Turtle Bay - The Hollywood of Hawaii

My hubby and I are wrapping up our fabulous trip to Turtle Bay Resort (thanks, Regis and Kelly!) and I must tell you that I have seen more celebrities here than I have living just outside of LA.

While here we have seen pro surfer Kelly Slater, actor Dennis Quaid, actor Kevin Sorbo, actress Laura Dern, the lead singer of Pearl Jam, Eddie Vedder, Real World Paris alum and Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model Mallory Snyder, and oh yeah, we stumbled upon the beach set of LOST. This morning we saw the actors who play Hurley, Sawyer, Jin and Sun on the beach filming a scene.

Don't worry, my amateur, not-all-that close pictures of some of these people are coming soon!

Surprise Giveaway: CPK Gift Card to Satisfy Your Cravings

California Pizza Kitchen, a.k.a. CPK, is one of my favorite restaurants. I am a big fan of their salads and pizzas. In fact, we catered our Modern Menagerie baby shower last month with CPK salads and focaccia breads.

Starting today, February 4, CPK will be offering two new menus that I can't wait to try. The Small Cravings and Wine Cravings menus are smaller portions that allow for more variety or just the opportunity to eat a little (and save some money, too!). Many people resolve to eat better and less at this time of year. These new CPK menus are perfect for satisfying a craving, but not ruining a diet!

With the new Wine Cravings menu, you can have just half a glass for half the price. This idea is perfect for the parent who just needs to take the edge off, but doesn't need an entire glass. (Or am I the only one??)

Some of the yummy food items on the Small Cravings menu include Sweet Corn Tamale Ravioli, the Asparagus and Arugula Salad, White Corn Guacamole and Chips, and Crispy Artichoke Hearts - all priced between $3.99 and $6.49!

And lucky for you, the great people at CPK are going to give (1) lucky Houses, Couches, and Babies reader a $50 CPK gift card for you to use at any of their locations!

Here's how to enter:

• Post a comment here including your name and location (city, state)
• Please post your comment by 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, February 11
• For an extra entry, become a Follower of Houses, Couches, and Babies (those of you that are already followers, will get an additional entry)

The winner will be announced shortly after February 11, so please make sure to check back and see if you are the winner. (The winner will not be contacted.)

Good luck and indulge those cravings!

My Very Own Cookie Monster

This morning, as we were getting ready to run some errands, I noticed my daughter hiding underneath the pillows on our couch. I thought she was just being silly until I walked into the kitchen and saw that a chair had been pushed up against the counter right in front of an open Tupperware container of chocolate chip cookies.

I walked back over to the couch, lifted up the pillows and found my daughter chomping away on a cookie. Naturally, chocolate was all over her face and she had a grin from ear to ear. She then even offered me a bite.

This was one of those rare occasions when I actually laughed at her and chalked it up as me having a crazy little 2-year old!

Image from SesameStreet.org

Dancing it Up on The Ellen DeGeneres Show

I had so much fun at the Ellen DeGeneres Show taping on Thursday!

Here's how the day went: We arrived at Warner Bros. Studios at 3:15 because our check-in time was 3:30. I was told that we didn't need to get there any earlier because where you were in line for check-in didn't determine where you sat. Well, that was a lie. I was number 188 and we were called into the studio in numerical order. As a result, we were in the last row (As you can see in the picture above). But, I was lucky enough to sit on the aisle and had a great view of everything.

Josh Duhamel was not the guest on our show. Instead, it was Rihanna! Ellen called it her Grammy show. Rihanna performed 3 songs (only 2 will air on this episode...they recorded the third for future use). The cute little boy from Modern Family, Rico Rodriguez, was also a guest on the show.

Click here to see the promo for Ellen's Grammy Show - Monday, February 1, 2010. Watch for me. I am on the aisle in the last row right in front of the Ellen sign wearing a purple top and jeans (dancing like a maniac at times).

Oh, and be sure to watch Monday's episode of Ellen. I might have received a cool prize that I can't tell you about yet. You will have to watch and see!!!

Going to the Ellen Show - Take Two

Last October, you may have remembered me mentioning that I was going to the Ellen Show. Well, unfortunately, the kids got sick and I was unable to attend the taping.

