OC Family - Moms. Kids. Life. - (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:

My So-Called Life or why real life is like high school

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 15:09:00 GMT

I'm singing out loud. We were the kings and the queens of PROMIIIIISEEE...The windows are down and outside the sun is shining, the sky is a bright happy blue. This IS how a Monday should be. And I'm singing along to Jared Leto, whom I will forever think of as Jordan Catalano. Hah...my mind drifts. Jordan Catalano -- going by my penchant for teen things like Twilight, Glee and stuff I secretly watch on ABC Family (Cappie- swoon!) you'd think inside of me there was a teenage girl. I sometimes wonder if it's because I went to a girls' school and there were no boys and by watching these co-ed romps through high school I am living vicariously, if a little too late. After all, I was already in my 20s when I devoured everything on the WB before it became CW - Felicity, Dawson's Creek etc. There was the Gilmore Girls too but I identified with Rory more than Lorelei. So there. Am I the only one who feels this way?

Judging by other mamas' FB status' updates on whether they are on Team Edward vs. Team Jacob, I realize I am not so alone. It's weird. But then,when you really think about it -- maybe it's not. You realize life is a lot like High School - you've got your cliques and your stereotypes. Just check out the PTA or even the queue of parents at pick-up.

So what's the difference between High School and the Real World? I dunno - the responsibilities that come with it? The maturity and the intelligence to NOT judge people based on their looks or bank accounts, to break the stereotypes, to expand our circles.... Yes, yes...maybe.

For now let me escape in my 30 seconds to Mars....

From Page to Screen: books vs. movies

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 15:09:00 GMT

They changed the ending on me and I'm not quite sure how I feel about that. I just read “The Secret Life of Bees” by Sue Monk Kidd which turned out to be a splendid read- not in any life-changing way but in a way that transported me to South Carolina in 1964. And then I saw the movie and though the actors did a pretty good job - it was hard to get past the fact that I knew them more as celebrities so that I wasn't thinking "Oh look August is being played by Queen Latifah and there's June played by Alicia Keys." It was more like - "Oh look it IS Queen Latifah, AND Alicia Keys, oh and wait for it - Jennifer Hudson." (Sometimes I miss the days of actors being actors and singers being singers - too much hyphenation going on...) What pleasantly surprised me was the casting of Paul Bettany as the dad, T. Ray-- it was a nice surprise as it made the character more "human" in a way - but I think that's just Paul Bettany (who I'll watch in ANYTHING).

So what about books to movies in general? It’s always a hit or miss. There a saying that good books make bad films. But that’s not always the case. Usually the books are always better because you can go deeper, interpret things a different way. Movies are confined to 2-3 hours so more often than not things are lost in translation. Sometimes you get lucky and the movies are as good as the books - think the Harry Potter series, although I must say some HP movies were better than the others but that’s another story.

The Twilight books were a fun read but surely having the actors embody the characters in the story took the series up a notch. The books were easy reads - not too serious (can you really take vampires seriously?) but fun in a high school sort of way. Who doesn't like reading about a doomed romance. Very classic Romeo and Juliet though the prose was rather how shall we say- prosaic. Watching the chemistry between the lead actors took it to another level and then there was the haunting soundtrack.

Sometimes the books are better than the movies. Off the top of my head, I can think of The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown, The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants by Ann Brashares, and The Beach by Alex Garland (a personal fave in my 20s). I'm not sure if it was the screenplay, direction or casting that made these movies fail their source material but these are examples of poor movie adaptations. There are more and there are worse but I can't think of any at the moment.

And then there are the movies that are BETTER than the book: recently, The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger (a book I totally thought wasted my time despite the fact that I could sort of relate to the subject matter) and something older --The Outsiders by SE Hinton. (But I think that’s because I was a kid and I thought the Brat Pack were cool). And finally, there are movies based on books done just right, in which the movies didn’t EXACTLY mirror the book but captured it’s essence and in some cases, even enhanced the story and made you go back and read the book with deeper insight. My current favorites: Memoirs of a Geisha, The Namesake, and Trainspotting.

