Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Dinner with Denny
Last night, my husband and I attended our local Lincoln Day Dinner as we do every year. Our Congressman, Bill Thomas (Chairman of the House of Ways and Means) spoke as well as his good friend and Speaker of the House - Dennis Hastert. The UAE port issue was on the minds of many, of course, but was not addressed during any of the speeches.
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
2006 Grammy's
We're going! I'm so excited. It's going to be held at the Staples Center on Wednesday February 8. Like the American Music Awards we attended a few weeks ago, taping starts at 5 PM (so it can be live on the east coast) so we should be done by 8 and home by 9:30! Scheduled to perform so far: Maddona (opening act!), Mariah Carey, Jamie Foxx and Kanye West, U2, Mary J. Blige, John Legend, Coldplay, Bruce Springsteen, Maroon 5, Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Christina Aguilera, Herbie Hancock, Joss Stone, Robert Randolph and more...
Monday, January 30, 2006
For The Ladies...
I recently discovered Foot Petals and was an instant fan. Like many women, I suffer every time I put on a great-looking pair of high heels. Many of the functions my husband and I attend involve lots of standing and anyone who has ever done that in a pair of 3" heels knows how excruciating it can be. I have tried the Tip Toes and the Strappy Strips and love them both. Kudos to Tina Aldatz!
Saturday, January 28, 2006
20 Years Ago Today...
It's hard to believe it's been 20 years... I was a 15-year old sophomore at Kennedy High School in Granada Hills, California and vividly remember watching the countdown and lift-off of the Challenger with my peers.
Thursday, January 26, 2006
Trip Details
Our travel agent notified us today that we will be flying out of LAX (to Fort Lauderdale) at 7 AM the day before our cruise leaves port. We live about 100 miles away from the airport in Los Angeles so we'll drive down the night before and stay at the Renaissance Montura - our favorite airport hotel. Our flight lands in Florida Friday at about 2:45 PM (EST) which is nice - it'll allow us some time to enjoy the area that afternoon and evening. I'm not completely thrilled about the port hotel arrangements she made for us pre-cruise. The hotel (the Sheraton Yankee Clipper) is decent, from what I hear, but rather old and it has some areas that have not been repaired since Hurricane Wilma hit it. The price is right, though. Too - it's just steps away from where we'll get on our ship and, as my husband keeps reminding me, we will only be in the room for about 16 hours!
I've been excited for weeks but it's really getting close now... I've done a ton of research on the ship, the whole "cruise experience" and all 3 of our ports and am just so looking forward to doing this with my family. The first few vacations we tried to take with our son were disastrous. I was convinced, at one point, that the four of us would never be able to do things like this together. I'm so glad I was wrong!
I've been excited for weeks but it's really getting close now... I've done a ton of research on the ship, the whole "cruise experience" and all 3 of our ports and am just so looking forward to doing this with my family. The first few vacations we tried to take with our son were disastrous. I was convinced, at one point, that the four of us would never be able to do things like this together. I'm so glad I was wrong!
Monday, January 23, 2006
Report Card Time
I'm so proud of my kids. The school-year is more than half over now and it's report-card tme. Both of my parent-teacher conferences last week were outstanding!
Academically, my son has grasped all of his goals for the first half of the year. He has reached about 90% of the second semester academic goals as well. (This is his 2nd year of Kindergarden so that's not a surprise). He's still having problems with "rhyming" for some reason - just can't seem to grasp the concept - but his teacher isn't concerned as it's simply a pre-reading skill and he reads quite consistently at a 2nd grade level currently. The things I was most concerned about - the things that prompted us to have him repeat Kindergarden - all seem to have resolved themselves. He received checkmarks in the "meets goals and expectations" boxes across the board - listens when others speak, follows commands, expresses feelings appropriately, completes assigned tasks... I'm so pleased and am feeling very confident that he'll be able to succeed in 1st grade next year. He has worked so hard to get to this point. Nothing comes easily for that little guy!
My daughter (12 months younger than her older brother) also did extremely well on her first-ever report card. She is so sharp. Save for 2 absences (we took the family on a trip to Phoenix for my husband's 50th birthday last Fall), her report card is absolutely perfect. We can really tell how much her teacher enjoys having her in her class. It's not hard for me to figure out why - she's a great little kid - smart and eager to learn. I'm such a lucky Mom.
