Fave Foods: Did You Know Kiwifruit is a SuperFood? I Didn't

Knowledge, they say, is power. In this case, it's SuperFood power. Just a week ago, I thought of kiwi as has-been fad fruit. You know. Every once in a while, a fruit hits celebrity status. It grabs all the "Did you know -this fruit- can cure cancer?" headlines among the chit chat circuit, and listeners chime in with "Oh, really?" choruses. Kiwifruit used to enjoy such attention, but it fell to the wayside as summer fruits like peaches, cheeries, and plums grabbed the spotlight on my weekly farmer market treks.

Well, last week, after New Zealand's Kiwi company, Zespri, sponsored a VIP luncheon at Calafia Cafe in Palo Alto, I found out kiwifruit is a SuperFood. And it's now my personal superstar favorite. As in over-the-moon-can't-wait-to-eat-it-again favorite.

Does that ever happen to you? You just get ga-ga over a certain fruit and the thought of eating it makes you swoon? I love it when that happens!

Three things about kiwi cast it's fruit obsession spell on me:

1st Importance. It's super healthy: one serving can knock out three nutrients with one kiwi.

By eating one kiwi, I get a day's worth of vitamin C, potassium (1/2 a banana), and 2 grams of fiber. And if you happen to find a gold kiwi (sold at Asian markets) rather than a green one (just check out the label, it'll say), you'll get double the dosage.

How that translates to me? I can break out of my daily routine: skip oatmeal for that day and still get my fiber (yeah!), pass on the banana, and get the same nutrients in a kiwi instead! All in just 45 calories, which is awesome, since I'm trying to lose my pregnancy baby fat.

2nd Importance. It's super easy to eat: I used to feel that eating kiwi was like eating a mango. This meant it was good fruit for my pre-mom era, but not a practical luxury with a newborn and toddler. One is yelping for milk while the other is hollering at me to watch him stand on one foot.

What changed all that is the spife. A spife is a spoon and knife combined. I can eat a kiwi by cutting it in half and scooping it out like ice cream (my other not-so-diet-friendly obsession).

Karen Brux, Zepsri's US Market Manager, passed out the spoon-on-one-end, knife-on-the-other spife to us, along with some kiwis to try out. Chef Charlie, owner of the classy eatery, demo'd it for us in a flash (Amaaazing food, btw. Must go again. Charlie Ayers was the chef that fed Google as it's Executive Chef).

I couldn't wait to try out the spife myself. After all, like Hubby says, "It's all about the tools."

For once, I totally agree. We went to the beach that weekend and actually ate our kiwis (three year old TJ included!) in the open air. Can you imagine eating anything with sand everywhere mess free?!! We were all kiwifruit converts!

3rd Importance. It's deliciously beautiful and sweet to eat. Hey, you won't find this girl crunching on bran or dry oats with a smile. I just can't sustain eating boring but healthy foods indefinitely.

But, now that I've found kiwi, it's on my list of Healthy Foods That Make Me Happy!

So, if you haven't given kiwi a chance to be your fave food, check out the Zesprikiwi.com website, get a spife (I bought some kiwis in at Safeway this week and it was packaged with one), and make sure it has the Zespri label on it. Then, you'll know it's actually from New Zealand and not from Chile or someplace else.

Going Down Memory Lane of Divorce

Not to alarm anyone. It's not my divorce. Sadly, a divorce I saw first hand, up close. I grew up avoiding the topic altogether, even though anyone and everyone would always ask me the same questions, "Have you seen your father? Do you miss not having a dad?"

No. And No. (This was my answer growing up. Now, I do miss having a dad, after seeing my Hubby as a loving father. I never knew what I missed out on, until it came back to me in such a beautiful way.) I never saw him after a few visits on the weekend after the split. My parents had a blow up and it was bad enough that I never laid eyes on my Dad since.

I've never allowed myself to think too much about the impact of not having a Dad. Life was too busy and I've always thought, What's the use in looking back? I couldn't wait to grow up and just get on with my life and pursue my own dreams.

