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May 04 MiPodMiPod: In this day and age, A Big Life must include an iPod. I was the last one in the family to get one after my teenage daughters and my husband, but since I joined the digi-music ranks this Christmas, I have become very aware of my own taste in music. Downloading songs is a wonderful pastime and a revealing process of self awareness- a great window (ear!) into your life.
Heading out on my powerwalk I hit the Shuffle Songs feature on the player, tuck the tiny speakers into my ears, and let the music unfold. I don't read my horoscope, but I leave the random shuffle up to the stars. You never know what will come up and thanks to iPod technology our music appreciation can now segue from Mary J. Blige to the opening strains of Puccini's “La Traviata”. Each title lays a background track into this moment in my life, it takes me to the place where I first heard it and, ideally, gets me over the hill on my walk.
The first five songs on the shuffle are very revealing. Do I dare share? Can I broadcast my most intimate taste in music AND mortify my daughters? Well, here it is: the first five songs on iPod--which I am listening to as I write this blog.
Song 1 of 334: A Case of You. Joni Mitchell. Miles of Aisles. What a beautiful conceit. Drinking a "case" of someone you love and still being on your feet...an indulgent love metaphor. I am sentimental. I love wine. I remember this song when it first came out; Joni at her most perfect resonance.
Song 2 of 334: How Do You Keep the Music Playing? Michel Legrand. Movie soundtrack. I searched Legrand (Summer of '42) and got this, too. A sappy instrumental. What movie???
Song 3 of 334: Lord Thou has been our refuge: St. Paul's Cathedral Choir. The English Anthem Album. I grew up singing in the church choir and the sounds of English boy's voices in a vaulted cathedral is a contemplative refuge.
Song 4 of 334: I Got Lost in His Arms: Shirley Horn. Album: You're my Thrill From Annie Get Your Gun. This is a great American Standard to which this classic pair of chops lends her powerful and hesitant phrasing. "From the dark came a voice and it seemed to say, there you go..there you go..." Who hasn't been in that room???
(Coventry Carol: Kenny Loggins. Hit skip on this one...HOW DO YOU SEPARATE THE CHRISTMAS SONGS ON A PLAY LIST ANYWAY??)
Song 5 of 334: Swallowed in the Sea: Cold Play: X&Y Finally..a song post 2000! I love his voice (whoever he is who is married to Gwenyth Paltrow) Easy lyrics and melodic harmonies: "You cut me down to size and opened up my eyes...I could write a song a hundred miles long.." Basic, soothing pop.
OK. This reads a little like the Tuesday Playlist in USA TODAY, but it's fun, don't you think? Will YOU SHARE YOUR first five shuffles? As always, I want to now what's on your mind and in your ears. It is sure to give me some great ideas for new tunes AND new observations into how we all live our Big Lives.
BTW. CAN A BUSY MOM wear her iPod to the Stop & Shop? Do you download books and language lessons or mindless pop? I can't wait to HEAR from you.
Sissy BIG May 01 Family DinnerHi, Big Lifers.
Mom, what's for dinner?
Are these words a mother's most dreaded...or encouraging words? When my teenager, Lucy asked that very question last week my first reaction (after the mental inventory of what was, indeed, for dinner) was that we had done something right. Lucy was looking forward to dinner at home. The family dinner table has always been a priority in our BIG LIFE. Like most households where the mom is the primary dinner provider, when I am within a 50 mile radius of my home (which is the commuting distance to New York!), I put dinner on the table. Gathering around the table and sharing the events of the day has really been one of the most important parenting efforts we have made. The dinner table is where we share news of the day, family history--our home base for connecting with the past and planning for the future.
I have been thinking a lot about the Biggers Family table recently. I guess you could say it is a bit nostalgia driven since Lucy '08 will begin her last year at home this fall. To be honest, I dread it and worry that the motivation to gather around the table won't be the same. Motivation is key to getting that dinner on the table and every family scenario has it challenges. With two working parents and the over-scheduled kids finding the time to plan and execute a healthy, affordable and tasty dinner on a nightly basis is daunting.
