Aden + Anais: A Darling Obsession

Aden + Anais is one of those fresh faced companies that produces a versatile, practical and quality product, appealing to both the eye and the heart. The breezy, simple muslin is soft to the touch, breathable, and provides just enough warmth and stretch for an extra tight swaddle - something most newborns crave after leaving the comfort of the womb. The patterns range from sweet and quiet (like the "Night Sky" and "Lovely" pattern)  to bright and happy (like the "Dino-Mite" and "Mod About Baby" pattern) and all maintain an aura of tranquility.

Our Aden + Anais swaddle blankets have been used for everything from swaddling, to nursing covers to makeshift cloaks donned by the finest little dandy in all the land, also know as McClain.  He loves when I tie two corners of his former swaddle blanket in a bow around this shoulders. He runs from the living room to the dining room screaming: Mommy!! Moooommmmmmyyy!!  It's the one time I adore hearing my name screamed over and over again.

Over the years we have fallen in love with every product by Aden + Anais and they are still one of my top registry recommendations and gifts.

Featured below is a compilation of our favorite Aden + Anais pieces and a couple of items we have our eye on! Click on the blue links to view them directly on the site. You can purchase your own collection of products from AdenandAnais.com and also find store locations where their products are being sold. Be sure to head over to the Aden + Anais' website for swaddling tips and learning to care your muslin.

With love,
Mrs. Darling

OUR FAVORITE ITEMS

The Swaddle: Aden + Anais swaddle blankets are divided by classic muslin, organic muslin, cozy muslin and their bamboo muslin. Each collection provides a level of comfort to suit your baby's needs in any season without compromising your needs as a parent (dependability, practically and comfort for both you and baby).

The Sleeping Bag: I found sleeping bags incredibly helpful with both of my children. Parents are strongly discouraged from putting their babies to sleep with blankets in their cribs. In fact, we were advised that when our babies were mobile enough to wriggle out of their swaddle, it was time to do away with the swaddle blanket. With the invention of The Sleeping Bag (I used a similar product called a Sleep Sack before the Aden + Anais Sleeping Bag was introduced), I felt so much more secure at my babies' bedtimes because I knew they were warm and safe. The Sleeping Bag is like a wearable pouch, with holes for each of the arms to move freely and a zipper to keep the baby tucked comfortably inside. As babies grow and become more adjusted to being out of the womb, the need to be tightly wrapped becomes less and less. The Sleep Blanket provides, comfort, warmth and the ability to move and roll, without the risk of suffocation.  It also comes in five variations and multiple patterns depending on your baby's needs.

Dream Blankets: Before we purchased a Dream Blanket for our son, we were re-purposing his swaddle blanket as a crib top sheet. This worked beautifully until he got too tall for his beloved "sheet". Enter the Dream Blanket. This incredible blanket is larger than a swaddle blanket in scale and heavier in weight. Mack loves to be covered up in his Classic Dream Blanket and we even bought one for our five-year-old daughter to cuddle up with during nap or quiet time in her room. These heavenly blankets come in classic, bamboo and organic muslin.

Crib Sheets: These are by far my favorite crib sheets on the market. The price point is on the higher end of the popular bedding brands, but I guarantee that if you purchase these sheets, you will not regret your decision. I have found that I only needed two to keep in a steady rotation and since I wash Mack's sheets two to three times a week, I can tell you that this gentle muslin can take heavy laundering.

WHAT WE HAVE OUR EYE ON

Day Dream Blanket: When I see my children cuddled up with their dream blankets, my immediate thought is: I want one too! The Day Dream Blankets are made from 100% cotton muslin and since they are adult sized, I can also partake in my own personal Aden + Anais love!

Serenity Star: This nursery wonder is bound to be any parent's best friend. This amazing gadget is a "feeding diary, sound machine, room temperature indicator, night-light and clock" When I think back to the days of 2 am feedings and how delirious I was, I wish I had had this amazing product in our babies' nurseries to keep track of it all!

Swaddle Love Book: Mr. Darling was always the master swaddler in the Darling home. Even though his technique needs no improvement, I am taken with Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Raegan Moya-Jones' passion and dedication to Aden + Anais and the pursuit of bringing happiness to babies and parents alike. I can not wait to read her stories and guide on swaddling.

