Day of the Dead!

Yep! That's right! One of my most favorite events is happening next Saturday, October 22nd. The Hollywood Forever Cemetery presents DIA DE LOS MUERTOS. This is some great fun for the entire family. The alters that folks create are absolutely out of this world! Last year Jeff and I took Betty Jane, who was then only 5 months old. We could only stay about an hour, but it wore her out! Here are some pictures form our outing...

The color and art were awesome!

One of my favorite alters.

This woman was great!

I think they were taking requests.

Me and my peanut :)

Hope to see you there!

xxoo

iThank You, Steve...

The  other day I was at The Grove and I passed by the Apple Store. It, of course, was packed and doing great business but there was also a little memorial in front of the store for the late Steve Jobs. Everyone, including myself, was taking pictures of it ( with their iPhones, of course). As I was reading all the heartfelt messages, I started to think about Steve Jobs, what he has created and how his innovation has enhanced my life.

I must have been around 13 or 14 when my dad bought us our very 1st home computer for Christmas. The Apple IIe! My sister (5 years old at the time) and I had been begging my parents for a computer all year long. One night I was babysitting my sister and we sneaked around the house looking for our Christmas presents. I being the older sister knew of all the great hiding places. I opened the attic door and there it was. A brand spankin' new Apple IIe computer. The sis and I were stoked! Now we just had to last until Christmas morning and not spill the beans that we know what the great Santa Claus is leaving for us... Fast forward to Christmas morning. My dad sent me over to open "the big present". Before I could even get the bow off my sister yells "It's a computer! Yay!"... Well, that about sums it up. She didn't quite get the logic that I had to unwrap the present FIRST before acknowledging what the present actually was. At any rate, the Apple IIe opened up a whole new world to me.

Now, I've got my various iPods in which I store and play all my favorite tunes and videos. I've got my very 1st iPod (the model before the click wheel) in my daughter's room where my husband and I have sung countless bedtime songs to her as she sweetly falls asleep on our shoulder. Now at 17 months she likes to play "DJ" and flip through the songs herself. I have another iPod for my running and have used it the LA and NYC marathons. I've got my iPhone which I use every day for scheduling, listening to music in the car, playing the ever popular "Words With Friends", entertaining my daughter on the plane with little videos and "Peek-a-boo Barn", oh yeah, and let's not forget talking with friends and family. The iPhone was also how I communicated (text, Facebook, calls) to the outside world when I was in the hospital giving birth to my beautiful daughter. That leads me to my MacBook Pro. Not to mention that I've used this computer to get a President elected, write scripts and edit several short films. But... this is also the machine that I used to edit and e-mail the photos of my daughter the day we brought her home. This machine edited video of her 1st spoken word as well as her 1st steps, lets her see and hear her grandparents who live across the country and assists her mom (that's me) document every sweet, special landmark of her young life.

Thank you, Steve Jobs... For your innovation... So that this mom can create such lasting memories. RIP...

  

xxoo

Rub-dub-dub...

A few of my favorite (baby) things for the... Bathroom! Along with plushy, soft towels and washcloths here are some of my top picks for tubby time.

I'm a huge fan of California Baby products! In a recent study, more than half of the baby products tested by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics were found to contain trace levels of formaldehyde and dioxane. Can you believe it? It's true. Here is a link to the list of those products that tested positive:

http://consumerist.com/2009/03/baby-products-now-with-formaldehyde.html

There are a lot of really wonderful baby bath products out there. I'm crazy about California Baby because they smell delightful, they are made in the USA, they do not contain formaldehyde or dioxane and, well, I live in California. Tee hee...

I have used this since Betty Jane was born. Loooove!

This is great for giving baby massages!

The Boon Frog Pod is pretty rad. There is a storage for your bath products and tubby time toys. Plus, there is a drainable scoop which helps in avoiding soap scum and mildew issues.

The Ecowool Sheepskin Rug (long natural length) is something I never would have thought of getting. I received it as a baby shower gift and we have used it every night until Betty Jane was about 15 months. It's so soft and cushy. Great for after bathtime when your giving baby massages and getting baby ready for beddie bye. I highly recommend this sweet, little item!

 Wishing you loads of tubby time fun!!! xxoo

Yummy, Nummy Mac & Cheese!

Ok, so I'm not that gifted in the area of cooking, BUT... thanks to this delicious recipe in COOKING FOR BABY by Lisa Barnes I can make a mean mac and cheese! It takes about 30 minutes to make and you can freeze it or you can pop in the fridge for up to 3 days. I altered the recipe a little bit and used vegetable wheat pasta plus I added a bunch of broccoli. I also didn't add any salt or pepper. In my opinion, it really doesn't need it. Oh, and the added bonus... My kiddo loooooooves it!

