and didn't and then did qualify for WIC again. Now with Blake's new job and the raise I got when I got licensed, I'm fairly certain we'll be saying goodbye to WIC for good.
When we first got on it, they had us come in to the office and watch an explanatory video about the WIC program, how to use the checks, and which foods did and did not qualify. We laughed that all the people in the video, who were real WIC participants, said, "It's a really great program!" After our first shopping trip with WIC, we laughed again because we said to each other completely seriously, "this is a really great program!" Especially in those early months when our baby was just eating cereal and pureed foods, her entire diet except for breast milk came from WIC. It was such a relief as we were unemployed/underemployed for those months to know that she was taken care of. We could cut back and cheap out on our own expenses, especially food, but we never had to make that choice for our child. I'm still tearing up a little thinking about it. Thank you, WIC, thank you.
Being on WIC has forever (we hope) changed the way we buy and eat food. Now that we're making a little more money and could afford to, we can't imagine going back to the way we used to eat. WIC changed our eating habits in three important ways: beans, produce, and meat.
Beans. Neither of us had ever cooked with dry beans before and now we were getting 1-2 pounds of dry beans every month. We needed to figure out how to use them. A google search led me to a post about cooking dry beans in the crockpot from Budget Bytes. Crockpot is easy; we could do that! Now we could cook the beans and needed to find recipes that used beans. Again, Budget Bytes. We love Budget Bytes! (We considered that an added benefit to the name we chose for baby 2 is that she's Beth M.) The fabulous Beth M at Budget Bytes blog provides tasty recipes that are economical and usually pretty quick. We haven't tried every recipe on there but also haven't yet found one we hated.
Produce. WIC gives a set amount of money to spend on fresh fruits and vegetables: $6, $8, or $10. Knowing we had a set amount, we watched grocery mailers closely to see who had the best prices. We wanted to get the most food possible for our $6 or $10. The mexican markets always came in the cheapest: El Super, Superior Grocers, Maxi Foods, El Tapatio Markets are the ones we've frequented. We routinely find produce there for half of what we could buy it for at other discount grocers (Food4Less or WinCo). You might be surprised just how much produce you can get for $10 when everything is less than $1/lb. Sometimes we get things as cheaply as 7lbs/$.99. Seriously. So, we eat and cook with a lot more fresh fruits and vegetables than we used to.
Meat. More beans and more produce had meant less meat. Meat is also often the most expensive ingredient, so cutting it out entirely or reducing the amount so it's more like a garnish and less like the meal is more economical. And you know, we don't really miss it.
The consequence of all of this is that I eat a lot healthier now and feel a lot better. I haven't had trouble maintaining the weight loss I got from running even after I stopped running because I eat well. I can't imagine giving that up because we make more money now. Another great benefit is that our food is delicious! We really like the food we make. I was known at my office for having fantastic lunches. Several coworkers routinely checked in when I was in the breakroom to see what I'd brought for lunch. One even asked if he could pay me some money every week and have me just bring him lunch.
I love WIC! It's a really great program!
When we first got on it, they had us come in to the office and watch an explanatory video about the WIC program, how to use the checks, and which foods did and did not qualify. We laughed that all the people in the video, who were real WIC participants, said, "It's a really great program!" After our first shopping trip with WIC, we laughed again because we said to each other completely seriously, "this is a really great program!" Especially in those early months when our baby was just eating cereal and pureed foods, her entire diet except for breast milk came from WIC. It was such a relief as we were unemployed/underemployed for those months to know that she was taken care of. We could cut back and cheap out on our own expenses, especially food, but we never had to make that choice for our child. I'm still tearing up a little thinking about it. Thank you, WIC, thank you.
Being on WIC has forever (we hope) changed the way we buy and eat food. Now that we're making a little more money and could afford to, we can't imagine going back to the way we used to eat. WIC changed our eating habits in three important ways: beans, produce, and meat.