That is why I am so excited to go today to a taping of Ellen. And I am keeping my fingers crossed that our taping today is for Friday's show...Josh Duhamel is supposed to be the guest. Hubba Hubba.

Image from Ellen.warnerbros.com

Another One of Those "Awww" Moments

Today was one of those days when I wanted to get a lot done and got frustrated when I got side-tracked.

Having two kids, I obviously got side-tracked on more than one occasion, and thus got frustrated. (The hubby has been out of town for the past few days on a business trip so I began counting down the seconds until his car pulled into the garage.)

But tonight at dinner, after the kids complained when I told them they were going to watch the President on TV because Mommy wanted to watch the State of the Union Address, we settled in for a nice dinner and I had one of those "awww" moments. (I thought it was important for my son to see "The Rock of Bama." That is somehow what he remembers our President's name to be. And since he is so close and sounds so cute saying it, we don't always correct him.)

The kids asked me to sit in between them at dinner, and instead of protesting for my own space, I gave in for once. And once I sat down, I was glad I gave in. My 4-year old son started gradually making his way onto my lap while my 2-year old daughter held my hand, interlocking our fingers while nuzzling her cheek on my shoulder. Yes, all this while eating dinner and watching the State of the Union Address.

As I was sitting there, I took mental note of what was important. The errands that I ran today...not so important. The errands that I wanted to run and didn't get around to...still not so important. These loving, cuddling moments with my two little ones that will soon enough be asking me not to touch them or kiss them in public...very important.

Advice #10 for Expecting Moms

This week's advice for expecting moms comes from Rachel in Maryland. I really couldn't have said it much better than this, so I will leave it to her words:

"The best advice I could give is to not have many expectations. Before my first son was born I was a perfectionist who worried over everything. Before he was born I had planned out how everything would be! Life with children is anything, but predictable. Just enjoy the time you have with them, be very flexible and expect the unexpected (in a good way)."

Thanks, Rachel! And if you missed any of the past advice, be sure to check out all of your Advice for Expecting Mommies.

P.S. Above is the trailer for the movie, Parenthood, for your amusement. It makes a lot more sense now that it did 20 years ago!

Heidi Montag's First TV Appearance Since 10 Plastic Surgery Procedures...in One Day!

What happened to this girl??? This is Heidi Montag when she first started appearing on The Hills (pre-Spencer, I might add).

Last week, I was shocked to hear that Heidi Montag is on the cover of People magazine because she is obsessed with plastic surgery. Apparently, she had 10 procedures done in a 10-hour surgery this past November - and is actually proud to admit it.

She is only 23! What is she going to do when she hits 35 and gravity really hits?!?! I thought people were supposed to get plastic surgery to look younger, not older. One of her many procedures included liposuction. Really, you can't hit the gym like the rest of The Hills co-stars? (Photographers can take enough pictures of Audrina Patridge working out!)

She finally appeared on TV for the first time after her 10-hour plastic surgery on Good Morning America today. If you missed it, click here to check it out.

It is really sad to see her and her plastic surgeon (Dr. Ryan) talking about how she actually looks better now. Her face shows no emotion and she looks absolutely lifeless. It disturbs me that a plastic surgeon has done so many surgeries that he thinks this actually looks pretty and not totally fake. I would certainly not want to get any plastic surgery done by a guy who does this kind of work.

Of course, it isn't shocking that the timing of the People magazine cover was lined up with the release of her first album, Superficial. (Fitting title, in deed.)

The saddest part about all of this is that as I talk about her, she and her scheming husband are laughing all the way to the bank. They were banned from E! News last year because of all their shenanigans, but every other media outlet is talking about them. What a joke.

But I guess Speidi would rather be seen in the public eye as a joke than not in the public eye at all. I guess is it "reality" TV at its finest!

Image from HeidiMontagfan.com and ABCNews.go/GMA

Modern Menagerie Baby Shower - Part 2

When our guests walked in the door to the Modern Menagerie baby shower, this is what they first saw. One of my favorite elements was the giraffe print lanterns that my co-host, Sarah, found online at WorldMarket.com. We actually used jewelry wire to hang the lanterns over our hot pink tables to add depth and dimension.

