Wordless Wednesday - "Swiper"

The "experimental" cupcakes didn't turn out that good, 

but that didn't stop the K man from swiping one.

Chicken Giggles and Potato Smiles

Did you happen to catch "Food Revolution with Jamie Oliver" last Friday? I did and it was eye opening. Actually it was eye popping. I had no idea to what extent our kiddo's school lunches were made up of 6 foot-high, piled boxes of processed gunk stuffed into a walk-in. I also had no idea that the food the schools were feeding our kids were decided based on the budget concerns of school districts and not by the concern for our kid's health and wellness. Hey, if they could save a couple of pennies here or there, that would be well worth the offset to health industry to treat little Johnny's diabetes right?

This sparked my curiosity, so I thought I would look up a current menu at my local elementary school just to see what culinary delights are in my son's future and I was left with one question. What the hell are "Chicken Giggles and Potato Smiles"?  I have a feeling they are not just another name for chicken nuggets, but a cute way of covering up what they really are, chunks of processed bird parts cooked in partially hydrogenated soybean oil mixed in with other ingredients that would make a really cool science experiment. Yummy.

I have a few years before I will be sending the K man off into the front lines of this crazy world of Chicken O's and Potato wiggles. And I am hoping, in this fleeting amount of time I have, I'll be able to brainwash my child into thinking all chicken nuggets are full of carrots (which he hates), and instill some healthy eating habits. But even with that education instilled in him, is it enough when there are no other options and all his friends are eating the science experiment?

Over the past two weeks the hubs and I have been exposed to this topic quite a few times. We just watched "Food, Inc." A movie about the food industry that stated we would never look at dinner the same again. And you know what? They were right. But then to see "Food Revolution" and take a look into the refrigerators of real families and see how these schools view nutrition, no wonder we have such an epidemic of childhood obesity and diabetes.

When I was preggo with the K man, I tried to eat as organic as possible. I became really educated on what ingredients were in our food and what partially hydrogenated oils could do to you. I discovered that it was in almost everything we ate - even seasonings! We set out to find the most organic and fresh foods we could. Our friends and family thought we were nuts. Don't get me wrong, we still ate out at restaurants and at our friends and families homes, we just tried to do the best we could with what we could control.

I swore that my kiddo was going to be that weird kid that didn't know what fast food was (not the kid on Food Revolution that didn't even know what a tomato was!). When his friends got all excited about those grease-soaked paper bags, he would just cock his head and look confused. But, then the craziness of life sets in and sometimes you just to go there. Through the drive-though. Because the "I'm hungry now" meltdown in the backseat is enough for you to just want to do anything to bring peace to the world again. I've done it.

And seriously, what else are going to do when you are out and about at an amusement park, or other "family fun spot" where the only kid-friendly options for food are typically breaded, fried, cheesy, and dunked in grease? I know there will be situations like these and that occasional junk food is okay. What I am really having a hard time swallowing is, where you would think your child would be the most taken care of, is where the most damage is being done. That there are no other options for schools to offer better food for our kids. That at the most basic educational level we are teaching our kids that it is okay to eat this food and not what is healthy for them.

Knowing that all the good habits and education I instill in my child will inevitably be trumped by the very institution that I trust to look out for his well being every day is frightening. And this is where I hope we as parents can make a change. To demand a change. Because there are other options out there. Yes, they are more expensive, but as culture, we need to get over the "bottom line" when it is affecting the future health and well-being of our kids.

I signed the petition to make a change and improve school food. It could be the most important thing you ever do for your family. Will you sign it too?


If you missed last week's episode, you can catch it this week:  Friday 2nd April – 9 pm EST or Saturday 3rd April – 3 pm EST (repeat) on ABC.

What a desperate housewife will do for a cup of coffee

I wasn't going to post about this, but after the whole ordeal, what my "mommy brain" (which by the way, I hear should have left me long ago – or at least that's what I've read) had propelled me to do in a fit of desperation was just so completely absurd I had to share.  At the time however, I thought it was perfectly justifiable, and couldn't even believe that the hubs was even questioning my actions.

It all started when my French Press broke over the weekend, which left me with without any type of coffee making apparatus.  And there was no way I was going to make it through the entire day without coffee. So, being the brilliant mind that I am, I improvised. I just jumped in the car and made a run to Starbucks right?  No, that would have been what a sane person would have done, no, I did something much more creative.

I took out a coffee filter (we don't have a coffee maker, but for some reason have filters - don't ask) and positioned it right over my cup. I scooped in the grounds and then proceeded to pour in the scalding hot water over them.  This should have totally worked right?  In essence, it was just a smaller version of a coffee maker. Yeah, in theory, until the filter fell into the cup – grounds and all.

So, at this point, you would think it would have dawned on me that this wasn't a good idea right? Well, the MacGyver version of the mommy brain was in full effect and I was going to have a cup of coffee and my jimmy-rigged coffee strainer was going to work.  This went on 4 more times. I almost think it became a challenge of wills – me against the coffee filter.

I'd scoop in some grounds and then poured in the hot water just to watch as the end of the filter started to slide down the cup.  I'd desperately grab at the end, burn my finger from the steam, and the filter would inevitably fall in.  This happened on try number 2, 3 and 4.  I was left with nothing but a big pile of coffee grounds and coffee-stained filters.  Finally, the next try worked. For some reason the caffeine gods grew tiered of laughing their asses off at my stupidity and blessed me with a filter that stayed put.

