OC Family By the Book

Connecting with Grandparents

Thu, 16 Sep 2010 03:26:00 GMT

I called her Wawa. It was because I couldn't pronounce Lola, which is Filipino for Grandmother. Since I was the eldest grandchild, it stuck - the rest of my siblings and my cousins called her that too. I grew up with her. I have many happy memories of my grandmother.

I feel bad for my kids because between my husband and I , we are motherless. Our kids, thus, grandmother-less. Our mothers passed way before we met. My dad and stepmom who are in my kids' lives as grandpa and grandma live half-way around the world and see the kids only every couple of years. Lucky for my older son, he shared a close bond with my father-in-law, Pop-pop, before he passed away three years ago.

Having grandparents in our lives enriches us with their wisdom, their experiences, their love. I really wish everyone could have a grandparent-figure in their lives.

If you're wondering why I'm waxing sentimental about grandparents it's because - last Sunday was grandparents day and I recently read a book called Grandloving that I received from the publishers.

The book "Grandloving: Making Memories with Your Grandchildren" is kind of a how-to book for grandparents - whether seasoned or newbies. It is written in a very casual refreshing tone.The authors, Sue Johnson, Julie Carlson and Beth Bower (who are by the way, a mother/daughter-in-law/daughter team) offer creative ideas for connecting with grandchildren. There are some neat games and activities that anyone caring for children or even babysitting would enjoy.

Win a copy of Grandloving by sharing with us a favorite memory you have of your grandparents. Leave a comment then email me your contact info -- a winner will be chosen at random. Email me at marciemarketing[at]gmail.com

OC Dad writes a step-by-step parenting guide

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 13:15:00 GMT

Scott Gale is a typical Southern California dad busy juggling family and professional responsibilities while trying to make the most of life. Inspired by a Fantasy Football League and the need for structure in his family, he wrote Your Family Constitution: A Modern Approach to Family Values and Household Structure.

Above: Author Scott Gale and his family

I met Scott during one of my MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) brunches last Spring, where he gave his account of the highs and lows of parenting. I could relate to Scott's stories about life with his two boys since I have two sons myself and I thought it was interesting how he found a way to create order amidst chaos and find a balance between his home and work life.

With school fast approaching, I thought it would be good to revisit the Family Constitution and ask Scott a few questions via email.

Did you always want to be an author?
Although I’ve always enjoyed writing, I never wanted to be an author. I became an author to share a parenting tool which I had created following some significant family challenges. The Family Constitution concept made a huge difference in my life, as well as my wife and kids. I hope my experiences can help other families who know they have problems to solve, but don’t know where to start or where they want to go.

With your busy job and a family, how did you find the time to write?
I had to carve out time during my work week to write. I changed my schedule to work from home periodically. I am a real estate developer by trade, so the opportunity to author a book gave me the opportunity to focus on something positive during the real estate downturn.

Do you plan on writing another book?
Not any time soon…maybe I’ll do a follow-up during the next real estate recession…ha ha.

Why do you think it's important for parents to read parenting books?
There are no manuals or warranties that come with children, only promise and potential. Parents need resources to help their families successfully develop and to navigate the pitfalls of a very complicated world. Some people are very open and may talk to friends and relatives for advice, while others prefer to read books and/or blogs. It doesn’t matter how parents reach out, but we all need impartial advice and ideas to help us raise the best kids we can.

With the new school year starting, can you give us three tips to start the year right?
1.     Create clear and consistent boundaries, then pair each boundary with appropriate rewards and/or consequences. Whether it’s homework, chores, bedtimes or anything else, make sure your kids understand what is expected and what impact their decisions will have (both good and bad). Maintain consistent enforcement, as this will foster healthy routines.
2.     Strive for steady improvement, not perfection. If you seek a perfect family, you’ll inevitably be sorely disappointed. You’re better off identifying a few areas where your family can improve, then making it happen. Once you’ve tackled the first few issues, move on to improve other behaviors or sources of controversy.
3.     Commit to making your family better and expend the necessary time and effort. Creating an effective family structure takes front-loaded work, as you should articulate your family values, goals and challenges before you make the framework. This will help to focus and achieve meaningful results. If things don’t go as expected at first, don’t give up. Instead, make adjustments to the rules and try new angles. The key is not to spontaneously make changes, but to rather discuss changes during a family meeting or other appropriate time.

Win a copy of this book by commenting below. Tell us one constitutional right you would include in your family constitution.

Summer Reading for Grown-ups

Mon, 09 Aug 2010 11:01:00 GMT

Five Days. That's all I have to add another 250 page book to my list and earn a raffle ticket. You see, I signed up for the Adult Summer Reading Program, in which I earn a chance to win a gift basket for every book I read. In the kids program, my kids were busy reading and earning treats and vouchers for bowling, mini-golf, free kids meals etc. So while they are approaching their 40th book for the summer, I can proudly say I've read TWO. That's good right? Come on, that's 2 adult books not counting the countless dragon themed, monster-filled and Fly Guy books I read with the kids. So really if you count those books I've read like 50.