There is a wonderful book I want to bring to your attention: The Surprising Power of Family Meals: How Eating Together Makes Us Smarter, Stronger, Healthier and Happier, by Miriam Weinstein. Miriam is a journalist and a filmmaker and mother of two grown girls. If you are looking for motivation to go to the trouble of putting a family dinner on the table, Miriam will show you wonderful studies to support the value of this family interaction. Miriam and I were guests of the JM Smucker Company at their annual R&D meeting in Monterey, California this week where we presented a program to the employees on the importance of the family dinner. We wrapped all the information into what I called, The Smuckers Family Challenge where two employees "competed" to create a family dinner out of simple ingredients. It took me back to my days as the host of Ready, Set, Cook! on the Food Network. While these employees were by no means master chefs, I have to say they plated some really yummy and creative dishes!
Before the school year slips from our grasp and the day to day routines get carried away by the summer wind, why not try to incorporate a family dinner a couple of nights a week while the light and days are at their longest. Let me know what tricks you have for getting the family to gather. Remember, the family table will evolve as the kids get older, but it is never too soon to pull the height chair to the edge of the family table and show the tortellini toddlers the family unit.
Here are some tips for making it a little easier.
Sissy’s Five Points for Family Dinners:
· Pick what looks GOOD. Be ready to throw-over your shopping list for the vegetables and meats that say, “Take me home…” · If they build it they will come…when kids lend a hand in combining simple ingredients they have a pride and a better chance of it pleasing their palates when they get to the table. · How was YOUR day? – Be ready to answer that question with more than one word yourself! Or play "High/Low" and ask everyone to describe the high point and low point of their day. · Thursday night stretch: Give yourself a break with breakfast for dinner. French toast or scrambled eggs do taste better @ 6PM! · Invite your child’s friends (especially teens and tweens) to stay for dinner—their buddies are an excellent source of news and information. April 24 Serving Your Big LifeI’m sure we’ve all experienced those overwhelming days where you just wish you had an extra pair of hands to do all that stuff you can’t get to. With so many little things to think about in our daily lives it’s always nice to be able to make things as convenient as possible. So this got me thinking, wouldn’t it be nice to have a service or support that actually did all those little unconventional tasks for you.
I was at the dentist having my teeth cleaned and it occurred to me that I HATE to floss and I would PAY to have someone come to my house and floss my teeth a few times a week. Imagine a dental hygienist with the sensible shoes, and the uniform, and surgical mask, and latex gloves arriving and flossing your teeth in your own home???? Then I was thinking...I really can't imagine employing a housekeeper full time, but couldn't someone just show up every night at about 8PM and unload and reload the dishwasher? What about someone to just sit in the front seat of your car and change your radio so you don’t have to worry about driving off the road. Just think…there are so many everyday tasks I’d love to hand over to a service- especially the little things you tend to forget. Wouldn’t it be great to have someone come in just to replace the toilet paper in the bathroom? Forget ever having to deal with that person who always leaves the empty roll without replacing it! Voila, you could just hire someone to come in and change the roll whenever it was empty. How about someone to charge your cell phone? I can’t count how many times I’ve tried to call my kids, only to get their voicemail message and later find that they forgot to charge their phone so the battery died.Why not create a service for that and avoid playing phone tag! Or better yet what if you could just hire someone to make all those phone calls for you...Now that’s living a BIG life!