I am not sure what takes over in my head that allows me to commence with such crazy activities, and better yet, think that they make perfect sense, but I am hoping it will fade by the time the K man is 18.

After the brain cells floated back into my head, I packed up the kiddo and we set out for a new French press.  Which I am happy to report worked like a charm this morning.

Becoming "The Naked Blogger"

This past week has consisted of some of the most trying days I have had in a long, long time.  For almost 7 straight days my son has been a terror. A screaming, whining, miserable, terror. It started when he woke up in the morning and didn't end until he finally drifted off to sleep at night. Nothing would make him happy. He just wanted to be held the entire day. But not just held, he wanted me to stand up and hold him. Every time I would sit down, he would whine profusely or break into an all-out scream.

At one point, we both just sat there on the sofa crying together. Every ounce of patience I might have once had was drained. I was drained. Emotionally, physically and spiritually. I wanted a break. Truth be told, I didn't just want a break, in reality I wanted to run screaming down the street. For the life of me, I couldn't figure out what was wrong.  Could this amount of irritability come from his current bout of theething? It just didn't make sense.

I finally wised up and took him to the doctor. Turns out, the poor little guy had Roseola.  Which explained his intense irritability, the low-grade fever (which I thought was due to the teething) and the all-out change in behavior. I wish I had known earlier that he had this virus.  I might have been able to tolerate his behavior with more understanding. To put myself in the mind frame that he was ill and not just acting out. Instead these days were filled with frustration, self doubt and the thoughts that I might have made a mistake. That I had no business being anyone's mother.

This experience made me think. When you write a blog post, how real do you get? How real can you get? How much do you hold back because if you truly got real, you would be afraid of divugling something so dark and so ominous, that people might judge you for what might have been just a fleeting thought. Not the true you.

In a way, blogging allows you to just get naked. To stand on your soap box wearing nothing but your heart on your sleeve and shout at the top of your lungs everything you can't say in the "real world" to anyone who will listen. But then, there in lies the problem. People are listening. And I know I'm afraid to strip it all down. To be that naked blogger and tell you what deep dark place I descended to this last week. Because if I did, I would be afraid there would be no going back.

But I'm not saying that I don't get real. I do, just not naked. And I have to applaud all the bloggers that have laid it all out there. Who have dropped trou and showed you the goods. I have enormous respect for those that are using this medium to reach out to others who are going through the same things they are, whether they are battling depression, an illness or just this crazy adventure called mommyhood.  This past week has gotten me to thinking about what I really want out of this blogging thing. And I think I might just to drop a button or two.

What about you? How naked to you get? How much do you hold back when you blog?

Time out for 8 minutes in "dog years"

As I was laying there on the table I couldn't believe that it was already 7:45. I had just gotten there. But that voice I knew all too well was telling me that my time was up. My brain was struggling with the concept of willing my arms and legs to propel my lethargic body upwards.  It couldn't possibly have already been an hour.  No, I am now convinced that "massage hours" are calculated in the same way one would calculate "dog years". What had seemed like 8 minutes, was really 56.

So, by now I'm sure you have guessed it. For this month's "Time Out for Thetamom " (one hour of time within one month to do whatever you want, sans the kiddos),  I had a massage and I'm completely certain that it was the shortest hour in the entire month.

Last year the hubs had bestowed on me a membership to Massage Envy. A pre-paid "subscription" to relaxation. I had a membership during my pregnancy and it was the best gift I had ever gotten.  So when he gave me another one for Mother's Day, I was thrilled.  Just the thought of taking some time out to recharge and become one with the universe sent goose bumps up my and down my spine. But that was Mother's Day 2009 and that very well-deserved holiday for the commemoration and celebration of supermoms everywhere is almost here again and I still haven't used up my membership. I still have 8 out of the 12 massages left.

I'm sure many people would think I was I insane for having prepaid massages just sitting there unused and unattended. But finding time to actually use them has been the hardest part. There always seems to be something that gets in they way of actually picking up the phone and making an appointment.  I can't tell you how many times I attempted to make the call, only to get distracted on my journey to the phone  by "what's that smell?" or "no Kane, not in the toilet!" or "it's okay, mommy will clean it up". The next thing I know its 3 months later.

So, this month, I made the appointment. And on my way out, I made my next appointment.  Just like everything else, my once a month massage, is now on the calendar.

Knowing that my next 60 minutes with self-indulgent serenity is just around the corner is enough to help get me through the week. Even if it is really only 8 minutes in dog years.

Wordless Wednesday - Contemplating Snacks

Adventures in Mommyhood, Part 3 - Quik Notes On Summer

Talented, creative and inspiring are only three of the many words that come to mind when I think of Summer Rapp, Vice President of Design for Quiksilver Women’s. Another word that pops into my head is busy. Very busy.  Not only does Summer head up the creative design team at the world’s leading outdoor sports lifestyle clothing company, she is a great friend, a wife and mother of two beautiful children under 5.

Summer started her career at Roxy when she was still in college and over the past 12 years has became a fashion industry veteran, leading and inspiring the design teams at various influential clothing brands such as Volcom, Ever and now coming full circle back to Quiksilver and Roxy.  In 2008, Summer was featured in the OC Metro's annual list of "40 Under 40", a list of executives, entrepreneurs and standout professionals, all under the age of 40, who are among the most successful, dynamic and interesting in the county.

I was able to steal Summer away from her hectic schedule for a few minutes to chat with her about her career, her family and how she manages to keep all the balls in the air while juggling both.

Me:
What inspired you to become a fashion designer?