I could go on and wonder about such things as why most Jane Austen books turn out to be good movies or whether the Percy Jackson movie will do justice to the book. But it's raining outside and I've got some free time --so I think I'll grab a cup of coffee and curl up with a good book.

The Spa who loved me

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 15:08:00 GMT

Eons ago I had my first spa experience in the Philippines. It was a place called The Palm Garden and it was at the penthouse of the building I worked at -- I worked a few floors down for what was then a start-up magazine (now one of the established fashion magazines in the Philippines). It was all very Devil Wears Prada - so you can imagine my excitement when they needed someone to write about a spa.

Since I was just a lowly fashion assistant, I grabbed the opportunity to prove my writing skills. Little did I know that I was getting much much more. It turned out to be quite a life-changing experience! After trying most of the spa’s services – scrubs, wraps and of course, massages – there was no turning back – I became a SPA Junkie. From then on, and as long as time and finances allowed, I spa-d regularly – that was back when I was living in a house paid for by my parents, no kids, no car payments, late nights, long days. The spa was my refuge. When fancy spas were too costly, I turned to day spas and if I couldn’t afford that, a mani-pedi at the corner salon would soothe my soul. When I traveled around Asia and Australia, I tried out spas too. (Unfortunately nothing too exotic yet – like fish pedicures or Turkish Mud Baths.)

Photo via thelifeofluxury.com

These days, going to the spa is a luxury and treat for this Suburban Mama. It is the one thing I ask for every birthday, anniversary and on Christmas – whether it’s a $25 Foot Reflexology treatment in Little Saigon or a $150 massage. The Spa for me is an escape, a chance to relax. But more importantly, I believe that when you take care of your body, your body takes care of you.

We all need a mental break. We need to treat ourselves well…and if it’s a really good spa – it affects your body, mind and yes, spirit. Hmmm kind of like the Pacific Waters Spa at the Hyatt Hotel in Huntington Beach. Speaking of which… Last Thursday night I had the most amazing time there, where I was pampered along with the OC Family Mom Bloggers (Hi Suz!) And let me tell you, it was AMAZING. It's funny how we sometimes take for granted the things that are in our own backyard! The staff was very friendly and professional, the surroundings serene. I think I’ve found a little piece of paradise here.

The Pacific Waters Spa offers guests the ultimate in relaxation with 17 treatment areas. They have massages, skin therapies, body wraps, scrubs and moisturizing facials using organic even a salon. Whew. I so know what I want for my birthday now. My husband says we should plan to go there for our anniversary (We’re celebrating our 10th this year). Finding a babysitter will be a challenge, but the Hyatt says to try out Camp Hyatt – which is a fun-filled camp for kids.

‘Nuff said. Can’t wait to go back.

But wait – there’s more.
As you are my friends, blog readers and photo fans, here's a special offer courtesy of the Hyatt.

Become a Facebook Fan of Hyatt and write on their wall
"I became a fan of Pacific Waters Spa after reading Suburban Mama's Blog."

And just for becoming a fan you will receive 20 % off any 60-minute treatment!!! Woot!!

This promotion ends January 31.

PS. The title of this blog entry was the same title I used for that first Spa article I wrote way back when.

Remembering Willy the Amazing Chihuahua

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 15:06:00 GMT

As a member of the Friends of the Children’s Library (FOTCL) of Huntington Beach, I support the Children's Department of the Huntington Beach Public Library by helping with various activities throughout the year, including special events like magic shows and the annual Festival of Folk Tales. The once a month meetings work out for me and I help out usually during events that my kids and I are attending anyway.

The FOTCL kicks off the new year with the Authors’ Festival on January 26th. It is a fun event that showcases various authors and their books. The event is free but it’s best to bring some money to purchase new books which your kids can get autographed. The authors and publishers come up with different ways to attract kids to their booth – whether it be free cookies, a craft or some other cool thing. For my kids, the best part is always getting to speak with REAL LIFE AUTHORS and sometimes meeting characters straight out of the book.
One of the regular participants of the festival is Deborah Turner and celeb-chihuahua Willy – from the book How Willy Got His Wheels. Sadly, this year, Willy will not be there because he passed away last month. He was 22 years old.