We continued the menagerie/jungle theme with our table centerpieces - even adding some small animal figurines to the play up the theme. We used tea leaves on the bottom of the centerpiece, along with white mums, pink protea, and papyrus leaves.

Here are the happy grandmother-to-be and mother-to-be.

We stole many tricks of the trade from our guest of honor, and one in particular was just covering up 3 framed pictures she already had in the room with something that would match our theme. Can you believe that is actually wrapping paper in those frames???

We decided that for our color scheme we would sticks to pink, brown, and green. Instead of having having different colored candles, we decided to just accent simple white candles with ribbon to tie everything in.

Something that is always fun to tie into a baby shower...a baby picture of the mommy-to-be!

Ah, yes, the sweets! As I mentioned before, we used a wide array of candy from ACandyStore.com. Some of my favorites included the gummy butterflies, gummy frogs, sour watermelon slices, and sour grapefruit slices. To add a bit of variety to the table, we also offered chocolate covered strawberries, frosted sugar cookies, and Killer Brownie Bites.

Varying shapes and sizes of our glass containers really made the table not just a candy table, but a beautiful decoration (if I do say so, myself!).

Lastly, another key element to any Hostess with the Mostess event is a signature cocktail. And in the case of a baby shower, it is always important to have a "mocktail."

The raspberry apple mojitos were delicious, both as a mocktail, and a cocktail.

Thanks again to my co-hosts Sarah, Mimi, and Jen for making it to such a wonderful event. And thank you to our guest of honor for having what seemed like an endless amount of supplies for us to work with. I guess that is what makes her The Hostess with the Mostess.

For more ideas for baby showers, bridal showers, or parties in general, please visit HostessWithTheMostess.com.

Who Needs Training Wheels!?!

My 4-year old was so excited to ride his bike today all by himself. As he told me when he stopped for a breather, "Mom, this is totally awesome!"

Yes, it was a totally awesome day!

Modern Menagerie Baby Shower - Part 1

This past weekend, I hosted a baby shower (along with 3 other fabulous ladies) for the Hip Hostess herself, Jennifer Sbranti (founder of HostessWithTheMostess.com).

If you are thinking, "Wow, that's a lot of pressure to plan a party for a party planner," you are very smart. Naturally, Jennifer told us she was grateful that we were throwing her a shower and was thrilled to enjoy a party for once. But come on, we had to make her proud, and certainly had to step up our game.

To begin with, we wanted to order super-cute invitations that went with a jungle theme shower for a baby girl. Thanks to Tiny Prints, not only were we able to find adorable invitations, but matching thank you notes, gift tags and mint tins! (Invitation and thank you note above are examples given on Tiny Prints website.)

As you can see above, we used the personalized mint tins to add a little something to our place setting. And thanks to my ever resourceful friend, Mimi, we were also able to get a delicious cake (below) from Flour Power in San Diego to match the invitation!

We used the matching gift tags on white take out boxes so that our guests could take home whatever they wanted from the "sweets" table. 43 pounds of yummy candies came from ACandyStore.com and not only made a great treat, but were also a beautiful, decorative addition.

Stay tuned for more details about the Modern Menagerie baby shower.

The Bachelor Drama

Although I have sworn off watching The Bachelor many times, I always end up tuning in.

Tonight was only week 2 of the show and already big drama in the house. If you watch the show, you know that Rozlyn (a model/make-up artist; yeah, I have a feeling her career aspirations had something to do with her being on the show) was removed from the show for having an "inappropriate" relationship with a "staffer."

Her interaction with Chris Harrison was classic - and by classic, I mean incredibly lame on her part. As he is awkwardly bringing up the subject and confronting her about the fact that she hooked up with someone on the production staff, she keeps a straight face as if she has no idea of what he is talking about. Loved it.

Then, when she finally does start talking, she says that her personal life is no one's business. I agree, her personal life is no one's business...unless of course she goes on a reality TV show that is all about opening up your heart and hopefully finding love. Sure, we all know the show is a farce, but saying that your personal life is off limits is lame. Oh, and by the way, when you sign all the legal documents required to be on a show like that, somewhere in there, it says you are pretty much signing your thoughts and "personal life" away.