Mack's Dream Blanket in the "Night Sky - Owl + Starburst" patten has been extra comforting after breaking his wrist last week! He barely goes anywhere without it. 

BabyLit: A Story-time Must

Story time is a wonderful occasion in the Darling home. As a parent, snuggling up with my children, the smell of their freshly washed heads, and the few moments a day when baby Mack will be still in my arms makes story time that much more cherished. We have several new additions to our family library that I would like to share with you! I'll start this week with a fabulous series of BabyLit books by Jennifer Adams.

My personal love for the classics and the whimsical and endearing illustrations by Alison Oliver are what initially drew me to Adams' books.  Upon further reading, I delighted in Adams' ability to take classic literature and pull out main characters, small elements and quotes from each novel or play and  incorporate them with the makings of a traditional children's opposites, weather, object recognition or counting book.

The idea of introducing my children to classic literature in a way that is creative and age appropriate inspired me to start our family's collection of BabyLit.  Our collection of Adams' series includes an array of counting primers: "Romeo & Juliet", "Jane Eyre" and "Pride & Prejudice". In these books, Adams and Oliver illustrate counting with numbers 1- 10 by using corresponding characters, quotes and objects relating back to each of the classic novels and play. An example of this would be number 4 in "Romeo and Juliet". "4 roses" is written on the left page and on the right is an illustration of 4 roses with the Shakespeare quote, "That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet".

Also included in our collection are:

"Wuthering Heights: A Weather Primer" - This book is an introduction for babies and young children to the many adjectives can that be used to describe the weather. Olivers' illustrations are accompanied with a corresponding quote on each page from Emily Brontë's classic work. An example of this is in the book is the adjective "Stormy" and Oliver's illustration of Heathcliff in the storm with the quote, "The storm came rattling over the Heights in full fury".

"Sense & Sensibility: An Opposites Primer" - This book highlights objects, characters and places in opposition and introduces children to the opposites featured in Austen's novel. For example, on the first two pages, "BIG Norland Park" is compared to "LITTLE Baron Cottage". There are many more witty comparisons through out this primer.

"Moby Dick: An Ocean Primer" - Illustrator, Alison Olivers' illustrations are highlighted in this book. Babies and children can enjoy testing their knowledge of objects, animals, people and nature while also learning about sea life. Each page has a word relating back to Herman Melville's novel such as "Whale", "Ship" and "Harpoons" and they are individually accompanied by relevant illustrations to both the word and the story.


I value the range of enjoyment that Adams' series bring to both of our children who are nearly four years apart. Izzy, who typically sits in on her brother's bedtime stories, feels very proud of her ability to count and identify objects easily on her own.  Mack enjoys Oliver's illustrations and Adams' light pace of each book. He has taken to the rhythm of counting numbers and the excitement of pointing out familiar figures.

What I like most about our collection of BabyLit is that reading each book can lead to interesting discussions, especially with older children. Izzy was horrified to learn that harpoons were used to pierce whales and this lead to further discussion on how whales were hunted, killed and used for the benefit of man.

Our go-to children's gifts are almost always books, particularly because we find that sharing quiet moments with ones children is a gift for both the parent and the child.  Jennifer Adams' books make for an excellent gift and/or addition to your keepsake children's library.

We purchased our collection at Barnes and Noble, but you can go directly to the source and order your BabyLit from www.babylit.com

Happy reading and stay tuned for more darling book recommendations to come!


With love,
Mrs. Darling

A Fall Morning

The change of seasons reminds me of the carefree days of childhood in my mother's kitchen. I used to sit and wait at the table for breakfast before our commute to my school. A big bowl of steel-cut oats prepared in milk and topped with a delectable syrupy fruit compote continues to mark the beginning of a cool and colorful season in our family. 

As a parent, my goal is to start my children's day off with a breakfast that will fuel them until their mid-morning snack. Steel-cut oats and fruit compote are a favorite in the Darling home. The littlest darling flaps his arms in excitement when he sees me drizzle the compote. Izzy calls it "breakfast dessert". I call it happy - happy tummies, happy Mommy, happy mornings! Mr. Darling is just thankful to get a few mouthfuls in before jumping on his bike and heading off to school. He reserves slow savoring for his morning cup of coffee.

