Knott’s New Year’s Eve Celebration

Having kids has meant (most years) a low key family friendly way of celebrating. Which usually means me in my pajamas, wrapped in a blanket, on my couch, watching the ball drop in Times Square on TV. I was really intrigued to hear that Knott’s Berry Farm is hosting a family friendly New Year’s Eve Celebration. The celebrating starts during the day and goes until 1am. If you are pretty sure you aren’t going to make it to midnight, no worries, there is lots happening all day for all ages. In Camp Snoopy, the “Happy New Year Charlie Brown!” stage show will have several showings filled with song and dance. “Snoopy’s Magical Night of Lights” features thousands of beautiful lights and holiday music starting at dusk ‘til 1am.

All of the rides will be open and that is really the most fun for me. I feel like in as many trips as I’ve made to Knott’s, I still haven’t “done” everything. There is so much going on all day on the 31st: the ice show "It's Christmas, Snoopy" at the Charles Shulz Theater, Magician Dana Daniels will be performing his family friendly magic in the Boardwalk Ballroom and “Elton John – The Early Years” will be performed by Elton John impersonator, Kenny Metcalf. If someone in the family likes dancing, there are two options: Salsa and Country line dancing, including instruction if you are feeling a bit rusty.

No doubt you will need to eat with all the running around you will be doing. My favorite restaurants are: Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant, Spurs Chop House in Ghost Town, Johnny Rockets on The Boardwalk and Grizzly Creek Lodge in Camp Snoopy. Click here for complete Knott’s dining info.

Calico Square is going to be the center of activities on New Year’s. The popular cover band, Clueless Remix Featuring DJ Resso will be playing hits from past and present. Next, Charlie Brown and the rest of the Peanuts gang will ring in the New Year with song, dance and some fun audience participation! Then, starting at 11:50 There will be a countdown with aerial fireworks display, stilt walkers, party hats and horns at midnight to welcome 2013 at Calico Square!

All this comes with a regular admission ticket. Purchase ahead of time online and save money and avoid waiting in line to buy your tickets at the park. While you are at it, why not get season passes? For as little as 6 payments of $11.16 you can have access all next year plus one free visit in 2012 and lots of other benefits! Just make sure to take advantage of this offer before January 13. It is a really great deal and there are lots of new things coming in time for summer for family fun on The Boardwalk.

Well, that was easy planning…My family and I will be ringing in the New Year at Knott’s! Happy New Year to all my readers and an awesome 2013 to you!

Disclosure: Knott’s Berry Farm has invited my family and I to attend their New Year’s Eve celebration. No compensation has been received for this post.

CVS Pharmacy–last minute Christmas

It’s a reality of life that even the most organized people will get hit with the need for a “last minute gift”. Then, there are the people who are always doing things last minute. Here is my recommendation: Go to CVS. They have something for everyone, are located all over the place, are open late on Christmas Eve, some are open on Christmas Day and some stores are 24hrs. A few of my suggestions for gifts are: scented candles, Nuance by Salma Hayek bath products, Whitman’s samplers, magazines, heated travel mugs, Essence of Beauty holiday sets, Norelco razors, and of course gift cards. Besides CVS gift cards, most CVS locations also carry hundreds of other types of gift cards like Amazon, iTunes and Starbucks.

You can easily fill stockings in the seasonal aisle. I always pick up Lifesavers gift packs because I remember getting them in my stocking when I was little. Then there are those people who realize last minute that they need something so they don’t show up empty handed at Aunt Eloise’s Christmas Eve Family Gift Swap. Some CVS locations carry alcohol, wine and beer (varies by local restrictions). I live in California and there is a large selection of wine and I even noticed some gift sets for the holidays. If alcohol isn’t your thing, you could grab candy or mixed nuts. The really great thing about last minute shopping at CVS is that you don’t have some huge store to make you feel overwhelmed. You can go on a low-stress treasure hunt and wander around for a few minutes—you will discover things you never would have thought to buy. Oh, and don’t forget to get some snacks for Santa! Merry Christmas!

Best of Made in LA - CBS Los Angeles

Many of us are in the thick of the holiday shopping season. Why not consider gifts made in the USA? I'm on CBS Los Angeles with Best of Made in LA.

It’s a Wrap with Disney Princess

On Friday, I wrote about my shopping adventures in pursuit of Disney princess items. Cinderella has been re-released on Blu-Ray/DVD and there are a number of Cinderella items available at Walmart this season. Today, I embarked on an adventure to figure out how I would wrap them. You may recall I said I am donating the Mattel Cinderella Transforming Carriage and the Mattel Cinderella Magiclip Castle to a local charity that provides Christmas presents to local families in need. I really wanted to wrap the gifts up to make them special and to reflect the Cinderella theme. I started with the Transforming Carriage.

When I was at Walmart, I grabbed a bunch of things from the Fabric and Party departments as a plan started to form in my head. Below, clockwise from top: Cinderella Party Plates, Cinderella Table Cover, Cinderella Birthday Princess Ribbon Pin, Cinderella Ribbon (3 feet), shimmer ribbon.

When I was in the Fabric department, I got 2 yards of semi-sheer fabric, along with the Cinderella and shimmer ribbons. Walmart also has Disney Princess dresses, shoes and accessories. I decided to make a “Cinderella Suitcase” wrapping presentation. I wrapped the carriage box in two layers of the sheer fabric. I think it is fine that you can see Cinderella through the sheer fabric…You can’t see what the toy is and the wrapping is a pretty big clue as it is. I used the three yards of Cinderella ribbon and wrapped it around the box three times to make it look like luggage straps. In the center top I attached a Cinderella tiara and behind it a white beaded headband for the “handle”. I hung a white beaded princess necklace with crystal pendant around the tiara and another longer one around that. I pinned the Cinderella birthday princess pin on the left “strap” and removed the ribbons that say “birthday”. On the right “strap”, I tucked a fairy godmother wand and tied it with a sheer ribbon bow. I used two costume jewelry bangles on the lower right and left straps to complete the suitcase. Any princess needs good traveling shoes and we know Cinderella has shoe issues…So I put an extra pair for the little princess to slip on.

Next, I tackled the Cinderella Magiclip Castle.

When I was in the Party Supplies department at Walmart, I was keeping my eyes open for things that I could use for gift wrap. I saw the Cinderella Table Cover and immediately picked it up. I really liked the idea that it could be reused. I used the whole table cover even though it was much larger than needed for the present. I just folded it in half and in half again and folded the extra length in towards the box and taped it. I wrapped the sheer ribbon around the box in both directions and put a silver shimmer bow on. As a final glimmery touch, I attached a Disney Princess tiara onto the upper front corner.

I had a lot of fun shopping for and wrapping the Disney Princess items. I hope the little princess who receives these toys loves them as much as we do. I also hope that my wrapping post gave you some ideas for your holiday season wrapping challenges. I don’t consider myself to be particularly crafty. You don’t have to be crafty for this, you just have to look around the store and even your house with a different perspective. You will start to see the possibilities…And sometimes if you just start…It all comes together in a magical way.