Beans. Neither of us had ever cooked with dry beans before and now we were getting 1-2 pounds of dry beans every month. We needed to figure out how to use them. A google search led me to a post about cooking dry beans in the crockpot from Budget Bytes. Crockpot is easy; we could do that! Now we could cook the beans and needed to find recipes that used beans. Again, Budget Bytes. We love Budget Bytes! (We considered that an added benefit to the name we chose for baby 2 is that she's Beth M.) The fabulous Beth M at Budget Bytes blog provides tasty recipes that are economical and usually pretty quick. We haven't tried every recipe on there but also haven't yet found one we hated.
Produce. WIC gives a set amount of money to spend on fresh fruits and vegetables: $6, $8, or $10. Knowing we had a set amount, we watched grocery mailers closely to see who had the best prices. We wanted to get the most food possible for our $6 or $10. The mexican markets always came in the cheapest: El Super, Superior Grocers, Maxi Foods, El Tapatio Markets are the ones we've frequented. We routinely find produce there for half of what we could buy it for at other discount grocers (Food4Less or WinCo). You might be surprised just how much produce you can get for $10 when everything is less than $1/lb. Sometimes we get things as cheaply as 7lbs/$.99. Seriously. So, we eat and cook with a lot more fresh fruits and vegetables than we used to.
Meat. More beans and more produce had meant less meat. Meat is also often the most expensive ingredient, so cutting it out entirely or reducing the amount so it's more like a garnish and less like the meal is more economical. And you know, we don't really miss it.
The consequence of all of this is that I eat a lot healthier now and feel a lot better. I haven't had trouble maintaining the weight loss I got from running even after I stopped running because I eat well. I can't imagine giving that up because we make more money now. Another great benefit is that our food is delicious! We really like the food we make. I was known at my office for having fantastic lunches. Several coworkers routinely checked in when I was in the breakroom to see what I'd brought for lunch. One even asked if he could pay me some money every week and have me just bring him lunch.
I love WIC! It's a really great program!
Monday, October 27, 2014
On Sisters
Baby girl #2 is here. She's not quite 3 weeks old yet. Juggling two kids is challenging. I don't have a ton of time to write or edit thoughtful posts, though I still think many thoughts.
Today I'm thinking about sisters. I'm so glad that my daughters will have a sister. I think I've written here before about siblings, still I will repeat that I wished I had a sister I was close with. I have a cousin who is as close to me as she could be without actually being my sister. I have a sister but we weren't raised together and are barely more than strangers now. I'm envious of my friends and family members who have close, loving, fun, supportive relationships with their sisters.
I think on some level every parent wants to give their children what they didn't have, to make up for what they felt they were missing in their childhood. I am so happy my girls each have a sister.
Today I'm thinking about sisters. I'm so glad that my daughters will have a sister. I think I've written here before about siblings, still I will repeat that I wished I had a sister I was close with. I have a cousin who is as close to me as she could be without actually being my sister. I have a sister but we weren't raised together and are barely more than strangers now. I'm envious of my friends and family members who have close, loving, fun, supportive relationships with their sisters.
I think on some level every parent wants to give their children what they didn't have, to make up for what they felt they were missing in their childhood. I am so happy my girls each have a sister.
Monday, September 22, 2014
On the benefits of being a therapist: Living without judgment
In a recent clinical supervision meeting, we were discussing the importance of being direct with our clients, discussing openly and honestly the reality of what is happening in their lives and families, not holding back our true opinions (which is these situations are expert opinions) out of fear of offending or hurting them. We don't do them any favors if we withhold important information. We can do this without being judgmental, meaning we don't think less of them or blame them for their problems or shame them for having these problems. Talking honestly, openly, and directly is not the same thing as being judgmental.
This realization about what is and is not being judgmental has gradually dawned on me over the past few years and finally crystallized into words in the meeting I described above. Living this way is incredibly freeing. I don't have the decide if something or someone is good or bad, righteous or wicked, at fault or not. It just is what it is. Living without judgment also means living without blame. I love it!
To be sure there is some benefit to me letting myself live without judgement of myself, being less critical of myself, not worrying quite so much what other people think of me. The most surprising thing, though, has been how freeing it feels to live without the burden of needing to make judgments about others. Other people can do and be and choose whatever they want, and I get to do and be and choose whatever I want.