The best part about this delicious combination is that you can make the compote in advance, so the only thing you have to prepare in the morning is the oats. If you are pressed for time or simply do not care to stand over the stove stirring ( I don't blame you ... there are many mornings when I don't either) I have found that Quaker Quick Oats or even plain instant oatmeal are perfectly accompanied by the compote as well!

I don't know whether it's the memory of eating breakfast in my mother's kitchen, or the cozy feeling that  a warm breakfast brings, or even that first glance out the window and anticipating the crisp fresh air that awaits me, but there is something so comforting about fall mornings.

I would love to share that feeling of comfort with you! Please check out our fall fruit compote recipes below. Happy eating and Happy Autumn!

With love,
Mrs. Darling

BREAKFAST BERRY COMPOTE

Approximate Time: 30 min

Yield: 8 servings

1 pound large strawberries, hulled and halved

8 ounces cherries, pitted and halved

4 ounces blackberries

1/2 cup sugar

3 tablespoons strawberry jam

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon lemon juice

zest of 1 small orange

1 teaspoon rosewater, optional

*In a large saucepan gently mix strawberries and cherries with sugar
*Over medium heat, boil only until juices are released from the fruits, about 10 minutes
*Lift fruits into a strainer and drain for about a minute
*Pour drained liquid back in to pan and add jam, salt and lemon juice
*Boil until reduced and thickened
*Off fire, add orange rind, and blackberries
*Add reserved strawberries and cherries
*Cool and add rosewater if desired
*Refrigerate in an air tight container for no more than three days

MRS. DARLING'S GRAPE COMPOTE

Approximate Time: 40 minutes

Yield: 8 servings

375 ml Muscat

2 cups simple syrup

16 ounces seedless grapes

8 ounces black grapes

2 tablespoons dried cranberries

1/3 cup jumbo raisins

A pinch of ascorbic acid

2 tablespoons honey

2 tablespoons grape preserve

Juice of 1/2 lemon

Peel of 1 lemon

2 sticks of cinnamon

*Boil muscat, simple syrup, lemon juice, lemon peel and cinnamon sticks for 5 minutes
*Add grapes, cranberries, raisins, ascorbic acid, honey and preserve
*Boil 10-15 minutes. Remove solids and leave liquid in the pot
*Boil to reduce liquid until thickened, about 15 minutes
* Pour 1 1/2 cups of thickened liquid into the solids mixture
*Allow to cool

DRIED FRUIT COMPOTE

Approximate Time: 30 minutes

Yield: 8 servings

2 pounds assorted dried fruit (pear, apple, apricot, prune, cherries)

4 cups apple cider

1 cup sugar

3 sticks cinnamon

4 cloves

lemon peel, thinly slices

*Bring cider and sugar to a boil and then lower heat to a simmer
*Stir in dried fruit, starting with the driest, cook for 5-10 minutes until softened. Follow with the next fruit until all are hydrated
*Add a squirt of lemon juice
*Allow to cool

Our favorite steel-cut oats

I hope you enjoy these combinations as much as we do!

These recipes were created in collaboration with Lory Fleischer, Cook/Pastry Chef, graduate of the FRENCH CULINARY INSTITUTE (Classic Pastry Arts).

Less Is More

I am a recovering beauty product hoarder. There was a time when too much of anything was never enough. This motto was devatstating to any sense of visual peace in our home. In the past, when my vice and I were left to our own devises, the combination was a force of evil that unleashed it's wrath on any free bath, counter or cabinet space available. My mother-in-law recently asked me, "Do you remember your rows of shampoo and conditioner in the shower when you were a teenager?" Do I remember?! They were my pride and joy. Each bottle was proudly displayed and every shower was a new adventure -- The product determined the start of the day - sleek and straight, vamped and voluptuous or revitalized and renewed.

It should be no surprise that when the children came along, my product obsession went into over drive. Baby products are a whole new level of heaven to a product hoarder. There are so many new brands to try, each promising to nourish and protect your child ...  a win- win situation! How could I resist?

Last winter our entire family caught the Rota Virus and I spent night after night, disinfecting every single surface- big, small and minuscule - everything the children touched. Amidst my furious cleaning, I made a decision to call my pregnant girlfriends and stop them from registering for any baby paraphernalia they didn't need and most importantly ... I made a decision to simplify in every aspect of our home life. This included all products, beauty and baby alike. Enough was enough!

