Bye Bye Soccer Mom Car? Uh, NO!

I thought my mini-van days were behind me...I was wrong!

When my second son was born, my husband (aka MEANIE) talked me into getting a mini-van. And at some point during the car buying process, I convinced myself that it was "cool."  I think I was blinded by the newness of the car, the "new car" smell, the side-curtain air bags, the space...and then I woke up.  I drive a mini-van and I'm 29 years old.  And not one of the souped-up mini-vans with the doors that open as if by magic, with built in entertainment, leather seats that will repel spilled milk.  Nope.  Just a plain old mini-van.

This past June, I started to see the light at the end of the tunnel...my lease was almost up.  I can finally have a "cool mom" car and I'm still in my 30s.  Not bad, not bad.  But then "Meanie" came along, too bad.  

"It's in our best interest to buy out our lease," he said.  "We will be able to sell it in a year," he said.  "Pretty soon our sons will be out of car seats and you can get a smaller car," he said.  Blah, blah, blah.  He doesn't care, he doesn't drive it.  He doesn't even like to drive it when we go on our occasional "date nights."  What does that tell you?

So, I'm still a "soccer mom" van driver.....maybe I'll just go buy a sweatshirt with a teddy bear on it and call it a day.


Alexis

Damn technology!

UGH! I have been without an Internet connection for two whole days...two whole days! I feel as if I have been disconnected from the world. I mean I do live in a largely populated, rather well-known city (Miami), I do still have my cell phone with 3G connection, my car, and a TV. Yet somehow I feel as if I'm stuck in Amish country! Why is this? Why am I so obsessed with my computer?

It's like all of a sudden, since I don't have access to the web, there are all these REALLY important jobs I need to do and they all revolve around the Internet! How will I shop for school supplies if I can't download the school lists? How can I research my new car if I can't go to the site? How can I pay my bills since I do it all on...you guessed it...the Internet?

You would think that I grew up with all this glorious technology. I only received my first email account in college. I never had a cell phone until after I got my first job. So what did I do before technology? It seems like such a distant life!

I guess I will just have to go clean the house and play with my kids...
Nah...I still have my phone!
Alexis

Thirsty Thursdays...Mojito Mania

Hey all you thirsty mammas....or pappas....or people in general!
I'm adding a new item to the blog, "Thirsty Thursdays," because sometimes alcohol just keeps us sane!

This week's drink is one that is near and dear to my heart...especially since my husband is Cuban and I am an adopted member!

Cuban Mojito (pronounced moh-HEE-toh) recipe

1 teaspoon powdered sugar
Juice from 1 lime (2 ounces)
4 mint leaves
1 sprig of mint
2 ounces White Rum (I like Bacardi)
2 ounces club soda

   

Place the mint leaves into a long mojito glass (often called a "collins" glass) and squeeze the juice from a cut lime over it. You'll want about two ounces of lime juice, so it may not require all of the juice from a single lime.

 

Add the powdered sugar, then gently smash the mint into the lime juice and sugar with a muddler (though you can also use the back of a fork or spoon if one isn't available).  

Add ice (preferably crushed) then add the rum and stir, and top off with the club soda (you can also stir the club soda in as per your taste). Garnish with a mint sprig.

Enjoy! (Especially if you are stuck outside watching your kids play football on a hot summer day like I usually am!) 

Here are some variations… even though my personal fav is the traditional.

• Fresh Fruit and Fruit-flavored vodkas or rums, such as mango, raspberry, strawberry, or lychee are often substituted.
• A Mexican Mojito uses tequila instead of rum.
• A “Dirty Mojito” uses spiced rum, brown sugar syrup, key limes, crushed mint, and soda.

What’s your favorite mojito?

                               Alexis

LA Through a Child's Eyes

Los Angeles.  Some call it "La-la Land" others claim it's the town of "fruits and nuts."  I call it amazing!  Not only was the weather perfect...not a cloud in the sky...but it was 6 days of the best hair that I have ever had!  LOVE the dry weather...sure beats the 100% humidity here in Miami!

Now I've been to LA many times...had amazing meals at some of the world's best restaurants, shopped in trendy stores, and enjoyed the nightlife in packed bars and clubs.  But this trip was a little different...this trip was with my husband and two kids.  In my own eyes, I am that "cool and trendy mom" who can take my boys shopping and to outside cafes for cocktails, but my kids are the normal "I'm bored" kind of kids, so none of that will be happening!


Here is a list of some of the kids' favorite locations that kept their attention and still had something for the adults:

1)  The Annenberg Community Beach House at Santa Monica State Beach 
Located on the Pacific Coast Highway just north of The Santa Monica Pier, The Annenberg Community Beach House is a fun mix of ocean, sand, pool, and fitness (yes, I said it, fitness.  There is a fitness room that overlooks the pool and ocean...not that I used it!).  For just $24 for a family of four, we spent the whole day moving from the ocean to the pool and back again.  There is also the Back on the Beach Cafe that has an amazing menu for the adults and kids alike.
This was definitely an adventure that exhausted the whole family!

