A plus Alice

Time Flying By

2010-06-28T20:00:00.000-07:00

I think this is a picture of May and June speeding past me! I cannot believe that July 4th is this weekend. I spent the last few weeks of May and early June busily trying to fit my appointments in before the kids were out of school. And, the first few weeks of summer were spent busily shuttling the kids to and from swim lessons. Hmm...notice the pattern?

Luckily the kids love their swim lessons and here they are on FUN DAY, which is the last day of lessons and the day that the surfboards come out.

What's next? Well, the perfectionist and over-achiever would love to systematically move from one room in my house to another purging and organizing. But something tells me that no matter how hard I try, I won't end up rooms looking like these...

So, the realistic me will settle for a closet here and a drawer there and focus on slowing down my summer and truly enjoying it!

* images courtesy of wikipedia, pottery barn,and house and home magazine

A Perfect Weekend All Around

2010-05-17T10:47:00.000-07:00

It's amazing how much longer a weekend feels when you can be completely spontaneous! Even with no schedule we managed to pack our two days with plenty of lounging, shopping, and eating. We even manged to squeeze in some fantastic poolside people watching while enjoying some fruity cocktails. The Riviera Hotel is quite the scene. We could have spent all night lounging here...

And what about those fantastic floating beanbag cushions?

While we were enjoying a wonderful time in the desert, the kids were having an equally wonderful time at home with dad. In fact, the dads who were left on their own this weekend decided to band together for the weekend. "Safety in numbers!" after all. So my kids ended up spending two days playing with friends, eating gourmet food (thanks to one of the dads who is an amazing cook), and having by all accounts a perfect weekend of their own. When my oldest was first born, I used to think that my way was the best way for my son. After all, I was the one reading all the books, talking to the pediatrician, preparing all his food. Who knows a baby better than his mother...right? Well, the wiser (and ok...the older) me knows that daddy's way is perfect too. A perfect time can come in all different settings, with all different types of people, with all different kinds of rules. Besides, how does that saying go? "What happens when mommy's away..."

It's Time to Get Away!

2010-05-13T22:09:00.000-07:00

How do I know it's time for me to sneak away for a weekend in the desert? Well, in the last two days I have...

Left two 12-packs of Diet Pepsi on the bottom rack of my shopping cart at Target! My absent mindedness was someone else's good fortune.
Dropped a brand new jar of strawberry preserves on the kitchen floor. Picture tiny shards of glass intermingled with sticky red globs all over the kitchen.
Made one of my favorite recipes for dinner: Miso Salmon...minus the miso. Of course I didn't realize this omission until the salmon came out of the oven.
Spilled my cup of coffee all over myself this morning while sitting in my car. Yes, the car was not even moving.

Thank goodness I leave tomorrow! What can possibly happen in the meantime?

Happy Mother's Day!

2010-05-07T19:31:00.000-07:00

Today is Friday and it feels like Friday! It's been a long week...with no time even for blogging! Ugh! But I want to send this out to all the mothers out there...

There are good days there are bad days
There are days you wish you could take back and days you wish would never end
There are days that question your abilities and days you feel like you can do it all

But no matter how harried or stressful the day there is always a peace that falls
When all is quiet and no one is heard. When you spy an angel with his or her eyes closed
This is when you know that everything you do has a purpose and you make yourself a promise to do it all again tomorrow.

Happy Mother's Day!

Be Careful What You Wish For!

2010-04-29T17:37:00.000-07:00

As your probably know by now from reading this blog, my husband and I love sports, both playing and watching. If I remember correctly, the first date we ever had was watching the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament together (romantic, right?) B.K. (Before Kids) we spent a lot of time with our television tuned to sporting events. I don't remember much of my life B.K., but one thing I can remember is waking up Sunday mornings, walking to brunch (this was when we lived in San Francisco), coming home and watching the afternoon football game, going out to exercise, and then coming back to watch the Sunday night football game. I know this is not for everyone, but it was my little slice of heaven!

Being such sports fans, it's probably not surprising that we hoped and wished that our children would share our passion. Well, as they say...be careful what you wish for. I've already documented here what a sports fanatic my son is. "Great!" you might say. After all, it is what we've wished for...isn't it? Well...yes. But now his obsession is interfering with my obsession! When he was little, our rule used to be that he could only watch a certain amount of Sesame Street, but my husband and I would have the TV on all day if sports were on. Guess what? He eventually started to like watching sports. And that "like of watching sports" grew to "love of watching sports" and eventually grew to being practically the only thing he likes to watch. So now, in order to curb his TV watching, I am having to turn off the very thing that I love watching on TV! Cruel injustice!! So, I say to you once more, "be careful what you wish for!"

It's a Pillow and it's a Pet!

2010-04-24T10:17:00.000-07:00

Not too long ago, my four-year-old came running out of the bedroom where she was watching TV declaring, "Mom! Mom! It's a pillow and it's a pet. We have to go to www.pillowpets.com. Can we get one? Only 19.95!"

My first thought was, "Those #@!! commercials!"

My daughter had been reeled in big time by a commercial depicting adorable plush stuffed animals that can either be a pet or unrolled into a pillow. Somehow the fact that it was a pillow AND a pet made it irresistible. She recorded the commercial onto our DVR and insisted on playing it for me...multiple times! To really seal the deal, she informed me that she could pay for it herself with money she saved from Chinese New Year.

As every good mother does, I then asked myself, "What's in this for me?" I decided to make a deal with my daughter. I told her that if she could demonstrate two weeks of exemplary behavior (no pouting or whining or excessive arguing), I would order her a pillow pet. I know, many of you probably disagree with my incentive method. But "experts" have proven that with these incentive methods, the good behavior will over time become automatic, proving the incentives unnecessary. So, the week started off peacefully until one day a friend of mine (whose daughter happens to be my daughter's best girlfriend) asked me innocently, "Alice, what's a pillow pet?" NO! She did not!! Yes, she did. My daughter was spreading her obsession to others. Peddling pillow pets to her friends.

That hitch aside, my daughter successfully completed her two week period and earned her giraffe pillow pet. I must admit that I really enjoyed the past two weeks with my "I'm on my best behavior" daughter. What is Nickelodeon selling next?

If I Had More Time

2010-04-20T22:20:00.000-07:00

If I had more time I would...

** Have a real conversation with my husband instead of daily briefings
** Eat healthier. Let's face it, eating healthy takes time. Grabbing something quick is usually not as healthy (darn it!)
** Remember to take my vitamins (maybe this would not be as important if I actually had time for item above.)
** Exercise more. Hmmm, there seems to be a theme developing here.
** Just be a mom so I can enjoy my kids while they still think I'm cool. I feel like I am always so busy rushing from one activity or commitment to another being a chauffeur and activities coordinator extraordinaire. I need to just be a mom!
** Call, yes pick up the phone and call, my out-of-town friends so I can hear their voice
** Finish my novel that is 80% finished and has been for the past two (at this point, probably closer to three) years
** Write 3-4 blog postings each week...consistently!

A girl can dream, can't she?

Pinewood Derby

2010-04-18T11:27:00.000-07:00

Last night was our Cub Scout Pack's Pinewood Derby Day. The first thing I have to say is congratulations to both my son and husband for all their hard work on their car! I think it looks pretty good!

I tried to keep up with everything they were doing, but they lost me somewhere in between the clear coating and something about graphite (which was extremely messy and not so good for the lungs.) This being my first experience with the Derby, I quickly discovered that it's serious business. My two clues were the fact that there was an official weigh-in earlier in the day and they brought out the In-N-Out Burger truck for dinner. Seriously though, it was great fun to see all of the cars and designs everyone created. This is just one table.

The track was set-up in the middle of the floor complete with an elaborate start mechanism and computer linked electronic finish line.

Everyone in our family was pretty excited when our car won it's first heat. Secretly, I think my husband felt like all his hard work was validated :) And my daughter felt it was safe at that point to cut out and head for the playground. The rest of us stuck around and cheered all the Tiger Cubs on. Congratulations to everyone for all their hard work and thank you Cub Scouts for such a fun evening!

Another Fabulous Find

2010-04-14T04:49:00.000-07:00

I am very excited to share with you my latest fabulous find. It's an internet shopping find...no big surprise, right? The store is called Spool No.72 and you can link to it here. Of course I would never recommend a site without first sampling it's wares :) I purchased this beautiful ring...

And this purse, which for some reason is no longer available on their site.

And because presentation is everything...it all comes gorgeously packaged. I am sure you will find something or somethings to catch your eye!

Spring Break Adventures, Part II

2010-04-13T00:44:00.000-07:00

One of the reasons for heading down to San Diego was SeaWorld. Let's face it, our kids have the Disneyland and Legoland thing down by now. So, we felt it was time to introduce SeaWorld into the mix, saving the San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park for another visit. Note: This is the part where I try to insert my "be thankful we live in Southern California" mantra once again.

But, before heading anywhere, we made sure to stop by Hash House a Go Go for breakfast. Have you been there? Delicious, delicious breakfasts and um...really H-U-G-E portions. Don't be alarmed, but this is a picture of the fried chicken benedict with bacon, mashed potatoes and spinach hiding under the sauce. Yes, I ordered that for breakfast. Yes, it was fabulous! And, try as I did, I could not even finish half of it.

We walked right into SeaWorld and joined the crowd heading over to the Shamu Show. My husband was trying to talk the kids into sitting in the splash zone. But I thought our view was close enough :)

We also signed up for the Dolphin Encounter where we had the chance to see, feed, and play with the dolphins up-close. We even played a game of peek-a-boo (this first picture). I'm not sure who had more fun, my kids or my husband!

After our gigantic breakfast, we made sure to cover every inch of the park, including a short stop for some rides. I had no idea that SeaWorld had rides, much less Sesame Street themed ones. But the kids were excited to ride the spinning tea cup ride. And that's where I had a "My kids are growing up!" moment. They actually didn't want dad to ride with them! They were both tall enough to ride without a parent and that's exactly what they wanted to do. Here they are...by themselves!

And, in case any of you are thinking of visiting SeaWorld in the near future, they have a deal where you pay for a single day and get the rest of the year free. Another great deal is the Silver Annual Pass where you pay for one year and get the second year free plus extras which include free parking and 10% savings on food and merchandise. We also saved 20% on our dolphin encounter tickets. I purchased one Silver Pass for myself and with all of our discounts, the pass paid for itself in just one visit!

Spring Break Adventures, Part I

2010-04-11T09:44:00.000-07:00

I know, it's been an unusually l-o-n-g time between posts...even for me! But I have a good excuse. The kids have been on spring break since April 1st and we have been having a whirlwind vacation! Here are a few highlights. We started our vacation in San Diego and the Hotel Del Coronado. My husband loves historical buildings and monuments so I knew he would get a kick out of staying in a hotel that was built 120 years ago. I think it looks pretty good for being so old :)

The kids loved exploring the hotel. Here is the view from the sun deck where you can enjoy a bite to eat or watch the sunset.