This realization about what is and is not being judgmental has gradually dawned on me over the past few years and finally crystallized into words in the meeting I described above. Living this way is incredibly freeing. I don't have the decide if something or someone is good or bad, righteous or wicked, at fault or not. It just is what it is. Living without judgment also means living without blame. I love it!
To be sure there is some benefit to me letting myself live without judgement of myself, being less critical of myself, not worrying quite so much what other people think of me. The most surprising thing, though, has been how freeing it feels to live without the burden of needing to make judgments about others. Other people can do and be and choose whatever they want, and I get to do and be and choose whatever I want.
On the hazards of being a therapist: Noticing things
When you learn something or learn to see something, you can't just unlearn it or unsee it at your convenience. I'm sure members of my family in the film industry notice things about films I never would, even when watching for pleasure. If given the assignment to critique a work of design/marketing, Blake could do a thoughtful and thorough job; I've seen him do it. I've also seen that he notices little design errors, interesting font choices, photoshop flaws, etc. even when he's not trying to.
I notice relationship things. I notice patterns of interacting. I don't try to; I just do. This doesn't mean I spend my time analyzing or criticizing or "therapizing" the people around me. That would be exhausting. I like being able to leave work at work just as much as anyone else. I say noticing these things is a hazard of being a therapist, because it's so personal. It's way more personal for me to notice that one spouse routinely ignores the other than for Blake to notice that there is no organizational hierarchy in the flyer you made. I fear it makes me intimidating to other people and/or difficult to be with.
I can assure you that if I notice things about you, that's as far as it ever goes. I just notice. I rarely share my observations; there's no point. I don't think less of you. I just notice. I can't help it.
I notice relationship things. I notice patterns of interacting. I don't try to; I just do. This doesn't mean I spend my time analyzing or criticizing or "therapizing" the people around me. That would be exhausting. I like being able to leave work at work just as much as anyone else. I say noticing these things is a hazard of being a therapist, because it's so personal. It's way more personal for me to notice that one spouse routinely ignores the other than for Blake to notice that there is no organizational hierarchy in the flyer you made. I fear it makes me intimidating to other people and/or difficult to be with.
I can assure you that if I notice things about you, that's as far as it ever goes. I just notice. I rarely share my observations; there's no point. I don't think less of you. I just notice. I can't help it.
Sunday, September 7, 2014
On the hazards of being a therapist: Becoming introverted
Several years ago I took a class on personality theory. One of the sections talked about research on being introverted v. extroverted. The hypothesis was something like this: we all have need for social interaction and human connection; it seems to take more interaction and connection for extroverts to reach satisfaction than introverts. Once we reach our optimal level of interaction, more can feel overwhelming, taxing, and anxiety provoking. We pull away and need time alone.
If interaction and connection were beverages, an introverted person might desire and be satisfied by a small cup of tea while an extroverted person needs a 5-gallon cooler of gatorade before they feel satisfied. Or, if we skew it the other way, an extroverted person wants a nice tall glass of water, while an introverted person only needs a thimble's worth. The same amount of interaction doesn't work for everyone.
I naturally sway toward the extroverted side. I like being around people and having lots of friends. I tend to be a more-the-merrier kind of person. Having a job where I interact with and connect with people all day long suits me pretty well. Most of the time, I feel energized by my work--my work with the people that is, paperwork is an entirely different story, though I'm good at that too.
The downside is that I'm not near as friendly outside of work as I used to be. My social interaction and human connection water glass is filled or nearly filled at work. Sometimes the effort required to get together or keep in touch with friends seems too much. I find myself wanting a lot more time alone. I was noticing just yesterday when a friend was over that I didn't have too much to say. I was pretty content to let him and Blake talk while I just observed.
