Squeaky Deaky, You're a Good Dog and Other Songs Written for Dogs to Enjoy

A few years ago, I discovered to my delight that someone out there has written songs designed especially for dogs to enjoy.

As one would expect, I of course immediately put the music on to see if my dogs (I had two at the time) would show any reaction.

My current dog does seem happy when I play Squeaky Deaky, though I will admit that he doesn't have any particular reaction to hearing the squeak toy sound throughout.

I really can't say whether his contented and amenable expression is based on the fact that *I* always seem happy when the song is on, therefore he is happy too... or, whether he actually finds the music pleasant to his doggy ears. Furthermore, he kind of looks like this all the time.

If anything, I'm probably more likely to feel pleased while listening to these melodies meant for mutts! I've been singing them ever since the first time I played them for my pals.

I guess the fact that these songs don't make my dog upset could be viewed as a positive!

The company who composed and produced these songs for dogs is called Laurel Canyon Animal Company. Their CD, Songs to Make Dogs Happy, can be purchased on Amazon.com.

Anyway, here's Squeaky Deaky. My dog is sleeping as the song plays.




And this is another favorite of mine that they've created, called You're a Good Dog.

How Do You Feel About the Rainbow Brite Stripes of Hair Color Trend?

So, I'm seeing a lot of women walking around with either full heads of, or streaks and stripes, of bright color in their hair. Kool-Aid red... unicorn silver mingling with turquoise, deep purple, and such.

Don't be offended if you have done this to your hair because I know a lot of ladies are, and it doesn't bother me per se. But I will not be participating in the Little Mermaid/Rainbow Brite/Jem and the Holograms look. Not saying my "look" (ahem, what look?) is better. But I don't do extreme trends, never have, never will.

I mentioned my opinion of this hair dying trend on Facebook, and I got some thumbs-ups of agreement, as well as some others who are sporting the funky stripes, and wanted to defend the look.

This woman looks beautiful! Even still... I won't be doing it.

I am not saying you shouldn't have hair that resembles My Little Pony. To be honest, I remember lusting after neon Disney Princess hair as a kid, something in me is still kind of drawn to it. 

BUT - it's not my style. So, all of this got me thinking that fashion-wise, I'm pretty non-adventurous.

Over the decades, I've passed on so many trends. Some with no qualms, others with a little regret at not having the guts. White eyeliner comes to mind. I thought it looked great on my friends, but was convinced I had the wrong eyelids for it. Capri pants. It probably took me a full two years before investing in a pair of these, meanwhile every single girl at the bars had a pair except me, who was unfashionably still in jeans.

Also, I have Ugg-knockoff boots now. It only took me about 15 years to get comfortable with the idea of them. No idea why.

To me, the bright colored hair look can be pulled off if you go extremely
light with your makeup. But no... still not for me!

I am a person who has never worn nail polish that wasn't either red, pink, brown, or some combo of those hues. Once, I actually had a bottle of nail polish in my collection that was Easter egg blue hue. But I only wore it once! Ever.



What trends have you bucked versus went with, and do you have pics!? I'd love to see some looks.

A Perfect April Fool's Joke to Play on Your Friends

My kindergartener loves to play tricks and jokes on people. So you can imagine his delight upon discovering this idea from Highlights Magazine on how to fool your friends into eating  "cheeseburgers and fries" that are actually made of delicious cookies and other, fun sweet ingredients!

We had a St. Patrick's Day party, where he somehow (because he is sweet, adorable and enthusiastic) got me to agree to assembling these and setting them out to play a little joke our guests.

The ingredients are as follows:

"Burger patties:" thin mints or other, chocolate coated cookies
"Burger buns:" vanilla wafer cookies
"Lettuce" - shredded coconut mixed with a drop of green food coloring
"French fries" - sliced apple coated in a mix of sugar and cinnamon
"Ketchup" - red icing (smear a little on each bun to secure them to the burgers)

The idea came from the April 2017 version of Highlights Magazine. Thanks for the fun, Highlights!