I am a member of the Collective Bias®  Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™ and Disney Consumer Products, Inc #CBias #SocialFabric #DisneyPrincessWMT. All opinions and content are my own.

Christmas Eve & Fifth Night of Hanukkah

Although I am Christian, I’ve always felt a connection to Judaism. My nursery school was at a JCC (Jewish Community Center) and, naturally, what we celebrated at school were Jewish holidays and traditions. I have preschoolers and because of my frame of reference, I feel the need to make sure they get exposure to Jewish traditions. Two years ago I made latkes with Chip’s class and this year I did the same thing in Lulu’s class. A couple of days ago we attended a menorah lighting and the kid’s choir from a local temple performed “Candlelight” by the Maccabeats. It’s a really fun song. So, herewith on Christmas eve as we prepare for Santa at our house (just put out his snack and something for the reindeer to munch on) I share a song that makes me smile.

Grinchmas at Universal Studios Hollywood

I'm on CBS LA today with It's Beginning to Look a lot Like Grinchmas Opening on Saturday!

2010 Buying Guide – simplehuman

My love of simplehuman products is deep and vast.  It just doesn’t feel like a year end review without covering some items of genius for the home from the one company that seems to solve all my domestic problems.  Everyone knows I’m relatively un-domestic.  I don’t want to have to DEAL with household furnishings.  I want stuff that is simple, easy and solves my problems.  The other thing most people don’t realize is that most of the stuff I’m talking about, like the Tension Shower Caddy I reviewed last year and the Steel Frame Dishrack I reviewed last Summer, are things you use all. The. Time.  You shower, you eat, you live your daily life in your home.  It makes sense to get the good stuff that lasts and looks good.

For this round, I’m really excited about three products I’d like to introduce you to.  Let’s kick it off with the Quick Grip Napkin Holder which holds approximately 75 quadrifold napkins while allowing you to pull out just one napkin at a time.  The weighted tension arm simultaneously works as a paperweight while keeping the stack neat.  The sleek stainless steel style makes it totally all about the napkins.   This is great for outdoor events or heck even when I have my kitchen window open.  Your typical “vertical letter holder style” napkin holder is ridiculous compared to this.  I had inexpensive, bumpy textured, lower weight napkins stacked in the Quick Grip and was able to easily remove the top one without disturbing the stack.  This holder is also ideal for toddlers, as in my family, who can just grab for the top napkin.  The Quick Grip Napkin Holder is $19.99, has a 5 year warranty and also comes in a bamboo version.

My love affair with simplehuman began years ago with The Wall Mount Grocery Bag Holder which was perfect in my previous kitchen.  Where I live now, however, the wall mount is not an ideal setup.  Thus, when I noticed that simplehuman offers The Upright Bag Holder, I knew I had found my new solution.  It has a slim design that I describe as being about “two cereal boxes wide and a little bit longer”.  It fits easily in my kitchen cabinet (where I keep it) but it also looks totally great on a countertop like a stainless steel kitchen accessory anyone would have.  The base is sturdy and non-skid with rubber pads that also protect surfaces.  You put your plastic shopping bags in the top and pull them out through the wide front opening.  The official capacity is listed as 50 bags, but I’ve been known to jam more than that in.  The Upright Bag Holder is $16.99 and has a 10 year warranty.

It’s interesting to note that I am totally gung-ho about a product that stores “plastic shopping bags” and maybe you would be thinking that’s not so great for the environment.  Let me state that I am a huge proponent of reusable shopping bags and I own a bunch of them.  I use them constantly.  However, in my household, there is a real need for plastic bags and I think that reusing plastic shopping bags is a good way to minimize consumption.  We have diapers, a dog and….Well, without oversharing, you know that there are times you need a plastic bag!  Which brings me to the final product I’d like to share with you: The Profile Open Can.  I have space challenges in two bathrooms, and this product fits right where I need to put trash cans.  I prefer open top trash cans in my bathrooms, it’s so much easier to toss and go.  But, even more importantly, if you have awkward spaces, getting a foot maneuvered to open a step can is just silly.  Of course, I want to have a liner in my swell Profile Open Can, and what do I use?  Plastic shopping bags!  The can is stainless steel and has a 2.6 gallon capacity which is exactly right for your typical plastic grocery bag.  There is a removable inner bucket that has handles designed to hold a grocery bag in place.  Then, as if that weren’t perfect enough, there is a removable top frame that covers the inner bucket and hides any of the plastic bag, giving a totally clean look.  I really would love it if simplehuman offered this can in more colors and/or materials.  I think this is the only can any bathroom needs.  The Profile Open Can is $29.99 and comes with a 5 year warranty.

One question I always ask myself when I consider a purchase is: does this solve more than one problem for me?  If the answer is, “yes”, that is a big justification for me to open my wallet.  simplehuman products always solve more than one problem.  They even solve problems you didn’t even know you had until you start using them—their product line is that well conceived.  You can order their products directly from simplehuman.com as well as at many retailers, visit the website to find a store near you.

Disclosure: simplehuman provided me with these three products for the purpose of this review.

2010 Buying Guide – VTech Cordless Phone System

The VTech DS6321-3 is an expandable, three handset, cordless phone system with a digital answering machine.  The feature that takes this cordless phone to the next level is that it has Cellular Connection through BLUETOOTH technology.  This means you can synch your cell to your VTech system and never miss a call.  That has become kind of a big deal to me lately.  I get a call on my cell and it’s sitting in my purse in the other room or charging somewhere—where I can’t hear it.  The beauty of this system is that your cell will ring through your cordless phone and you can use the closest handset to answer.  Another interesting feature is that with the move away from landlines, you can still have this system in your house and use it only for your cell phone.  Like a whole house BLUETOOTH set up.  This comes with 3 handsets (each with its own charging base) but is expandable up to 12. 

The DS6321-3  is the first cordless phone system capable of downloading cellular phonebook directory entries using the BLUETOOTH technology, making it really easy to just pick up the phone and use your cell line.  Up to four BLUETOOTH devices (cell phones, smartphones, headsets) can be registered on the DS6321-3, and two cellular phones can be connected to the DS6321-3 at one time.  Operating as a virtual two-line system, the DS6321-3 also allows users to be on a landline call on one handset, while another handset can be used simultaneously for a cellular call.  You can set the ringtones on the handsets so you know if it’s a cell call or a landline call coming in.  For hands-free landline conversations, users can make and receive traditional landline calls on the DS6321-3 while using a BLUETOOTH headset, or take advantage of the handset speakerphones.  I don’t have a BLUETOOTH headset since I have it wired into my car, so I use the handset speakerphone, mainly when I’m waiting on hold. 