Even if it may sound ridiculous, think about how nice it would be not to have to worry about all those little things after a long day. So what kind of services would you be willing to pay someone to do for you? Write me your ideas. The possibilities are endless! March 20 Spring Fling?If you live in the Northeast, you surely have been looking for the first sign of spring. Last week I counted the green of St. Patrick's Day as the sure thing...and then that nasty Nor'easter tested our mettle, canceled parades and jammed airline routes and reservation lines from Washington to Bangor. My sister was the first to call with bad news. Her week-long condo rental (Christmas gift!) in Sarasota was hanging in the balance when she called from the floor at Philadelphia International with her family, playing the portable Candy Land board as the hours and the cancellations, embarkings and disembarkings racked up on the big board. They were lucky, arriving in Sarasota by dawn on Sunday. My brother from Los Angeles called with a touch of awe in his voice as he strapped into the only equipment to land and take off in Burlington, VT on Saturday. My best friend finally emailed today (MONDAY!) to say she was stuck in Puerto Vallarta with her Mom and 4 teenagers on spring break (OK "stuck" in Puerto Vallarta). Another friend (single Mom and real estate broker) just turned around on her way to a long planned networking meeting in Los Angeles after her flight was canceled only to drive home to let the baby-sitter go. (Ouch!) This afternoon another friend called to describe her Lacrosse team college freshman calling from Orlando in his only pair of (wet) boxer shorts (having been ritually awoken and tossed into the pool by the upper classman on their first road trip) after a 48-hour pretzel and diet coke odyssey. The lacrosse sticks were last seen in Syracuse, New York--along with the dry skivvies.... How's that for a small sampling of irate travelers in pursuit of a Spring Break? I am sure you have your own horror story. In our BIG LIVES, misery needs company, so post your experience. Tell us how you kept your kids occupied over a delay or (this part is the worst) changed your own mental gears--and those of your Sesame Street set--as your long anticipated vacation went South…NOT! More like North...on the tails of the icy clipper. One more thing--which I have been meaning to mention...I LOVE TO SHOVEL. If a snowstorm hits when I am out of town...my family steps over drifts to leave the snow removal for Mom. It is one of the most singularly productive, mentally satisfying and completely aerobic activities I enjoy. I love the challenge of the different snow conditions, the tools (light weight plastic shovel, heavy handle metal garden separator, stiff broom) and the results...exposed brick and dry, gleaming flagstone. Is it just me? Tell me you understand! Oh, and this...I saw a rack of Burpee Garden seeds at the Stop & Shop tonight. Not sure how soon those radish seeds are going to get an outing...but the robin red breast sunbathing on my shoveled, dry pavement might consider it a treat. That is the most encouraging sign of spring yet!! Post your sure sign of spring. Big Sis March 13 Make Your Own Cookie ArtYum! Eleni's cookies really are delicious little works of art. The A Big Life team is anxious to get started making our own versions of these cookies at home. We hope you are too!To help you and us out, we've included the recipes below. To help with your designs, we suggest that you print out photos of our cookies to use as templates and help guide you with your designs. To do this, click on the cookie photo album on the right. The cookie photo album will then fill your browser window. You will see a filmstrip of all the cookie photos on the bottom of the window. Click on whichever one you are interested in and it will appear in the center of the window. Mouseover that photo and right click. Select Print Picture.
For Eleni's Royal Icing Recipe, click here.
For Grandma Mertl's Sugar Cookie recipe, click here.
If you'd like to make Grandma Mertl's icing, use the recipe below:
Simply mix together the following:
1 lb. of powdered sugar
1 stick of butter
A little milk (as much as you need to reach desired spreading consistency)
Have a great time and email us photos of your delicious cookie creations! Our address is abiglife@nbcuni.com. March 09 A Big Life Thinks Green!After a bitter, last, blast of winter, the hint of Spring is finally in the year and things are starting to look a little green...The charms and traditions of St. Patrick's Day are a upon us and A Big Life has another excuse for a party! This year, the Patron Saint of Ireland’s feast day is celebrated on a Saturday, so there will be feasting, indeed! Many cities have parades, from New York City (The Grand Patty of 'em all which is a command performance for politicians and anyone with a cause). New Haven, Connecticut and Philadelphia march in step as Chicago does its own River dance across the Chicago River died green for the