Alive in Wonderland

My Interview with Le Pain Quotidien's Founder, Alain Coumont

When Le Pain Quotidien opened its doors at Fashion Island I met with organic bread maker and founder Alain Coumont while he was in California for a brief visit. We sat at one end of his signature communal table and talked about his simple beginnings as a young chef in Belgium, the differences between European and American philosophy of food and why he doesn't serve Diet Coke -- among other things. 

Alain was clearly tired from his long flight. He seemed dead serious and initially wasn't up for silliness so early in the morning. We ordered our bowl of coffee; I pulled out my iPhone and we began to talk about how he turned his little Belgium bakery into a successful world-wide enterprise. 

 Me: Has brining your bakery to US been different than you expected? 

Alain: I didn't want to become like those French bakeries that start off authentic but after awhile there are barely any French things left.  They sell bagels and muffins only....and Coke. We are different. When we came to America we tried to say what we are. We would be selling our soul, little by little if we sold only those things.  

Me: It doesn't seem like your philosophy has stopped you from growing and succeeding here. Do you think people are eager for that authenticity? They know they can go get a Diet Coke down the road, they come here for something different. 

Alain: Selling Coke would bring in a million dollar in profit for us in the US -- says my business manager. But I say "no way." We used to sell it, but we can hardly offer organic bread and all of our philosophy and then sell Coke.  We tested pulling it in some shops. Some people complain. American girls screaming "Where's my Diet Coke!" (He throws his arms in the air with the first bit of animation I see in him.) But in the end, we didn't lose any sells. We have conviction.

Me: No one loves a nice cold Diet Coke more than me, but I respect that you won't sell it at Le Pain. I will go somewhere else to get it and come here for something different. 

Alain: Maybe you are somewhat of The Diet Coke junkie (... he says with a smirk.) 

Me: What? Me? That's outrageous! (I pretend to be appalled at the very idea.)

Alain: No, I saw that you liked The Diet Coke on your web site. (...Then he begins a mercifully short lecture on the evils of what Diet Coke does to your insides. Then he smiles at me and when he smiles, his whole face changes. He is open and handsome. He knows I'm not going to give it up.)

Me: I know ... I know ... But there's one thing I like more than Diet Coke it's conviction so when I come here I have your fantastic iced tea. (Changing the subject.) Is that what you're hoping? That people in Orange County will come here and try something new? What would you suggest someone new to the bakery order, let's say in the morning?

Alain: A good slice of bread with a side of organic salmon. Coffee. In Europe it's more important to have good ingredients. The portion and size is not important, it (large portions) shouldn't mean quality. 

Me: What would you hope guests would experience when they come to Le Pain that would be different from other restaurants or bakeries?

Alain: We have an all-day menu. You can come in at lunch time and just have an espresso. The waiter isn't going to kick you out or hurry you along...give you a mean look (then he gives me a mean look). It's built into our business model -- we are here for the people who come here in every way. It's not a theme. We are communal in every way. Authentic. 

We end the interview talking about my new iPhone 4S. He liked the feature and urged me to ask her silly questions. When I shy away from it, he takes it and asks her. We all laugh at her pre-programed response. 

Alain is an acclaimed author and chef in Europe and it's not long before patrons start to recognize him. He hugs them and smiles warmly; obviously happy to have them come over and say hello. He asks all of them to come and sit with him. 

He believes in what he is doing. He is authentic. Le Pain Quoitien is built on Alain's sincere belief in simple, wholesome food and community and it's success will continue to be fueled by those principles.

The lowdown:

Le Pain Quotidien is nestled between Marcy's and Forever 21 at Fashion Island.

Operating hours run along with Fashion Island's hours. 

One menu is served all day with three or four daily specials. 

Table service is available along with retail and take-out options. 

Phone number is: 949-287-5597

For information on Le Pain Quotidien's baking classes, you can go to my post at OC Family. 

 

 

 

 

 

Disney Helps Spread Message of Hope and Encouragement to Bullied Kids

By now, you've seen this heart-wrenching video from a local teenage boy who was being tormented by bullies at school because he is gay, but just in case you've been in a holiday stupor, please watch it. Over eight million people have already viewed it ...

 

 

When I first watched Jonah's tear-filled face and read his words, I too cried. But what could I do to help other than teach my kids to be tenderhearted, compassionate and accepting? Then I learned about The Trevor Project.

