I’ve been hearing about this event for years, and finally plan to make it. I’m personally not running (pulling the new-baby card), but I signed my husband and kids up. Sounds like a killer photo op.
The Run always sounds so fun every year and it fills up my Twitter feed often, so I’m excited to check out the race in person. And it sounds so cute with the kids “Mud Puddle” race.
If you’re thinking about running, here is some mud scoop:
-March 31st at scenic Oak Canyon Park
-5k off-road course traversing trails, and hills, starting and finishing at picturesque Irvine Lake in Silverado Canyon
-features professionally built obstacles including jump walls, ramps, crawl tubes, a mud slide, water drenching experiences, and more mud pits than any mud run in the world
-Richard Blade from KROQ will be there
-parking lots open at 6:30 a.m. and the morning waves begin with individual heats at 8 a.m.
-the “Mud Puddles” kid’s race follows the last open team wave. Then Dirty Dodgeball competition kicks off at 12 p.m.
-expect food vendors and the Action Sports & Eco Fair Booths and two live bands
-over 30 showers and several “fire hoses” will be available for runners to rinse off.
Hope to see you all there for some good clean fun (you know what I mean). Something tells me I’m going to get muddy even though I’m not running (note to family: no group hug post-run).
A lot of things have changed since I’ve had my older kids. Like these funky feeders that I’m using with my new baby, Fox. Take a look at these wild brand-new bottles for baby. They’re the ‘Natural-Feel Baby Bottle.’ Now, I know you can’t get your hands on them as there’s no touch-a-vision app I know of yet, but take my word they feel like real skin: a soft silicone that flexes.
Every time I use one, people comment: “Is this a baby bottle? I’ve never seen this.” And my pediatrician really flipped: “What is this? So different!”
They’re called Comotomo bottles. It comes from a designer’s simple question: “Why is it that baby bottles are the same old unflattering tools?”
Some more insight/backstory they shared: “After all, isnt the baby experiences through all five senses? And why should mothers have to worry about toxic plastic and colic inducing design for something so basic and important? We found no good reason and decided to challenge the status quo.”
They look cool, give your baby consistent sensations with nursing, are 100% BPA free, are flexible, let you ditch the ick bottle brushes, have colic-preventing technology and an even flow. I quite dig them (as I love all things modern, green and fashion forward, even baby bottles).
Have a baby or know someone with a new baby? Comotomo is doing a great giveaway with me here for the next week. Just comment on this post and say why you might like to win the complete set. The winner (picked randomly on 2.3.12) scores the below:
Do you know this California greeting card company? Greeting Card Universe is the largest online destination for uncommon paper greeting cards. The cards are only $3.00 and you can customize them for free.
Now if you’re thinking paper cards are dead and e-cards are everywhere, think again. With the holidays season, we’re reminded how fun it is to get cards in the mailbox. I myself forget about that treat. So I thought I’d share this great resource with all the upcoming reasons to send greetings: New Year’s wishes, thank you cards for gifts and more.
So if you have a greeting to send, you might want to check out Greeting Card Universe (they literally have cards for ANY occasion imaginable), and they have fun sentiments like these below. And by the way, you can have a GCU artist create a original card within 48 hrs.
Discovery Science Center has some sweet fun for kids on through Jan. 1. We hit ‘The Science of Gingerbread” yesterday for an OC Blogger after-hours party, and the scene was a hit with all. The kids bounced from the many gingerbread houses on display to seeing Santa to building-your-own-candy-car racer and finally to the Star Wars area.
There’s much to do and see on at The Cube. The gingerbread houses instantly put you in the spirit and it was great to see all the creativity (from upside down designs to butterfly themes). And all kids will flock to the gingerbread Star Wars creations I’m sure.
After the kids got their gingerbread on and out of their system, we hit the Star Wars area at The Cube. And need I say more, what kid doesn’t love all the sci-fi gadgetry of Star Wars.
With the children out of school next week, the Discovery Science Center is a great way to keep the kids busy and smartly entertained. Details on the particulars below:
Daily Holiday Activities:
Participate in hands-on kitchen science activities
Find out all about kitchen tools, recipe science and more
See award-winning Gingerbread Competition entries
Special Holiday Activities (Dec 10-11 & Dec 17-Jan 1)*:
Visit Santa and take your photo with him
11:00am – 3:00pm
Decorate holiday cookies and eat them too
11:00am, 1:00pm & 3:00pm
Create a cookie car and compete in our Gingerbread Derby
12:00pm, 2:00pm, 4:00pm
Matter of Taste Stage Show
11:30am, 12:30pm, 2:30pm, 3:30pm, 4:30pm
This Saturday, December 17, The Montage Laguna Beach will be hosting The Geffen Playhouse Story Pirates. Montage guests and the Laguna Beach Community are both invited to the 2-3pm event.
What’s Story Pirates, you say? It’s a fun-filled comedy musical performance that showcases creative writing by students from across the country, performed by the best professional comedians and improvisers in Los Angeles. The nationally recognized arts and literacy organization engages students in under-resourced public schools by showing them that their ideas, words and stories are important.