This brings me to my nit-picky wish list for this system: I wish it had a regular headset jack so that I could have a hands-free conversation (as I mentioned, I don’t have a BLUETOOTH headset), I wish it had a belt clip which is something I actually used on my last cordless system and as a busy mom, I can frequently multi-task with a phone clipped on and a headset.  These would seem to be really basic things that I would personally appreciate having.  Another negative I’ve noticed is that the “delete” function on the answering system is very unforgiving.  When you are done listening to a message, you literally run the risk of deleting the next message if you hit the delete button.  There is no “margin” between messages.  I’ve found it’s safer to run through the messages once and THEN go back and delete.  In all my answering machines, over the years, I’ve never had this “phobia of deleting the next message.”  So, I’ve got that workaround.  Overall, I’ve been happy with this system and will continue to use it.  It is comfortable to hold, the battery life has been mostly sufficient, however, we do tend to keep them on the chargers when not in use.  Coincidentally, both my mother and my sister who live in different parts of the country bought this exact same system independent of knowing that I had it too.  They are both happy with it.  MSRP is $99.95, but I have seen it at major retailers and wholesale clubs for less.

Disclosure: I was provided with one VTech DS6321-3 for review purposes.

2010 Buying Guide – Razor Scooters

The dot-com era image that totally nails it in my Gen-X brain, to this day, is the hipster riding a Razor Scooter through the office.   The funny thing is that although most of those dot-coms crashed and burned, The Razor Scooter has continued on a smooth glide into its 10th anniversary.  My family and I were super lucky to be invited to a Razor Playdate recently where we got to try out a number of Razor products.  In fact, Razor now has 50 ride-on products with something for everyone.  I always believe in starting with the original concept, thus the Limited Edition 10th Anniversary Model is the Razor Scooter to me.  The aluminum frame and urethane wheels give such a smooth glide and the adjustable height handlebars and 200 lb weight capacity make it an accessible ride.  The scooter is only 6 lbs and is easy to fold and carry.  Recommended for ages 5+ with a MSRP of $99.99, although I have seen it at major retailers with a lower price tag.

For the littlest ones, like Lulu, I recommend a “training scooter”.  The Razor Lil’ Kick scooter has three wheels which allows for the preschool crowd to work on their confidence and coordination without having to simultaneously focus on balance.  The Lil’ Kick also has a wider deck that lets the rider have both feet squarely on board.  Extra-large wheels and a handle-bar pad are nice added touches for a child’s first Razor Scooter.  Recommended for ages 3+ with a MSRP of $39.99.

Now onto the RipRider 360, which is just so awesome.  I wish I had this when I was a kid.  It’s the 2010 version of a 1970’s Big Wheel!  The rear dual-inclined caster wheels allow for total free-wheeling.  You can ride along and then drift and spin out effortlessly.  At the Razor Playdate, I watched a 12 year old boy having a blast on it and he gave me two thumbs up when I asked him if he would recommend it to his friends.  The RipRider 360 has won a bunch of awards over the past couple of years.  Being a mom who sees a lot of toys and is seeing toys from her own childhood come back, I was really wowed by the RipRider 360.  Finally, something that caused this perhaps slightly jaded mom to say, “HEY!  What’s that?!”  Recommended for ages 5+ with a MSRP of $129.99.  Many of my readers know how important the topic of child safety is to me.  At the Razor Playdate we were invited to bring our own helmets and safety gear if we had it and they also supplied it to anyone who wanted to try any of the products and didn’t have their own.  I strongly urge anyone who gets any of these amazing Razor products for the children in their lives also make sure they have the necessary safety equipment to go along with it.  Razor shares tips and info on their commitment to safety on their site.

Disclosure: My family and I were invited by Razor to attend their Playdate Event where we were given the Limited Edition 10th Anniversary Scooter.  Razor gave me the Lil’ Kick Scooter and RipRider 360 for the purpose of this review.

“Community” on NBC

Ultimately, in this town, it’s who you know, not what, if you want to get your minivan onto a studio lot, primo parking and set access.  Hollywood connections, are the nature of my game.  That said, myself and several other awesome mom bloggers visited the set of the NBC sit-com, Community, a few days ago.  The basic premise of the show is that it’s a group of misfits who all attend Greendale Community College together.  We had a fabulous time hanging out on the set, watching some of the taping and meeting members of the cast.  While we kicked back on one of the sets they weren’t currently shooting on, Joel McHale, Ken Jeong, Alison Brie and John Oliver stopped by for a fun and fairly silly Q & A with us.  Because, hey, it’s a COMEDY, and these folks can’t just stop and be totally serious, right?  I had secretly hoped that Chevy Chase would be on set that day, because, he is such a legend.  My father was a huge fan.  Alas, he wasn’t taping that day.  We next headed over to an executive dining room on The Paramount Lot for lunch with Yvette Nicole Brown, who was just awesome.  She is so fun and upbeat and talked with us about a whole range of topics.

Community from Liz Peterson on Vimeo.

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The big reason for our attendance was to learn about the “Very Special” Community airing tonight at 8/7c on NBC.  In the quick video I’ve added in here, you can watch some of the cast talking behind the scenes info about the episode.  It’s stop-action claymation like the classic Christmas shows from our childhood.  ABED'S UNCONTROLLABLE CHRISTMAS: THE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS IS LOST AND ABED’S INTENSE FIXATION ON CHRISTMAS CONCERNS THE GROUP —When Abed (Danny Pudi) wakes up in stop-motion animation, he takes it as a sign that he and the group must re-discover the meaning of Christmas. Meanwhile, Jeff (Joel McHale) and Britta (Gillian Jacobs) become growingly concerned about Abed's mental health and enlist the help of Professor Duncan (John Oliver). The group undergoes hypnosis to explore Abed's winter wonderland and soon unravel the truth behind Abed’s madness. Chevy Chase, Yvette Nicole Brown, Donald Glover, and Ken Jeong also star.  Review:  I was lucky to get a special early viewing of the episode and it is so awesome!  The stop-action animation is executed really well.  All the characters come together, although transformed into clay, to help Abed.  Everything is so true to the “regular” show.  The story line is really clever and fun.  It would be interesting to see if this becomes a cult holiday classic.  There will be a Community “Live Viewing Party” on Twitter hashtag #nbcCommunity tonight at 8pm EST/7 CST/5 pm PST and there will be cast members participating and giving out prizes.

Cookie Exchange Week

Apparently December 6-12, 2010 has been designated Cookie Exchange Week.  Why?  I don’t know, or really care, but I find it amusing.  You see, exactly one year ago I was invited to my first cookie exchange and was so overwhelmed at the idea of it all that I was compelled to blog about it for the now closed Los Angeles Moms Blog.  Since I now find there is a whole week devoted to it, it certainly seems appropriate that we revisit my old post.  This year I even feel more amused by the cookie exchange subculture upon finding blog posts here and here that explain with painstaking detail how you might go about having a cooking exchange, like starting two weeks ahead and assuring you don’t get duplicate recipes.  Oh my.  Hold me.