I've always believed in "Quality not quantity." So here are the books I read: Lamb (The Gospel According to Biff Christ's Childhood Pal) by Christopher Lamb and Linchpin (Are You Indispensable?) by Seth Godin.

The first got me laughing while the second got me thinking. You know it's a good book when you can't put it down, when you take it with you everywhere, soak up the words, the story, the ideas and you tell your friends about it.

And here I am telling you about it. If you want a good laugh, pick up ANYTHING by Christopher Moore. You'd have to be into that kind of sarcastic, tongue in cheek, weird and warped sense of humor. Riotous fun!

If you want a non-fiction book that gets you thinking, then read Seth Godin. Linchpin is his 12th book. Hailed as a marketing genius, Godin changes our perceptions of the world and work; and challenges us to be indispensable. This is not one of those "think and grow rich" type of books but something that can speak to you, a citizen of the 21st century, and shows you the big picture.

5 Reasons to sign up for a Summer Reading Program

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 17:03:00 GMT

Hundreds of kids turned up at Huntington Beach Public Library's annual Festival of Folktales. It's a rite of summer, when kids sign up for the Summer Reading Program. This year's theme/campaign, as designed by the American Library Association, is Make a Splash: Read! Here are Five Reasons to Sign YOUR children up for the program.

1. To Combat Boredom

Face it, after that first week of doing-nothing, the kids at home go batty- I'm bored! There's nothing to do! Well, load up the minivan and head for your local library. The Summer Reading Program gives them SOMETHING to DO.

2. To Improve Reading Skills

During summer vacation, it isn't uncommon for kids to take it easy with their reading and writing. When you enroll your child in a summer reading program, they spend time practicing and improving their reading skills rather than letting them slip.

3. To Stay in Touch with Old Friends and Make New Ones

This goes for both parents and kids. In the summer, the library can be quite the social hub. You and your friends can decide on a day and time to visit the library at the same time, have a picnic lunch and borrow new books - maybe even have an informal book club.

4. To Foster a LOVE For READING

Summer reading just isn't the same as reading for school. You know why? It's because summer reading is FUN - because it's not something one HAS to DO but something one CHOOSES to do. You can help your kids discover NEW BOOKS and the worlds and stories within them.

5. BECAUSE IT'S FREE!

The best things in life are free! And nothing could be more rewarding than giving your child the gift of reading.

Here are two other programs you can also sign up for - the Barnes and Noble Summer Reading program wherein your child can earn a FREE book when he or she has read 8 books; and the Scholastic Summer Challenge, which includes many resources for parents too.

Fresh Blood - vampire books to read besides Twilight

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 17:18:00 GMT

I'm a sucker for vampires. And not just the Cullen kind. It's been in me for a while - ever since I read Anne Rice's books back in the day. As any Team Edward twi-hard knows, there's just something so irresistible about the undead.

I read vampire books because they are fun! I'm sure you've read the Twilight books (or at least seen the movies) but that's not what I'm talking about - for to be sure, while I enjoyed Stephenie Meyer's work - I don't think she's a great literary figure - more like a pop culture phenomena. I breezed through the books because the story was interesting though the prose not so much.

So I was pleasantly surprised to see that her writing has (IMHO) somewhat improved in "The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner". To be honest, I don't remember her from Eclipse but the author tries hard to get into Bree's skin. She is a teen vampire in an army of newborns created by Victoria, Bella's nemeses - and they are all preparing for an all-out war with the Cullens. Only fans of the series can appreciate this back story because as written, Bree's story is still rather shallow and ends abruptly. Incidentally, the title sounds too much like Pulitzer Prize winner "The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao" by Junot Diaz.

If you want true teen vampire angst written with clever language and an action packed plot -- then you must read Christopher Moore! I recently read "Bite Me: a Love Story" and was truly captivated by the adventures of Abby Von Normal and the odd cast of characters including the Vampire Flood, Chet a huge shaved vampire cat, Steve the Love Monkey and the Emperor of San Francisco. It's strange, it's modern - it's wickedly funny, romantic, even. Witty dialogue and cool characters. Can't wait to read the rest of the Trilogy. Read chapter excerpts of Bite Me here.

Another take on teen vampirism - is Suck it Up by Brian Meehl. This time it's like the TV show Heroes meets Xmen meets an MTV behind the scenes type show. In Suck it Up, we meet Morning McCobb as he graduates from the IV League (get it?) the International Vampire Academy, where students are schooled to live peacefully though secretly among mortals and subsist on animal blood. The tone of the book is more cute than dark so this is definitely one you can share with your tween kids.