The Trevor Project is the leading national organization that aids gay, lesbian, transgender and questioning teens and young adults through crisis intervention and suicide prevention services. Everyday the Trevor Project fields hundreds of calls from kids in crisis and over 23,000 use their Trevor Space message boards to connect and get support. The Trevor Project Lifeline -- open around the clock and staffed by 210 counselors -- has taken over 200,000 calls since it opened its lines in 1998.

The Trevor Project also offers classes and support for parents and teachers and an online "Ask Trevor" service that fields questions of a non-time sensitive nature to anyone who needs more practical questions answered, like where to find a good counselors in the user's area. In every respect, The Trevor Project is reaching out to kids where they are, in the method they feel most comfortable, to help them deal with bullies and with the colossal pressure of being young and gay.

Through connections with other people, wether it's a peer or a trained professional, these kids receive the support of a community and I'm truly grateful for the Trevor Project for offering that to them. "No life is a one person show," says Bruce Vaughn, Chief  Creative Executive Walt Disney Imagineering, in this video produced by The Walt Disney Company for The Trevor Project titled: It Gets Better.  "You need to surround yourself with people who love you for who you are and encourage you to share with the world the unique gifts that you have to offer," says Vaughn.

 

Good for Disney for lending a hand to the incredible organization by making this raw and honest video. I recognize so many of the participants through my work with Disney. These are the people who bring you the products, stories, experiences and magic we all love.

I would encourage you to help spread the word by sharing it to help reach kids in crisis everywhere. The single, simple message at the end might be just what a gay or lesbian youth need to hear right now: It gets better!

If you or someone you know ever needs help, call The Trevor Lifeline at 866-4-U-TREVOR (866-488-7386). It's toll-free, confidential and available 24/7.

HOW TO CONNECT WITH THE TREVOR PROJECT:

TWITTER

FACEBOOK

YOUTUBE

You can also help by donating to The Trevor Project, here.

 

Photo via The Trevor Project

The Story About Me, Tinker Bell and Veronica Lake

This is me and Tinker Bell. Well, a photo of me and Margaret Kerry, the actress/dancer who was the action model for Tinker Bell in the animated Disney movie, Peter Pan. She is the closest anyone will ever come to meeting Tinker Bell and I met her ... and she was sassy.

At 82-years-old Margaret is a live-wire! I met her in the upstairs archives room at the Disney Studios in Burbank. She was there with many of her contemporaries--Disney Legends--for a photo shoot for the Disney D23 publication, Disney Twenty - Three.

After introductions I asked if I could get a photo with her. She happily complied with the caveat that I pout-it-up with her in Tinker Bell style. After the photo she turned to me and said: "Your hair is driving me crazy!"

"I noticed you outside during the group photo; flipping and pulling it away from your face," she went on as if we knew each other for ages and she was finally getting something off her chest.

"I wish I had a pin to hold it back. No one can see your face under that hair!" She makes a motion toward it and I instinctually dodge small her. 

I explained to her that is the style now. That I like it that way and though I appreciated her concern, hair flipping is kinda "my thing."

"Oh," she said in complete understanding now, nodding her head slowly. "It's just like with my friend Veronica Lake."

You see Margaret and Veronica Lake were in a movie together, years and years ago, and they became fast friends. "She was very, very funny," Margaret remembered with a smile. 

"People don't know that about her, she was a real cut-up, but she always had to play the vixen, you know..." Then Margaret threw her eyes at me to react. 

I sadly shake my head in deep understanding, as if I know exactly what it's like to be a comedian typecast as a sex kitten.

"That happens," I sympathize.

"She had that same hair as you (She squints and glares at my one long bang as she talks) , except hers was just one piece that came straight down the the middle of her face and she'd peek out from under it, very seductive," Margaret tries her best to demonstrate for me that look as we stand there in the bustle of the archives. God bless her.

Then she says she remembered one particular day like yesterday; Veronica Lake stretched out on chaise lounge next to a pool, her hair all up in a towel. They sat and talked and laughed and laughed. Then Margaret told me again how funny she was and how sad it was that she never got to play in comedies.

"It is very sad, dang studios!" I chime in, almost livid at the crime of it.

"You think you're very funny, don't you?" Margaret asked me with a twinkle in her eye, thinning her lips at me.

"I do," I admit quickly. 

"I sure wish I had pin to hold your hair back..." Margaret said as she walked away shaking her head. 

 I'm Margaret Kerry's biggest fan now. 

....and then Richard Sherman sat down at the piano and played this song for us, cut from the movie Mary Poppins. He and his brother wrote it for "Julie" to sing, but it never made it to the movie ... and then my head exploded in sheer delight. 