Cookie Exchange Angst

(Originally posted December 11, 2009 here)

I have come to accept the fact that I am an imposter among my peers.  Everyone I know has their domestic lives firmly in order, meanwhile the only cleaning supplies I own are a bottle of windex and baby wipes.  I recently received an e-mail that sent me so far over the edge that I’ve begun to question who I really am and where I came from.  The e-mail subject: You are invited to a Cookie Exchange.  I’d never heard of such a thing.  Me, who has lived in several foreign countries, considers herself fairly hip to American Culture and was on Jeopardy!  Somehow the cookie exchange never made it into my consciousness.  The e-mail said simply: You are invited to a cookie exchange, bring three dozen cookies.  Must be homemade.  Great, I thought, I don’t even know what this is and I can’t buy my way out of it either.  Of course, I proceeded to Google “cookie exchange” and became even more confused.  Seems like there are all kinds of variations.  Bring cookies beautifully wrapped, bring the recipe, bring several copies of the recipe, bring an elegant tin to exchange with another participant.  Interestingly, no where does it really explain what your end result is?  Do you eat cookies at the exchange?  Or do you just exchange them?  If you bring three dozen, do you leave with three dozen?  Here’s where I’m really confused: What do I then do with the three dozen cookies?  Yes, I know, I could eat them.  I could give them away.  I could throw them away.  I want to know what people do with their cookie exchange cookies.  Do all my domestic goddess friends live in idyllic neighborhoods where carolers come by and you happen to have hot cocoa and your cookie exchange cookies all arranged on a Christmas Tree shaped plate?  The carolers finish belting out “Silver Bells”, yank off their mittens and then huddle in your elegantly appointed foyer sipping and munching?

I have so many questions.  The questions beget more questions and then I find myself calling friends who I think are “in the know”.  Each friend I have called does in fact know of cookie exchanges.  Yet, each one has given me different scenarios.  None can really answer my questions, such as: How large a container do I bring?  What if everyone else has large or odd shaped cookies and they don’t fit in my container?  I have cookie exchange anxiety.  The words “Cookie Exchange” peer back at me from my calendar.  It is scheduled for next week.  I don’t cook.  I don’t bake.  I don’t have flour in my house.  Clearly, it doesn’t appear likely that I will be participating in the exchange.  The obstacles in my way are too great.  Yet, I’m oddly intrigued.  I even feel left out in advance.  Secretly, I want to just go and see what it is and not have to participate.  Or, maybe a friend will be like, “Hey, Liz, you wanna take a dozen cookies?  I can’t possibly take three dozen home especially with Artie on Atkins and all.”  Maybe I can be an “alternate” at the cookie exchange?  Taking the unwanted dozens and half dozens from my friends and acquaintances.  How can I pitch that to the host?  Is that even appropriate?  I mean, I could offer to be an alternate cookie-taker and sign a release that I’m fully aware I may not get any cookies.  Right?  Is that being fun and creative or just being annoying and freaky?

Not ready to give up I had an idea.  What really is the definition of “homemade”?  Made in the home?  What is the definition of “made”?  I starting thinking about Sandra Lee and her “semi-homemade” franchise.  If half of the ingredients are homemade that should be sufficient, I’m thinking.  If I bake them in the oven, even if most of the preparation is not homemade, that ought to qualify, I’m sure.  I looked at some of Sandra’s recipes.  They look like a lot of work.  Pretty much as much work as totally homemade.  Making cookies is not easily shortcut-able like, say, doctoring up a store bought roast chicken with a jar of ponzu sauce and some crushed wontons.  Dang.

If I really, really want in and have no shame.  I could show up and claim mommy brain.  “Liz, where are your cookies?” Me: “Cookies?  Oh, my gosh!  I thought we were playing bunco!  I swear, my brain went out with the placenta!  But, wow, don’t those pecan sandies look divine!”  What could they do?  Send me away without cookies?  I think I’ve found my in.  Heh.

Update 12/12/10: Today a woman named Julia Usher started following me on Twitter.  Why, remains a mystery.  However, I looked at her profile and was fascinated to find she is the author of a book called “Cookie Swap” and that there is a website, CookieSwapping.com that currently states on its homepage that cookie swaps are NOT just for Christmas anymore!  I am becoming obsessed by this sub-culture.  I want to meet Julia Usher and take her to lunch.

This is an original post for the Los Angeles Moms Blog.

When Elizabeth Peterson isn't in training sessions for the Pillsbury Bake Off, she can be found over at her personal blog, Traded My BMW for a Minivan.

Comments (these are the original comments from the LA Moms Blog post)

Nicole Pelton said...

I love this post, such creative ideas. I'd have you over just for the entertainment. I always though it would be fun to have a cookies exchange, but I love to bake. My cookie donations for bake sales are often the ones given away free since they are small or pitiful looking :) I remember reading some articles or blog posts or something on cookie exchanges, and people had all these rules...they had to be big and fancy - forget tollhouse choc chip, wrapped up, people served all this gourmet food for snacking. Believe me, my cookie exchange would never be like that.

Reply December 11, 2009 at 10:40 AM

April said...

This is only my 2nd year participating in a cookie exchange. Last year, I used the dough from one of my girls' fundraiser. This year, in a scheduling screw-up, I had to call in re-inforcements: my dad made the cookies for me :)

Reply December 11, 2009 at 11:33 AM

Eunice said...

you should just bake the cookies you made yesterday, those are totally homemade. I think she just meant don't bring chips ahoy.

Reply December 11, 2009 at 12:54 PM

elizabeth said...

so funny -- I've missed your clever posts. As for cookie exchanges, I think that's a fancy person's problem and you should just relax. It'd be great to go to Costco or something and buy a tray of cookies and bring those. Why not?

Reply December 11, 2009 at 03:20 PM

Diane said...

I loved your post.

Reply December 11, 2009 at 05:22 PM

Elizabeth said...

Aack! I've been plotting to serve 3 dozen cookies on a Christmas-tree shaped plate for a caroling party. Now I have to think up something original. . .

Liz, an aging late-to-the-pary suburbanite.

Reply December 11, 2009 at 08:28 PM

Sarah Auerswald said...

This is a crack-up! I have actually heard of cookie exchanges, but never participated in one -- and now, if I were asked to, I'd freak out because who knew there were so many variations? Plus I am really not the right kind of person for it -- I would only want to take the kind of cookies I like and leave the rest... Bad! I know.

Reply December 11, 2009 at 09:44 PM

Teresa DeGagne said...

Great post! Good luck with that. I seriously have a terrific cookie recipe involving 4 ingredients. One of them is cake mix. Cake mix for cookies...who knew?

Reply December 12, 2009 at 07:46 AM

Erin S. said...

Fun post! My girlfriend does a cookie exchange every year that needs an auxillary title: "Wine & Cheese/Box-Up-Other-Moms'-Cookies-to-Take-Home-to-Your-Kids Night"!!