Even Jon Stewart’s a fan, see what he says here:
For more on Story Pirates, visit http://storypirates.org Space is limited by the way. To sign up, contact: (949) 715-6005, or visit montagelagunabeach.com. More details below.
What would the holidays be without The Nutcracker by Festival Ballet Theater? FBT’s beautiful ballet is an annual tradition for so many Orange County families. I catch up with three of the main stars: the Clara’s cast in the show (and be sure to watch till the end when my ‘Little Mice’ chimes in).
FBT once again hosts an array of talent and some of ABT’s best guest artists. You’ll find the sets are magical and costumes are charming . The Nutcracker show run December 10-24, so you have various opportunities to see it before the curtain drops on the final show Christmas Eve. You can choose from night or afternoon shows, pick up one of many gorgeous nutcrackers in the lobby pre- and post-show and just create very special memories for your family.
I’m such a fan of FBT because of their dedication to the craft and the passion from the Director, Salwa Rizkalla. For more than 20 years, she has given students amazing opportunities and entertained OC with top-notch performances. Salwa also runs Southland Ballet Academy, where students get their start and learn all kinds of dance.
My girl started with SBT last year. Here is her first stage performance in last year’s FBT Nutcracker that speaks volumes to the opportunities of the SBT program. Take a look at some of OC’s future talent.
So ring in the holidays with The Nutcracker once again for 2011. Tickets are $4o for adults and $35 for children. Click for performance times, and enjoy some charming OC and FBT tradition.
The Montage in Laguna Beach is always beautiful whatever time of the year. But during the holidays, it’s especially lovely–from the dining and decor to the warm, cozy, comfortable ambiance of the resort. We visited for Thanksgiving and it was delightful. With us just having a new baby, it was so wonderful to skip the cooking and just enjoy the day with our new family of five. (I’m sure many moms can relate new baby or not.)
We dined in the Masterpiece Grand Ballroom for a buffet that was abundantly delicious for all of us (half of our family is Vegetarian). Executive Chef Rob Wilson (below) kindly walked us through the offerings and made a point to call out the Children’s Buffet area, which was so thoughtful at a child’s height with quaint PB& J sandwiches, macaroni and cheese and much more. The kids adored all their choices and fancy sparkling cider. It’s adorable when resorts go out of their way to make the younger ones feel special.
The Montage offered family portraits upon arrival and had picture-perfect holiday decorations throughout the buffet. The space was inviting, open, airy and truly had all one could wish and want for.
The vast menu started with Butternut Squash Bisque for a soup selection, an endless, vibrant Salad Station (I enjoyed the Baby Spinach with Warm Pancetta Cider Vinaigrette with seasonal berries and Heirloom Tomatoes), and the Artisan Cheese and Wine area was divine with rare and exotic farm cheeses, nuts and red and white pairings. Other stations included the Sushi Roll Selection, Smoked Salmon Display, an On Ice variety of shrimp, crab and more and, of course, a Carving station with organic turkey and prime rib. Accompaniments included all from leeks and apricot stuffing to crisp, fresh green beans. And a bread display satisfied every carb craving you could have. Finally, everyone’s favorite, the Dessert Bar was irresistible; I’m embarrassed to say how often my husband and the kids revisited the artistic sweet selections that overflowed from red velvet varieties and warm pumpkin crepes to apple cinnamon crisp and on and on and on.
The Montage will be putting on an equally exquisite buffet for Christmas with a unique menu in the Master Ballroom, or you may dine at The Loft or The Studio on the resort property. Those dining included many locals, so if you go, know you’ll be among friends as always at The Montage. The resort is very local-friendly and it’s a wonderful place close by to escape to with a laid-back essence that’s welcoming and friendly. We spent time in the hotel playing checkers by the fireplace after our buffet and thoroughly enjoyed the moments to relax and spend quality time with our family.
Kudos to Chef Wilson and the Director of Banquets Javad Mirtavoosi on an elegantly exquisite holiday. And here’s to the other holidays ahead from New Year’s to Easter and the ever-popular Mother’s Day dining.
After 8 long, stressful days in NICU since our baby arrived early, we needed a big dose of some Disney magic–some lighthearted fantasy, the escape of a holiday wonderland. So our first outing with our new baby was Disneyland! Some probably thought I was crazy to be out and about so fast, but it was just the fix our family needed.
You see our new boy was born on my daughter’s birthday and “It’s okay, Mom” was all I heard for that week, as her party got cancelled, she slept in hospitals, she ate her grocery cake next to my Mission Hospital bedside and, well you get the picture. She was a trooper through it all, but I saw the deep, disappointment of her invisible 8th birthday that I just couldn’t seem to fix. Not many things can make up for a year of anticipated hopes and little girl dreams.
Luckily, Disneyland just so happened to be hosting a holiday blogger preview event. So we gathered ourselves, and ungracefully stumbled out the door as our new family of five.