Bon appetit!

P90X... It's not just for adults!

Who says that P90X is only for grown-ups? Betty Jane is obviously proving them wrong. Introducing... B(aby)90X!!!!

A few of my favorite (baby) things...

... In the kitchen!

I've recently been asked by a few new moms to give them recommendations on what they REALLY need when their little one arrives. So I've decided to take it room by room starting with the kitchen. To be honest, you don't need a whole lot, but these are a few key items that I could not have lived without while Betty Jane grew from a newborn baby to a toddler.

The Evenflo glass bottle with silicone sleeve (8 ounce and 4 ounce). I know it's a personal choice, but I love glass bottles. To me, they always seemed "cleaner" after 100 washings than BPA-free plastic bottles. I'm sure most bottles are fine, but like I said, it's a personal choice. One of the reasons I love these bottles is that the silicone sleeves are REALLY easy to remove and clean!

Now, if you're planning on making your own baby food, I highly recommend COOKING FOR BABY by Lisa Barnes. Yummy, nummy recipes!!!!

Next up we have the Beaba Babycook Baby Food Maker. It's not a necessity, but it will make your life a whole lot easier.

I chose the Munchkin Fresh Food Freezer Cups to store all my baby food in. I like it because they are individual silicone cups so I can just defrost as much as I need. They also make great "on-the-go" snack containers for your little one's toddler years.

I chose to serve Betty Jane's baby food in these multi-colored ceramic souffle dishes. They are just the right size and, again, no plastic BPA mumbo-jumbo to worry about.

It seems that moms are always looking for the ultimate sippy cup. You know... One that doesn't leak, has a soft spout and, most importantly, one that your little one will drink out of! For me, I have found that the Nuby No Spill Sipper works the best. Believe me, I've tried a lot and I have a huge sippy cup graveyard.

Now we get to self-feeding which is always a very messy process. I love the Boon Catch Bowl. It's got a suction at the bottom to your sweet little peanut can't toss it overboard.

Those are my recs! Happy feasting!!!!

"Let Me Entertain You..."

"Let me make you smile!"... Betty Jane certainly put some truth into that song. At least for me she did. I predict she's either going to be a pianist, a private detective or just an all around cute kiddo. I'll take any or all of the above.

Enjoy!
xxoo

Glass Marble Magnets

I’ve had a lot of compliments and requests in regards to the glass marble magnets that I made as party favors for Betty Jane’s 1st Birthday party. Soooooo... Here’s the skinny on how to create your own magnets. They are super-duper easy and, seriously, who doesn’t love cute refrigerator magnets?

There are a lot of DIY websites out there that have step-by-step instructions. This is the one I used:
http://www.diylife.com/2007/09/13/making-magnets-from-flat-glass-marbles/ 
If you don’t like this site all you have to do is Google “How to make Glass Marble Magnets” and you’ll find TONS of DIY blogs and websites to choose from.

As for getting my supplies, I ordered everything from Wholesalers USA. I had a hard time finding the flat glass marble size that I wanted and this site had a great selection. Plus, the price is right! From what I’ve heard, you can sometimes find the magnets at the $1 Store. I’ve checked 3 in my area and haven’t had any luck. Boo...

Here’s what I ordered:

Glass Gems
http://www.wholesalersusainc.com/large-glass-gems-clear-noniridized-3840mm-p-365.html

Magnets
http://www.wholesalersusainc.com/ceramic-magnets-pieces-20mm-p-2222.html

Glue (I used Diamond Glaze, but the E6000 is great too.)
http://www.wholesalersusainc.com/adhesives-c-71.html

I designed all the graphics I used on my computer and printed them on white cardstock. I would suggest using a heavier paper as opposed to thin scrapbook paper. You’ll find it works with the adhesive better.

Happy Magnet Making! Let me know if you have any questions!

The Marimekko Shop!

Ever since my mom designed my little sister's room using Marimekko fabric and wall designs, I have been a huge fan. So, since they opened a Marimekko Shop at my local Crate & Barrel (2 blocks from my house which is VERY dangerous!) I just had to give a visit. They have lots of eye pleasing products from goodies for the little one to kitchen gear to bedding. And yes, they do sell fabric by the yard if you want to make your own Marimekko creations!


Of course, my favorite was their bedding collection. Fun designs with bold colors!

Marimekko Suudelma Bed Linens

Or, for a more natural look...

Marimekko Madison Taupe Bed Linens

 

 

 

Now, the item I was least impressed with were the handbags. If I'm going to spend $85 on a bag I want it to be sturdy and well-made. As cute as they are, when I checked out these bags I found them to be flimsy.

