Family Matters Friday (A Day Early)

This morning as I was rushing about on my way to work I heard an interesting news clip. Right now in Norway 2 of the 5 members of the president’s cabinet are out on paternity leave. Paid paternity leave.

According to Reuters, one of Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg’s “signature issues has been expanding the ‘father quota’ in Norway’s parental leave program, encouraging dads to stay home with their babies for at least 10 weeks at full pay.”

In Norway both parents automatically get two weeks paid leave after the birth of a child. More leave they can split between the two parents.

In Britain, men are entitled to two weeks leave at 90% pay.

Most developed nations, excluding the U.S., have some form of mandated paid parental leave. In the United States we have the Family and Medical Leave Act. FMLA lets new parents take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave to care for a newborn, newly adopted child, or new foster child. The law guarantees you will still have a job when you get back. Employers may require you to take all paid leave before granting a FMLA request. And they can count that time as part of your 12 weeks.

Now, I am basically opposed to more government regulation and intervention. But, if our families and children are truly the cornerstone of our society they should command more importance in our lives and legislation. Many parents in the United States can't or don't take leave for finiancial and social reasons. Consider the following statistics from momsrising.org:

• Having a baby is a leading cause of "poverty spells" in the U.S. -- when income dips below what's needed for basic living expenses.


• In the U.S., 49% of mothers cobble together paid leave following childbirth by using sick days, vacation days, disability leave, and maternity leave.


• 51% of new mothers lack any paid leave -- so some take unpaid leave, some quit, some even lose their jobs.

But wouldn’t mandating paid maternity/paternity leave be too expensive? Especially at a time when everyone is concerned about the federal and state budget deficits? (Not to mention the budget deficits in individual families?)

Blogger Ruth Martin explains the benefits of providing paid leave:

“Studies show that paid family leave after the birth of a child combats poverty, gives children a healthy start, lowers infant mortality by more than 20% and helps lower the wage gap between women and men.

In addition … the U.S. Surgeon General called paid family leave policies important for families and babies’ health – linking the ability of new moms to take paid leave to increased rates of breastfeeding.

Paid family leave isn’t just good for families – it also benefits employers. A recent study of the California Paid Leave program showed that most employers found that the Paid Family Leave had a positive effect on productivity, profitability/performance, turnover and employee morale.”

In addition to financial and health benefits, there is a more elusive, less measurable benefit of allowing parents the ability to be home. There are emotional and spiritual benefits that flow from being able to focus on the love and bonding of the family without the added worry of finances. It is our responsibility to do what we can to allow parents and children more time together.

Consider this idea as a step in the right direction: A law that incentivizes states to implement a voluntary insurance program for employees to receive 2 weeks paid leave for parents or grandparents at the birth, adoption, or foster placement of a child. This would be in addition to the current FMLA leave.

What Can I Do?

• The U.S. Department of Labor is collecting data this year to assess how FMLA is working: Share how having or not having paid leave affected you.


• Write to your state or federal representatives with your support for a more extensive maternity/paternity leave law.

Nothing would be more tiresome than eating and drinking if God had not made them a pleasure as well as a necessity.
~Voltaire

I was born a Phillips and one of the genetic gifts handed down by my forbearers is a love of eating. Savoring food is one of my life’s greatest pleasures. I love preparing food with my husband, working in the kitchen side by side, creating fresh and healthy dishes as we chat and reconnect after a busy day. I love the family rituals that revolve around the dinner table: the gathering and sense of belonging that accompanies Sunday roast and potatoes. I love sharing good things to eat with friends at barbeques and parties. I get a thrill out of learning about food: where it comes from, how to prepare it, and how it works to benefit my health. The process of preparing and consuming food is as much a spiritual and social endeavor in our home as means of sustaining life.

Unfortunately, in today’s market place, saturated with confusing nutritional information, pleasure in food is somewhat difficult to come by.

“What should I eat?” is a question most Americans have trouble readily answering.

How blessed we are to live in an era of abundance. Gone are the days when humans spent the majority of their time finding and preparing food, living literally hand to mouth. Today there is almost no limit to the quantity or variety of food or food like products readily available in the average supermarket. Add to variety, the constant bombardment through media sources of conflicting theories, information and recommendations about what we should put in our bodies.