Willy's story has been told many times - how he was found in a cardboard box, paralyzed with his vocal chords severed and was living in an animal hospital until he was adopted by pet store owner Deborah Turner. He was even featured on the Animal Planet. Many school kids know Willy as the little doggy who got around on a K9cart (pet wheelchair) and love him even more or his sweetness and courage.

Here is a photo of my kids at last year's book fair at Willy's booth.

For his many fans, Wheely Willy will live on through his books. There will be a memorial for him on January 19th at Long Beach Animal Care Services.

R.I.P. Willy

An IKEA Playdate

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 15:06:00 GMT

SWEDISH MEATBALLS! As if that weren't enough motivations for me to get to IKEA, there’s the 99c breakfast, a great SALE and did I mention Smaland for kids? Sure you can get trapped in the maze of furniture but the free childcare is enough to make any purchase worth it. (Wait a minute, you do not even have to BUY anything to take advantage of the drop-off childcare.)

And that’s how I found myself with two mommy friends with our preschoolers and a baby in tow at IKEA Costa Mesa as soon as the doors opened. The kids were psyched to get to Smaland but we insisted that we have breakfast first. When we found out that the meatballs weren’t served till 11am (and it was already 10:30) we just hung around the kids’ area where the kids tested the furniture “Goldilocks-style.”

At the café, the kids settled into the play area while we sat next to it – so we could keep an eye on them. Pancakes, bacon, eggs and potatoes – yum! Endless coffee and yes, a side of meatballs.

By the time we were done with breakfast, we had just two things on our minds: For the kids: playing in the ball pit and mommies: shopping! Alas, when we got to Smaland they couldn’t take all three kids at the same time (they were at capacity) so they moped for a bit – and we figured we should’ve dropped them off FIRST and THEN had breakfast. Ah well, next time. There was still the shopping to take care of – my friend Mimi is on an ORGANIZATIONAL kick so we helped her pick out some things – luckily they had one of those Kiddie Kiosks with a computer so that kept the kids occupied for a while. I ended up buying a veggie peeler for 1.49 and a closet organizer for 6.99

As anyone in mommy world knows, time flies fast – and before too long it was time for us to pick up our bigger kids from school. The little ones were a little disappointed that they didn’t get to play in Smaland but that was soon forgotten when upon checkout they got $1 soft serve ice cream cones! We helped Mimi load her car up with her purchases including the dresser-she-had-to-build-herself-when-she-got-home “I didn’t think it would be so big!” she said.

The kids had fun and so did we mommies. It’s hard to beat a place like I-I-Ikea (say that like the Chia Pet jingle) – with its cheap eats and free childcare. Hey, that’s a date night idea! And speaking of IKEA and dates, I leave you with this fave scene of mine from the movie 500 Days of Summer.
I couldn’t embed the clip so please click on this link.

Note: IKEA Orange County is at 1475 South Coast Drive, Costa Mesa 92626
Enjoy a FREE BREAKFAST before you shop this weekend!

What are your New Year's Intentions?

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 15:03:00 GMT

230am and it's quiet through the house - the kids are asleep and the dishwasher's humming. I am enjoying the silence. I call this sacred moments - "mommy-time" when I can sit down, take a breath and hear myself think. Look, I can even put pen to paper and reflect on the year that's gone past.

It is the early morning of the last day of the year - the day before the start of a new decade. Wasn't it just yesterday we were worried about y2k?

Well, it's over. The decade. The crazy year that was 09. Looking back I will remember 2009 as the year of frugality (this is the year I learned to budget wisely and realize that there's just some thing's you don't need like fabric softener or brand-name paper products). It was the year of living simply and realizing what's truly important - the love of family, the support of friends and a nice cup of coffee.

I am not making any lofty new year's resolutions instead I am writing a list of INTENTIONS. Eat less, exercise more, pray, love - it's the same every year - anyhow we always seem to break those resolutions even before the first month is over. So I think instead of making promises we can't keep, we should DECLARE our INTENTIONS. Write them down on a slip of paper, keep it under your pillow or ceremoniously burn them and send them up to the heavens. BLOG about it, TWEET them to the world or just TELL A FRIEND. By doing this - we become ACCOUNTABLE! Together, let's make this year MAGNIFICENT!