 

 For more info on Disney D23, go to my blog "Disneyland Locals" at OC Family.

Teaching Gratitude and Thankfulness to our Kids

My daughter lowers her tiny feet deep into the bubbling water. “Can I get a flower, too?” she asks me over the soft jazz and hum of the jets. Then it hits me, like a blaring headline on one of those tabloids that litter the front shelves of the salon: I’m paying twenty bucks for a pedicure (with the extra hand-painted flower!) for a 10-year-old? How did this happen?

I swore I wasn’t going to raise spoiled kids. Oh yeah, I talked plenty about it before we had kids, that’s for sure. Big, boisterous, braggart talk—probably over an expensive glass of wine at a nice restaurant—about kids these days being too entitled. All the other not-yet-parents ardently agreed with me. All of us assuring ourselves that our kids would have worker permits at age ten and live on hand-me-downs and would not—absolutely would NOT—have a phone anything else expensive, breakable, and completely unnecessary until they were grown ups and could pay for them on their own.

Then, like my ban on sugar cereal or my husband’s desire to have our kids learn Japanese, all that passion and focus gets beat out of you by the end of year one. I pretty quickly lowered my standards to the very basics, like making sure they had clean ears and have eaten one green thing a day. Living in Southern California, I feel the pressure intensely to give my kids more than they probably need. I lose sleep over it: Do my kids have too much? I know the answer is “yes.” When my head’s hitting the pillow at night, I’d say my prevailing fear for my kids is that they’ll grow into adults who are entitled and can’t make it on their own.

With every generation, that baseline of what we consider a “necessity” changes. My mom would never have paid to have her hair colored at the salon. My dad would have rather blown his nose with his money than pay someone to change the oil in his car. For me, these things now are the “basics,” real necessities that I wouldn’t think of scrimping on. Though I wholeheartedly believe a pedicure is a luxury, I get them regularly and often take my daughter along, but for company and girl time, not because I think it’s a necessity for her. But in her mind, I believe they’re already becoming one of her “basics.” And that scares me a little.

I’ve feverishly gone through their rooms, loading bags of things to give away while telling them (as if it’s their fault) that they have too much stuff! But is “stuff” really the problem? Are things what make kids spoiled or is the culprit an ungrateful attitude? I’ve found that teaching my kids to be thankful for what they have, whether it’s a lot or a little, goes much further than lecturing them on how, when I was a kid, I only got ONE pair of Ditto jeans.

Thankfulness is the best cure for a spoiled kid. I believe my time is better spent teaching my kids to be grateful and showing them through my own actions how to best use our money and time. I want her to see that I spend that money on pedicures for her, not because we deserve to be pampered with our feet in a whirlpool and our big toes painted with flowers, but because the time with her is important to me. And you know, it’s clearly working, because as we left the nail salon that day, unprompted and to my complete and utter joy, my daughter hugged me as we left and said, “Thank you so much, Mom! I love spending this time with you.” She got it. She got what was really one of the “basics,” and she was grateful.

This is my column from this month’s OC Family magazine. To read my past columns, click here. Photo of my daughter’s toes by, Bosh Images.

 

The Post-Halloween Ritual

The morning after Halloween is in some ways just as fun as the actual night. It's the time honored tradition of tallying up the goods and assimilating them in some sort of calculated way into our lives. The process looks something like this:

 

THE DUMPING: This is the most exhilarating part of the process. 

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THE SURVEY: Now is the time to get a good look at the treats to see what they have to work with. 

THE SORTING: Snickers with the Snickers. Starburst with the Starburst.  Getting things in order an important step in the process.  No mingling chocolate with the chewy candy or lollypops--everything has its place.  George, our dog, supervises the process. 

THE DADDY TAX: This is levied in order to keep Dads from having to stoop to begging or worse--stealing candy. 

THE NEGOTIATIONS: This is a very, very tricky business that's ramifications could last a lifetime.  I still get fired-up  thinking about the raw deal I got from my brother involving a dubious trade I was talked into of my Reeses (A Halloween "E" Ticket) for two of his Abba Zabbas. 

(Note: daughter is still wearing her costume, which she wore to bed. *nominate me for mom of year*) 

THE TRADE: I didn't want to get involved, but a Twizler for King Size Butterfinger?  Another case of the older sibling getting the better deal. **Sigh**

And so it goes...

Disneyland During Halloween Time and Those Dapper Dans

There are so many things to love about Halloween Time at Disneyland. There are only six more days to can catch all the spooky fun before it's gone until next September.  

If you haven't been to Disneyland during the Halloween season, check out this video to see what's special about this time of year. 

