Me: “Rhys, how old are you? Are you two?”
Rhys: “No, no two.”
No two, huh? Yeah, bud. You and me both. I can’t believe it, either.
Archive for Mommy Blog – Page 2
A very happy second birthday to my sweet Rhys!
The two things I love most in this world.
It’s my pleasure to introduce Elizabeth Street, a sophisticated website showcasing stylish moms from cities around the globe. It’s a place to be inspired by fashion, travel, children’s products, entertaining. I’m honored to be newly featured on the site alongside the likes of Rachel Zoe, Busy Phillips, Candace Nelson and more. You can view my profile and learn more about the site here.
An excerpt from the site:
Elizabeth Street is:
- An international collective of chic moms who know that life is best lived with style
- Your global destination for discoveries in fashion, food, street chic, travel, design, and family life
- A favorite new clutch, a strong macchiato, your child’s next birthday cake, your next island retreat, a hidden Paris bistro, the ultimate summer camp, a digital photography class
- Where style is measured by taste, not a price tag
- A place where children benefit through ElizabethST charitable donations
- A state of mind
- You
I invite you to join in this great online community to share and learn from other mothers like you!
Dear Friends,
Please forgive the absence of posts of late. Summer is in full swing, and we’ve been traveling all over the country–2 road trips, 4 flights. We visited 5 states in just the past 2 weeks. I promise to share photos and tales of our adventures on the road, so please stay tuned. In the meantime, enjoy your summer!
Hi LA Moms! Club MomMe and Baby Gizmo have teamed up to make the tedious task of traveling with baby easier for you. They’ll chat gear, tips and tricks that will surely simplify your next trip. They’ll have giveaways, gifts bags, and more! For full event details, click here, and for $5 of tickets, use the code SLMomMe. Have fun!
FREE childcare by urbansitter. Presented by Britax.
Wednesday July 18 at 1 pm at Right Start in Manhattan Beach.
As a mother, my day usually begins the same way. I am woken up by the sound of my baby crying. I walk into the nursery, pick Rhys up from the crib, change his diaper, then make him breakfast while he plays with his 2 month baby toys entertaining himself. The morning ritual is so engrained in my mind that I can do it while half asleep, before a single sip of industrial-strength coffee.
I am fortunate to start my days this way. I am happy to have a healthy son, the means to care for him, to clothe him, to feed him and tend to his every need. Not every mother is so lucky. Many families struggle to provide basic needs for their children. Some are forced to make the choice between diapers and clothes for their babies. Some are in danger of having their family torn apart by the DCFS simply because they can’t afford a crib for their child, which can be considered grounds for child abuse/neglect. Thankfully, Baby 2 Baby is there to help.
Baby 2 Baby is Los Angeles based organization that collects new and gently used clothing and gear, and distributes to families in need through several community-based organizations. I had the pleasure of volunteering at their warehouse at a recent event organized by Sara of Salt+Nectar.
Each item donated is then hand selected to be given to one individual in need. Circular cards hang on the tree in the center of the warehouse, bearing the name, age, and interests of a child, and what items that child is in need of. In turn, volunteers then fill a bag based on that criteria specifically for that child. Two shirts, three pair of shorts, a sweatshirt, a book, and a developmental toy all went to the first child whose name I plucked from the tree. It was moving to break down the cycle of donation to such a basic level, to realize how little these children have, and how much they really do need. It made me highly aware of how much Rhys has, and how much of it he’ll never really use… clothes he grew out of before he had a chance to wear, duplicate toys he was given at his birthday party… the list, embarrassingly enough, goes on. But now, those things have been donated to Baby 2 Baby and are moving on to another less fortunate child.
If you have the time, I highly encourage stopping by to volunteer at Baby 2 Baby. They can use help every day of the week, and are open to volunteers of all ages. Donations can be made in person at the Baby 2 Baby warehouse at 6435 Wilshire Blvd in Los Angeles. Additionally, some children’s boutiques around town accept donations as well. If you’re on the eastside of LA, Naya’s Garden and Yolk both collect donations–just keep an eye out for the bright green logo on the canvas donation bags. For a list of items accepted, as well as more information on the organization, please visit Baby 2 Baby.