World's Easiest Bangs Hack

If you have bangs, you know how annoying and unruly they can be at times. Like for example, when you wake up, and you don't have time to wash your hair before heading out into the general public.

Here's a super quick bangs hack. The hardest part of this is that you have to buy the curlers in the first place. But once you have them, great big curlers will be your time-saver for having perfect bangs. They work for traditional bangs, long bangs, face-framing layers, and the side-swept bangs look.

Here. My Conair brand curlers, largest size. Roll bangs around curlers. Go about your life for ten minutes.

 Remove curlers. Done!

My Dog Wearing His New Shoes

I came across a pair of doggie shoes at the Ocean State Job Lots store near us. As one would expect, they came in sets of four. I wasn't sure what size to get for my 25-lb. chihuahua mix, so I estimated how big his paws were and went for a six.

When I got them home and put them on him, this is what happened. We died!!

I guess my message to the makers of dog shoes is that they don't really need a flat bottom. We made it to the end of the street and then he kicked off two of them. Also, they didn't hold up well in the rain!

Knitted Cowl - Dotted Swiss Pattern, New Year's Eve Project

I knitted a cowl on New Year's Eve. That's how ready to party I am, people. Seriously though... sickness ran its course through our household in December. Thus, I elected to stay home on The Most Overrated Holiday Ever, and spent my free evening hours knitting to my heart's content while coughing the night away.

Here I am, triumphant in my knitting victory, at approximately 3 a.m. on New Year's Day. Even as delighted with my Swiss dotted cowl as I am, I've only managed to wear it in the comfort of my own living room.

As far as the knitting goes, this project was a breeze. If you know how to knit, knit 2 together and yarn over, then you've pretty much nailed it. The entire thing took me about 2 days... which is a record breaker for me as I tend to fall asleep while knitting, with my mouth hanging open and my circulars still clutched in my little paws.

Can you spot the boo-boo? I somehow managed to get a little hole on the edge there. It's small enough to fill in with crocheted loops, but I literally had just enough yarn to finish this project and not a bit more! :(

Cozy, cozy! My first cowl, what fun.

The dotted Swiss cowl project takes 2 balls of super bulky yarn - they suggested Encore Mega from Plymouth Yarn, and size 17 circular needles. Wait, actually I think it called for size 15s but I was told I should buy 17s because I'm a tight knitter. As you can see, this worked out well for me.

Here's the knitting pattern for the Dotted Swiss Cowl, courtesy of Plymouth Yarn.

What's Registering on Your Mom Radar Today?

At some point over the course of your life as a mother and wife, you will develop mom radar. This is not something instantaneous, but rather a sort of spidey sense that evolves over time as you grow in your nurturing and care giving, 24-7 on-call role that basically never ends!

Your Mom Radar registers the faint cries of your infant on another floor of the house, even as multiple parties are hooting and hollering or there's a wild and frenzied shootout happening on the TV.

Your Mom Radar picks out your kid from a gaggle of children on the playground.

Your Mom Radar has your brain indexing the entire contents of the fridge, so that when your dear hubby asks, "WHERE'S THE MILK" you'll be able to provide an instantaneous and accurate response.

Your Mom Radar has you walking into a room and making a beeline for all the out-of-place items which you must then return to their proper designated locations because, after all, if you don't then who will?

Your Mom Radar is a homing device for lost toys, missing shoes, old sandwich remnants dropped in the back of the car, and of course, the nearest Dunkin Donuts or McDonald's drive thru in any unfamiliar town.

Your Mom Radar sends up a signal when someone sneaks into the kitchen for a cupcake from the dozen that you planned to bring to the bake sale tomorrow.

Mom radar buzzes rather loudly when your children are in the vicinity of unsavory individuals.

Mom radar knows when it's allergies, when it's a cold, and when it's time to see the doctor.

Mom radar can thwart a meltdown before it occurs!