To my friends and family: I'm sorry. I miss you. I still care about you. If you invite me to things or contact me, I will come or respond. Sometimes I just don't have it in me to initiate. My maternity leave is starting soon, though. Give me a few days 'alone,' and I'm sure I'll be reaching out. :)
If interaction and connection were beverages, an introverted person might desire and be satisfied by a small cup of tea while an extroverted person needs a 5-gallon cooler of gatorade before they feel satisfied. Or, if we skew it the other way, an extroverted person wants a nice tall glass of water, while an introverted person only needs a thimble's worth. The same amount of interaction doesn't work for everyone.
I naturally sway toward the extroverted side. I like being around people and having lots of friends. I tend to be a more-the-merrier kind of person. Having a job where I interact with and connect with people all day long suits me pretty well. Most of the time, I feel energized by my work--my work with the people that is, paperwork is an entirely different story, though I'm good at that too.
The downside is that I'm not near as friendly outside of work as I used to be. My social interaction and human connection water glass is filled or nearly filled at work. Sometimes the effort required to get together or keep in touch with friends seems too much. I find myself wanting a lot more time alone. I was noticing just yesterday when a friend was over that I didn't have too much to say. I was pretty content to let him and Blake talk while I just observed.
To my friends and family: I'm sorry. I miss you. I still care about you. If you invite me to things or contact me, I will come or respond. Sometimes I just don't have it in me to initiate. My maternity leave is starting soon, though. Give me a few days 'alone,' and I'm sure I'll be reaching out. :)
Monday, September 1, 2014
On Family Vacation Bingo
We were planning a family vacation. Blake and I were really looking forward to it. We were laughing and joking about things we thought would likely happen. I came up with this idea to make a bingo game out of the things we were laughing about. Over the next several months we collected a list of things that were likely to happen when we got so many family members together for several days in a row.
The more we thought about it, the more I loved the idea. Inevitably, there would be time waiting on others. The bingo game might help. Surely there would be small but predictable annoyances; we choose to laugh about them as part of the game instead of getting overly frustrated or embarrassed. There were things like "we will have a hard time choosing where to eat" and "a toilet will get clogged" and "a kid will try to get the grandparents to give them what they want when mom/dad says no." If we were to do this again, we could add "Becca will get grumpy if we don't feed her." We learned from experience on this trip that this is likely to happen again.
As the time for the vacation got closer, we edited our list to be certain that nothing was hurtful or offensive and to make sure everyone was included. I made several varieties of bingo cards so we wouldn't all get bingo at the same time. Bonnie helped us pick out stickers for markers and some treats for the first three winners.
Well, the vacation came and playing the game didn't work out like we had hoped, but not because it was a bad idea. I'm sharing it here because I still think it's a great idea! Feel free to borrow it and enjoy the laughter.
End note: Bonnie was so excited to play bingo. We spent one night playing games, and the next morning she told me "Mommy, I waited and waited and no one picked to play our bingo game." I hated to have to tell her that we weren't going to be playing the bingo game. We compromised by playing together and letting her share the treats we had picked out with everyone.
The more we thought about it, the more I loved the idea. Inevitably, there would be time waiting on others. The bingo game might help. Surely there would be small but predictable annoyances; we choose to laugh about them as part of the game instead of getting overly frustrated or embarrassed. There were things like "we will have a hard time choosing where to eat" and "a toilet will get clogged" and "a kid will try to get the grandparents to give them what they want when mom/dad says no." If we were to do this again, we could add "Becca will get grumpy if we don't feed her." We learned from experience on this trip that this is likely to happen again.
As the time for the vacation got closer, we edited our list to be certain that nothing was hurtful or offensive and to make sure everyone was included. I made several varieties of bingo cards so we wouldn't all get bingo at the same time. Bonnie helped us pick out stickers for markers and some treats for the first three winners.
Well, the vacation came and playing the game didn't work out like we had hoped, but not because it was a bad idea. I'm sharing it here because I still think it's a great idea! Feel free to borrow it and enjoy the laughter.
End note: Bonnie was so excited to play bingo. We spent one night playing games, and the next morning she told me "Mommy, I waited and waited and no one picked to play our bingo game." I hated to have to tell her that we weren't going to be playing the bingo game. We compromised by playing together and letting her share the treats we had picked out with everyone.
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