The Barkside? Can I go?

I know, I've said before that we are HUGE Star Wars fans.  My boys couldn't stop watching this commercial teaser for Volkswagen and so I thought I'd share if you haven't seen it yet.  I'm not sure I can say it's better than last year's Superbowl ad with the little boy dressed as Darth Vader turning on the car using the force... but this one is right up there.  And I'm not one to enjoy watching many commercials over and over again, but this one is a keeper!

Enjoy and prepare to get it stuck in your head!

Read more...

What's in a mohawk?

We have decided to mow our lawn to look like a mohawk from now on.  I'm sure you think I've lost it by now.   We actually mow our own lawn (both my husband and I love put-zing in the yard on the weekends and well, my husband is a little protective of his lawn).  He's worked very hard to get it super lush green and healthy even through the winter.  (No joke, we do actually have the greenest grass in the neighborhood).  We have an electric mower and we haven't had to charge it in awhile.  Last weekend it ran out of charge while he was moving the lawn and we were left with this mohawk overnight while it recharged.

My husband has sworn me to secrecy about what his secret is to having such a lush healthy lawn in the middle of winter, even after several nights of harsh frost.  We have several neighbors trying to figure it out... and one is being very sneaky about trying to figure it out.

We've been working on cover stories to tell the neighbors who ask what the trick is.  My current favorite is saying how happy we were that we had the builder put in the septic leech system under the lawn (I can't wait to get heckled by the construction manager for that one since we certainly don't have a septic system...).  But then the lawn mower ran out of charge and now my favorite line will now be that we mow it like a mohawk for 24 hours to appease the native spirits for a healthy lawn.  

Any other good cover stories for me???

Read more...

Rainy Day Rainbows

Loving this rainbow I'm looking at out my back door today!

Read more...

Rainy Day French Toast

On a cold rainy day there is nothing I love more than a fancy homemade breakfast.  Today we had french toast.  Easy, quick and super delicious (extra hint: make plenty and simply toast them to reheat during the week as a delicious weekday breakfast!  I do this with Belgian waffles and pancakes.).

These were super easy - I used the equivalent to 4 eggs (I used egg substitute to reduce calories, fat and cholesterol), 1 cup milk, a healthy two teaspoons of cinnamon and about 8 slices of sourdough bread.  Garnished with a little powdered sugar, turkey bacon and Fresh and Easy Vanilla Bean Maple Syrup.  Easy, delicious and I'm finally starting to feel like Super Mom again!

What are your favorite breakfasts?  (I'm always looking for ideas and would love to feature it as a guest post!!!) 

Have a great rest of the weekend!

Read more...

You will want to forward this to your husband (trust me)

After over a decade of marriage I have to admit my husband still needs subtle (okay maybe not always so subtle) hints as to what he needs to do for Valentine's Day.  (So I will be forwarding this post to mine and I highly recommend you forward to your husband also!  Highlight, copy, send.  ;)

I can't think of a better way to spend Valentine's Day then being pampered at Burke Williams!  Starting tomorrow (and up until Valentine's Day) you can purchase these fabulous packages at great savings (note that all the locations don't offer the same packages, each location has different packages - I'm listing a bunch below):

Mission Viejo location:

Romance: Just $159 (regular price $200)

Enjoy a Salt or Sugar Glo with your choice of a 50-minute Pure Relaxation massage with enhancement -or- a 50-minute Spa Style Facial with peel or brightener.

True Love: Just $249 (regular price $325)

Indulge in a Salt or Sugar Glo with a 50-minute Pure Relaxation massage with enhancement -and- a 50-minute Spa Style Facial with peel or brightener.

For Two: Just $269 (regular price $350)

Each of you will enjoy a luxurious 80-minute Pure Relaxation massage with enhancement or Spa Style Facial with peel or brightener.

San Francisco location:

Romance: Just $149 (regular price $190)

Enjoy a Spa Pedicure with your choice of a 50-minute Pure Relaxation massage with enhancement -or- a 50-minute Spa Style Facial with peel.

True Love: Just $249 (regular price $330)

Indulge in a Spa Pedicure with a 50-minute Pure Relaxation massage with enhancement -and- a 50-minute Spa Style Facial with peel.

For Two: Just $289 (regular price $390)

Each of you will enjoy a luxurious 80-minute Pure Relaxation massage with enhancement or Spa Style Facial with peel.

Orange,West Hollywood, Torrance, Santa Monica, San Jose, Pasadena and Sherman Oaks locations:

Romance: Just $139 (regular price $175)

Enjoy a Spa Pedicure with your choice of a 50-minute Pure Relaxation massage with enhancement -or- a 50-minute Spa Style Facial with peel.

True Love: Just $239 (regular price $300)

Indulge in a Spa Pedicure with a 50-minute Pure Relaxation massage with enhancement -and- a 50-minute Spa Style Facial with peel.

For Two: Just $269 (regular price $350)

Each of you will enjoy a luxurious 80-minute Pure Relaxation massage with enhancement or Spa Style Facial with peel.

Check their website here for location contact information to make your reservations! Happy early Valentine's Day!

Read more...

Star Wars Fan Days at the Discovery Science Center!

We are not Star Wars fans in our house.  Not at all.  I don't have a cat named Boba Fett.  My husband has never had a personalized license plate with a Star Wars bounty hunter name.  We haven't spent thousands (that *might* be an understatement) on collecting Star Wars toys.  We don't have the Darth Vader costume, Chewbacca or Storm trooper costume hiding anywhere in our house.

Ok, I don't lie well.  We are fans.  Big fans.  

