March Madness ...

It is no secret, I take a lot of pictures of DS. Each month I pick out my favorites to send to my family (since I can't post all of them or can I?!). Here are March 2007's Top 3 Pics. Everyone may not agree that these are the best pictures of DS but they are Mommy's favorites of her little munchkin in March.

I would love to hear which one you like best?

Chop Chop ... no need to wait!

I think DS's favorite foods are steamed rice and teriyaki chicken. I am not too surprised since DH and I are both very fond of all Asian cuisine too. We actually just got back from our favorite Friday night family dinner place, Mitsui. (Click here if you are interested in reading a Blogsite about our favorite Sushi restuarant, and it isn't our favorite just because we can walk there!)

My fun loving Dad taught us at a very young age how to use chopsticks. I still eat all Asian cuisine with chopsticks, I know what you're thinking, I should be thinner, LOL!

When I saw these adorable Chopstick Kids I was envious. They are soooo much hipper and cuter then the folded up paper wrapper and rubber bands my Dad used when teaching us. It almost makes me want to learn how to use chopsticks again. Since DS hasn't quite mastered the spoon yet I think we are going to have to wait just a bit on these Chopsticks. But when the time comes he will use Chopstick Kids!

I know what your thinking, why does she always post about kids?! Well, I am also going to include something for the adults. I was thinking how fun it would be to host a fun Dinner Party and include chopsticks for your guests. But since you don't want anything to clash with your linens I thought these ones would work great for anyone. They are traditional Japanese Chopsticks with a "twist"?! I also found the perfect set for those dinner party guests that don't quite know how to use Chopsticks? Include a set of the "Rookie Chopsticks" from Sur La Table.

Oh and for the record, although I am very fond of Asian Cuisine my first love is Mexican Food and instead of Chopsticks to eat your rice (& beans) you use tortillas and that is why I am not-so-thin. Haha

You should have come when you were pregnant?

Location: Nordstroms Women's Lounge

I am feeding DS the rest of his lunch (veggies and chicken). Another woman is sitting next to me breastfeeding her 7 week old baby. She asks me how old is my DS?

Me: He is almost 14 months.
Her: Oh, I have a 22 month old girl.
Me: Where is she today? (because I admire women that have children so close in age & still able to do it all).
Her: She is at Preschool.
Me: Oh, nice, where does she go? (continuing the small talk in the lounge since DS is taking his time with his chicken bites)
Her: XYZ Preschool (don't remember the name) in Huntington Beach but I really wanted her to go to ABC Preschool (again, don't remember the name) in Huntington Beach but they didn't have room for her. I started calling when she was your son's age. They told me I should have came in when I was pregnant and put her on the wait list then. Have you started looking?
Me: No, not yet. (I leave it at just a No as I don't want to get into my views on Preschool and how I am undecided if I will even send him to Preschool and I definitely don't mention to her *whispering now* that I might even want to home school when he is school age.)

So, it got me thinking, what am I going to do? I know other parents with children DS's age have already been thinking about this and touring schools. I am still undecided but have now started to explore my options more.

3 days later I get an email from a wonderful Mommy friend (CD) with this wonderful website. I wanted to pass along the resource:

www.greatschools.com

I was thrilled to find out that the school across the street (the one that I hear the bell ring from several times a day) is a TOP rated school in the country and received all 10's! Check out the website if you are looking into schools, summer camps, and more!

Girls in Green

So you thought I was going to talk about St. Patrick's Day on Saturday?! Nope, I am talking about Girl Scouts Cookie season. By now you should have already received your boxes and if not, you are sure to be approached from those patch-wearing Girl's in Green at your local grocery store any day now.

So what do you do with all those boxes you are sure to feel obligated to buy?!?! Well, I used to send most of them with DH to share with his office. But he wouldn't take them this year. He said there is already way too many boxes laying around the office (but really I think I just did a better job ordering for my "not so fat" DH this year and he wants to keep them all to himself - like the Somoas, Thin Mints and Do-si-dos). So, again, what do you do with all those boxes? Look what I stumbled upon today ... Dessert Recipes that use Girl Scout Cookies. I guess I will be bringing a Dessert to the next Family gathering. :) Let me know if you try any of these recipes and what you think.

By the way, in case you have ever wondered ... Here is a listing of The Girl Scouts top cookie sellers (taken directely from their site):

25% Thin Mints
19% Samoas®/Caramel deLites™
13% Peanut Butter Patties®/Tagalongs®
11% Peanut Butter Sandwich/Do-si-dos™
9% Shortbread/Trefoils

Shout Outs!

Another big Shout Out all the way to AZ to Miss EGC!!! Happy Birthday pretty girl ... and a Happy Birthday to your little sis CC that will also be celebrating her Birthday in just a couple days!!! We hope to come see you in AZ again soon!!! Hugs and Kisses from our family to yours. :)

Is this considered cheating?