We also took some time to explore Balboa Park. Another historical note...the Carousel in the Park was built in 1910 and all but two pairs of animals are original hand-carved from Europe.

These hand-painted murals are also original. Beautiful!

The *learning* we tried to stress to the kids on this vacation is how lucky we are to live in beautiful Southern California where there are so many wonderful and fun things within driving distance. After all, my husband and I always say that part of the *expense* of living in Southern California is the privilege of being able to hop into a car and visit San Diego, Disneyland, gorgeous beaches, and so on and so on...almost any day of the year!

A Day at the Zoo

2010-03-27T16:10:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking a lot lately about taking time to enjoy the things that I am busy doing and not simply rush from one "to-do" to another "to-do"...especially as it relates to the kids. I am constantly reminding myself that one day in the not too distant future, my kids are going to be "too cool" to want to spend time with their parents. So, Friday was a perfect opportunity to spend the morning with my daughter in her element - school. I volunteered for my fourth field trip to the zoo in as many years. Some would wonder aloud, "why?" Because I love observing (and I am not above spying) my kids while they are at school...hanging with their friends...making conversation...figuring out this whole "social interaction" thing...without parents hovering too close. And, I have to say that I enjoyed every minute of my morning!

The kids listed the animals they wanted to see at the zoo and zebras were at the top!

Measuring themselves against the giraffes.

And lastly...resting after a morning of exploring.

Lessons Learned During March Madness

2010-03-21T21:18:00.000-07:00

Why is it so easy to let the dishes and laundry pile up during the first two days of the NCAA Tournament and not so easy other times of the year? Maybe it's because I keep telling myself that the Tournament only comes once a year. Or maybe it's because watching the Tournament has been part of every March since I can remember. I'm too old now to trek to Vegas for the first weekend, but I can certainly still enjoy watching it at home. Actually, I would like to think that it's because the A+ in me is learning to let go. Possibly...just a little? Besides the kids' activities and a few errands, not much else got done. And, you know what? The sky did not fall. Anarchy and chaos did not reign. The world was still right-ways up the next morning. Imagine that!

Hopefully what I learned this weekend is that it is perfectly fine...even necessary to take time out for things that I enjoy. In a perfect world, I would set aside time each week to do things that are just for me and my mental health whether it's exercising, writing, or something entirely spontaneous. And in this perfect world, I would stick to my schedule and not let things such as a cluttered and messy house, or the lack of anything to eat for dinner, deter me from my time. But this perfect utopia cannot possibly co-exist with an A+ perfectionist. See my problem? An A+ would prioritize "getting things done" before doing something spontaneous. Or, an A+ might very well enjoy time away from her normal "duties," but coming home to mess and an empty fridge would lead me...I mean her, to declare, "I did not get anything done today!" What to do? Maybe what I will try is to carry a picture, a page out of a magazine, or even a quote with me that reminds me of how happy and content I feel when I take the time to do something for myself. And each time I am tempted to switch into A+ mode I will glance at my photo and think, "The sky will not fall...the sky will not fall." Think it will work? I'll let you know!

An Inspiring Friend

2010-03-19T11:05:00.000-07:00

Do you have a friend that inspires you? I am fortunate to have many amazing girlfriends, but one in particular is my girlfriend from college. We've known each other for 20 years and I was thrilled when she moved within driving distance a few years back. The easiest way to describe her is that there is nothing she cannot do. Seriously. New backsplash for the kitchen? She can put it in. Extra-long curtains made for your great room? She's your girl. Delicious pumpkin cookies for your Halloween party? Absolutely!

But even more inspiring is her attitude. She truly believes that there is nothing she cannot accomplish. No obstacle that is insurmountable with a determined and positive attitude. And let me say that it is precisely this upbeat and matter-of-fact attitude that has helped her through some tough personal times lately. For the casual observer looking at her, even talking to her, one would never know the stress in her life. Each time we get together, I come away vowing not to worry or obsess about things that are out of my hands (so hard for me!) To tackle what seems like the impossible, one step at a time...without complaining. And, not to dwell on what should have been or what could have been. We should all be so lucky to have someone like her in our lives.

March Madness

2010-03-18T10:57:00.000-07:00

I am in total heaven now! I have my DirecTV Mega March Madness on (which means I can watch any game going on, not just the one that my local CBS is showing), cup of coffee, and a quiet house. My friends all know that this is my absolute favorite time of year. I try to minimize interruptions the first two days of the tournament - Thursday and Friday - including social obligations.

The first game of the day has already produced a minor upset - a #11 seed over a #6 seed...and wouldn't you know, my four year-old is the only one in the household that made the correct pick in her bracket! Oh yes, did I mention we always run a March Madness pool? Our six-year-old won it all last year and just the other day asked what happened to all the money he won. "What sweetie? Mommy can't hear you right now!"

Anyways, I just hope this overtime game between BYU and Florida doesn't go into double overtime. I have to pick up my daughter at noon!

Call a Foul on the Parent!

2010-03-12T17:45:00.000-08:00

Considering the number of sports teams we've been a part of so far, we were lucky not to have run into that parent until last weekend. Yep, we witnessed first hand (he was standing right next to us) the stereotypical pushy, hard charging, overbearing parent. And it was extremely disturbing.

The scene was our son's basketball game. He plays in the 7&8 year old division - remember this fact - they are only 7 & 8 year-olds. There is a referee, but he gives the boys a lot of leeway before calling traveling or double-dribble. No one keeps score, you can't start playing defense until half-court...there isn't even any stealing allowed. You get the idea - the boys are supposed to have fun (first goal) and start learning the rules of the game (second goal).

This dad started in on his son right away. My first clue should have been the fact that his son was wearing a mouth guard for crying out loud! Here are some few choice words from the dad:
"Don't let him do that to you! Stop him!"
"OK. You have 8 points so far. Let's try for 14!"
"What are you doing down there? Do not talk to him! Don't stand by him, don't sit by him! Understand me?" Yes, he was yelling at his son even when his son was sitting on the bench.
He was telling his son to play so aggressively that the ref had to tell his son twice during the game, "Hey, you can't shove people like that." If you ask me, that's a good life rule too.

Anyways, you get the idea. I felt so bad for the kid. Nothing he does is ever going to be good enough for his "trying to live the sports life I never was good enough to have through my son" father. I am realistic to know that we'll encounter more of these parents as our kids get older and their games become more competitive. I just wish we didn't have to start so soon. As for me...what do I tell my son during the game? "Try not to grab yourself so much while you're standing on the sidelines, ok?" Isn't that a good life rule too?

Directionally Challenged

2010-03-04T14:41:00.000-08:00

Finally! What I've known to be true all my life: It's not my fault that I am terrible with directions! It may be in my genes! According to this article posted on msnbc.com with the headline, "Always lost? It may be in your genes,"

"A new study suggests that skillful navigation just may be in your genes."

"We found that people who suffer from the genetic disorder Williams syndrome have trouble reorienting themselves, a basic process that is shared among human children and adults, and a variety of non-human species," Lakusta said. "Our finding that individuals with Williams syndrome show this kind of impairment suggests an important link between genes and the system that is used for reorientation."

Williams "is caused when a small amount of genetic material is missing from one human chromosome."

Yes, I admit that I am the kind of person that gives directions not by street names or by using phrases such as "the north side of the street," but by phrases such as "turn left at the gas station" or "the brown house with the basketball hoop in the driveway." I can't tell if I am heading north or south while I am driving without the use of a car compass or major (and I mean MAJOR) landmarks such as mountain ranges or the Pacific Ocean. Good thing we live in California! My husband once told me that I was the worst person with directions he has ever met. I thought he was joking, but he assured me he was not.

But now, I realize that I am one of the rare (only 1 in 7,500 people) people suffering from Williams Syndrome. Right? I mean, I must be. Besides, the article also mentions that people afflicted with Williams Syndrome have strong language skills (yes, I do like to talk) and are extremely social (again, yes with the talking!) This has to be me! Wait, does this mean that I can't ask for a GPS for my car now?

Dazed and Confused

2010-03-02T11:26:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I found myself at the Bobbi Brown cosmetic counter simply to buy a product that I had run out of. I say simply because it should be an easy, simple trip. And it would have been had I not asked one question that led to another question (from her, not me) which led to a clarifying question and well...you get the idea. I've never really worn much make-up. I'm basically a blush, lip gloss and occasionally eye shadow kind-of-girl. Stepping it up a notch for me means tinted moisturizer. I don't have daytime make-up, going-out make-up, or even make-up that doesn't look like I am wearing make-up. I just have my basics.

The girl (and I only use that term because she looked soo much younger than myself) at the counter named Amy had flawless make-up so I felt safe asking her my question about foundation. That was the seemingly innocent question that started it all. First there were questions (from her) about whether my skin was dry or oily. "Uh, both?" If I used a tinted moisturizer, foundation? "Oh, wait, I think I know the answer to this one!" And if so, do I set it with pressed or loose powder? "Neither? There's a difference?" The best was when she asked me if I used corrector with my concealer. "I don't even use concealer at all so I surely don't use corrector...do I?" Anyways, Amy deftly applied all of the above products to my face and walked me through the how-to part (which I promptly forgot by the time I pulled out of the parking lot. Maybe an instructional video next time?) Oh well, Amy was great and even sent me home with some samples to try at home. Good luck with that!

Life Skills and Sports Talk Radio

2010-02-24T22:57:00.000-08:00

One of the most peaceful moments I have to myself each day is right after I get back into the car after dropping my kids off at school and I turn on my radio to sports talk radio. There - my secret is out! Yes, not only do I listen to sports talk radio in the morning, but I really and truly enjoy it! The personalities that are on in the morning are funny, smart, and very entertaining. This morning, I found myself particularly engrossed in one of the topics. Colin Cowherd is on ESPN radio in the morning and I always tune in when I am in the car during his show. Today, he happened to be making the case for the importance of social skills and social adaptability. He went on to give examples of people who are brilliantly book smart, geniuses even, but have tragic stories because of their inability to interact and engage with the rest of the world.

Now, while I may not agree 100% with his examples and reasoning, much of what he said rang true to me and seemed especially timely in my world. Why? Well, report cards were just sent out at our school. Now, most of you might think that a perfectionist such as myself, no matter how much she is trying to change, expects to see only the highest marks across the board. Right? Well, sort of. The two areas where I expect (and to a certain extent, demand) to see high marks are "Academic Work Habits" and "Social Development." These categories encompass the life long skills our children will need to master in order to succeed and thrive in any endeavor, across any industry: "Accepts responsibility," "Works cooperatively with others," "Respects adults and peers," and "Exhibits best effort." It's not that I don't consider reading, spelling, math, etc. to be important. Quite the opposite, but the rules of punctuation or carrying the ones in addition are much easier to work on, practice, and even memorize, whereas I want my son to have an innate drive to always do his best, take responsibility for his actions, and treat others with kindness. I know, heavy stuff for a first grader, but as I mentioned in my previous post, our young ones are capable of so much more than we give them credit for!