You'll also get a personal serenade by the world-famous Disneyland a-cappella group--The Dapper Dans. They will sing a song written just for the season. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How to Host A Practically Perfect Blogger Event

At this point, I've attended hundreds of blogger events. Marcy and I have hosted many of them through our blogging group, SoCal BlogCrush. Nearly every month for the last two years we've organized get togethers--big and small--for our fellow bloggers at area restaurants and local venues. 

Five years ago when I started blogging it was a much different environment for bloggers. We weren't invited to much of anything. Then slowly bloggers came on to PR professionals' radar as companies realized our value and the invites started to trickle in. But even then, there were times when I felt like my presence at media events was an afterthought--PR professionals not knowing exactly what to do with a blogger. 

Note: Disney is the one and only shining example of a company that embraced bloggers from the beginning, read about my experience here. 

Fast forward to this past summer. I couldn't keep up with the events--all calling out for bloggers to come eat, play and learn about things ranging from cars to cupcakes. And though I'm thrilled that blogging has taken a solid place within the media, the learning curve is still playing out--for both bloggers and PR folks. 

When OC StyleWeek came to town a few weeks ago, BlogCrush partnered with Jane Gillespie, who is a PR professional for the Irvine Company.  Jane knows how to make bloggers feel welcome and gave us what we needed during the event to then go home and post on our blogs. Marcy and I could even say: Jane Gillespie hosted a practically perfect blogger event. 

If you're a PR professional looking for tips on how to get bloggers to not only attend your event, but to write about it, Marcy and I noted these things Jane did that worked: 

Media Passes: When the bloggers arrived, we checked in at the media center and we were given media access passes. We like that. It's a good idea to give bloggers the same access as traditional media. This takes some vetting on the PR professionals part, but it's worth the effort.

Designated Blogger Area: Giving bloggers a place to do our thing is important. Jane offered us our own Blogger Lounge. We had a table to spread out our equipment, we had access to free WiFi and lots of space to work. Bloggers are usually versed in many different media--photography, video, writing, live reporting--we need some elbow room to reload and get our material out. Remember bloggers often start getting their message out in real time, during an event.

Quality Time with Major Players: Allowing bloggers access to interview and chat with key people in the company will help bloggers put together a complete story. We often ask PR professionals to scope out the blogs before the event and help tailor the blogger's experience with the right interviews, photos ops and video opportunities. 

 

Social Media Information Easily Seen: This sounds so simple, but it gets missed almost every time. 

Twitter Wall!: No one loves a Twitter Wall more than me. The first event I attended that had our collective Tweets projected on a wall, held together by a short, simple hashtag, I fell deeply in love. Me and the Twitter Wall are planning a June wedding. 

Feed The Bloggers: It's just good manners. At our StyleWeek event Jane had set up adorable boxes, provided by Nordstrom Cafe, packed with water, chocolate cake and probably the best roast beef sandwich I've ever tasted. In this case, the dinner in a box provided lots of chatter for Nordstrom Cafe on our social media channels (and here). 

Photo Ops: Though some will cringe when they hear this (I know my journalism professor would), but bloggers are usually part of their stories. Think about it: it's usually our voice, our personality and our views that have made our blogs popular. It's taken a while for PR folks to realize that bloggers would like a photo of themselves experiencing whatever it is they are writing about.  It's one of the biggest differences to note when working with bloggers rather than traditional media professionals.

Other ideas for a great blogger event...

Follow Up with Photos in Accessible Formats: Marcy and I usually create Flickr sets for all bloggers to easily access the photos they would like to use.  Here are ours from StyleWeek.  Some PR people will send us home with jump drives or logins to FTP sites to download photos. 

Video Options: If you would like bloggers to make and post videos about your product or even, read my post: "Top 10 Tips for PR Professionals: How to Get Bloggers to Make Videos About Your Product or Event." Clever title, no?  

Keep inviting bloggers to events! If you need help choosing the right blogger for your event, contact us at BlogCrush. We will help you put together the right blogger for you. 

 

 

Disney's Aulani Resort in Hawaii: Design Perspective from Joe Rohde

"Hawaiian culture has been represented before Hawaiians by a lot of other people creating this kind of feedback loop of expectation and supply that isn't tied to Hawaiian culture at all. The fundamental decision we made [at Aulani] was to go to Hawaiians and ask them, what does this place mean? Who are you? What do you have to say? That leads us to all the art. All the design. All the things that you see here.

