Children's Book Review: The Moon Shines Down

It has been awhile since I've posted, but I have a pretty good excuse for that - my seven week old baby Declan!

That's my little cutie!

Having a tiny baby around makes things a little harder to do. Who knew? I have all these plans for the day, but somehow my day escapes me before I can get any of them done. I'm finally now getting around to posting and I do have a craft project on the way(if I can find the time to complete it). So keep an eye out for that one! 

One thing I have really enjoyed doing with Declan is reading books to him at night. He is only seven weeks old, but he is super alert and already tries to focus on the pictures in front of him! Proud mommy moment ;)! 

One book that he has seemed to take a liking to is The Moon Shines Down by Margaret Wise Brown. 

This book actually has an interesting back story. The author of this book also wrote the beloved children's book, Goodnight Moon. After her death, the manuscript for this book was found in an old trunk that she owned. It had never been published. After reading through it, they decided to publish it with some pages added by a children's book publisher, Laura Minchew. The finished product is beautiful.

The story takes the reader across the world and shows how the moon shines on all the children around the world and how God blesses each of these children in each country. The pictures are beautifully illustrated and really capture the beauty of the countries. I also like the rhyming throughout the book. I find that it is easier to read children's books to children if there are rhyming patterns because then it almost comes out like a song. It has captured the attention of my little one at least! 

I would highly recommend this book especially for story time at night. With most of the children in the book going to sleep it is an easy lead into your own child's bedtime and it might introduce the concept of the world to your little one. Ultimately it has a nice message of how the moon shines down on all the people in the world equally and God blesses each one. 

7 Quick Takes: Pregnancy Edition

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This is my first time participating in the 7 Quick Takes link up from Conversion Diary, and I'm pretty excited! This edition will be dedicated to some random pregnancy thoughts and observations. Please forgive the lack of photographs!

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I think I'm already over the nesting stage and boy was it short lived! For those who know me, I'm a major procrastinator, so this probably isn't much of a surprise. Or I might just be lazy too. We did some deep cleaning right around Christmas and I was getting really excited about organizing the baby room. Jeremy's parents got us a bookcase with doors on the lower half which helped so so much with storage. Now to just go through the other %75 of baby gear.

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Discovery: When you are short on storage; use your car. Wow, that probably sounds like the worst idea ever! But seriously, when you live in an apartment with two bedrooms, no attic or basement, and suddenly have mounds of baby stuff (that kid already has more than we do!), it's a good place to stick stuff in a pinch. Like when you get two car seats and are too lazy to install them right away- just shove them in the back seat of one car ;)

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Putting on socks and shoes and most other things becomes quite difficult after 33 weeks. Also cutting your toenails. No explanation needed there...

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Suddenly becoming large greatly decreases the options in your closet. On the flip side, choosing outfits becomes way easier since there are only five things in the closet that fit you!

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Make sure you have married a man who lets you snuggle on the couch all night and read an entire book. I finished A Countess Below Stairs by Eva Ibbotson last night. Extra points for the guy who doesn't criticize you for not doing the dishes instead and super bonus points for the one that does them ;)

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My sewing machine arrived today! I had just enough time to pull it out of its box and drool over it. Now to finish all the projects in the four weeks I have left! Wish me luck!

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

Phantom of the Opera

A friend asked me if I wanted to write a review on Phantom of the Opera for her theater blog, check it out here, so I thought I would modify it for cleverknack!

When I was in fourth grade, my parents offered me a ticket to see Phantom of the Opera, and I foolishly turned it down. It soon stopped touring and I feared I would never be able to see it and would have to settle for the mediocre movie version. However, I miraculously (I frequently stalk musical productions) found out a 25th anniversary tour was happening and that it was going to be in Minneapolis! Easily worth the five and half hour drive in the dead of winter. By the way, you have not experienced cold until you’ve been to Minnesota in December. FROZEN.

Pictured below: A phreezing Phantom photo!