I can only hope that the love of - and enthusiasm for - school both of my children have right now for continues for years to come!
Academically, my son has grasped all of his goals for the first half of the year. He has reached about 90% of the second semester academic goals as well. (This is his 2nd year of Kindergarden so that's not a surprise). He's still having problems with "rhyming" for some reason - just can't seem to grasp the concept - but his teacher isn't concerned as it's simply a pre-reading skill and he reads quite consistently at a 2nd grade level currently. The things I was most concerned about - the things that prompted us to have him repeat Kindergarden - all seem to have resolved themselves. He received checkmarks in the "meets goals and expectations" boxes across the board - listens when others speak, follows commands, expresses feelings appropriately, completes assigned tasks... I'm so pleased and am feeling very confident that he'll be able to succeed in 1st grade next year. He has worked so hard to get to this point. Nothing comes easily for that little guy!
My daughter (12 months younger than her older brother) also did extremely well on her first-ever report card. She is so sharp. Save for 2 absences (we took the family on a trip to Phoenix for my husband's 50th birthday last Fall), her report card is absolutely perfect. We can really tell how much her teacher enjoys having her in her class. It's not hard for me to figure out why - she's a great little kid - smart and eager to learn. I'm such a lucky Mom.
I can only hope that the love of - and enthusiasm for - school both of my children have right now for continues for years to come!
Friday, January 13, 2006
Safe To Park
I saw this commercial on television yesterday and literally laughed out loud! I usually get the new Hummer spots e-mailed to me (from my husband) but hadn't seen this one before it aired - it caught me off-guard, to say the least!
It struck a cord with me because of an experience I had when I first got my H2 about 2 years ago. I had been in it maybe a week and was taking the kids to the pediatrician's office for their annual well-checks. I could not find a parking spot in the (tiny) lot outside of her office so I made my way to the overflow parking structure and headed in. It never occurred to me for even a second that the height of my new car (I'd been in a full-sized Tahoe for a year or so prior) might be a problem. I'll spare readers the whole (loud, scary) story - but suffice it to say that I had that truck for a year (after a few pieces of the luggage rack were - ahem - replaced) and never again drove into another parking structure!
It struck a cord with me because of an experience I had when I first got my H2 about 2 years ago. I had been in it maybe a week and was taking the kids to the pediatrician's office for their annual well-checks. I could not find a parking spot in the (tiny) lot outside of her office so I made my way to the overflow parking structure and headed in. It never occurred to me for even a second that the height of my new car (I'd been in a full-sized Tahoe for a year or so prior) might be a problem. I'll spare readers the whole (loud, scary) story - but suffice it to say that I had that truck for a year (after a few pieces of the luggage rack were - ahem - replaced) and never again drove into another parking structure!
Monday, January 09, 2006
What a view!
I found the greatest webcam! It's on the Princess Caribbean - the ship we'll be boarding in just a little over two months. Saturdays, you can catch her at port in Fort Lauderdale. Sundays and Mondays, she is at sea bound for the Caribbean. Tuesdays she's at St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands; Wednesdays - St. Martin/Maarten; at sea Thursdays; at Princess Cays (a private island in the Bahamas) on Fridays and back at port in Florida Saturday.
Monday, January 02, 2006
Sunday, January 01, 2006
A Much-Needed Nap
I did something today that I haven't done in years - something I haven't been able to do that since before my children (5.5 and 6.5 now) were born! (I was never one of those Moms who "slept when the baby slept" - I always had something to clean or clothes to wash or dinner to prepare...)
I have been running at full-speed since Halloween and, after cooking for two days straight before a New Year's celebration at our home (and, obviously, a late night last night), I guess my body was just in need. I fought it at first - feeling guilty and lazy at the thought of such an "indulgence". I gave in eventually, though, and had the most glorious 1-hour nap I've ever had. For those of you who don't nap - I highly recommend you give it a try.
I have been running at full-speed since Halloween and, after cooking for two days straight before a New Year's celebration at our home (and, obviously, a late night last night), I guess my body was just in need. I fought it at first - feeling guilty and lazy at the thought of such an "indulgence". I gave in eventually, though, and had the most glorious 1-hour nap I've ever had. For those of you who don't nap - I highly recommend you give it a try.