occasion. Atlanta, too, has a well established Irish community from its earliest days of immigration when some of the larger cities restricted the number of Irish they allowed to settle. Their parade winds its way through downtown and culminates in the city's Underground venue where the party continues into the night with music and traditional food. And, as far south as Georgia, Savannah boasts the second largest parade in the country where tens of thousands line the streets of the normally gentile city which dies its city fountains green. No matter where you live, or what your heritage, a touch of green around the neck is sure to elicit an enthusiastic Celtic greeting: ERIN GO BRAGH! Be sure and return the greeting: Forever Ireland!! A Big Life St. Patrick's Day Party. Traditional Corned Beef and Cabbage: This simple and delicious platter of meat and potatoes is good any night, but is particularly apt to serve up on a long day of drinking and marching. Use a slow cooker or crock-pot and start it first thing in the morning so while you and your family are enjoying the drum corps and pomp and circumstances, you know your dinner will be ready when you get home: 12 new potatoes quartered 4 carrots, sliced 4 pds corned beef brisket 2 onions sliced 3 bay leaves 8 - 16 black peppercorns (or red and green mix) water to cover 1 head cabbage, wedged Place potatoes and carrots in bottom of slow cooker stoneware. Add brisket, onion, bay leaves and peppercorns. Add enough water to cover Place stoneware in slow cooker heating base, cover and cook on Low for 8-10 hours or on High for 4-5 hours. Add cabbage halfway.....Serves 6-8. Chop fresh two tablespoons of fresh dill and stir into small pitcher of melted butter. Serve up platter and finish off potatoes, carrots and cabbage with a drizzle of the green butter. Garnish platter with fresh parsley. Serve with a good horseradish that has been tinted green with food coloring. Serve with a basket of Irish Soda Bread.
Sipping Green: Green Apple Martini's: 1/2 oz vodka Combine in a shaker filled with ice. Garnish with a thin slice of fresh apple on edge of glass or dip martini glass in sugar tinted with green food coloring. Other Green Drinks: (Green Crème de Menthe is makes a Green Grasshopper :) 1/3 oz. White Crème de Cacao 1/3 oz Green Crème de Menthe 1/3 fresh Cream Shake well and serve Green Snacks: Spinach Dip served in green celery sticks:
Green Dessert: Scoop up some pistachio ice cream and serve Shamrock cookies from your favorite bakery. Drizzle with Crème de Menthe for a lucky green accent. Quick Green Flower Tip: Get a round floral oasis from your florist department at the supermarket. Soak in water in a sink and place on dinner size plate. Cut green carnations stems to length to wedge into oasis plate. Fill middle with green decorations. February 27 2007 Resolutions...how's that going?In the 58 days since January 1st when we all faced up to our New Year’s resolutions, this young year has dealt us challenges we could never have anticipated. The first couple of weeks, misery did love company and the obvious trappings of holiday pounds and bad habits were enough motivation to persevere…UNTIL …The first real confrontation: Super Bowl Sunday. That spread in front of the television covered every possible vice from gambling to gluttony. Ok…so we slipped and slid (like the pigskin that Sunday in Miami?) and we were forgiven…after all, so were DA BEARS. We steeled our courage, got back to the gym and used the cold as an excuse to take refuge from our bad habits under the coverlets in the company of other (new episodes!) Desperate Housewives. But THEN…nothing could protect us from the next unofficial American holiday timed to test our mettle: Valentine’s Day. Hopefully --to paraphrase the card I sent my mother—you didn’t find yourself all alone, like the chocolate with the oozy apricot center, stuck to the bottom of an empty box of chocolates. And if you did, well there’s always next year. The lunar calendar collided on day 45 with the Chinese New Year, Mardi Gras and the long, Presidents’ Day Weekend. On Friday night I insisted on take-out Chinese, ordered a King Cake overnighted from Haydels in New Orleans, and on Monday, I rolled out a buttermilk crust for a cherry pie in honor of our first President on Monday…. That’s A BIG LIFE…any excuse for a party. Oh, yeah. There’s one more celebration I had to brave…One of my best girlfriends had her 50th on Ash Wednesday. THAT was a test…but luckily I have 40 days to get it right. Did I miss a fete or event I should have honored? Do you feel guilty about your transgressions in this New Year? Write to me! Sissy February 20 Another Big Season!What a LOVELY way to begin our second season of A Big Life on msn.com. Our To Pop or Not to Pop segment got everyone thinking romantic thoughts. Engagement stories are the stuff (and myths) of life that crosses all cultures. It is a shared experience that elicits wonderful memories, even for those whose marriages turned out to be a ...well...more mythic than real. Even