Tiny Iron Fists

Surf Portrait

Lulu drew this portrait of me surfing. When she gave it to me, I choked up. Dude, I am such a sucker for my kid and her artwork!

 

Recipe: Jim Lahey's No-Knead Bread

 

We used to live next to the Sullivan St Bakery in New York City. Every day we would succumb to the smells of Jim Lahey's amazing bread and I am proud to say, I can bake my own loaves at home now that we live thousands of miles away. This no-knead recipe is dummy-proof and a crowd pleaser. Give it a try. And savor it!

Ingredients:

3 cups (430g) flour
1½ cups (345g or 12oz) water
¼ teaspoon (1g) yeast
1¼ teaspoon (8g) salt
olive oil (for coating)
extra flour, wheat bran, or cornmeal (for dusting)

Equipment:

Two medium mixing bowls
6 to 8 quart pot with lid (Pyrex glass, Le Creuset cast iron, or ceramic)
Wooden Spoon or spatula (optional)
Plastic wrap
Two or three cotton dish towels (not terrycloth)

Directions:

Mix all of the dry ingredients in a medium bowl. Add water and incorporate by hand or with a wooden spoon or spatula for 30 seconds to 1 minute. Lightly coat the inside of a second medium bowl with olive oil and place the dough in the bowl. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let the dough rest 12 hours at room temperature (approx. 65-72°F).

Remove the dough from the bowl and fold once or twice. Let the dough rest 15 minutes in the bowl or on the work surface. Next, shape the dough into ball. Generously coat a cotton towel with flour, wheat bran, or cornmeal; place the dough seam side down on the towel and dust with flour. Cover the dough with a cotton towel and let rise 1-2 hours at room temperature, until more than doubled in size.

Preheat oven to 450-500°F. Place the pot in the oven at least 30 minutes prior to baking to preheat. Once the dough has more than doubled in volume, remove the pot from the oven and place the dough in the pot seam side up. Cover with the lid and bake 30 minutes Then remove the lid and bake 15-30 minutes uncovered, until the loaf is nicely browned.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Hello Kitty in Space

Michelle shared this "Hello Kitty In Space" video with me knowing our family would enjoy the video tremendously (we did). While it's near identical to last year's "A Toy Train In Space" video, it's just as fascinating to see an every day object in near space propelled by a child's imagination and doing.

Lauren Rojas, a 13-year-old Californian sent Hello Kitty up into the atmosphere to test the effects of altitude on air pressure and temperature for her school's science fair. More about the video:

Cornerstone Christian school 7th grade science project.
The effects of Altitude on air pressure and temperature.
Cameras: GoPro Hero2 video footage.
Edited By: Eddie Lacayo elacayo212@gmail.com
Flight gear: High Altitude Science.
Flight computer / Data acquisition: High Altitude Science.
Tree Climber: Woodpecker Arborist.

Gift Guide: Toys for Girls Who Want to Have Fun

A friend surveyed Facebook friends for toy recommendations for his five-year-old daughter, "Ok... I need some good toy recommendations here...M and I aren't in to buying a bunch of random toys for S. Lately, we've focused more on crafts/art sets, sports/outdoor items, and on games that we can play together (Apples to Apples, UNO, Sorry). For girls turning 5, what have you found to be meaningfully engaging toys?? (S doesn't watch much TV so she has no real advertising generated requests except for Disney Princesses stuff). Thoughts??"

I responded with three suggestions:

1. Gears! Gears! Gears! Super Set. Connect gears. Encourage creativity. It's hours of fun and learning. And much to my surprise, while referencing it for my inquiring-friend, I was pleasantly surprised by the photo of the young girl in the advertisement. This is the kind of play and company I am stoked to support!

2. Secondly, we recently supported this inspirational venture, GoldieBlox via a Kickstarter project. Although the first toy won't be ready this winter holiday season, GoldieBlox gets me giddy. The tagline is so best: Goldie, the girl inventor who loves to build. And the mission, to create really fun toys that develop spatial skills and teach basic engineering principles, is something I am excited for.

3. Lastly, we subscribe to Kiwi Crate (on-and-off). Every box we have received is brill, engaging, and surprising. Lulu loved watching her plants grow. And we often recycle crate materials for other craft projects. Everyone I've ever recommended this out-of-the-box present to, always thanks me for it.

While many toys inspire me and give joy to Lulu, here are a few to start with. I'd love to hear what your family has been having great fun with recently too!

LET'S MAKE SOME GREAT ART: An Art Workshop for Children (12.08.12)

LET'S MAKE SOME GREAT ART: An Art Workshop for Children
Saturday, December 8, 2012, 11am
The MOCA Store at MOCA Grand Avenue

Award-winning British illustrator Marion Deuchars hosts an art workshop with activities from her popular series of children's books. Come and create! All materials will be supplied.