Saturday, December 31, 2005
Say "cheese"!
I'm so excited! I think I must've been one of the last people on the planet still using 35mm film. For Christmas, though, I was given my first digital camera. It's a Kodak Easyshare V530 and I just love it so far. I have had minor difficulties taking pictures indoors with low-light and am not sure if I have some settings wrong or if it's just going to take better pictures outdoors... I'm open to any tips/advice from people with more expertise than I!
Thursday, December 29, 2005
Million Dollar Webpage
I love this story! Go Alex! (Click above for the actual webpage he created - it's a trip!)
Saturday, December 24, 2005
Tracking Santa
You have to love the people at Norad for doing this every year! Following him is becoming a much-loved Christmas Eve tradition for us and our children!
Holiday SWEETS
I've been in the kitchen quite a bit during the last week and thought it'd be fun to post a few of my (new) favorite recipes here...
Peppermint Bark
1 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 c. white chocolate chips
peppermint flavoring
2-3 large candy canes (crushed)
Melt 1 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips in microwave for 1 1/2 minutes (stirring every 30 seconds). Immediately use spatula to pread out on cookie sheet covered with wax paper. Place in refrigerator for 1 hour. Melt 2 c. white chocolate chips in microwave for 1 1/2 minutes (stirring every 30 seconds). Mix in 1-2 capfuls of peppermint flavoring (depending on taste) and pulverized candy canes. Spread out over dark chocolate. Place back in refrigerator until hardened - approximately 1 hour. Break into pieces to serve.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Cookies
1 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 squares (2 ozs.) unsweetened chocolate
1 c. sugar
1/2 c. butter or shortening
2 eggs
1 t. salt
1 t. vanilla
1 1/2 c. plus 2 T. all-purpose flour
1/2 t. baking soda
3/4 c. finely chopped peanuts
36 miniature peanut butter cups, frozen and unwrapped
Preheat oven to 350F. Combine both chocolates in bowl and microwave at 50% for about 2 minutes. Stir and repeat until smooth and melted. Cool slightly. Combine sugar and butter/shortening in large bowl. Beat at medium speed with electric mixer until blended and crumbly. Beat in eggs, one at a time, then salt and vanilla. Reduce speed to low and add chocolate slowly. Mix until well blended. Stir in flour and baking soda with spoon until blended. Shape dough into 36 1 1/4" balls. Roll in chopped peanuts and place 2" apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until set. Press a frozen peanut butter cup into the center of each cookie immediately upon removing them from the oven. Cool completely before serving.
Peppermint Bark
1 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 c. white chocolate chips
peppermint flavoring
2-3 large candy canes (crushed)
Melt 1 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips in microwave for 1 1/2 minutes (stirring every 30 seconds). Immediately use spatula to pread out on cookie sheet covered with wax paper. Place in refrigerator for 1 hour. Melt 2 c. white chocolate chips in microwave for 1 1/2 minutes (stirring every 30 seconds). Mix in 1-2 capfuls of peppermint flavoring (depending on taste) and pulverized candy canes. Spread out over dark chocolate. Place back in refrigerator until hardened - approximately 1 hour. Break into pieces to serve.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Cookies
1 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 squares (2 ozs.) unsweetened chocolate
1 c. sugar
1/2 c. butter or shortening
2 eggs
1 t. salt
1 t. vanilla
1 1/2 c. plus 2 T. all-purpose flour
1/2 t. baking soda
3/4 c. finely chopped peanuts
36 miniature peanut butter cups, frozen and unwrapped
Preheat oven to 350F. Combine both chocolates in bowl and microwave at 50% for about 2 minutes. Stir and repeat until smooth and melted. Cool slightly. Combine sugar and butter/shortening in large bowl. Beat at medium speed with electric mixer until blended and crumbly. Beat in eggs, one at a time, then salt and vanilla. Reduce speed to low and add chocolate slowly. Mix until well blended. Stir in flour and baking soda with spoon until blended. Shape dough into 36 1 1/4" balls. Roll in chopped peanuts and place 2" apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until set. Press a frozen peanut butter cup into the center of each cookie immediately upon removing them from the oven. Cool completely before serving.
