Geeky Spiderman Boy (a Gift)

This week we had two birthdays and today it is my youngest son's 6th birthday. So to you my boy, I dedicate today's post.

 I would have never believed anyone if they would have told me six years ago how much my life would have changed after introducing you, our second living creature to this world, our most precious gift together with your brother. Your dad and I thought that after the challenges we faced with your big brother, that you would have been a piece of cake to handle, we had this. Wrong! Your big personality slowly started showing up too and took us all by surprise, in every sense of the word. In kindergarten your teachers already  "Don't know what to do with you anymore", but hey, your brother needed the challenge after all!:-)

You know how to make us all smile, every day. Some days are more challenging than others, but your dad and I are also learning, understanding that we were chosen to be your parents for a reason. Your potentials are incredible. I see them in you each and every day. That will power that drives us crazy today is what will make you someone that will change the world tomorrow.

You are as sweet as you are hardheaded and your cuddles are priceless. Your heart is big and your intelligence spectacular; I still remember when you were about the age of two and I got lost and from your toddler, turquoise car seat you pointed your tiny finger and said "Mom that way! Then there." and you were right! Just like that.

You always know what you want and no one can convince you otherwise. I love that you ask to wear your Spider-man suit even if we are no where near Halloween and people look at you "strange" or kids make fun of you. You just pretend to fire a spiderweb at them and carry right on playing....

So I am more than honored to be your mother and will accept these challenges with (tired) joyfulness and hope for you in the future.

As requested by Sir Ethan, mom made:

Ethan's Spiderman Cake

Happy Birthday!

Geeky Cooking - Tardis Cake

Sunday was my husband's 32nd birthday and being that we are all big fans of Doctor Who, the kids and I decided to make a Tardis birthday cake! It actually did not come out too bad for it being our first attempt.

Tardis Cake

This is what we did:

For the cake we simply used this store bought 4th of July cake mix (on super-sale) with bits of colored red, white and blue sprinkles inside. Simply follow the directions on the box.

Cake Mix

Let it cool!

For the frosting, once the cake cooled, we used this simple recipe:

What you need:

• 1 cup butter (no substitutes), softened
• 8 cups confectioners' sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup milk

What to do:

In a mixing bowl, cream butter. Beat in sugar and vanilla. Add milk until frosting reaches desired consistency. 

Link: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/buttercream-frosting/

cream butter

desired consistency

 

For the design:

What you need:

• blue food coloring
• red food coloring
• yellow food coloring
• black "Wilton's" Sparkle Gel Tube
• piping bag

What to do:

Divide the frosting in half and put in two bowls. Take two tablespoons out of one of the bowls (it does not matter which) and put it in a third bowl.  Mix in blue food coloring in one of the bowls until desired color is obtained. In the other, mix in the red and yellow food coloring but do not combine the colors completely. Use the blue frosting and make the Tardis shape.

Shape it

Next use the white frosting and make two squares for the windows, and a smaller one for the top of the Tardis. Use the black gel tube to make the black contours.

With the colored frosting make the "Universe" by spreading it sparingly around the Tardis. Use a piping bag to decorate the rest as you wish!

Use your imagination!

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday!

Geeky Martial Arts

So yesterday I had my belt testing for Cho Dan Bo pretest #1. This means that (provided I pass) I am one year away from testing for my black belt! One of the things we are tested on are the Tang Soo Do "Ten Articles of Faith". Here they are:

1-Be loyal to your country
2-Be obedient to your parents
3-Be loving between husband and wife
4-Be cooperative between brothers
5-Be faithful between friends
6-Be respectful to your elders
7-Be faithful between teacher and student
8-Know the difference between good and evil
9-Never retreat in battle
10-Always finish what you start

I love these. One of them though particularly stands out to me, number ten. "Always finish what you start". Probably I take it so much to heart because I am one of those people who struggles to finish or follow through on things in general; projects, lifestyle changes, journals, jobs....you name it. Not that I am not dedicated or lack motivation, on the contrary! Somewhere along the way though a voice in head tells me I am not worth it. I ask myself "What do you think you are doing?Do you really think you will manage to do this? Come on!".

