Are there "Dad blogs" or "Man blogs"?
Mom blogs. Why are they called that? Because the writer is a mom?
Well, aren’t all of us moms a lot of other things, too? And isn’t the real reason why we are connecting simply because we are women? And as women we have a wonderful desire and capacity to share our thoughts and get to know one another. Why, it’s wired in our DNA.
I thought about this when I told a girlfriend yesterday that I’d posted my first entry on my “Mom blog."
We laughed and said it reminded us of the times when we’ve introduced ourselves as “So-and-so’s mum” on the playground, and then asked, “Are you James’ mum?” When my kids (now 10 and almost 7) were younger, I remember being called “Liv’s or Sophie’s mum” more than “Kathryn.”
(Note: my parents are from England. Most of my family still lives there so I say “mum” a lot)
I’ll let you in on a little inside joke here at Canadian Living. When the “Mom Blog” banner with my photo was first designed for the CL.com web site, it featured my pic and … (drum roll, please) … a backpack. Yes, that dependable, practical symbol of all things mommsy.
When our lovely (and non-mom) web editor, Jen, emailed the image to me, I said, “Jen, see what happens when you have kids? Your existence will forever be associated with a backpack.” (That sobering reality might actually be an effective form of birth control for the under-30 set).
I wasn’t complaining, mind you. But Jen got the point and soon revamped the image. Now, you’ll see my pic with a charming (but practical, sigh) purple tote bag with a journal, car keys and … a teddy bear.
Truth be told, said bear is not mine, nor my kids. Their favourite stuffies are a hippo, “lambie” and a panda. And being the chic mum that I like to think that I am, I’d never be caught dead with them tucked in my tote.
Ok, enough.
I bet you are reading my mom/mum blog because in my first and last post, I promised you could win a blender and now you’re saying, “Where’s the blender mom/mum blogger? Just tell me how I can get the darn blender!”
The first three people who subscribe to my blog and post a comment telling me what they want to make in the blender - or when they least feel like a mum - will win an OSTER® DIGITAL BLENDER (retail value $79.99). Thanks Oster!
P.S. Here’s what I like best about the blender: it has an ice crusher blade that won't dull or bend as well as an ice-crush setting. Make yourself a frozen cocktail.
Tags: blender, contest, contest; mom; kids; girlfriends, kids, moms
May 6th, 2009 at 3:09 pm
Hi, hopefully I am one of the first three people to respond to your blender offer!! I would love to start making smoothies, especially with summer approaching! I think I could also freeze them as frozen pops for the kids to snack on while running around outside. And of couse the blender would come in handy for girls night margharitas (the night you are not just "MOM")!!!
May 6th, 2009 at 5:31 pm
Like you, Kathryn, I want to lose a few pounds, and will be happy when it is down to only 15! So, I think I'd love a blender to make low-fat fruit smoothies.
Recently I took a quick long weekend vacation to a beautiful inn in Vermont with my husband. It was the first time in a long while that I have not felt too "mumsy" (lived in England myself for a while ....and now make my kids honour me on Mothering Sunday and our Mother's Day). It was lovely.
May 6th, 2009 at 5:38 pm
Hmmmmm, a blender. Yummy! I would make soups, milkshakes, sauces. You name it. If it can be blended, I'm your gal! Oh, and I least feel like a Mom when I am shopping for clothes for me.
May 6th, 2009 at 5:39 pm
Make that...shopping for clothes for me in New York City!
May 6th, 2009 at 9:35 pm
Great Blog! Right at this very moment I would make Pina Coladas as my kids are driving me nuts and mama needs an escape to the islands, lol!
May 6th, 2009 at 10:08 pm
Hi I'm in, can't wait to reading your blogs,
I want to subscribe
May 6th, 2009 at 10:11 pm
I forgot to say that I would make a Pina Colada Smothie with that blender, a new recipe from the Boot Camp Menu
May 6th, 2009 at 10:59 pm
I am interested in keeping my children's mother (me) as healthy as possible. And that has meant learning a whole new way of cooking. I just discovered blending vegetables to use as nutritious and delicious sauces. Then there are the soups, and the fruits... I just need the blender. Thanks for the chance.
May 7th, 2009 at 2:30 am
Personally I would like to make hummus in the blender. The ice crushing feature suggests that it has some omph in that motor
Smoothies in the morning would be good too, the frozen berries would be toast :p
May 7th, 2009 at 8:34 am
I'd like to make brownies in a blender!
Marta
May 7th, 2009 at 8:37 am
Mango Lassi and Orange Julius are also favourites of mine. The Orange Julius uses crushed ice cubes and is so refreshing!
Marta
May 7th, 2009 at 9:43 am
I'd like to make margaritas or frozen daquiris...so I need crushed ice. Every morning, I'd like to be able to make healthy shakes: milk, yogurt and fruit. I also like to put certain soups in blenders and turn them into cream soup.
When do I least feel like a mum? I guess that would be late at night when I'm putting my bills in order! (Let's make that a little clearer.....that would be when I'm "taking care of business")
May 7th, 2009 at 6:47 pm
I have been subscribed to this blog since before you took it over for CL and just rec'd this posting and discovered that there were 12 responses to this entry before I even read it! How is that being subscribed takes longer to actually see your post?
Anyway I doubt I would win the blender since I'm not living in Canada. If I had won I would use it to make low calorie smoothies. (I'm seriously in need of healthy, low calorie choices in order to lose some significant weight (100+ pounds) and a decent blender would make it much easier to work at this weight loss.)
As for least feeling like a mum/mom well being a grandma to 3 darlings and one on the way makes me very aware of the journey of parenting.
Anyway I'd read your blog even without the incentive of the blender
May 9th, 2009 at 7:40 am
Here is my blender brownie recipe. It is so... easy, releatively nutritious (uses a can of kidney beans)... and for those on a gluten-free diet... an added bonus as they can enjoy them too. It is such a simple recipe-everything gets tossed into the blender... and according to my teenage sons, tastes as good as the gluten laden brownies. I must give credit to Linda Simon and the source below where I found it.
http://www.glutenfreekitchentherapy.us
Cocoa Bean Brownies (or Flourless Chocolate Cake) Makes 16 small brownies.
A thin batter puffs up during baking and then deflates a little as it cools.
The brownies are very fudgy and very yummy. They also stay amazingly moist for many days.
Ingredients:
1/2 cup cocoa
1/3 cup canola oil
1-15 oz can beans, drained and rinsed (kidney, pinto, navy, or black beans all work well)
1 1/4 cups sugar
3 eggs
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Put all ingredients in a blender or food processor and process until smooth. Oil an 8x8 inch pan. Pour batter into the pan and bake for 35-40 minutes, or until brownies are just set. Cool, cut and serve. For a flourless chocolate cake, and a fancier presentation, use an 8" round cake pan. Cut into wedges and serve with raspberry or strawberry sauce.
Linda Simon linda@glutenfreekitchentherapy.us
Marta's note: Once I’ve taken these out of the oven, I sprinkle them generously with chocolate chips. When the chips have melted, I spread them like icing to cover the top.
Enjoy!