Brian asked me the other day why he wasn’t featured in our “Real Men of AP” series.

I guess I thought I wrote about him enough that he didn’t need to be a part of this, but of course he does! Plus, it is important to him.

So, without further ado, I give you this week’s Real Men of AP feature: Brian Grumet.

Brian has been the epitome of a present, hands-on dad since the day Aram was born. Aram … Keep Reading!!!

Do you remember the book Little Women by Louisa May Alcott?

For so many of us, that reminds us of our childhoods.

I was in Ojai recently, and during my shopping trip I came across some great vintage books for the boys room. A book titled Little Men caught my attention, and I was delighted to see the author was also Louisa May Alcott.

Little Men is a sequel to little women, reprising many of the characters we grew to … Keep Reading!!!

 Today, we kick off our Stuck On You giveaway!

 Stuck On You is a company specializing in personalized labels and gifts that can be previewed online prior to purchase.

What does Stuck On You offer? Anything from shopping lists and activity organizers to clothing and wooden puzzles.

With various colors, themes, and other personalization options, we have found the boys like taking part in the personalization process.

What do we love?

Every week, the boys design and paint a mural … Keep Reading!!!

Most people who have been to Ethiopia have either tried or seen the layered avocado “smoothies”.

Here is a fun twist on a classic drink.

Ingredients:

Note: any fruit can be used or substituted in this recipe (except we strongly recommend the avocado). Mango is a great classic edition that didn’t happen to be available the day we made the recipe, but is a delicious compliment to the sweet avocado flavor.

2-3 Avocados, sliced
6 oz blueberries (fresh or frozen)… Keep Reading!!!

Strobridge Elementary school in Hayward, California is holding a “safety day” where they will have firefighters discuss fire safety and police officers discuss bicycle and gun safety.

The unique part of this day is the toy gun exchange. If you give up your toy gun (squirt gun, Nerf gun, Star Wars blaster- you name it) you will receive a book and be entered in a raffle to win a bicycle.

Charles Hill, the principle of Strobridge Elementary explains why … Keep Reading!!!

Meet my friend Lauren’s adorable son, Vincent!

Here he is baby-wearing and playing ‘house’ with his cousin.

Too cute.

Submissions: Real Men of AP (in Training) submissions should be sent to Kendall at info@iamnotthebabysitter.com

… Keep Reading!!!

by Kendall Hoover

These are my favorite things from the internet this week. Click any picture to go to the source. What were your favorites this week?

This recipe for lemon coconut delights.

Yummy and healthy? Done.

This post about having young children in church.

It feels good to be encouraged and understood, and the writer of this post does the same thing I do every Sunday morning.

 
 … Keep Reading!!!

From our Real Man’s wife, Tanya:

“This is my husband Clint.  He cooks, he changes cloth diapers –  he even washes  them!  He wears our 18-month-old and our 3-year-old.

He cried with me and held me when we got transferred to the hospital from the birthing center  with our first baby, and he caught  2 babies after that with our 2 homebirths.

He is supportive and the best father ever!  Here’s the twist that we laugh about now …he

Brian got home from work, strips down to his underwear, and washes the dishes. Then he comes in to the bathroom where I am.

 
Me: Do you think it is cannibalism to eat your own kidney if it was accidentally removed and they couldn’t put it back in?
 
Brian: My underwear is on backwards. It must have been like that all day.

It is scary to think that the people mentioned above are responsible for two … Keep Reading!!!

Bright colors, fresh ingredients, fun presentation. Who wouldn’t be drawn to the sight of a colorful drink in a fun glass?

Cocktails aren’t just for grown-ups! Here is an easy and fun recipe for virgin strawberry basil mojitos:

Ingredients (makes 2 mojitos):

• 6 strawberries, chopped
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint
• sparkling water (We use 365 brand with a hint of lime, but plain or any flavor would also work.)
• ice
• 1-2 teaspoons honey (optional!)

Directions:… Keep Reading!!!

Prostitution is not legal in the state of Texas, but shooting someone to get your money back from them when they don’t have sex with you is. Kind of.

A man was acquitted yesterday of murder in the death of 23-year-old Lenora Ivie Frago. Frago succumbed to her injuries seven months after the shooting.

The defendant claimed a meeting was arranged through Craigslist for an escort service where sex was included. He then claimed he paid the victim $150 … Keep Reading!!!

Brian just got home from work and is surfing the internet:

Bri: Did you hear Kim Kardashian is going to eat her placenta?

Me: Everyone is eating their placenta these days. I feel left out.

Bri: …but didn’t your placenta try to kill you? (He was referring to the autoimmune reaction my body had with my placenta  in my HELLP Syndrome pregnancy with Aram.)

Me: Oh yeah, maybe my placenta was not the edible kind. (And I suddenly felt better)… Keep Reading!!!