You're probably wondering where Sookie Stackhouse is in all of this - sorry I tried - I really did try reading Charlaine Harris-- but just couldn't get into it. But I'm nuts about the Show "True Blood" on HBO. It seems, Alan Ball has a better way of "sinking his teeth" into the characters and story.

Up next on my reading log -- Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter by Seth Grahame-Smith.

Experiencing Kinect for XBOX 360

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 02:57:00 GMT

Heads up - this isn't a post about books or a book related event but it is something cutting edge and cool that I just had to share with you all. Last week I attended the Project Natal Experience - a Cirque du Soleil performance to launch Microsoft's KINECT for XBOX 360- a new XBOX peripheral (which means you need the xbox game system first of all) which is basically like a webcam that plugs into the console -- and get this - it's a full body motion controller! Read on.

Others may disapprove but I'm afraid it's true - my boys are gamers. From the Nintendo DS to the PSP and PS 3 to online PC games and the WII - you name the system they've tried it. The prefer RPG (role playing games) to sports games and enjoy watching Daddy play M games. (Don't judge). My husband hopes they'll eventually design their own video games in the future. So who knows? It isn't impossible, I mean after all, they're tech-savvy enough to have blog of their own right now at the tender ages of 9 and 5.

So when I got the invitation to E3 the Electronic Entertainment Expo, our house was over the moon. We left Orange County three hours before the event to escape traffic which we did. When we got to the Galen Center in LA, a line had already started to form. Before too long, we were ushered onto the red carpet where a painted man (savage? lost cast member of Avatar?) from Cirque du Soleil beat on a drum. There was a photographer that snapped our pix and what was cool was that instead of prints, they simply uploaded the image onto the USB flash drives they gave us which we wore on our wrists.

My kids, weary from the trip from the OC to LA and from waiting in line, were unimpressed by the red carpet and were ready to dismiss the whole event until we got to the VIP room. Like a cool living room or a swanky lounge, my boys' eyes widened when they saw all the Xbox game stations. And oh yes, there was food (chocolate fountain!) and an open bar. And that's where the MAGIC happened.

So it turns out the newfangled game system we kept calling Project Natal was actually called KINECT for XBOX 360. We tried out Kinect Sports and Your Shape: Fitness and experienced first hand how Kinect can transform the living room into a fitness studio or sports arena with NO CONTROLLER - just ourselves. Think of the WII without a controller. Yup, that's it - Kinect is a full body motion controller.

It was so awesome that even I who don't usually play video games at home, enjoyed moving and using my arms, legs and body to control the game. There was this game where my son and I were on a raft and we had to work in tandem, moving left and right to move it, grabbing points and actually jumping to get over obstacles. "Mom, MOVE! You're going the wrong way," my son said in frustration. In all, it was a fun bonding experience.

Finally, it was time to watch the show. We were all given these white ponchos to wear. The "show" began as soon as we made our ways through these wide openings (not a door) and were greeted by a family of four - it was supposed to be like we had literally "stepped into someone's living room." As it turns out, WE were part of the GAME. The Galen Center was transformed into a lush forest straight out of the movie Avatar. A cast of dancers, acrobats and other Cirque du Soleil performers interacted with the crowd on the floor. The show itself featured 25 foot high projection screens (bigger than a football field!) that wrapped around the center, a gigantic 9 foot tall elephant puppet with a projection screen on its side. The music was pulsating, the story of the show nothing earth shattering but good enough to showcase what KINECT can do for families - get you moving and get you connected with each other (and other gaming families around the world!) It was a multimedia performance. Screens, dancers, music, a thin story line and ponchos?

Ok, so there we were in our white ponchos, looking like members of some kind of cult, when our ponchos' football pad shoulders light up --first in xbox green then later in other colors as part of the show. The effect wasn't so much "Whoa cool!" as " oh so that's why they had us wear these." After all the games that we had tried earlier were shown in context of the "story," the show kind of just ended and by then we were all ready to go home.

Sure the Kinect still has kinks, but hopefully they'll work it all out by the end of the year when it becomes available. I'm not too sure about the name because it sounds too much like K'nex but I do know that I WANT ONE.

*To view my slideshow on the Project Natal aka Kinect experience, visit http://suburbanmamas.wordpress.com

Portraits of Multiracial Kids – a timely book and exhibit

Tue, 08 Jun 2010 10:53:00 GMT

Kip Fullbeck is one cool dude. My boys and I met him a little over a year ago in Manhattan Beach for a photo shoot/audition for a book called "Mixed: Portraits of Multiracial Kids." My kids are hapa (half-Filipino and half-Caucasian) and we got the word about the pictorials from our good friends at Melting Pot Moms one of my fave local moms' groups that focuses on nurturing diversity.