My new motto when it comes to products is: Less is more. Take my new favorite children's product: J.R. Liggett's Old-Fashioned Bar Shampoo for example. The greatest thing about these New England made, hand cut, eco-friendly bars is that they take up very little room in our children's little bathroom. Our tiny bar is 3.5 oz and yields approximately 24 oz worth of shampoo in a bottle. The lather is surprisingly rich and I love how fresh and clean my little darlings' heads smell apres bath. I discovered this little wonder at Whole Foods, but you can purchase your J.R. Liggett's Old-Fashion Bar Shampoo from the company website.

Happy Bathing!

With love,
Mrs. Darling

Pay It Forward

Mr. Darling often tells me (in his charming southern twang): Every breath is just another opportunity, Darlin'. I never expected the events of last week to prove this wonderful statement true yet again.

Last week was something I typically refer to as an "Alexander Week" - as in the book - "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day" by Judith Viorst. Instead of taking you through the entire week, I'll take you through this past Friday.

In the morning, I committed city-dweller sin by not parallel parking close enough to the curb when I dropped off our daughter at school. When I exited the building, I discovered that the Septa bus was moving inch by inch because I had left the driver very little room to make it through the car-lined street. Fellow parents stopped and stared and and I was mortified by the chaos and traffic I caused. Finally, the bus pulled through and with a nervous hand, I flicked my sunglasses down from my forehead, ducked my brow and slipped into my car.

Later that morning, I spilled a hot pumpkin spiced latte all over my cashmere sweater and broke the strap of a favorite purse. After I changed, I brought our puppy Sailor to pick up Izzy from school.  I brilliantly made the mistake of only bringing one doggy bag with me. After it was put to good use, we walked through beautiful, clean, Society Hill and arrived in front of Izzy's school. Apparently Sailor was not finished with her business and I needed another bag.  This was obviously not ideal, as I did not have another one and this type of infraction is not tolerated ... with good reason. (A side note: I will never judge another person again for not picking up after their dog. I will give them the benefit of the doubt that they only brought one bag with them and already used it.)

I made my escape from the pick up area with Izzy and Sailor walking happily beside me, neither of them bothered by my second city-dweller sin of the day. Everyone got into in the car. I put my key in the ignition, turned it and ... NOTHING! The car would not start. I refused to believe it and after three tries, I took a deep breath and let reality wash over me.

I saw a man leaning against the Old Pine Community Center and asked him if he would be willing to give my car a jump start. He immediately said Yes. This man had to release his parking spot, drive around the block and then the wrong way down the narrow city street in order to face his truck to the front bumper of my car. You can imagine the endless honking horns and inappropriate comments made by pedestrians and drivers alike.

Once in position, the jump start took a matter of minutes. I was so thankful and relieved and I wanted to give him something in payment for his trouble, in addition to a big thank you. When I approached him with a rolled up $20 bill, he absolutely refused to accept it. He shook his head and said, "If it was my wife, I would want someone to do the same for her ... Don't you waste that on me". I thanked him again and headed back to my car.

After I fastened my seatbelt, I sat for a moment, crossed my arms over my chest and let the tears fall. It had truly been a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad week and that day was just the cherry on top of a lot of stress. The kindness and good will of that man, whose name I regrettably never learned, caught me completely off guard and I was extremely overwhelmed.

To you sir, the man who helped a very drained Mommy on a day, after a week that just would not go her way -- Thank You ...  thank you from the bottom of my heart. You have reminded me of the good in people and how much a little bit of effort and help really does make a very big difference. You have inspired me to pay it forward and let your actions be a lesson to my children as well.

We are in another week, and true to the ebb and flow of life, the baby was diagnosed with an ear infection, a throat infection and bronchitis. Izzy is making a full recovery from a similar virus that she came down with over the weekend. My thought is that it can only get better from here. Like Mr. Darling said, every breath is just another opportunity and I plan on taking full advantage of the many opportunities to make a difference or at least make someone smile.