I guess what I am trying to say in a wordy roundabout way (sorry, but it is midnight after all), is that I agree with Colin Cowherd and the importance of social skills and other intangibles that cannot be measured by a standardized test. Book smarts are not the only kind of smart. And the A+ in me will always demand perfection in Social Development and Work Habits. See...maybe you should give sports talk radio a chance!

Mommy's Mistake and a Parade

2010-02-21T11:20:00.000-08:00

As a mom, I am always reminding my kids that no one is perfect and that everyone makes mistakes. Well, one of mine as a mom is when I underestimate my kids and how much they are able to handle at their young age. This weekend was a perfect example. Yesterday was the Golden Dragon Parade in Chinatown to celebrate Chinese New Year. My daughter's martial arts class participates every year and it seemed like such a fabulous idea when we signed up our Little Dragons (the four and five-year-old class). Besides, who doesn't love a parade? However, I began to get a little hesitant as the details of the parade emerged. We were supposed to be there 90 minutes prior to the start of the parade to "line-up." Good luck keeping six or eight little ones in a confined space for that long, right? Then, our little ones would be "parading" (is that official parade speak?) for another hour. And to top it all off, the forecast called for chance of showers. I worried that my little one might be done for the day before the parade even started. Or, that she would be "sooooo tired" halfway through the parade.

The morning of the parade did not start off too promising when we found out that the parade actually started an hour earlier than we had been told. Luckily, we had enough time (thanks to one of our fellow moms) to scramble and catch an earlier train. And, looking back, the chaotic morning was actually a blessing in disguise because it meant less waiting and by the time we got to Chinatown, most of the parade prep was done so there was so much for the kids to see!

The dragon at the front of the parade

The Little Dragons Marching

Doing their star blocks

When all was said and done, the kids did such a fabulous job! They marched and demonstrated their star blocks like true parade professionals! Myself and the other moms that marched along side the kids were exhausted by the end so I can only imagine how tired the kids were. But there was no whining or complaining from the little dragons the entire day...despite the fact that from beginning to end, it was a five-hour endeavor. I admit that I was wrong for being anxious or nervous about my daughter. She was a real trooper and was still all smiles when we got home. This was just another example of me underestimating my kids and how much they can rise to an occasion. And, as I always tell my kids, "the important thing is to learn from our mistakes."

Olympics Junkie!

2010-02-16T20:53:00.000-08:00

I am not ashamed to admit that I am an Olympics Junkie! My memories of watching the Olympics stretch all the way back to the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid - the Al Michaels "Do You Believe in Miracles?" - and the Summer Olympics in Moscow boycotted by the United States. To me, the Olympics are a perfect blend of my love of sports and my love for sappy, feel-good stories. Who can forget the Olympic swimmer from Equatorial Guinea in the 2000 Olympics who captured the hearts of everyone around the world?

Well, the Olympics are back and I am loving it! My poor husband, bored to tears, stuck it out and at least sat with me on the couch while I watched the opening ceremonies. Over the holiday weekend, we managed to fit in some Moguls Skiing, Men's Skiing, and Luge. Tonight, the kids and I watched the Snowboard Cross and Pairs Figure Skating Gold Medal finals from yesterday (courtesy of our DVR). Perhaps, selfishly, I am trying to groom my viewing partners for many Olympics to come.

Happy Valentine's Day, Happy Chinese New Year!

2010-02-14T21:14:00.000-08:00

So much celebrating for one day! We celebrated Valentine's Day AND welcomed in the year of the tiger in our house today and capped off the day with a Chinese New Year feast (well, feast compared to my usual meals) of homemade won ton noodle soup, Asian green beans, and a wonderful salmon dish from the Barefoot Contessa. Yum! Even better? We were able to celebrate and share the meal with good friends. Hope it was a wonderful day for you too!

Grocery List

2010-02-12T05:14:00.000-08:00

Part of my A+ perfection is my obsession to "perfect" things that already exist. Take lists for example. I *LOVE* making lists. I have pads of paper everywhere around the house, in the car, and in my purse so I can create lists any time and any where. However, being the perfectionist, I am not quite satisfied to merely make a list, I must perfect the list. My grocery shopping list is one such example. I have been obsessing over creating the perfect list or maybe it's the perfect system for my trips to the grocery store. Until recently, it was a lot (and then some more) of fine tuning with no finished product. Until now...

Imagine my excitement when I discovered a kindred spirit, here on Design*Sponge! She created a personalized grocery list for herself! It looked so wonderful that I used her design and personalized it for myself. I have saved mine as a pdf file that you can download. CLICK HERE

Stay tuned for more list "perfecting!" Happy shopping!

Brightening My Day

2010-02-10T21:40:00.000-08:00

Despite the rainy and dreary weather, these two things managed to seriously brighten my day today. The first is my flower clip from Anthropologie. Here it is in coral, mine is purple. You can wear it clipped to your sweater (which is what I did today), jacket or dress or in your hair.

The is the second thing I added is Chanel's Particuliere nail polish (pictured here and no, my nails don't actually look this good.) I'm in love with this color and the shade looks great on everyone. Try one or both...guaranteed to brighten your day too!

Friends Coming to Town!

2010-02-05T06:00:00.000-08:00

One of my dear friends from San Francisco is coming in for a visit this evening. She's bringing her daughter with her and we are all going to see Mary Poppins on Saturday. They leave Saturday evening, but it will be a wonderful visit no matter the length! I met Karen at Mommy & Me class when our babies were about six weeks old. Technically I guess that makes Karen's daughter my son's first friend. They spent a lot of time together when we lived in San Francisco. Unfortunately they were both too young to really remember. But that doesn't mean that I still don't show him pictures of the two of them when they were babies and pictures of his friend now. He especially likes the pictures of her dressed up as Mary Poppins for Halloween. I'll have to be sure to ask Karen if she can recognize my progression towards "more relaxed mommy." After all, who better to gauge my progress than someone who witnessed me as a full-fledged, Type-A, first time mom? Maybe I wasn't as bad as I think. I mean, not only is she still a dear friend, she's coming to visit!

Finding my Zen Place

2010-02-03T20:06:00.000-08:00

After this afternoon, I have come to the realization that I need to be able to find my zen place when rushing about in my car. First of all, can I ask a very simple question? What is the deal with Wednesdays? What makes that day so wildly attractive that every activity seemingly is scheduled for Wednesday? Anyways, I think I have mentioned previously that my son has a class on Wednesdays from 4:00 pm. - 5:15 p.m. Recently, my daughter asked if she could take the same soccer class that my son took when he was her age. My daughter, who besides her martial arts class has been lukewarm towards playing sports. If my daughter was asking to be outside exercising and learning how to be part of a team, I was definitely not going to say no. The only problem was that the class is on Wednesdays...from 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

So...this afternoon I climbed into my car and...picked up my son from school at 3:00 p.m. Drove to the park and soccer class at 3:30 p.m. Fairly relaxed behind the wheel during the drive. 30 minutes is more than enough time to make it to the park. At 3:45...climb back into car (with my son) and drive to his class. Not sure which way is the quickest and of course, picked the slowest route. Getting slightly more tense behind the wheel. Make it to class by 4:00 p.m. Quick good-bye and then climb back into car to head back to soccer class. Try a different route back to park. Road construction all along route...grip on steering wheel definitely tightening. Finally make it back to the park and soccer class at 4:15 p.m. Luckily class is running a few minutes long so I get to watch 15 - 20 minutes of class. After class, climb back into car (with my daughter this time) and drive back to pick up my son. By the time I pull into the parking lot, I am exhausted. It is at this moment when I realize that there is a lesson to be learned from my near coronary on the roads today. Being Type-A makes me a chronic overachiever - thus the insane scheduling. That part is obvious. But what I struggle with is reminding myself that it's okay to be a chronic overachiever as long as I am aware and mindful of the things that are out of my control (that would be traffic in this case). So, rather than become agitated driving to and fro, maybe I should learn some deep-breathing relaxation techniques for next week?

Easy Dinner - Asian Flank Steak

2010-02-02T21:03:00.000-08:00

I don't know about you, but I was shocked to learn that the school year is already half over! Where did the time go? Even just the thought of time flying by so quickly makes this Type-A mom feel slightly frantic! In order to help calm my nerves, I'm sharing another one of my favorite easy, quick, and delicious weeknight dinner recipes: Asian Flank Steak.

This Asian Flank Steak recipe can be made either on the grill (notice the pattern in my recipes?) or in the oven. I've made it both way and both are easy and equally yummy. The one caveat is that you need to remember to put it in the refrigerator to marinate overnight, or else leaving it to stand at room temp. for one hour defeats the quick part I suppose.

ASIAN FLANK STEAK

1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
1 1/4-pound flank steak, fat trimmed

Whisk first 5 ingredients to blend in 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish. Add steak and turn to coat. Let stand 1 hour at room temperature or cover and refridgerate overnight, turning occasionally.
Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat) or preheat broiler. Drain marinade into small saucepan and bring to boil. Grill or broil steak about 5 minutes per side for rare. Transfer steak to platter; let stand 10 minutes. Thinly slice steak across grain. Pass marinade as sauce.

I have mine marinating in my fridge right now to enjoy when we get home from our two classes tomorrow night!

**recipe courtesy of Bon Appetit, July 1994

Hurt Feelings

2010-01-28T16:53:00.000-08:00

My four-year-old is out of school today and tomorrow for conferences. Not just any conference...kindergarten readiness conference. Every child who wishes to attend kindergarten at our school undergoes "kindergarten readiness" testing (even ones who are already there attending preschool). It is actually no big deal to the kids. It is not set-up as a test, but more of an unique playtime. One of the things they ask the kids about is your parents' "job."

When my son took his test and was asked what his mommy's job was, he replied, "Her job is taking care of us." Bless his heart!

When I asked my four-year-old, "What did you say mommy's job was?" she replied, "Nothing!"

"What do you mean nothing?" I asked. This was definitely not the answer I was expecting.

"You don't have a job mommy!" Needless to say, I definitely felt slighted and answered indignantly, "What do you mean? My job is taking care of you and your brother!" But, by this time, she had already moved on and was busy telling me about the rest of her day. Somebody please help me pull the knife (put there by my daughter) out of my back!

My Latest Obsession - More Playroom Organization

2010-01-26T05:00:00.000-08:00

One of my new year's goals this year is to finish a project 100% before moving on to another project. I have a tendency to finish a project 95% or even 99% and then become distracted by something else that just has to be done immediately (of course, it really doesn't). Maybe it's because the last 5% is oftentimes the hardest to complete. Or maybe it's because it's so hard for me to focus on just one thing instead of multi-tasking on 5 projects at once.

Anyhow, my first project of the new year is to finish organizing the playroom. Remember those handy paint tins from way back in November? That was just the beginning. I have forced myself to focus just on the playroom for the past few weeks - not an easy task! But my latest find is making it easier. When roaming around Costco last week, I found these shoe boxes. Perfect for organizing and at $14.69 for 14 boxes, the price is perfect too!