So there we were one breezy March morning at a house in Manhattan Beach, along with all these cutest mix-race kids , many of whom were my fellow Melting Pot members. The boys were asked to draw and write and then they had their 15 minutes of fame before the camera. We weren't sure they'd make it to the book but all in all, it was a good experience.

Kip is a filmmaker, photographer, spoken word performer and professor of art at University of California Santa Barbara. The book pairs photographs of multiracial kids with their own handwritten notes and drawings. The answers are so charming and natural. Kip who is of English, Irish, Welsh and Chinese descent is also the parent of a multiracial child. Needless to say, the questions of identity are near and dear to him. You can view some of his work at www.seaweedproductions.com

On June 12th, we're heading down to LA for a day of activities in line with the Japanese American National Museum's Mixed Roots and Literary Film Festival. There will be a book signing for MIXED and we'll also see the accompanying photographic exhibit (which runs til September) One of the things I'm pretty excited about is the appearance of President Obama's sister, Dr. Maya Soetero-Ng, who wrote the foreword to Mixed.

In our home, we celebrate being mixed, we nurture both our cultures (American and Asian/Philippine) and we respect others' as well.

Note:

Thanks Target! FREE MUSEUM ADMISSION to the Japanese American National Museum on Saturday, June 12th. Lots of family activities, including storytelling by Kim Wayans and Kevin Knotts, authors of Amy Hodgepodge and an urban dance performance and workshop for kids by Culture Shock®.

Reading is Fun - even under water

Tue, 01 Jun 2010 17:11:00 GMT

This made me smile. Rebecca Berggren from Sealife Aquarium sent me this photo of a Sealife diver practicing for the underwater storytelling of Dr. Seuss' "One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish" on World Oceans Day on June 5th at the Sealife Aquarium, next to Legoland. They will also be celebrating the 50th anniversary of Dr. Seuss’ One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish in ‘Seussian-style’ on June 5.

For more information on Sealife's World Oceans Day celebration, click here.

They say you are what you eat so that makes me...

Sat, 22 May 2010 02:48:00 GMT

If it's true that you are what you eat, then I'm a chocolate pig. I don't want to be a chocolate pig and truth be told, I would like to change some of my eating habits. (Don't we all?)

Last weekend, Belly Sprout and IM: The Center for Integrative Medicine held an amazing event called "You are What You Eat" which aimed to explore the connection between what we eat and how it affects us in body, mind, and spirit. Talk about a timely topic in this time of obesity and other health issues plaguing America. At the event, food and nutrition experts shared light on the topic. The expert panel included vegan restaurateur Ann Gentry and actress/author Mariel Hemingway among others.

Unfortunately, I didn't make it to the event. I did, however, receive review copies of two books that were featured. The first book is Skinny Bitch by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin. They didn't participate in the talks but they held a book signing.

I read Skinny Bitch and can't say I was feeling it - but then that's just me. I'm not into the bootcamp-style, Sue Sylvester-type of diet-coaching book. In other words, the crude language was a real turn-off for me. Skinny Bitch is an entertaining read but it doesn't tell you what you don't already know - eat this, not that, junk food is bad, soda is "liquid satan," exercise is important etc. What is different about it is how it's presented - it's like hearing the same usual advice from your straight-talking no-bullshit, potty-mouthed girlfriend (and who doesn't have at least one of those, right?) - then this book (as well as the other books the authors have written since like Skinny Bitch in the Kitch) just might be for you.

The other book I received was "Vibrant Living: Creating Radiant Health and Longevity" written by Sally Kravich, a leading natural health practitioner. The book looks clunky and unattractive but as I'm not one to judge a book by its cover (ok, well sometimes I am), I started reading. The book is a bit of a heavy read in that Kravich packs it with the story of her life and a step-by-step guide to living a healthy and balanced lifestyle, from juicing to iridology and everything in between. I thought that Vibrant Living provided many practical tips. For starters, I'm taking Sally's advice about drinking a glass of water (with lemon) first thing in the morning instead of reaching for that cup of coffee.

I'm taking steps towards better health and a healthy lifestyle. Like that other pig Wilbur (in Charlotte's Web) before me i, I want to be "RADIANT."

***

Now it's your turn. Email me or post comment about health and nutrition and I will send you either a copy of Skinny Bitch or Vibrant Living. Just let me know which book you prefer.

What if the whole world read one book?

Tue, 11 May 2010 03:24:00 GMT

Okay maybe not the whole world but the Twitterverse...

Maybe there are more people that know about this new book club than I thought. The book "American Gods" by Neil Gaiman was out at both library branches I checked. I read it when it first came out and remember being slow to get into it despite being a Gaiman fan. I gave it a chance and eventually came to like it. So it would be interesting to see what the other "members" of the One Book One Twitter club think or tweet actually.

