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!

Need Help with Bad Dreams

So I need any help or advice I can get on this subject. My 4-year old son has been waking up in the middle of the night with dreams (not necessarily bad, just dreams, he says) off and on for the past month. I would say 5 out of 7 nights a week he wakes up and comes running to our room, always to my side of the bed. I take him back to his room and stay with him until he falls asleep, which sometimes can take forever. We assume that some of this started with all the spooky stuff related to Halloween. Now that Halloween is over, I am ready for the waking up to be over, too! (I need some uninterrupted sleep!)

Last night, he woke up and I brought him back to his room. He fell asleep quickly, but as soon as I left his room, he woke up and came running after me. This happened another two times until I finally sent my husband up to his room. (And of course, my husband slept in his room with him.)

I don't want to minimize any fears my son is having, but I always don't want to create any bad habits.

Help!!! Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Mistakes Parents Make on Halloween

Livestrong.com put together a list of 10 mistakes parents make on Halloween. Because I don't want to make any mistakes on Halloween, I naturally checked out the list.

Make yourself feel more prepared and click here to check out the list.

Happy Halloween!!

Advice #6 For Expecting Moms

This week's advice came through loud and clear in many of your comments. I think Kerrie in Bothell, Wash. sums it up pretty well:

"My advice is to cherish every minute. When my daughter was an infant, it seemed like every day lasted forever but looking back the years went by so fast. So just remember as your baby hits each new phase, it will not last very long and you will be onto the next before you know it."

And as I learned quickly from my first child, and then of course, the second baby, the new phase isn't always a better or easier phase. It's just something new you need to learn about. Just remind yourself it is all part of the joy of parenthood. As Kerrie mentioned, it may not feel like joy at the time, but that's exactly what it is!

Thanks to Kerrie and the many others who offered this wonderful advice!

Minted.com $100 Holiday Card Giveaway Winner

Thank you to everyone that entered the Minted.com holiday card giveaway. From your comments, I can tell you all like a variety of cards, which is great!

Now, on to the winner. Congratulations Sue in Baltimore, MD! You are our big winner.

Sue in Baltimore, MD, please contact us at info@housescouchesandbabies.com by November 6 to claim your prize.


If you didn't win, please remember you have until November 1 to receive 10% Off Minted Holiday Cards.

Stay tuned for more fun giveaways!

Turn Off the TV

This afternoon, just after lunchtime, I quickly glanced at the newspaper and saw a picture of Dora the Explorer. Yes, it is sad what catches my eye these days.

As I unfolded to see why there was a picture of her on the front of the Calendar section of the LA Times, I discovered that there was an article explaining that kids watch more TV than ever - especially in the 2 to 5 age group. According to new findings released by Nielson on Monday, 2 to 5 year olds watch TV 32 hours a week on average.

I quickly glanced over my shoulder to see both of my kids watching Dora the Explorer on Nick Jr. What a coincidence! (I knew what they were watching before I looked over my shoulder, but it was at that point I put two and two together.) I let my kids finish that episode and then turned off the TV. And what did we do after that?

Well, let me show you!

We made ghosts out of tissues! Okay, so they might not be the most professional looking ghosts, but I worked with what I had around the house: a box of tissues, white dental floss, black Sharpie, and gold/orange curling ribbon. We made 12 ghosts and then strung them up with curling ribbon to make a ghostly garland!

The kids were so excited to make their own spooky Halloween decorations and I didn't even need to leave the house for my materials (which is a plus with my maniac almost 2 year old. You should have seen her at the post office today!!!).

Don't get me wrong, I am not condemning TV. The article in the newspaper was just a little wake up call for me that it was time to turn it off!

Ivanka Trump Ties the Knot Tastefully

Let's face it, "The Donald" is not known for his grace or understated elegance. Oh, but his daughter, Ivanka, is...or at least her wedding can be remembered as an elegant affair.

When I saw this photo of her in her wedding gown I was so impressed at how wonderful she looked without covering herself in diamonds and glitz and glitter. Her dress was said to be Grace Kelly inspired. I think Vera Wang hit this one on the nose! She was understated, elegant, and classy. And oh, how it makes me want to have my wedding day again and again!

Image courtesy of UsMagazine.com

Advice #5 for Expecting Moms

This week's advice is all about schedule. Thanks Sunnydaze99 for this advice:

"My best advice to a new mom is to get yourself and your child on a routine as soon as possible. Children thrive on routine."

I totally agree. Kids/babies can't tell time, but they can adjust and understand a routine. Routine makes nap time and bedtime much easier at my house...and that is enough proof for me!

Minted.com $100 Holiday Card Giveaway

With the holidays right around the corner (hello, it is almost November!), why not get your holiday cards ordered and ready to send out?

