The Mercer Girl Diaries

happy valentines...

2012-02-14T11:22:00.000-08:00

hopefully there's enough love out there for everyone... every day.

old habits die hard...

2012-02-09T13:46:00.000-08:00

despite my alternator dying on me yesterday while my youngest son had an out of body experience for a pink frosted cupcake on the parking lot asphalt, and spending the remainder of my evening in the dark with night shift tow truck operators on the side of the road, i remain calm. looking forward to a night with some of my girls from high school at GINGHAM, and the discovery a few things have helped me in the last 24 hours. one being the beginning of the 5 cent sale.

i'm infatuated with a new website for products. not only does this website specialize in some of my absolute favorite skin lines, but they do a really good job of product reviews, the site is super easy to navigate and you get free shipping and free samples. enough said.

next... the introduction of the habit to san diego. finally! the habit is quite possibly one of my favorite places to eat in all of central cali. spending much time in goleta, sb and ventura... it was my staple. their veggie burger is second to none and their milkshakes make my toes curl. the food is fresh and delightful and fast. usually you can pick two out of three of those things... the habit is all three. i realized the habit had made its way south while i sat in the parking lot of gordon biersch and waited for my mom yesterday, my favorite bruce springsteen song was playing on the radio and i had a moment. yes, a moment.

here's to moments.
xo
mercergirl

getting finer by the day...

2012-02-07T07:09:00.000-08:00

from growing up in the sticks of lakeside, moving east to the more posh blossom valley, leaving all together for santa cruz, back to alpine, on to pb, university heights, my beloved village of la mesa, off to summerland, santa barbara, ventura, woodland hills, tierrasanta and eventually again in my favorite village... this city gets me every time.

i have love affairs with san francisco, dreams of portland and rendezvous' in bend... but san diego gets better every day. perhaps its the weather...sunshine, occasional rain, lovely coastlines, or the fact that we're spitting distance from palm springs?

i can remember being bored with this city. now i'm enthralled. skyrocket rents and traffic aside- san diego rules. i spent an evening in little italy over this past weekend. i felt like a giddy tourist. as if it wasn't enough to have the yummy whisknladle in la jolla, they were brilliant to open the newest prepkitchen this past week. bustling and swollen with good food and drink, windows to the streets below... and if craft and commerce didn't shake things up enough with their prohibition style cocktails, grizzly bartenders and off the cuff menu, now they've blessed us with underbelly. take a space the size of a cocktail napkin, add ramen, gyoza, good beers and mochi... and there you have it. id visit again just for the interior signage and stark white tile walls.

it's comforting to know that san diego is finally "getting there". some days i wish i was 20 all over again and that the city was as it is now... but then i sadly would have missed the green circle bar and the original interior of anthony's.... where my boys still love to feed the ducks.

i'll leave you with a scent that reminds me of san diego in the summer, vintage coppertone, sand and sunshine. if you can afford a bottle, buy one... otherwise stick to bobbi brown beach or suntan oil.

have a lovely day wherever you are.
xo
mercergirl

since there's no winter...

2012-02-04T08:03:00.000-08:00

with the exception of a few days of rain and cold nights here in san diego, we've pretty much hovered at the 75-89 degree mark since last august. i won't complain, because there's many reading this out of the state and the country. instead, i'm able to rejoice in the fact that i can still wear all my fave spring scents, use fake tanner in ridiculous amounts and keep my skin glowing with some nourishing new products... all while my boys play in the sunshine and don't rot their brains too much on phineas and ferb.

i'm holding out to purchase any more scents until jo malone launches their new series "london in bloom". while the "tea" series only enticed me with two of the scents, i have a feeling i may need the big bottle of one of these babies. most likely will be at least one of the go-to things for march and april. supposedly we'll see them in stores at the end of february. until then, i'm all about the glowing face. i've been drinking wild amounts of cocounut water. though the plain flavor turns me off and tastes salty to me, i'm in love with the other brands that have a bit of juice to them. zico has always been a favorite. their mango flavor will take on any rough mornings and now i've found a new one to enjoy as well. mango is a running theme here, but bom dia nailed it on this one. i like that the bottle is bigger too, i know the other packages are more "green"... but really? i drive an suv. i promise that this goes in the blue bin when i'm done.