The first book choice of the @1B1T2010 program may seem questionable to some. Neil Gaiman himself writes in his blog that the book is sort of "divisive." He said: "Some people love it, some sort of like it, and some people hate it. (As contrasted with, say, The Graveyard Book, which some people love, some like, and a statistically insignificant number of people hate.) It's not a book I'd hand out to everyone, because the people who don't know anything about what I've written and who hate it -- who might have loved Stardust, or Neverwhere, or The Graveyard Book or Sandman -- probably won't go and look any further."

So there you go. American Gods, a book that blends Americana, fantasy, mythology and mystery is the first book for One Book, One Twitter - think of it as a worldwide book club. It's basically like the one city, one book programs which aim to get a lot of people reading and talking about a single book. Launched the first week of May, @1B1T is the brainchild of Jeff Howe, contributing editor at Wired Magazine. To be honest, I've never been one to read the "recommended reading list." For example, Huntington Beach has HB Reads and this year selection is "They Poured Fire on Us from the Sky." Come to think of it, I've never even been part of ANY book club. Yes, not even Oprah's!

So I'm excited to be part of @1B1T2010 I suppose I could swing by Barnes and Noble for a copy of American Gods or maybe try BookMooch or one of those swapping sites. The cool thing about 1B 1T is that there's nothing really formal about it -- just jump in whenever, read when you can, talk amongst yourselves and remember the hashtag #1b1t

Stay Gold and other poems

Wed, 28 Apr 2010 11:30:00 GMT

I wish I read poetry. Really I do. I wish I were one of those people who could RECITE poetry - wouldn't that be romantic? Impressive? And not just because it's National Poetry Month (which ends in a few days, by the way) but because poetry feeds the soul.

I can recite "Nothing Gold Can Stay" by Robert Frost but mainly because it was in The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton (the book and the movie) and I do know a few lines of "Jabberwocky" by Lewis Caroll.

I think we would all benefit from a little poetry in our lives. And I'm not talking about rhymes and things that make sense -- because poetry is more than that. It is beyond words, it is beauty, it is expression, it is feeling. Poems like paintings may mean one thing to one person and mean another to someone else. It is deep. It is rich and I wish we had the opportunity to hear it, read it, even watch it more -- not just in college campuses and high-brow poetry events or the sometimes too-artsy poetry slams -- but everywhere. Maybe on the radio? On TV? Seriously, our souls can take only so much reality TV.

Nothing Gold Can Stay

Nature's first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leafs a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.

--Robert Frost (1923)

Jabberwocky

Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.

“Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!”

He took his vorpal sword in hand:
Long time the manxome foe he sought—
So rested he by the Tumtum tree,
And stood awhile in thought.

And as in uffish thought he stood,
The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
And burbled as it came!

One, two! One, two! and through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back.

“And hast thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!”
He chortled in his joy.

’Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.

--Lewis Caroll (1872)

***

Thanks to Twitter friend @SparkOC, I have links to nearby poetry events: Tebot Bach Readings at Goldenwest College - there's one coming up on Friday, April 30th, and From Poetix: Poetry for Southern California

Finally this is a little late - but if the muse decides to pay you a visit, you or your kid might want to join Laguna Beach Library's Poetry Contest, "Writes of Passage," which ends on April 30th. Click here for details.

By the way, if you haven't subscribed yet - you must - SPARK OC at http://www.sparkoc.com is THE happening place for arts happening in the OC. It's free to subscribe.

Are libraries still relevant?

Wed, 21 Apr 2010 01:11:00 GMT

Last week (April 11th-17th) was National Library Week, a time to celebrate the contributions of libraries, librarians and library workers in schools, campuses and communities around the country. How sad and ironic then that that same week my local paper, the Huntington Beach Independent had for it's top story "Losses in Libraries" which detailed how public libraries and school libraries in the district saw major cuts including lay-offs of librarians, leaving kids with less time in the library and less options for access to books.

This year's National Library Week Honorary Chair was one of my favorite authors, a self-confessed big fan of the library himself, Neil Gaiman, author of The Sandman series, Coraline, The Graveyard Book among others. In an interview with The Book Case blog, he shares: " I’m pretty sure that I wouldn’t be the person that I am, I’m very very certain that without libraries I wouldn’t have the career that I have. I had a fairly decent local library, I used to get my parents to drop me off there on the summer holidays on their way to work, and I would just read my way through the children’s library and as an adult I would read my way through the adult library." You may read the full interview here.

Despite all the available technology and information (overload!) , I firmly believe that libraries are still relevant today. Sure you can Google just about anything but there is much to be said about the discipline and hard work it takes to go to a physical place and research a topic on your own - feeling pages on your finger tips, searching with your eyes and thinking about it with yes, your brain - making connections and discovering new things. Another aspect of the library that cannot be replaced by any search engine or wikipedia is the feeling of community. Ask any mom who's taken their kids to Story time at the library about the sanity-saving effects of meeting other moms and having adult conversations for a change. Seriously.