I believe the overloading of food products and data is an influential contributor to the decline of general health and the increase in degenerative diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer that plague the western world. How? People make poor diet choices for many reasons, but certainly one reason must be that healthy eating seems too demand too much time, energy, or money.

This year, I am making a goal to explore in greater depth my love affair with food and nutrition. In addition to forcing my husband to listen to my endless speeches, I will use this blog as an outlet and a place to record and experiment. My aims are:

1. To share my love of food
2. To try new foods and new methods of preparation
3. To show that eating a healthy, balanced diet is achievable for almost anyone
4. To distill and simplify food information

I hope you enjoy this journey with me!

One of the very nicest things about life is the way we must regularly stop whatever it is we are doing and devote our attention to eating.
~Luciano Pavarotti and William Wright, Pavarotti, My Own Story

Me Want Miso!

It’s December in Salt Lake City and I’m cold. Sitting at my desk with my space heater cranked on high, looking out at the snow, I’m cold. I want to bundle up under a big fluffy blanket with a bowl of warm soup. What I’ve been craving lately is miso soup: that steaming bowl of deliciousness served at Japanese restaurants.
Thankfully, our budget doesn’t really allow for fine dining right now. Mr. Wilde and I were “forced” to use the dual miracles of Google search and Youtube to learn to make our very own miso soup. And I must say, we were quite successful! Even Little E agrees, as evidenced by his signing “more,” “more,” “more,” after every spoonful.

Besides learning how to make own easy soup, we learned how incredibly and amazingly good for you miso is. This stuff is perfect for keeping healthy during the holiday season! Here's a quick run down of some of the benefits of miso:

• Packed with antioxidants, vitamin E, and vitamin B12!
• Boots immunity
• Helps regulate the hormone oestrogen in women (a hormone that can cause tumors)
• 1 bowl of miso a day reduces the risk of breast cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer, and colon cancer
• Beneficial bacteria help regulate the digestive system
• Linoleic acid, an essential fatty acid, keeps skin healthy

**As a bonus, the wakame seaweed used in miso soup helps reduce blood pressure and cholesterol**

for more information on the health benefits of miso soup, visit one of these web sites:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/31554/the_health_benefits_of_miso_soup_japanese.html

http://www.bodyecology.com/07/02/15/miso_health_and_anti-aging.php

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=114

So, what is miso, you may ask, and what makes it so great?
Miso is made from ground soybeans, fermented with koji, a yeast mold.

from bodyecology.com:

"Fermented foods and drinks ... help build your inner ecosystem. When your inner ecosystem is healthy, it is full of friendly microflora (beneficial bacteria in your intestines), that help you digest and assimilate nutrients and boost your immunity.
While it was once thought that soy was the reason for the low rates of heart disease, breast and prostate cancer in Asia, more evidence is now showing us that it is the consumption of traditional fermented soy products (usually eaten every day) that are providing the real benefits."

Miso soup is simple, healthy and versitile. It will probably require a visit to a local asian market, but the ingredients are inexpensive and easy to find. Visit one of these websites (by clicking on the picture) for some great variations on the classic tofu/green onion combination:

Personal Ministry

"Those who think of life as a personal ministry tend to be less lonely,

are less likely to feel that life has spun out of control,

more inclined to have a gentle heart,

more filled with purpose."

- Sheri L. Dew

Vintage Rose Wraps

I stumbled upon these adorable headbands last week and just had to share with you. I wish I had a little girl to buy these for!

Check out VintageRoseWraps.com, visit their blog, or come see them at Swiss Days!

Brownie Bits Cheesecake!

My mom made this amazing cheesecake for our family party on Saturday, and I have to say it one of the best cheesecakes I've ever had! I wish I had a picture to include, but it was gobbled up too quickly!

BROWNIE BITS CHEESECAKE
From Wilton Brownie Fun

Crust:
2 packages 8x8 size brownie mix
Eggs, water and oil to prepare mixes

Filling:
3 packages cream cheese, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup sour cream
6 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp almond extract

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350. Spray 9 inch springform pan and 8 inch square pan with vegetable spray.
2. In a large bowl, prepare one brownie mix following package instructions. Spread into bottom of prepared square pan. Prepare remaining brownie mix following package instructions. Spread into prepared springform pan.
   
