Author Archives: Andrea Middleton

Currently at Reddit, I spent 10 years as a community organizer on the WordPress open source project. I'm also an avid reader, wine enthusiast, and parent of two.

Recent Baxterisms

“Uh-oh! I don’t want to forget my Batpurse.”

(whiny) “MOMMMMM! I’m too tired to go to sleep.”

“Everything looks so far away in my bin-ah-clee-ars.”

And last but not least: 

There’s a thump in Baxter’s room after lights out. Tom goes in to investigate and sees Baxter dive into bed when he opens the door. Tom approaches the bed as Baxter lies still and pretends to be asleep. Tom kisses Baxter and says, “It’s time to go to sleep now, buddy.” Baxter whispers, “I am asleep, Dada.” Tom replies softly, “Baxter, if you were asleep you wouldn’t be talking right now.” Baxter, eyes still squeezed shut, mouths silently, “But Dada, I really am asleep!”

Hibiscus mint tea

A friend recently asked me how I made this delicious iced hibiscus mint tea, and I rattled off some directions a little too quickly. 🙂 So here’s the actual recipe and instructions, through the magic of WordPress!

Iced Hibiscus Mint Tea

  • Servings: 32
  • Difficulty: easy
  • Print

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup dried hibiscus flowers
  • 1/2 cup dried peppermint
  • 1/2 cup white granulated sugar
  • 10+ cups of water
  • enough ice to fill half of a 2-gallon pitcher

Directions:

  1. Put the hibiscus and peppermint into a 4-cup glass measuring cup (or any microwavable container) with 4 cups of water and microwave on high for 6 minutes.
    Half a cup of each herb
    Half a cup of each herb
    Add 4 cups of water to this.
    Add 4 cups of water to this.
    Put it all in the microwave.
    Put it all in the microwave.
    Nuke it for 6 minutes
    Nuke it for 6 minutes
    Let it sit for 5m. It'll look very red.
    Let it sit for 5m. It’ll look very red.

     

  2. Allow to steep for 5 minutes.
  3. Fill a 2-gallon pitcher about half- to two-thirds-full with ice cubes.IMG_5932
  4. Strain the tea concentrate into the pitcher over the ice, using a fine mesh strainer. Discard the herbs.IMG_5934
  5. Add another 4 cups of water to the pitcher.
  6. In the same measuring cup, mix 1/2 cup of sugar and 2 cups of water and microwave on high for 3 minutes.
    Half a cup of sugar for 2 gallons isn't too bad, right?
    Half a cup of sugar for 2 gallons isn’t too bad, right?
    Undissolved.
    Undissolved.
    Three minutes on high!
    Three minutes on high!

     

  7. Stir until the sugar is all dissolved.

    Dissolved!
    Dissolved!
  8. Add the simple syrup to the pitcher and stir.IMG_5941
  9. Add cold water until the pitcher is full, if necessary.
  10. Enjoy a cool, refreshing glass of iced tea anytime! IMG_5951

Baxter’s sundress 

  
Baxter was adamant that he wanted to wear “a sparkly dress” to summer camp today. Since we try to keep dress up clothes at home, I dug through a cache of summer clothes that Amelia wore a few years ago and found this sundress. Baxter’s delight was instant, exuberant, and enduring. So much so that he made up this song:

I love my new DRESS!
I love to TWIRL in it!
I want to wear it every DAY!
Because I look so BEAUTIFUL!

And then he ran around singing “I Have Confidence” from The Sound Of Music until breakfast time.  

I’m really happy (and feel really lucky) to be able to send Baxter to a preschool where I know he won’t be shamed or teased for wearing a dress or skirt. He’s also really excited about his new sandals, “because my favorite colors are blue and green, mama!”