What's is your favorite OC library? And how is your school dealing with the library cuts? Drop me a line at marcie@suburbanmama.com or leave a comment below.

**

UPCOMING EVENTS

Help raise funds for the Children's Library of Huntington Beach by purchasing tickets to the "Taste of Huntington Beach" on April 25th. Lots of great food, wine etc. to sample. I'll be there taking pictures!

Meet and Greet your favorite authors at Barnes and Noble in Bella Terra, Huntington Beach. This week alone, YA (Young Adult) bestselling authors Erin Hunter (Warriors) and Meg Cabot (The Princess Diaries) will be there. For more information: visit www.barnesandnoble.com (under Stores and Events).

Local author talks about her parenting books

Wed, 07 Apr 2010 11:18:00 GMT

I remember when the only parenting book available to me was “What to Expect When You’re Expecting.” It was a heavy tome which described in detail everything going on with a mama’s body – sometimes a little too detailed – it often gave the worst case scenario which pretty much turned me into a hypochondriac for the next 9 months. These days, parents-to-be are luckier because there are so many books out there appealing to different tastes–from old school Dr. Spock to a Girlfriend’s Guide to something or other.

I don’t know about you but I prefer parenting books that are simple and easy to read and follow (after all, as a parent, who has time to read right?). Suzy Martyn’s books Enjoy the Ride (Tools, Tips and Inspiration for the most common parenting challenges) and Sleep Tight (Help Your Child Attain a Good Night’s Sleep in Three Days) exactly fit the bill. Sprinkled with personal anecdotes and inspirational quotes, Suzy writes from experience. With a Masters in Education and years of experience as a parenting consultant, teacher and daycare provider, her advice is pretty straightforward and effective.

After hearing her speak to my moms’ group recently, I was inspired to try the practical tips she suggested for meal time success. Let me just say, playing the game “Two truths and a Lie” were a hit with the family.

A resident of Orange County, Suzy is a mom to 3 daughters and a guardian to a 14- year old student from Korea. She is an author, speaker, sleep and parenting expert and guess what-- she even runs a family daycare! After speaking with her and exchanging emails, I am impressed with her boundless energy and humility - No doubt a product of her deep faith and passion for what she does. According to Suzy, she always wanted to write children’s books but never considered writing non-fiction until the seeds for the two books “Enjoy the Ride” and “Sleep” were planted as a result of her consulting work. “Once I sat down to write,” Suzy reveals, “the books literally poured out of me in a matter of weeks. Everything that I've learned through my years of consulting and working with children, all the experiences I've had and that I've witnessed others have, came together beautifully in these two books. More to come...The next one will be on discipline, a very needed topic!”

I can’t wait.

To read the rest of my interview with Suzy, please visit my Suburban Mama blog.

Top 5 lessons I learned from the book fair

Tue, 30 Mar 2010 11:17:00 GMT

Every year the kids get jazzed about the Book Fair. I'm not sure it's entirely about the books as much as being able to spend their "own" money on something they choose themselves -- and at school (away from their parents). I suppose, for a child it is EMPOWERING to make decisions and to hold real money in their hands. It is also a break in their school routine.

For parents it's another thing to spend on but for our school (at least) it s a fundraiser, and moreover a chance to boost literacy. (In our case, our PTA decided our goal was to get a new book in every child's hands. To this end, we provided some $5 gift certificates to those in need.)

Little did I know how much work went into setting up a school book fair when I signed up to volunteer to be on the Committee.

Thank goodness I was just one of four awesome volunteers that comprised-- ta dah-- the book fair committee. We called ourselves M4 since all our names started with M and we started meeting about two months before the actual event. We brainstormed and drafted letters (letters to parents must be approved by the principal first), printed them out and collated them (Hooray for the electric stapler!) The professionalism and organization with which we conducted ourselves - made it feel like a part-time job and on some days even a full-time job! Our kids patiently waited for us as we held our meetings and gamely helped us when the books actually came and we had to put them on the shelves. Another thing going for us was that we were working with a very helpful and accommodating company, Scholastic Books. Scholastic had many great resources and suggestions.

Book Fair week opened with a bang - our grand opening was a special breakfast with grandparents and one of the PTA dads was Clifford the Big Red Dog for the day. You see, we had lined up special events to promote the book fair -- which totally paid off in sales! Perhaps the most successful event was Donuts with Dad, wherein we served donuts and coffee in the morning as kids came in with their dads.

After all the blood, sweat and tears that went into the book fair, seeing the happy smiles of kids with new books in their hands made it all worth it.

Here are the TOP 5 LESSONS I learned from (fanfare please) the SCHOOL BOOK FAIR!