HAPPY NEW YEAR, sweet OC Families! Here's a little something to make you smile.

PS. Want to read my New Year's intentions and perhaps share yours? Go on over to http://suburbanmamas.wordpress.com during your quiet time and let's chat over a nice cup of coffee (or tea, if you prefer.)

Baby Loves Disco Grows Up

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 14:52:00 GMT

It’s hard to believe it’s been 5 years since baby learned to love disco; and almost 3 years since this video was taken at my first ever Baby Loves Disco Event in Philadelphia.It was a cold afternoon on the last day of the year, when my boys and I and another couple and their little girl celebrated Noon Year’s eve at hip happening club Shampoo. The scene was wild and fun, the concept was new. I was an instant fan.

Above: Check out my son at 1:14 – while his older rocked out he mostly stared at the lights.

Below:

Years later in Orange County he started dancing too – those are my boys to the left of the screen doing those John Travolta moves at 1:22 (via Jazz It Up Photo)

From a little party in Philadelphia, Baby Loves Disco spread throughout the nation and eventually became an international sensation. I happily got involved as a volunteer at the first OC BLD at the Shark Club in Costa Mesa. It was even there that I launched my photography business (Thanks Andrea!) and where I met the most awesome mommies like Andrea, Arianne, and Blythe in Orange County. (We had just moved from New Jersey, you see.)

My kids are little too big for BLD now but we’re still in search of an alternative family-oriented music-themed party! Recently I received news from the BLD Head Honchos Heather and Andy through their newsletter that Baby Loves Disco will be undergoing changes in 2010 --instead of monthly dance parties in different US cities, they will become a touring entity – yup, like a band or circus. BLD will take the show on the road.

Bring on the changes, like all our babies, this one’s growing up.

Too Late for Holiday Photos? Go Elf Yourself!

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 14:52:00 GMT

Crunch time! If you haven’t gone to one of the mall studios or had your photos done by a professional photographer yet, then you’re probably scrambling to find that one awesome picture taken of you and your whole family that you can print from your home computer. I know. That’s what I did and came up with a really cool picture that someone took of our family on my birthday in July!

The ironic thing is that I’m a photographer myself and I’ve taken lots of family holiday photos since October. Talk about foresight! These families probably had their photos printed and mailed right after Thanksgiving.

One of the coolest photo sessions I had this year was with Ms. Sharon and her grandkids – every year she gathers her grandkids and creates a scene from the Bible. Last year, she did the Nativity and this year, I was hired to photograph her six grandchildren as shepherds and angels. It took much patience and coordination but we pulled it off – it was a lot of fun to shoot and I think the family members (including the parents who acted as stylists, baby wranglers and props people) had a good time too.

Here it is:

Note: The Mutschler Grandkids' ages range from 3 months old to 11 years old.

With Christmas just a few days away, you still have time to take that holiday photo (surely you can squeeze it in can’t ya?) – get creative and use your home printer or take your images to the nearest digital lab (Costco, Walmart, Target etc.) You can also upload your image to a photo site like Shutterfly.com or Snapfish.com or Kodakgallery.com and pick them up at one of their outlets. I uploaded mine to Snapfish and picked up at Walmart. It’s too late to have the cards shipped. And mailing them is quite another matter…

But there is ALWAYS email right? You could email your friends and family your yearly newsletter with a few pictures or you could have some fun and do one of the following.

ELF YOURSELF

The guys at Jib Jab have done it again. The dancing elves are back. Remember you can upload up to five elves. Check me out as an elf getting my disco groove on. (Something you will never see me do in real life. :) )

http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/view/zGvTG4rp8OuTTZGQ

MAKE A COOL SLIDESHOW

You can use SLIDE.COM and set your images to the latest pop and rock tunes.

Check out SMILEBOX.COM where you can in their words “Share life’s moments in minutes.” Get creative – make an ecard or a slideshow with music.

And finally, this is something cool for the kiddies.

Go to http://portablenorthpole.tv and create a personalized message from the man himself, Santa, to your kids. I made a message for my boys and they came out fantastic!