a couple of samples i received recently have knocked my socks off. keep in mind i have fairly aggressive rosacea and i'm always careful. if you can't tell i'm a jo malone lover, you will after this. they recently came out with a daily face moisturizer spf 15. it's amazing. it's light and soaks right in. made my face feel good all day, no tightness. it's hard to find day creams with any spf that don't either dry you out or grease you up. this is a winner, for ladies and gents. it's not girly at all... i'm a fan. i also received a sample of nars new tinted foundation. their advertising is brilliant... a bunch of exotic women photographed in a place that reminds me of leo's old movie "the beach". i didn't feel like a supermodel with it on, but it's great color (as always for nars) and the texture is unbelievably smooth. not drying at all and also with spf. i've always done 3-5 steps morning and night for my face since i was about 10. i'm moving the numbers up a bit with age- but i simply can't survive without an amazing moisturizer, tinted moisturizer and concealer. i may have to add a nars to my rotation this summer.

i'm off to class, but will leave you on this nice saturday with one of my favorite songs on my ipod these days... you can bet i'll be up front at coachella.
xo
mercergirl

coke can't be all that bad...

2012-02-02T13:24:00.000-08:00

so, in consideration of the obscene amount of time it takes me to wake up my children- or their father for that matter. i chuckled to see that even someone as perfect as brad pitt has his issues too. i'm simply not in the mood every morning to sing the usual "good morning to you"... who knows how my mom did it all those years. most days are just madness. even with lunches packed the night before, clothing laid out neatly and backpacks ready to go, we can still end up late one day a week. little did i know kindergarten tardiness was such an issue, or that they had homework that rivals what i did in high school. it's ludicrous... so thanks to the jolie pitt clan for this amazing idea. screw diabetes and rotting teeth- this may actually work.

now for some fun... luckyscent has continued their goodybag promotion through february. they sold out of these so quickly in january and let me tell you, this little bag is packed to perfection. you won't see a deal like this, so snatch it up... and while you're there, make sure to get lots of little samples for your upcoming Spring events. i'm in love with luckyscent and i hope they know that. i would eat top ramen and take the bus to school and work as long as i could smell good and have cute shoes. speaking of shoes... these are on my list. i can already picture them with so many outfits. too bad i'd have to take out a 3rd loan or max out a credit card to buy them. it's better just not to look. sometimes i wish i still slung shoes at nordy's, just for my discount. too bad i was paying them to allow me to work there. i don't think i ever broke even with my paychecks.

off to target.
xo
mercergirl

what i really cooked...and my favorite new product site

2012-01-27T15:46:00.000-08:00

as ambitious as i felt on wednesday to make a great curry recipe out of the new sunset, once reality checked in, i had to take it down a notch. i still spent a really fun evening at the home of some good friends...but i whipped up a dish that consisted of four ingredients, and frankly- it rocked. to top it off, i purchased all of it at target...killing a few birds with one stone. dinner consisted of archer farms organic basmati rice, archer farms coconut curry, boneless chicken breasts and jolly green giant cleaned and ready green beans. voila. after slicing my chicky in thin strips, i lightly browned in olive oil and added the coconut sauce with about a half cup of water and let it simmer until my rice was fluffed and fragrant, i added the beans at the last few minutes and topped mounds of rice with a healthy portion of the chicken mixture. it was so easy and so yummy.

we dined and laughed while our kids had fun taking every possible toy out. nothing
like bringing my rowdy boys over to a house full of estrogen. seeing the amounts of mini barbie shoes, unidentifiable pink parts, faux makeup palettes, small fake foods, princesses...it made me realize i need to appreciate the big tractors i pick up every day. the mercer boys had a blast though and i'm determined for them to be in touch with their feminine side... and learn to cook.

as for my new find, thanks to my girl T.rice... you must go check out birchbox. for product trollops like myself, this is pure genius. each month you pay 10 bucks and you receive 4-6 amazing large samples of some of the best lines out there. they range from hair product to fragrance to lotions... you name it. i think they've become so popular that there is a waiting list now, but put your name in line- you won't be let down.

off to vacuum.
xo
mercergirl

food for thought...