If you too have Star Wars fans, particularly of Star Wars:  Clone Wars on Cartoon Network, you will want to be absolutely sure you head over to the Discovery Science Center this Saturday January 14th between 11am-3pm where the Clone Troopers will be there to take pictures and other fun festivities.  Kids between the ages of 3-14 get free entrance if they wear a Star Wars Costume!

For directions, ticket pricing and other details about the Discovery Science Center in Santa Ana, head over here or call 714.513.CUBE.

May the Force be With You.  :)

Read more...

Belgian Waffles - Semi Wordless Wednesday

(Semi-Wordless Wednesday)

We've had some big life changes in our house over the last couple of weeks, a lot of focus shifting.  (Watch for posts to follow!)  Over the holidays I made an effort to take time to be the Mom I want to be and focus on just plain having fun with the kids (instead of work work work).  Christmas morning we made Belgian Waffles with my new Belgian Waffle maker.  Love it!  Easy, quick and the kids just love them! 

What are your breakfast (or brunch) favorites?

Read more...

They didn't believe I was serious...

They didn't believe me when I said I wanted an air hockey table in the living room.  I think they believe me now... 

I'm surrounded by boys (yes my husband included) so I get to have all the boy fun I never had growing up in my sea of Barbies and JEM dolls (anyone remember those?  Storm was my favorite with the blue hair...).  We primarily use our family room as our living area and the formal living room remained empty until Santa (he he he) brought this very fun air hockey table for Christmas.  

The boys and I have been having fun playing ever since!

What fun things arrived in your house over the holidays?

Read more...

Friday Night Family Fun - ElecTRONica at the Disneyland Resort

Ok, so maybe we don't have the most normal Friday nights around our house.  We might have family movie night, family video game night or our other favorite is Disneyland Resort fun.  We love heading to ElecTRONica (I personally love the music and the club feeling) and the kids love hanging out over at Flynn's playing the old school video games like Galaga, Rampage, Donkey Kong, and others.  Well, I might have enjoyed re-living some of those games too, but don't tell my husband!  I let him think he's the "old school" arcade game expert.

There is so much fun to have over at ElecTRONica for all ages (check the Disney Resort website for times), you just can't help but have fun!

Don't have passes to the Disneyland Resort?  Be sure to take advantage of the special running now through June 9th, 2012 for Southern California Residents.  You can purchase a 2-day pass to the parks for only $99 - a HUGE savings!  (Note you can only enter one park each day).  Check the website here for more information or purchase at your local Albertsons.  There is also a fantastic deal for military families that has been extended through till September (3 day park hopper for $99), check the website for details.

Read more...

Special Screenings of Beauty and The Beast and Tangled Ever After at the El Capitan

Do you have a little Princess in your house?  You won't want to miss the special screenings of Disney's Beauty and the Beast in 3D and Tangled Ever After at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood.  It will be running January 13th- February 12th with daily showtimes of 10 a.m., 1 p.m., 4 p.m. and 7 p.m..  There will be a special appearance by Belle before each performance which is sure to make all little Princesses day!

For an additional $20 fee (reservations are required), you can add more enchantment to the day with Story Time with Belle.  Snacks and beverages while Belle reads a story to the children before the movie.  For blog readers when you call mention the code "Mommy" to have the movie tickets discounted 50% (to $10).  

For showtimes, reservations, prices, etc.  Go here or call 1-800-DISNEY6.

Read more...

Free Cup of Seattle's Best Coffee in Irvine - 1/4/12

Seattle's Best Coffee in Irvine (Seattle’s Best Coffee, 14450 Culver Drive, Suite D Irvine, CA Store hours are 5:30 am – 9:30 pm) is giving away a free cup of coffee on January 4, 2012.  Be sure to head over and get your free delicious cup! 

You can also be entered to win a 7-day trip to Hawaii (airfare and accomodations).  You can enter to win the free trip to Hawaii January 4th- February 14th in store at Seattle's Best Coffee - no purchase necessary. 

Read more...

Preserving Paradise Float - Rose Parade Behind the Scenes Peek!

Watching the Rose Parade on tv has been a tradition in our our ever since I was a little girl.    I never thought I'd have the chance to participate and peek behind the scenes of what goes in to float building, so when we were invited to Family and Friends Day at the Dole Preserving Paradise Float, I was beyond excited!

Last year the Dole Float won the Sweepstakes award for it's Float "Living Well in Paradise" and this year's float "Preserving Paradise" is set to be another contender this year.  "Preserving Paradise" was designed by renowned float designer Raul Rodriguez.  Much to our excitement he was at the Dole Family and Friends Day with his Blue Hyacinth Macaw, Sebastian.  You may recognize the gorgeous bird as the inspiration for Blue from the recent movie Rio.   

Some fun fast facts I learned during the day:

• Float Design starts is some cases only a few short weeks after the Rose Parade.
• Design pieces are frequently re-used as different elements on floats year after year.
• The Floats are built in refrigerated warehouses to preserve the flowers.
• The structures are built color coded weeks (sometime earlier) before the parade, but the actual flowers and other natural elements aren't added on to the floats until about 3-4 days before the parade.
• At Fiesta Floats (where the Dole Preserving Paradise Float was built) there are a number of other well known floats being built simultaneously.

This year's Preserving Paradise Float will contain over 1,000 gallons of recycled water in three cascading waterfalls and 24 Thai Dancers.  The float will contain hot pink and orange roses, yellow and white chrysanthemums, kumquats, cranberries, limes and lemons.  The elephants will be covered in ming moss. 

When you watch see if you can find the palm fronds I covered in dried sage (I believe)!

Floats will be on display after the Rose Parade January 2nd through January 3rd.  Call (626) 795-4171 for ticket information.

Read more...