Reply December 18, 2009 at 08:47 AM

Sauza, Chef Marcela & Ladies Night in LA

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What an absolutely fun and yummy night we had last night!  I am going to admit I had no idea of how creative and high end you can get with tequila when knowing what to do with it!  Chef Marcela totally showed us how it’s done.  She prepared four cocktails, four dishes and one dessert!    Chef Marcela has kindly shared her recipes with us…The brussels sprouts were to die for!  We all had such a blast and Chef Marcela was so lovely to speak with.  I’d like to thank Sauza Tequila for sponsoring our party.  With the holiday season upon us, it is super important to realize that drinking and driving do not mix!  Sauza provided car service for all our blogger attendees, YDriveLA.com generously provided their service and The Portofino Hotel & Yacht Club hosted two of our guests who traveled from out of town.  Additionally, I’d like to thank everyone who participated on Twitter and Facebook last night asking questions and joining in the fun.  Big thank you to Daytrippingmom for letting me use her iPad…Made it so much easier to tweet while simultaneously holding a cocktail. 

 

In case you missed the live stream, here is a video that my amazing co-host Deb Lavdas put together to show you all a some of our Ladies Night in LA:

 

Three of the cocktail and the shrimp recipes are included in the scattered images above.  The extremely popular lamb and brussels sprouts recipes are below.  You can find the other recipes Marcela prepared last night, including the Warm Winter Margarita, on the Sauza Tequila Facebook page.  Thanks for celebrating with us.  I hope you have a holiday season filled with fun, warmth and while you are at it, try adding some Sauza in to the festivities!

Rack of Lamb with Ancho Crust Serves 4 1 ancho chile, stemmed and seeded 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter 3 large shallots, minced 2 teaspoons thyme chopped 1 1/2 cups fresh bread crumbs made from French bread Salt and pepper To Taste 1 tablespoon olive oil 2 well trimmed racks of lamb (each about 1 1/4 pounds) 3 teaspoon Dijon mustard Jalapeño jelly (optional) Tear the chile into small pieces and place in a spice grinder. Grind the chile to a powder. Melt butter in large heavy skillet over medium high heat. Add the shallots and thyme and saute for 3 minutes, or until the shallots are soft. Add the chile powder and stir. Add the bread crumbs and cook for 5 minutes, or until the crumbs are golden brown. Remove from heat and season to taste with salt and pepper. Let the crumb topping cool. Preheat oven to 400°F. Heat olive oil in large heavy skillet over high heat. Season the lamb racks all over with salt and pepper. Working in batches, add the lamb racks to the skillet, rounded side down. Sear for 6 minutes, or until brown. Transfer the racks to a large rimmed baking sheet, seared side up. Spread 1 1/2 teaspoons of the mustard over each rack. Press the crumb topping into the mustard. Roast for 20 minutes for a medium rare, or until desired doneness. Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes before slicing in to chops. Serve with jalapeño jelly is desired.

Brussels Sprouts in Morilla Cream Serves 4-6 Ingredients 3 tablespoons unsalted butter 2 pounds brussels sprouts. halved 1 cup chicken broth 1/2 cup roasted sunflower seeds 3 scallions (white and pale green parts only) 1 morilla chile, stemmed, seeded, and very thinly sliced 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream Salt and pepper To Taste Method of Preparation: Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a large heavy saucepan over medium high heat. Add the brussels sprouts and stir for 1 minute to coat them with butter. Add the broth, cover, and simmer for 7 minutes, or until the brussels sprouts are tender. Uncover and continue to simmer for 4 minutes, or until all of the broth evaporates. Transfer brussels sprouts to medium bowl. Melt remaining 1 tablespoon of butter in same pan. Add the sunflower seeds, scallions, and chile and saute for 2 minutes, or until the nuts are toasted and chile is tender. Stir in the cream and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat, return the brussels sprouts to pan, and toss to coat them with the cream. Season the brussels sprouts to taste with salt and pepper.

There’s a Sauza Holiday Party in My House Tonight

And you are invited!  This evening, Monday December 6, Chef Marcela Valladolid whom some of you may know from her Food Network Show, “Mexican Made Easy” is coming to my house to share some of her favorite holiday recipes using  Sauza® Tequila.  I’ve been a fan of Marcela’s since I saw her compete on Martha Stewart’s Apprentice a few years ago and am really looking forward to meeting her tonight.  I’m fairly convinced I may have been Mexican in a former life because it is my favorite cuisine.  Chef Marcela will get the Sauza® Tequila out for a Ladies Night in with some of my really great food and mom blogger friends from all over So. California.  Here is the best part though…YOU are invited too!  You can join in the fiesta because we are streaming this live on Sauza's Facebook page from 7:15 PST - 8:30 PST.

Marcela is going to demonstrate and share her recipes including a shrimp dish I got some pre-party intelligence on—you won’t want to miss.  She is also going to make some tasty cocktails, because, it’s not a party at my house without some tasty beverages.  I love a margarita and am intrigued that Marcela will be showing us how to make her favorite Warm Winter Margarita.  Oh, and it gets even better!  I’ve got some of my favorite bloggers co-hosting with me: Sugar Jones, Deb Lavdas and Ana Flores.  In addition to talking to us live on the Sauza Facebook page, you can send your questions about tequila, Mexican Cuisine, general cooking questions…ask away to #LadiesNightInLA on Twitter and Marcela will answer them live.  Make sure you are following all of us on Twitter: @MintCool @laflowers @sugarjones and @deblavdas to get in on the party fun.  If you can't catch the webcast but want to join the discussion, visit tweetchat.com enter #LadiesNightInLA and you are good to go!  It’s going to be a blast, so make sure you grab your bottle of Sauza and get ready to follow along.  I’ll see you tonight!

Playmobil Advent Calendars

I’ve been a big fan of Playmobil ever since I discovered the toys a few years ago.  Chip had a big pirate phase and Playmobil was perfect with a large selection of figures and accessories for all kinds of fun, imaginative play.  My mother-in-law lives in Sweden and since Playmobil is a German company, they get the new products over there first.  When we are in Sweden, a visit to a toy store to check out Playmobil’s latest offerings is always on my to-do list.  I was really thrilled when Playmobil sent me The Police Advent Calendar to review because Chip LOVES everything police!  He was a SWAT police officer for Halloween and loves police toys.  The thing that really bothers me about advent calendars in general is that I only seem to be able to find chocolate ones.  Considering most kids want to open an advent “door” each morning, starting off with a piece of chocolate is odd to me.  Playmobil’s clever concept, literally, behind each day’s door is that there is a new toy and by Christmas the child has a complete playset that continues to be play-worthy!  In addition to The Police, there are four more Playmobil Advent Calendars offered for 2010: Christmas in the Forest, Pony Ranch, Dragon’s Land, and Unicorn in Fairy World. 

