So long, Brazil! You and I had a pretty good visit, this time. We won't talk about the other times. Such a blot on our relationship. Let's be more positive and remember the last three weeks instead!
How you graced me with cooler weather and rain. And wind! What a refreshing wind. But you also gave me some sun so that we could hit the beach and drink coconut water right out of the coconut, and fresh squeezed sugar cane juice with lime. The sand so powdery fine it would fall straight through a sifter. It's much easier to walk miles on sand like that. And push a stroller. It's nice to see that more Brazilians are using strollers so I don't get as many weird looks as I used to.
How you fed me the most amazing food. The food! THE FOOD! Cochinhas (a tear shaped chicken dumpling of sorts), pasteis (fried pastry stuffed with whatever you want), desert pizza, brigadeiro, rice and beans, fried yucca, cocada (soft coconut candy), the best bolachas ever (cookies). Not to mention all the fabulous drinks. Guarana flavored soda, grape keifer, fruit smoothies, BEER. I have stuffed my gullet and have never been happier to be so bloated.
How Mason came here with only one tooth and seven binkies, and he's leaving with five teeth, three binkies (where DO they go?), the ability to get up to a standing position without holding onto anything and how to scream to get what he wants. Though we're not so impressed with the last one. And we're hoping that one of the things he gained here, the crazy striped poopy diapers from the banana overload, does not follow us home.
How you finally, FINALLY, made it a law for kids to be in carseats. I don't know if your law requires them to be buckled in, though, because we saw a lot that had the straps cut out of them. My MIL still tried to get us to not use Mason's carseat, but I held firm. Though if I didn't have the law on my side it would've been just like all the other times. Oh yeah, we're not going to talk about the other times. Sorry.
How fun it was to watch all the pantsuits and bloomers parade down the street. They seem to have taken ladies' fashion by storm. But seriously, how could you let that happen? It's been my experience that whatever crazy fashion thing I see here, ends up in the States not too long after, and I don't know if I can handle pantsuits and bloomers.
How you turn me into a girly girl, even if it's just while I'm here. Pink fingernails, flowers on my toes, giant bows on my sandals, lots of jewelry, and SHAVED LEGS. I only shave my legs for you, Brazil. And how this God awful humidty is actually good for something- my skin looks amazing!
How clean my kids were, with the standard two baths a day. Sometimes more. And how my MIL totally took over bathing duty, which was fine by me because they don't have a bathtub and washing a baby in a shower when you're not in the shower can get really wet and messy.
How good you are to families. Brazilians love kids, and it's awesome that someone will gladly hold your baby and watch your six year old while you're getting your nails done. And having a baby means getting to cut to the front of the line! This will come in especially handy when we're at the airport, finally heading home.
And most importantly, how my MIL actually held her cool most of the time. And that it was Gilberto that ended up fighting with her this time, and not me. (Yay! Not me!) She did do stuff like cut Gabi's hair without permission (though thank GOD it was only a trim and not the bob she had originally thought of doing), and would wake Mason up from naps if she thought he was sleeping too long, but all stuff I can let go.
Brazil, thank you for a much better trip than usual! You remind me every time that I can get through anything for three weeks, but this time it was more fun than not. And now I say goodbye. See you next year. San Diego, see YOU soon!
Monday, November 29, 2010
Friday, November 26, 2010
Life As A Mango Cake
If you are what you eat, Mason is going to turn into a piece of fruit. Or a piece of cake.
Brazilians love their fruit and they love their sugar, especially together.
My mother-in-law (MIL) has a mashed up banana waiting for Mason every morning when he wakes up. Never mind that I want to mix it with the organic brown rice cereal I lugged all the way from the States. No, the flavor of his fruit can't be marred by something so healthy. But what IS okay to put on the banana? Chocolate milk mix. And that's how he eats it.
Just an aside on bananas: my MIL swears by their medicinal quality. Who knows, she may be on to something, but I really doubt that Mason's daily dose of bananas is what's kept him from getting sicke here, as she claims.
MIL: See, Laura (they call me Laura because Laural is too hard to say, though my FIL decided Laura was too hard, too, and calles me Loress), see how the bananas are keeping him so healthy? Look at his chubby thighs- that's from the bananas! Hear his healthy breathing? That's from the bananas, too! Make sure you never stop feeding him bananas. Promise me, okay? OKAY?
Another funny aside about banans: Gabi HATES them. My MIL went crazy the first few times we were here trying to get her to eat some. She'd mash it, bake it, put it on cake, dip it in chocolate, freeze it, dice it into yogurt, all to no avail. She finally gave up on Gabi, but now she has Mason. And she's in heaven because he LOVES bananas.
For lunch, Mason gets papaya and mangoes and watermelon. A baby fruit salad. And my MIL spoon feeds him whatever fruit smoothie she's made for the day (the lime one is to die for!). When we first got here I would try to give him vegetables first, but my MIL would frown and whisk him away to sit in her lap and eat his fruit and smoothie. It's no wonder he started spitting the veggies out. He's not stupid, he knows what the good stuff is.