On another note, the show has reached an all new high by playing James Ingram's "On the Wings of Love" while Jake and Ali were flying in a plane. It's too bad Joel McHale beat them to the punch by playing the song on E!'s The Soup last week while recapping the first week's episode.

Oh, how I love totally un-important television!

Image from abc.go.com

A Little Girl With a Mind of Her Own

As I mentioned last week, my family and I enjoyed a fun-filled family vacation in Tahoe with a few other families. Once my son started feeling better, we were able to participate in more activities.

At Northstar (a fabulous ski resort in Tahoe), they have a great village area that has tons of shops, restaurants and activities like ice skating and bungee/trampoline jumping.

As soon as my son saw the bungee/trampoline jumping contraption, he had to try it. And naturally, as soon as my daughter saw my son doing it, she had to do it, too.

My daughter and I waited in line for over an hour to do this whole bungee/trampoline jumping. Luckily, for a good portion of that time, she fell asleep on my lap (as pictured above). She woke up about 5 minutes before it was turn.

When it was finally her turn, we headed over to her trampoline. She seemed very excited. We took off her boots and she began to get hooked up to the bungee cords.

Then this happened.

She didn't jump even once, although, she did almost do a back flip when she was trying to squirm out of the harness.

I am just glad I captured at least one picture of what she did. And I can't wait to show her someday when she is older. Silly girl!

Make Your 2010 Calendars Now

For Christmas, my kids (a.k.a. I) always make their grandparents and aunts and uncles a fun family calendar for the upcoming year. It takes some time to put together, but it is always a family favorite.

Naturally, since this is a Christmas present, I make the calendar in December. But what if you wanted to make one for 2010 and didn't get around to it in December?

Great news! Kodak Gallery is now offering 35% off Photo Calendars with Coupon Code: CALENDAR35.

This is one of those times where if you snooze, you don't lose. So what if we are already a little into 2010. You can start your calendar in February and take advantage of this deal every year. But don't snooze too long. This offer is only good through January 14.

Either for yourself or a family member, a photo calendar is a gift that lasts all year...and not many gifts can say that!

Wii Made My Arm Sore

Santa was kind enough to bring our family a Wii game system this Christmas and this evening was the first time I played an entire game. My husband and I took on Toy Story Mania. The video game is a lot like the ride at California Adventure...except it made my arm sore. I am actually nervous I will wake up tomorrow in pain. I will have to warm up and stretch the next time I play. Even though my arm is sore, it was worth it. We had a great time.

Thanks, Santa!

Altitude Sickness...Really?!?!

After a nine hour drive with the kids, we finally arrived yesterday to Lake Tahoe. What a beautiful place to spend New Year's right? And it was, up until my son got altitude sickness!

I have never even heard of altitude sickness...of course until my son gets it! Let's just hope it goes away fast! Meanwhile, my daughter and I have made a snowman and went sledding. Thank goodness the altitude hasn't affected her. At least not yet!

Happy New Year!

Celebrate the Holidays with Chambord

I will admit it. I like a nice cocktail to celebrate the holidays. And this year, our family celebrated with Chambord. Our good friend, Jenn Sbranti (a.k.a. the Hip Hostess), has partnered with Chambord and put together this amazing gift set that comes with a bottle of Chambord, two champagne flutes, and a nice booklet that includes drink recipes and decorating ideas from the Hip Hostess herself.

With New Year's Eve in just a couple of days, Chambord is a great addition to champagne. Not only does it give the champagne a yummy flavor, but also a fun and festive dark pink color. If you are attending a New Year's Eve party, this gift set would be the perfect host/ess gift. For more information on this gift set from the Hip Hostess herself, click here.

Holiday Decorations - The Take Down

Ugh! It feels like it takes me the entire month of December to put up my holiday decorations, and now that Christmas is over, it is just about time to take them down.

Can I give myself all of January to take them down? Not really. Holiday decorations still up in mid-January look wrong. Besides, all the department and grocery stores have already moved on to Valentine's Day by January 4. Granted and luckily, I am not a department or grocery store. Perhaps I should take the great suggestion of Nanny over at The Good Life and make sure I have plenty of wine on hand to make the whole process a bit more enjoyable.