Have a great Christmas everyone! Let me know about the coolest and most unusual cards you receive this year. Visit me on Facebook, Twitter or drop me a note at Suburban Mama's Contact Page.

Experience the Holidays the Disney Way

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 14:51:00 GMT

You know those families who are all about Mickey and everything Disney? Well, we’re not one of them. In fact, my boys haven’t even seen ALL the Disney animated movies (sacrilege!) nor have we purchased an annual pass to Disneyland. Nevertheless, it’s hard to escape the magic of the mouse (we watch him daily and join his clubhouse on TV after all). And it’s even harder to deny the fact that Disneyland is the happiest place on earth.

One rainy Saturday, we ventured into Mickey’s land and got lost in the magic.I was grateful to participate in their Family Media Day. What a great way to get into the holiday spirit.First we were treated to a little party at Aladdin’s Oasis where I bumped into fellow OC Family blogger @angryjulie and members of the Latino press.I chatted with one mama who said she worked for Reuters and when I mentioned I blogged and contributed to OC Family Magazine, she said “Es en Espanol?”“No todavia,” I replied.(paging Churm Media).

They’ve got the place all decked out for the holidays. So if you are feeling a little bah-humbug, get thee to Disneyland and get into the spirit.You can’t miss with the holiday transformations of “Haunted Mansion” and “It’s a Small World;” the giant tree on Main Street; the Christmas Fantasy Parade and hello, Santa and his Reindeer at Frontierland.

We made the mistake of riding Splash Mountain first – we ended up being wet and cold the rest of the day. But it was fun! Then it was time to split up – my hubby and 8 year old son took off for the bigger rides like Space Mountain and Matterhorn, while my four year old and I explored Fantasyland where we rode the train, Dumbo, Pinocchio, and the Carousel. When we were in the teacups, we had a great view of the Parade! (Hubby text messaged that they were still waiting in line!)

Our rendezvous point was Toontown where we snacked on hotdogs and got ready for our final destination: “It’s a Small World.”What a perfect end to our day and a great start to the season.

Next week: Disney on Ice* at the Honda Center.Hmmm…before long we may just turn out to be one of those families. Hotdiggitydog!

*PS. Special discount code on Disney on Ice tickets. Check out my blog.

December at the O.C. Zoo and Irvine Regional Park

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 14:44:00 GMT

Recently a few OC Family Bloggers and I with kids in tow got a special behind-the-scenes look at the goings-on at the Orange County Zoo located inside the Irvine Regional Park. If you haven't been - you are totally missing out. It's one of our favorite places to visit, it's inexpensive and a great way to commune with nature.

At the zoo, we met the bears Yoyo and Nacho, the mountain lion, the screech owl and other cool creatures. There's even a petting zoo inside though it was closing by the time we got there. The zoo is open 10am - 3pm.

There is also an awesome Nature Center that shows the history of Orange County as well as flora and fauna native to our area. You don't have to wait till your kids' 3rd Grade Orange County Report to visit!!!

Note: This Saturday Dec. 19th Saturday there'll be some Christmas fun at
the Zoo - the animals will have some holiday treats, Santa and Mrs. Claus will also be on hand, along with crafts and face painting. And speaking of Santa, remember that the Christmas train runs till Dec. 23rd.

Santa Claus is coming to Orange County

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 14:44:00 GMT

I didn’t grow up with Santa Claus. Being raised Catholic meant that we focused more on the Birth of Jesus as the reason for Christmas. Add to that, coming from an Asian country, the idea of a white bearded man dressed in red and bearing gifts was a bit foreign. Plus we didn’t have chimneys.

When my eldest son was born, we made sure he had all the traditional Christmas trappings – Jesus born in a manger, and yes, Santa Claus. Our house in Southern New Jersey had a chimney so surely Santa had a way into our home to deliver presents – and to get to the cookies we had lovingly baked from scratch. We prepared reindeer food out of oats and tinsel and scattered it outside the front door. We even had a picture taken with Santa at the mall!