So, after much sorting and purging, everything now has a home. The next step was to label each box so the kids have one less excuse to help with keeping their playroom neat. I used these oval labels I already had from Paper Source.

Who knows? If I'm lucky, I may even have some boxes left over for shoes!

Betty Crocker I am Not

2010-01-24T04:14:00.000-08:00

I spent the morning yesterday doing my best to channel my inner Betty Crocker. The Cub Scouts were holding their Annual Cake Bake and needless to say, the pressure was on! Now, I am sure no one is surprised to learn that I am not a cake baker...avid cake eater, but not baker. If I am baking, it's cupcakes, mainly because the one other time I attempted a cake ended up with me rushing out to the local bakery at the last minute.

Now, in case you didn't know, the Cub Scout motto is, "Do Your Best," so I thought..."Why not?" With my son doing the pouring and mixing and my daughter assisting with the frosting, we all did our best. Because it was NFL play-off day and because my son loves the Indianapolis Colts, we chose a very simple football field design. Not too bad, right?

Remember when I mentioned that the pressure was on to at least attempt something respectable? Here is why. These are just a few of the AMAZING cakes from this year's Cake Bake. Truly humbled...again!

Chess Tutor

2010-01-21T11:20:00.000-08:00

Because of all the rain we've been having this week (not that I am complaining...we definitely need it), we've been playing a ton of checkers and chess at home. Or rather, the kids have been. I dabble in checkers but I actually don't know how to play chess. I never had the urge to learn...probably because I am too impatient to actually sit still for that long. While I was out-of-town this past weekend, my husband taught the kids how to play chess and now they are obsessed...even my four-year-old.

In fact, she asked my yesterday if I wanted to play chess. I told her I don't know how to play. She replied excitedly, "That's ok mommy. I can teach you!" Hmmm. "Okay, sure."

She proceeded to set up the board for us, made her first move and then said, "It's your turn mommy." I reached for the instructions, but she cried out, "No mommy! I can teach you. You don't need the directions." She then gave me the quick and dirty about each piece. "The king can do anything mommy, seriously, he can. The queen has to protect the king. The castle can move like this..." and so on and so on. She did her best over the next few minutes to help me through my moves when it was my turn. But, after moving some of my pawns around and then my "horse", I was stuck. And my daughter could tell.

"What's wrong mommy?"
"I'm sorry sweetie, but I don't know what to do now. I'm stuck. I haven't ever played chess before."
She pondered that for a minute. "It's ok mommy if it's too complicated for you. We can try again another time."
Humbled by a four-year-old.

*image courtesy of wikipedia

My Baby Nephew

2010-01-19T15:35:00.000-08:00

OK, while my sister's baby shower was tons of fun, the real highlight of the weekend, was meeting my new baby nephew! Yes, my sister had her baby this past weekend!! Here she is opening presents during her baby shower on Saturday.

She started having contractions the morning after the shower and by 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, her son was born - 19 days early. Isn't he precious?

I cannot believe I was able to meet my nephew only a few hours after he was born! How lucky am I? Congratulations to the proud parents!!

Baby Shower

2010-01-18T22:36:00.000-08:00

I have returned from rainy San Francisco to rainy Southern California! The baby shower weekend was definitely eventful (more on that later...) It was so great to have the chance to see so many family and friends...all in one weekend.

Since I was coming in from out-of-town for the shower, I was in charge of decorations. Not wanting to take any chances, I stuffed all the decorations for the shower into two carry-on bags. Luckily I didn't have to unpack the alphabet blocks while going through security because I don't think I could have gotten them all back in the case.

Here is a picture of the flower poms being fluffed. These are great party decorations. Not only are they beautiful, they are also totally portable and reusable. I purchased mine from an etsy store called orange kisses.

One of my sister's dear friends (and fellow shower hostess) is an amazing baker. Here are a few of her gorgeous and equally delicious creations.

Here is the handmade sailboat I bought my sister to go along with her nursery theme. It's from another etsy store called Tweet (notice the pattern here) and you can click here to view the other fabric choices. These wooden blocks are another great party decoration I love to use.

Here are the poms...all fluffed and beautiful.

And finally, the favors. To go along with the alphabet letter theme, I bought the first initial of each guests' name, cut a stack of note cards and tied everything with a ribbon. Who doesn't love a baby shower??

New Parent Test

2010-01-15T05:00:00.000-08:00

I am off tomorrow morning to San Francisco for my sister's baby shower and a 48-hour trip without any kids. However, I did offer to take my four-year-old with me since her brother has a basketball game and baseball try-outs on Saturday. She declined (politely) my offer and opted to stay with her brother. Go figure...not that I am complaining. I get the chance to visit the place we lived for six years, spend time with family and friends, and eat meals at my leisure.

The whole baby shower thing has me reminiscing back to our first days with our first born. I think the most surprising...no shocking thing was the fact that the doctors and nurses just let you leave the hospital with your baby. No questions asked, no test of any kind. Wait, I think they did ask if we had a car seat. It's definitely not for lack of tests in our society. There is the driving test, the scuba diving test, the test to become a United States citizen. For crying out loud, my four-year-old even has to take a test to enter kindergarten. (As a side note, can you believe there is not one single question about the appropriateness of hitting, biting or punching anywhere to be found on that test?)

Maybe they assume that if you are smart enough to figure out how to assemble a crib, you are smart enough to figure out how to swaddle? That's a big assumption given the fact that almost everything these days comes with a warning label. I think the one on my folding chair reads, "make sure no one is sitting in chair when attempting to fold." Seriously, I remember going home, putting our son who had slept through his whole departure from the hospital, in his crib, and then sitting down with my husband and saying "wow." As in, "Wow, they just let us leave the hospital with our first baby. Now what?"

One possible idea that I have come up with would actually also help with job creation: a new-parent hotline. A number that new parents can call and hear words of wisdom such as, "No ma'am, there is no such thing as a baby that sleeps too much." "No ma'am, I have never heard of a baby dying from crying too much." "Yes, ma'am. It is perfectly safe to take your newborn outside. How did you get home from the hospital?" That's it! I am going to send President Obama and email with just this suggestion. Helping new parents and the economy at the same time. Brilliant!

Fast and Easy Dinner

2010-01-14T18:38:00.000-08:00

The first two weeks back-at-school has been crazy at best. Not only did we add basketball practice to our crowded nightly rotation, this crazy mom decided to squeeze in haircuts, dentist appointments, and some baseball practice. With so many evening activities, we've been walking in the door at night right around the time we should be finishing with dinner. Needless to say, preparing dinner has become a harried experience.

Now, being the Type A mom that I am, oh I mean, the Type A mom I am trying not to be, I keep a rough list of quick dinners for those weeknights where dinner needs to be f-a-s-t. Since it's a new year and a chance for new organization, I am actually formalizing my entire weekly planning process with weekly menu and grocery list templates. However, with our hectic schedule, I decided to start with my quick dinners.

Here is one of my favorite recipes...the bonus is that it's also super easy and super fast! You make it on the grill (no pots to wash!) and since it's summer here almost all year around, you can make it year around.

SOY-MARINATED CHICKEN THIGHS

3 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
2 tablespoons extravirgin olive oil
2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme - half the time I make this, I have to omit this because I don't have fresh herbs on hand. It still tastes great!
8 (2 ounce) skinless, boneless chicken thighs
2 garlic cloves, minced
cooking spray

Combine first 5 ingredients in a large zip-top plastic bag; seal. Marinate in refrigerator 4 hours or up to 24 hours, turning occasionally.
Prepare grill to medium-high heat
Remove chicken from bag; discard marinade. Place chicken on grill rack coated with cooking spray; grill 3 minutes on each side or until done.

All you need to do when you walk in the door is turn on the grill and grab the ziploc bag out of the fridge. You can throw together a quick salad or microwave some frozen veggies in the time it takes to grill the chicken. And to take advantage of the grill that's already hot, you can throw some flatbread on the grill for another minute. Quick dinner in about 10 minutes!

Childhood Nostalgia

2010-01-11T11:04:00.000-08:00

You know how certain things can instantly trigger a childhood memory? Maybe it's a certain food or an activity. For me, it was a movie. I was searching for something to watch on tv this past weekend, when a certain movie title jumped out at me: Race to Witch Mountain. My mind immediately flashed back to the Disney Classics "Escape to Witch Mountain" and "Return to Witch Mountain."

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Do you remember the Disney Sunday Night Movies we used to watch growing up? I can still remember sitting down on Sunday nights in front of the television with my family and a bowl of popcorn. Needless to say, the Witch Mountain movies were some of my favorites. Now, I know this movie is a remake and it stars Dwayne Johnson (formerly "The Rock", but who has made a nice career move switching to family movies), but I just had to check it out.

I am only slightly embarrassed to admit this, but after only 15 minutes or so, I was hooked! Sitting on my couch under my blanket brought me back to my childhood. And, I have to say, it wasn't bad at all! It definitely satisfied my childhood nostalgia craving. In fact, considering how difficult it can be to find suitable movies for young kids, this one definitely goes on the list.

Of course, all of this got the A+ in me thinking about what memories my children will take away from their childhood. I admit that sometimes I get carried away with trying to make "perfect" memories and experiences for my children. That somehow, if they have all these perfect, joyful and only pleasant memories, they will want to stay closer to home or come home more often to visit. But the truth is, I had a wonderful childhood, but left home to attend college in Chicago and except for a brief one-year stint in my hometown, have not lived in my hometown for the past 20 years. So, whenever I start on a crazy quest to make an over-the-top experience for my kids and stress myself out to do so, I have to try really hard to remember that it is the love our kids have for their family and the smiles and laughter from their childhood that will bring them home. Besides, my children are still young enough that they keep telling me they are going to live with me FOREVER!!

New Year's Wishes

2010-01-08T04:00:00.000-08:00

One of my (annual) new year's resolutions or wishes in this case, is to spend more time with family and friends. Neither my husband nor I have any family in Southern California - not even a crazy Uncle who only makes an appearance at family reunions. Therefore, we feel very fortunate to have made some wonderful friends here who have become like family to us. SO, being the relentless multitask-er that I am, I was in heaven on New Year's Eve. On that night, I enjoyed an evening with good friends, which also gave me a jump start on one of my 2010 wishes! Fabulous how that all fits together, right? But the best part? A delicious homemade meal of short ribs and garlic mashed potatoes. Many, many compliments to the chef!!

The kids had the first dinner seating and the chef even made them their own gourmet spaghetti and meatballs dinner. After wards, they all watched a movie in the bedroom while the adults dined. Here they are using the democratic process to select a movie.

Snuggling in to enjoy the show.

I am also happy to say that I already have two trips planned in the next month where I will get to see mom, sister, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. Now...if only those other resolutions were so easy!