The outer box has a numbered diagram showing which toy is behind which day’s door.  This is totally convenient for parents to see and doesn’t ruin the surprise for the kids because you remove the actual calendar from this outer box.  I’m impressed that most days actually contain several items making for a nice collection by day 24.  The calendar box itself turns into play scene at the end as well!  Kind of a totally amazing idea and a nice pre-Christmas gift at a great price point.  I just showed The Police Advent Calendar to Chip today and he is absolutely

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beside himself asking when he can open the first door.  He is asking if it’s tomorrow…And he keeps asking.  Ok, only a couple of days until December 1st.  This is also a fun way to reinforce the calendar skills we have been working on.  I think I’ll put an actual month of December calendar next to the Playmobil Advent Calendar and ask chip to match up the day on the door to the day of the month.  These advent calendar playsets are recommended for ages 4+ and retail for about $16.99.  Basic adult set-up required (wordless directions=easy).  Available at PlaymobilUSA.com as well as brick and mortar stores nationwide. Thank you to Playmobil for sending me The Police Advent Calendar to enable me to write this review.

I went to IHOP for Holiday Hotcakes

When IHOP’s PR rep contacted me and asked if I’d like to try their Holiday Hotcakes, I responded that I was up for it.  There are IHOPs all over the place, but I don’t think I’ve been to one in at least 7 years.  No particular reason, I just haven’t.  The offer included a $25 gift card to sample the holiday fare.  So today, Surfer Guy, Chip, Lulu, Surfer Guy’s Mom and I went to IHOP.  On the way in, I told Chip that when I was a kid, it was called “International House of Pancakes” and they all had pointy roofs.  He just looked at me.  While we waited a few minutes for a table, I took the time to analyze the menu and speak with the manager.  Since the focus of my visit was the NEW Holiday Hotcakes, I aimed to figure out how I could try them all.  According to the press release that was sent to me, “IHOP is now serving NEW Holiday Hotcakes in traditional and beloved holiday flavors like spicy gingerbread, sweet pecan pie and pumpkin pie, and creamy eggnog”.  They offer four ways to order the hotcakes: a la carte, which is two pancakes only ($2.50) and combinations: The Sampler includes 2 eggs, 2 each of sausage, ham and bacon and hashbrowns ($8.69), The Big is the same as The Sampler minus the ham ($7.49), and The Regular is 2 eggs, hashbrowns and a choice of bacon or sausage ($5.99) note: prices vary depending on location.  While I was talking to the manager, I learned that I could order just one pancake for $1.25!  This little gem of an idea is not on the menu, from what I could tell.  Here is where you are going to laugh.  I really don’t like breakfast food that much.  I often eat lunch or dinner type foods for breakfast.  Surfer Guy and Surfer Guy’s Mom (SGM) love breakfast so they each ordered The Regular combination, SGM chose the pumpkin hotcakes and Surfer Guy went with the eggnog.  That left me needing to complete the quadruple play so I ordered one pecan pie hotcake and one gingerbread.  Chip and Lulu shared a kid’s order of mac & cheese, because, that’s pretty much all they ever eat.

Our food arrived fairly quickly and, as a side note, I was thrilled to see the kid’s mac & cheese came with a side order of fresh fruit.  Since I was on assignment, I grabbed a wedge of both Surfer Guy’s eggnog ‘cakes and SGM’s pumpkin ‘cakes before they tucked into them.  They also sampled my gingerbread and pecan pie.  Interestingly, all three of us ended up with the same opinion of the four Holiday Hotcakes.  Here it is broken down:  the eggnog is very good, the vanilla cream layer and the butter rum sauce make it especially yummy, the pecan pie is delish with pecan pie sauce and pecans.  Both came with tasty pancakes and were cooked by someone who knew what they were doing.  The pumpkin pancakes were good pumpkin pancakes, that’s about it.  They were kind of in an unfair competition because they just come plain, you add whichever “syrup” from the “syrup corral” you choose whereas the eggnog and pecan pie come “pre-sauced” if you will.  The disappointment on the table lay with the gingerbread hotcakes.  The consistency was just wrong, the taste was overwhelmed by a baking-soda-ish note coming through.  Chip was really excited about the gingerbread hotcake appearance because of the red and green sprinkles. Chip is all about sprinkles.  Let’s see…What else can I tell you…Ok, well, breakfast is served all day at IHOP.  I actually might recommend the eggnog and pecan pie pancakes as dessert more than breakfast.  I think it might be a fun thing to go in and grab a cup of coffee and one hotcake, nice inexpensive snack.  Also, I was interested to see that many IHOP locations are open on Christmas day, including the location we visited today.  I perused the menu and saw that they have a lot of lunch and dinner options that have nothing to do with breakfast as well as lighter option menu items that include the nutrition information.  I also noticed that my location has a kid’s eat free with adult entree purchase and a senior citizen buy-one-get-one free entree offer going on.  So, over all, I’d say we had a very nice experience at our local IHOP and I recommend it for people looking for an affordable family restaurant, especially this time of year.  Our bill came to a little over $32 (plus tip) which in addition to the dishes described above included two kid's drinks and two cups of coffee.  I still can’t figure out why they call them Holiday Hotcakes if the place is the International House of Pancakes…Maybe for alliteration?

Holiday Gift Guide of Awesome Things - 2009

Christmas is almost here and you have NO IDEA what to get.  No fear, you can do it.  I’m here to help.  Enclosed in my gift guide are all kinds of neat, practical, and fun gift ideas.  Keep your eyes open for my *Stocking Stuffer Alerts*  Take my list, check it twice and get shopping!

 

Lexus RX 450h

A few months ago, I had the awesome opportunity to test drive the 2010 Lexus RX 450h for a week.  At the end of the week, I seriously thought about hiding the car in my neighbor’s garage, I so did not want to give it back.  If you were to ask me now what my next car would be, I’d say the RX 450h.  It is a cross between my beloved BMW sedan and my necessary Toyota Sienna Minivan.  With room for 5 and decent cargo space, I can totally see this as the car for the next phase of family life.  The car is a luxury SUV that rides like a sedan, hugging the curves and handling like a sports car.  At this point, you are probably wondering what the “h” stands for in Lexus RX 450h, right?  It stands for hybrid.  With an EPA estimated mileage of 28 City/27 highway, that’s pretty good considering the 3.5-liter V6 engine and 295 horsepower.  I loved the navigation system that included up-to-the-minute traffic.  We took a road trip to Palm Springs and found the traffic updates to be very accurate.  The car comes with a “Remote Touch” controller in the center console that is basically a joystick that lets you maneuver through the onscreen system really easily.  Although I love cars, it’s not like I’m a total gear-head genius.  I ALWAYS read my owner’s manual.  The funny thing was that the owner’s manual actually hadn’t been written yet when I test-drove the RX 450h!  I must say, I didn’t suffer for not having it.  Everything is driver friendly and intuitive.  It fit Chip and Lulu comfortably in their car seats in the back seat, there was plenty of cargo room for a stroller and all our gear for a weekend in Palm Springs.  I had the car for a week in which I did my normal activities and the trip to Palm Springs and back and I only used one tank of gas.  Make my Christmas, and buy me one, please?  The Lexus RX 450h comes with a base MSRP of $42,000, Lexus.com

 