With love,
Mrs. Darling

A Little Lady

Sometimes it takes longer to get out of the house than to prepare a five-course-meal. The baby must be changed and freshened up with a new diaper. The diaper bag must be prepared for any incident; hunger, thirst, dirty pants, fussy pants and germ infested hands. The dog must be tucked in her crate. Shoes put on feet.  Check to make sure you have your phone, wallet and keys. Finally, wait for the five- year- old to make her presence at the foot of the stairs? Yes! This is a common occurrence in the Darling home.

When I am ready to leave, keys in hand, back door wide open, Izzy is nowhere to be found. Where is she? She is just one color away from completing the world's most beautiful rainbow drawing.  She is changing her socks because I didn't tell her that her favorite ruffled pair were freshly laundered and sat in the clean clothes pile on our bed. She can't find her ballerina necklace, you know, "the one who dances on her tippy toes" that Pop gave her. We thought we heard just about every excuse in the book for why our eldest darling "will be down in just one more minute,"until this past Sunday.

After a long day I had to make a quick stop into Target. Sadly, Mack's need for baby Vicks and infant Tylenol heavily outweighed the need to shop the new Phillip Lim for Target collection (fabulous  - at least from what I glanced at on my way to the 10 items or less aisle).  I stood at the bottom of the steps, baby on hip, twirling my keys around my forefinger and called, "Come on Iz! What's the hold up love?" She appeared cooly at the top of the steps, fiddling with her purse zipper and said:

"Mommy, a lady never leaves the house without her purse."

Stunned into silence, I didn't even have the chance to tell her to hold onto the railing before she was down the stairs. Her feet slipped effortlessly into her flats and her little five-year-old self was out of the door and into her booster seat.

Still flabbergasted and secretly fist pumping, I grabbed the diaper bag, set the alarm and closed the door behind me. My first thought was: Heaven help us. My second thought was: A diaper bag counts as a purse ... right?

My children never cease to amaze me, especially when it comes to what comes out of their mouths. My inner fashionista beams again and I've made a mental note to talk with Iz about the elements that go into making a lady. I hope this little story gave you as big of a chuckle as the experience gave me!

With love,
Mrs. Darling

Aunts Uncles Family Friends

"Me, Brudder and Aunties" - An Original by Izzy, our budding artist

When I was a young girl, my parents referred to our nearest and dearest friends as Aunts and Uncles. They never took the place of my Aunts and Uncles by blood, but the terms showed respect, and more so, acknowledged that they were as close to us as family. Our children are growing up with the same regard for our very dear friends.

There is no doubt that one's closest friends may as well be blood relatives. Now a days families are spread apart across the country and in our case, the world. When Mr. Darling and I were stationed in Virginia Beach, our friends became our family. They joined the ranks of Auntie Jess, my darling sister by a friendship that began ten years ago when we met during our Syracuse University orientation - and Auntie Liz, my darling sister by Bro-mance - her husband and Mr. Darling go back to the "Good Old Boy" days in Louisville, Kentucky.  As a family, we have shared life, loss, joy and sorrow. To hear our children refer to them as Auntie or Uncle makes us smile all the way to our core.

I remember the nights I used to spend with Tee Tee (Izzy, still too young to pronounce Auntie, so my girlfriend Casey became Tee Tee ). While our husbands were deployed on training trips together, she and I would make dinner for each other, alternating nights at each other's home. One of us would bathe the children after dinner while the other would prepare their jammies and pull-ups. While the little ones got their final thirty minutes of playtime, we could sit down and enjoy a glass of wine. Afterward, one of us would walk across the street to our home and we would do it all again the next evening. Casey and I made a team, a typical military family. During those nights, everything was okay. While the worry about our husbands never left us, we could find contentment in the feeling that we had a family in each other. It is memories like this that illustrate something my father once said: There is no limit on love. Love is endless and it can be shared in a way that is sincere and generous by anyone who is willing to give it.

As a parent, it is a relief and a blessing to us that no matter where we are, our children are surrounded by very special Aunties and Uncles who love them limitlessly and with heartfelt sincerity. The comfort and security of this knowledge, that only friendship and unconditional love brings, is truly humbling. After all, what is greater and more powerful than the feeling of family?

With love,
Mrs. Darling

One For The Good Guys: A Lesson On Personal Style

When Mr. Darling and I discovered that our daughter would be wearing a uniform in Kindergarten this year, we immediately locked eyes, slapped our hands together in a massive high five, and declared, "One for the Good Guys!"