the more cynical and the long, long married are transported to a special place in recalling how our lives got BIGGER after the question was popped. Thanks, especially to Brandon in TX for sharing such a creative and successful approach. We loved his humor and thoughtfulness (not to mention computer graphics and printing skills!). We just had to post his novel engagement plan on our site. Congratulations and best wishes to the bride for your March nuptials. Many have asked how our friend Michael did on Valentines' Night with his steady, Amy. I'll have to ask around...he's been scarce since we went ring shopping.... and the office pool winnings are yet to be dispersed.... Did he or didn't he?? Oh, Mike??? Are you there??? (By the way, did you check out our extra segment with Mike? More fun facts about Weddings.) We are having a blast at A Big Life. Producer, Krista and our Director of Photography (note new HD technology) Mike are busy brainstorming to find new ways to approach the kind of topics that are a part of all of our Big Lives. This week (the third gray and frigid in a row in the Northeast) we thought a burst of color was in order with our Flower Arranging 101. I have to admit, even with my experience as the lifestyle co-host of PBS' Victory Garden, I am still slightly intimidated by flower design and mixing colors and textures. Our experts at Surroundings Flowers and Events in New York City provided a perfect winter respite amongst the fragrant stems they so generously shared in our demonstration. A tiny flower arrangement can make a BIG impression. We have lots of BIG ideas in the pipeline and A Big Life already snagged a few all-access passes to get inside Fall Fashion Week in New York. By now you've seen the flashes from the runways in Bryant Park. But only A Big Life will also take you shopping for the perfect outfit...(did I mention DISCOUNT?) to wear to a fashion outing or a night out with the girls when you want to hit a slightly trendy note. Look for those big tips next Tuesday. Sissy A Big ProposalWe want to thank everyone who submitted their proposal stories. in response to our recent epsiode: To Pop or Not to Pop. In the interest of sharing the love, check out this wonderful story from Brandon B. of Addison, TX. Brandon, we wish you and your bride a lifetime of happiness!
Here’s the story of how I proposed to Heidi, the love of my life and my soon wife-to-be. I already had the ring in hand, and she knew it was coming. I had decided to involve her in the design because I wanted it to be her perfect ring. It is a custom design adaptation of an art deco ring from the 30’s of which she had found a picture. It is very different, but definitely classic. Once we were far enough along in the design decisions, she had been excluded from the final design process and we had discussed nothing about it for about two months. I’m in my late 40’s, and although Heidi is much younger than me, she is not a nineteen-year-old bride, and this is her first marriage. She is a person that is loved and respected my many people and she has many close long-term friends. I knew very well that when we announced our engagement many friends would ask her, “Well, how did he propose?” and I wanted to be able to provide her with a good story to tell and a good memory. I wrote out the story of our courtship in the style of a “National Examiner” type story, including the requisite “believe it or not” types of exclamations. The title was “Lovers meant for each other take entire lives to find each other”. I created it in a PowerPoint with a picture of us in it, and laid it out to match the format of a National Examiner that I had bought at the grocery store. I went to a copy place that could make the appropriate sized two sided color copy in the right weight paper. I removed a page, recreated it with one side of it having my “creation” and reassembled the magazine with the story coming up on page 3. I then left it out on my kitchen table for her to see. She noticed it and asked why I had it. I told her that it had a story about us in it. She didn’t bite. After awhile, I “complained” to her that I had found this great article someone had written about us and she wasn’t even interested. So she reluctantly decided to humor me. She really thought it was just another of my pointless stupid jokes, with which she is always very patient. When she saw it and started to read it, she turned away from me because she claims that she doesn’t like me to see her cry. The last line in the story was, “Then one day Brandon got Heidi to read this story, and when it got to this part he said…” She turned to me with tears in her eyes. I offered the ring and said, “Will you marry me?” Well, we’re getting married on March 03, and it will most certainly be the happiest wedding anyone has ever witnessed. We will always have this proposal story to tell, and we also have the special copy of the National Examiner to keep and remember it. Brandon B. Addison, TX |
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