2012-01-25T07:46:00.000-08:00

woke up extra early today so that i wasn't scrambling out of the house like most days to drop the boys off and get to school, then work... each morning i eagerly await my iced via. iced via is like a narcotic to me. i don't do hot drinks, mostly for my rosacea- but i greatly enjoy iced beverages much more than hot, even on chilly days. the simplicity of the iced via is beautiful. add water, stir and then add half and half and ice. in a pinch you can throw it in a water bottle and shake it up, but i have yet to go there. the trouble is that even though i'm saving more money than i would if i visited a coffee shop each day, vias are expensive. they'll set you back 6 bucks for 5 packets, and they go fast. my drawer was empty this morning, so i'll be making a pit stop to starbucks for sure.

who would have thought this coffee craze would have lasted so long? it goes unrivaled and it's a beautiful thing. i adore caffeine, it's a mother's best friend.

now for food... this thai curry is on my agenda for tomorrow night's dinner, and I cannot wait to make it. my children won't touch it.... but us adults will most likely lick our bowls. I'll give you a heads up on it later on. i'm obsessed with this month's sunset and hope to try just about every dish out of the "comfort in a bowl" section. brilliant.

off to spritz with my new favorite sample of perfume and then out the door.
happy tuesday.
xo
mercergirl

my affair with pho...

2012-01-21T10:09:00.000-08:00

this girl is a proud foodie. i love to cook, eat, drink and share all these experiences with people who enjoy the same. at different stages of my life, i crave and design totally different things. i wholeheartedly believe at my intense love for food translates into my obsession with lotions, perfumes, candles, oils.... and all things beautifully stinky.

i'm currently involved with pho. my single complaint about pho, is that i have to sit in uncomfortably flourescent venues, with little ambiance, fake flower arrangements and tasteless decor. aside from those criticisms... i'm in love.

first... the menu. depending on where you go, you may understand a little on the menu, or nothing at all. rare steak, tendon, tripe, brisket, well-done flank, beef balls... a vegan's delight. any one or all of these come swimming in a fragrant bowl of broth and perfectly cooked rice noodles. alongside your bowl of pho comes a heaping plate of thai basil, bean sprouts, limes, and thinly sliced jalapenos...but wait, there's more. flanking the table is fish sauce, shiracha, soy sauce, and some devil-spawned asian hot sauce, that even i go gingerly on.

next...your utensils. chopsticks, soup spoons and forks. you will need all three. the broth must be ladled from bowl to lip, the chopsticks have to be used because they are chopsticks, and the fork comes in handy when your sticks can't get every last noodle. pho is not just a meal, it's an experience. you will skip out with a warm tummy and only a few less dollars in your wallet. these are a few of my favorite pho spots in san diego, if you want to comment and add some more, i'd love that.

http://phuongtrangrestaurant.com/

http://www.phocowcali.com/

http://www.yelp.com/biz/pho-ca-dao-restaurant-san-diego

run run as fast as you can.....

2012-01-19T15:51:00.000-08:00

gotta start this entry out with a song i heard today for the first time and now i'm obsessed....
check it out. now for running. my love for running started in 1992. i was just 17 and moved to santa cruz to start my first year at ucsc. i was alone in a big wide world. within the first week, i fell upon a freckled and friendly blonde haired girl, who i'm proud to call one of my closest and best friends to this day. in fact, our friendship blossomed into a group of girls who i'm proud to call "my girls"...

aside from all the unhealthy extracurricular activities we involved ourselves in, meghan and i developed a love for running together. maybe it was the bland and unpalatable meals we were eating in the dining hall, or the vast and spreading track that sat just above the pacific on a bed of clouds... but we were hooked. we'd strap our shoes on and hit the dirt 3 or 4 times a week. i knew at that time, running would become part of my life forever.

i'm a tall girl. running isn't really in my best interest. i have bunions that would turn any man off and my hips and back ache for days after i push myself too far- but i don't stop. running has gotten me through periods of my life when medication couldn't even do the trick. running has taught me to breathe, to pace myself, to look around me and to be in tune with my body and my mind. great problems have been solved on my runs and great ideas have come to life on my runs. there is absolutely nothing like feeling the wind on your face and experiencing small microclimate changes when you climb hills. i imagine a surfer feels the same way when they are out in the water, staring back at a big piece of land, surrounded by quiet. running is just you and you alone. even if you start out running together, soon the conversation ceases... and you are left to your own thoughts, good and bad.

i never run without an ipod. i don't do much in my life without music, and it's certain songs that push me through miles that i'm struggling. i enjoy sitting down and creating a mix that's just for my ears. sometimes it's so good, i want to pull off my headphones and share it with everyone running alongside me. i have even upgraded to a chip in my shoe and some beautiful voice who tells me how far i've gone and how many calories i've burned. some days i hate her- others i love her.

yesterday i did 7 miles with another of my closest friend (luckily she is close enough to me that we can run together). it was a clear and crisp day and we ran trails. we pushed ourselves good and when we sat down to a glass of wine and a huge salad at lunch, we earned it. i grew up a swimmer, but after moving to northern california- it wasn't in my cards. i had no desire to dawn a cap and gear and get in the water, when the weather was cold and miserable. if i had to deal with fog, i wanted to run through it. to this day... whenever i see meghan- we are never without our fitney clothing. whether we're jetsetting in the city, relaxing at sea ranch or squeezing in girl time somewhere halfway between bay area and san diego, we get a run in.

may you all have something that keeps you focused and strong, no matter what life is throwing your way.
xo
mercergirl

oh, and how can i forget.... my girl presented me with this perfume today and i love her all the more for it. i smell divine.

i was on a bus with stripper poles...