Dynamic Frames

When my friend Tawna excitedly told me about Dynamic Frames, I listened.  After I got done listening, I checked the frames out for myself and they really are such a great idea.  Dynamic Frames “look like a frame and store like an album.  In other words, they serve a dual purpose of displaying your photographs and children’s artwork as well as storing them!  Here’s how it works, you hang one of the frames on your wall.  Your kid comes home and shows you their latest creation.  You pop open the “swing front door” of the frame (leaving the frame on the wall) and place the picture in the space, then you close the door.  It’s so easy and a brilliant idea. But, it gets better.  The next day, your kid comes home with ANOTHER picture.  So what do you do?  Repeat all the steps above, but you actually leave the “old” picture in the frame and place the new one on top of it.  It’s a spring-loaded storage system built into the frame.  The frames are slim and look exactly like a regular picture frame and some of the models include mats.  There are different frames for different needs, including: Li’l DaVinci for children’s artwork and Print-n-Frame which allows you to instantly frame your 8 1/2 x 11 images directly from your printer.  When you check out the Dynamic Frames site you can see that they even have frame solutions for scrapbooking.  One of the features I really like is that you can hang the same frames horizontally or vertically depending on the artwork contained or the space in which you are hanging the frame.  You can group several frames together to create your own ever changing collage.    As you cruise through the Dynamic Frames site, I guarantee you the ideas will become endless.  The slogan at Dynamic Frames is “life changes, shouldn’t your pictures?” and I couldn’t agree more.  Ranging in price from $24-$64, these frames are the perfect gift for anyone, because, who can’t use a frame?  Dynamic Frames has kindly offered a discount to my readers.  Enter code: TRYFRAME at check out to receive 10% off your total order.

 

The Shoul

I discovered The Shoul (pronounced like “shoulder” minus the “der”) while attending the California Women’s Conference this past October.  I was strolling the expo area when I happened upon two nice ladies sporting shawl-wrap-scarf-ish items.  I was intrigued and began to speak with the founder who told me she invented The Shoul for travel.  I tried a red one on and was hooked.  It instantly transformed my outfit.  I proceeded to wear my new shoul for the rest of the conference and became even more hooked.  You can throw it on so easily and it warms you right up.  Made of acrylic (they also sell a cashmere blend), the shoul looks sharp and high end with a nice richness of color.  The acrylic fabric is lightweight, easy to wash and maintains a nice finish without pilling or snagging.  What I really like about the shoul is that it is so compact and lightweight that it fits in my purse and I can whip it out and put it on and it doesn’t look like it was jammed into my purse.  The design of the shoul is such that it stays on your shoulders easily without any fussing or shifting.  It also is a one size fits all and is a flattering look for all body types.  Did you hear me?  One size fits all and universally flattering!  Did I just find you the perfect gift for everyone on your list or what?  To add to that, I gave a black one to my oh-so-hip and trendy architect friend, Katie, for her birthday last month.  She loved it and said she was wearing it for some important meetings she had the next week.  I also gave a black one to my Swedish mother-in-law the day she flew in from Stockholm last month (early Christmas present, because I wanted her to have it to wear sooner!) and she really likes it, too.  I can’t wait to get one in camel for myself next.  What more can I say?  Stylish, convenient, versatile, perfect for travel and only $42.  Order Shouls for every female on your list and relax for the however-many-days-left-until-Christmas.  Available online at TheShoul.com

 

 

 Dillon Rogers

As a crazy, overworked mom with two babies, I rarely get the chance to wear jewelry.  If I do get the chance, I want it to be baby friendly and non-fussy.  Dillon Rogers has some really great items that are hip, practical and easy to wear.  I actually found out about Dillon Rogers when I won a gift certificate from them.  Celebrities love Dillon Rogers, if you’ve read a fashion magazine over the past couple of years, no doubt you have seen a picture of someone wearing a Dillon Rogers original.  The personalized leather bracelets have been their top sellers.  I, however, am smitten by their personalized disc name necklaces.  They are a really stylish and interesting way to wear your kid’s names, or any names or words you want.  I have a silver 18” necklace with two discs with Chip and Lulu’s names engraved and I love it.  I also own a medium personalized leather bracelet in brown with Chip and Lulu’s names on it.  Something I love about the whole idea of having your kid’s names on jewelry is that it makes me stop and think in the middle of my typically crazy day and really focus on what’s important to me.  Really a blessing.  The next thing I want to get is a metal ID message bracelet that says “Lucky”, because I’m all about luck.  Dillon Rogers has so many swell gift ideas from belts to cuffs to key rings, all with options to personalize, there is no doubt you will be able to knock a few gifts off your list with an order on their site.  To make that order a little sweeter, Dillon Rogers has provided my dear readers a discount code: SIMPLE, when entered at checkout will give you a 15% discount off your total order and is valid until 12/30/09 at DillonRogers.com

 

Words to Sweat By  *Stocking Stuffer Alert*

Maybe I’m getting a little personal, but, I gotta tell you, when I work out, I sweat.  And I mean sweat, as in drenched.  No way I can just go “straight to brunch with friends” after a workout.  I need to towel off and hit the shower.  I’m all about sweating, inspiration and personal messages and Words to Sweat By is all about all that.  Their catchphrase is “Workout Towels with Attitude” and with sayings like “whatever you do, don’t hold your breath” and “10 more reps and that cupcake is history” printed on your towel, they get you through your workout with humor.  When you are on the stairmaster and your legs are screaming, all you really can do is laugh or cry and I choose the former.  In addition to the “humorous” towels, they also have “motivational” ones with sayings like “Strength. Compassion. Peace.”  At just $8, Words to Sweat By workout towels can fit into anyone’s holiday budget and into anyone’s Christmas stocking.  Words to Sweat By is offering my readers a special promotion: Buy 3 towels, get one free.  Just leave a “message to seller” at checkout specifying which towel you would like. 

 

 

Paperspring

Every year I come screeching up to Thanksgiving with the idea in the back of my mind, that I need to get my photo Christmas photo cards ordered.  I usually just take the easy route and order some cookie cutter design from my local bargain warehouse.  This year, November was crazy and I really pushed the envelope (pun intended) and didn’t get my order in until December 1st.  I had my cards in 3 days from Paperspring and they look really unique.  It was easy to upload my photos and try different combos out.  I really like photo cards that allow me to have more than one photo and Paperspring offers several options, I went with “Snow Stars: Spruce” and designed it with one photo of Chip, one of Lulu and one of them together.  It’s really cute.  If I say so myself.  Another cool thing about the ordering process is that you get the option to order just a few more envelopes.  I ordered 5 extra because, I always screw up about five envelopes each year and get all stressed out about not having extra envelopes.  Brilliant and simple that Paperspring has this option.  They also have other types of holiday card choices, including DNA which stands for Digital Name Art and you just have to see it to understand.  They also have all your typical stationery store type invitations and announcements all in their unique designs.  While I was ordering my Christmas photo cards, I also ordered some of my family photos on their StickyStock.  StickyStock is like a post-it note, but it’s not at all sticky, you can literally put it on a wall or fridge without any adhesive.  The ordering process for the StickyStock is not ideal at the moment.  It’s difficult to go back and actually see what you’ve ordered and I was forced to fly a bit blind.  However, I’ve spoken with the folks at Paperspring and they have let me know that they are rolling out a new order process in early 2010.  They provided really good customer service and were easy to get on the phone, which is important to me.  I’m really pleased with the StickyStock pictures and would order them again.  You can view a video demo of StickyStock in action at  Paperspring.com.  For those of you who procrastinate like me, they are currently offering site wide complimentary free shipping.  Simply select 2-day shipping at checkout and it will be free.  So, yes, Virginia, there really is time to get your Christmas cards out!