But, now that I'm a mom, it's funny. Painful childhood memories keep cropping up now and then. Flashbacks to scenes in my life I thought were already over. Outtakes that have been locked away in the vault of a past life I'd lived.

I've never watched Jon & Kate plus Eight. 'Cuz c'mon. I have enough kiddie drama in my real life. I don't need reality TV to dish out anymore toddler potty training episodes filling up my free time.

But, news of their arrival in Splitville a week ago sent me back to my trial by fire as a child of divorce: the moment I was launched from an intact family, to one that crumbled into a broken up one.

I wrote a post on SVMoms about it. You can read it here: Jon & Kate's Divorce: Not Just Another Tabloid Story.

Yeah, I know there's a lot of different takes on divorce is good, divorce is bad, blah, blah, blah. But to a kid, that moment of reckoning is never easy to swallow. And that's reality.

So, I hug my TJ and CJ tightly and cover them with kisses and tickles until they scream for mercy. That's my therapy, and oh, it's a good life. I'm back in the now.

A Twittering Twig Am I: My Two Cents on Twitter

I finally crawled out from under a rock and got myself a Twitter account a few weeks ago. I avoided it like the plague because blogging already takes up every free minute I have (And trust me, those minutes are NOT really free!). I just didn't see how I could fit microblogging in, on top of everything else I've been juggling.

But, with my awful nausea-laden pregnancy behind me and my newborn surprisingly a marathon sleeper at at two months (three naps a day and sleeping through the night until 5:30am!), my hierarchy of needs suddenly got bumped up.

No longer sleep deprived, my mind immediately went into panic mode with my writing. Yes, I could go on just whipping up blog posts, but what's fun about blogging if I'm not connecting with other like-minded writers and readers?

Hubby already got a Twitter account months ago and suggested I get atwittering to get the word out about my blog. When I found out the large number of followers he had listening to all his tweets, the competitive side of Bonnie went bonkers.

So far, I'm still a slow poke on putting out tweets. After all, doing actual writing is still my higher priority. And being in the moment with my Hubby, three year old TJ and newborn CJ are even higher priority. I can't tweet while bottlefeeding CJ and reading TJ a story, all the while keeping an eye on dinner on the stove.

So, what do I think about Twitter? Since you asked (ha!), here are my two cents (maybe even my one cent, since I am a newbie to Twitter). At least, here is a conservative beginner's take on Twitter:

1. Beware of getting addicted. Experiencing real life moments is more important than tweeting. I caught myself totally addicted when I'd be with my family and I'd be so tempted to eek a tweek out under the table. The way I get around this is to limit myself to tweeting at home, only when I'm not in front of friends or family members.

Twittering made me want to get an iPhone for Christmas (Jury's still out on this request. Santa's still not sure if I should have one). Hopefully by then, I tweet in moderation. There are a lot of expert tweeters that know the right tools and have established a rhythm to manage it. But, I'm a wussie and I know how addictive I can become.

2. Twittering is a good challenge for self-esteem. Sometimes I follow people and they don't follow me back. I know it's not personal, but when you're just starting out, it nice to know someone's out there catching your tweets. But, it's important to tweet what you mean and mean what you tweet!

The tables were also turned on me. I started following my Hubby right off the bat. But he actually made me unfollow him! He wanted to stay anonymous from my blogging escapades (Hubby didn't want his blog readers to hear about his personal family life from my blog). What does that say about my blogging? .. Ahem, another post for another day!

3. Twittering is fun because more people can know about your blog. I know this for a fact because since joining Twitter myself, I've found many new blogs that are awesome! Checking out who people follow is a great way to find great blogs. And whenever someone retweets an article, I'm introduced to interesting information I would've never known about.

4. Twittering is fun because I can get to know another side of friends. It's neat to hear the things that are capturing my online friends' attention. It's like walking up to some friends who are in conversation and enjoying the chat or just hanging back to just listen.