What no one but Mr. Darling, our son McClain and I hear in the morning is the phrase, "But it's not fancy enough!" This somewhat benign phrase, from the lips of our darling daughter,  turns into a whining chant that makes me want to tear out my hair strand by strand. In fact, it would probably be more painful to listen to our daughter whining about the fanciness of her outfit than it would be to light my entire head on fire.

I suppose this is payback for the mornings that I tortured my own mother because I refused to wear anything but a party dress to school. One lesson I have learned again and again, even in parenting, is: What goes around, comes around. No child can understand this. If it was possible, I would have been the on the straight and narrow from the word "What".

The introduction of a uniform leaves no question as to what our darling may wear during the week. There is no option except for what color jumper she would like to wear in the warmer months and whether she would prefer to wear khaki pants with a button down blouse or her wool jumper in the colder months.  Fortunately for Izzy, her school uniforms are absolutely charming! At the start of this school year, she may wear a pastel pink, blue or yellow jumper with a white Peter Pan Collared shirt, knee or ankle socks and Mary - Jane shoes. Is that not the definition of The Little Girl Uniform? I don't know who would rather wear it at this point, she or me? (Don't answer that, Darling).

After I had to explain that jewelry was not allowed at school because the goal was to remain the same in appearance, Izzy asked, "Well, isn't it important to be different?" (YES, Darling! Yes!).  I further explained that the most important thing is not what you put on your body, but how you carry yourself, how you treat others and how you act as a human being in a community of other human beings and learning and knowing how to contribute to that society in a constructive and meaningful way.

For as much as I live and breath for fashion, parenthood has also taught me that there will be days when I'm lucky just to get my hair out of my face. These types of days, where walking over to my closet means that McClain will follow me, rip out my clothes while I'm trying to find something to wear and dump whatever he can get his tiny hands on into the shower or on the floor, are becoming more and more frequent with each physical milestone met by the littlest darling. Now that he is climbing, it is nearly impossible to even brush my teeth in the morning because in the time it takes me to put the toothpaste on my toothbrush, he has usually climbed on top of the toilet and begun to try and dance about on the lid. Travertine floors and an 18 month old head do not do well went met at falling speed. The toothbrush hangs out of the corner of my mouth and I have to finish brushing with one hand holding my darling monkey-baby before he finds something else to climb on.

On these days when I'm feeling unkempt and unsophisticated, I occasionally wonder what happened to the days of effortless chic? The truth is, when I think about it, those days weren't always so effortless. I constantly thought about what I was going to wear, what my outfit would say about me and how I could translate what was editorially chic with my current wardrobe. With the passing years, and now that our daughter is wearing a uniform to school, I've come to find real meaning in the phrase: Style is personal and innate. Personal style makes chic possible and effortless every day... specifically the style of one's manner and demeanor towards others.

So far with the start of school and the introduction of a uniform for Izzy, mornings have been pleasant, relatively peaceful and I still have my hair. It may only be swept out of my eyes, but our vision as a family is clearer and our daughter is learning the importance of showing her individuality at school with her actions and thoughts. Weekends are a completely different story!

With love,
Mrs. Darling

Weekly PD: A Helping Hand

This week's Pixie Dust came in the form of a friend's helping hand ... my friend Diana's hand, to be exact. She saved me from myself when I was melting under the heat and the pressure of survival.

These past five days seemed to be like a fragile parcel tied with string, except the "parcel" was a compilation of mishaps and milestones that were bundled together in a flimsy package. I was the string ...  attempting to hold it all together. Our air-conditioning broke ... AGAIN and our home was overcome with intense heat and humidity for 2 days. Our puppy Sailor was still mourning her sister - taking me back to the days of getting up 3 times a night. Izzy started Kindergarten yesterday (I still can't believe it) and the Fra Diavolo (Brother Devil) found a fondness for climbing. He climbed up on top of our entertainment unit and tried to rip the television off the wall, he climbed out of his high chair, smearing pasta and meatballs all over everything he touched and he later attempted to scale the walls of his bathroom by using the jet holes in the bathtub to leverage his feet. Oh, and Mr. Darling is away. Maintaining my "Positive Mental Attitude", a term coined by Mr. Darling while talking to our daughter about the importance and power of staying positive, became the least of my goals. This week, my goal was just to survive. This goal has been the theme of many weeks in the past, but for whatever reason, this week I struggled more than I have been.