3. Bake both pans together for 35-40 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely. Turn oven down to 325.
   
4. Cut approximately half of the brownies from the square pan into 3/4 inch pieces; set aside.
   
5. In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar with electric mixer at medium speed until smooth and creamy, about 5 minutes. Beat in sour cream and eggs. Add vanilla and almond extracts. Gently stir in 1/2 cup of the cut brownies. Pour over cooled crust.
   
6. Sprinkle remaining cut brownies over cheesecake batter; lightly press into batter.
   
7. Place cheesecake in middle of oven. Fill a large pan with hot water and place on rack underneath cheesecake.
   
8. Bake 1 hour 25 minutes or until cheesecake is firm on top but filling is still jiggly when gently shaken.
   
9. Turn of oven; leave cheesecake in closed oven 30 minutes to cool slowly. Remove cheesecake from oven and cool 1 hour. Refrigerate covered at least 4 hours or overnight.
   

Domestic Goddess ... I Wish

Having a cute little quilting store just down the street is great for whipping up cute projects, not so good on my wallet. Nevertheless, here is my latest sewing project.

Not too shabby, if I do say so myself. But, I can't take much of the credit. I bought the super cute fabric and pattern at Seasons of Home, here in Midway.

The pattern, by Amy Butler, is adorable, but took longer than I anticipated. The photo does not allow you, dear reader, to appreciate the pleats, pockets, and top stitching that make this adorable apron so wonderful. After several long hours, though, I finished and am very pleased with the result. The pattern, although complex, was easy to follow and the finished product is sturdy. This apron is a gift and I look forward to making myself one!

Thrift Store Finds Part 1 of 2

I love the Sugar House Deseret Industries (Thrift Store). There always seem to be great treasures. Here are some of my latest finds:

I thought this punch bowl and cups would be perfect for serving lemonade at a brunch or other party! I was excited to find 16 cups in all.



I love these jars. I can't wait to have a kitchen to use them in. Miracle of miracles, I was shopping at the Provo DI today and found the third piece to this set!


I have always wanted one of these to serve soup when company comes or for a fancy meal.

Music Together Family Classes

When I was pregnant with Little E. I was fascinated that he would start kicking in response to outside sounds, especially to music. After he was born I continued to observe his love of listening to and making music. Music has a powerful effect on our moods and the atmosphere in our homes and I want Little E. to experience the positive influence good music can have.

When I picked up a flyer for Music Together I was curious. We attended a demo class a few months ago and loved it. I have been doing research on the program and am now a big fan. We are so excited to start attending the weekly family group this fall.



The principles of Music Together are:

1. All children are musical.
   
2. Therefore, all children can achieve basic music competence, which we have defined as the ability to sing in tune and move with accurate rhythm.
   
3. The participation and modeling of parents and caregivers, regardless of their musical ability is essential to a child's musical growth.
   
4. This growth is best achieved in a playful, developmentally appropriate, non performance oriented learning environment that is musically rich yet immediately accessible to the chi's participation.

The things I loved most about the class we attended were the various ages of children and the freedom allowed the children. Family classes include newborns to 5 year old children, all learning and sharing and playing together with their grown-ups. I love the idea that children learn best in a family-like environment where they can learn from those older and teach those younger than they. I also love that the children don't have to follow the teacher, but are allowed to respond to the music however they would like.

If there is a Music Together class near you, I highly recommended it!

Check out their website and blog!

Birthday Banner!

Little E's first birthday was in June and we celebrated in style at my grandparent's cabin in Idaho. I wanted to create something special for his birthday that we could use to start a family tradition. I started looking for a pattern to make a fabric birthday banner. When I saw this on a friend's blog, I was ecstatic. I went directly to the Esty shop at purchased the pattern.


The result: simple to sew and quite fun! I am so pleased with how my banner turned out. I can't wait to use it again and again!

The shop is Bonne Nouvelle. Unfortunately, it is closed for the summer. But I would highly reccomed checking back in the fall!