I stuck Christmas cards and photos onto the fridge and one day my then 2.5 y.o. son observed that the Santa in his photos was different from the Santa in Amanda’s photo. That was tricky. I explained that these were “assistant Santas” and that the real Santa was in the North Pole. He wrote a letter to Santa but I don’t think my explanation really satisfied him. It seems he went on “believing” for our sake and naturally, for the presents. I didn’t think he “believed” again until his baby brother was born two years later. It was as if Santa became “real” again and sharing the customs and traditions with his brother brought this mystery back to life.

So if you are looking to get a photo with the Man around Orange County one of these days, you could go to the mall or you could check out one of these cool events.

Take the night train and meet Santa. At the Irvine Park Railroad, activities include riding the Christmas train, story time with Mrs. Claus, games, and more.

This next event is in Long Beach but my fabulous friends Laura and Tracy organized it and it’s for a good cause. It’s more intimate than the other Santa sightings – with lots of activities beyond the usual photo op.

The fundraiser is Sunday, December 6th from 6 - 8 PM. 100% proceeds go to Breast Cancer Angels. For more information and to purchase tickets please visit www.AnEveningwithSanta.com.

An Evening with Santa

Another cool Santa sighting will be at the Orange County Market Place at the Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa. On Saturday November 28th, Santa Claus will arrive in a red 1929 Ford Roadster assisted by “Twinkie the Elf.” There will also be a toy and clothing drive that weekend. Bring a new toy or new clothing (unwrapped) for free admission, and a free 4X6" photo with Santa on day of your visit.

Of course, if you want to meet the man and the Mouse, hop on over to Disneyland and head on over to Big Thunder Ranch to hang out with Mr. and Mrs. Claus.

END

*Check out a special holiday song at Suburban Mama's blog

The new mommy uniform according to a celebrity stylist

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 14:44:00 GMT

This weekend I got the chance to meet celebrity stylist Sam Saboura (of Extreme Makeover fame) at a meet and greet event at Coldwater Creek in Seal Beach.

Okay, so Coldwater Creek isn’t top of mind when shopping for me but when Sam started making over store shoppers, I watched with admiration. Many of the women I met at the event were over 70 and they looked amazing.

It wasn’t the clothes they were wearing but their youthful spirit. But it took Sam’s style suggestions to TRANSFORM them – with a little color here and an accessory there – the change was instant. Unlike some so-called celeb stylists Sam wasn't mean or flamboyant. He was real and down-to-earth. His style tips were realistic and doable.

I didn’t get a makeover myself but I did manage to ask Sam for some style tips for mommies. (Here’s a video – which I so painstakingly edited myself – woot! Let me know what you think.)

Give up those Juicy sweatsuits and try some leggings and tunic tops. You can be comfy and stylish at the same time.

Do mothers lose their identities?

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 14:38:00 GMT

During our “meeting” at Peet’s Coffee Sunday morning, we thought of making a video to No Doubt’s “I’m Just a Girl” after seeing these guys belt out the Backstreet Boys.

I don’t know how we’ll pull it off exactly but it’s one of those crazy things that come up when you get some mommy bloggers together. I feel so fortunate to be part of remarkable group of creative, intelligent and funny bunch of women! Oh yes, it so happens that we are all moms too.

Isn’t it sad that too often women who have children forget that they were, CAN be and ARE creative, intelligent, funny and awesome. Those sleepless nights and shower-less days take its toll and you look into a mirror and you don’t recognize the person staring back at you. On bad days like these, you feel like a shell of your former self. On a good day you catch a glimpse of your child and suddenly you realize your purpose and you see life full of endless possibilities.

Motherhood is one of those things that despite all its wonderful aspects shakes you to your core – and makes you wonder about your identity. It makes you want to find, redefine and assert who you are inside. “What were you in a previous life?” I often ask mommies I meet – and of course they launch into their previous jobs – BK (before kids). But we are more than our jobs.

In my past life, I’ve been a teacher and TV producer. I’ve worked in the fields of fashion, publishing and radio. And through it all I’ve felt what kept me grounded was knowing what it was I was good at and what it was I enjoyed. My own struggle has been more about finding my purpose rather than discovering my identity.

What was it all for? What am I working towards? In a nutshell, I want to be the best wife to my husband and the best mom to my kids. But don’t we all?

In the words of Wanda Sykes, “I’ma Be Me.”