This year, check out a website that offers holiday photo card designs sourced from independent designers around the world through ongoing design competitions - Minted.com. When you choose the design you like, you actually work with the individual designer to customize your card. You are sent 2 free electronic proofs to make sure your card is exactly what you want. Minted.com offers premium and unique wedding and party invitations, birth announcements, and holiday cards.

For me, the proof is in the pudding. I just ordered invitations for my daughter's second birthday party from Minted.com and was thrilled with the selection of cards, the process, and most importantly, the finished product. And I am so excited to now order my holiday photo cards, too! There are so many styles to choose from, including their amazing minibook holiday card. You must check it out!

But wait...there's more. If you order before November 1, you will receive 10% Off Minted Holiday Cards.

And thanks to Minted.com, (1) lucky HC&B reader is going to win a $100 gift certificate for holiday cards! Here is how to enter:

• Visit Minted.com to check out their holiday photo card selection
• Post a comment here letting us know your favorite holiday card, as well as your name and location (city/state)
• Please post your comment by 11:59pm PST Wednesday, October 28th.

The winner will be chosen randomly and announced shortly after October 28th. Please check back to see if you are the winner.

Good luck!

Who Knew a Mom Could Rap

I am not big on forwards. I am not into combing YouTube for the latest and greatest. But this nearly 5 minute clip actually made me tear up from laughing.

Disclaimer: the language can be bad at times(I think the mom is trying to get into "character"), so make sure not to watch when the kids are around. And if you don't like profanity at all, then please don't watch. But if you are or have ever been a parent, I think you will get a kick out of it!

Enjoy!

Fever Be Gone!

Last week someone asked me how the kids were doing. I said they were feeling great. I knew as soon as I said that, I would regret it. That was Thursday morning...by Thursday evening, my almost 2-year old had a fever - no other symptoms. She still had it on Friday, spiking up to 102.3 degrees. But still, she had no symptoms. Luckily, with some Tylenol and Motrin, her fever seemed to subside and I was able to attend my 10 year college reunion festivities on Saturday night. (Lots of fun, tell you about it some other time.)

When I got home on Sunday, my 4-year old son had a low grade fever - 99.5. It was 98.9 when he woke up this morning so I took him to Pre-K. I picked him up around 2pm. He seemed fine until we got home and he immediately went up to his room to take a nap. What?!?! He doesn't take naps anymore! He woke up about an hour later to our neighbor kids playing outside. I figured he would want to go outside and play with them. Instead, he wanted to lay on the couch and watch TV. His temperature is now 101.4. Tylenol has been administered and am waiting another hour to give him Motrin if the Tylenol doesn't take effect.

Naturally, tomorrow I am supposed to attend a taping of Ellen in Burbank with some friends, but that is definitely not going to happen if my son still has a major fever.

Fever Be Gone!!!

Image courtesy of Nopests.com

One Lovely Blog Award

I was so thrilled to find out I was given the One Lovely Blog Award from Our Fine House. Our Fine House is a new fave of mine and I am honored she selected Houses, Couches, and Babies for this award. It seriously made my day.

The rules of the One Lovely Blog Award are:

Accept the award, post it on your blog, along with the name of the person who has granted the award, and his or her blog link. Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you’ve newly discovered. Be sure to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

And so now it is my turn to make someone else's day. I, like Our Fine House, am going to modify the rules a bit and select 9 blogs for this award(in alphabetical order, and of course, other than Our Fine House):

1. Angry Julie Monday
2. Caffeine Court
3. Diapers to Designs
4. Hostess Blog
5. Jillian, Inc.
6. Love, Marriage, and (Someday) a Baby Carriage
7. One Fabulous Mom
8. That's Why We Are Friends
9. The Good Life

If you haven't already checked out these blogs, you really should. I think they are quite lovely!

Thanks again for this award, Jen and Joe!

Advice #4 for Expecting Moms

A month or so ago I asked for your advice for expecting moms. Wow! You all had such great advice. And since I know many of you many have given your advice, but didn't check out the advice others gave, I am going to share this advice on a weekly basis. I will share the advice just as it was shared to me and add my commentary when I find it appropriate.

So here goes...

"My biggest piece of advice is rest when the baby rests- who cares if dinner needs to made-take a nap when baby does. Also learn to shut off and ignore the phone, the texts and emails. Learn to not answer the door and put up a note that says please do not ring bell- baby sleeping- or my husband got a doorbell that plugs in so only the front of the house hears it and does not bother the rest and you can unplug it for complete quiet. Learn to give yourself rest and close your eyes and ignore the world except your family in the home. Everyone wants to see new baby, but they need to understand you need to rest too. "

I agree 100%. There were times, especially in the first few weeks of my kids' lives, that I found myself crying uncontrollably because I couldn't do all the things that I wanted to do. And oddly enough, a nap actually made me feel better.