Summer:
I never thought I would be a designer. While going to school at FIDM in Los Angeles, I was more interested in the merchandising side of fashion.  As I became more and more entrenched in understanding the product process, it became more exciting to me. I loved watching an idea manifest into a final product. I started to become obsessed with clothes, travel, culture and what motivates people when it comes to fashion. Fashion is a lifestyle that I have become accustomed too. Its just part of my life now.

Me:
The Fashion Industry is an ever-changing landscape where you constantly have to be creative to stay unique and relevant. Where do you draw your inspiration from?

Summer:
My design inspiration stems mostly from travel, which continues to keep me inspired and innovative.

Me:
In addition to your role as Vice President of Design for Quiksilver Women’s, you have also taken on the role of Vice President of Design and Creative Director for the sportswear and kids’ component of Roxy. That seems like a pretty full plate. Do you ever feel overwhelmed and what motivates you to keep going?

Summer:
It’s been hard. It’s definitely the busiest I have ever been in my entire career. Over the last year we have had to make some sacrifices, but I’m lucky to have the support of my husband and family. They are really my biggest motivation.

I also have a great group of extremely talented people on my team at Quiksilver that motivate me and keep me going. We have spent the last year getting to know each other and rebuilding the team and I'm confident that together we will produce a quality product line.

Me:
As a professional and a mom, what have been some of your biggest challenges?

Summer:
I think the biggest challenge is, when I’m at home, I feel like I should be at work and when I’m at work, I feel like I need to be at home. It’s that balance that is so hard to achieve. It’s hard not to want to be with the kids.

Me:
What have been some of your biggest successes?

Summer:
Personally, our two beautiful children. I’m really proud of them and how independent my 4 year-old is already.

Professionally, I think it's a pretty big honor to be asked to work with Roxy. Also, being featured in the OC Metro as one of  “OC’s 40 under 40” was pretty cool.

Me:
I know you do an extensive amount of traveling on top of the long hours that you put in with your team at Quiksilver. What are some of your secrets to maintaining a balanced work/family life with your busy schedule?

Summer:
Figuring out how to balance career and family is easier said than done. I haven’t really mastered that yet. When I travel, I Skype a lot. My husband and I both travel, so when we're home, we make sure we spend a lot of quality time with the kids. We try to have dinner together every night – I think that’s really important and when the weekend comes around, we drop everything and its all about the kids.

Me:
How do you make sure you and your husband have some one-on-one time as well?

Summer:
We have to work at it really hard. We try to have date night once a week, but sometimes it’s difficult to keep it up. We need to work on that more. We are both so busy right now, he has his own company that he is working really hard at making successful. We find ourselves spending a lot of time working in front of each other, but we know its temporary.  It won’t be this crazy all the time, and we are very supportive of each other.


Me:
What is your favorite thing to do with your family?

Summer:
I like to travel together when we can, but really it’s the simple things that I love the most. Life gets so crazy, sometimes its fun just hang out and watch a movie. Walking every morning with my husband and the kids has become a ritual that I look forward to as well. It’s the perfect time to plan the day and really connect with each other.


Me:
In an alternate universe, what would your dream job be?

Summer:
I would be dancer. I love music and like to dance. It’s the ultimate exercise. And then maybe someday, I would like to start my own clothing company.

Me:
What is your advise to other moms trying to "do it all"?

Summer:
Oh my god, I am the epitome of trying to do it all! Seriously though, you can’t do it all on your own. I have discovered that you really need to have good partners in life. Whether its work or family, you can’t be afraid to ask for help. When you leave your ego at the door and partner up, you make good things happen.

Thanks Summer for taking the time with me!! If you want to know more about Quiksilver, please visit the site at www.quiksilver.com

The Adventures in Mommyhood - The Intro

The Adventures in Mommyhood - Part 1

The Adventures in Mommyhood - Part 2

My rung on the popularity ladder

I hate to admit it, but I'm jealous. I'm jealous of my husband and his father. But how could I not be? I have never experienced the pure joy that comes over that little face and the shear will that drives those little legs to move as fast as they possibly can. I mean, I have experienced it, but as a spectator. Like an audience member invited to partake in a sold out show. But I have never been on the receiving end.

Why am I jealous?  Because my little man forgets that I even exist once dad or grandpa are around.  I could be sitting with him all snuggled up on the couch watching Yo Gabba Gabba or some other equally disturbing giant character bouncing around on the TV, and as soon as my husband walks in the door, the little man can't get away from me fast enough to leap into dads arms.  No thought to the fact that I have fed him, clothed him, wadded through poop all day with him or that I took him to the park and stood up for him while the texting moms ignored their bullying children. No, none of that matters once dad is home. Mom? Mom who? For the rest of the day until bed time, mom is no longer part of the happiness equation.

And it's worse with grandpa. Once he sees his grandpa, he practically leaps out of my arms and runs to him as fast as his little toddler legs will carry him. And then that's it. He only wants grandpa. My only solace here is that the hubs gets to experience the feeling of non existence with me, but only on a slightly lower scale. Because you see, the hubs is still the next rung on the popularity ladder. I, on the other hand, have now dropped 2 spots when grandpa is in the picture.

And to rub more salt into the wound. My little man now walks around all day chanting "Da dee, Da dee". And when I ask him "Can you say mommy?", he just looks at me with a blank stare.

This past week has been exceptionally hard. The poor little guy has been teething and miserable. It's like someone took my son again and left me with this constantly whining K Man look-a-like.  And the jealously flares because I spend all day with the little man trying to soothe him and make him feel better only for him to toss me to the side when dads walks in the door. I find myself thinking that I must not be doing a good job, because if I was, he wouldn't rather be with dad. I know this is not the case, but just once, I would like to know what it feels like for my little man to be excited to see me walk in the door.

