Published on Saturday, April 30, 2011 by caryn
Spring is the season that typically motivates me to do an in-depth cleaning of our home. Because I only have a small amount of solo time each week, I make the most of it by being efficient. Anything that makes those necessary tasks easier and less time-consuming is worth investing in.
[caption id="attachment_23759" align="aligncenter" width="611" capt... Read More »
Published on Friday, April 29, 2011 by caryn
As the primary shopper in the household, it's my goal each week to stay within our predetermined budget for groceries and household items. I accomplish this by perusing store ads, using coupons, and shopping at multiple stores. While it's not uncommon to find me shopping a few times a week at different locations to try to find the best deals, I'd prefer to shop at... Read More »
Published on Friday, April 29, 2011 by caryn
When I think about Mother's Day, I think about giving... celebrating... recognizing those women in my life that value their important role in a child's life. This Mother's Day, Macy's will celebrate moms and give back to the community through it's Thank-a-Mom Movement. Through their partnership with 5 prominent charities, Macy's will donate $5 to the charity of... Read More »
Published on Friday, April 29, 2011 by caryn
This giveaway is now closed. Thanks for stopping by. The winner is Toni. Congrats!
The moment a child is born, the mother is also born. She never existed before. The woman existed, but the mother, never. A mother is something absolutely new. ~Rajneesh
While I have many beautiful memories before my children were born, it's hard to remember those days when... Read More »
Published on Friday, April 29, 2011 by caryn
This giveaway is now closed. Thanks for stopping by. The winner is Sheila H. Congrats!
As you can imagine, it's rare for me to have a night out with the gals. But Outback Steakhouse wants you (and I) to enjoy a night out! Through the end of the day TODAY, Outback Steakhouse is giving away 50 "Kick Back with the Girls at Outback Dinner for 4 Experiences" which i... Read More »
Published on Friday, April 29, 2011 by caryn
This giveaway is now closed. Congrats Gianna, our winner!
As a young woman, I struggled with self-confidence, true beauty, and relationships. I grew up as an only child and looked to my mother for support and guidance. I was also blessed to grow up in a church with female mentors who served as role models. Although my daughter is still a baby, I know that the y... Read More »
Published on Thursday, April 28, 2011 by caryn
Being a mom means that sometimes, I have to get dirty. Whether it's at home in the kitchen or outside in the park, dirt...and stains are inevitable.
Earlier this week, my son and I went to bat against stains...literally! Frigidaire kicked off Stain Games in Los Angeles with ambassador Jennifer Garner to help raise funds and awareness for Save the Children’s ... Read More »
Published on Thursday, April 28, 2011 by caryn
This giveaway is now closed. Thanks for stopping by. The winner is Suzanna60. Congrats!
[caption id="attachment_23685" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Photo Credit: thadz"][/caption]
In our highly digital age, it's often a struggle to limit our overall screen time. While my son does play the occasional game, it's not something we're in the h... Read More »
Published on Wednesday, April 27, 2011 by caryn
This giveaway is now closed. Thanks for stopping by! The winner is Amber. Congrats!
One of the most relaxing ways to travel is on a train. My husband and I spent almost one year backpacking Europe before we had children. We easily navigated Europe and the UK with their advanced rail system and we've often considered taking our children on a cross-country trip via ... Read More »
Published on Wednesday, April 27, 2011 by caryn
In less than two weeks, we'll be celebrating mothers, grandmothers, aunts, sisters, and friends. Mother's Day is around the corner and I'm already starting to think about what I can do to show the special women in my life how much they mean to me. And, with spring here, I'm also looking to revamp my wardrobe, particularly my shoe collection. I am an avid shopper... Read More »
Published on Wednesday, April 27, 2011 by caryn
This giveaway is now closed. Congrats to the big winner, Mary G! And the Ice Age winners: Emma H, Kristie, Tabathia B, and JW!
While I really enjoy staying busy, there are days when our family needs some down time. Family movie nights are one of the ways we spend time together. Some nights, all four of us will watch something cute and animated. Other nights, we'll ... Read More »
Published on Tuesday, April 26, 2011 by caryn
[caption id="attachment_23631" align="aligncenter" width="448" caption="Photo Credit: Hellmann's"][/caption]
A sandwich, when properly made, is a healthy, flavorful dish that can be served in your backyard with some friends or at a more formal English tea. Last week, I spent 2 days in one of my favorite cities gleaning inspiration from someone who... Read More »
Published on Sunday, April 24, 2011 by caryn
Since this year is about discovering my inner foodie, the hubby has been helping me recreate, experiment, and give my own twist on healthy, gourmet recipes. This Easter, we're planning on spending some time with local friends and we've been asked to bring a side dish. So I gleaned some inspiration from Smart & Final, the SoCal-based non-membership warehouse ... Read More »
Published on Sunday, April 24, 2011 by caryn
This giveaway is now closed. Congrats to Victoria Lester!
My son eats, sleeps, and breathes trains...literally. Whether he's playing at school, eating dinner at the table, or sleeping in between my husband and I, he has his trains tucked away in his pocket. Mr. Bear has been replaced by wheeled engines, whom you'll find him talking to from time to time.
At the e... Read More »
Published on Saturday, April 23, 2011 by caryn
There are only certain times of the year that I actually want to eat ham (probably because Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas are when attention is driven to prepping pork). While I'm not a huge consumer of pork throughout the year, when I do sit down to eat a ham, it has to be moist, flavorful, and not overwhelmingly salty. And because I naturally gravitate toward... Read More »
Published on Saturday, April 23, 2011 by caryn
Celebrations are important in our family. Despite the fact that we believe Easter is much more than bunnies and eggs, my husband and I still strive to create meaningful memories surrounding each holiday, no matter how minor it is. Because our children are still little, our projects need to be easy to make in a short amount of time.
Some of our favorite DIY proj... Read More »
Published on Friday, April 22, 2011 by caryn
It's Earth Day, and I spent the day taking care of the teeniest babies in Orange County. They are the children...teenagers...adults who will be living on this Earth in the coming years. What I am doing to the Earth today matters for these teeny, tiny babies.
I like Earth Day because of the awareness it brings to eco-issues like sustainability and conservation. ... Read More »
Published on Friday, April 22, 2011 by caryn
We have a busy weekend ahead filled with brunches, birthday parties, and a host of Easter celebrations. Since food is such an integral part of Easter traditions and celebrations, I thought I'd share some of my favorite chocolate-themed recipes from the company that knows a thing or two about chocolate.
Each season, the Hershey Company offers new products and a ho... Read More »
Published on Thursday, April 21, 2011 by caryn
A nameless passer-by, alone in a crowd, in a society that has become too impersonal
Quidam
[caption id="attachment_23550" align="aligncenter" width="606" caption="Photo Credit: Cirque Du Soleil"][/caption]
Beauty, grace, and skill come together in Quidam, one of Cirque du Soleil's original shows. Debuting for a five day run at the Long Beach Convention... Read More »
Published on Wednesday, April 20, 2011 by caryn
This giveaway is now closed. Congrats Kristie!
At almost four years old, my son knows a little bit about recycling and waste. He's too little to understand the specifics of why we eat what we eat or use what we use, so we're mostly teaching by example, in hopes that he'll grow up respecting the earth's resources.
[caption id="attachment_23688" align="a... Read More »