Thanks for the advice, MOMFOREVERANDEVER. Stay tuned for more helpful tips!

Image courtesy of Treehugger.com

The Living Desert

This weekend, the hubby and I took our kids out to the Palm Springs area (specifically La Quinta) to visit some friends that live out there.

Let me just say, October is a beautiful time to visit. It is still warm, around 85 degrees, and is very quiet. And while the desert is known for its amazing golf courses and beautiful terrain, we were able to check out another gem of the desert, The Living Desert.

The Living Desert is what they refer to as the zoo out in the Palm Desert area. It is not a massive zoo like in San Diego that has a ton of exhibits, but it has some really cool animals that you can get very close to. Their giraffe exhibit was amazing. Of course, our kids were so excited because they thought they were seeing Melman from Madagascar. They just kept shouting his name while we were standing in front of them. None of them ever responded.

But again, a nice thing about this zoo is that it is small. While I love a great workout as much as the next guy, huffing and puffing while pushing a stroller uphill to see a sleeping tiger (for example) is not my cup of tea. With the Living Desert, it is a manageable walk that even our 4 year old almost made it through. And since it wasn't very crowded, we could let the kids walk around and not fear they were going to be trampled by the masses that might be at another zoo.

Now, I completely understand if you want to head out to the desert and just hang out by the pool and relax. That is what we have always done in the past. But for a change of pace, it was fun to take the kids on a bit of an adventure...then we went and hung out by the pool!

Image courtesy of LivingDesert.org

Cougar Town - One of My New Favorite Shows

I am watching Cougar Town on ABC right now...hilarious!!!

With all of the actors from Friends, it is really hard to picture them as anyone but the characters they played on that show. And Courtney Cox playing a "Cougar," I thought that was a bit far-fetched. But it totally works. She is really great as this "cougar" character. Her young and old girlfriends are neurotic and witty, and the guy neighbor across the street(Josh Hopkins) is hot. Now I can see why I like the show so much!

If you haven't watched it, you need to! Catch it on Wednesdays at 9:30pm on ABC. (If you want to see the first two episodes, you can watch them on ABC.com.)

Image courtesy of ABC.com

Grand Californian is a Great Way to do Disneyland

Last week, we celebrated my dad's 60th birthday. Instead of a big party, he decided that a weekend with his wife, kids, kids' spouses, and grand kids at Disneyland would be a fun way to celebrate. And it certainly was!

As I have mentioned before, we have annual passes to Disneyland/California Adventure, so we visit both parks frequently. But we never stay in the area of the parks because we live just 30 minutes away. Staying at the Grand Californian on this trip was quite a treat for our kids and for us!

It is a beautiful hotel with a woodsy, craftsman-style design that is perfect for a family trip of fun. It has an amazing pool area with two water slides - one for big kids, one for smaller kids. And of course, it has Disney everywhere.

And here's the Mom Stamp of Approval: Our guest room came equipped with a pack n' play. I think they all do because my parents' room had one, too. I know that might not be a big deal to most, but at a hotel where kids and babies are going to be, it is a very smart investment. (Too bad we didn't know that before we brought our own pack n' play from home.)

If you want a few hours to yourself, they have Pinocchio's Workshop, which is an activity center for kids five and up. If your kids are younger than five, they also offer in-room babysitting.

We also ate at one of the best rated restaurants in California, Napa Rose. It was certainly an elegant and upscale restaurant, but because it is attached to a theme park, you car wear pretty much anything you want. With the name Napa Rose, they naturally had A LOT of wine. Of course, I was most impressed with the Finding Nemo and Ratatouille bottles signed by John Lasseter (Chief Creative Officer at Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios) since my son can identify him by face from all of his Pixar movies. And we were all in walking distance of our room, so no one (i.e. me) had to worry about driving home.

Now I know it isn't the most inexpensive option in the Disneyland area (in fact, I think it is one of the most expensive!) but it is a great value. Having your own entrance into California Adventure is great. And then another entrance into Downtown Disney where there are a ton of restaurants and shops...also great. We parked our car when we arrived on Sunday and didn't see it again until we left on Tuesday.

If you have young ones that need to nap, you can head right back to the hotel for a snooze and be back for more rides in the evening. Or if you have had enough, but everyone else you are with wants to keep going, you can easily and safely separate since you are never leaving the park or the Downtown Disney area.

It was a great way to make a birthday celebration last and last, too! (BTW, if you feel like you have never met anyone with your same birthday, go to Disneyland on your birthday. Since they offer free admission on your birthday, you would be amazed at everyone wearing Happy Birthday buttons!)