But then we'll be sitting outside eating a snack and my little guy will pop a strawberry in my mouth, give me a kiss and a hug and all the jealously falls away. Its moments like these that I am sure my husband would be jealous of too, if he knew what he was missing.

The Park Snarkosaurus

Okay. I know this has been brought up about a million times, but I'm going to do it again. You see, because just maybe, the millionth and first time will give me the answer I am seeking. That little bit of insight into the complex, puzzling and sometimes jaw-dropping predicament of the snarky park mom.

Today, I took the little man to the park. It's one of the things I loathe doing more than anything for precisely the reason I am about to explain. Seriously, I would rather change a 5 pound diaper spewing with poop 5 times. I'm not kidding. If door number 1 was a big pile of poop and door number 2 was a trip to the park, I would sooo be heading for 1. But today, I sucked it up and took the little guy to the park.

When we arrive at the local toddler paradise, there were quite a few kids playing in a large grassy area, kicking balls around. Big deal right? Well, this realization immediately gave me heart palpitations because the little man goes freaking nutty over balls. He loves them and thinks that he can have every ball he sees. I just knew there was no way he would be heading for the slides, or the swings (which are usually a sure bet).  No, he would be heading straight for the balls. And sure enough, he did.

I tried to explain as best I could to the little 1 1/2 year-old who just doesn't comprehend why he can't have every ball he sees, that the balls were not his and that other kids were playing with them right now. Of course, this set off wails of frustration and discontent as I swooped him up and headed to the swings. And then something really sweet happened. A boy about 7 or 8 called after us and said it would be okay if the K man played with one of his balls. As well, his mom was very nice and actually chatted me up for a few minutes while the boys tried to figure out how the dynamic of the 7 year-old soccer player and a 1 1/2 year-old soccer ball stealer was going to work out.

After about 10 or 15 minutes of "kick and steal", the boy decided he wanted to go on the swings, but said the K man could still play with his ball while he was swinging. What a sweet kid!

Now here comes the WTF?

Another little boy about 3 or so was also kicking a ball nearby and noticed that an opening had become available on the kick and steal team. So he kicked his ball over to us. With his mom busy on the phone and not paying attention, I decided to kick the ball back to him. This commenced into a full-on game of kick ball with the 3 year-old. Then here comes the 3 year-olds mom - who still has the phone glued to her ear. No hello, no hi how are you?, no stop playing with my kid. Nothing.

I continue to referee the game between the K man and the 3 year-old, only to the mom's discontent that one or the other starts whining about who gets what ball. She proceeds to apologize to the person on the phone in a shockingly irritated tone, that "she is at the park and there is another little boy trying to play with her son." Really?

So now, I'm a tad bit uncomfortable. I still try to play with both boys because,  after all it's not the 3 year-olds fault that his mom is a big old snarkosaurus. But after 2 or 3 more instances of the mom telling the kid to "just kick the ball to mommy" and "leave the little boy alone, let him play by himself" and again apologizing to the person on the phone, I had taken about all I could take of this ridiculous situation.

I picked up the K man and trotted off to return the ball to the very sweet 7 year-old. And what does snarky mom have to say? "Oh good, they're leaving. Some little boy was trying to play with my son and just causing problems."  OMG!!! It was everything I could do not to turn around and belt out a string of profanities to miss snarkolicious. "Oh, I'm sorry, you bleeping, bleep bleep. Did we interrupt your phone conversation? I hadn't realized that this was your time to chat on the phone and not interact with your child." "Oh and by the way, your child came over to us, not the other way around. But then you wouldn't know that because you are too busy blabbing on the phone to participate in your child's activities". URGH!!

Okay. Maybe I shouldn't judge. Maybe the phone call was an emergency. Maybe she was instructing a team of brain surgeons via phone, which case, I totally apologize for my lack of tolerance.  But come on..."Good they are leaving"?

I didn't say a thing. I just took my little man back over to the nice boy and his nice mom and returned the ball. The K man wailed. We walked to the car. The day at the park was over.

I just don't understand the lack of basic social interactions when it comes to these park moms.

Adventures in Mommyhood, Part 2 - Designing Your Dream

Southern California native Anneliese Smith is a self-proclaimed recovering financial planner, as well as a wife, mom, writer, small business consultant/coach and an amazing jewelry & accessories designer. Anna's jewelry line, AnneyFriday has been featured in numerous publications including, Coast Magazine, OC Metro, Malibu Times and others. She currently manages multiple projects including her fabulous blog, "Penny Sophisticate", a resource where busy moms can find tools, ideas, and inspiration on everything from how to manage your finances, to cooking time savers, to how to stay focused and follow your dreams.

With such an impressive resume of accomplishments, I just had to ask Anna to share her story and find out how, as a mom, wife, business woman, etc, she was able to parlay her love of design into a business that allowed her live a more balanced life.

Here is what Anna had to say:


Me:
After reading your very impressive bio, I was intrigued by the statement that you “have a special talent for making something pretty great out of not-so-much”. Can you give me an example of something you made out of nothing that you are particularly proud of?

Anna:
Wow. Impressive? Thanks so much. Let’s see…I make up recipes on a regular basis, some of which I’m really proud of. I took some random, left over house paint and threw it on some canvases – those paintings seem to be well received. I turned my last house into a work of art, I was proud of that. And I’m always proud when I think of what my husband and I have built from being young and super broke when we were first married. ;-)

Me:
How has your husband inspired you and what role does your family play in keeping you motivated to pursue your dreams?