Diana must have sensed this and she had the children and me over for a playdate and dinner. Getting out of our sauna, watching our children play, seeing my friend and being able to talk with another adult about life, kids and everything in between, brought me back from feeling like a thin string trying to contain life in a flimsy package. I could take a deep breath and let go of trying to keep it all together. I gained perspective on what was going on around me and  I left her home with my original goal: Maintain A Positive Mental Attitude.

Setting goals is necessary in order to achieve what one wants out of life, but sometimes we are so focused on reaching, that we forget the small goals like connecting the dots in one's day to day life or simply, just getting through the day or in my case, the week. I used to find so much shame in not being able to do it all, but as each day passes and my children get older, I have learned that there is no shame in needing a little escape from reality, to go to a friend and say, "I just want to throw my hands up". For me, just getting out and venting to Diana gave me a little bit of peace.

Here's to the beginning of the weekend and taking life as it comes, one step at a time.

With love,
Mrs. Darling

A Darling Night Before Kindergarten

This week has been bittersweet. At some point, I don't know when or how, our baby daughter grew up to be five-years-old. Tomorrow she will begin Kindergarten. I keep shaking my head, saying, "This can't be!" Part of me secretly wants to bundle her up and never let her go.

What keeps me from following through with my secret desire, is that I have been looking forward to this age with Izzy for a long time. I couldn't wait for the day that she would be old enough to carry on a real conversation, where her own personality and thoughts could shine through. So far she has yet to disappoint ... this child is no shrinking violet! She recently asked me why she couldn't stay up passed her bedtime and when I told her that I was concerned that she would wake up with a negative attitude, her response was, "Well, you stay up later than me and now I'm really concerned about YOUR attitude in the morning". This type of exchange is classic Izzy - witty, strong minded and loving. It is a perfect example of why I constantly yearn to hear her inner voice, even if it proves to be a challenge at bedtime.

As a child, I felt confident in my own skin and I wasn't afraid to express what I thought and felt. This was due to my parents' ability to maintain their role as parents while simultaneously allowing me to talk with them, openly, honestly and from my heart.

As a parent, I have learned that part of the joy of parenting is getting to know your child for who they are as individuals. It is a bizarre and lovely experience to see oneself, partner, or parents in ones children but nothing compares to what it's like to see them becoming their own person ... no matter how little that person may be. Walking Izzy confidently to her classroom door, letting go of her hand and allowing her to continue to grow as the bright, self assured and caring young lady that she is, is probably one of the best things I could do for her tomorrow and every day after.

It's a happy coincidence that Izzy's first day of school coincides with Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, when we welcome another year and wish that it may be healthy, happy and sweet. Since Mr. Darling has been called away for the next few weeks, he will be missing her first day of school. We know that this is a hard reality for our daughter and instead of focusing on Daddy not being present, we are highlighting all the amazing things that are ahead ... A Darling Night Before Kindergarten Dinner, for example!

Tonight, my darling daughter, son and I will be enjoying everything sweet for a beautiful New Year and start of school. Check out a few of the dishes that I have prepared. A couple of them are my family's traditional holiday favorites, but the dessert is a favorite sweet of my sweet! The Darling Family extends a toast in honor of a New Year, a new beginning and the sweet reward of spreading your wings and learning to fly.  Enjoy!

With love,
Mrs. Darling

THE MENU

Mrs. Darling's Holiday Roast Chicken

Tzimmes

Mrs. Fleischer's Sweet Kugel

Mrs. Darling's Sauteed Kale

Make Your Own Sundae - Darling Style

THE SERVEWARE
Bernardaud Platter - Mrs. Darling's Everyday China
Vintage Limoge Serving Bowl From The Darling Family Collection
Glassware: William Yeoward compote bowl, vintage etched glass (Wildflower)
 Vintage Limoge Ice-cream Dishes From The Darling Family Collection
Fabergé Silver Spoons (Gatchina Palace) From The Darling Family's Silverware