1. Plan ahead. Holding any big event is a daunting task so it's important to get these two things straight before anything else: the goals/purpose of the event and the budget.

2. Things are better when you like your fellow committee members. (I'm sure you've heard about some nightmare PTA committees - they make working together much harder.)

3. Everyone loves donuts.

4. Working retails is hard. I learned to use the cash register but I was way too slow. And kids don't understand tax. Note for next year: Have a sign that calculates the tax on popular items. For example if an item is 5.99 then you will actual have to pay 6.51 (8.75% sales tax).

5. Kids love books! If you don't sell them tchotchkes they won't buy them (we did not display non-book items like erasers, pencils, toys etc prominently so we kept impulse buying at a minimum. Also some teachers and parents insisted that the kids could only spend their money on books).

So the next year your school book fair comes along, lend a hand or give the volunteers a pat on the back.

Library love

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 15:27:00 GMT

When I grow up I want to be a LIBRARIAN. Well okay maybe not but I’d LOVE to work at a library. The smell of books. the information overload, the café, the wifi, the friendly faces make me feel at home.

*Self-portrait*

Growing up in the Philippines, I didn’t have access to any public library. It just isn’t the community center it is over here. So imagine my joy when I found myself in a lonely suburb of New Jersey – I found my place at the library – there were movies, books, and magazines. I literally lost myself there and found my new calling: library volunteer!

When I had my first child, the library offered us solace. They had a story time and craft session as many libraries do so I found a place to connect with other moms and their kids in real life as opposed to virtually online. The librarians - Ms. Sandy, Ms. Connie and the director Michele became good friends. We had gone to the library so often that my son thought it was HIS personal library and really it was. The library totally nurtured his thirst for knowledge through books and videos - first it was Thomas the Tank Engine, then trucks and of course, dinosaurs! Eventually I started volunteering at the library and this took my devotion to greater heights. The Library Company of Burlington is quaint and historic - it is the oldest library in continuous operation in New Jersey (1757) and has the distinction of being the seventh oldest in the United States. It felt like I was part of history.

I created a writing program for kids 12-17 and met wonderful kids who like me, seemed to be trying to find themselves. The program evolved from simple writing sessions to manga viewings and eventually, a grant-funded group which we called the Teen Advisors Guild. (TAG) To this day, my core group of 6 girls and I are close. They are all in college and doing well.

When I moved to California, one of the first things I did was seek the library. And boy was I happy when I found it. The Huntington Beach Central Library was much bigger than our little historic New Jersey library - the children's section was impressive and the grounds outside (Huntington Beach Central Park) felt like an oasis. I got a library card before my drivers’ license!

And now I am once again a volunteer, this time, as a member of the Friends of the Children's Library. I attend meetings once a month and volunteer during special events whenever I can.

It is sad to hear about libraries closing and staff getting laid off. You would think that especially in these challenging financial times, more effort (and money) would be spent in keeping libraries open. For families looking for entertainment, there are inexpensive if not free activities at the library and for job seekers, there are the many resources - computers, periodicals etc. Libraries are the heart and soul of a community. More than just a place to store books, they play a role in shaping young minds, promoting literacy, providing support to students, job seekers and entrepreneurs.

So if you haven't checked out your local library, please do and support them in any way you can.

We blog because we can

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 15:17:00 GMT

If you've been reading this blog, then you've probably read the other blogs as well. You know us as the OC FAMILY (fanfare please) MOM BLOGERS! Hear us roar.

A couple of weeks ago I attended this massive networking event called Connect OC and Neal Schaffer of Windmill Networking interviewed me about being, you guessed it, a Mom Blogger. Note: Towards the end, I mention Parents Connect but what I meant to say was Parent Bloggers Network - as a group through which companies could reach influential mom bloggers.

PS. Me thinks I smile too much but I hope you enjoyed the video.

Nurturing dreams at the Discovery Science Center

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 15:17:00 GMT

When I think of engineers, I think of bridges and highways. While those are definitely things that (civil) engineers do, there are other kinds of engineers too (computer, aerospace, environmental etc). From building toys to computers to jet engines from scratch, the field of engineering is vast and very interesting -- That's what Engineer's Day at Discovery Science Museum accomplished last week.

With hands-on demonstrations and special programs, engineers and friendly engineering students showed how math and science can help build a better world. There were giant cannons and trebuchets, a shuttle model made out of Knex .and a toothpick bridge making competition.

Toothpick bridges? I was intrigued -so my boys and I checked out the competition at the stage area of the science center. Only four entries - this shouldn't take long, I thought. My 4 y.o. was getting antsy. Who wants to go? first asked the host. Two brothers volunteered to test their bridge first. The engineer placed the load block and an "S" hook on the bridge. Then he hung a 5 gallon bucket on the hook. The idea was to see how much sand the bridge could hold. The winner was the bridge with the highest "Structure Stability Score," (load-to-weight capacity ratio). Slowly, the boys poured in scoops of sand into the bucket. One two three - holy cow! -- this was going to take longer than I thought. So we left and explored the other exhibits.