Anna:
He inspires me every day. I think we make a great team – we’re able to compliment each other’s abilities really well, and when I feel frustrated, discouraged or just plain tired, he reminds me to rest when I need it and to remain positive. His support and encouragement are incredible blessings to me, and I couldn’t do all this without him. My family is why I set out to own my own business in the first place – so I could be present (and have a flexible schedule) while raising kids. Now, my family is an instrumental part of my vision and their wellbeing are what my decisions are based on.

Me:
How old is your little one?

Anna:
She’s two. And of course a handful, but I love being her mama. ;-)

Me:
As moms, why do you think we have such challenges obtaining our goals/dreams?

Anna:
Because we’re constantly being pulled away from the focus of that dream to take care of someone else. You don't get a break, and have little focus time. I’m realizing more and more how important we are in the role that we play in our families’ lives. It took becoming a mom for me to really acknowledge what moms do. It’s incredible. And then there’s that whole "not taking care of yourself" thing…

Me:
You're right, as moms we often forget to take care of ourselves. How do you maintain balance (sanity) in your life while raising a family and running a business?

Anna:
It’s a constant effort. For me personally, I try to make sure I’m doing the simple things that really mean everything. Like meditation and prayer, exercise, and making sure I do something I feel like doing that’s not related to either family or business, on a semi-regular basis. Oh, and I can’t forget doing something creative. That really feeds my soul, and so I make sure I fit that in. Even if it’s cooking dinner – I try to at least do some creative cooking for dinner once in awhile. I believe it’s really about putting your daily tasks in perspective.

Me:
On those crazy days when you just feel overwhelmed, what motivates you to keep going?

Anna:
My vision. A step away - and remembering why I’m doing it in the first place.

Me:
What inspired you to start Penny Sophisticate?

Anna:
I wanted to do something that fed both my left and right brains, was information based, inspired others, and could provide financial education to women. It’s really about helping moms manage whatever they’ve got (from mood to food to money to energy to creativity…you get the idea) and GROW it!

Me:
5 years ago, you decided to shift your focus from financial planning and focus your attention full time on your jewelry and accessory line, AnneyFriday. What were some of your challenges in launching your business?

Anna:
I think one of the biggest challenges I had when I launched AnneyFriday, was learning the manufacturing side of business. I have worked in a service based business for my entire career. Dealing with manufacturing a product was completely new to me. And then realizing that I was running three businesses in one (manufacturing, wholesale and retail) – lots to know and figure out.

Me:
What were some of your successes?

Anna:
Getting paid for something that came completely naturally to me and that I did as a way to stretch a dollar, which then turned into a hobby. That was pretty cool. And realizing that I really could go from managing investments, to being a professional designer, that was pretty cool too. The press is always fun, but it was really great to hear such great feedback from my private clients. They compliment me when they wear my designs, and I love that something I designed can make them feel good.

Me:
What advice would you give to moms out there that are struggling to "do it all"?

Anna:
Don’t. You can’t. I’m not saying you can’t have it all, but you certainly can’t do it all.  Prioritizing is key. Then learn to delegate, and learn to let some things go. Start valuing your time, and learn to outsource. And move forward even if something isn’t perfect.

Me:
What's next for your business?

Anna:
Some exciting stuff this year! Some great workshops, working on a book, figuring out how I can provide great value to anyone who decides to read what I put out there. Lots of new media stuff (TBA) And possibly even some new, fabulous jewelry pieces for my line.


I want to thank Anna for taking the time out of her busy schedule to share her story with me. She truly is what "super-moms" are made of. Please check out her blog at: http://pennysophisticate.com as well as her beautiful jewelry line, Anneyfriday.

Did you miss part 1 - Becoming Fearless? Read it now.

Martha's Irish Coffee Cupcakes

For the cupcakes
2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup boiling water
2 tablespoons instant espresso powder (or instant coffee will work as well)
1/4 whole milk
1 stick unsalted butter, room temp
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup light brown sugar
2 large eggs

For the frosting 
1 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon confectioners sugar
1 tablespoon whiskey
Instant espresso for dusting

Directions: 
1. preheat oven to 350. Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Pour water over espresso powder and let cool. Combine espresso with milk. Beat butter and granulated sugar and brown sugar with a mixer on medium until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add in eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each egg. Beat in flour mixture in 3 additions alternating with espresso mixture. beginning and ending with flour.

2. Fill lined muffin tins three quarters full. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. 20-22 minutes. Let cool.

3. Make frosting. Whisk together cream and confectioners sugar until medium peaks form. Add whiskey; whisk until slightly stiff peaks form.

4. Top each cupcake with 2 tablespoons frosting; dust with espresso powder.

ENJOY!

Meddling with my winter fashion

Okay, so what happened to winter or even spring for that matter? I mean I love the Southern California weather and all but, I also like boots. And coats and scarves and hats. And somehow I completely missed out on winter.  They say there is no such thing as global warming...but what else could be meddling with my winter fashion? It's only March and its 80 degrees outside! Not exactly boot or coat wearing weather.

So much for those awesome coats and faux fur vests I just recently acquired! I wait all summer long to finally be able to pull out the winter coats and pull on the boots. But every year it seems like I am getting to wear them less and less. This year I don't think I wore my boots more than once. Maybe twice.

