So, I was re-reading my blog this morning, and it occurred to me that there was a lot of "I" in it. So, today is the day to clarify.
"I" could not have done ANY of this without Lisa Akoury-Ross and my fantastic publishing company SDP Publishing Solutions http://www.publishatsweetdreams.com/.
"I" could not have done it without the numerous friends and family members that bought a lot of my 300+ books.
"I" could not have done it without great business owners like Lori Burton from Serendipity in Hudson, http://www.serendipityinhudson.com/, who not only agreed to help support me by selling my books, but continues to reach out periodically with new marketing ideas. The same goes for Elizabeth Almeida of Fat Moon Farm http://demo010227.hgsitebuilder.com/. You guys are amazing!
"I" could not have done it without the Maynard Farmers' Market, the Wayland Winter Farmers' Market, Sustainable Westford Winter Farmers' Market, Simon Malls (YES-I did readings at the MALL--how cool is that?!?)
"I" could not have done it without the amazing teachers at our local elementary school, who welcomed me in, let me read, and even allowed me to become an "Enrichment Program". I am honored.
"I" am eternally grateful to everyone who has helped me through this past year.
"I" am looking forward to an amazing 2013.
Thank you so much to all of you!!!
Saturday, January 19, 2013
Friday, January 18, 2013
Happy Anniversary!
Today is Wilbur's birthday! He is official one year old today (and if he was actually a true one year old, would probably be pushing around different foods on his plate, completely afraid to try them).
This is actually so exciting for me. In one year I have published a book, started a blog (ok, posted a few times, but I DO plan on getting better!), watched my book sell over 300 (!) copies, read at libraries, preschools, farmers' markets and even elementary schools! I have been recognized on the street as "the author that wrote that dragon book" and have loved every minute of it. And that is just one year! The beauty of Wilbur is that he is pretty timeless. The topic of local eating is still a hot one, and trying to get children to try new foods is an age-old dilemma that I look forward to helping with.
I am already looking forward to National Nutrition Month in March, and am setting up some readings in the area. I will be sure to pass them along as they come up.
Until then, it is my goal to continue to promote farmers' markets as a great source of community and wonderful food, and to pass along kid and family friendly recipes and tips over the next year. I hope you will continue to join me on this journey...it truly is just beginning.
Before I go, a favorite Winter Farmers' Market of mine has started up again, and it is wonderful. If you are local, check it out sometime this season--you will NOT be disappointed!
http://www.russellsgardencenter.com/wayland_winter_mkt.html
This is actually so exciting for me. In one year I have published a book, started a blog (ok, posted a few times, but I DO plan on getting better!), watched my book sell over 300 (!) copies, read at libraries, preschools, farmers' markets and even elementary schools! I have been recognized on the street as "the author that wrote that dragon book" and have loved every minute of it. And that is just one year! The beauty of Wilbur is that he is pretty timeless. The topic of local eating is still a hot one, and trying to get children to try new foods is an age-old dilemma that I look forward to helping with.
I am already looking forward to National Nutrition Month in March, and am setting up some readings in the area. I will be sure to pass them along as they come up.
Until then, it is my goal to continue to promote farmers' markets as a great source of community and wonderful food, and to pass along kid and family friendly recipes and tips over the next year. I hope you will continue to join me on this journey...it truly is just beginning.
Before I go, a favorite Winter Farmers' Market of mine has started up again, and it is wonderful. If you are local, check it out sometime this season--you will NOT be disappointed!
http://www.russellsgardencenter.com/wayland_winter_mkt.html
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
One step at a time...again...
Life would be a lot less complicated if we all just liked the food that is healthy for us...isn't that true? Regardless of how I want my children or my family to eat, I personally still gravitate towards the foods that I loved as a child--chicken nuggets, pasta with butter and parmesan cheese, french fries, pizza...you name it. I am actually proud of myself when I "shop the perimeter" of the grocery store, and see all the fruits and veggies and "whole foods" I put in my cart. It is evidence that even I can change my ways.
My kids are not always as adventurous as I want them to be (I really can't blame them--I never tried anything new growing up!) But, I am trying hard to change that, to help them love healthy food, and encourage them to consider "treats", well...a treat! Also, I am making more of an effort to make those treats myself, so I know the ingredients going into them.
The biggest change I am trying to make is to just include them in the prep work and decision making in the kitchen. I have a hard time "letting go" and just letting the mess happen. I've always been that way--I can't deal with all the cleanup associated with them "helping" me, but lately I have been able to let them make a mess while they are preparing a dish--and I have NOT had a nervous breakdown!