The delicacy of the design is providing you with the place you want--the beautiful beach, the beautiful restaurants, the wonderful pool, a wonderful spa--those things have to be there. They are all part of the expectation, but as soon as you get past that first layer, the details reveal themselves as a shift, deeper. But your needs have been more than met by the place itself.

One of the tricks of storytelling in a built place is that you have to continue to surprise the viewer with the design."

    Joe Rohde, Imagineering Creative Senior Vice President of Aulani, A Disney Resort and Spa For more reports from my trip to Aulani, you can go to my Disneyland blog, here.

Back posting on my personal blog

This is my personal blog, filled with deeply personal thoughts and experiences...not really. I'll mostly be posting my photos, music and other things that didn't quite make it to my column or OCFamily.com. 

One thing I enjoyed doing here is marrying my photos with lyrics to some of my favorite songs. 

Here are some past photos or you can go to my Flickr group for more photos like this these.  

World of Color lives up to the hype. Read my review...

On Thursday night Disney's California Adventure premiered its new nighttime show, "World of Color." I was there for the red carpet event, the pre-show, and then the fantastic debut of the long-anticipated show. Packing the punch of both Disney and Pixar characters, the water show projected images onto water screens 200 feet in the air and 380 feet long across Paradise Pier. 

The show lives up to its moniker "water spectacular." World of Color will both blow your mind and warm your heart at the same time. It's the kind of show you've come to expect from Disney, but with so many fresh twists and surprising elements, you'll want to go back again and again to catch everything.

"Every child is blessed with a vivid imagination." --Walt Disney.

Projected across the water, this quote kicks off the show and sets the mood as 1,200 fountains, 36 flame projectors, bubbles, fog, lasers and phenomenal surround sound launch you into the stories of  Disney and Pixar amidst a torrent of technical feats that keep delivering the "oohs and ahhs" throughout the show. 

"World of Color is all about the lyrics: 'each dream you chase, each wish you embrace will lead you to a magical faraway place,'" said Steven Davison, Director and VP of Parades and Spectaculars. Quite an undertaking for a 26-minute, standing-room-only show. But Disney delivers by making the show at once grandiose and very personal. 

Scary parts? No, Sir. 

I'd like to frame this portion by saying my kids are afraid of the Winnie the Pooh ride at Disneyland--capisce? They are scaredy cats and although they enjoy Fantasmic and portions of the fireworks show every year, they view the more scary, villain-packed portions through their fingers.  

Now that I've seen World of Color twice, I can confidently say my kids won't be watching any of it from behind my legs.  I would call the Buzz vs. Zurig and Pirates of the Caribbean sequences "intense," not scary.  Fire and loud music ramp up the action, but never the nerves.  The Lion King bit with Simba and the stampede is more emotional than frightening. 

That's the word I would use to describe the whole show World of Color: emotional. Kids will respond to the music, the colors, the characters and the surprises with the delight and wonder that only Disney can deliver. I know that's how I responded--at one point hugging the utter stranger who was standing next to me. I could tell, we were both having a moment as Pocahontas started to sing "Just Around The River Bend" and the entire screen became a panoramic, crystal-clear scene of wilderness.  

World of Color is really that good. So, go.  Maybe not this week, maybe not even this summer, but put it on your bucket list of things to do in the next four months.  Starting in the fall, the pre-show will change with every showing and there is talk of a holiday show as well. So carve out the time to go see it soon with your family.

The lowdown 

"It's like our [Disney's] version of diner and a movie,"  Bob Iger, The Walt Disney Company's President and CEO, told me on the red carpet.  Here are some of the ways Disney is making that happen:

Picnic meals with reserved viewing tickets: Order a picnic meal online or pick one up at Sonoma Terrace, Golden Vine Winery the day you want to see the show.  Adult meals are $14.99--Taste of Asia, European Antiposto, Mediterranean Vegetarian--and the smaller kids's meals are $9.99.  Click here to get the details and order.  

All these meals come in a large World of Color tote and the kids' meals include a glow bracelet in each tote.  Important to note here; you'll receive a ticket for a reserved viewing section with each meal.  In my opinion, this is the way to go.

Dining packages with preferred viewing: Wine County Trattoria and Ariel's Grotto Restaurants offer pre-fixed meals at $36.99 for adults and $20.99 for the kiddos. It's the highfalutin' way to experience the show. Call (714) 781- DINE to order, or click here for more information. After dinner these lucky guests will be escorted to their own premier viewing area. 

FASTPASS: To get the best view of the show you'll need to get some sort of preferred or reserved viewing--at least not through the summer.  So, if these meal options aren't in your budget or don't sound delectable to you, there's always the FASTPASS option. 