This past weekend I was so excited to finally be going somewhere so I could parade around in my cute boots. But no, it was too hot for boots and I had to swap them out at the last minute for open toed sandals. Which made that investment in a long awaited, much need, pedicure almost a premonition.

I feel like I just packed away all my summer dresses and swapped out my Havaianas for Frye's.  And now I am pulling them out again. I'm not ready for summer!  I'm not ready to worry about bathing suit season or bikini waxes. Or whether my ass looks fat in these shorts. And I'm really not ready to be sweaty all the time. But since it's March and we are already in the pool today, It looks like there isn't much I can do but pack up the coats and boots and embrace the flip-flops.

However, one bright spot in my impending summer dread. WINE SICLES! I found this recipe for winepops in Food&Wine magazine yesterday and can't wait to try them out! See, all those magazine subscriptions weren't a total bust.


Riesling-Pear Pops
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons water
2 Bartlett pears (7 ounces each)—peeled, cored and chopped
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup Riesling, preferably 10.5-percent alcohol

Directions:
In a small saucepan, combine the sugar and water and bring to a simmer, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Pour the syrup into a bowl and let cool. Add the pears and lemon juice to the syrup and toss well.
Transfer the pears and syrup to a food processor and add the Riesling. Process to a smooth puree. Pour the puree into six 1/3-cup popsicle molds and freeze until hard, at least 1 hour.

Make Ahead
The pops can be frozen for up to 1 week.

Whoo hoo!

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A Sippy Cup Tale - Tomme Tippee Review

Okay, so I have to say, I was intrigued. I had heard so many awesome things about the explora® line of sippy cups from Tommee Tippee, that I just had to investigate. Stories that read like legend were swirling that these cups were the answer to turning off that unwanted feature I didn't even realize came with my handbag and diaper bag. That's right, the "two-day old, didn't realize the cup had leaked, did I use my bag as a bowl for yogurt?- spoiled milk smell."


Complicated Mamma said she was possibly considering a marriage proposal from Tommee because he had answered her leaking sippy cup prayers. I half knew she was kidding...but was she? Could it be true? Was Tommee Tippee the answer?  So again, I was intrigued.

I have collected so many sippy cups searching for the perfect one, I almost need an intervention. Finding the perfect sippy cup seemed like a lost cause. I had a pretty tall list of features I felt that were "required". Not only was I looking for a cup that didn't leak - that would be a bonus, since I found out milk actually can stain a leather couch - I was also looking for a cup that didn't collect mold or other debris in the spout, was easy to clean, and would actually resemble the experience of drinking out of a cup (one that didn't have a nipple-like spout).

Just in the nick of time before the intervention, the people at Tommee Tippee offered to send me a couple of explora® truly spill proof drink cups to review.

I love these cups! Not only are they seriously leak-proof (passed the shake and throw test) they are chunkier than other cups, so the K-man's little hands can grip on better. They are BPA free, and, even though the "valve system" was designed by a super-smart physicist,  its really easy to pop off and clean. The spout is perfect and provides more of a "cup-like" experience.

So there it is. It's true. There really is a perfect sippy cup out there. For more information on Tommee Tippee or where to purchase these absolutely fantastic products, you can find more info here: http://www.tommeetippee.us


Disclosure:  I was provided product from Tommee Tippee for this review. I was not compensated for this review. The opinions expressed are my own based on personal experience with the product.

Adventures in Mommyhood, Part 1 - Becoming Fearless

Becoming a successful business owner while raising a family is no easy task. And when your business just happens to reside in an industry that isn’t all that synonymous with family, it can be even harder.  I sat down last week with Michelle Fechtig, Co-Owner of Fearless Records, a California-based alternative rock label, to learn about her experience and find out her secret to achieving success, being a “super-mom” and how she maintained her sanity as she helped build a successful business while raising a family.

“Having the Plain White T's play in the driveway during our 4th of July party was pretty cool “ Said Michelle. “I still get kinda freaked out when I go to the grocery store and hear their song ‘Hey There Delilah’ playing”, Michelle continued. To Michelle, the success of the business her husband started 16 years ago has not yet sunk in. 

Michelle and her husband, Bob Becker, started Fearless Records in 1994 after what started out as a “hobby” blossomed into a full-time business. Since then, Fearless has put out over 100 releases and is home to some of today’s most popular artists including; At the Drive-In, Rock Kills Kid, Sugar Cult, Alesana, The Maine and of course, the Grammy nominated, Plain white T’s.

 Michelle and Bob have two beautiful girls, now 16 and 20 who are very proud of what their parents have accomplished.  They both understand, even though it was hard work and tough at times, it was a really great experience for the entire family.

Here is what Michelle had to say:

Me:

What in the world inspired you and your husband to start a record label?

Michelle:

My husband has a great ear for signing bands.  As well, it’s an amazing feeling when you are working with these bands and see them start from nothing, playing small crowds, working hard and traveling in vans across the country, then becoming successful artists, playing arenas in front of 1,000's of people.  It's a wonderful feeling to be part of that process. I think just seeing the bands achieve their dreams and being so grateful to you for helping them is an awesome experience. 

Me:

As a mom, I can totally relate with that feeling. I’m sure these bands, most of them under 25, become somewhat an extension of your family. You always want your children to succeed.

Michelle:  

Absolutely. We consider every artist we deal with as a member of the Fearless family and their success is very important to us. 

Me:

In the initial phase of getting the label off the ground, it was just the two of you. How did you manage to do it all and still raise a family?