2012-01-15T12:19:00.000-08:00

still a bit foggy from my day yesterday, but i guess it's to be expected when you're on a bus with 50 people and stripper poles.... going from brewery to brewery. for those of you who don't live in la mesa or that live here and have never been to hoffer's. please go. it's perhaps one of the coolest little spots in la mesa. the owner Phil has turned his affinity for cigars into a great little den that serves amazing beers on tap (many local), great wines by the glass and more cigars than you can imagine flank the building in two temperature and humidity controlled rooms. it's simple, patio tables, bar stools, really nice bartenders... it feels local and good to be there. you can walk in alone and come out with friends. i digress....

so the uber cute "max" puts tours together for beer aficionados. this was my first time at the rodeo and hopefully not my last. we visited some of the best breweries in the county. iron fist, port, lost abbey and aztec brewing co. we tasted amazing beers of all styles and each return to the bus became more fun as the day progressed (i refuse to admit i got anywhere near a pole, as i questioned their sanitation levels). by the end of the day we were a bus full of friends and beer lovers, shouting out dr. dre lyrics and being plain ridiculous. it was an experience i'm glad to have been involved in. i'm so proud of our local brewers and how high this finest city ranks in breweries and delicious beers. these are a talented and passionate group of folks- and you can taste it in each and every glass.

we finished our night at riviera* also one of my favorite haunts... with wedge salads, perfectly cooked rib eyes, moscow mules in copper mugs (although you do need to get ginger beer sam...) and a booth full of laughter and friends.

here's to a great 3 day weekend and making some good memories.

and because I can't end a blog with at least one product i love- nor can i forget that we all shared it last night- after our day of dehydrating, this is the best lip balm out there. worth every red cent.

cheers.
xo
mercergirl

two small things that have changed my life....

2012-01-13T12:24:00.000-08:00

aside from children as the obvious, there are two things that are present in my life at all times. for most of my readers, these are things you know and love already. if you are under 25, stay tuned and keep notes. the first is concealer. i dont wear much else besides primer (a must) and a good mineral tinted moisturizer or mineral powder- and sometimes i leave the pad without either one. i never go into public without concealer. i put long and fun hours into finding the best one out there...and here it is. this concealer is perfectly creamy and blendable, it glides on and sinks right in. it has the perfect level of opaque and can disguise any imperfection. little sleep or big pimple are no match for this heroin. i spend more on it than just about any item in my primping drawer...and i am never without it.

the second is goat cheese. you will never see my refrigerator lonely of it. i buy two large logs at a time- and have never had to dispose of any. i use it on al dente noodles, salads, bread, stuffed in half avocados and drizzled with salsa, you name it... my favorite quickie appy is something you should all try. go get your chevre, log, pyramid, button.....just by a good one. i love snofrisk, but its tougher to find. next....your favorite ehigh end cracker. this isn't triscuit territory, save that for cheez whiz. lastly, go purchase the small jar of spiced pear jam at whole foods. bristol farms carries it too... it's always near the fancy cheeses. pour the entire jar onto a nice platter, place the chevre on top and dig in. you won't be disappointed.

just ran 5.5 miles on trail... off to the counter for a good burger bowl and some QT with my besty.
xo
mercergirl

and just because i'm feeling sappy.... this is a song everyone should hear once

2012-01-11T20:30:00.000-08:00

from my favorite, neko case...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fhur6g8_BM

venison can't cure a broken heart...

