dishing up creative goodness
Looking for that perfect gift for Mom? Well so was I. And now I have the perfect Mother’s Day gift ideas for just about every mom.
I love that there are so many different ways to spoil mom on Mother’s Day. Sometimes it’s hard to find that perfect gift for her. So I made it easy.
From the physically active, to the mom who just wants to be pampered, here are some ideas that’ll make sure you’re the best kid ever! [Read more…]
This seaside wellness weekend getaway in Del Mar was sponsored by the Del Mar Tourism Business Improvement District.
As a couple my husband and I try to reconnect with one another quite often through date nights. But sometimes a couple really needs to get out. So when we were asked to enjoy a couples weekend getaway in Del Mar, I knew it would be a great way for my husband and I to enjoy each other’s company without the kids in tow.
A staycation so close to home is not only convenient, but is close enough that if we needed to we could have come home to the kids at any moment. However this staycation we were able to enjoy all of it alone. And it was awesome.
We were invited to stay at the quaint, unique Secret Garden Inn owned by Sulana Sae-onge and John Halper. John has hand-built the rooms and Sulana designed the interiors to match their names beautifully. The Secret Garden Inn’s secluded Tuscany, Oriental and Balinese decorated rooms cater to any romantic setting. The Penthouse suite is a honeymooner’s paradise with an expansive patio and outdoor fireplace.
This post on the Ultimate Girls Night Out is sponsored by SheSpeaks and P&G.
Last month I celebrated my 30th birthday with the ultimate girls night out. I’ve been talking about how I was going to celebrate my 30th for the past year and finally I decided on an awesome night out with my friends at a great restaurant.
I made sure that everyone had rides to and from the restaurant and that the whole meal was taken care of so all my friends had to do was show up. My husband chauffeured most of us (his idea!) and surprised me by gifting each of my friends a cute favor that was left at the restaurant before we got there.
A girls night out is comprised of a lot of things but it always starts with getting ready… [Read more…]
Have you watched Delivery Man yet? If not, definitely pick up a copy! This compilation of 20+ delicious casserole recipes to feed a crowd is inspired by this recipe. And the 533 kids underachiever David Wozniak fathered via donations made twenty years earlier!
This heartwarming comedy about a man who discovers that the shock of his life might just be the best thing that’s ever happened to him. Along the way he discovers not only his true self, but also the father he could become.
So whip up one of these casserole dishes for the family, pop in the Delivery Man Blu-Ray, and enjoy a great family night with Vince Vaughn, Cobie Smulders & Chris Pratt. It’s one the whole family will enjoy. [Read more…]
We love quick and kid-friendly breakfast ideas in this house. So these sausage pancake bites featured on Someday I’ll Learn are the perfect solution as a bake-ahead breakfast option that we can just pop in the toaster oven, heat up, and go.
If you’re looking for more easy-to-make or make-ahead breakfast ideas, here are a few great options:
Over the past few weeks we’ve spent a lot of time in our garden at home as well as at our community garden. So when the kids got sick of pulling weeds I thought it’d be fun to change things around. After receiving The Pirate Fairy on Blu-ray for review I was inspired to let the kids have a little fun and encouraged them to build a fairy house in the garden.
They took the lead as soon as we collected a few simple supplies from around the garden beds and, with the help of friends, built a fun fairy house for the fairies to visit and play in when they came to the garden. After we got home I let them watch The Pirate Fairy. My son then had some great ideas about adding ships and water to the next area they build a house in.
Now whenever we head over to the community garden the kids start building more and recreating different rooms, houses, and ideas for their next fun fairy adventure. And I couldn’t be more happy to have content kids as I garden. Looking to build your own fairy house? It’s quite easy! [Read more…]
Easter is a wonderful time to gather with family and rejoice. And after we enjoy Mass as a family we love enjoying an Easter brunch. Depending on the year, sometimes we enjoy a morning out with Easter brunch in San Diego.
There are so many wonderful places hosting Easter brunch here in San Diego. Everyone can find a place suited to their family’s liking. The only thing I suggest is to call ahead and make reservations (or purchase tickets) if available.
Two weeks ago I turned the big 3-0. In celebration of this milestone birthday I decided to make a little time for myself and get pampered. So when I was asked by Spa Week to check out a great spa in town and receive a complimentary service in celebration of Spa Week San Diego and their kick off I replied back with a big yes with no hesitation.
I’m one who truly believes in pampering yourself. As a work at home mom I find myself constantly making time for my family and my job but recently I’ve started to make a conscious effort to make more time for myself. Including a little pampering.
And Bella D’ora Spa was just that. Pampering at it’s finest! Located in Carlsbad, North County moms will find a place to escape to when they enter Bella D’ora Spa. [Read more…]
This post is sponsored by Anatomy for Kids.
From when my children were a very young age I decided that we’d try and be as open and honest about our bodies as we could. So when I started to think about the words we would use to describe our bodies and body parts, as well as what we would share with our children when they asked, we decided to stick with the anatomically correct terminology.
As the kids are getting older it isn’t all about penises and vaginas anymore. These little inquisitive minds are coming up with some more difficult questions. And yes, they’ve already asked extensively where babies come from. My mother-in-law was always one to make sure the kids knew that a baby grew in a mom’s uterus and not in her belly.
But because they don’t always take what we say as the absolute truth, I’m glad I now have a new series of books to share with them. Anatomy for Kids, written by Dr. Shelley Metten (or Dr. M for short), is a book that focuses on what kids want to know in an age-appropriate language. [Read more…]
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Barilla, but opinions are my own.
When my son was a toddler I thought he was the pickiest eater. Then I started to realize that he wasn’t picky, he was just a kid. So I started to focus more on creating a family table at meal time and truly allowing him (and now my daughter) to experience food differently.
With the changes we’ve put in place I not only have kids who eat dinner, even if it’s just one part of dinner, we also now have a place to sit and talk about our day as a family. Mealtime now sometimes leads to playtime afterwards when the conversation doesn’t stop and the kids request either a game or movie night after we eat.
By eating at home, around a table, we’ve come to realize the importance of meal time and creating a family table. [Read more…]
She enjoys sharing her family life in San Diego and features everything from delectable recipes to sharing DIY tips around the home and garden, what she's crafting and more.