FREE; no reservations

Climbing Cabinets... Again!

I'm 4'11". I climb on my work place's shelves every day to reach coffee mugs, glasses, plates or bowls. If I'm lucky, someone's in the kitchen when I am and I can ask for help. Most people don't realize that I've had to ask a stranger to help me at the supermarket every time I've visted for... my whole life! Without fail, something I need will always be tucked high above, not within my stubby arm's reach. No one has ever said, "no" to my request and everyone has always smiled or laughed aloud while helping me. 

I never taught Lulu to climb on our bathroom furniture to wash her hands. She just did. And I'm hoping she will someday break the five feet barrier before breaking a bone trying to figure out how to reach something. Then again. Look at her monkey-toes. Kid's got my low center of gravity and excellent balance. She's going to be alright.

Give Your Kid a Damn Knife so S/he Can Help Make Rosemary Potatoes

If you live in my home, you are helping me prepare meals, daily. And you get a knife. Even if you are three-years-old. Fuck what other people think. Cause look at you, Little Chef. You're killing it. And the scaredy cat's kids are eating insta-ramen noodles every day in college and bemoaning the death of Twinkies. But not you. You will be rocking recipes you've prepared your whole life. And some day, you might even cook like Ba Ngoai. Let's hope.

Rosemary Potatoes

Ingredients:

2 pounds potatoes (whichever you like to eat)

salt to taste (I prefer kosher salt)

fresh cracked pepper to taste

4 - 6 tablespoons olive oil

3 large stems of rosemary, minced

Directions:

1. Dice potatoes and place in a large pan on low-medium heat.
2. Dress potatoes with the olive oil, salt, pepper, and rosemary; toss until evenly coated.
3. Cook on a low fire for 45 minutes. Flip often with a spatula during cooking to ensure even browning. Potatoes are done when they are a golden brown and crispy on the edges.

Bonus: Your house is going to smell awesome and this dish is great for brunch, lunch, and dinner!

Super-Imagination-Hero

Having never seen anything Iron Man-related other than her preschool cubby mate's backpack, Lulu put on my bike helmet tonight and proclaimed, "I. Am. Iron Man!" and she was!

Recipe: Julia Child's Gratin Dauphinois

My French husband often needs a dose of the butter and cream diet he was raised on. For simple and straightforward recipes, I turn to my favorite kitchen helper, Julia Child. Her Gratin Dauphinois recipe is easy to make and delicious to eat.

Ingredients:

2 pounds starchy potatoes
1/2 clove unpeeled garlic
4 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1 cup (4 ounces) grated Swiss cheese (NOTE: I use Gruyere)
1 cup boiling milk or cream

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 425F. Peel the potatoes and slice them 1/8 inch thick. Place in cold water. Drain when ready to use.

2. Rub the baking dish with cut garlic (NOTE: I chop up the garlic and sprinkle it on the first layer of potatoes for extra zing). Smear the dish with 1 tablespoon of the butter.

3. Drain the potatoes and dry them in a towel. Spread half of them in the bottom of the dish. Divide over them half the salt, pepper, cheese, and butter.

4. Arrange the remaining potatoes over the first layer and season. Spread on the rest of the cheese and divide the butter over it. Pour on the boiling milk.

5. Set the baking dish in upper third of preheated oven. Bake for 20-30 minutes, until the potatoes are tender, the milk is absorbed, and the top is a golden brown.

Recipe: That's The Best Frosting I Ever Had

For our neighborhood's 12th annual block party, we made vanilla cupcakes with a vanilla icing. Low on time, I used a readymade cake mix for the cupcake and for the icing, whipped up this fantastic, easy, and delicious recipe:

That's the Best Frosting I Ever Had:

Ingredients:

5 Tablespoons Flour
1 cup Milk
1 teaspoon Vanilla
1 cup Butter
1 cup Granulated Sugar

Instructions:

1. Bake your favorite cake and let it cool.

2. In a small saucepan, whisk flour into milk and heat, stirring constantly, until it thickens. You want it to be very thick, thicker than cake mix, more like a brownie mix is. Remove from heat and let it cool to room temperature. (If I’m in a hurry, I place the saucepan over ice in the sink for about 10 minutes or so until the mixture cools.) It must be completely cool before you use it in the next step. Stir in vanilla.

3. While the mixture is cooling, cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. You don’t want any sugar graininess left. Then add the completely cooled milk/flour/vanilla mixture and beat the living daylights out of it. If it looks separated, you haven’t beaten it enough! Beat it until it all combines and resembles whipped cream.