Not a New Year Yet

2010-01-06T20:22:00.000-08:00

I have a confession to make. The new year is stressing me out! I feel like before I can even start enjoying all the festivities of a new year, I need to finish taking care of all the chaos and debris left over from the holidays. Seriously, it's January 6th and I have just today finished packing Christmas 2009 away. After taking down our tree and packing up all the ornaments and other decorations, I had to ask, "Where did all this stuff come from?" And I mean literally because there didn't seem to be any open space in the garage.

Then, it was time to play a game that all mom's adore called, "Find a Home." Again, it's literal because it means trying to find a home for all the new games, toys and clothes that joined the family during the holidays. After all this is done, I was totally exhausted and the sight of the everyday mess (dishes, laundry, etc) that has gone ignored while I finish with Christmas drove me to tears. This time, not literally, but almost. Now, I know all this stress is self-induced and there really isn't an ancient Mayan God of New Years who declares that everyone needs to start the new year fresh, organized, and totally put together in order to better prepare oneself for the new feats of fantastical strength and endurance of the new year. Or is there?

Holiday Reflections

2010-01-01T16:38:00.000-08:00

One of the things I wanted to do this year, before thinking about my resolutions for 2010 is take a few minutes and jot down some thoughts about Holidays 2009. The anal, business school grad in me wants to make a 2-pronged list with one part being "Things that went well" and the other part being "Better next time if." And now that I am thinking about it, maybe a third part for "Things to add or take away." However, as I started to make my list, I realized that my the few things that made it onto my "Better next time if" list are pretty trivial and insignificant. Bravo for someone who is trying to find the perfection in life's imperfections, right? Instead, it's so much more fun to focus on the things that went well! For example, one of the things I really try hard to do each year is to get my Christmas shopping done e-a-r-l-y. This year, the kids had their Christmas lists practically all done by Halloween which left me plenty of time to procure everything. By the time the kids were out on break, everything that had to do with buying, mailing, and wrapping was all done. That left us plenty of time to enjoy ourselves! Here are a few more holiday adventures to add to the ones mentioned earlier.

The kids were very excited about their camp out in the living room. The euphoria lasted until 3:00 a.m. when my son decided his sleeping bag is not nearly as comfortable as his bed.

Here is flag football in the park. Four families and a dog. Kids versus adults and let me say the kids had no trouble tackling the adults (yes, it was supposed to be flag). It may be hard to tell in the first picture, but there are 4 kids in that pile!

Here are the kids at a New Year's Eve party doing more of the same. Yes, more tackling.

We also had time for pony rides, an NBA game and a trip to the snow for some sledding. We feel very lucky being able to share our holidays with so many friends! Thank you!

P.S. Actually, I do have a "Better next time if." I came across the recipe for Cranberry Liqueur in Cooking Light magazine and agreed with them that it would make a fabulous holiday gift. The trouble was that after reading through the recipe, I realized that it needs to stand for 3 weeks! Definitely next year! Click here for the recipe.

Songs of the Season

2009-12-24T12:12:00.000-08:00

My kids love Christmas carols! They love to sing along with Christmas CDs or A Capella style while in the car, eating lunch, or in the bath. Thus, I've had to try and learn the words to many different Christmas carols. Imagine my shock in discovering the actual lyrics hardly make any mention of the words "toys", "shopping" or the popular variation "day after Christmas shopping." The words to "Do You Hear What I Hear?" mention, "The child, the child sleeping in the night, he will bring us goodness and light." All right, that's good and all, but will he also bring us a Kindle or a Samsung 55-inch HDTV? The words to "Silent Night" mention, "Sleep in heavenly peace." Ah, sleep sounds really good right now, but that's after putting together the Schwinn Roadster 12-inch Trike.

You get the idea. It seems like every year, it gets harder and harder to cut through the commercial meaning of Christmas and teach our kids a truer meaning of Christmas. It doesn't necessarily have to be a strict religious meaning. It can be as simple as echoing the messages found in the music of the holidays. "Pray for peace people everywhere." And helping our children understand how fortunate they are and the value of helping others. "And with true love and brotherhood each other now embrace."

Here is wishing you joy, laughter, and treasured time with loved ones. Thank you for all your kind words of support with this blog! Happy Holidays!!

And Now a Commercial Break...

2009-12-22T20:13:00.000-08:00

I digress with this post. Today's post has nothing to do with the holidays or Santa's impending arrival or things merry and bright. Well, it is a little merry. It's no secret that our family loves sports. And, for the past few years, we've done a football pick'em league where each week, players pick 15 college games and the 15 pro games versus the spread. This year, we let our kids join the league (their idea, I swear!).

This past week was week 15 out of a total of 17. With everything that is going on, I hadn't had a chance to check the results from this past week and the overall league standings...until this evening. (Hint, hint...this is where the merry part of the post comes in.) Guess who was the week 15 winner by far? I'll give you a hint. It's the same person who is tied for 2nd place overall. Yep, it's my four-year-old daughter! And our son is only three points behind her! (In the interest of full disclosure, my son bets versus the spread each week, while my daughter picks the winner straight up.) Either way, suffice it to say, my husband and I trail them both. If nothing else, this makes me laugh hysterically at the thought of there actually being a secret formula to striking it rich at the sports book. If a four and six-year-old who always pick their favorite teams (the Vikings and the Colts), no matter who the opponent, can between them win six out of the 15 weeks so far, what hope is there for the betting savants out there? I'm currently using that as my excuse...

Dwindling Days

2009-12-22T08:55:00.000-08:00

We've had so much fun here with our advent calendar! In the past few days, we've looked at Christmas lights (with hot chocolate), wrapped more gifts (with hot chocolate), watched Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (with hot chocolate - notice the pattern?), and made a gift for friends. Any guesses from the pictures below what the "gift" was?

Is there actually a cookie under all those sprinkles??

Here is what the advent calendar looks like with only a few days until Christmas. Today's activity is the always popular Pajama Day!! And I am sure it will include hot chocolate at some point.

Santa, is that you?

2009-12-18T16:23:00.000-08:00

One of the reasons we made sure to take the train to the North Pole this year is because we aren't sure how many more years of true believing we have left! Even though my kids are only six and four, we've already had to become very creative with our answers to questions about Santa. Last year, we established the fact all the Santa Clauses that we see at the mall, parties, etc. are "Santa helpers," meaning they help the real Santa who is so busy getting ready for Christmas Eve at the North Pole, that he couldn't possibly leave so close to Christmas. Plus, as my son added, "The North Pole is like, 3,000 miles away, so it would take him too long to get here and then back to the North Pole." Good point, son.

Santa, or rather, one of Santa's helpers, makes an appearance at the kids' school each year on the last day of school before Christmas break. When I asked the kids if Santa made a visit, my son answered very nonchalantly, "Yes, but it wasn't the real Santa. The real Santa is at the North Pole packing his sleigh." To which I heartily agreed. Then he continued, "Besides, do you know I really knew it wasn't the real Santa?" "How," I asked curiously. "He was wearing a yellow visitor's pass." A definite give away for sure! "And, it didn't say St. Nick!"

Cookie Wonderland

2009-12-15T21:10:00.000-08:00

Today's advent activity was baking cookies! And not to spoil the surprise, but that's tomorrow's activity as well. I finally got smart this year and spread the cookie baking over two afternoons instead of frantically trying to churn out two different recipes, make dinner, and get the kids ready for bed...all in one night. Today's cookie, Cranberry White Chocolate Macadamia Nut, is courtesy of one of my favorite blogs Elements of Style. You can find the entire recipe here. Not only are these delicious, but they are so easy even a four-year-old can make them (with just the slightest assistance from mom!) Here is mine mastering the art of the electric mixer! Go girl!

The two of us finished in no time and as a reward for all her hard work, not only did she get to eat some cookie dough, she got to eat an entire cookie before dinner. After all, the chef has to sample the finished product, right? And where, you might ask, was my son during the baking fun? Does this answer your question? Not only does he play football in the living room with his helmet on, he watches football or whatever sporting event happens to be on, with his helmet on!

Pure Holiday Joy!

2009-12-11T13:58:00.000-08:00

I know I have mentioned this before, but Christmas really is my favorite holiday! And one of the main reasons is because with kids, I get to experience the joy of the holidays through their eyes. I am constantly reminded how unaffected by things kids are and how the simple things make them happy. This weekend was a good example. On Saturday evening, we took the kids on a train ride to The North Pole to pick up Santa for the return ride. The kids were to dress in their pjs and enjoy cookies, milk and caroling en route to the North Pole. Who would have imagined when we booked the ride that it would also be the night of a terrible rain storm...in Southern California of all places?

So what if the carnival rides, bounce house, and craft booths were all closed? The kids found another way to entertain themselves under the tents: Ring Around the Rosie!

So what if we were all soaked by the time we boarded the train? The kids were surrounded by their friends, enjoying cookies and milk, and listening to off-tune Christmas caroling (is there any other kind of caroling?) And the best part was that Santa actually boarded the train and handed out candy canes.

So what if it was well after 9:00 by the time we said our good-byes to our friends and climbed into our car? When we asked the kids if they had fun, they both gave the evening an enthusiastic "two-thumbs up!!" Now who knows if it was the actual train ride or being out in the dark dressed in their pjs or laughing hysterically with their friends. The "why" really isn't important. There were many moments of pure joy that night and that's all that matters to me!

It Was the Post Office's Fault!

2009-12-11T13:32:00.000-08:00

I prepared for my morning at the post office today in typical A+ fashion. I had already compiled my list of out-of-town gifts that needed to be sent, the contents of the boxes, and current addresses. Last night, I stayed up until midnight packing and addressing various envelopes and boxes. Everything was even loaded into my car last night so I would be all ready to go in the morning. This morning, anticipating the dreadfully slow lines, I arrived at the post office with cup-of-coffee in hand along with my planner so I could be productive while queuing in line. An Eagle Scout could not have been more prepared. Except for one thing: there was no dreadfully long line at the post office. In fact, there was no line at all! Impossible, right? This particular post office had FOUR stations open and what's more, everyone was SMILING!

I must admit, I returned to the car in a semi-dazed state. Not a sip of coffee consumed and my planner still in my purse. I had so much extra time that I decided to look for the last few gifts on my Christmas list. Getting unexpected items checked off my list? A perfectionist's dream, right? Well, not exactly. Because I had so much time, I spent a little too long in the store. You know where this is heading don't you? Please tell me that I am not the only one who wanders into a store to buy presents for others, but winds up getting something for myself as well! Besides the gifts on my list, I ended up with a scarf and a necklace for myself. Definitely poor form. Does it help that they were both on double, quadruple markdown? When the salesperson asked if I wanted a gift receipt, I said "yes" - to all the items...including my own. The shame of it all! If only the post office hadn't been so darn efficient!

Glory Days

2009-12-09T14:00:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I had breakfast with a dear friend of mine from MBA school. We live less than 10 miles apart and yet don't see each other nearly enough. Whenever we get together, we inevitably end up having a good laugh about the "old" us versus the "new" us. When we were in Business School, we were ready to conquer the world. Career women! In comparison, during our breakfast, my girlfriend told me the hilarious story of being completely mortified while encountering her old boss and co-workers (at the mall of all places) in their full "business suit with briefcase in-hand" attire. While she on the other hand was out in her sweats, no make-up, and recently recovered from illness. Dreamy, right? The only thing better is having an ex-girlfriend of your husband walk into the store at the same time!

