Tricia Van Vliet
Creating Traditions: Dutch Baby
I love food. Preparing it, waiting for it, sharing it. But my favorite dishes are those that are steeped in memories. The cinnamon scent of Mom's Deep Dish Apple pie, Dad's frugality-inspired pennyrolls, Howard Johnson's crispy mozzarella sticks...
Mama T’s Tips for Encouraging Healthy Eaters
1} Stop using the phrase “picky eater.”
Guilty as charged. But when I saw how the phrase was starting to effect not only my own pre-schooler's perception of food, but my own ideas about what she...
Moving Mountains
some days I look around me and see mountains
mountains of laundry
miles I'm dying to run
stuffed animals on the office floor
dog drool on the walls
mountains of wonder
how does she have it all together?
how does...
My 6 Year Old Stylist
When my now six year old was a mere 18 months old, she discovered a pair of red leather Venezualan leather Mary Janes in a bag of hand-me-downs. And like that, she was smitten.
She wore...
When You Told My Kids to Be Quiet
You called to me from your side of the fence that borders our backyards. Although at the time my family had lived in our house for over a year, I wouldn't have recognized your face at...
Tips for Extrovert Parents With Introvert Kids
I am the youngest of five kids and grew up feeling at home in social situations. In general, I am energetic around people and thrive off of interaction. Although I don't love labels, I...
Dreading Holiday Overkill? You’re Doing it Wrong.
It's the holiday season. And while the stores are piled with all things peppermint, another yearly custom is about to occur. The one where some Mommy Blogger tells me to quit celebrating so darn hard....
Feeding Sean
In my last trimester of pregnancy, a flood destroyed our home. The spring green nursery complete with washed and folded-hand-me-down clothes and a honey colored armoir that I had as a babe, was destroyed. All...
On Being “Done”
“We're going to have a little boy.”
My friend told me over the phone and I almost burned the pork carnitas I had labored over all afternoon. I yelped with pure happiness for her, her husband,...
Cry Me a River
It was winter out. Icy, frigid, gray.
I found myself sitting in the Skinny Pancake at Burlington Airport, waiting for my outbound flight to Newark, NJ. I was going to the funeral and services for...
Across the Miles on Mother’s Day
To My Mom: mother of five, grandmother to 16, nurse, wife, Sarah Lawrence graduate, back-rubber, story-teller, and forever-confidant of mine.
Dear Mom,
Thank you for teaching me to read, for sitting in the corner of our Glen...
Wax On, Wax Off
To wax or not to wax.
It's never been a question. At the ripe old age of 14, I began a dutiful pilgrimage to the nail salon in the center of town to have my...
Unplugging in the Afternoon + A Giveaway
Yesterday, the kids and I colored monster pictures.
Maggie is into patterns these days and so alternated coloring her monsters turquoise and brown. Sophia, having recently begun feeling proud of her artistic skills, worked slowly...