My little girl is growing up too fast

My daughter and I were getting dressed, ready to go out. As I finished dressing, the final thing I did was put my breast pads into my bra (I'm lactating, not trying to look bigger, btw). Wide eyed, she yells, "I want boobies! I want boobies!" and proceeds to open the cabinet, take 2 breast pads and one panty-liner and runs away. "You don't need those!" I yell after her to which she continues yelling, "I want boobies!!" She stuffs the pads into her shirt and peels the panty-liner and sticks it across her leg. "Ouchy" she says, pointing to the panty-liner. "You don't know the half of it, honey."

Nightmares come true

I've returned from a trip to Cuba with my parents and both my kids...a first in many respects. I went into this trip anticipating some stress and hard work so having a number of my thematic nightmares come true really shouldn't be a surprise.

Wrong footwear: In some dreams, I go somewhere important with the wrong shoes or no shoes at all. This is in the same vein as giving a speech wearing no clothes (which did not happen). We were so busy packing trip bags and the kids for our early morning excursion into Holguin that I neglected to change my shoes. So I'm in the third largest city in Cuba wearing my slippers.

Being late: In my dreams, I am late for class, test, lecture, or work. I really wanted my daughter to get to the Mini-Disco on time because she would love it and was a shoo-in to win title of Dancing Queen. An agonizing combination of slow eating, slow walking, and lack of efficiency from the group caused us to miss the whole thing.

Not touching the ocean: Ever since I began traveling to sunny destinations, I've had dreams where I'm on holiday and I realize that I must return home without having had the chance to even touch the water. In reality I TOUCHED the water on the second day briefly. And once again for an hour to snorkle once I arranged my parents to babysit. This was excruciating.

Not eating: A less common dream theme but it came true. Between two babies and lots of washroom trips, I ate too little, too quickly at times. The worst was when we were already late for breakfast and by the time I fed and diapered the kids, the buffet was closed.

Spiders: Saw two big ones in the room. The hubby took care of them fortunately.

Inequality: No one's fault but my own and I have a tendency to be a martyr. My parents helped a lot, don't get me wrong. Especially my mother. My hubby helped too. I just felt that my mom and I did a whole lot more in respects to child care vs. play and relaxing. Would also have liked to have been acknowledged on Mother's Day. Too bad.


Still...it was a good trip as everyone really enjoyed themselves especially my parents. It was a lovely resort and the food was good. At least my funhouse nightmares didn't come true!

Inspired Cooking

Having returned from a week in Cuba (more on that later), I was actually inspired to try a few new things in the kitchen. First of all, if you read any travel reviews, most people warn not to expect good food in Cuba. I thought the food was mostly very good! In the last two days, I've made stuffed baked peppers, sausage rolls, and seared duck breast.

I've made duck breast before but I learned how to properly flambe while watching the cooks make fried bananas in orange liquer and rum. After searing the breasts, I added red wine, marmalade, and Grand Marnier, tipped the pan towards the open flame then...

...it will take a few weeks to grow my eyebrows back.