I know that it is not just the A+ moms out there, but every mom that had an identity of her own before having kids, that can relate to the story. It's like the movie where the character is constantly reliving his glory days and saying to others, "I used to BE somebody!" And that is exactly how I feel some days. After hearing "Stop it!" "He hit me" or "That's mine!" for the twentieth time, I want to yell, "I used to manage a team of people who could all do multiplication and eat with utensils!" Admit it, you have too. My girlfriend and I even speculated what a current performance review would look like: Laundry done in a timely manner? Check. Whites and bright colors sorted correctly? Check. Nice crisp folds in t-shirts and sweaters? Needs improvement. Good thing I'm not in this mothering-thing for the validation! The fact that the good days outnumber the bad ones is rewarding enough for me.

Lesson Learned by Wrapping Presents

2009-12-08T05:34:00.000-08:00

Tonight, I had another occasion to pat myself on the back. No, not because of a perfectionist moment. It was actually the opposite: a "letting the perfection go" moment (very similar to the decorating of the Christmas tree). Today's advent activity was "Help wrap presents." So, I brought out some wrapping paper and tape and let the kids wrap presents - all by themselves. The funniest moment had to be when my son picked up the present to show me he was done and the present actually fell out of one end! Because of that happening, both kids had the opportunity to learn how to fold the ends up and tape them so the present doesn't fall out. I know many of you already let your kids do this, but for me, sometimes it really is baby steps. This gift wrapped by my son is being sent to family.

This one wrapped by my daughter is our first present for under the tree (it's for Daddy!)

Holiday Party

2009-12-07T21:48:00.000-08:00

After a festive holiday party last weekend, I feel like it should be Christmas this weekend! Since it all came together rather quickly, I did not have time to agonize and over-analyze every detail. And guess what? It actually came together wonderfully! The decorations were kept simple.

My girlfriend was a superstar and helped us rent a tent (complete with heaters) for the backyard. We set-up the bar outside too.

However, the best part of the evening by far, was the chance to share an evening of laughter and fun with good friends. The fall always seem to pass us by in a blur. There are Back-to School Nights, Parents' Nights, soccer games, Country Fairs, more soccer games, and on and on. Halloween arrives as if it has been dropped on our doorstep. And from them on, it is a mad mad sprint to the end of the year. So, it was so fabulous to be able to take a moment for holiday festivities. A special thank-you goes out to our friends from grad school who drove long distances in a single evening to join the fun!

The Mess

2009-12-04T06:01:00.000-08:00

Hmmm, does this look like the house of someone who is hosting a party tomorrow?

How can I get to cleaning for the party if I can't even clean-up the everyday mess?

Whose idea was it to have people over anyway? Why do I always feel the need to do more during the holidays instead of doing less? I swear, this is my last major undertaking! After this, I am just going to sit back and enjoy the holidays. Wish me luck with that one!

Trimming the Tree

2009-12-03T20:45:00.000-08:00

Today's activity was decorating the tree! The kids were beyond excited (to say the least) so I let them have at it. This is no small feat for a A+ perfectionist. No, I did not move the ornaments around after they went to bed. Yes, there is a heavy concentration of ornaments at their eye level. Yes, I consider it a small victory that only two ornaments were broken. And while I am biased, I think the tree looks beautiful!

DIY Advent

2009-12-02T21:38:00.000-08:00

My husband says that I am not happy unless I am busy with a project. Not true! Well, maybe a little true. My latest and last one until the holidays are over is my DIY advent calendar. Wanting something a little different than the traditional advent calendar, I started with these organza pouches and circle tags.

Then took some left over silver metallic paper I had and wrote down 24 family activities or experiences. Some examples are make hot chocolate with marshmellows, go out for dessert, movie night, and help wrap presents.

Next, I put one activity in each pouch and then attached a circle tag with the date. The final step was to string them along my mantle with silver and red ribbon.

My Apologies!

2009-11-30T21:11:00.000-08:00

After a few conversations, emails, and phone calls today, I feel like I owe my friends an apology for the early arrival of my holiday cards! One of my friends even called me today lamenting the fact that her attempts at a family picture this past weekend were a disaster. Sorry! My perfectionism rears it's head again!! I don't dare tell anyone that our Christmas lights are already up. Oopps!! Seriously though, I love the holidays and it's just my way of kicking things off...early...really early. After all, the kids are already asking how many more days until Christmas. Let the countdown officially begin!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-25T19:48:00.000-08:00

I am feeling a little sad for Thanksgiving right now. It seems like we barely finished saying trick-or-treat before Christmas started taking over. What about Thanksgiving? Where does it get to take it's turn in the holiday spotlight? Even though Christmas is my favorite holiday, I want to make sure that I take a few moments for the spirit of Thanksgiving and give thanks for...

* My family
* Wonderful friends
* Good health
* Flannel PJs
* Red velvet cupcakes from Dots
* Abundant sunshine in Southern California
* Thanksgiving dinner from Whole Foods

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Giving Thanks

2009-11-25T14:37:00.000-08:00

An impromptu craft to get the kids in the Thanksgiving spirit. The hand prints never quite turned into turkeys, but the important part was writing down what we are thankful for...

Holiday Find

2009-11-23T20:42:00.000-08:00

I came across the adorable site Chewing the Cud courtesy of Black Eiffel (thank you!) Friends of mine will definitely be seeing these Cuddle with Cider packets again.

But what I really love are the reusable fabric gift wraps! What a genius idea for someone who is trying to simplify over the holidays (key word for me is trying). It's really two gifts in one and a bonus is 100% organic cotton printed with soy-based ink.

What Happened Along the Way

2009-11-20T06:07:00.000-08:00

Today was one of those days where someone would need a map to follow my discombobulated path of cleaning the house. My single-minded, focused goal when I woke up this morning was to clean the house for our weekend visitors. My path to cleanliness started in the bathrooms. While I was waiting for the tub cleaner to work it's magic, I thought I would put a load of laundry in the washer. The problem was that on the way to the washer, I walked through the living room filled with clean laundry in need of folding. Stopped to fold some laundry. Darn! I was going to put some laundry in the washer. I should really do that before I finish folding. On the way to the washer, I walked through the kitchen where breakfast dishes were still sitting on the counter. Stopped to do some dishes. Darn! The laundry! I really need to put the laundry in the washer before finishing the dishes. Finally make it to the garage and the washer. As the washer is filing with water (clothes already in), a cricket decides to jump into the washing machine. It takes me almost 30 minutes to empty the washer of wet clothes and scoop the cricket out and then reload the washer. At this point, I am vaguely remembering something about a bathtub.

My Latest Obsessions

2009-11-18T22:18:00.001-08:00

The past two days have seen the return of an old and altogether too familiar foe - clutter. This time it was the playroom. With friends visiting from out-of-town this weekend, I should be concentrating on cleaning up my messes, not making a new one by trying to "organize." But once the obsession sets in, there is no turning back.

This is the playroom before.

After a trip to Home Dept and the Container Store and a late night of sorting. Much better, don't you think?

I am now obsessed with these paint tins from Home Depot. Pencils, markers, and pens. What else?

And what about this acrylic canister designed to hold cotton balls and Q-tips? A tad too Type-A?

So True

2009-11-16T18:30:00.000-08:00

I was reminded today of something hilarious my daughter used to say. I suppose I might have, may have, perhaps have uttered the phrase "Hold your horses" a few times to my children. OK, truth be told, I said it so much that my daughter started saying her version of that idiom..."be patient with your horses." This got me thinking of how many familiar phrases, idioms, etc. are actually applicable as a mom...

A watched pot never boils...
And good thing too because who has time to watch the pot? Before the water for the pasta boils, you've got to defrost the chicken breasts, wash the lettuce, slice the tomatoes, and change the laundry.

Birds of a feather flock together...
Is this why the same two moms you keep seeing walking the Rose Bowl Wednesday mornings and at the park Friday mornings, just walked into your music class on the first day? Is it too much to hope for that they both enjoy lattes and the occasional catty comment?

The early bird catches the worm...
With your child's early internal alarm clock, you'd be flush with worms if you were a family of blue jays.

The writing is on the wall...
Along with the purple squiggles, green circles and the blue zig zags.

We have seen better days...
Let's face it, you used to be in shape. You used to be hip. You even used to blow dry your hair and wear make-up. But to see you at morning drop-off or the park, you'd never guess.

If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen...
Gladly, but then who would make breakfast, clean up and do dishes? Make lunch, clean up, and do dishes? Make dinner, clean up and do dishes? And then repeat the next day?

A place for everything and everything in its place...
This is a mother's idea of what heaven might look like.

The Magic of Disney

2009-11-15T15:46:00.000-08:00

School was out for Veteran's Day and parent-teacher conferences this past week so the kids had a fabulous (for them) 5-day weekend this week, which explains the gap in new posts. We decided to take advantage of our family time together and head to Disneyland on Friday.

The kids rode rides all morning and didn't stop for lunch until 1:30 p.m.! Here is my husband and daughter on Dumbo.

Can you believe I let my son drive?

One of the highlights for me was It's a Small World. The ride was closed during our previous two visits, so it was the first time on the ride for my kids. The holiday decorations were an added bonus!

Before we knew it, it was dark and we happened to be standing along Main Street for the lighting of the tree. And since it was dark, we decided to head back into Fantasyland to look at the lights of It's a Small World. Beautiful!

And, as luck would have it, it started to SNOW! Yes, Disney does make magic happen. The kids were beyond thrilled! When we finally decided to head for the exit, it was time for the holiday parade to start. Frankly, I can't believe we made it to that point. We decided not to bring our stroller to the park and our kids were such troopers - not a complaint of being tired the entire time! Thanks to the generosity of strangers, the kids were ushered right into front row seats for the parade. Here is the toy soldier marching band.

Last but not least, Santa. I must say that for 10 hours on Friday, it really was the happiest place on earth for us!

The Gray Area In Between

2009-11-11T13:32:00.000-08:00

As I sit here jotting down my questions for tomorrow's parent-teacher conferences, I can't help but give myself a pat on my back and remark how far I've come when it comes to my children. When my oldest was born it was first child meets Type-A Mom. And, after I stopped working, all my perfectionist energy was focused on my son. I was acutely conscious of all major milestones and the corresponding time lines. I remember one instance where my pediatrician finally told me, "This is just a gray area. It's not black and white." What?! You can imagine how this rocked my world.

Fast forward to my daughter as an infant. Things considered sacred with my son such as consistent naptimes and bedtimes, were sacrificed out of necessity and my own sanity. But along with the relaxing of my perfectionist standards came a certain amount of guilt. Was I doing everything for my daughter that I did for my son? Or on the flip side, was I spending enough time with my son with the arrival of his baby sister? You can imagine what a downward spiral that can become.

