I write this now from my bed, where for the last month I spent the majority of my time. This is the fourth week I have been sick with COVID-19 - not able to play with our kids, help my husband around the house or Zoom with family and friends because I have to save my breath. I am still reeling from my husband having to rush me to the ER with our kids in the backseat because I could not breathe and the stress of the severity and length of my symptoms. My family was all sick, at the same time, and ...
We Should All Tell our Children They are Hardworking
I was thinking back on a very enlightening conversation with a friend, Aimee, on Thanksgiving. She has been on my mind heavy lately, as she recently lost her mother so I felt inspired to write this. Aimee is kind and treats all children with respect, which is something I always notice as a parent. She taught me a lesson that has stuck with me - that we should all tell our children they are hardworking. I brought Sienna down to Thanksgiving dinner after her nap dressed in her holiday best. ...
#GirlDad
The death of Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, has shaken the world and shaken me. I am also very sad for the other families and parts of families who died this past Sunday on that helicopter. Yesterday, Elle Duncan from Sports Center had a moving introduction to her show and talked about Kobe and how much he loved being a girl dad. The internet is honoring their relationship by holding up daddy-daughter duos in honor of Kobe and Gianna Bryant. The hastag #GirlDad is trending and ...
The Five Things I Meal Prep Almost Every Week
Everyone meal preps differently. I am not as systematic as some. Certain weeks I am super ON it and others I can barely get Sunday dinner together. But, here are the five things I meal prep almost every week for our family. I try to think of staples we can eat throughout the week alone, together or perhaps with a protein thrown on top. Then I pick different proteins to make at different times of the week. These are adaptable to most cuisines. So, I can easily make salmon or crispy tofu on ...
Daddy-Daughter Fairy Date
Today is Hendrix, Ellington's god-brother's, fifth birthday and he invited Ellington to Disneyland with his family to celebrate. We are cognizant that Sienna sometimes feels left behind. So that Sienna didn't feel left out, Lateef thought of a special activity and planned a fun daddy-daughter fairy date. She often says, "what about me" or is told, "next time, Sienna". So, we decided to wait until the morning of to tell Ellington he is going to Disneyland. This was primarily so that he wouldn’t ...
Braised Short Rib Recipe
This year Christmas fell just three weeks after Thanksgiving. We traveled to Oakland to see my family for Thanksgiving and then the first week back had to get our tree and try to somehow pull it together to decorate our house. The central thing I had on my mind going into this busy holiday season was, how can I streamline each step of hosting Christmas? A friend shared that her sister made delicious a delicious braised short rib recipe with polenta for Thanksgiving and everyone was drooling over ...