Pick up your World of Color FASTPASS at the Grizzly River Run Terminal.  **They will not interfere with your other FASTPASS tickets of the day.**  

The World of Color FASSPASS tickets are available every morning when the park opens and the four to six thousand passes that are available have sold out quickly, so get there early. 

It will take some planning on your part, but it will be worth the effort.  

I call the play-by-play of the Premier of World of Color

Please check out my photo slideshow of the Red Carpet event (Teri Hatcher, John Stamos, Jason Segal, Jamie Lee Curtis) along with photos of the exclusive pre-show, four different views of the show, and random facts about World of Color--all accompanied by my running commentary. This will really give you a feel for the show. Click anywhere on the photo below to get started...

 

Can't get enough World of Color? Check out these blogs.

Marcy of "The Glamorous Life." The World of Color Red Carpet (Unless I'm color blind.)

Lisa from "Babes in Disneyland."  World of Color Review with Lots of Pictures.

 

 

Find the beauty in your life

I took this photo on the windy terrace of the breathtaking Pelican Hill Resort in Newport Coast. I love the idea of adding my reflection to the stunning scene behind me. I was there for a mom blogger getaway event for OC Family.  You can read all the glorious details by clicking right here.  

The photo was taken on my well-loved iPhone and spruced up by an app called "Best Camera."  I'll wait while you go download it right now....**tap**tap**tap**...

I learned about the app, and about a brillion other things about photography on Saturday at a class given by the crazy talented gals of Any-Time Art. For 4 hours 15 gals were taught about aperture, and shutter speeds, and dozens of tricks to make our photos of our kids and lives look their very best.  Women helping other women make their lives more beautiful..is there any better way to spend a Saturday morning? 

 

 

Mom Bloggers are the new rock stars

Need proof you say? Check out me and five other OC Mom Bloggers dorking it out in this lip dub.

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Sheesh! Mom bloggers are sure getting a beating in the traditional media and online world lately. With articles like this one from the New York Times and the following comment and commentary bloodbath that followed, you'd think we are advocating tossing our children into a rushing river, instead of simply reaching for our dreams and expressing ourselves--in small and big ways--through our blogs. Who knew creative, smart, driven women could be so divisive? (Said with sarcasm, naturally.) 

I believe in the power of the mom blogger. I think blogging is revolutionary for women. I honestly do. It's radically extended the reach of some women who before blogging, didn't have much of a voice. I'm proud as all get up to be a mom blogger, because I've seen first hand how it's transformed the lives of women--in a positive way. In an empowering way. Again, sometimes in little ways, like giving her a creative outlet or building a community of support, and sometimes in larger ways, like leading to a new career. It's all good stuff and all equally important in my opinion.

Here's the thing, as moms we have more things in common than we have differences. I try to embrace the differences and then get all giddy and syrupy when I meet (read) a mom who has the same struggles, triumphs and burns with the same hatred for laundry as me.  Blogs can function as a conduit for these connections.  

So, now you know my stand on mom bloggers and you've been properly primed for this video. Six OC mom bloggers, including moi, dorking it up in a lip dub we made to "Our Lips Are Sealed." Because whenever a PR person or brand representative asks me, what's the best way to reach moms, I always tell them the same thing: '80s music.

The bloggers in the lip dub are:

 

Andrea from the blog Hip Moms Who Work.

 

Marcy from The Glamorous Life Association and Publications.

 

Beckey from Hippo Brigade.

 

Roxanne from Me and My Monster.

 

Kara-Noel from Eli's Lids.

 

Me from here...and here.

**disclaimer: 

These bloggers may or may not share my ernest opinion of mom bloggers.

"Wow, sign me up for that!" and other sarcastic remarks Ma could have made

Emily loves the "Little House on the Prairie," books by Laura Ingalls Wilder. They are the intermediate reader versions, which are abbreviated with big colorful illustrations and simple text.

Every time I come across this page in the first book called "Going West," I laugh to myself.  This is where Pa TELLS Ma they are movin' out West.  The reason?  Not as many people, no trees and the grass grows thick and high...just what every young mother wants. Yep, Pa's a closer alright.  

I kind of wish there were dialogue from Ma on the second page. The sarcastic remark potential is endless, but I think her face tells you the whole story.  Pa would have been wise to ask her to put away the knitting needles before he told her his plan.  Strange, I thought pioneers were supposed to have heightened survival skills. 