Update to my October 28 Post
My son appears to have "emerged" from the little funk I posted about a few weeks ago. (Phew.) I wonder if I'll ever understand those phases... Are they developmental? Related to something in his diet, supplements, the moon, for pete's sake? So much mystery surrounds my little man... I wish I could just take these things in stride and know that they won't be permanent - I just worry about him so much.
I've decided to put him back on melatonin. I'd had him off of it for a little while. Save for one night when he just could not seem to "turn his brain off" at the end of the day (flashback to those endless nights we used to suffer through during which he'd "bounce off the wall" all night long), he hasn't had many problems - that we've noticed. He had told me on a number of occasions, though, that he was feeling tired during the day so I wonder if the "sleep" he was getting (sans melatonin) was really restful.
He's doing well at home and in school - even scored 100% on his math test 2 weeks ago! Ahead, we trudge!
I've decided to put him back on melatonin. I'd had him off of it for a little while. Save for one night when he just could not seem to "turn his brain off" at the end of the day (flashback to those endless nights we used to suffer through during which he'd "bounce off the wall" all night long), he hasn't had many problems - that we've noticed. He had told me on a number of occasions, though, that he was feeling tired during the day so I wonder if the "sleep" he was getting (sans melatonin) was really restful.
He's doing well at home and in school - even scored 100% on his math test 2 weeks ago! Ahead, we trudge!
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Monday, December 19, 2005
We're going on a Cruise!
I'm so excited! We were confirmed last week - in March 2006, we're flying from L.A. to Fort Lauderdale and cruising on the Caribbean Princess to St. Thomas, St. Maarten and the Princess Cays (a private island in The Bahamas). I'm nervous - having never been on a "real" ship before. (I've spent a few nights on The Queen Mary down in Long Beach but she doesn't move!) I know it'll be great, though - the kids are very excited. The countdown begins!
I'm a little concerned about my son and how he'll do... He suffers from Sensory Integration Disorder - oh the joys of Autism - and, while it's mostly under control (thanks to years of occupational therapy), I worry that the vestibular thing could be a problem for him while onboard the ship. We won't really know until we get there, unfortunately. I was panicked about it when I took him on an airplane for the first time last Summer (a 5-hour flight to Maui!) but he did incredibly well. Perhaps he'll surprise us this time as well. Maybe (hopefully) Mom will be the only one on this trip who has difficulty with her "sea legs"!
I'm a little concerned about my son and how he'll do... He suffers from Sensory Integration Disorder - oh the joys of Autism - and, while it's mostly under control (thanks to years of occupational therapy), I worry that the vestibular thing could be a problem for him while onboard the ship. We won't really know until we get there, unfortunately. I was panicked about it when I took him on an airplane for the first time last Summer (a 5-hour flight to Maui!) but he did incredibly well. Perhaps he'll surprise us this time as well. Maybe (hopefully) Mom will be the only one on this trip who has difficulty with her "sea legs"!
Sunday, December 18, 2005
My Babes
Saturday, December 17, 2005
Christmas - bring it on!
I'm ready! I start shopping early - October, usually - but didn't have every last little thing until just this morning (when I picked up a UPS-delivered box from my porch). I have a small amount of wrapping to do and need to buy some of those bags for odd-shaped things - but I'm DONE with the shopping! I did a lot online this year - Amazon, Victoria's Secret, Brookstone, Macy's... Nothing beats the convenience of that. With my kiddos in Kindergarten just 3.5 hours/day (7:30-11 AM), it really helps me.
The kids are on vacation for 2+ weeks now so whatever things I have to get done this week to prepare for Christmas day, I'll be doing with them. 
My menu is decided - I always do a prime rib roast with horseradish sauce, popovers, garlic mashed potatoes and a green vegetable - either asparagus or creamed spinach. For dessert, I'll make a pecan pie and some type of cake (so I can use my favorite Fitz & Floyd cake plate). I'm also really looking forward to making and serving Tiratini drinks - martinis that taste like Tiramasu! My girlfriend and I had a few last weekend at a Macaroni Grill restaurant and they were excellent - perfect for Christmas evening (and maybe even Christmas Eve!)!
I love this time of year!
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