Author: garliacornelia

What is your MOM SALARY?

After all the talk yesterday about wages for women and working rights for mothers in President Obama’s State of the Union Address, I thought it was only fitting for the Mothers out there to find out their mom salary.

Whether a Stay at Home Mom or a Working Mother, what is your job worth in dollars (we know what’s it’s worth to your children)?

No employer could of course give you the same kind of satisfaction that our children do, but it is fun to see all the things a mother (or father) does and what the salary would be!

Check it out Here and share your salaries below!

Who has a right to the American Dream?

There is much talk during this current series of Downton Abbey of going to America to build a better life.  Tom mentions it, thinking he will feel less like an outsider in a country full of people starting over and Daisy even has the chance, but chooses not to.  America is described as a place where dreams are made and where one can start over, with or even without the right resources.

America provides a clean slate.

That dream however, seems to be a true dream for some and much less of a reality for others.  We are a country that in our inception was built by enslaved peoples and run by immigrants.  I say this, not to be funny or shocking.  It is just a fact.  I am not here to debate that.  But how hard has the dream of the new world been for some to achieve, and how easy for others?

Many times our dreams are pushed to the side due to everyday responsibilities.  My dream for example, of being a playwright – not impossible, but not something that happens everyday.  In my opinion, there are many things I did not sacrifice before getting married and having a baby that would have made it a little easier for me now.  I worked a lot, trying to make ends meet instead of working less, living with roommates longer and writing more.  I was under the impression I would be able to do it allā€¦ at any stage of my life.

With student loans aggressively seeking repayment, I find myself a young black woman with 2 Masters degrees, lots of debt, a husband, daughter and baby on the way (and in that order).  

Ideally, as a playwright, large grants, fellowships, residencies and commissions allow for a certain type of life.  Those are what you apply for in order to write more and worry about making ends meet a little less.  Theatre is all about creating; creation takes time and lots of thought.  Teaching is also something that if you are fortunate to do so, will supply another stable lifestyle as a playwright.  But what about writing time?  When does one do that if they are constantly teaching?  That’s why the grants and fellowships are such precious gifts.

I had a wonderful job, in the theatre, but not as a playwright.  It’s just not part of this field.  One doesn’t exactly “get a job as a playwright” or “get a job as a director”.  I should know – I chose it.  I knew what I was getting into, but when it actually happens and you are not as successful or exactly where you thought you might be.  It’sā€¦ humbling to say the least.  Trust me, I have re-thought my career choice multiple times, why didn’t I stick with Science and become a Doctorā€¦ or why didn’t I stick with Psychology?  Drama Therapy is a nice career that would have allowed me to stay in the theatre.

Coulda Woulda Shoulda…

I, like many Americans currently considered Middle Class, came from hard-working families that could be considered part of the American Dream, at least in our childhood.  I’d traveled a great deal before I even went to Kindergarten.  My parents worked hard, but working hard these days seems to be a continuing uphill battle.

Now we work hard and play Russian roulette to make the simplest of needs met.  It’s pretty outrageous when I think about it, but it’s real life.  Not a Fairytale and definitely NOT a dream.

This article in the daily beast was more real to me than ever before.  Low to middle income families are struggling beyond what many can fathom.  Parents tag team, one working during the day and another at night to keep food on the table and childcare costs down if at all.  These parents, as stated in the article, are one sick-day away from termination.  Having worked at the Gap during High School, College and both of my masters, I know what it is to fear clocking-in more than a minute past the cut-off where you are considered tardy and subject to some sort of action by someone you might consider your equal.  The rules are obeyed because everyone at every level has a job they are trying to keep and children or a family to take care of.

Many of the parents in the article worked harder than many can imagine – they go to great lengths to keep things running in their household and I couldn’t help but think what were their dreams?  Are they still dreaming?  Have they lost hope that their life will ever be more than clocking in, asking for breaks and clocking out again?  

After reading, it made me think that the dreams of the Middle Class don’t matterā€¦ if they do, then they have certainly been forgotten.

No one decides that they want to struggle to make ends meet and not give their children the life they deserve.  No one wakes up and decides that.  These men and women are working hard and it seems like hard is not enough, wage wise.

It’s not the same as it once was, which means Tom Branson would likely not decide to leave the comforts of the Crawley estate.

I look forward to tonight’s State of the Union Address.  I’m not sure what President Obama can do with so much opposition, though.  It is so unfortunate that the people that lose in this system are truly the voters, and especially the middle class.  
I want to hear from you – where are you at in your life?  Striving to reach a dream?  Living a dream?  If you’ve reached your dream or success as you define it, how did you get there?

A Tale of Two Cities… Detroit, New York and [insert city here]…

My apologies for not posting yesterday, it is my goal to post daily on here, but that means that today I’ll post twice!

Yesterday I saw a tweet from Detroit-native and current New Yorker, playwright, Domonique Morriseau.   It was about gentriification in the city and specifically, about rising rents downtown.  Naturally, being from the city that filed for bankruptcy, I was interested and share this article from The Detroit Free Press. 
Are you a Detroiter?  What do you think about the “Tale of 2 Cities” that was mentioned in the article?
It immediately made me think of what is happening here in New York.  In fact, our new mayor, Bill de Blasio, ran his campaign with the theme “A Tale of 2 Cities”, targeting income equality in the city (a very real thing).
Growing up near downtown Detroit, it is nice to see the area thriving, but in no way do I wish for the artists and people who have lived in that area pushed out.  New Yorkers deal with a changing city daily.  Gentrification is part of our way of life.  It is nice for our neighborhoods to benefit, but can’t there be a way for those that have lived there to benefit as well.  In Detroit’s case, while the downtown seems to be thriving, if one goes a little further North, the story will change.  Detroit is a very large city, so how can the success of downtown translate to other areas, WITHOUT disturbing its residents…?