Images courtesy of Expedia.com

Can't Stomach THE HILLS Anymore

I will admit it. I am a fan of shows like Keeping Up with the Kardashians, Kendra, and yes, THE HILLS. Well, at least I used to be a fan of THE HILLS. It is 10:14p.m. right now and I know THE HILLS is on right now and I don't feel like watching it.

Here's my thing. I know that all of these shows are "produced" and many things are staged, but at least when Lauren Conrad was still on the show, some things seemed believable. But now that she has left, and they brought Kristin Cavallari in to replace her, it all seems so forced. She didn't exist in THE HILLS world for several seasons, and suddenly they throw her in like she had always been there. And her having any interest in that Justin Bobby guy...yeah, that's believable, perhaps if you are smoking crack!

Not to mention, Heidi and Spencer Pratt are boring!

Yes, I am partial to Lauren Conrad. She was the lead we all pulled for way back in the Laguna Beach days. But now that her ship has sailed, so has mine.

Image courtesy of MTV.com

The Cutest Moment of My Day

Today was a fairly typical day...went to Costco and the park with the kids. Played a few board games. Made a meal. Cleaned it up. Made another meal cleaned it up.

But the best part of my day came just before I put the kids down to sleep tonight. While at Costco, we picked up Monsters vs. Aliens. I had never seen it and wanted to check it out. Oh yeah, and the kids wanted to see it, too.

As the movie ended and the credits began to roll, a song came on with this beat that made me start to bop my head up and down. I looked over at my son, he saw what I was doing and began bopping his head. My daughter then noticed what we were doing and began bopping her head as well. We probably bopped our heads up in down for an entire minute (a huge deal for an almost 2 or 4 year old) and began smiling and laughing at each other as we did it. It made my long day from no sleep last night seem to fade away.

And it made me remember how much I love my job!

I Read an Entire Book While on Vacation- That's a Big Deal People!!!

Back in April, I bought a copy of Are You There Vodka, It's Me Chelsea by Chelsea Handler for our planned vacation to Cancun in May. (Oh, and I got Handler's autograph at the taping I went to. Yes, I am a BIG Chelsea Handler fan.) But then that whole swine flu outbreak scared everyone and our vacation was cancelled.

Finally, we went on vacation last week (as you may have noticed) and I was determined to finish this book. I had read seven pages from April to September. The time I have to read while not on vacation is impressive, I know. But I must say, I am so proud of myself. These days, I can't even read an entire People Magazine, let alone an entire book!

I will admit, my opinion is obviously skewed because I am a big fan of Handler's, but I must say the book was hilarious. My husband gave me interesting looks every time I laughed out loud. And let me just tell you, he gave me a lot of interesting looks. I loved it. I want to be Chelsea Handler's friend. Or I just wish I could be as sassy as her and her comments (both in the book and on TV).

If you are looking for a book that isn't serious, but instead a crack up, definitely check out Are You There Vodka, It's Me Chelsea.

MacKenzie Phillips - What a Coincidence

Do you ever notice that when you mention something one day, you hear about it again the next day?

On Tuesday, when the hubby and I were flying out of LAX (Los Angeles International Airport), we passed by a group of three women puffin' heaters (aka smoking) at 7:30am at the curb where they had been dropped off. It was already a somewhat warm morning in LA, so they especially stood out because one woman was wearing jeans, tall boots and looked like she was dressed for mid-winter in Chicago. Later, we saw this group of women in the security line and noticed the one in tall boots looked incredibly familiar. It was Mackenzie Phillips, you know, from One Day at a Time. I had a tough time getting my husband to remember who she was, but finally it came to him.

As a starstruck person, I was excited to have my star sighting for the day at LAX. So that was Tuesday. When I turned on the computer yesterday, Wednesday, she was all over the news for her new memoir and the big news about her 10 year "affair" with her own father. I really don't think "affair" is the appropriate word for a sexual relationship between a father and daughter, but that is what media outlets are referring to it as, and apparently what she refers to it as. Of course, on Wednesday she appeared on Oprah to promote her book and talked all about it.

So there is my coincidence of the week. If I talk about Justin Timberlake and Cabo, will he soon appear in Cabo singing "Senorita?" I sure hope so!!!!

Image courtesy of Oprah.com

Viva Cabo!

We arrived safely to Cabo and are having a great time. We are staying at Villa La Estancia...great hotel! Check it out....

Cabo, Here We Come!

The hubby and I are heading to Cabo this week for some much needed R&R. Massages and hanging out at the pool are already on the agenda...and perhaps we will take a stroll down to The Office for a drink and some food.

Any other suggestions for things to do in Cabo?

Image courtesy of Stratosjets.com