4. Grab a spoon and taste this wonderful goodness. If there is any left after your taste test, spread it on a cooled cake.

The cupcakes were a hit at the party, disappearing soon after we put them out.

Photos by Lulu: Shepard Fairey's "Americana"

We attended Shepard Fairey's "Americana" opening at Perry Rubenstein gallery and Lulu took it upon herself to document the evening. I hope you enjoy her photos of the artwork, people, and environment.

For the most part, her photos still need a lot of work. But I feel she really did catch the vibe of the night.

Lulu's Cardboard Box House

We recently bought Lulu a new carseat and instead of throwing the big box it arrived in, away, we decided to build a cardboard house with it. Complete with cut out windows, a chimney, and indoor/outdoor living space, Lulu is loving her little piece of private space. She's filled it up with her own art, pillows, blankets, and other comfy items. She loves relaxing in it, alone or with a guest.

Building a cardboard box home is super easy. Pinterest is a great resource for visual inspiration. eHow has simple instructions for the DIY-set.

Milestone: You Have Mail!

We sent postcards from Big Sur to a few lucky family members. Lulu was less interested in writing the cards (the few of you receiving mail from us are in for a nice surprise) and more interested in dropping the cards into the mailbox. I explained to Lulu how a few words could make it across the globe by her actions (from writing the card, to attaching the stamp, and slipping it into the mailbox). Lulu was very excited to learn about how our postal service works.

Sesame Street: Kids Talk About Artwork

Daww. I love this wonderful Sesame Street video of kids explaining their artwork. Share this adorable clip with your little ones! And afterwards, I hope it inspires you to craft with your kid!

Paper-Hat Princess

Lulu draped herself with a napkin and call herself a Princess. I couldn't argue, she looked lovely.

Growing a Kiwi Crate Garden Kit

Lulu's face in this photo is the reason why I give Kiwi Crate, the crafty, inspiration-in-a-box, a hearty two thumbs up. Thanks to a couple of online specials we were able to order two Kiwi Crates for $20 (normally $19.95/month for one box) and each box has been full of fun.

This month, we received the Garden Crate. Inside were two projects that, "grow with your imagination" including one Window Growing Garden kit and one Designing Flower Pots kit. We decided to grow the vegetables first: "Everything you need to plant, grow, and observe your own beans and squash."

Lulu counted soil circles and deposited the same amount into each window pocket. She then carefully watered the pellets with equal amounts of water and got incredibly animated when the dirt expanded. She then carefully colored in the plant markers and placed them in their respective pockets. From start to finish we had a lot to talk and get excited about.

Now to inspect and water the plants until the sprouts arrive!

I aspire to assemble something as creative for Lulu someday. Science is fun! Sign up today!

Explosive Fun: The Erupting Volcano!

This is the second year we've had the pleasure of attending The Growing Place's annual fundraiser, the Dino Fair. And once again, our little Princess Scientist spent all our money on the erupting volcanoes!

If you are interested in creating your own epic eruptions at home, all you'll need are a container, vinegar, baking soda, a bowl, and trash bags or a drop cloth (it's going to get messy)! Line the floor with the protective covering and then add the baking soda to the bowl, sitting in the larger container. Add vinegar, stand back, and watch the sodium bicarbonate and acetic acid react into a messy bubbling mixture of fizz and fun.

Best of all, this experiement is non-toxic so it's great for all ages!

No Matter How Lulu Cut It...

Lulu loves cutting new things with her craft scissors. Paper. Cardboard. Pillow covers. T-shirts, etc. So it was only a matter of time before she discovered cutting her own hair. Lulu didn't lose much, this time. It's not even noticeable where she cut her hair from. I didn't get mad. I laughed! But I did ask her if she wanted to go to a hair salon (no) or wanted her hair cut (no). I'm looking forward to how creative the kid might someday get!

Eggcellent Easter!

Pre-Lulu, I wasn't much for celebrating holidays at all. It just wasn't something we did in my immigrant household. But now with Lulu in my life, I find myself looking for reasons to get crafty around the holidays. 

I searched for something fun for the family to do for Easter Sunday. And I didn't feel like rolling up to the local Farmers' Market, again. So I took matters into my own hand and decided to teach Lulu how to dye Easter eggs. I called the local drugstore, checked that they had egg coloring kits and sent Silvio out on errands. I asked him to pick up a dozen white eggs too. Our conversation is worth repeating:

Me: Silvio can you pick up a dozen white eggs too?

Silvio: What are white eggs?

Me: You see, there's an animal called a chicken. And an oval object falls out of its butt and that's a white egg.