Stop right there! Make no assumptions. This dining trip was entirely my idea, not my husband’s. “Really?” you ask. “Hooters?” Yes. I understand you’re puzzled. I get it. Here’s the thing: I love Hooters. I do. I love the campiness, the unabashed tackiness. I love the grilled cheese, curly fries, buffalo shrimp, the key lime pie. And yes, all of those items were dropped at our table on this visit.
When did my love for Hooters emerge? Well, friends, sit and stay awhile. Before my days as a wife, as a party planner, as a mom, I, myself, rocked those little orange Dolphin shorts. Yep. You heard me. I was a Hooters Girl, and I loved every moment of it. During college, I waited tables, then tended bar, pouring pitchers of beer night after night. I transitioned into management, then climbed up another rung to claim the position of corporate training manager, traveling to open new stores every few months. It was by far the most fun job I ever had. Where else could I have won a free trip to Hawaii simply for selling the most Miller Lite to thirsty guys? Yes, I went to Honolulu for five days, all expenses paid, with my roomie who won the same contest at her Hooters across town.
Hooters has a sense of community that spans between the girls, the cooks, the managers, and even the regulars. Well, some of the regulars. Hooters was the Greek sorority I never joined. Some of my best girlfriends today are the ones who worked along side me, slinging chicken wings on roller skates, pouring pitchers of beer while hula-hooping. (Yes, I am that talented.) I have nothing but fond memories of my days at Hooters, and am more than happy to indulge in the occasional trip when the mood strikes. I’m pretty sure I won’t have any objections from these two guys about it, either.
My friend Autumn Reeser’s new show, Last Resort, is set to debut this fall. Check out the trailer and be sure to tune in on Thursdays on ABC!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDSttA64KGU
My bestie Alyssa and I took Rhys see Lana del Rey at El Rey Theater Tuesday night. After the less than stellar performance she gave on Saturday Night Live, I was dying to see what the hype was all about; how she had managed to sell out three shows in Los Angeles. I was fully prepared for an endless stream of snarky comments to materialize in my head. No such luck, as much to my surprise, I was impressed.
Perhaps it was the venue, the expertly mixed sound, or the crowd’s infectious adoration, but I thoroughly enjoyed the performance. Her voice was rich and even, demonstrating an impressive range that the SNL television broadcast was unable to translate. Her slight interaction with the crowd softened her emotionless and apathetic presence, making her more human and less like a Stepford wife. Flanked by topiaries, palm trees and floral bushes, she donned a 60s inspired white dress, her now auburn hair deeply swept to the side, adorned with a glittery brooch. The lighting was etherial; muted blue and green hues transformed the stage into a mysterious, underwater garden scene. It was rather beautiful to look at, an almost watercolor portrait, juxtaposed with romantic and intoxicating melody.
The 50 minute set was perfectly composed, singing her most popular tracks at the end of the show. And when the last song began to end, she exited the stage, leaving the piano and violins to finish the show. It was a bold move, to which the audience was clearly unaccustomed. They eagerly awaited an encore, only to be disappointed when the house lights came up and the music abruptly changed to “Welcome to the Jungle.” I, conversely, loved the way the show ended. I have a great respect for artists who leave the audience wanting more, rather than those who overstay their welcome with pre-planend, multi-song encores that are often unjustified.
As we waited for Ramsey to wrap things up, (and for the mob of fans outside the doors to disperse), Lana traipsed down the stairs backstage from her dressing room. She made her way through the theater, stopping to thank the crew, the venue manager, and even pausing to take a photo with the sound engineer. I was impressed by her graciousness. As she drew near to the lighting desk where we stood, she looked over and said, “Thanks, girls, ‘bye!” and seeing Rhys, added, “Oh, ‘bye, baby!” A surprise, indeed. It seems as though my initial impression was way off mark. She exited the theater at around 11:45pm to about 75 people with cameras calling her name. According to her driver, she remained under the unlit marquee with her fans until 1:30am. Gracious, indeed. Bravo, Lana. Bravo. Until next time.
I’m super stoked on the addition of Heywood Grilled Cheese to the neighborhood. Gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches taste great anytime, and this spot stays open late: til 3am on Fridays and Saturdays. Hell, yeah!