 

simplehuman

I’ve been a fan of simplehuman ever since I spotted their Grocery Bag Holder in a store several years ago.  When I met one of the reps from simplehuman, I was really interested to hear about their wide variety of shower caddies.  The shower setup in one of my bathrooms is quite strange.  A simple hang-over-the-shower-neck caddy doesn’t really work.  After discussing my needs, we settled upon the Tension Shower Caddy which retails for $119.99.  I must say, that as long as you have a floor, a ceiling and a corner, there is no way this caddy won’t work for you.  In fact, it will even work if you have a bathtub/shower combo as you can just put it in the rim corner.  The tension shower caddy is height adjustable and comes with three vertically sliding shelves so you can customize their position to fit your stuff and needs.  I have some tall bottles and it’s nice to set a height that works for them.  Chip and Lulu have started taking showers a bit, they might jump in with me or I’ll put them both in and do a quick hose off after the beach or something.  I have a shelf adjusted to “toddler height” so they can get their products on their own.  Who would’ve thought of that feature without actually trying it out?  Ha!  Adjusting the position of the shelves is easy: simply flip up the small tab and slide the shelves up or down. Flip the tab back down to lock the shelves in their new position.  The caddy also has two hooks for hanging items like mesh sponges.  There is a swing arm double hanger that can hold facecloths or small towels.  Other features include a built-in soap dish and razor holder.  It’s also really easy to install, no tools needed.  I’ve seen these at Bed, Bath & Beyond as well as The Container Store and of course, simplehuman.com

 

Hallmark Party

There seems to be no end to the items you can put your family’s photos on.  When the PR guy from Hallmark e-mailed me and asked if I’d like to take their new Personalized Party Plates for a spin, I had to chuckle.  It’s either funny, cute or egotistical, right?  I mean, here’s a slice of cake and you can look at my face as you eat it!  But, since I have two little kids and lots of parties, I was game to try it.  You can order the Personalized Party Plates in packs of 10 for $10.  To be sure, $1 per paper party plate is not inexpensive, but, they are personalized and made to order, so there’s that.  The ordering process was fairly easy, you choose the plate you want, you can then choose to add a photo or text or both.  The only bump I encountered was using the photo editor to move the image within the specified image range on the plate.  I found that the up, down, left and right arrows didn’t “respond” initially.  In fact, I found that I had to click in one direction and then go back to click the direction I wanted in the first place.  So, my advice is to keep at it if you can’t seem to move your image at first.  It took me designing a couple of plates before I figured this out.  I then easily went back and fixed the plates to my satisfaction.  I tried 5 of my kid’s photos in 4 different plate designs: Cowgirl, Green Camouflage, Cinderella Dreamland and Mickey Clubhouse.  You can also name each of your plate designs and have the name printed on the back of the plate.  I had an interesting thing happen after I placed my order for the 5 sets of 10 plates.  I received an e-mail saying that they made an error and did not include the names I had selected on the back of the plate in my original order.  They went on to say they were re-doing the order and sending that out.  So, I received my first order (without the names on back) and then the next day received the second, corrected order.  Honestly, it wasn’t a big deal and really a minor detail, but since they do offer the naming feature, I think it was the right thing to do to send me an entire corrected order.  It seems they may be working out some issues, but, I don’t see any reason not to order.  Their customer service seems to be very good.  The end product is what I would consider a sturdy, high quality paper plate.  I’m happy with them and would definitely use them for my parties.  The plate also has a glossy coating which adds to the durability.  Regarding size: they state that the plate is a 9” dinner plate.  I measured the ones I received and the width at the widest point is just over 8.5” with 7” of usable plate surface.  Looking at the plate, I would say it’s more dessert size or appetizer size.  Colorful holiday motifs are available for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years. In addition, more than 250 plate designs including birthday, wedding, graduation, pet birthday, baby celebration, retirement and anniversary, are all available.  Now through 12/31/09 receive free shipping on party orders over $10 by entering code: party919 at checkout when you order on HallmarkParty.com. 

 

Toys

Although there are so many new toys out on the market, I am still drawn to many of the ones I remember from when I was a kid.  Mr. Potato Head seemed to be stuck in a fashion rut when I was playing with him as a child.  Nowadays, he has so many variations, and a wife, the characters you can make seem endless.  Two new variations to the family this year are Fryer Fighter and Captain Potato Chips (HasbroToyShop.com, $9.99).  Chip loves pirates and firemen (as do most toddlers) so I particularly wanted to review those two.  Fryer Fighter has the fireman’s hat and fire extinguisher and Capt. Potato Chips has the eye patch, hook and peg leg.  I think the most fun is when you have a whole bunch of Mr. Potato Head parts and you can get all wacky and creative.  Continuing with the pirate theme, the Nerf N-Force Marauder Long Sword (HasbroToyShop.com, $17.99), lets you be all swashbuckling without getting hurt.  Chip has the one in red and although he has fun with it, I would recommend it for bigger kids as it is fairly long.  The toy that probably got the most use in our house when I was growing up was the Sit-n-Spin, I can still picture the royal blue with yellow/orange decals.  I can even remember what it was like spinning around so fast and seeing the 70’s decor spin by in all it’s psychedelic colors.  The Sit-n-Spin of the new millenia is frankly, not as cool as when we were kids.  It also makes crazy music that adds to the roar and craziness that is a house full of kids and their stuff.  But, it is still a must have in my book, so I went ahead and bought one for Chip and Lulu at Target for $20 and I had a coupon for $10 off so it was a really good deal.  I anticipate they will play with it more as they get a bit older.  Continuing on my walk down memory lane, we come to Toss Across, except now it’s Electronic Toss Across (Mattel.com, $29.99).  I’m convinced that the only difference between our parent’s parenting and ours is that we need more batteries.  Basically, it’s just a glorified game of tic-tac-toe that combines eye-hand coordination.  The game is fun and is something I actually like playing even has an adult.  They have single and multi-player levels as well as several more games  programmed in.  UNO Moo! (Mattel.com, $20.00) is a fun game designed for preschoolers based on a simplified version of UNO.  The object is to be the first to get rid of all your barnyard animals by matching color and figures to get your animals in the barn.  Both Chip and Lulu had fun playing Uno Moo! and the game is cute and perfect for toddlers.