Since lunch is the big meal of the day in Brazil, it's also when they have their desert. So after everyone is done eating, my MIL will fix herself an extra big plate of desert, usually cake, usually with some sort of fruit in it, and feed half of it to Mason. That boy loves bananas, but he loves cake more. He won't move from my MIL's side until the plate is clean. Yesterday, I came into the kitchen and my MIL had him on the floor LICKING THE PLATE. I tried to take it from him to put in the sink, and the kid got all frantic and clung on for dear life!
For the rest of the day, everytime the kid turns his head, someone is shoving some more fruit or cake in his mouth.
It's a good life.
My MIL did the same thing with Gabi when she was a baby. And then when she got older they added ice cream three times a day, cookies and sugary yogurt for a snack, and syrupy juice whenver she wanted it. This trip has been no different, except they've been hovering to make sure she eats enough rice and beans. She is Brazilian, after all. They love their rice and beans, too.
I'm not too worried about the lack of anything else. It's only for three weeks, we'll fix it when we get home. But I do laugh when they wonder out loud why she has such a sweet tooth. And I bet they'll be just as surprised when Mason turns out to have one, too.
Brazilians love their fruit and they love their sugar, especially together.
My mother-in-law (MIL) has a mashed up banana waiting for Mason every morning when he wakes up. Never mind that I want to mix it with the organic brown rice cereal I lugged all the way from the States. No, the flavor of his fruit can't be marred by something so healthy. But what IS okay to put on the banana? Chocolate milk mix. And that's how he eats it.
Just an aside on bananas: my MIL swears by their medicinal quality. Who knows, she may be on to something, but I really doubt that Mason's daily dose of bananas is what's kept him from getting sicke here, as she claims.
MIL: See, Laura (they call me Laura because Laural is too hard to say, though my FIL decided Laura was too hard, too, and calles me Loress), see how the bananas are keeping him so healthy? Look at his chubby thighs- that's from the bananas! Hear his healthy breathing? That's from the bananas, too! Make sure you never stop feeding him bananas. Promise me, okay? OKAY?
Another funny aside about banans: Gabi HATES them. My MIL went crazy the first few times we were here trying to get her to eat some. She'd mash it, bake it, put it on cake, dip it in chocolate, freeze it, dice it into yogurt, all to no avail. She finally gave up on Gabi, but now she has Mason. And she's in heaven because he LOVES bananas.
For lunch, Mason gets papaya and mangoes and watermelon. A baby fruit salad. And my MIL spoon feeds him whatever fruit smoothie she's made for the day (the lime one is to die for!). When we first got here I would try to give him vegetables first, but my MIL would frown and whisk him away to sit in her lap and eat his fruit and smoothie. It's no wonder he started spitting the veggies out. He's not stupid, he knows what the good stuff is.
Since lunch is the big meal of the day in Brazil, it's also when they have their desert. So after everyone is done eating, my MIL will fix herself an extra big plate of desert, usually cake, usually with some sort of fruit in it, and feed half of it to Mason. That boy loves bananas, but he loves cake more. He won't move from my MIL's side until the plate is clean. Yesterday, I came into the kitchen and my MIL had him on the floor LICKING THE PLATE. I tried to take it from him to put in the sink, and the kid got all frantic and clung on for dear life!
For the rest of the day, everytime the kid turns his head, someone is shoving some more fruit or cake in his mouth.
It's a good life.
My MIL did the same thing with Gabi when she was a baby. And then when she got older they added ice cream three times a day, cookies and sugary yogurt for a snack, and syrupy juice whenver she wanted it. This trip has been no different, except they've been hovering to make sure she eats enough rice and beans. She is Brazilian, after all. They love their rice and beans, too.
I'm not too worried about the lack of anything else. It's only for three weeks, we'll fix it when we get home. But I do laugh when they wonder out loud why she has such a sweet tooth. And I bet they'll be just as surprised when Mason turns out to have one, too.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Wax On
My mother-in-law has a waxing business out of her home. Every so often a group of girls will come over and disappear into her crafting room, where she has a daybed. About an hour later they'll emerge, happily piling money into my mother-in-law's hands.
Personally, I find it kind of weird that they go in groups. I don't imagine that they're all getting their eyebrows waxed, which is the only kind of waxing I'd be comfortable letting others see me do. Do they not mind their friends watching someone rip their mustache off? Or worse, seeing them spread eagled for a Brazilian? And I know for a fact, because I stupidly asked, that the latter is the most common type of waxing she does.
I also find the whole AT HOME SPA CARE thing fascinating. There are lots of actual spas and salons to go to in Santos, but it's equally as common to just go to someone's house. Or have them come to yours. I'm totally on board with not having to get out of my pajamas for a manicure or hair cut, or going to someone's house for a massage. But waxing? NO FRICKIN WAY.
I seriously can't get over this whole waxing in the craft room thing! (Though I think if she has a designated area it would be different. Maybe?)
Regardless, it's pretty obvious that I will not be getting waxed in the craft room. Something Gilberto learned the hard way. The first time we came here, he suggested I let her wax ME. I made it pretty clear that not only was I a bit creeped out by a his mother's room of many uses, she wasn't going ANYWHERE near my nether regions.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Mistaken Identity
Gabi saw this picture...