Silvio: [Unable to keep a straight face] I know what eggs are!

Me: Then why did you ask?

Silvio: Because you were specifically asked for white eggs so I wanted to be sure! Do the boxes says brown or white eggs on them?

Me: Yes. They. Do. [Pissing in my pants]

Silvio left and returned with a beautiful dozen and two PAAS kits.

Someone could barely wait to dye eggs! Pleading doe-eyes greeted me from the kitchen as Lulu patiently waited for our friends to arrive.

Lulu helped me boil perfect eggs and when Miyuki showed up, we quickly got the PAAS-ty started (pardon the pun, I couldn't help myself). The girls had so much fun prepping and mixing colors.

Lulu was very proud of her pinkish-purplish egg.

And her yellow one too!

Coloring the eggs was a messy spectacle. But it was fun for all of us. Lulu loved to double and triple dip the eggs in the different dyes and in the end, gave up using her little egg dipper altogether. She had chubby little Hulk-hands and they were cute.

In the end, the eggs disappeared as quickly as they came. Creating art worked up Lulu's appetite and no more than five minutes passed since she finished coloring her last egg before she started eating them. While I hoped to have enjoyed the colored jewels a bit longer, the fun was in making them.

I'm looking forward to next year's eggcellent adventure already. I plan to hatch a more eventful afternoon. One that might include a ham, creamy chocolates, Peeps, pastel outfits, searching for compostable plastic eggs, adorable baskets with chocolate bunnies, and decorating and dyeing eggs, naturally.

Happy Easter, I hope you had as bright and colorful day as we did!

LA - Andell Family Sundays—Recycle, Transform, Make Art (04.01.12)

Andell Family Sundays—Recycle, Transform, Make Art

Join us on Sundays for programs designed especially for families. Make art, look at art, and talk about art together in workshops and bilingual gallery tours. Most of all—have fun. Some artists see art in things other people throw away—in old car parts, for example. Join workshops where you, too, can transform used materials into playful, environmentally friendly works of art. We will have additional activities on Earth Day, April 22, including telling stories, making spoke cards, and more.

See Chris Burden's kinetic sculpture, Metropolis II in action every Sunday at the following times: 12:30–1:30 pm; 2:30–3:30 pm; 4:30–5:30 pm; 6:30–7:30 pm.

North Piazza | Free, with museum admission | 12:30–3:30 pm

Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Andell Family Sundays is supported by Andrew and Ellen Hauptman and the Hauptman Family Foundation.

Hey Kid! {Kenney Rome} is Hello, Awesome!

I love these portraits shot by photography/styling team, Hey Kid! {Kenney Rome}. They specialize in "creating unique images for children's clothing lines and editorial work as well as styled children and family sessions".  These photos were taken at the Little Warrior boutique opening and I think they are my favorite photos ever shot of Lulu and I together.

Jessie, the photographer was amazing at capturing Lulu's attention, which made for capturing a great moment. Look no further for party pros and special occasions. Let Jessie help transform your memories into art. Check out Juneberry Photos and learn more about her commercial site here.

For Commercial or Portrait inquiries or to request a media kit please email kenney.rome@yahoo.com

Jessie Kenney {co-owner/photographer}
760.580.6286

Heather Rome {co-owner/fashion}
949.290.4055

Aerospace Engineering

Building a Mic-O-Mic airplane with Papa. Thanks to Tata Jean for the present!

Fun at Gary's Fun House!

We visited Lulu's uncle, Gary Baseman's studio and home this beautiful Sunday to check out his nearly finished paintings for "Vicious", a show soon shipping to Milan, Italy. And Lulu enjoyed every minute of it. There was so much to look at (but not touch) and while temptation presented itself at every turn, Lulu did very well. There was great snacking, lots of laughs, lots to explore, and much to learn from Gary. We're looking forward to the next studio Funday!

Lulu wanted to wear a "mask" like all her play-friends.

Hugging herself with excitement.

Gary painted with a smile on his face, all afternoon.

Blackie came out to say, hi. Lulu was excited by his visit.

Video: LEGO NXTified Friends Robolab (3933)

Anika Vuurzoon of the Netherlands has published a video with encouraging words for those interested in roboticizing their LEGO:

Do you want to have your own Robolab with moving Robots? Then watch my NXTified Friends Robolab. A great combination of Mindstorms and the Friends Olivia's invention workshop set.

Interested to learn more about the Vuurzoon family? Check out their LEGO enthusiast page here. I'll be following Anika and her future work closely. What an inspiration to us all!

Play-experiment with your child today: LEGO Friends Olivia's Inventor's Workshop 3933

[Hat tip to Geek Dad]