Mom radar can register distress on the face of sister mom who is wearily trudging down the aisle of Shoprite accompanied by an oaf of a man who is subtly demeaning her! (Yes, I really saw this).

Mom radar has an open communication line to Santa so that mailed letters to the North Pole are not really necessary.

What sorts of signals did you pick up on your Mom Radar today? Leave a comment, get a link. :)

xo,
Mom

Rihanna Looks Like Ice T

Am I the only person on this planet who thinks that Rihanna could be Ice T's daughter?

Black Friday Etsy Selections... More Coming!

"Meowy Christmas," "Happy Howlidays," and other great printed mug/merch designs. Now on Sale! From Heart and Willow Prints: 15% off - use code BF2016




Cute Cross Stitch Designs from Fuzzy Fox Designs:

Personalized kids' clothing from The Little Queen Bee!  20% off everything in the Etsy store. Include your child's name in the notes area when purchasing, so she can personalize. Perfect holiday gift for kids!

Hand Poured and Homemade... here's a lavender soy candle. Lots more available from North to South Gifts!  35% off sale: use code BLACKFRIDAY

Handmade jewelry in beautiful, simple designs using earth friendly materials. What a sweet holiday gift for your favorite earthy gal. Coupon code SAVE20 gets you 20% off from Earth Jewelry

Will Someone Please Buy These Prairie Dresses for Your Daughters?

Alas, I have no daughters. But if I did, you can be sure they'd be getting prairie girl dresses (a la Laura and Mary Ingalls) this Christmas.

What I wouldn't have given to have my very own Laura Ingalls costume as a child! This could have taken the "pioneer" game that my brother and I played as kids, to new and exciting levels. I could don my cotton dress, bonnet and apron, gather up my Cabbage Patch dolls who would surely be wearing their own prairie girl dresses, and we could do all the things that they did on my favorite show, Little House on the Prairie. Like milk the cows, eat horehound candy, dance a jig while Pa plays the fiddle, call in the cattle at dusk ("Hooey! Hooey! Hyaww!!") and other fun, prairie-girl themed activities.

Back when I was nursing my son, I had to figure out a way to pass the time and so I got back into Little House because one of the cable TV channels was showing reruns every night around dinner time. It was just as good as I remembered it!!

Thankfully, some lady out there (actually, a lot of them if you can believe this) is as excited about prairie girl dresses as I am... and she's made some for your own little prairie girls to dress up in!

Order your own pioneer girl dress, apron and bonnet for Christmas! In girls' size small thru large.

I Hate Paperwork, But These Funny Office Manager Stamps Make it Okay.

This lady seems to be doing a lot better job than I am at
organizing her various papers.

Ah, paperwork. Now this is something that busy work from home moms like us "ain't got time for." Am I right?
Remember the days when it was exciting to go and get the mail? I'm probably dating myself here. But when I was a child, you could count on relatives mailing birthday cards with money in them, and sometimes your pen pal would send you a pencil-scrawled note from make-believe France.

I always wondered what other people do with their paperwork. Did you set up paperless bills? The possibility of some government official asking me to prove my identity by showing a printed copy of my utilities is what prevents me from going totally paperless. That, and also, I am just old school. I am probably the last living human being who still mails out bills with stamps on them.

What do you do with your pile o' papers? For a while, we had this storage thing hanging over the door of our kitchen. I was stuffing mail into it and then ignoring the mail. But then, a few times, I walked by it and almost took my eye out on the point of some envelopes that were sticking out. I started to worry that when people came over, the jutting envelopes and papers would create a hazard for them as well. No one wants to find themselves in small claims court over a paper cut on someone's eyeball.

Hate paperwork? Then you'll love these satisfying, "Paid This Sh*t", "Shred This Sh*t," "File This Sh*t"
Office Manager Rubber Stamps that put the fun back into administrative tasks! Makes a great holiday gift.

Anyway, I think I've made the point here that I really don't enjoy paperwork, and I'm sure you don't, either. That's why I find these funny office manager stamps especially amusing. Because I have actually fantasized about having my own, profanity-addled stamper to express my feelings on the never ending pile of papers that will taunt me for the rest of my days!