Eventually, earning my black belt (which is actually midnight blue to symbolize that even at that level you keep learning) will mean a lot to me because I will have proven to myself that I have the ability to actually finish something. Although in reality it will be the start of a new journey. I will not quit. For my children. For myself.
 

Belts I earned so far

Our Master and Kyo Sa Nim always tell us it is not about the belt, the belt only helps to keep the pants from falling, and that anyone can buy it for ten dollars. To me it is about not giving up. It is about following through on something and hoping that this will shut that voice in my head once and for all. What a wonderful lesson I am teaching my two mini-geeks too!

So to you "voice", I dedicate this clip :

Geeky Cooking - Ravioli

We recently bought this ravioli stamp and today I decided to actually use it to make some delicious homemade ravioli! Now with my awesome pasta-maker machine (my mom bought me) it was so much fun and they came out YUMMYYY. Our youngest is having trouble eating lately and he is pretty skinny to begin with, so I try to cook nutritious and caloric meals. Well these ravioli are perfect! We are talking ground pork, beef, and turkey filling with parmigiano cheese, eggs and milk soaked bread. The fresh pasta is amazing too! The kids loved it! Not too diet friendly though ladies ;)

For the Fresh pasta you will need:

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 3 large eggs
• 3 tablespoons water
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon salt 

(you may need to add water or flour to get the right consistency)

What to do:

On a clean surface make a well with the flour. In a measuring cup mix the eggs, water and oil and salt. Pour the wet mixture slowly into the flour and mix with your hands until all of the wet is incorporated. Form the dough into a disk and cover with plastic wrap. Place in the refrigerator for 1 hour to rest.

well

wet mixture

pour in well

dough

For the meat and cheese filling you may use your favorite meatloaf recipe or for mine you will need:

• 1/4 pound ground turkey
• 1/4 pound ground beef
• 1/2 pound ground pork
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan
• 1 slice bread
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup milk
• salt
• pepper
• oregano
  

What to do:

Combine all the ingredients in one big bowl. Mix with your hands until all the ingredients are thoroughly combined but do not squeeze the meat.

For the ravioli:

What to do:



Using the fresh pasta recipe, roll out your dough either by hand or by machine.
After you have rolled the pasta out into sheets, cut the sheet into an even amount of squares (we used our ravioli stamp!). Using a teaspoon fill the center of half with the filling. Brush around the filling with egg wash and place the remaining squares on top. Press down around the seal to push out any air bubbles.
In half a gallon of rapidly boiling salted water add the ravioli in batches of about ten at a time.
They are delicious with browned butter and freshly grated parmigiano.

roll w/pasta-maker!

ravioli stamp!

add meat

cover

boil

browned butter

Enjoy!!!!:-)

Geeky Summer Organization

So it's summer and I am more tired than I was a few months ago when the college semester had not ended yet! Having two hyperactive mini-geeks around all day does not help ;-/ In addition, no family around to help out makes it even harder. Thus, I have decided to get organized (actually I really have no choice) since the two mini-Chtulhus go crazy if there should be one second of tranquility in the house!

So basically I have divided the week days as follows:

-Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays we go to the gym, the kids have fun at the "kids place" (mom gets two hours to herself..YAY!) then off to the gym pool. Followed by lunch, house chores, some journal writing, reading (you never know, they might become the next Stephen King ;-)) and TV/Video games time (equals relax for mom). If there is bad weather we will make some geeky cooking creations. Then dad comes home and we go run some errands or go to the library and get some books.

kids' journals

Our ten year old loves these series!

Our five year old loves these!

-Tuesdays and Wednesdays are my cleaning days so I take the kids to their martial arts dojan for two consecutive classes while I get something done in the messy home that by this point resembles mostly a war zone! The afternoon is pretty much the same as the other days.

One thing is for sure: we are always looking for geeky activities to do at a low cost. For example we are planning on a trip to the science museum soon :-) Will keep you posted!

http://www.allroads.com/images/FortWorthMuseumofScienceandHistory.jpg