Happy un-decorating everybody!

One of Those "Awww" Moments

I just finished tucking my kids in.

I sit with my son for a few seconds after we turn off the lights to remind him that he is going to sleep through the night and have "no dreams."

I followed it tonight with an, "I love you sooo much," in which he replied, "I love you so much, Mommy."

Naturally, that melted my heart and I told him he was the best boy in the world. He then replied to me, "You are the best lady in the world."

It's amazing how someone so young can make you feel so special!

Brittany Murphy Dies at 32...Say in Ain't So!

If you haven't heard already, actress Brittany Murphy died this morning of cardiac arrest after collapsing in the shower. She was only 32 years old!

Being so young, naturally, immediate speculation has turned to either an eating disorder or drug overdose, even though initial coroner officials say the cause of death "appears to be natural." And while either or both of those could have very well been the cause of her cardiac arrest, what if they weren't?

Being 32 myself, this kind of freaks me out. Learning about her death earlier today made me look at my kids and my husband a little differently at dinner tonight. I appreciated the silly faces they made and the effort my husband made to clean the dishes. Although I obviously never knew Murphy, I am very sad to hear of her passing. And hearing of events like this certainly put things into perspective.

Image courtesy of NYDailyNews.com

The Head Cold that Lingers

I am happy to say that I finally have my voice back (my kids and husband are bummed about that one!), but this horrendous head cold still lingers. Last night, I woke up in the middle of the night to have a 35 minute coughing spell. I had to get out of bed and hide in our closet in hope of not waking up my husband from my hacking cough. (Yes, on occasion, I am considerate.)

When will this go away?!? I suppose what I want most from Santa this year is for my cold to go away. I better get on Northpole.com now to get my letter off to the big man so that he can make it happen by Friday. I hope he thinks I have been a good girl this year...

A Mommy With No Voice...Literally

It's gone. Yes, that's right, I have lost my voice. Where I left it, I am not really sure. But I really hope I find it soon.

Without it, how am I supposed to tell my kids 15 times to pick up their toys? Or nag my husband constantly? Or call the electrician who "fixed" our Christmas lights and explain that they aren't working?

Oh, how I hope I find my voice overnight!

Advice #9 for Expecting Moms

When your baby enters the world, everything gets turned upside down. Something that you want to make sure DOESN'T get turned upside down is your relationship with your spouse.

Here's some advice from Deci Worland that every new mom can use:

"My best advice is to allow for couple time, do not neglect your husband."

This may be difficult in the first few weeks but always make time for your partner. A wise person once told me the best gift you can give your child is a happy home. And a happy home begins with a loving relationship.

Image courtesy of Baxterboo.com

Northpole.com Update

A couple of days ago I told you that I found out about a fun website where kids can write letters to Santa called Northpole.com. After I wrote that post, my 4-year old son and I wrote his letter to Santa. He was so excited to share with Santa all the things he wants for Christmas.

Low and behold, a day and half later we got his response from Santa. My son was so excited to hear from Santa - especially the part where Santa told him he has been a nice boy this year. I liked the part that said, "Keep up the good work!" Wow! A letter kids and moms love!

And after you submit your letter, you must check out the Disco Dancing Santa. He is way too cute! Only 14 days until Christmas!

Image courtesy of Northpole.com

Northpole.com

Thanks to my friend, Kimmy, I just found out about the coolest holiday website for kids. At Northpole.com, kids can email letters to Santa and even receive a response back. In addition to submitting a letter to Santa, there are other fun ideas for kids, activities for teachers, and stuff for parents. Games, puzzles and recipes, oh my!

The website is even dubbed an award-winning website. Well that is just icing on the cake! Check out Northpole.com and tell me what you think! Thanks, Kimmy, for the great find!

Image courtesy of Northpole.com

Blogging Dilemma...Well, Not Really

Here is my dilemma tonight:

Blogging vs. Spending quality time with my husband

Sorry, world. My husband wins every time!

Have a great week!

Let Their Be Lights!