Also, I've seriously considered writing "F you" in the memo section of checks I'm writing to various institutions. Does anyone do that? Just leave a nasty message to their insurance company or other? If you do, please speak up, I would love to hear from you on the blog!

xo,
Mom

A Fun Anniversary Gift - His and Hers Mugs

Buy your own set of His and Hers Mugs from J Crafts

For our anniversary, I was trying to think of a fun little gift for my husband. Just a small, token item that might amuse him. Like the time he bought me "Fuck You" socks (at my request – just to be rebel in my own mind!) which I wore secretly under my boots so our then 4-year-old who could read already wouldn't be able to see them, and which I would be inclined to arbitrarily flash at random people such as my own brother, during family gatherings.

Anyway, so the anniversary token gift. I remembered that my crafty Facebook friend makes printed mugs and puts funny sayings on them. So I put in an order for his and hers coffee mugs. Mine says "I like his beard" and his says "I like her butt."

I built it up a little, just prior to the big reveal. Two days before our anniversary, I asked hubs out of the blue, "Do you like my butt?"

He gave me a quick "HUH" expression, then said "Ummm... yeah. Why?"

To which I smiled and said "'Cause I like your beard!" and he responded with a miffed look.

The next day, I asked him again. "Are you sure you like my butt?" "Ummm... YEAH. Why do you keep asking me that?" "Well, because I like your beard!" smiling mischievously.

"What are you up to??" "Nothing! Just a little anniversary fun... you'll see."

Well, our day arrived, and I presented him with the his-and-hers mug set, and he got a kick out of it.

I thought it was also funny that the next morning I came downstairs, to observe that he had taken the time to select the proper mug ("I like her butt") and drink out of it.

Anyway, this little personal gift really set the tone for good humor, and an awesome date night to celebrate our 4 years of marriage! Delicious sushi meal, dessert coffees at a cozy little cafe, and a night of drinking good beer and listening to a great blues band!

Happy Anniversary, my love. I like your butt, too.

Natural, Essential Oil Based Perfumes for People Who Can't Wear Regular Perfume

People who know me are aware of my aversion to strong, artificial smells. I don't really want to be this way; I just am. Usually, once my friends become pregnant, they typically gain sympathy for the nauseous, dizzy, migraine-inducing reaction I get from men's colognes, Febreeze, cigar smoke, new carpets and other interesting, chemical based aromas.

Check out the assortment of yummily scented goodies at Twinkle Apothecary

Because of my smell problem, I can't wear perfumes. But even though they induce a strange sensory reaction for me, that doesn't mean I don't appreciate the beautiful aromas of flowers, herbs, spices and such.

Thus, you can imagine my overjoyed reaction at discovering Twinkle Apothecary's homemade, essential oil based natural perfume blends. My friend Amy Jo Garner recommended them, and upon visiting their Facebook page I immediately placed my order for what I felt was a very reasonably priced roll-on vial of what they have aptly named "Luscious."

Well, let me tell you, this non-chemical wearer was overjoyed at the deliciousness of this perfectly blended scent. Top notes of jasmine and ginger with enduring vanilla for depth and complexity, and vetiver as the base, make this a subtle, warm, and intoxicating scent to wear for an evening out, or really, any time at all.

I have rubbed it on my pulse points for the second time today, and am delightedly sniffing myself up as I type this. Because there are no chemicals to add that cling that most perfumes have, you should carry some around with you for reapplication as necessary. In addition to perfumes, Twinkle Apothecary offers things like body butter, shampoo, deodorant, bath oils and more.

It's also worth mentioning that their products are vegan-friendly and cruelty-free.

Mostly, what I love about this and other essential oil blends is that they tend to respect the boundaries of personal space. Meaning, if I swish by you in a crowded lobby, you might get the slightest whiff of jasmine and vanilla that dissipates quickly on the air. But my personal scent is not going to hover and cling and impart its odor in an obtrusive manner, should someone else fail to appreciate these scents as I do.