5. Twittering is fun because it's new. It's always a good opportunity to learn something new, especially when it's foreign. Because first it feels very daunting, and then I learn it, I feel good about being able to do it. It think that is the key to staying young. Just try something new. Even if I end up not liking it. At least I tried it! And if I suck at it, at least it's good material to write about, right?!

We'll see how it all goes. I'm not a nut case yet with Twitter, but who knows. Maybe you'll catch me out tweeting with my iPhone under the table on Christmas morning. If you do, tap me on the shoulder and hit me over the head with your iPhone. Just don't tweet about it, 'k?!

I've recently added a Follow Me on Twitter link on my blog. So, if you are looking for a tweet from Yours Truly, please follow me at: TheBonnieGray.

Recession Proof Parenting Isn't Just About the Economy

With the sour economy still hovering over our nation's consciousness, I can't help but wonder how our kids would be affected if we were to really hit hard times. One thing I know for sure is its affect on me as a child, and how it continues to affect me as a parent today.

My story doesn't begin with, "Although we didn't have very much, we were rich in laughter and our days were carefree."

No, as a single parent carrying the burden of being the bread winner, my mother constantly worried and was rarely at rest in her heart.

I was the oldest in the family and saw up close how being restless affected her moods. Looking back, I think she tried to distract herself from worry by being busy or controlling. While some children resort to apathy (as to not rock the boat), I compensated by putting her worries on my own shoulders. I would be my mom's hero.

Our family checkbook was open for me to see, so I was often concerned whether we'd have enough for clothes, food, school supplies and the bills. One of my biggest worries came when one of us got sick, since we couldn't afford to see the doctor. I still remember how anxious I felt, hearing my little sister cough at night, unsure if it's simply a cold or something more.

With mom too worried and busy coping with her own problems, I grew up too quickly without the perspective from one who is at rest with herself and with the world.

So I told myself when I was young and thinking about life -- if I ever get to be a mom, even if I hit hard times -- I want to be the mom who doesn't pass worry onto my kids.

It's true that growing up early in life has made me stronger and more resourceful than if I hadn't gone through it. And out of my need for someone to guide and care for me, my faith in God grew deep and real.

But like a drop of water on the dessert ground, my childhood disappeared, with too much knowledge on a heart that was too young.

I'd rather pass on joy and laughter to my children. I want them to remember mommy smiling more than worrying.

After all, my kids will have their own share of headaches and heartache. With or without money, that's just the honest truth.

How I can best parent through the recession? Be at rest with myself.

I won't be able to do it perfectly. But, no matter how bad the economy gets, I hope to shield them from the real negative effects of a recession: not just the dollar sign, but from discouragement and worry.

I hope that when my kids look back at the hard times one day, they'll see a smiling mommy and remember that along with the tears, there is always laughter.

Fave Foods: A Summer Smile With Berries & Cream

Summertime signals splashes in the pool, running around with my hair up in a ponytail, and heat all around me. After a long day with the sun out, evening rolls around and I'm itching for something sweet and cool. Fruit alone in the winter is comfort and calming. But, for whatever reason, summer can't be complete without ice cream and berries.

No longer in my twenties, though, I can't gobble up three scoops of ice cream like I used to. I mean, I can technically. I have no problem putting it away if I'm on vacation somewhere, feeling carefree and dangerous.

Back at home, I have enough sense to know I can't buy pints of Ben & Jerry's without paying the piper (Although I do mourn my old fix of New York Super Fudge Chunk). So, I make up for the fat by throwing in a ton of my favorite summer treat: strawberries and blueberries.

Just seeing the strawberries lined up pretty and berry pink make me happy. And blueberries are now in season, so I don't have to eat them for nutritional purposes. They're more sweet than tart now.

I put a small scoop of ice cream in my glass bowl, just so it'll melt ever so softly in the warm afterglow of a hot day. The windows are open and the breeze is just starting to come in.