I must commend my husband. This year he really got on the ball when it came to putting up the Christmas lights. He had them up the Saturday before Thanksgiving.

It's too bad I lag and am telling you about it a week and a half later. Oh well, better late than never!

And here is a trick of the trade my husband figured out this year: if you have a two-story home, put the lights on the second story first, then hang the lights on the first story. He found that it was faster to hang the lights this way because he had more energy to put up the lights on the more difficult second story, and then it was a breeze to finish by putting the lights on the first story.

Crib Recall Information You Need to Know

As you may have heard last week, Stork Craft recalled more than 2.1 million drop-side cribs and, of course, it was quite a buzz on the news. And I don't know about you, but even though we don't own a Stork Craft crib, it did make me think about the safety of the crib we do have.

According to the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA), a not for profit organization, it is crucial that you take care of the crib that you do have so that it can last for years (and multiple births). Here are some safety tips from JPMA to keep your crib in good working condition:

• Parents should not use any crib with missing, broken or loose hardware parts. Crib slats
  or spindles should be spaced no more than 2 3/8 inches apart, and none should be loose or
  missing. Also NEVER use a crib with corner posts over 1/16 of an inch above the end
  panels (unless they’re over 16 inches high for a canopy).
  
• NEVER place infants to sleep on pillows, sofa cushions, adult beds, waterbeds, beanbags,
  or any other surface not specifically designed for infant sleep. NEVER place the crib near
  windows, draperies, blinds, or wall mounted decorative accessories with long cords.


• When using a drop side crib parents and care givers should check to make sure the drop
  side or any other moving parts operate properly. Parents should be sure that hardware is
  installed properly. When assembling and disassembling drop side cribs, parents should
  always confirm that the parts are reassembled following the manufacturers guidelines as
  listed in the instructions.
  
• Always check all sides and corners of the crib to assure proper assembly with no
  openings that may entrap a child. The crib mattress should fit snugly with no more than
  two fingers width, one-inch, between the edge of the mattress and the crib side.
  Otherwise, the baby can get trapped between the mattress and the side of the crib.


• Do not try to repair any side of the crib without manufacturer approved hardware.


• Putting a broken side up against the wall does not solve the problem and can often make
  it worse.

To find out more information on the recalled Stork Craft cribs, click here. For further crib safety tips, check out JPMA.org.

Image courtesy of BabiesRUs.com

Little Giraffe Surprise Giveaway Winner

Thank you to everyone that entered the Little Giraffe baby blanket giveaway. These are truly the best baby blankets ever!

Congratulations go out to Kim in Santa Rosa, Calif. who requested a pink Little Giraffe blanket.

Kim, please contact us at info@housescouchesandbabies.com to claim your prize.

Please stay tuned for more fun giveaways coming soon!

"My Dad Understands Me."

It is Thanksgiving Day morning, and we are at my parents' house for the holiday. My son, like most 4 year olds, always wants a treat/candy. Why do I know this? He is always asking for one?

He walked up to Grandma and Grandpa and asked if he could have a candy. They answered him with the oldie but goodie, "go ask your mother." And, of course, I, being the ever-so mean mom that I am, said,"No, you just had a treat."

A few minutes later, we see him eating an orange slice candy. Grandpa and I asked him how he got that candy and he responded, "My dad understands me."

What? Where does a 4-year old come up with a phrase like that? We then told Daddy about this funny phrase my son used. Daddy laughed and said our son was just standing around looking like a well-behaved boy so he offered him a candy.

I guess my 4-year old is right...his dad does understand him!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Image courtesy of SweetFactory.com

The Bummer About Facebook

I was shocked when I opened up the Yahoo home page to see a story about a woman losing her benefits over Facebook pictures. What? This social network that is supposed to be highly secure and protected? Hmmm...this is why my husband refuses to open a Facebook account. (Yes, he is pretty much the only one.)

Apparently, the Canadian woman was on long term disability diagnosed with major depression and there were photos of her having fun on Facebook (the usual: at a Chippendales show, her birthday, and on vacation). While you can argue whether or not the woman was bilking her insurance company and truly suffering from major depression, that is really not my concern.