Basically, as a chemical-smell avoider who loves essential oils and aromatherapy, my review of Twinkle Apothecary is that they're awesome. If you know of a crunchy, earthy gal like me, their naturally scented products would make a welcome stocking stuffer. I plan to order more from them for certain!

Handmade, Crocheted Mermaid Tail Blanket for Kids - Perfect Christmas Gift!

Anyone who knits or crochets knows that the mermaid tail blanket is a really hot and sought-after gift item right now! I'm lucky enough to know a very talented gal who crochets them and sells on Etsy. And I truly think there's nothing more delightful than a Christmas gift that was lovingly crafted by hand.

Makes a perfect Christmas gift

Mermaid tail blanket for your little mermaid!

Even if you're not crafty yourself, you can still give your favorite little mermaid an unforgettable handmade holiday gift this year. But you'd better jump on it while the offer's still available. Handmade gifts take much longer to plan and make than something generic that you'd run out to Walmart for.

Why not help the small business owner earn her keep and feed her family by buying this awesome Crocheted Mermaid Tail blanket? It's absolutely beautiful and 100% homemade from the heart.

DIY mamas, let's support each other in these troubled times! Order your Crocheted Mermaid Tail Blanket on Etsy today.

America Needs Nurturing

It is my observation at this time, when slightly less than half of the voters in our country have expressed that their hopes have been crushed with the election of Donald Trump as our next president, that many of these people could use a message of hope, a mental and emotional perspective shift, and a strong but gentle and compassionate leader to follow.

What does this mean to you?

It means that if you're a strong person, now is the time to build something great. Why? Because very few will be standing in your way.

It means that if you're already in a position of leadership, now is the time to step up and offer a glimmer of hope, a cause, an aspiration, something for these people to cling to and feel as though they can make a difference.

It means that if you're naturally a nurturer, a space has opened up for you to step into and begin creating a safe haven for those who need it.

It means that if you've been wanting to build a following, now is your chance. Start preaching - eyes and ears and hearts are open.

Here's an example of the kind of nurturing that many, many people in this country are in dire need of. If you offer something like this, don't become distracted by chatter. It's time to focus and strengthen your influence, a time to embody something positive that people will naturally flock to in their need to feel secure.

It starts with a mindshift. Here's Coach Susan Liddy from Los Gatos, CA, with an exercise to help you change your emotional state.

Namaste.

Carrot Juice for Hormone Balance

I will testify to this day that I got pregnant for the first time at age 38, because I was drinking carrot juice daily.

There is no scientific proof of this, but I just know.

Before carrot juice = irregular periods, hormone fluctuations due to age.

After carrot juice:

Weight loss
Brighter complexion
Weird bumps on inner arms went away
Brighter eyes
Fewer stomach troubles
Regular periods – like clockwork, for the first time in my life
Preganancy

I also drank carrot juice throughout my pregnancy and while I was breastfeeding my son.

My son's reading ability is off the charts advanced. I have no way of knowing to what extent the carrot juice has contributed to his overall intelligence. But if I had to venture a guess, I'd say it was a factor.


I went off carrot juice for a while, just too busy to bother. Started drinking it again last spring, same effects!

If you're looking for something to level you out hormonally, aid digestion, brighten your eyes and skin, and just contribute to overall health, I'd give it a try!

You don't need a full, 8 oz. glass of carrot juice. Actually I think that's too much sugar. About 4 ounces, with a squeeze of lemon, should do the trick.

Carrots provide beta-carotene which converts to vitamin A in the body.

I've also read that you're more likely to absorb the vitamin A from carrot juice and carrots, if you pair it with a healthy fat, like coconut oil.

So, why not enjoy your morning cup of carrot juice with some granola that contains oats and coconut oil, as well as some healthy nuts and seeds (also good for the hormones).


If you need a recommendation for a good juicer, try Breville.