2)  Natural History Museum of Los Angeles
 I have to say, I was a little leery when entering this museum with two young boys.  I really thought that within minutes, they would be complaining, but I was pleasantly surprised at how well the museum made the history and artifacts appealing to all ages.  The mammal displays were eye catching and allowed the kids to tell stories about the many animals.  The insect exhibit was understandably a "home run" with my boys.  The fossil remains of the many prehistoric dinosaurs and current animals were abundant and in my kids' words, "very cool."  The museum also incorporated a Discovery Center with many hands on exhibits for little hands.  The biggest hit was a dinosaur "puzzle" where you had to put the T-Rex bones in place to recreate the giant.

3)  El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood
I can honestly say, it will be VERY hard to go see a movie in a regular theater!  We took the boys to see Cars 2 in 3D at the El Capitan Theatre located on Hollywood Blvd.  This Disney owned theater provided an old school feel with a modern twist...VIP passes!  Let me tell you, this is the ONLY way to see a movie.  For an extra expense, we had reserved seats in a sold out theater, walked up to a VIP concession stand and were each handed a Cars bucket filled with popcorn and a drink of our choice (even after our ice cream sundaes and milkshakes that we had at Disney's Soda Fountain and Studio Store located next door to the theater).  For this particular showing, there was an added Cars 2 World Grand Prix outdoor attraction behind the theater.  It was a mini amusement park dedicated to the adorable movie.
Like I said, it's going to be very hard to go see a movie in a regular theater!

4)  Disneyland
What trip to the west coast would be complete without a visit to Disneyland?!  This is the ultimate kids' attraction spot...not to mention my kids are now able to compare the two major Disney parks.  Although I was not present for this trip (my husband and I took a mini vacation to Vegas for an adults only getaway...but that's another post altogether!), my kids were so excited to share with me their favorite parts of California's rendition of their favorite theme park.  Despite the heat and long lines, the boys came home raving about such classics as Space Mountain and The Haunted Mansion, as well as the new The Little Mermaid-Ariel's Undersea Adventure in Disney California Adventure Park.  My sister, the rookie babysitter, did an awesome job at exhausting the little buggers!

5)  The Original Farmers Market and The Grove
The Farmers Market is an eclectic place full of every type of food imaginable...my favorite!  The kids were able to get pizza and hot dogs, while we ate award winning Mexican food.  And I can't leave out the beignets!  Although I couldn't shop in the abundant mall in The Grove due to my husband's presence, the kids took a train ride around the vast mall.  A definite must visit!

So, the next time you're in LA with your kids...or on an adults only trip...check out some of these amazing locations.  Not to mention, they will all help to exhaust your kids and leave you happy!

Only one suitcase?!

We are headed on our first official vacation as a family of four.  We've been planning our trip cross country to see my sister for the past 5 months and it is finally here!  We booked the flight, secured our accommodations, but what comes next is just exhausting....PACKING!

Due to flight restrictions, we are only allowed one suitcase per person.  So we're fine, right?  Uh, NO!  Let's face it, I'm a woman and I LOVE shoes!  That means that one of my son's checked bags will be the best part of my outfits and the two boys will share a suitcase.  Under normal circumstances, this would be fine, but the ever changing climate of California has us packing for two very different temperatures.  So how do I fit it all in (and not wrinkle it all)?

My very wise mother once told me that when packing, I should do the following:
1)  mix and match my clothes
2)  use dry cleaning bags in order to reduce wrinkling
3)  roll my clothes to save space

I've kept the dressier clothes (dress shirts, dresses, etc,) in the dry cleaning bags that they came home in.  The bags keep the clothes from wrinkling even while folded in the suitcase.  I rolled my cotton clothing  into a tube shape.  This helped with the space issue of the clothing...it also helps with less creases when other items are on top of it.

Now if only I could find a way to fit all my shoes in!

Kids' Independence

So here's my next step toward sanity....I'm teaching my kids how to shower by themselves.  This process has not been over night, and we are still working out the kinks to the system.

It all began with my obsessive need to have a schedule in my life.  As an early childhood educator, I have always known of the need for schedules and routine in a child's life, but never really understood it until I had kids.  Since my first son's birth, the nightly routine has always been dinner, bath, bed.  Many have mocked this process, but as a mother of elementary aged children, I love that my kids know what to expect in the evening.  (Not to mention this helps with getting my kids in bed by 7:30 each night.  Who's laughing now?)  A routine also ensues during the bathing process as well: hair first, then face, then body.

I began the independent bathing at the beginning of this summer with the premise of convincing my 6 year old that "first graders bathe themselves."  Of course my more independent 4 year old took to the new chore with ease...it has taken the older one a little more coercing.  But we have started with hair washing first.  They love soaping up their hair and making new hairstyles for themselves.

Now my nighttime routine will be a little more sane...