Please read my "Alive in Wonderland" blog now at OC Family.  I'll be writing there daily. Thanks for continuing to read and follow me!

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Breaking News: Irvine Mom Survives Being Left Home Alone

Irvine, Ca.  Suzanne Broughton, mother of two, survived a day alone in her Irvine home without her family. "I'm not going to lie, I was pretty confused and scared at first when I realized there wasn't anyone in the house," said Broughton in a phone interview.  "I kept hearing this weird noise that was freaking me out, but then I realized, it was just silence."

 "A mom who suddenly finds herself home alone can get disoriented easily," said Dr. Warren Turkle, an Orange County doctor who specializes in modern parenting issues like Chuckephobia (fear of going to Chuck-e-Cheese) and OCTEID (the need for a mom to compulsively talk in lengthy detail about their child's reoccurring ear infections). 

"It's best if a mom can wean herself slowly from the raucous atmosphere she is used to by replicating the noise with Sponge Bob on in the background or giving the cat the dog's bone in order to emulate sibling bickering." These are just a few tips in his book, "The Pottery Barn Kids Catalog Mystique: Parenting is about more than heirloom quality quilts and color coordinated storage baskets. "Moms simply need to affirm themselves by saying things like 'I used to be an attorney, I'm certainly capable of spending the afternoon by myself.'" 

In a press conference yesterday, Suzanne's husband, Larry Broughton, who was initially regarded as a sort of "local hero" by Suzanne's friends after offering to take the kids for the day, was on the defensive as accusations of insensitivity started to circulate,"Listen, Suzanne was mostly able to function before she had kids and I had every confidence she would be just fine by herself for one day," Mr. Broughton said to a smattering of reporters.  "I even thought she might be able to get some stuff done around the house while I was gone."  At that, an audible gasp was heard from the female journalists in the crowd.

Though local officials didn't return our calls for a comment on the legality of leaving a mom home alone for an entire day, there was a statement from the guard at the Broughtons' community gate. "I don't know. I don't think I like it,"  said Kerby Williams as he wrote down the license plate of an AT&T truck.  "What next? Walking alone through the community or worse, OUT of the community? I just don't like it," shaking his head as he turned away an unauthorized bus full of school children.

When asked how she filled the time when she was alone, Mrs. Broughton admitted she had lots of plans--like sorting the orphan sock basket, getting the family's taxes together, organizing her photos on iPhoto--but, she said with a spark of energy, she ended up taking a nap, looking-up old friends on Facebook, and then watching 10 shows that had accumulated the last two years on her DVR.  "It was one of the best days of my life," she said, obviously emotional when thinking back on the day. 

 

Written for my blog at the ever-awesome: OC Family.

The Curious Pair

 

This is my column in this month's OC Family out today.

I always wonder how other couples’ relationships work--what they talk about, if they brush their teeth side-by-side in the mirror every morning, how they decide on big-ticket items. It's the little things couples do in public that make me stare and stand too close, trying to eavesdrop on their conversations. 

Like at Trader Joe's the other day, a couple was standing in front of the boxed fruit. The man was holding a box of Asian Pears and the woman was diligently trying to pry the perfectly square plastic box open (despite the galvanized tape) in order to...touch them, I guess. Calmly, the man used his long (freakishly, btw) index finger to lift the side so she could...yes, yes, she wanted to touch them and when she did, she immediately shook her head and waved them away. 

He picked up another box and they began another hushed and passionate conversation about--Asian Pears. I tried to hear what they were saying, pretending I cared deeply about the Clementines sitting next to the pears. But they were enormously secretive and careful not to let the rest of us know what was so flippin' interesting about--Asian Pears. 

Naturally, this made me think about my husband Larry and me. I can't even imagine having a conversation that long about pears. I remember once having a pretty lengthy conversation about how much we loved cheese, but it was more because we were hungry. We started asking each other outrageous questions like, “If you could make a deal that you never could eat cheese again, but you would then be able to fly, would you?” Seriously, who would make that deal? Like, nobody, but that's the kind of thing Larry and I talk about. 

So you can understand my fascination with this couple at Trader Joe's. Larry and I had lots of conversations about them. Asian Pears just seems like a very particular and much more sophisticated thing to talk about than cheese. I mean, we would have flown by those pears at breakneck speed and thrown them in our cart (period). No discussion. 

It made me wonder if we’re missing out on something. Don't things like this make you speculate about how different other people’s lives are? Are they happier? Their kids more intelligent? I see couples on weekend mornings who’ve obviously been out with their baby joggers, sipping their lattes, the Times in hand, and I think, "Huh, are we the only ones who wave our children away on weekend mornings, muttering from under our pillows about cartoons and directing them to the special 'Saturday' cereal?" 