So whether you’re from Detroit, New York or other city in the a similar “2 Cities” Situation, I want to hear about it below!


An Olga and a Coney

Ok people, let’s get serious.  Pregnant women have their cravings.  I have certainly had mine this time around.  I jest that I must be carrying a linebacker because my daughter certainly did not produce the type of serious food cravings that my body feels it must have this time around.

I have quenched most of my very unhealthy cravings with healthier options based on the assumption that my body is craving something it is lackingā€¦ so I’ve used some different oils (grapeseed oil, coconut oilā€¦) in my cooking and made some wonderful things from Latham Thomas’ book Mama Glow: a Hip Guide to your Fabulous Abundant Pregnancy.  

Butā€¦ I think there are two cravings I might just have to give-in to or at least find some healthier substitutions.  Although, because these cravings have such feelings of nostalgia, that might be hard to do.

If you don’t already know, I’m from Detroitā€¦ home to the many things… Including… The Olga and the Coney Dog.

An Olga:

Olga’s Kitchen is a mediterranean fusion restaurant chain in Michigan and a few other states, but not in New York šŸ™   For those of you who have not tasted the goodness of the original olga,  I can best describe it as a gyro.  That is the only equivalent that I have been able to find here in the city. BUT an olga is NOT a gyroā€¦ it is similar in how it appearsā€¦.maybe, but Olga Bread is something very special and I find an Olga less greasy than what we New Yorkers find on many of our street corners.

An original Olga with an Orange Cream Cooler on Old Woodward in Birmingham bring back some pretty fantastic memories.

So if anyone knows of a way to get an Olga to New Yorkā€¦ pleaseā€¦ I’m hereā€¦ ready and waiting.
Not that I’m desperate or begging or anythingā€¦.

Next on my listā€¦

A Coney Dog / A Coney Island:



I can just see my raw and vegan friends shaking their heads now.  I’m actually embarrassed to admit this.  Again, the nostalgia of anything “Coney” involves Leo’s Coney Island, also on Old Woodward in Birminghamā€¦. There is absolutely NOTHING healthy, green, vegan, raw, vegetarian or nutritious about a Coney Dog.  But alas, something inside of me really wants oneā€¦. at least that’s what I keep telling myself…

I think I can find something similar at Sonic Dogs, here in the city or Gray’s Papayaā€¦  I don’t even know.  I’ll have to investigate.  I’ve never been to either of those places and I think I’ve eaten one hot dog in my 7 years in this city.  So, I’m definitely NOT the expert.

Butā€¦ if someone can lead me to a vegan / healthier versionā€¦ there HAS TO BE someone in this city able to create that masterpieceā€¦  or at least send me a recipeā€¦  I’ll try anything once!  šŸ™‚

I found this recipe in my google search for olga’s…Olga-style Snacker Recipe

ā€¦ and this recipe from Rachel Ray in my google search for Coney Dogsā€¦ 

But to be honest, making something you’re craving when it’s this specific is not at easy as it soundsā€¦

oh geeā€¦

Apple, Pear and Cranberry Crisp

I have a few posts I have been working in this week, but in the meantime, here’s a healthy dessert for your weekend!  
When I make a fruit crisp, I often use this recipe from allrecipes.com .   I found it one day over a year ago when I didn’t have enough apples for an apple crisp but I had pears.
You can virtually do whatever you want with this.  I’ve used raisins instead of dried cranberries and I actually usually use raw cranberries that I cook down, so I use that juice too.  The natural cranberry juice and the lime juice make a nice semi-tart fruit base that combined with the semi-buttery and sweet crumbly crust is delicious!
I have a few other substitutions: whole wheat flour is I use in all my baking instead of white flour and lime juice instead of lemon juice, because we usually have this instead of lemon. 
This time around, I sprinkled ground cinnamon on the apples and nutmeg on the pears that sat in lime juice before mixing everything together in the prepared dish.  However, my little almost two-year old helper was a little over zealous with the cinnamon and the taste was a bit much for my husband.  So go a little easy if it’s not to your liking.

Here’s the recipe (substitutions in bold):
  • 2 Rome Beauty apples – peeled, cored, and cubed  / I used 1 Golden Delicious and 1/2 of a HoneyCrisp

  • 2 Comice pears – peeled, cored, and cubed  / I used 2 BOSC Pears

  • 1/2 cup dried cranberries / I used fresh cranberries that I boiled in some water.

  • 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour /  Whole Wheat Flour

  • 2 tablespoons honey 

  • 1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice 

  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour / Whole Wheat Flour

  • 1/2 cup packed brown sugar 

  • 1/2 cup quick cooking oats 

  • 1/4 cup ground walnuts / I DID NOT use Walnuts … Didn’t have any

  • 1/2 cup butter . / I used Earth Balance Vegan Buttery Sticks 
  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease an 8 inch baking dish.
  • Mix the apples, pears, cranberries, 1 tablespoon flour, honey, and lemon juice in the prepared dish.
  • In a bowl, mix 1/2 cup flour, brown sugar, oats, walnuts, and butter to the consistency of coarse crumbs. Sprinkle loosely over the fruit mixture.
  • Bake 45 minutes in the preheated oven, or until brown and crisp on top.

Let me know if you liked it, what substitutions did you use?  Do you have a favorite fruit crisp recipe?  Share it!  I’d love to try it! šŸ™‚

    Happy Weekend Baking!