I'll open the freezer door, just as I have countless times as a little girl and take out my ice cream. But, now instead of full fat indulgence, I reach for a slightly sane alternative. I'm so happy I've found Dreyers Light Ice Cream Slow Churned with 1/2 the Fat (Vanilla Bean is my favorite). I can't go for non-fat, so this is a great compromise. Still creamy, with only 100 calories/30 fat calories/11g of sugar.

So, when the warm evenings are still at a slow bake for the day, I unwind with a spoon full of berries and ice cream. And smile a summer smile.

Does Balance in Life Exist?

Before I had children, I would've definitely answered yes to this question about life balance. I had my life pretty well compartmentalized: Fitness, Family, Career, Romance, Finances, Friendship and Personal Growth. My sense of well being hung in the balance of how well I was traversing these different areas of my life. If one area seemed to be neglected, well then, I'd just take a weekend or so to tweak my schedule a bit. Call up a friend, take a trip to Borders for a book, or hit the gym. Voila, all was well.

Now, on the other side of motherhood, things are looking mighty different. I started thinking about this recently, having had my second child. It's dawning on me, as I move past the survival months of newborn life.

With a clearer head, I look at my life now as a mom of two. I simply don't have that many hours in a day or work week to be "balanced". There are trade offs I'm having to make on a day to day basis. If balance is what I'm after, that would be pretty depressing, chasing after something that's more of an ideal than a reality.

So no, my answer now is more a shade of gray. Even inching over to "no" if I was feeling a bit rebellious on a given day.

After all, two kids plus a household. What do I get? A life that continually loves to move towards chaos. Just check out my laundry basket, my recycling and garbage cans, my shopping list, my emails, and my calendar.

You see, I'm finding out that "balance" is a bit misleading goal at this point in my life. Balance conveys some sort of steady state, where everything has equal weight.

Time is precious and I don't want to be running around trying to be all and do all. It might look like I can on paper. But, I know where I'll end up. Feeling unfulfilled, I would have given a little of myself to everything, but not fully invested in anything.

Now is the time to embrace what is important to me and pick my priorities. I'm not so concerned about balance any longer. A better fitting word is alignment.

Yes, alignment resonates with me. If I can look back on my day or week and see a series of moments and activities that align with my heart's desires, then it's been time well spent.

A Happy Father's Day Letter, Rediscovered

Dear Honey,

When I first fell in love with you, I imagined a life lived out happily ever after. I often tell others, I married for love and not for a family. I didn't know if we would have children, but I knew that I had waited a lifetime to find someone I could call lover, best friend, and soul mate.

It turns out that you are truly all those things to me, but I never anticipated what a gift you would be, as I've watched you grow into the loving father you are today.

As we brought two beautiful babies into this world, we never imagined how much work it was going to be to take to care of them. We've been battling our way through temper tantrums, taking turns wiping up poop, and voluntarily signing up for "guard duty" at night to watch over our waking children.

I sometimes catch myself longing for the carefree days we enjoyed before the treadmill of our everyday mommy-and-daddy schedule entered our lives. But I realize this Father's Day, in recounting all these tough memories, that it is all worth it, Honey.

For every difficulty we have encountered, I see a Daddy who has been a faithful watchman, loyal to his post. I see a loving father who will never leave his children, no matter how tough it gets. And for that, I am blessed forever. Not only are you shaping the course of the lives of two boys into manhood, but you see, you have also been changing mine.

With every moment of fatherhood I witness, you are filling my life with pictures of the father that I never had:

... With every kiss you plant on our boys' cheeks every day, after a long hard day's work.

... With the strength of your forgiveness, even when the milk was spilt and they wore your patience thin.

... With the safety of your hugs, even on days you were weary with tiredness in your body and caffeinated to the tilt.

... With your smile that welcomes them into your arms, shielding them from a world of troubles and grown up woes.

I count myself among the lucky, to have a husband who can walk beside me as a loving and faithful father. Although I never had the memory of a father to grace the bedroom doorway of my childhood, I now have a future of loving memories of a father who makes our children and my life happily ever after.

With Love Forever,
Bonnie