So most of you know, I love coffee, really, I adore coffee. My all time favorite Coffee shop is Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf. My local Coffee Bean shop is about a 25 minute walk from my home. My local Starbucks is a 5 minute walk so for the past 6 months I have been cheating on Coffee Bean and walking with DS down to Starbucks every morning to get my cup of java. I am not feeling too bad about this though. Coffee Bean is better looking (I mean, tasting) but just wasn't meeting my needs on a regular basis (remembering my order). And I don't have one of those long, weird, complicated coffee orders. Although Coffee Bean will always be my first love, I am enjoying my new relationship with Starbucks and they are giving me yet another reason on Thursday, March 15, 2007 from 10am to noon with a FREE CUP OF COFFEE. This promotion is at all Starbucks worldwide. I don't remember Coffee Bean ever being so generous?!?

A little encouragement helps a slow learner

My overly generous DH recently agreed to get me the new Nikon D80 dSLR camera to help encourage my photography interest. I absolutely adore this camera (but I need an entirely different post to discuss details .... promise it is coming soon ... I know several of you have been asking about this fabulous camera). In the meantime, just wanted to post a picture selected to appear on the new Editorial page in OC Family magazine. I am not sure if it was choosen for my photography skills or because of my DS is so adorable. Either way, I am thrilled!

OC Family magazine is a local family-oriented magazine in Orange County, CA. You can pick up a free copy at many retailers, such as, Borders bookstores, Gymboree, 24 Hour Fitness and more.

Tiny feet but he's no dancer

Every day at least one Mommy (or Daddy) comments on my DS's shoes. The comment most often heard is "they are so cute, where did you get them?".

If you have a boy I don't need to explain to you how wonderful it is to find something that is "so cute" for a boy. If you don't have a boy, let me explain. Shopping for a boy goes something like this: You go to your local children's boutique, you know, the one with all those adorable clothes in the window. You surely know you have to find something really cute in there for a boy and you are now willing to spend any price to get that cute outfit you have been dying for (one that doesn't say "My Little Slugger" or "I Love Trains". But you walk in and 90% of the store is filled with the most adorable girl clothes you have ever seen and the other 10% is the boy clothes you saw in the window and guess what, the size you need is sold out. Or maybe you head to an ever so popular Children's Clothing Store that is having the best sale ever to stock up on summer play clothes but you can't seem to figure out what sale rack is for boys out of the ten sale racks you see for girls. (oh, by the way, that is because there is no sale rack for boys, there is only a few sale items stuck in between the girl's).

Now you understand why I am so excited about these shoes. He walks wonderful in them, they are made well and they are stylish. They are made by ECCO. They are all leather & nubuck, soft, light weight, and very flexible. If you have ever owned a pair of ECCO'S you already know all this. I bought a pair that I wore every day on our European honeymoon which is why I didn't hesistate when the salesman recommended these for an early walker. I bought them at the Newport Bootery in Fashion Island (Newport Beach, CA). I know Nordstroms also carries them and other retailers. DS has the "Hide and Seek"Fisherman style but I am already tempted to get him another pair. I am leaning towards the "Jack Trailblazer" or maybe the "Raptor Dino" for summer. You will not be disappointed in these shoes. DS has worn these every day for over a month and they still look fantastic. Trust me, he has definitely put these shoes to the test.

(Author's Note: It might not be the best picture but I couldn't resist showing the sand sprouting out of DS's Ecco Hide and Seek Fisherman shoes).

Life is as good as a box of (dark) chocolates

Did you know that the wonderful See's Candies now carries a box of all Dark Chocolates? I think this box has now passed my old favorite: the Nuts & Chews (which I still consider one of the best boxes of assortment chocolates). I thought this was a good time to remind you about the wonderful chocolates by See's Candies since we are coming upon Easter time.

My Mom always loves a great sale but when it came to our Easter baskets she never skimped on the Chocolates. Our baskets were always filled with WONDERFUL chocolate eggs and various chocolate bunnies from Sees (no grocery store bought chocolate for our kiddie baskets). I have kept this tradition going in my own family. (DH certainly made out last year since DS was much too young to eat his).

If you want the box of Dark Chocolates for Easter gifts (by the way, they make the perfect Host gift) you better get them fast. DH told me all the Valentine wrapped boxes of Dark Chocolates were gone prior to Valentine's Day. But lucky me, unlike his coworkers, he got me the plain white wrapped box of Dark Chocolates instead of the Valentine wrapped box of Assortment chocolates. I was thrilled.

Did you also know that Consumer Reports rates chocolates? See's Candy (even though considered to be a very small player in the chocolate industry) always gets mentioned as one of the best in the smaller brand category?!?! Gesh, what us Californians take for granted!?

Oh, almost forgot my great deal tip ... you can buy 1lb. certificates at discounted prices from Costco and redeem them for 1 lb. boxes at any See's Candy store (dark chocolate boxes included). They also ship to any where in the U.S. with gift cards included. I know this because my sweet sister TC sent our family a wonderful box for Valentine's Day this year (last year she sent us the other ever so popular & absolutely addicting Moose Munch from Harry and David.

(PS I choose the picture of Scotchmallows for my wonderful friend DM. Those are her favorite See's Candies)

Cat got your tongue?!