Today, I try to focus on what wonderful kids they are and how much I enjoy them each and every day. I try to remind myself that a world of grays is richer than one with only absolutes. That's not to say that there are not moments when I beat myself up for not reading to them enough or not taking them to enough museums or not taking more walks with them. But that is every mom right? And always wanting more and better for our kids is what makes us moms "perfect."

They're Here!

2009-11-10T05:39:00.000-08:00

I used to say that I didn't have time to practice patience. Well, that was then, and the now is that I have waited ever so patiently for these gorgeous Penguin Classics with illustrated covers by Coralie Bickford-Smith to arrive. I literally placed the order back in August after reading about them here on Design Sponge. The unfortunate part was that the expected ship date was late October. Really? Yes, really. So I waited and waited and waited, all the while practicing my patience.

Finally, my patience is rewarded. Aren't they beautiful? Can't wait to add them to my bookcase!

Thank Goodness it's Monday!

2009-11-09T00:14:00.000-08:00

One 24-hour period this weekend has me feeling thankful the weekend is over!

Ready set go...Pick up out-of-town family arriving for visit. LAX on a Friday night. Need I say more? Clock keeps ticking...Class parent party. It's my chance to see fellow parents outside the frenzy known as drop-off and pick-up. An added bonus is the ability to finish my sentences since small children are not around to interrupt. Tick, tick, tick, hour 3...Ladies Night Out! A few of us leave the parent party to continue the fun. Tell husbands not to wait up.

Brief break in the festivities until hour 13...8:30 a.m. soccer game. As luck would have it, our earliest game all season happens to be this morning. However, I still manage to bring coffee for myself and a few others. Was that too Type A? Clock reaches hour 15...Our post-game team breakfast. As clock ticks closer to hour 16, a slight change in plans...After waiting for almost 30 minutes for our party of 40 to be seated (who knew IHOP would be so crowded?) we decide to abandon the wait and head to the park for open spaces and Sausage McMuffins.

Tick, tick, hour 20...Off to a wedding! My husband and I dust off our fancy clothes and head out to see a dear friend from grad school get married. She looks radiant and it is a beautiful outdoor sunset ceremony. Hours 21, 22, and 23 go by...My husband and I have a wonderful time catching up with friends we haven't seen in too long and enjoy our time on the dance floor. Finally, as we reach hour 24...I am pretty sure we are still wondering how Neil Diamond can bring more people to the dance floor than Justin Timberlake.

I've Had a Relapse!

2009-11-05T13:20:00.000-08:00

Some of you may already know this, but the name for this blog comes from a nickname given to me by my husband: A+ Alice. According to him, everything I do has to be an A+, no matter how big or small. But as you fellow moms well know, life after kids is all about prioritization and compromises, not being an A+. At least if you want to keep your sanity. I hope my husband and those around me will agree that I have made great strides in trying to shed my perfectionist ways, but still have a very long way to go.

Well, this past weekend, I had a serious relapse. I ordered my Holiday cards!! I just approved the digital proof last night and they should arrive sometime in the next two weeks. I know, I need serious help, right? The A+, hyper-organized, list maker in me derives such an euphoric rush when I can check that item off my list. It isn't all a lost cause though, as I did venture out of my comfort zone and order from a new vendor this year: minted. And, for the A+ in you, they are offering free shipping now through Nov. 9!

More Than Just "Moms"

2009-11-04T18:17:00.000-08:00

One of my son's nicknames is "Question Boy" as in he who asks many questions across many various subjects or many questions about a single subject. One of his question sessions the other day ended with him asking, "Well, do we know any meteorologists we can ask?" This got me thinking about the many roles we assume as moms.

Being a mom today involves roles I used to think people had to go to school for many years or undergo endless hours of on-the-job training to do. Or maybe to do well. For instance, I am fairly certain my good friend the pediatrician probably had to do a little more than birth a baby to earn her degree. Yet I find myself diagnosing, performing triage, and doing my best Florence Nightingale imitation on an almost daily basis. And, like a true medical professional, during the course of illness or an overdose of Doritos, I have thrown my body in the path of erupting vomit.

Another role that I have assumed without the prerequisite schooling or even nomination process is that of judge. I have developed strong viewpoints on fairness and equality (such as buying two of everything) and learned to form many opinions on the fly. Moreover, each decision I hand down is subjected to much scrutiny (and whining) and almost none are accepted without appeal (louder whining). And, without the benefit of a loud gavel, I settle for the ability to speak in a voice that implies total authority.

While the aforementioned roles require mainly mental dexterity, this next one is much more physical: acrobatic driver. Those without children may be unfamiliar with this role which requires the ability to keep both eyes alert and on the road while contorting one arm to hand various items to the backseat or retrieve fallen items from the floor.

The role of chef is one that I actually enjoy. Usually chefs who prepare food for the most discerning palettes hone their skill at schools such as the Culinary Institute of America. I myself, who also prepare food on a daily basis for two very persnickety eaters, must instead rely on guides such as the Food Network and Cooking Light. Not to be deterred, I still try to attempt one new recipe per week and if it gets the golden seal of approval (meaning my kids ask for seconds), the recipe goes into the regular rotation.

But, perhaps the most difficult role of all is the role of "mother." This daunting role requires making sure that love, discipline and guidance are given in all the correct quantities to ensure that your children turn out to be wonderful human beings. Too bad there isn't a class for that.

Letter Perfect

2009-11-03T10:38:00.000-08:00

After each of my kids were born, I ordered one of these alphabet charms with the first letter of their name to wear.

One day my husband asked, "Did the S (his initial) get lost in the mail?"

Well, it may be a few (or four) years later, but the S finally arrived in the mail! I made sure to order a different design, so I could tell him it was extra-special. Seriously though, I love it! See this fabulous store's other designs here.

Happy Halloween

2009-10-31T23:31:00.000-07:00

I cannot believe another Halloween has come and gone! The kids of course are already talking about what they are going to be next year! We have a great neighborhood for trick-or-treating with a gaggle of kids all under the age of eight and houses that really get into the spirit. We have a group of 10 kids from our street (and various friends who join from year to year) who always meet at our house for pictures and then head out trick-or-treating together. At one point last night our group, along with other kids in the neighborhood, totaled 17. I can only imagine the look on people's faces when they opened the door to 17 exuberant trick-or-treaters! Talk about having to refill the candy bowl.

Ah, to be a kid again!

Halloween parade

2009-10-30T15:07:00.000-07:00

One of the many many reasons we love our school is the annual Halloween Parade. Now I know that other schools have Halloween festivities too and I am sure they are quite lovely. But ours seem just right. It's not too big, not too much pomp, and not too drawn out which is probably the most important part because it's always blazing hot. Each class takes a turn parading around the black top in front of cheering family members and friends. I love seeing all the costumes and make mental notes to myself when a fabulous "no sewing required" costume walks by. What I love most though is seeing how much fun my son has. He's not quite sure which part is more fun: watching the parade with his friends while they wait or getting his turn to march in the parade!

My son - a young Josh Beckett! (pitcher for the Boston Red Sox)

New Blog Design

2009-10-28T21:13:00.000-07:00

Although I have made great strides in trying to shed my perfectionist ways, the process of designing this blog has caused A Plus Alice to resurface! Instead of just introducing my blog with the standard Blogger template, I instead chose to wait for a wonderful new design.

This is where the heroine Ellie from Rainy Day Templates entered the picture. Ellie is an absolute saint who put up with all my questions and revisions both large and small. Well, at the risk of appearing as a shameless self-promoter, I think the end product is fabulous. Thank you Ellie! If you are looking for a creative, fresh design to bring your blog to life, please visit Rainy Day Templates.

School Fair

2009-10-26T13:01:00.000-07:00

Our school's annual fall fair was this weekend. The kids were really looking forward to it and had a fantastic time! My little one headed straight for the face painting tent.

My son spent a lot of tickets at the dunk tank. Nice throw!

And it wouldn't be a fair without pony rides.

What more can a kid ask for?

"Bad" Words

2009-10-22T23:17:00.000-07:00

Do you ever have one of those conversation with your kids that starts out innocently enough and quickly goes downhill? I had one of those tonight. My kids and I were watching Game 5 of the Yankees/Angels series when I happened to utter under my breath, "He's pissed." Oops, right?

My perceptive son immediately asks me, "What mommy?"
"Oh sorry. Mommy said a bad word that I shouldn't have said."
"That's ok mommy. I know all the bad words." Uh-oh, here we go.
Then his younger sister chimes in with, "Me too mommy. He told me." Well, of course he did.

My son then proceeds to tell me that he knows the "B-word, S-word, D-word,"and even an "H-word." At this point I am screaming in my head "Seriously?!". Where did he learn these words? Curiosity got the better of me.

"Where did you hear all these words sweetie?"
"I just know them. Like the S-word" At this point he tries to mouth the word to me. I cannot really make out the word and I think it might even have an extra syllable.
"It's ok sweetheart. You can say it out loud."
I brace myself as he whispers, "stupid" in a quiet voice.
Oh! That S-word.
From there we go through the rest of the words and this is what I came away with:
S-word - stupid
B-word - butt
the elusive H-word - hate

Lastly, my son asks, "What about the D-word? I hear some people say it at school."
I hesitate, but ask, "What do they say?"
"Darnit."
"Well, I guess that one is ok."
And of course my daughter immediately chimes in with, "What about the other D-word damnit, mommy?"
"No, absolutely not that one!"
"But I have heard you say it, " argues my son.
"Time for bed!"

What Happened in Vegas

2009-10-19T22:27:00.000-07:00

For about 48 hours I was in another world - and not just because Vegas can make you feel like you are on another planet. I was in a world far far away from small children with endless needs, carpools, and schedules that would make a five-star general proud. Our weekend was filled with absolutely whatever we wanted, whenever we wanted and it was pure bliss. And thank you to our wonderful friends who jumped through all sorts of hoops to join us - it really means the world to us!

Off to Vegas!

2009-10-15T14:10:00.000-07:00

My husband is turning the big 4-0 so I am off to Las Vegas to celebrate with some friends. My wonderful and generous sister flew into town to babysit. Can't remember the last time my husband and I got away from the kids together...

Budding Photographer

2009-10-14T22:28:00.000-07:00

These are a few shots that my daughter took at her brother's soccer game this past weekend. Not bad considering the camera (Canon EOS) weighs almost as much as she does and she had to squint to see the shot through the extremely tiny viewfinder.

Since she is ALWAYS such a good sport about being dragged to all her brother's practices, classes and games, holding the camera up for her while she snaps away is the least I can do.

The Cold is Finally Here (Hooray!)

2009-10-12T06:12:00.000-07:00

Apologies to the east coast and other areas covered in snow and frost, but I am giddy...rejoicing about the cool weather that has finally blown into my Southern California suburb! With visions of sweaters, scarves, and boots dancing in my head I settle into slumber..

My Battle with Clutter

2009-09-29T16:08:00.000-07:00

Can you guess what I have spent my time doing the past few days?