I recently read an article about the many benefits of including your child in your (and their) food prep. http://www.portlandfamily.com/posts/kids-in-the-kitchen-10-benefits-of-cooking-with-children/ After reading this, I know I am making the right decision including them in the dinner-making process.
Also, for a great kids cooking/food magazine, check out ChopChop. They are fantastic!! Check it out here: http://www.chopchopmag.org/
Have a great week!
My kids are not always as adventurous as I want them to be (I really can't blame them--I never tried anything new growing up!) But, I am trying hard to change that, to help them love healthy food, and encourage them to consider "treats", well...a treat! Also, I am making more of an effort to make those treats myself, so I know the ingredients going into them.
The biggest change I am trying to make is to just include them in the prep work and decision making in the kitchen. I have a hard time "letting go" and just letting the mess happen. I've always been that way--I can't deal with all the cleanup associated with them "helping" me, but lately I have been able to let them make a mess while they are preparing a dish--and I have NOT had a nervous breakdown!
I recently read an article about the many benefits of including your child in your (and their) food prep. http://www.portlandfamily.com/posts/kids-in-the-kitchen-10-benefits-of-cooking-with-children/ After reading this, I know I am making the right decision including them in the dinner-making process.
Also, for a great kids cooking/food magazine, check out ChopChop. They are fantastic!! Check it out here: http://www.chopchopmag.org/
Have a great week!
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Continuing on my path
I admit, I am a HORRIBLE procrastinator! Actually, I am really good at it...that is my problem. That is why it has taken me almost 6 months to blog again. I hope I am forgiven, and I hope to blog regularly from now on.
I missed blogging about the summer Farmers' Market season! It was fantastic. I, personally, did not get there nearly as much as I thought I would, but when I did I kept kicking myself for not going more often. The whole culture of the market is different. The farmers and vendors really love their product. Yes, they want to sell it to you, but they have more often than not, put their hard work and blood, sweat and tears into what they are selling and it is reflected in their attitudes. They are interested and engaged in potential buyers, and I have learned they are always willing to teach and there is NEVER a stupid question!
Onto the healthy eating front. I am still trying to move away from fast food as a whole for my family. I don't think my husband has had it in months, and neither have I. The kids have occasionally, as a treat. But even in this crazy, busy fall season I am making a huge effort to even just put out cucumber slices and grapes as a snack, and make dinner at home. Even if it is sandwiches, I know where all the ingredients came from and I feel this is a healthier alternative than the drive-thru. I am hoping all these itsy-bitsy changes will eventually turn into healthier eating as a whole for myself and my family. Do I still buy cookies? Absolutely!! Do I still eat ice cream? Most definitely!! But, overall I am trying to make healthier changes to our diets so treats will remain just that...treats.
In the next few weeks, I will be posting some kid friendly meals, and also posting about different ways to get kids involved with the cooking. If they are involved in the process, they may be more apt to try something new!
Thanks for reading--have a great week!!
I missed blogging about the summer Farmers' Market season! It was fantastic. I, personally, did not get there nearly as much as I thought I would, but when I did I kept kicking myself for not going more often. The whole culture of the market is different. The farmers and vendors really love their product. Yes, they want to sell it to you, but they have more often than not, put their hard work and blood, sweat and tears into what they are selling and it is reflected in their attitudes. They are interested and engaged in potential buyers, and I have learned they are always willing to teach and there is NEVER a stupid question!
Onto the healthy eating front. I am still trying to move away from fast food as a whole for my family. I don't think my husband has had it in months, and neither have I. The kids have occasionally, as a treat. But even in this crazy, busy fall season I am making a huge effort to even just put out cucumber slices and grapes as a snack, and make dinner at home. Even if it is sandwiches, I know where all the ingredients came from and I feel this is a healthier alternative than the drive-thru. I am hoping all these itsy-bitsy changes will eventually turn into healthier eating as a whole for myself and my family. Do I still buy cookies? Absolutely!! Do I still eat ice cream? Most definitely!! But, overall I am trying to make healthier changes to our diets so treats will remain just that...treats.
In the next few weeks, I will be posting some kid friendly meals, and also posting about different ways to get kids involved with the cooking. If they are involved in the process, they may be more apt to try something new!
Thanks for reading--have a great week!!
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Great opportunity for new/aspiring Authors!
I'm so excited to Join Lisa Akoury-Ross (my publisher from SDP) for the 2012 New England Author Expo, July 18 in Danvers, MA for a unique book show. She'll be speaking at this event and selling books for her authors (including ME!) Want t...o get published, or even just talk about the process? Go see Lisa! It event opens to the public at 4pm TODAY! For more info on the event, go to the following link...