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the story line, the musical follows a chorus girl, Christine Daae, and the phantom's obsessive love of her, which is manifested through terror on the opera house. In contrast with the more “pop" style that is seen in musicals these days, e.g. Wicked, Once, Rent, etc., Phantom is obviously operatic, and has a rock tone to it. It's more famous songs are "Music of the Night," "Think of Me," "All I ask of You," and it's title song, "Phantom of the Opera." I love me all good musicals, but there really is something about the quality of opera (when it is done well), that is absolutely uplifting.

Phantom has always had a stunning and majestic reputation due to it’s spectacle and intense musical scores. Even though the 25th anniversary was a non-replica rendition, it did not disappoint! The show was complete with a falling chandelier, moving and disappearing staircases, colorful costumes, and a hefty amount of pyrotechnics. Nothing was spared, it was truly a majestic performance.

Ultimately, I experienced everything one should during a musical- I was wowed by the spectacle, caught up in the music, fascinated by the idea of a play within a play (thank you, Shakespeare!). Minneapolis was only the second city on the tour, so I give them some room for error. The show had to be stopped mid-performance due to technical difficulties (which is actually really ironic because there is a scene in Phantom when that actually happens as part of the storyline). Also, intermission was prolonged due to more technical problems. I’m not sure if it was the venue or the production, but it did noticeably throw the performance off. In general, the entire flow seemed a little disjointed, but hopefully it gets smoother with time.

The tour has long moved on from Minneapolis and is currently in Chicago, IL if you fancy a trip! It will also be showing in New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and a few other locations. Click here for more information or look up the 25th anniversary performances on Youtube to get a taste of the songs, you won't be disappointed!

WWRW: Children's Book Review -- Breaking Stalin's Nose by Eugene Yelchin

Published: September 27, 2011

Audience: Ages 9-12; Grades 4-7

Awards & Honors: Newbery Honor (2012); ALA Notable Children's Books (2012). 

Genre: Children's Literature, Historical Fiction, Middle Grade

Setting: Soviet Union, 1950s; Kremlin in Moscow, Russia 

Synopsis: Sasha Zaichik has known the laws of the Soviet Young Pioneers since the age of six: The Young Pioneer is devoted to Comrade Stalin, the Communist Party, and Communism. A Young Pioneer is a reliable comrade and always acts according to conscience. A Young Pioneer has a right to criticize shortcomings.  But now that it is time to finally join the Young Pioneers, the day Sasha has waited for so long, everything seems to go awry. He breaks a classmate's glasses with a snowball.  He accidentally damages a bust of Stalin in the school hallway. And worst of all, his father, the best Communist he knows, was arrested last night. 

This moving story of a ten-year-old's boy world shattering is masterful in it's simplicity, powerful in its message, and heartbreaking in its plausibility. 

(synopsis as seen on goodreads.com) 

My Rating: 5/5 Stars 

My thoughts: This book was fantastically written and the illustrations are a wonderful touch to this short children's novel on Stalin's reign in Communist Russia. Loosely based on the author's life, this story paints a very realistic picture of what the Russian people's lives were like ruled under Stalin's iron fist. 

I think what's so memorable about this book is seeing the effects of tyranny through the eyes of a child. Sasha is so innocent, believing in his world that Stalin is a "father for all" and it's saddening to watch everything this child believes come crashing down before his very eyes.  The fears expressed are very genuine and convincing for the character's age, and it seems to me that many young children could relate, perhaps not specifically to the Sasha's situation, but in dealing with fears such as his. 

Delicious Butternut Squash Soup

Disclaimer: I wrote this post about two months ago, so the commentary is out of date, but the recipe is still good!

So I have about three or four recipes that I've put on a list to share on the blog, and they've sat there for about two months! However, one of them I just have to get on here now before fall is over. It's a little time consuming, but you can make lots, freeze some, or just eat it all week!

Butternut Squash Granny Smith Bisque

Ingredients:
2 Medium butternut squash
1 Vidalia onion or sweet onion
1 carrot or handful of baby carrots
1 large granny smith apple
3 cups of chicken or vegetable broth
1 cup apple cider
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
2 tblspn maple syrup
2 tblspn butter
1/4- 1/2 cup of heavy cream
1 tblspn apple cider vinegar

How To:

1. Peel squash and chop up into cubes. Discard "guts". Put in large pot, cover with water by 1 in. and boil for 20 minutes or until soft. Drain water and mash.