How would an insurance agent ever see these pictures? Was she "friends," or "friend of friends" with the insurance agent? Or was she actually dumb enough to let "everyone" see her information? If she allowed "everyone" to see her information, then I would understand how the insurance agent/company could feast their eyes on these photos. However, if she didn't have that privacy setting in place, or lack there of, then how could those images have ever been seen???

I have been told by very unreliable sources that the government was actually a big financial backer to social networking sites like Facebook. I don't know if that is true, but it sure would make sense and be a smart move for the government. However, that means Big Brother is always watching.

Does that make me want to close my Facebook account...kind of. But then I wouldn't know when Suzy (fictitious name) made a delicious turkey sandwich and enjoyed every bite of it.

Here's what we can take away from this story...don't post anything about yourself that you wouldn't want your mom, your boss, a police officer, or the President to know about. Oh, and make sure your friends don't post any of that stuff about you either!!!

For the entire story on Yahoo, click here.

Image courtesy of Yahoo.com

Advice #8 for Expecting Moms

This week's advice is all about you as Mommy. Yes, it is okay to think about you, too.

"The best advice I can offer, since I just had my second is let people help you. Take their offer, you don't have to be a "hero" and its ok to want to accept help. You are still a mom and need time for yourself. I was always afraid to leave him and take an afternoon for myself. It is important to take care of yourself because you are the one taking care of baby."

Thank you, Preppy Mama, for these wise words! And if you are having a tough time leaving your baby for even the shortest bit of time, take baby steps. Get out of the house by yourself for a short activity like a pedicure. Not only will your mind appreciate the break, your feet and back will enjoy the rest as well.

Image courtesy of MarieClaire.com

Hip Hip Hooray! The Kids Got Their Flu Shots Today!

We went to the pediatrician's office today for my daughter's 2-year well check. I was a bit nervous for the appointment because my daughter has cried every time at the doctor's office as soon as we get in an exam room. So yesterday I prepped the kids by telling them they were going to see their doctor and that if they were nice to her they would get a Dum Dum lollipop.

Shockingly, my daughter didn't cry once while the doctor examined her. (Evidently, she really wanted that Dum dum lollipop!) I gave her the lollipop as she laid down to received her 3 shots, and I nearly passed out when she didn't make a single peep. She just laid there staring at her lollipop.

But my surprises weren't over. It was then my son's turn to receive his seasonal flu and H1N1 flu shots. My son hasn't cried from shots since he was under a year old. And he has always been so tough, but today, the shots were tough on him. It was probably because he graduated up to the big kid shots in his arms.

But needless to say, both kids got their seasonal flu and H1N1 flu shots. Yay!

Little Giraffe Surprise Giveaway

If someone were to ask me what my favorite baby blanket is, my answer would be easy...Little Giraffe.

If someone were to ask my kids what one item they need for bedtime, my son would say his green (Little Giraffe) blanket and my daughter would say her yellow (Little Giraffe) blanket.

There is something about a Little Giraffe blanket that makes it stand out from the rest. Maybe it is how soft the chenille stays, wash after wash. Or maybe it is how smooth the satin feels, and how much satin there is - an entire side of the blanket is satin! It is probably a combination of all the above. (Or as my son shows above, it also serves as a great cloaking device when wrestling with his baby sister!)

Little Giraffe blankets and blankies are not only great gifts for your own child, but awesome baby shower and arrival gifts. Having said all that, do you want to win one?

(1) lucky Houses, Couches, and Babies reader will win a Little Giraffe blanket ($58 value).

Here's how to enter:

• Post a comment here including your name, location, and choice of color (pink or blue)
• Please post your comment by 11:59 p.m. PST Wednesday, November 25th.

The winner will be randomly chosen and announced after November 25th. Please check back to see if you are the winner!

Good luck!

My Daughter Didn't Want to Open Her Birthday Presents...Clearly Not a Child of Mine!

We celebrated my daughter's 2nd birthday yesterday with family and friends. It was a hodge podge theme of superheroes like The Incredibles, Spider-Man, the Monster vs. Aliens characters, Wonder Woman and, oh yeah, she had to have a Monsters, Inc. jumpy house.