And said, "Look, mom, it's Lady Gaga!"
Of course I had to repeat what she'd said in Portuguese to all the ladies in the salon, and everyone erupted in laughter, telling Gabi what a doll she was. She didn't quite know what her mistake had been (it's strange to think she's never seen a picture of Marilyn Monroe), but she was glowing form all of the attention.
I love going to salons here in Brazil. They are bright, vibrant places full of chatter. Women who have never met each other before give opinions on hairstyles and talk about babies and grandchildren and politics. And Big Brother, which is huge here. And my favorite, how to find a good maid or nanny.
I love the comraderie. And I love that Gabi loves it, too. It's the perfect place for a girls' day out. Not to mention that you can get a manicure and pedicure for just $6! I won't even go into the incredibly cheap prices for waxing (it makes the pain TOTALLY worthwhile).
And said, "Look, mom, it's Lady Gaga!"
Of course I had to repeat what she'd said in Portuguese to all the ladies in the salon, and everyone erupted in laughter, telling Gabi what a doll she was. She didn't quite know what her mistake had been (it's strange to think she's never seen a picture of Marilyn Monroe), but she was glowing form all of the attention.
I love going to salons here in Brazil. They are bright, vibrant places full of chatter. Women who have never met each other before give opinions on hairstyles and talk about babies and grandchildren and politics. And Big Brother, which is huge here. And my favorite, how to find a good maid or nanny.
I love the comraderie. And I love that Gabi loves it, too. It's the perfect place for a girls' day out. Not to mention that you can get a manicure and pedicure for just $6! I won't even go into the incredibly cheap prices for waxing (it makes the pain TOTALLY worthwhile).
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Brigadeiro
Today I learned how to make brigadeiro. It's a chocolate ball rolled in chocolate sprinkles, and is one of my most favorite Brazilian sweets. You can't go to any kind of party here and not find it.
My mother-in-law made a batch today and let me into the kitchen to help.
It's surprisingly basic for how good it is, and reminds me of how fudge is made. Just two cans of condensed milk, about 1/2 a cup of butter and three giant heaping spoonfuls of cocoa.
Stir continuously on low heat until it boils. Take off after it thickens, about another five minutes. I, of course, did the stirring. Sneaky mother-in-law.
Look how small that stove is! It has four burners, but no room for anything else. I don't know how my mother-in-law does it, but she gets four pans going on that stove almost every day.
The platter is on the sink counter. See that lip that runs around the edge? It allows for the counter to flood, and you just use a squeedgie to get the water off. Which is super handy when you're washing dishes by hand (oh, dishwasher, how I miss you). It's also the only counter space in the whole kitchen, so you have to squeedgie it dry when you want to make, say, gnochi, which requires lots of flour.
Spoon a bit of the chocolate into your hands and roll into a ball. Then roll the ball in a bowl of sprinkles.
We put the kids to work. Gabi's in the yellow dress. The other girl lives one floor below, and she and Gabi play together every time we come. Friendship didn't stop them from fighting over who got more sprinkles to roll their balls in, so I pulled out another bowl and made things even.
My mother-in-law made a batch today and let me into the kitchen to help.
It's surprisingly basic for how good it is, and reminds me of how fudge is made. Just two cans of condensed milk, about 1/2 a cup of butter and three giant heaping spoonfuls of cocoa.
Stir continuously on low heat until it boils. Take off after it thickens, about another five minutes. I, of course, did the stirring. Sneaky mother-in-law.Look how small that stove is! It has four burners, but no room for anything else. I don't know how my mother-in-law does it, but she gets four pans going on that stove almost every day.
Pour onto a buttered platter to cool.
The platter is on the sink counter. See that lip that runs around the edge? It allows for the counter to flood, and you just use a squeedgie to get the water off. Which is super handy when you're washing dishes by hand (oh, dishwasher, how I miss you). It's also the only counter space in the whole kitchen, so you have to squeedgie it dry when you want to make, say, gnochi, which requires lots of flour.
We put the kids to work. Gabi's in the yellow dress. The other girl lives one floor below, and she and Gabi play together every time we come. Friendship didn't stop them from fighting over who got more sprinkles to roll their balls in, so I pulled out another bowl and made things even.
Keep going until your hands feel like they're going to fall off. Even then we had a few more to go until we were done.
As you can see, things got pretty messy, especially when we threw a baby into the mix. Mason grabbed a ball off the plate and got his first taste of chocolate. From the fit he threw when we took it away from him, we're going to have another sweet tooth on our hands.
We went to a birthday party a few days ago, and I was popping these things like there was no tomorrow. I'm so excited to know how to make them myself!
As you can see, things got pretty messy, especially when we threw a baby into the mix. Mason grabbed a ball off the plate and got his first taste of chocolate. From the fit he threw when we took it away from him, we're going to have another sweet tooth on our hands.
We went to a birthday party a few days ago, and I was popping these things like there was no tomorrow. I'm so excited to know how to make them myself!
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