2. Dice apple, onion, and carrot. Saute in soup pot with butter for about 3-5 minutes. Dump into large pot with squash. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add cinnamon, nutmeg, syrup, vinegar, and cider. Saute in large pot for a couple minutes.

3. Bring pot to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.

4. Use blender to puree until smooth.

5. If you are going to freeze some of the soup, take out what you want to freeze now.

6. Return your puree to low heat and add heavy cream.

Enjoy!

Note: if you want to use this for a meatless Friday or just vegetarian, make sure you use the vegetable broth instead of chicken.

Delightful Drinks

Happy New Year!
Is it just me or does it seem that everyone is hating on 2013, but completely assured that 2014 is going to be the best year yet? That is just the sense I've gotten from Facebook. I have my own theories on superstitions of how good/bad a year is going to be. 1) Even numbered years are always better than odd and 2) A bad New Year's Eve results in a good year.
Now, my NYE wasn't necessarily bad or good. The highlights are as follows: 1) I had a major allergic reaction due to a cat and dog being at the house I was at 2) I signed up for a half marathon at midnight (yay!) and 3) We made some delicious drinks- recipes to follow after this funny picture of a swaddled cat.

I'm not sure how popular Moscow Mules are in other cities, but in Omaha they are pretty much the hottest (hottest as in trendy terms, not temperature terms) drink around. I assume this is due to the rise in the hipster culture because it seems to have been dubbed as a hipster drink.  In case you are unaware, it is basically ginger beer, vodka, lime juice and a lime garnish. It's signature trademark is that it is served in a copper mug. It is light, refreshing, and flavorful without being too sweet (or bitter or sour or dry, etc.). 

My cousin made the drinks for us (and she happens to own copper mugs, which is essential for any hipster host), but I looked up the recipe and it is as follows: 

Moscow Mule: 

2 oz. vodka 

1 oz. lime juice

8 oz. ginger beer 

garnish with lime 

As is standard, even for the hipsters, champagne was served at midnight. A trick I use to jazz up our champagne is to put some berries in it. Last year I tried raspberries, but this year I went with the blackberries (mostly because the raspberries were $4.00 and the blackberries were only .99 cents). It is simple and easy to add the berries in. First, crush the berries in a bowl, then spoon them into the glasses, pour the champagne in, and make a toast! 

Voila! Your champagne is pretty, unique, and even more tasty! 

And there you have it. Two drinks to add to your hostess with the mostest repertoire.  Cheers to 2014!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to you all! I love the feeling of a fresh start and taking time to reflect on all the past year's joys, blessings, and even trials. However, this also brings up the inevitable "R" word. Resolutions.

I'm terrible at them. I half heartedly think up about ten of them, but never put much effort into keeping them because they usually all just fall apart within the first week... or day. This year I'd like to take a slightly different approach, and I gained inspiration and encouragement from my dear friend's blog post today, "Hopes, goals and resolutions".

This year I'm going to make realistic goals. And, to everyone else they may seem a bit small, but with the baby coming along, I'm figuring a lot will be changing. I could start the year out resolving to wash all the dishes every single darn day (we don't have a dishwasher), sew dozens of cool projects, and keep the house immaculate. Those sound like nice resolutions, but they probably won't happen and will it all make me happy? When I don't keep the resolutions, I'll probably just feel depressed, or if by some miracle I did keep them, I'd probably still be miserable because I'd be exhausted.

I want to set goals that put God and my family first. For example, waking up and saying a few prayers right away to get the day started. Or saying a decade or two of the rosary while nursing. I know I'll have the time for these things and it will only help me love and serve my family better.

Don't worry, I'm still going to try really hard finishing all the housework, but I encourage you to set goals for yourself or resolutions that will help you truly live your life better during the time God has blessed us here on Earth. I promise you won't be disappointed with your results ;)