Bottoms up, health nuts!

xo,
Mom

Hand-Crocheted Halter Crop Top for Sale on Etsy

Any of you pretty ladies out there in the market for a handmade, crocheted halter crop top? There's a crafty gal on my list who makes them and sells on Etsy. Her Etsy handle is MisscrochetBoutique and she also crochets sweet little baby hats and things, too.

Here's a photo of the top... isn't it so adorable?

Order this cute crocheted halter top from MisscrochetBoutique

If I had abs (also, basically if I was an entirely different person), I would wear this with cut-off shorts and cowboy boots, and head off to a Citizens Band radio outdoor summer concert or someplace equally cool.

But although I can't get away with wearing skimpy handmade hippie gear, maybe you can!

Same top, in black, for a more eveningwear/clubbing goth kinda look.

To order, click here and you'll be transported to my friend's Etsy shop where you can purchase online and she will whip one up and ship it to you.

Say "Goodnight" and Mean It... with Susan Liddy's Yoga Nidra Meditation for Deep, Restful Sleep

As I mentioned in an earlier post, sleep and I have a love-hate relationship. Are you a busy mom in your 40s, working from home, trying to balance it all and then finding that you can't seem to turn off your brain and put your body into a restful state when you need it most?

Susan Liddy is a wonderful life and business coach from Los Gatos, CA who offers sleep support solutions with her Yoga Nidra series on Youtube.

The next time I have trouble falling or staying asleep, I'm going to come downstairs and let Susan's Yoga Nidra meditation sink in deep.

Perhaps you'd like to join me in spirit! Here's Coach Susan Liddy; thank you for sharing your soothing audio with us!

Too Many Herbal Teas? Reign In The Chaos With Tea Organization Tips

Tea Time means relaxation time... but not when an avalanche of tea boxes comes flying out of your cabinet. Do you love tea? It makes for more enjoyable sipping when you can reach for your tea collection and find what you need right away. Here's what I did to calm the chaos that is my stash of herbal teas! I got the idea from my mother-in-law, who is extremely organized. You can do it, too.

Supplies Needed:

Pair of scissors
Lots of plastic sandwich baggies
Large storage can (see below)

1. Get a huge can to store all the teas in. You can often buy these filled with popcorn. (Eat the popcorn first, obviously. Makes a great school snack, too!) They usually have a large selection of these cans at Walmart during the Christmas season. I chose one with a wintry outdoor scene, so that I could have it on display all year round.
2. Clear off a table, such as the one in your dining room. Tea sorting can be messy business, especially if you have open, loose bags that may have sprung a leak.
3. Bring out those boxes. The designer tea boxes that they sell, with loose, unmarked tea bags in them, are pretty cute. But they take up too much space. Take all of your boxes of herbal and regular tea, and put them on the table.
4. Open each box, one at a time, to see what's inside. If the tea bags come in little labeled wrappers, that's ideal. Sort all of the labeled, wrapped tea bags into little piles, according to the brand/type of tea. Place in plastic Ziploc baggies and add to your giant storage can.
5. Deal with the unlabeled, unwrapped teas. These also come in pretty boxes – Celestial Seasonings packs their teas in this manner. This is okay if you have just one or two boxes of herbal tea. But if you have a large collection, things can get out of hand. If a tea bag escapes from its box, you may not be able to tell what kind of tea it is. So, pick up one of the Celestial Seasonings boxes of tea. Take the little wax-paper pouch that the tea bags are packed in, which is glued to the bottom of the tea box. Rip it out of the box and put it aside.
6. Cut out the labels to save. Pick up the tea box, grab your trusty scissors, and cut off the front of the box so you have a saved, cardboard label telling you what brand and flavor of tea it is.
7. Label your unmarked teas. Place the label that you just cut out back inside the wax-paper pouch of tea bags. Now you know what kind of tea is inside the pouch, but you've saved room by eliminating the box. Place the pouch, with the label peeking out of the top, inside of your can of teas.
8. Repeat #7 this all of your boxed, loose tea bags.
9. Put the lid back on the huge can. No, wait! We have to test this out now. Open the can back up, and rummage through your tea collection until you find one you might enjoy at this moment.
10. Clean up. While your tea kettle is boiling up the water, throw away all of the old-cut up boxes, and wipe down the table.
11. Celebrate. Sit down, relax, and have yourself a hot cup of tea to celebrate this organizational victory!