Later we bumped into the kids who built the toothpick bridge - their names were Jonathan, 12 and Daniel, 8. I asked them if they won the contest - and guess what - they did! Their bridge actually carried over 53 lbs of sand. Wow! To see pictures and learn more about these amazing kids(who by the way are homeschooled) , you can check out their mom Linda's blog.

We checked out the trebuchet for Pumpkin' Chunkin' and all the other regular exhibits. My boys built paper airplanes and foil boats and learned a little more about engineering that day. (Adding yet another option to their list of possible jobs in the future along with businessman, doctor, scientist, astronaut, rock star and movie actor).

If you're thinking about purchasing a museum membership, I tell you, the Science Center membership is really worthwhile. Next up at the Discovery Science Center: Bubblefest! Can't wait.

He blinded me with Science!

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 15:17:00 GMT

We've been in Science Fair mode over the past few weeks. My son has decided to experiment with Vitamin C and compare the vitamin C content of a vitamin C tablet, orange juice and an actual orange - no doubt inspired by his battle with the flu season and what seems to be an endless cold. We've just finished the experiment and it's on to the fun part (note sarcasm) - writing out the results and making 'em pretty so we can stick 'em on the ubiquitous poster board. (note to self: buy poster board)

For inspiration, we attended the Astounding Inventions Competition at Irvine Valley College a few weeks ago, where over 350 students in Irvine and Tustin school districts showcased their inventions. I don't know who won the actual contest, but let's just say our future's the real winner - so many innovative ideas from our fine young minds. A kindergartner invented a fever-indicating-headband (the headband changed color when you had a fever), another kid invented a LEGO sorter (something we all need), and there was even solar-powered iPOD speakers.

Astounding indeed. There were lots of other activities going on as well - a Mad Science show, exhibits, hands-on experiments and the Cal State Long Beach Mobile Science Museum.

By the Book - Huntington Beach Authors Festival

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 15:17:00 GMT

One of my favorite family-friendly events of the year is the Annual Authors Festival at the Huntington Beach Public Library. Now on it's 23rd year, the fest brought over 25 authors and illustrators to Huntington Beach, where they spent the day at schools in the area, reaching out to more than 15,000 local students in Huntington Beach and Fountain Valley. After the school visits, the authors went to the Central Library for a reception. Tables were set up and each author had a designated spot where they displayed their books and where they could meet and greet young library-goers. For many kids it was a chance to meet A REAL LIVE AUTHOR. They chattd and asked questions - about the books - about how to be a writer and sometimes the most random things. And yes, they got their books autographed which is always fun. At the event, there was also an awards' ceremony for the winners of the library's Amazing Beach Discovery writing and illustration contest.

Going by the kids' glowing faces, new books tucked under their arms, you think you've stepped into an alternate universe where books trump video games and authors and illustrators are the real celebrities. This year authors included: Brigitte Benchimol (Jadyn and the Magic Bubble), Deborah Turner (How Willy got his Wheels), Paul Brewer (Fartiste), Susan Casey (Kids Inventing), Amy Friedman (Tell Me a Story), and OC-based authors Chris Epting and Dawne Knobbe (Runaway Storm) among others.

Here are some highlights from the event:

Eat a rainbow and other health tips for your family

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 15:17:00 GMT

Eat your veggies. That's what you were told. There was never an option for me when I was growing up. You sat there till you finished what was on your plate. I was never asked whether I preferred broccoli to brussels sprouts, string beans to squash. That's just the way it was - you ate what you were served.

So how is it that my kids are growing up with a limited variety of food on their plates when they are presented with more choices? What a conundrum.

This year I vowed to eat healthier and exercise more. So what's new, right? Well this time I wanted to get my whole family involved. They don't know it of course but this suburbanmama's got some tricks up her sleeve. I am making the changes and getting everyone involved. It's hard to break old habits after all- eating junk food and indulging in passive weekend entertainment (watching movies, playing video games).So we are starting slowly but surely. First up: we've cut down on sugary snacks -- I've realized when you don't buy them - they won't eat them. They'll try to find them or ask for them but you say no and they'll survive. (Make that - WE'll survive - yes, I've got a sweet tooth too.) Out of sight out of mind. Also, we've been taking family walks and hikes, which have been so much fun. There are many outdoor fun (and free!) activities in and around Orange County. Check out some of our photos on Flickr.
***

Not too long ago, I attended a vitamin presentation, where I chatted with my friend Kelly, who is a Dr. Sears' certified L.E.A.N Coach. L.E.A.N stands for lifestyle, exercise, attitude and nutrition. Here are some health tips from Kelly: