Attachment Mama

Archive for the ‘Holiday’ Category

Easter in Texas Hill Country

By Monica Cravotta | Published: Sunday, April 4, 2010

Hope everyone had a lovely weekend! We had a wonderful day today in the beautiful Texas Hill Country spending Easter with Mark’s parents. Gran and Grandad put together a super sweet egg hunt for the girls in the woods on their property replete with hand-painted baskets from Gran. Matching dresses courtesy of their Bama in Colorado. They are part of a super cute western collection at Baby Gap.

The sugar crash this evening was rough – but worth it. We’re filled with gratitude for the time spent connecting with our extended family whenever we can. Life is short. And as you all know, these precious moments become memories in a flash.

Posted in Holiday | 1 Comment

Mama-Toddler Fun with Homemade Valentines!

By Monica Cravotta | Published: Thursday, February 11, 2010

I had so much fun making Valentines last year with my then 2 year-old daughter – I’m excited to pull out the supplies this weekend and do it again. Sadie, now in her full-on”I-can-do-it, I-can-do-it, I-can-do-it, mama I-can-do-it” three-ness, will be fun to witness run wild with her artistic expression. My prediction — A LOT of uniquely shaped pieces of paper from her “cutting work” as she likes to call it. God Bless Montessori. Work is play; play is work.

A box of recycled paper cards and envelopes, valentine/wedding pattern scrap book pages and several packages of heart-shaped stickers from Home Depot — I think we spent $20 or $25 on our supplies and have plenty left to use again this year.

I let Sadie be in charge of taping wallet-sized photos of herself and her little sis to the inside of the cards. I’m not sure we’ll go to this effort this year — but it was a cute, inexpensive addition.

What do you like to do with your children for Valentine’s Day?

Posted in Holiday, Valentines | No Comments

The Big Deal About Holiday Sugar

By Monica Cravotta | Published: Sunday, December 27, 2009

Scroll down a bit and you’ll see my last post was a nostalgic celebration of my Grandma’s sugar cookie recipe. Now, three days and 20 toddler tantrums later, I, for the first time, I’m choosing to really reflect on sugar and its impact on our family’s emotional and physical well-being, and how I might do things differently in the future.

I think I’m like most Moms when it comes to refined sugar. I know that it isn’t good for you. Too much equals bad things like cavities, obesity, and mood swings. And, I choose to allow it for birthdays and holidays. But really – it’s more than just allowing. I enable it, foster it, and encourage it by modeling eating sugar myself. There’s always an occasion that merits sugar.

What’s a birthday without cake or cupcakes? What’s Halloween without candy? What’s Christmas without a million sugary things?

Sugar is an enormous part of our culture, our family traditions, and our holidays. So, what’s the big deal? I’ve generally answered this question like most people do: “Everything in moderation. A little celebratory sugar here and there is fine.”

And who wants to be the lame-ass mother that doesn’t let her child eat what the rest of the kids are eating at any given party? I’ll never forget the Jehovah’s Witness kid growing up who could not participate in any of the holiday celebrations at school. I remember him sitting alone at his empty desk watching the rest of us joyfully get jacked up on the sugar du jour. (more…)

Posted in AP & Self Care, Holiday | 7 Comments

Aunt Chick’s Vintage Cookie Cutters + My Grandma’s Recipe

By Monica Cravotta | Published: Wednesday, December 23, 2009

A little slice of YUM and something easy and fun to do with toddlers on Christmas: making old-fashioned Christmas sugar cookies. This recipe has been passed down from my late Grandma, Betty Bay to my mom to me.

In one bowl blend together:

1 1/3 cup butter or alternative

1 1/2 cup sugar

1 1/2 tsp almond extract

Add: 2 eggs, 2 tb + 2 tsp milk/milk alternative

In a separate bowl mix:

4 cups flour

1 tbs baking powder

pinch salt

Gradually add flour combo to the butter-sugar-yum with mixer. Separate into 2 sections, wrap in waxed paper and refrigerate for an hour or longer. Roll out and use cutters of choice. And as my Mom kindly reminded me, “Remember to dip the cookie cutter in flour so the dough doesn’t stick!” I still managed to forget every fourth cookie or so.

Bake 8 minutes at 375° give or take a few minutes on either side depending on how brown you like your cookies. For the Santa cookies, cut raisins in half for the eyes and put in prior to baking and sprinkle coconut on top of freshly frosted beard and stache. My Santy is a bit thin on decor as I had a toddler wanting to help and needed to call it done, but you can imagine white frosted eyebrows and mustache and rosy cheeks.

Not that anyone will be shopping for Christmas cookie cutters on December 24, but if you’d like to know where to get the modern replicas of the original Aunt Chick cutters that first came out in 1948 and bookmark the site for next year — you can find them at: Gramma’s Cutters.com

Posted in Holiday | 1 Comment

Top 5 Gifts for Parents of Babies and Toddlers

By Monica Cravotta | Published: Saturday, December 19, 2009

There are so many material things that are more than wonderful to receive when you’re starting or growing a family: baby clothes, socks, booties, hats, toys, blankets, baby carriers, diaper bags, books, picture frames, bibs, diaper cloths, baby monitors, etc. I’m enormously grateful for having received most of the above through baby showers and hand-me-downs from my sister-in-law. All of these wonderful gifts have enabled us to keep our angels dressed in every season, entertained, and read to from an early age.

Here’s some other gift ideas that are more about the parents, but the relief these gifts provide for Mommy and Daddy will ultimately mean more emotional capacity to provide loving, patient care of their little ones around the clock.

1) A FOOD TREE. For parents following the birth of a child — organizing a Food Tree is a wonderful gift. A Food Tree is essentially a group of friends and family members gathering together to take turns bringing meals to a family in need of support. This was an amazing experience for us following the birth of our second baby. We were so overwhelmed with appreciation for the lovely dinners that were brought to us from our friends that we threw a Gratitude party for them five months later. I recommend setting up an online calendar system. This makes coordinating the different dates easy, and everyone can see the types of meals being delivered to avoid duplications. Care Calendar is great. Mama True offers some great additional tips on how to go about setting up a food tree that include questions to ask the recipients that can be shared with their community of friends.

2) GIFT CERTIFICATE FOR ERRAND-RUNNING SERVICE. This might be the next greatest gift after a Food Tree. My local favorite: PunchList. I’m sure most cities have one that you can find on Google. Getting into the car with babies and toddlers isn’t generally a relaxing experience. To be able to call someone to pick up something you need while you tend to the tots in the comfort of your home. WOW.

3) GIFT CERTIFICATE FOR MAID SERVICE. I can’t think of a single mom with small children that wouldn’t be filled with appreciation for this gift. Looking at my dirty floors right now I might cry tears of joy and gratitude for this one.

4) BABYSITTING. Just an hour or two out of the house can do wonders for over-stretched parents needing to recharge their batteries. And when you don’t have to worry about a dinner and movie date costing $100 with baby-sitting, you might be more inclined to get out.

5) GIFT CERTIFICATE FOR RESTAURANTS THAT DELIVER. You can opt to find one restaurant that delivers and get a certificate directly from them, or find a delivery service that will provides your friend or family member with options. Austin Service is Dine on Demand.

OK, so with the exception of the Food Tree, I think I just wrote down my Wish List for Santa. Less than a week until Christmas and I’m still conflicted how to present this mythical dude to my toddler. Apparently there’s a part of me that still wants to believe in him myself! Santa? Santa? Are you there?