Ode to Clutter ...
In dark corners of my mind
Lurks the most relentless foe of its kind
Never to be totally defeated
Making me feel utterly not completed
My opponent you ask?
Wondering if it's a creature hidden by a mask?
Not a creature, but still it creeps
Growing instantly by leaps
Embedding itself here and near
And round the corner there,
The beast is clutter...hear him roar.

Ode to Clutter (part II)...
Clutter, clutter, where for art thou clutter? Over here on the kitchen counter, over here by the doorway and still, over here stacked up high in the playroom. For if thou doth try to leave me, I shall thee follow swiftly. I am here, I am there, I am everywhere.

An Unabashed Sports Family

2009-09-23T18:08:00.000-07:00

I know that Sports Illustrated may not make the weekly reading list for many of you, but the latest Point After article by Chris Ballard is the funniest thing I have read in a while. Read it here. To summarize, it's about a group of seven-, eight, and nine-year olds who hold a draft for their own Fantasy Football league and the hilarities that ensue. To me, the article is particularly entertaining because it could have been written about my own family and children.

To say we are a sports family is an understatement. My husband is a typical avid male sports fan. No more elaboration needed, right? And I myself am also a huge sports fan. I grew up in Corvallis, OR and my dad and I were regulars at Oregon State basketball and football games. My husband likes to tell the story of how I gave him a sports quiz before I would agree to go out with him. Absolutely true story. Thankfully he passed!

Now, the torch has been passed to my son. The first thing he does every morning is log onto espn.com to watch the previous nights' highlights. He then checks the latest stats on his favorite players and teams, league standings, and if there is time, totally useless facts such as the time he informed me that it was Dustin Pedroia's birthday that day. He can recite not only wins and losses, but also specific scores of games long after I have forgotten which team won the game. He is also our resident keeper of batting averages, longest touchdowns, and colleges attended by his favorite players.

So, in an effort to channel his passion for stats, we started our own family Fantasy Football league this year. Yes, we had a draft and yes, my daughter who quickly lost interest after drafting Adrian Peterson and Tom Brady, is blowing the rest of us away so far. While the rest of us consulted magazine and website player rankings, my daughter simply breezed by the table when it was her time to draft and pointed to a name on the list or a player pictured. Once she even announced, "I want to draft a Miami Dolphin!" This fail-proof technique netted her not only the two players named above, but also Andre Johnson and DeAngelo Williams. If you are not familiar with these names, they are fabulous picks.

Sadly, the only down side to all this sports euphoria in our house is that neither of my children have chosen to root for any of the teams that my husband and I love. Whereas we cheer for hometown teams such as the Seattle Seahawks or Mariners or maybe the Detroit Tigers and Pistons, our son loves the Boston Red Sox and the Celtics while our daughter taunts us with the New York Yankees and Minnesota Vikings. Oh well, I guess you can't win 'em all.

Image courtesy of Flickr and SD Dirk

Latest Obsession

2009-09-14T10:08:00.000-07:00

Yes, I am slightly obsessed with the nailhead trim that I ordered online from Joanns. I originally ordered the trim to add some personality to some basic IKEA picture frames. But now that I see it in person, I want to use it everywhere. Hmmm, maybe on the new barcart?

1st Day of School

2009-09-10T21:18:00.000-07:00

The day that every mom looks forward to with both melancholy and enthusiasm finally arrived! Please forgive me as I wax on for a brief moment about our first day of school.

As usual, my kids made me feel foolish for worrying about getting back in the morning routine by waking up the earliest they had since school was over (with smiling faces even.) Since dad was taking the kids on their first day too, there was an added buzz in the air. Yeah daddy!

This year my son started first grade or "the grades" as he calls it. Time to get serious as is evidenced by the fact that there are individual desks this year instead of tables and no more rest time. My son has always loved school and was all smiles seeing his buds again after the long summer hiatus.

My daughter started pre-K which is basically the last year of preschool before kindergarten. She was assigned the same pre-K teacher as big brother so she showed up the first day ready to rule her roost. She greeted the teacher with a big hug and cheerily sang, "I love you mommy!" as I left the classroom.

Walking out of the classroom I wasn't sure whether to whoop it up or weep. Luckily I quickly located my fellow moms and we headed for the long awaited M-WOK (Meal Without Kids!)

Image courtesy of Flickr and LizMarie

Farewell to Summer

2009-09-04T10:54:00.000-07:00

As summer is drawing to an end, I thought I would try and capture all the highlights. I know, it's a little Type-Aish but isn't this card catalog template adorable? You can add your own personal little touches as I did and use it for all sorts of quick notes. You can make your own here.

I am Obsessed

2009-08-14T10:33:00.000-07:00

As many of you already know, I have a tendency to become obsessed with certain projects, ideas or even products from time to time. And in an effort to drag some of you into my little obsessive world I will share these obsessions with you from time to time. My latest? Benjamin Moore Black Chalkboard Paint! Many of my fellow fans of J.Crew have no doubt already seen these gorgeous photos of Jenna Lyon's (J.Crew Creative Director) house from the November 2008 issue of Domino Magazine.

I was instantly drawn to the look of the black walls and was surprised to learn that the paint used was Benjamin Moore's Studio Finishes Chalkboard Paint! Needless to say I immediately piled the kids into the car and drove down to my local hardware store to purchase some paint (after calling ahead and verifying they had 3 cans left of course).

My obsession at it's peak, I scoured my house for surfaces to paint black. After my husband shot down (with daggers for extra emphasis) the idea of painting the walls of the playroom, I settled on the back door as a good starting point. Behold the results!

There will no doubt be more...stay tuned!

Loved my Reunion!

2009-07-29T14:21:00.000-07:00

I am back from my 20-year High School Reunion and I had a fabulous time! I cannot believe I even considered not going. As luck would have it, almost every one of my best friends growing up was able to make it. I had forgotten (shame on me) how much fun it is to just be with old friends. After only about 10 minutes together, we all settled in for a relaxed, comfortable evening. After midnight, we left the first place and headed to yet another bar because nobody was ready for the evening to end. Only after finding ourselves the last ones left in the bar at 2:30 a.m. did we head for our cars.

It turns out that my initial hesitation and fears were totally unfounded. People did ask what I was doing these days, but could not have cared less what the answer was as long as I was happy doing it. Why did I expect any less from my friends?

Amidst good-bye hugs and kisses, we vowed to meet-up again next summer. I'll keep my fingers crossed!

Things I Love About Summer

2009-07-07T23:13:00.000-07:00

Not having to rush out the door in the morning
My kids asking if they can stay in their pjs all day (answer is almost always YES!)
Lazy summer mornings, afternoons, and evenings spent at the pool
Summer baseball games
Enjoying frozen lemonade and cotton candy at the baseball games
The beach
Neighborhood summer block party
4th of July BBQs with friends and watching fireworks with my children
Impromptu playdates
Endless hours of sunlight

High School Reunion

2009-05-11T23:27:00.000-07:00

My 20-year High School Reunion is this summer. When my friends ask if I am going, I tell them I am not sure. Usually people who have a tepid response to high school reunions are those who would rather die than relieve their high school days. That is definitely not me. I actually loved high school! I was lucky enough to have fabulous friends with whom I still keep in touch.

No, my hesitation comes from the small part of me that wonders if the me of 2009 lives up to the me of 1989. My Type-A personality was already in full bloom during my high school years. I worked extremely hard and set high goals for myself. I took three AP classes, served as a senior class representative, chaired our Senior Ball committee, and was Sports Editor for the school newspaper. During my spring break, my dad and I traveled to the three out-of-state colleges to which I was applying: Northwestern University, Washington University in St. Louis, and the University of Chicago. Although I had never left home before, not even for summer camp, I was determined to go out-of-state for college. And, at our senior class breakfast, I was voted First Girl to Make a Million.

Post high school, I started down the road to my first million. I graduated with honors and a double major from Northwestern University, received an MBA from a Top-10 Business School, chased jobs across the country, and finally fulfilled a life-long dream to work in sports. However, six months after my son was born, I voluntarily stepped off that road. I was madly in love with my firstborn and resented the intrusion that work was making on our time together. I have never looked back.

Sure, there are many days when I wonder if this is what I am fated to do. Will my life ever move beyond carpooling and endless piles of dirty dishes and laundry? However, I am quick to remind myself that I am one of the fortunate. I am someone who can chose to stay home and be there for every soccer practice and chaperon school field trips. I would not trade the past six years for any other experience, and short of David Stern (Commissioner of the NBA) calling me and asking me to be his second in command, there is not a job out there I would trade being at home for.

That being said, is that a sentiment that others might expect from someone who was voted First to Make a Million? What about the person who used to stay up well past midnight actually reading the book for AP English class instead of just buying the Cliff Notes? Or the person who once aspired to be the CMO at a Fortune 500 company? What will I tell people when they ask me what I am doing these days? I will tell them I used to think that I could have it all. And I do.

Batter Up!

2009-05-02T23:13:00.000-07:00

I like to say that my husband is a guy's guy in all the best ways. To me this means he doesn't take longer than I do to get ready to leave the house, he actually does hate to go shopping, he is handy around the house, and he loves sports. On the flip side, he still holds the door open for me, changed his fair share of diapers and tries to spend as much time with the family on weekends as he can. Emotionally, I can always rely on him to be the calm in my storm. That being said, I recently realized what might end up being his emotional Achilles heel for years to come.

It was our son's first Little League game. And, in the interest of full disclosure, a little background is in order. At 5 1/2 our son is by far the youngest player on his team. At his age he should be playing t-ball, but t-ball bores him. No one pitches to him, there are no outs and he can hit a mile off the tee. So, after talking to some fellow parents and coaches, we tried out for farm. At try-outs they give each child a number that corresponds to their age. Our son was 579 (5 and .79 years.) The boy at the front of the line was number 872. Welcome to the world of competitive sports! Each child took infield grounders, played first base, took batting practice, and was timed running the bases, all while being videotaped. After try-outs all we could do was wait and hope he was drafted. He was.

Fast forward to our first game of the season. We were the visiting team so our team was up first. The coach printed out his batting order for the game and instructed each player to find his or her name on the list. My son was hitting lead-off. The beauty of a 5-year-old is that he didn't know to be nervous. In fact, he was more worried about finding a batting helmet that fit than being the first player in the batter's box. When it was time, he stepped calmly into the box. He assumed the stance that my husband had taught him and tried to pound into his memory (not literally, at least not yet.) I looked over at my husband and he was visibly nervous. This definitely caught me off guard. After all, my husband was not the one shouting at our son to be aggressive during his soccer games. I was. My husband was not the one waiting on pins and needles to see which kindergarten teacher our son would have. I was. And yet, here he was on opening day, nervous for our son's first at-bat.

In the end, our son ended up with a hit his first and every at-bat that afternoon. This sounds more impressive than it was considering the fielding skills of six- and seven- year-olds. Our son was simply thrilled to be playing "real" baseball and dad was too.