Michelle:

It was a lot of hard work. Bob handled the band signing and recording while I handled everything else including the accounting, advertising, publicity and the shipping.  It was a juggling act, if nothing else. I got most of my work done while the kids were in school.  I would pick them up and take them home then go back to the office.  When we ran the label out of our home, I had to hire a babysitter  to help watch them while I was working. Then, I would feed them put them to bed and go back to work. While it was hard work at the time, looking back, having to do it all was the best education I could have ever experienced.

Me:

Building a business is sometimes a 24-hour job, how did you make sure you devoted time to the kids?

Michelle:

We always made sure we found time for the family.  We signed the girls up for softball from the age of 5-14.  Bob would coach and I would manage their teams.  The business didn't really take off until Bob stopped coaching and put all of his time into the label.

Me:

What have been some of your major challenges?

Michelle:

There have been many.  But I think the biggest challenge has been keeping a stable family life while working in the music industry. Just running your own business is hard enough, add in all the pressures that come from this industry and it’s even harder. Most of the bands we would go see play in bars or in clubs, sometimes until 3A.M. It was difficult at times when Bob would have to be gone or out of town and it was just me with the kids. There were a lot of ups and downs but we worked through it.

Me:

What have been some of your major successes?

Michelle:

I would have to say one would be when we put out a release by a band called “At The Drive-In”.  Bob and I saw them at a small venue called Club Mesa in Orange County.  There were just a few people in the club, but they were one of the most amazing bands I had ever seen live.  They were a groundbreaking band and have inspired a new genre of music.

Me:

Did you ever expect your business to reach this level of success?

Michelle:

No, I have to admit we have had some struggles, but always found a way to make it work.  Even when I wanted to quit, Bob never wanted to give up. He is definitely a risk taker, where I am more cautious. That is what has made him successful in everything he does and I am so grateful to be a part of it.

Me:

On those crazy days when you just feel overwhelmed, what motivates you to keep going?

Michelle:

Just believing that everything will be okay!  There's always going to be hard days but just keeping busy, doing all you can do and having a positive attitude always works.

Me:
As a wife and a mom, it takes a pretty strong person to “do it all”, what do you think your biggest strength is?

Michelle:

Patience! omg!  That has to be the biggest strength.  We went from literally nothing to where we are today. We struggled with almost everything from how to pay the bills to putting food on our table. But we hung in there and soon everything started to take off.

Me:

How do you ensure quality time with your family away from the pressures of the business?

Michelle:

The thing I love to do the most is travel with my family.  Whenever the kids have days off, we try and take a mini vacation.  During the summer, we usually plan a week long trip.  Last summer we were able to take them to Cabo. 

Me:

What types of things did you do to make sure you spent “quality time” with your husband as well?

Michelle:

We try to fit in one-on-one time whenever we can. One Christmas, Bob went to Nice, France for a music convention.  He surprised me and flew me out to meet him. I will never forget that experience, it was amazing.  We took trains all through Italy.

Me:

Now I couldn’t help it – I had to ask: How do you think your life compares with the TV show "The Real Housewives of OC"?

Michelle:

It doesn't! Those woman are nuts! I wouldn't want any friends if they were my only choices. All they do is hurt each other.

Me:

Do you think it portrays the OC lifestyle realistically?

Michelle:

Just the materialistic parts. Like wanting the implants, botox, and trying to stay young.

Me:

Who is your favorite housewife and why?

Michelle:

I would have to say Gretchen because she's the only one that isn't fake and she hasn't stabbed anyone in the back..... yet.  I’ll have to wait for the next season.

Me:

What’s next for Fearless?

Michelle:

There is always constant change so it keeps us on our toes but I think Fearless has turned into an amazing label with so many great bands and hard working employees. Who knows what will come next.

Me:

What is the best advice you can give other moms trying to do it all?

Michelle:

Again, just have patience. A positive attitude will definitely take you a long way - you'd be surprised. Cherish every moment you have with your children and especially listen to everything that they try to tell you. At times it may seem chaotic but before you know it they are all grown up and you can never get those days back. 

Me:

What are the girls up to now?

Michelle:

Our 16 year-old is a sophomore in high school.  She likes to play volleyball, surf and snowboard. She's still deciding on what she wants to do career-wise .  Our oldest just turned 20 and is in school for massage therapy.  She hopes to one -day work at a resort or spa.  I am really happy that she found something she is so passionate about.  She really enjoys it.

Me:

Any chance they will work for Fearless or in the Music biz? Possibly take over the label?

Michelle:

Our oldest tried it and it didn't work out too well.  She was a receptionist during the summer. She couldn't take her dad being her boss. LOL. Not sure about the younger one.  We would love to see the label stay in the family.  It takes a lot of hard work and you have to have passion and desire to put all you have into it.

I want to thank Michelle for taking the time out of her day(s) to chat with me and let me tell her story. She is definitely one of the many successful and inspiring Orange County women (and moms), I have had the great opportunity to get know. For more information about Fearless Records please visit: www.fearlessrecords.com 

The Adventures of Mommyhood. The Introduction.

Last week, I had a conversation with my really inspiring new bloggy BFF, Theta mom (It's a little presumptuous of me to assume that she's my new BFF, but I'm going to say so anyway) who took time out of her crazy schedule to chat with me about an idea that I wanted to explore further. She asked me a question that I had been struggling with but didn't quit know how to answer until now. When it came to my blog, what was my mission? My goal? What about my ramblings would make readers want to come back and feel connected to me?

Well, thanks to Theta mom, who really made me sit down and ponder that question. I now know how to answer it.