Great fabric design, but it wasn't even lined! NOT worth $85 in my opinion. Seriously, you could buy the fabric and make a great bag for well under 85 bucks.

So, if you're going to check out the shop, or the website, I would go directly to the kitchen and bath wares, the bedding (obviously) and the kid's items. Really cute stuff!!!

Good Eats For Baby!

So, I was one of those women who said (when I was pregnant) that I wasn't going to make my own baby food. It seemed like a huge time commitment and the organic jar food was just fine. Well, I am also one of those moms who has to eat her words. I've found a great pleasure in making Betty Jane's baby (now toddler) food and surprisingly it really doesn't take a whole lot of time. I just needed 3-4 baby-free hours in the afternoon and I could whip up enough baby food to last me at least 6 weeks. I know this isn't for every mom or dad out there, but for me it was really doable and I felt better about what Betty Jane was eating.

I use 2 resources for recipes and nutritional information. One is a website called Wholesome Baby Food. This is a quick and easy website to use for information on recipes, what foods can make your baby a bit gassy, nutrition info, how to store your baby food, allergy information plus a great timeline about what foods your baby can eat at a particular age. Definitely worth a gander!

The other resource I use is a book called Cooking For Baby by Lisa Barnes. This is a really wonderful book to get you started on your purees and then branch off into more exotic dishes to introduce to your baby's palette. This truly is a terrific cook book!

"Cooking for Baby" by Lisa Barnes

Some of my favorite dishes are the Baby Guacamole, Green Beans with Mint and the Aromatic Couscous.

À votre santé!

Sneak-Peek!

I don't have the proofs yet from Betty Jane's Classic Kids 1 year photo shoot, but my cousin sent me a little sneak peek. I can't wait to see them all!!!

 

She did some photos with Betty Jane in a tutu. I don't know if I'll be able to contain myself.

À votre santé!

"1" Year Photo with Classic Kids

While we were on our adventure packed trip to Chicago for Betty Jane's 1st birthday, we worked it out so that Betty Jane could get some beautiful and artistic pictures taken. My cousin is the head photographer at Classic Kids (Hinsdale, IL location) so, of course, we went to her. I know her work well since she did my pregnancy pictures. I must say that I was so impressed with how well they worked with kids. Betty Jane was all smiles and she even gave a pout-y look or 2. I have plans for her to be a super-model/rocket scientist (wink, wink) and it looks like she's on her way!

Betty Jane and my cousin, Jamie Polowy, Head Photographer Classic Kids, Hinsdale, IL

I don't have the proofs back from the shoot yet, but here are my favorites from my pregnancy shoot. They are absolutely beautiful!!!

My favorite!

Ok, so here's the plug! If you're considering professional pictures for your child, check out Classic Kids. They really do such wonderful work!

Betty Jane's 1st Birthday Party!

It's true! My sweet little baby girl is turning "1"... sniff, sniff. It's been such a crazy year that I wanted to not only celebrate the fact that Betty Jane is 1 year old, but also the fact that Mommy and Daddy made it through the first year with their sanity in tact. At least, I THINK I still have my sanity. The hubby may beg to differ. Anyhoo... On with the festivities! As I mentioned in a previous post, I purchased a digital party package from Etsy. I chose a "Sweet Monkey" theme for my little monkey with pink and yellow accent colors. The Digital Party Packages are great because you only print up and use what you need. Yes, it's a little extra time and effort with all the cutting and assembling, but in the end it was a lot less waste. Plus, I had a blast putting everything together!

Here is the banner I made. I printed everything on white cardstock and used a yellow satin ribbon (which I purchased for 15 cents a yard) to string it all together. I love that "Happy 1st Birthday Betty Jane" fit perfectly across my living room.

 

I had a greeting table where I placed flowers, Betty Jane's Birthday Hat (which she hated wearing), party favors and a picture of Betty Jane for everyone to write her a birthday wish.

 

For the party favors, I made glass marble magnets. I decided to get really original and design the animal graphics myself. I know... I'm nuts. But I just can't pass up an artsy-craftsy project when I see the opportunity. Anyhoo, they turned out super cute!

The party was at 1:30pm so I wasn't preparing a full lunch. I put out some yummy hummus with veggies and pita chips and then made a couple of salads. The Chicken Curry Salad with raisins and cashews was pretty great. I also made a Quinoa Cranberry Salad with celery and sunflower seeds which was so refreshing for our beautiful Spring day. For the adults I baked banana/chocolate chip muffins with chocolate frosting on top. As for the Betty Jane and the other little babes, I made them a sugar free Apple Spiced Baby Cake. Yummies!!!

 

The party was a huge success! Everyone, especially the Birthday Girl, had a wonderful time. Cheers!

Tra-la-la... Baby Tunes!!