 I guess it comes down to perspective--appreciating who I am and what I value. Being able to say to myself, "We're a couple who sleeps in and gives our children sugary cereal on Saturdays." And, I suppose, accepting that Larry and I are the type of couple that talks about the couple who talks about the Asian Pears…and being okay with that. Which I most certainly am.

How we spent our Memorial Day

 
For the past five years we have been taking our kids to the Memorial Day Service at Fairhaven Memorial Park in Santa Ana.  The service runs about 2 hours and we bring our blankets and snacks and sit among the hundreds of families there to honor the men and women who have served our country.  

I love seeing the different generations come together during the ceremony.  My favorite part is when they honor the different branches of service by asking soldiers to stand up as they call out: Marines, Army, Navy, etc.  It touches me every time.  They also recognize soldiers from different wars and conflicts. This was the first year there were no Pearl Harbor survivors represented--not one. It was a shocking reminder we need to take the time to remember. 

Take a look at my photo slideshow below from the service.  It's a valuable OC tradition and I'm happy to say every year it grows!  More people attended this year than any other year! 

If you've served in our county's military "Thank you."  

 

 

LOST without LOST? I'm here for you

 

 

I've never watched LOST.  I'm not some sort of social deviant.  I'm not out of step with the times--I really want an iPad just like everyone else.  I'm not against LOST.  I just never got into it.

It seemed to me from the beginning, based on my friends' conversations, the Facebook updates, the Tweets, that LOST was more like a dysfunctional relationship, than an enjoyable form of entertainment.  

Things like this:

"Argh! LOST! I don't understand what's going on!"

"LOST is driving me crazy!"  

"I just want some straight answers from LOST!"

" I totally blew off all my friends just to re-watch the last 4 seasons of LOST. So psyched!"

"LOST! How am I going to live without you?!"

I don't have the time or energy for that sort of thing anymore.  I learned my lesson years ago from Melrose Place that these relationships never work. It's all about them.

So I have been relegated to the loyal friend, just there to listen and comfort.  I made every effort to help my friends who were having LOST issues.  A couple them even swore off LOST; broke it off entirely.  When they did I told them they were doing the right thing and that I never liked it anyways. Then I found out from other friends that they were back on LOST a few days later and I couldn't get them to return my calls. 

Now that LOST is over I feel all the fans can finally have some closure.  They can move on.  Maybe start watching something else, like Rules of Engagement or 30 Rock.  I have been in a good, healthy DVR relationship with these shows for a while now.  They tell it like it is. They get to the point and don't string me out for days...weeks...years. They're also very, very funny and we all know laughter is one of the best remedies for a broken heart.  

If you need me, I'm here if you want to talk.  
 

Put down the Purell and go see the movie 'Babies'

 

Babies are resilient.  Babies are tough. Babies have a wicked sense of humor. Babies can spend the first year of their life licking dirt, spending time unsupervised, and cuddling with cows and still enter into the toddler stage healthy and happy. 

These are all things I learned after watching the brilliant documentary "Babies."  

Every parent should take the time to go see this movie. It follows the first year of life of four babies living in Africa, Mongolia, Tokyo and San Francisco.  It wasn't only the dramatic differences in the way the babies were being raised that was fascinating--the African baby has his 'hair cut' with a machete, the Mongolian baby taken home from the hospital on the back of a motorcycle--it was also the underlaying truth that babies are babies, no matter where they hang their...well, I would say diaper, but only two of the four ever wears one.

Take a look at this video about the movie with an interview with its French makers-- Thomas Balmes, Director and Alain Chabat, Producer. (Unrelated: Is there anything cuter than a French man saying the word "babies?") 

Click here.

 I think they hit on it in their interview, as long as there is love, the babies were happy and healthy.  So, put down the Purell and go give your baby a rock to play with, really, it's fine.  

 

I ♥ my iPhone, have we covered this already?

 

I took this photo of the window at Anthropologie at The Irvine Spectrum this weekend (go here to see the entire photo sideshow).   It was taken with my iPhone and the spruced up with the "Best Camera " app.  It's my submission to Mommy iMoments.

I love the colors and cheerfulness of this photo.  When thinking of a song to go with it, this one came right to my mind.  Hope everyone has a colorful and cheerful Monday.  

***

Madalenine Peyroux signing 

"Some fun out of life"

I can't get over how much she sounds like my beloved 

Billie Holiday.