Being new to this adventure called mommyhood, Tales from the Sippy Cup was created as an outlet in order for me to tell my story and reach out to other moms to hear their stories. To gain some knowledge where I felt like I had none. To gain some support when I felt like I was alone. To just have a laugh when I felt like I really needed one. And in turn, to share with other moms what I had learned.  I mean, I couldn't possibly be the only one pulling my hair out trying to figure out why my toddler wanted to carry around one slipper all the time.

So with this newfound realization of what my blog meant to me, I had another realization. I am so lucky to have an incredible network of amazing moms right here in Orange County. Some of them are business owners, some of them are designers, some are lawyers.  But they all have one thing in common. They are moms. And I wanted to tell their stories as well.

So, for the next few weeks I will be highlighting one Orange County mom. Yes, a Real Housewife of Orange County. I will be asking them how they manage to "do it all." How they keep motivated when it just gets crazy and how the challenges of family have made them even stronger.

I hope you enjoy reading "The Adventures of Mommyhood" and I would really love to hear what you think.

Thanks!

The Adventures in Mommyhood - Part 1 - Becoming Fearless

Cooking Class - OC Housewives Style.

Once a month I get together with a fabulous group of ladies for a "girls night" out. Something that is scheduled. It's the calendar the same time every month and all about just getting out and spending some quality time with your girlfriends. No poop, no boogers, no temper tantrums. And the only whining that will be going on comes out of a bottle not a kiddo.











Last night was our night. And this month, with the finale of the OC Housewives and the premiere of the NY Housewives, it just made perfect sense to hold a cooking class!

We enlisted the help of Chef Jen, from Fresh Fork Personal Chef and Catering Services. She developed a 3 course menu for the group that consisted of heirloom tomato caprese tower, chicken marsala over smashed potatoes (to die for! ) and seared asparagus.  For dessert, fresh strawberry crepes with chocolate ganache and whipped cream. As she demonstrated how to cook each one of these wonderful creations, we were able to join in on the process and build our own tomato towers, smash potatoes, and practice our skills at the aerial crepe flip.

It was such a great night of wine, friends and good food. Not the mention the back to back episodes of my favorite guilty pleasure - The Housewives.  Even though there were no tears, no cat fights and no one hocking their "cuffs" at the dinner table,  we all loved having Chef Jen come and help us get one step closer to becoming a domestic goddess. And the best part? They handled all the clean up!


In addition to cooking classes and private dinner parties, Fresh Fork can create weekly menus around your families taste preferences, special dietary needs, restrictions and goals. You can freeze the meals and reheat them all week - freeing you up to have time to do the things you need and want to do without worrying about “what’s for dinner”. Its a great idea for busy moms and families, especially for those that travel, have spouses that travel or are just plain busy.

One of my girlfriends actually took advantage of the weekly meal plans when she brought home her second child, alleviating the stress of having to cook a meal for the family.

If you are in Orange County and would like to try Fresh Fork Personal Chef and Catering Services,  just mention that you heard about them from this blog and receive 20% off. You'll truly love it! 

Wordless Wednesday - Rainy Daze

Encouraging your little super star

Encouraging your child's interests. I have been thinking about this topic lately. It's been popping into my mind because at 16 months old, the K man has an amazing backswing. I think somehow he heard that there was an opening in the PGA and is in training to fill in for Tiger. (On the golf course!). 

A little before Christmas last year he started using anything he could get his hands on to hit balls across the floor, sticks, hair brushes, anything. The hubs would hand him his gold club (outside - we are first time parents - not total idiots) and he would somehow swing this club that was two times his height at practice balls and cry when we took it away. So for Christmas, he got a little plastic kiddo set from the grandparents. 

Ever since then, the first thing the little guy wants to do when he gets up in the morning is grab his blue plastic golf club and a ball and start whacking them all over the house. I was surprised at how into it he really gets. Setting up the ball, taking a couple practice swings then launching the ball into another room. It's getting to the point where this might actually have to move to an outside sport before he puts a small rubber golf ball into the TV. These little kiddo golf sets come with rubber golf balls, but they sure do fly. And then it gets scary when he takes balls from other toys that clearly weren't meant to be on the receiving end of a hard plastic club with some momentum behind it. 

The hubs and I have been both encouraging and hesitant at the same time. We understand that at 16 months, this over fascination with golf may soon die out.  We encourage him by clapping and saying "yea!" when he hits the ball. Which now has turned into quite a spectacle since he puts down his club after every shot to clap for himself.  But, I find that its hard to remain reserved and not want to get him the "real" kiddo clubs thinking that if he can hit like that with a rubber ball and a molded plastic club, how well would he do with a set of clubs with calibrated "Super Flex" titanium shafts?

This leads me to the question: When your child expresses an interest in a particular sport or hobby, how do you make sure you encourage them to pursue their interests, but still make sure they are having fun? As a parent, it is natural to want your child to succeed at everything. But it is also natural for your child to want to please you and do things only to obtain a positive reaction from you. Especially at a young age. 

I have seen and heard stories from both sides of the coin. Parents that pushed the interest way past the point of the child having fun or wanting to do it anymore. And then the opposite, where the parents ignored or discouraged the child's interest. 

For us, I think the answer lies in encouragement, support and communication (obviously I mean long term - when there are more than 5 words in his vocabulary) for whatever he decides to do in all the years to come. To remember that kids are interested and curious about everything - thats how they learn. That it is okay to be totally into something one day and not the next. 

So, what are some ways that you encourage your children to pursue their interests at any age?