She had a blast playing with all her little friends and jumping in the jumpy house. But this is where she totally surprised me. She had no desire to open any of her presents. Everyone assembled in the living room to watch her open them, she took the card off the first present and then bailed. She ran into the other room to find an earlier gift she had received from Grandma and Grandpa... her Cozy Coupe (or as I like to call it, her Fred Flinstone car). She decided driving the cozy coupe around was much more exciting that opening present. What!?!

All the other kids were sitting waiting to see what she got. And of course, her brother was chomping at the bit to "help her" open her presents. I sat there looking at all the guests asking, "what do I do now?" Everyone pretty much told me I should just open the presents. But instead, I let all the bigger kids open her presents and then they showed her the gift to see if she liked it. Some she took to, other she just walked away like the interaction had never happened...too funny!

My little two year old never ceases to amaze me! But it was a great party, nevertheless, and now I have about 20 left over cupcakes and a yummy cake staring me in the face...any takers???

First Fish to Get Flushed

I am sad to report that one of the gold fish the kids received as a party favor last weekend is no longer with us. The kids and I flushed Yellow down the toilet so she could go back to the ocean to be with her mommy and daddy (pulled that idea from Finding Nemo).

Luckily the kids weren't sad about Yellow having to "go back home." They are excited that Nya is still around, too. But why is it Mommy is sad about it? I suppose it is because I know the toilet doesn't lead to the ocean.

Oh well, goodbye Yellow. Thanks for five days of great memories!

Advice #7 for Expecting Moms

This week's advice is all about keeping up with the Jones'...that is, trying to avoid that pitfall.

Peg42 wrote, "Don't compare (your) baby to friends' babies. Every child reach milestones at their own pace."

This advice is so true, but I also know that it is so hard not to compare. As a person who has taken a million behavior and personality tests showing that my strongest behavioral trait is to compare/compete, it takes some real effort to stay focused on my children's development and not how they compare to others.

Don't get me wrong, as a parent you do want to make sure your child hits certain developmental milestones, but for their own sake, not for your own.

It's easier said than done, especially when your child seems to be on the slower side of the curve. But keep in mind, a baby that takes a little longer to crawl gives you a little more time to leave him/her hanging out on the floor without the worry of them darting off into another room. While it is exciting that s/he has reached that milestone, you will at times wish s/he still was just hanging out in the almost crawling (on all fours rocking motion) position.

Parenting is challenging enough without throwing in the comparison game...so just don't do it!

Maclaren Stroller Recall

I just heard about Maclaren recalling 1 million strollers and was especially interested since I own a Maclaren stroller. If you haven't heard about the stroller recall, click here to read more.

You can also visit the Maclaren website for full details. Click here to read official press release.

Image courtesy of Maclaren.com

Baby Girl's 2nd Birthday

I am in shock and awe that my little baby girl turned 2 today! So crazy! We started the day surprising her with her Step2 little kitchen that she ran to as soon as she saw it. She made everyone dinner tonight from her new kitchen...she's such a good caretaker!

Then we spent the day at Disneyland and California Adventure for more celebrating. We were so lucky that it was not crowded at all. The kids had a blast on all the rides and I was so excited that my hubby took the day off to celebrate her birthday. One of the greatest highlights: Lauren meeting one of her favorite characters, Jessie from Toy Story 2.

The day was capped off with a special birthday cookie in her honor...or as she pronounces them, "dookies!"

Happy Birthday, Princess!

The Best Elmo Party Favor Ever

This afternoon, the four of us (that is me, my hubby, and the two munchkins) went to an Elmo themed birthday for a two-year old boy, Nicholas. Let me just tell you how cute it was. They worked so hard on this birthday party. They turned their immaculately clean garage into Elmo's World. They covered all of the walls with white butcher paper and created Elmo's piano, door, computer, and even his Mr. Noodle window. It looked just like the show! And to one side of the room was the fish bowl with Dorothy the goldfish. And surrounding Dorothy were the favors for all the kids to take home...their own fish bowl and real goldfish. (We are not talking crackers here!)

My kids were so excited! Please say hello to (from left to right) Jacob's fish, Nya, and Lauren's fish, Yellow. Our kids' first pets!