My girl beamed, giddy with the promise of the special escape. “Mommy, the castle was so beautiful!” “The reindeer were the best.” “The rides were so much fun.” And she beamed as we hit the holiday party later that night. It was so fantastic to see her having fun, getting lost in the moment and finally getting her special day.
Indeed we all had fun, forgetting the stress of our very long week and becoming normal again … socializing, laughing, walking amongst the magical decor. Sometimes nothing other than Disneyland can fix the big things. Let’s face it, it’s tough times economically, the holidays can bring stress and sadness, and many other factors get magnified. So if you need a holiday boost, Disneyland can really work its magic. It did for us. We are so blessed to have our happy, healthy bundle of joy. And when it comes to memories, I’m sure my girl will always remember her belated 8th birthday celebrated at Disneyland.
So if you can relate (whatever your circumstance), pick you fantasy day to get away and get lost in all the holiday spirit. There’s much to see and do in 2011, from the new toon-themed cartoon-style Christmas tree this season for the 2011 holidays at Disneyland Resort. Check out the seasonal addition to the “World of Color” nighttime water spectacular. Holiday favorites return with “A Christmas Fantasy” parade, the nightly snowfall on Main Street, U.S.A, and the special holiday versions of Haunted Mansion and “it’s a small world” Holiday. And in Fantasyland, holiday guests will find the traditional snowdrifts and icicles adorning Sleeping Beauty’s Winter Castle. Then top the day off with a “Believe … in Holiday Magic” fireworks night show. For more details, visit www.disneyland.com/holidays and for hotel and ticket offers, visit www.disneyland.com/offers.
Happy holidays, all. Enjoy the magic of the season.
I’ve never seen the show, but heard nothing but fantastic things about the rockin’, creative “Blue Men.” If you always wanted to catch them, or see them again, then lucky you–as they are on their North American Tour and performing right here in OC at the Segerstrom Center for the Performing Arts Nov. 8-20th. I love not having to jet off to Vegas, New York or elsewhere to see this show!
USA Today called them a “high-octane theatrical experience, a must see.” And The New York Times said, “The show rocks!” Here’s a look at some of the high-octane you can expect at the show.
The shows combine comedy, music and multimedia theatrics. And more than 17 million people around the world have experienced the party atmosphere of a Blue Man Group live event.
I say take the whole family; I bet the kids will be blown away and mesmerized, and it’s a show they’ll always remember. It’s also a great musical firestarter for imaginations. You could also make it a date night; I know my husband has been talking about seeing this show forEVER.
The show runs 1 hour and 40 minutes with no intermission. And tickets start at $25. For more info, visit SCFTA.org or www.blueman.com/nationaltour. Only advice is book fast if you don’t have tickets, as you only have less than a two-week window to go.
Pregnant and due any week now, I’m considering having pregnancy photos taken. Did you have any taken/still love yours? I never had any shot with my other kids as I always prematurely delivered. And, honestly, I was always a bit uneasy about the somewhat contrived shots and strange attire (you know what I mean?). Add to all that, the cankles, double chin and all-over puffy factor and I just never felt glam enough to give it a go.
Perhaps I have missed out though, as I see some of the shots here from Heather and am jealous of these lifetime images/memories these women have and may never get the chance to have again. And the organic (and also stylized) nature of the photos pretty much blows me away. If you feel the same and are considering some shots, you may want to check out Heather of A La Mode photo. She’s the only California MATERNITY & PREGNANCY PHOTOGRAPHER to be featured on GOOD MORNING AMERICA, CBS THE EARLY SHOW and DR. PHIL. To see why she is considered the best, watch her VIDEOS.
Here are a few of her shots also to give you a sense of her style.
Heather, who also offers children, family and wedding photography, offers both film and digital as well as a wide range of photo products. And uniquely, part of the experience she provides for clients is in designing one-of-a kind wardrobes for my pregnancy sessions (I love this angle.). ”My pregnant clients are always so excited to come to their photo shoot because I tailor the wardrobe for each individual as if I am fashion designer and magician all in one,” she adds. That’s pretty awesome.
Heather shared some Top Pregnancy Photo Tips to also keep in mind if a session is in your future:
Whether indoors or outdoors, pick a natural, tranquil scene as your background. Heather’s personal favorite backdrop is the beach.
Try to find a place with very few people. Be careful of trash cans and other items in the background that might detract focus from you.
Wear something that shows off your pregnant belly and will look good in both color and black and white photos.
Heather likes to wrap her pregnant subjects in material to accentuate the belly while the excess fabric flows romantically in the wind. Visit your local fabric store and pick up 6 yards of chiffon material.
Change up your poses. Don’t be afraid to experiment.
Pictures where the mom-to-be is looking down at and holding her stomach always look beautiful.
Relax. Ask a friend or loved one to shoot you. Knowing that someone who already sees you as beautiful is taking the pictures is enough to put your mind at ease. And have fun.
Enjoy the moment. Heather understands that when looking down at your pregnant self, you feel very wide. Just remember how stunning you’ll feel looking back at those pictures.