I have received comments (sepecial thanks to my most commenting friend kmonkey) and feedback from many of you, thank you! I have now changed my comment setting to allow anyone including non-registered bloggers to comment on my page. I would love to hear feedback, comments or even a quick Hello!

Shout Outs!

A great big Shout Out all the way to AZ to Miss KRW!!! Happy 1st Birthday sweetie!!! Hugs and Kisses from Cali to AZ!!! Have a wonderful day.

Who would have thought I would be so excited to go flat?!

Shame on you for thinking that! Just because I nursed DS for so long doesn't mean I am happy about those (really, who would be happy about that?!). I am talking about being 5'1" and happy about the new "flat" trend in shoes. Not only is this trend stylish, it can be so comfy too!

I finally found a pair at Macy's today that can take me from lunch with the girls at South Coast Plaza to a playdate at the park with DS. I have actually bought myself several pairs of this stylish flat shoe trend (& of course the ever so hip mettalic ones) but none that I felt comfortable wearing at the park (if you know what I mean, $$$)! But today, I found them! Woo Hoo! They are made by Keds. The good ol' affordable tennis shoe favorite. I bought the green ones ... the perfect green to pair with all the denim and pink I already own!!! They have a lower front so they are closer to the stylish "ballerina" style flat shoe but with a sporty slip-on tennis shoe look and super comfy. The Chatham style comes in a few colors and for the really fashion forward (like I can see my stylish dear friend LG wearing) try the "Nanette Lepore" animal print ones.

For all my college sorority sisters: Luckily these are slip ons so you won't be tempted to swap out the laces for gross-grain ribbons. :)

Where's Mommy's nose?

Darling Son (DS) is 6 inches from my face and I sing in a sing-song Mommy voice "Eyes, Ears, Mouth, Nose" while pointing to my body parts. I now look DS directly in the eyes and ask "Where is Mommy's nose." He lights up, laughs (I smile too since I know that smart little boy of mine knows the answer) and he lounges forward to grab my nose while accidently scratching my face along the way. I realize very quickly that this is no longer a fun (or safe) learning game to play. LOL

After wiping away the tears from realizing my baby is now a Toddler I reach for one of my new Toddler Workbooks I just ordered from Amazon.com. I flip to the content page and look for "body parts". Bingo, now I have a new game and learning activity for DS that isn't too dangerous. The books is: The Complete Resource Book for Toddlers and Twos: Over 2000 Experiences and Ideas. It is organized by learning subjects and gives activities to enrich language skills, cognitive development, social & emotional development and physical development. I highly recommend this book for anyone looking for new, educational and fun activities with their Toddler. I have enjoyed doing these activities with DS. Now if DS would only sit still. :)

"No Wonder" I thought coloring was so messy

We are getting ready to go to sleep at the W Hotel in Westwood, CA after having dinner at the Geisha House in Hollywood and my dear friend from college (DG-M) asks about DS's latest activities. (10 years ago we would have been talking at 3am about the hot guys we saw at the Club but since times have changed, we chat about our kids & hubby's after having a martini at The W Hotel Lounge). I tell her we have been playing with markers ... teaching him how to hold them and color with them. Having two girls that were once DS's age she quickly replies "Gosh, that must be so messy unless you are using Color Wonders.". I just as quickly reply, "What!!? This activity has definitely been messy."

The next day while she is searching the store across the street from Jerry's Famous Deli for a souvenier to bring back to AZ for her two beautiful girls she buys my DS Color Wonders (do I even have to say she is so generous and so sweet?!).

My tables, walls and most importantly his mouth and clothes have been saved. If you have a Toddler, these are a must. The color only shows up on their special paper. Leave it to Crayola to come up with these. They also carry fingerpaints.

And I just thought I was smart for buying the "washables". (By the way, the picture is pre-Color Wonders in case you were wondering!)

Bonus time .... Target here I come!

Prior to DH and DS being in my life, my Annual Bonus was a time for me to get in the car and head to South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, CA. I would hit up all the designer stores and spend hours "trying on" purses and deciding which designer purse looked best on me. It was great fun but now most of those designer purses sit empty in the closet next to my DH's lonely tennis racket.

Like many SAHM's I now look forward to Annual Bonus time so .... I can splurge at Target!!! (Boy, have times changed). Yesterday and today I spent time (not hours and hours though because who has hours and hours when you have a Toddler?!) looking over the best plastic containers to organize toys, markers, cars, plastic bowls, wooden intruments and more.

I choose the Rubbermaid Revelations collection. I bought several sizes to fit the various objects I am trying to organize. The entire collection (every size) is on sale at Target this week. I love that they are clear so I can quickly see what is inside with out opening the lid. My DH thinks Rubbermaid makes the best quality for this type of storage product and since I couldn't find a specific rating for that category on Consumer Reports (those that know me I am sure are not surprised I checked there first, LOL) I agreed with him. Oh and I should mention - Consumer Reports does rate Rubbermaid "food storage containers" one of the best. If you are ready to get a jump start on your Spring cleaning/organizing head to Target before the sale is over!!!

I think DH will be happy that I choose to spend part of his Bonus at Target rather then South Coast Plaza, don't you agree?!?! :)