Since Ali has become Editor-In-Chief I've had a lot of people ask me what I now do. The short answer is, as Senior Writer (although I also really like Senor Writer) at YMC, I write. I could try to explain it to you but the best way to *really* explain it is for you to go to that little search box in the top right hand corner and type in "roast beef" and hit go. See the first box that pops up? The one with the title "Perfect Oven Roast Beef"? And the little description underneath? I wrote that (utilizing the brilliant phrase Roast Like A Master from Gav Martell). But the other part about the loins? That was all me. I wrote it and then I laughed and laughed and laughed.
Do the same thing again with champagne. Bubbly? Troubly? That was me.
Welcome to my job.
While I LOVE LOVE LOVE the writing what I also love is that I get to see EVERY SINGLE RECIPE BEFORE IT'S PUBLISHED.
I take full advantage of it. I'm a lazy cook and like things that are simple. Breakfast for dinner is a staple at our house because it's easy and my kids think I'm super cool. But since I've had access to recipes before they've gone live, I've made these ribs (the boys loved them and I'm making them again for Chinese New Year) and cooked a batch of this homemade pizza sauce which we've now used for our Friday night pizza night for two Fridays in a row. See that big picture at the top of this blog? That's the pizza I made for me with the sauce, prosciutto and freshly grated parm, then I baked it and added arugula and a balsamic glaze. Oh ya...I am fancy, huh.
I want to make this next—it's kind of a go big or go home recipe but holy hannah I bet it's delish.
Anyway, this whole food thing got me thinking about how cool it would be for someone who loves food to start going through all our recipes and just start making them and then writing about it. Like that Meryl Streep movie (Her acting is seriously amazing. I so want to go see Iron Lady). Of course, if you decide to do it, I'd like to be invited. I'm a good guest—I bring wine and help clean up. Plus the nice people at Monsieur Felix and Mr. Norton cookies sent me a whole bunch of their bake yourself cookie dough. And while I've had a LOT of cookies over the past month and a half, I haven't had ALL of the cookies *wink wink, nudge nudge* meaning you could also be eating warm cookies fresh from the oven after the fantabulous meal you make me.
I mean us.
I'm hungry.
Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?
That quote above? Pretty much describes my life since September. Every. Single. Day. there is some sort of morning stress in our house whether it's the boys fighting "I get the toothpaste! No, I get the toothpaste!", backpacks not packed, lunch bags that were not unpacked or simply running late.
Inevitably yelling is involved "What do you mean you need to go find your library book? You had three pairs of mittens yesterday, where did they go? Dirty dishes belong in the DISHWASHER!" and the whole family ends up feeling stressed.
Yet I keep doing the same thing over and over and over again which is COMPLETELY INSANE.
So yesterday I created this checklist:
I printed out ten pages, cut each of the "Did You" lists into strips and stapled them together into two booklets—one for each of them. Now every morning before the boys can watch television or have computer time, they need to make sure everything is checked off then bring it to me so I can see that it's done.
Guess who had a peaceful morning this morning? The DeVellis household, that's who.
That is, until Son No. 2 told me he forgot his winter jacket in the van and we ended up being late. It's all about the baby steps though, isn't it?
Also, I'll be adding a "Did you do everything on the list without fighting with your brother?" in the next version.
Want a morning checklist for yourself? Click here to download and print a pdf version.
You're welcome.
As a mom, it's part of my job to boost my kids up but apparently telling them "Great Job" when they do something Great! isn't the way to do it. Ironically, by telling your kids "Great Job" time and time again, it means you're doing a "Bad Job." Kids may not be so good with sarcasm, but they're great at picking up on insincerity. Also, apparently we parents are supposed to be celebrating the effort and not the end result.
Gawd, this parenting stuff is hard.
So to make life easier for you, I found this list of 99 Ways To Say Great Job Without Actually Saying Great Job.
But then as I read the list I realized you can also use almost all of these phrases during sex—those are the ones marked in red. It's a multitasking list. You're welcome.
You’re on the right track now!
You’ve got it made.
SUPER!
That’s right!
That’s good.
You’re really working hard today.
You are very good at that.
That’s coming along nicely.
GOOD WORK!
I’m happy to see you working like that.
That’s much, much better!
Exactly right.
I’m proud of the way you worked today.
You’re doing that much better today.
You’ve just about got it.
That’s the best you’ve ever done.
You’re doing a good job.
THAT’S IT!
Now you’ve figured it out.
That’s quite an improvement.
GREAT!
I knew you could do it.
Congratulations!
Not bad.
Keep working on it.
You’re improving.
Now you have it!
You are learning fast.
Good for you!
Couldn’t have done it better myself.
Aren’t you proud of yourself?
One more time and you’ll have it.
You really make my job fun.
That’s the right way to do it.
You’re getting better every day.
You did it that time!
That’s not half bad.
Nice going.
You haven’t missed a thing!
WOW!
That’s the way!
Keep up the good work.
TERRIFIC!
Nothing can stop you now.
That’s the way to do it.
SENSATIONAL!
You’ve got your brain in gear today.
That’s better.
That was first class work.
EXCELLENT!
That’s the best ever.
You’ve just about mastered it.
PERFECT!
That’s better than ever.
Much better!
WONDERFUL!
You must have been practicing.
You did that very well.
FINE!
Nice going.
You’re really going to town.
OUTSTANDING!
FANTASTIC!
TREMENDOUS!
That’s how to handle that.
Now that’s what I call a fine job.
That’s great.
Right on!
You’re really improving.
You’re doing beautifully!
SUPERB!
Good remembering.
You’ve got that down pat.
You certainly did well today.
Keep it up!
Congratulations. You got it right!
You did a lot of work today.
Well look at you go.
That’s it.
I’m very proud of you.
MARVELOUS!
I like that.
Way to go!
Now you have the hang of it.
You’re doing fine!
Good thinking.
You are really learning a lot.
Good going.
I’ve never seen anyone do it better.
Keep on trying.
You outdid yourself today!
Good for you!
I think you’ve got it now.
That’s a good (boy/girl).
Good job, (person’s name).
You figured that out fast.
You remembered!
That’s really nice.
That kind of work makes me happy.
It’s such a pleasure to teach when you work like that!
I think you’re doing the right thing
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