Then, call your friends to come over for tea this week. :)

Do you love tea? What's your favorite flavor?

xo, Mom

How to Make Tom Yum Soup at Home

Ever wish you could replicate the tongue-tingling, belly-warming, soul-filling goodness of Tom Yum? Here's the secret to making delicious Thai soup that's as good as your favorite restaurant's. You can skip the kaffir lime, regular lime juice will do in a pinch. This recipe takes less than an hour to go from pot to table.

Note:  You'll probably be making a trip to the grocery store, as people who are inexperienced with Asian cooking do not typically keep these ingredients on hand. If you do have them already, two thumbs up! You probably already have your own recipe for Tom Yum.

I took the shells off before serving, but they do look nicer left on!

Ingredients:

• Coconut oil
• Chicken broth or water
• Half a bag of frozen shrimp (I get wild-caught, as nature's nutrition is still in tact)
• Onion – small, or half a large, sliced into large chunks
• 4 or 5 scallions
• 3-6 cloves garlic
• Knob of fresh ginger
• Half a package of fresh mushrooms
• About half a cup fresh chopped tomatoes, skin off
• Your choice of favorite fresh veg such as baby bok choi, napa cabbage, peppers, green beans, washed and chopped
• Fresh cilantro, cleaned and chopped, about half a cup or so
• Juice and zest of 1 or 2 limes
• Thai red curry paste (I buy Taste of Thai, as it has no MSG added) - start with a tablespoonful and keep adding to your taste.
• Anchovy paste
• Your choice of hot peppery goodness: sriracha sauce, cayenne, fresh or dried chilis
• Rice noodles

Start by thawing the shrimp. I like to add mine to a bowl of tepid water with a splash of apple cider vinegar mixed in.

While the shrimp is coming to life, sautee the garlic, ginger, red curry paste and anchovy paste with coconut oil in the bottom of a large soup pot. Stir in the lime zest and onion. Next add the mushrooms, then the green veg, continuing to sautee until everything begins to wilt. Add enough chicken broth AND/or water to fill the pot to ¾ of the way up. Add the fresh tomatoes and half the cilantro. Salt and pepper to taste.

Drain and rinse the shrimp, then bring the soup up to a boil with the shrimp in it. I leave the shells on while cooking, then remove later. When the shrimp turn pink, remove them using a pair of tongs, and let cool in a separate bowl. Take shells off shrimp but don't throw away! Instead fill a small pot with shrimp shells and a little water, then simmer for about 10 minutes. This is your fish stock. Pour through a strainer and back into your pot of soup. Add the noodles (you don't have to pre-cook them) into the soup and simmer until they're al-dente.

Add the cooked shrimp back in when you're ready to serve – otherwise, they'll overcook.

If you're making this for adults only and you know they like it hot hot hot, then go nuts with the spicy peppers. You can add sriracha sauce, cayenne, and fresh chilis to your heart's desire. But if you're feeding kids, then leave these mouth burners on the side for whomever wants them. You could also pour half the soup into a different, smaller pot, and add the hot peppers to one. But that's too many pots to clean, I think!

I would add the chopped tomatoes at the end because otherwise, they'll melt away into the soup and you want this to be fresh and bright. At the very end, squeeze in the juice of one or two fresh limes, and add your scallions along with more fresh cilantro.

Note: if you happen to have any leftover chicken or pork in the fridge from the night before, throw that in. The secret to great cooking is making use of those leftovers!

Serve hot, and enjoy! I made this last night to help my family get over their colds. It was very enthusiastically received.

What's your favorite one-pot meal to make?

xo,
Mom