MRS DARLING'S HOLIDAY ROAST CHICKEN

Yield: 8 Servings

Approximate Time: 1 1/2 hours

One 4-5 lb whole chicken, preferably organic

1 Golden Delicious apple, cut and quartered

1 Granny Smith apple, cut and quartered

1 yellow onion, cut and quartered

1 orange, sliced in large pieces

1 bayleaf

1/2 cup of honey

juice of 1 lemon

1 teaspoon paprika

salt and pepper

*Preheat oven to 375 degrees
*Rinse chicken inside and out with cold water. (if you have time, you can brine the chicken in a bowl of ice cold water and kosher salt). Pat dry with paper towel.
*Mix 1/4 cup of honey and lemon juice. Set aside
*Season chicken in and out with a mixture of salt, pepper and paprika
*Mix apples, onion, sliced orange and 1 bay leaf
*Stuff the chicken with apple mixture and tie the poultry legs together with twine.
*Put chicken on a rack in a roasting pan and roast for approximately 15 minutes per pound, basting chicken with lemon-honey mixture every 15 minutes.
*Roast until well browned and clear juices flow out of the leg when it is pierced with a fork or knife.
*Allow to rest for 20 minutes before carving

 TZIMMES

Yield: 6-8 servings

Approximate Time: 1 hour

2 pounds sweet potatoes, diced

4 carrots, cut in chunks

1 cup of prunes

1/2 cup jumbo raisins

1/2 cup dried apricots

2 cups orange juice

1 tablespoon potato starch

1/4 cup honey

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon ginger

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

peel of one orange

*Preheat oven to 350 degrees
*combine sweet potatoes and carrots in a microwavable dish
*Pour 1/2 cup orange juice and microwave for 2-4 minutes
*put mixture in a casserole dish and add prunes, raisins, apricots, honey, sugar, cinnamon, the remaining orange juice, orange peel and potato starch. Mix well
*Bake for 1 hour or until very tender when pierced with a fork

 MRS FLEISCHER'S SWEET KUGEL

Yield: 8-10 servings

Approximate Time: 45-60 minutes

1/2 lb medium noodles

3 eggs, separated

1/2 cup melted butter

1/4 cup sour cream

1 cup sugar

4 oz cream cheese

1 lb cottage cheese

1/2 teaspoon, vanilla

apricot marmalade

*Preheat over to 350 degrees
*cook noodles in boiling water until tender. Drain and set aside
*mix yolks with butter, sour cream, 1/4 cup of sugar, cream cheese, cottage cheese and vanilla. Blend well
*Beat egg whites until frothy and gradually add in 3/4 cup of sugar
*continue beating until stiff but not dry
*fold meringue into the yolk mixture
*pour mixture in a casserole dish and bake for 30- 35 minutes
*remove from oven and spoon the apricot marmalade on top and dot with butter
*Bake an additional 10 minutes, until golden

MRS DARLING'S SAUTEED KALE

Yield: 4 servings

Approximate Time: 20 minutes

1 pound kale, torn in large pieces

1 red apple, cut in matchstick pieces

2 shallots, sliced

1 tablespoon Ghee

1 teaspoon Harissa 

2 tablespoons agave nectar

2 teaspoons lemon juice

1 teaspoon lemon rind

1 tablespoon silvered almonds, toasted

*Heat ghee in a large saute pan that will accommodate all of the kale
*Saute shallots and add harissa, 1 tablespoon agave and salt and pepper to taste. Cook for one minute
*Add kale, mixing to blend evenly. Cover and cook for one minute.
*Uncover and add apples and lemon rind. Stir and cook until kale is wilted
*Add lemon juice, taste and correct seasoning to taste
*transfer to a serving dish
*sprinkle with slivered, toasted almonds

MAKE YOUR OWN SUNDAE

Anything goes! Below are a few of the Little Darling's sundae favorites.

"Mommy! Can we have those silvery jewels on our sundaes?" - The Darling asked ... She shall receive!

These were just too cute to pass up!

Make Your Own Sundae - Darling Style

This dish will not run away with the spoon ... the Little Darlings would never let that happen

These recipes were created in collaboration with Lory Fleischer, Cook/Pastry Chef, graduate of the FRENCH CULINARY INSTITUTE (Classic Pastry Arts).