We're big music lovers in my household and I'm a big believer that music has an influence on the development of a baby's brain. So we have all types of tunes playing on the iPod throughout the day. Some of our favorite playtime music is Reggae (Bob Marley, Toots and the Mayhals), Calypso (Yay, Harry Belafonte!), Swing (Glen Miller, The Andrew Sisters, The Brian Setzer Orchestra), Bossa Nova, some folksie stuff (Peter Paul and Mary, Simon and Garfunkel) and even some Van Morrison (this is more for Mommy than it is for baby). We do have one favorite musical artist who is specifically for kids and this is Justin Roberts. If you're a parent and you haven't heard of him I would check out his website... IMMEDIATELY! His music is so much fun and some of his tunes even make me a bit weepy... sigh... I'm not the biggest fan of "children's" music, but, as an adult, I really enjoy listening to his works.

Now for my "Beddie Bye" playlist. I've been using this playlist since Miss Betty Jane 1st came home. They are more soothing ballads rather than traditional lullabies. Do they work? Well, she's been sleeping through the night since she was 3 1/2 months old so I must be doing something right. Here's my list:

Cry Me A River - Diana Krall (At times the lyrics were somewhat fitting.)
Come Away With Me - Norah Jones
Georgia On My Mind - Ray Charles
Ruby Tuesday - Franco Battiato (From "The Children of Men" soundtrack.)
Moon River - Henry Mancini
Love Me Tender - Elvis Presley
Blue Moon - Elvis Presley
Edelweiss - "The Sound of Music" soundtrack
The Very Thought Of You - Tony Bennett
Fix You - Coldplay
Yellow - Coldplay
Fruit Jar - Justin Roberts
Rocketship - Justin Roberts
Blowin' In The Wind - Peter, Paul & Mary


These are my personal favorites and they seem to work like a charm. Here's wishing all the parents of little ones some peaceful sleep!

À votre santé!

Hoppy Easter!!!

Wishing you a wonderful Easter! Bwwwaaak, Bwwwaaak!

Birthday Dresses!!!

With Betty Jane's 1st Birthday party right around the corner, I've been checking out tons of sites in search for her dress. Well, dress(es)... since she's having 2 parties. I may sound like a completely Type A mom, but I didn't want to get anything that was too busy due to the fact that it would clash with the birthday decorations. I know... Flame me now. But we do have pictures to think about, right?  Plus,  I think the child should be the one that shines and not the dress (or the decor, for that matter). So with that in mind, I think I have made my decision.

Now, I absolutely LOVE the clothes at "Janie and Jack" and "The Gap" and I know that Betty Jane will only have a "1sy Birthday Party" once, but honestly, I can't justify spending $60+ on a dress that she is probably only going to wear once. So I looked on Etsy, the offers at Zulily, Children's Place, Babies R Us, Gymboree, Target and Carter's. And the winner is... Carter's! Hands down, they have the cutest Spring dresses out there and the prices are pretty easy on the pocketbook. Love that! So, here are my choices...

This is a white woven dress with little neon pink hearts embroidered on the front. Very sweet and elegant for a 1st birthday. At $14 the price is pretty elegant too. I thought for her 2nd party we could get a bit more colorful so I chose this one...

 This orange and pink flowered cotton sateen dress came in at $12.99. Can't beat that!

I'm so excited to get some pictures of my sweet Betty Jane in these little numbers! Until then...

À votre santé!

Ma Fille, Betty Jane

I find it fitting that I begin this blog with an introduction to my daughter due to the fact that she has opened up a whole new wonderful chapter into my life. Named after her Great-Grandmother, Betty Jane, she is currently 11 months old and THE light of my life. I know it's cliche and it's been said so many times before, but I never knew that I could love someone so much. Being one of those people who was kind of "Blah" whenever the baby conversation came about, I have turned 180 degrees. Everyday is truly amazing with her and it keeps getting better. I don't know how, but it does.

 

Betty Jane

Seriously, did you really think you were going to get away from this blog without seeing a picture of my sweetie pie?

The lucky girl is having two 1st Birthday parties. One in Los Angeles (Mommy is hosting) and one in Chicago (Grandma is hosting). So, as you can probably guess, I'm in the midst of birthday party hoopla. So far I've decided on a Sweet Monkey theme from a printable party package that I found on Etsy. By the way, if you haven't used Etsy as a resource for wonderful handmade items, I highly recommend it. Especially their items for babies and children. Cute, unique and AFFORDABLE!!! I purchased some artwork for Betty Jane's nursery and they were able to do the prints in the colors that I wanted. That's another thing... if you ask the seller nicely, many times you can get things that are custom made to your liking. Yay for that!

À votre santé!