Sunday, June 24, 2012
New beginnings
Hi all,
Long time no see! Hope you are all doing well. I have been busy trying to work more healthy eating into my family's routine. I have to tell you, I was pretty impressed when I figured out that our family went from January 19th until June 12th without visiting McDonald's. As a busy mom of two children, I'm quite proud of that accomplishment! Instead we had sandwiches, fruit and veggies, sometimes chicken nuggets and other "fast" food. It was more of an effort and I can't say a lot of it was gourmet but at least I knew where it was coming from and what kind of ingredients I was feeding my kids.
One of the other changes in our family is that my husband recently changed his eating habits. He has stopped eating wheat, sugar, dairy and legumes. I am not up for that yet, but I have concentrated more on "eating clean" (five ingredients or less in a packaged item). One of the benefits I did not foresee was that we suddenly had more fresh frutis and veggies in the house---because that is a pretty big staple in his diet. That trickled down to myself and the two kids and I have FINALLY realized if I have the healthy food (strawberries, red peppers, carrots, cucumbers, melon, etc...) prepared and ready to go, the kids will eat it!! I know it isn't always as simple as this, but it can't hurt to have those foods in your house. Always keep them within easy reach, ready to eat. Again, I know this sounds simple, and I have read this advice oodles of times before, but for some reason this time it stuck!!
I am so excited that farmers' market season is (finally) upon us! Our local market starts next week, and there have been other ones in Westford and Acton that have already started. The food just looks so good! Sometimes I will see a fruit or veggies that I know I don't love, but it just looks so good I feel like I should try it! This past week we made roasted brussel sprouts. They were great! Definitely going to add that to our dinner repertoire. The kids weren't as keen on it, but maybe someday...
If you want to try them the recipe is here: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/roasted-brussels-sprouts-recipe2/index.html.
Have a great week!!
Long time no see! Hope you are all doing well. I have been busy trying to work more healthy eating into my family's routine. I have to tell you, I was pretty impressed when I figured out that our family went from January 19th until June 12th without visiting McDonald's. As a busy mom of two children, I'm quite proud of that accomplishment! Instead we had sandwiches, fruit and veggies, sometimes chicken nuggets and other "fast" food. It was more of an effort and I can't say a lot of it was gourmet but at least I knew where it was coming from and what kind of ingredients I was feeding my kids.
One of the other changes in our family is that my husband recently changed his eating habits. He has stopped eating wheat, sugar, dairy and legumes. I am not up for that yet, but I have concentrated more on "eating clean" (five ingredients or less in a packaged item). One of the benefits I did not foresee was that we suddenly had more fresh frutis and veggies in the house---because that is a pretty big staple in his diet. That trickled down to myself and the two kids and I have FINALLY realized if I have the healthy food (strawberries, red peppers, carrots, cucumbers, melon, etc...) prepared and ready to go, the kids will eat it!! I know it isn't always as simple as this, but it can't hurt to have those foods in your house. Always keep them within easy reach, ready to eat. Again, I know this sounds simple, and I have read this advice oodles of times before, but for some reason this time it stuck!!
I am so excited that farmers' market season is (finally) upon us! Our local market starts next week, and there have been other ones in Westford and Acton that have already started. The food just looks so good! Sometimes I will see a fruit or veggies that I know I don't love, but it just looks so good I feel like I should try it! This past week we made roasted brussel sprouts. They were great! Definitely going to add that to our dinner repertoire. The kids weren't as keen on it, but maybe someday...
If you want to try them the recipe is here: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/roasted-brussels-sprouts-recipe2/index.html.
Have a great week!!
Friday, March 9, 2012
Slowly but surely…
So I took a little break… I bet you all thought I keeled over after trying the kale pesto, right?? Actually, it was REALLY good! One of the steps is to par-boil the kale (I never knew what that meant), and for the first time EVER I was able to appreciate the beautiful, healthy, green color it turned after being in the water for a couple of minutes. Since then, I have definitely had some more veggies go bad in the fridge…what DO you do with artichokes anyway?? I bought one, but that was a victim to my procrastination as well. Step by step I will get the hang of this!
I also had the really good fortune to attend the Wayland Winter Farmers’ Market at Russell’s Garden Center
My daughter is learning about healthy eating in school, so lately she has been asking to drink water, and told me not to give her Gatorade (I don’t on an everyday basis! Just occasionally if there isn’t anything else around) because it isn’t healthy. My son is in the process of getting braces, so he is not able to have any sticky, chewy, gummy things. He didn’t eat stuff like that every day, but if he was getting some kind of a treat, he would most often choose something gummy and sweet. But, now that he can’t, he is choosing other things like strawberries, crackers or grapes. Again slowly but surely. My goal with this blog is to take itty bitty baby steps to being a very healthy, local eating family. I hope you all join us!
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