2012-01-11T20:05:00.000-08:00

it's with a heavy heart and a strong cocktail that i write (type?) this post of the mercer girl diaries. we put our beloved golden retriever "Lager" down today. he was 14 years old and he let us know he was ready to go... but it doesn't make things any easier. my house seems quiet. even with a 3.5 and a 5 year old, who never close their lips... my house seems still and quiet. this brings me to think about humans and their attachments to animals. i don't like snakes, i hate rodents *hamsters will never be allowed in my home, i can take or leave cats.... but i have a deep love for dogs. i also have a deep love for big dogs. even though i grew up with canines of all sizes, i love big dogs. i love dogs that make themselves known. lager never let someone in our home without pestering them with his gentle paw for pets and attention. even with a huge catarac and stiff legs, he let his presence shine in the front yard as he barked at dogs twice his size. he let my kids jump on him, pull ears, tug his tail and drive him completely nuts. he slept peacefully at the end of our bed every night. it seems like just yesterday he was jumping a six foot chain link fence because of fireworks... and today we said goodbye. i feel sorry for people who never grew up with animals and who don't have a connection to them. i truly feel they bring an element of peace to our lives and when they are gone, they are missed... just like a family member.

i spent my day after the vet appointment driving around in my 1957 Chevy 210 hardtop. i met my best friend for a fish taco and a glass of wine, shed lots of tears and counted my blessings. i saw a post on fb this morning from a good friend from high school... she posted a gorgeous photo of the morning sunrise and the caption read "be thankful for the little things each day" ... it really is the little things that matter. graham cracker crumbs in my bed, gentle paws asking for love, laughter with a good friend, sunshine coming through a window, goat cheese on a tiny crostini, long walks, kisses... here's to 2012 looking up from here. RIP Lager Mercer. we love you.

mercergirl

there's nothing venison carpaccio cannot cure...

2012-01-09T14:07:00.000-08:00

welcome to 2012. can't say this year has started out as well as i had hoped, but i'm keeping my fingers crossed that it can only get better from here. besides the annual new years rehab party at my neighbors house this year... that included a polar plunge and Pat Walsh's signature bloody mary's- the best experience i've had so far was my dinner at Gingham on friday night. it was nothing short of sublime...

yes.... i got to witness this live. it was fantastic... back to gingham...

our menu was chosen for us, because it was a tasting event and invite only. we lucked out and got some of the best items on the menu. our meal started with a baked brie with fig jam and baguette... i've eaten enough baked brie to warrant heart failure, and i can confidently say this is the best i've ever had. it was thick sliced and layered on the bottom of a beautiful little square iron skillet, baked to perfection and dolloped with deep, rich, and delicious fig jam. my one and only complaint is that the dish came with too few slices of crispy oven baked baguette. i would have appreciated an entire loaf to soak up every bit of cheese grease i could. it was that good. ooooo.... almost forgot the amuse bouche of tiny cornbreads, that could easily be mistaken for pads of butter- yep, that yummy. following the brie, we were served venison carpaccio, sliced almost to transparency and layering a plate topped with fresh arugula, shaved pecorino and just the perfect amount of warm white beans that had been marinated in some heavenly pesto sauce. i didn't think it could get much better than this... then along came the beef ribs. they were covered in braised kale greens and had been perfectly cooked with bbq sauce that puts sweet baby ray's to shame. i so badly wanted to grab them and gnaw every piece of meat off, but mom said i had to use a fork... bunk. the ribs were served up with one of the best sides of pork belly and beans ever. the beans were spicy, so if you don't like spice... don't do the beans. as for myself, i could have poured them out of the beautiful little flame colored crock right into my mouth.... and yes, it gets better. as if brian malarkey isn't enough of a wiz, rachel king has his back. we were lucky enough to get a big slice of her candy bar cake.... moist devil's food, layered with peanut butter mousse and covered in a salted caramel frosting. this is the best dessert i've had in the last five years, hands down. my mom and i ate every last bite. from the dishtowel napkins to the comfy chairs and the perfectly selected and laid back glassware... i'm hooked. i feel fortunate to be able to walk to Gingham, and hope to stumble home often.

off to mail some packages of my scrubs that were supposed to show up for Christmas (sorry girls) and spend the rest of my day doing something fun like laundry or vacuuming. i will leave you with something that makes me so happy. this is a bouquet my oldest son Nash brought me. i wish it could last forever.

happy monday.
xo
mercergirl

take the wong way home...

2012-01-06T18:03:00.000-08:00

couldn't be more excited about my night tonight... it begins with a dinner date with my mom at Gingham. i am fortunate enough to be invited to a private dinner event there before the opening. a menu full of meats and richness is right up my alley. i'm even going to drive us in the 57 ... and she was freshly waxed today. you can be sure i'll be writing a full update this weekend to review of all the goodness i'm going to be eating tonight. following our supper, i'll be dropping mom off and headed for one of my favorite dive bars in all of san diego. if you have yet to visit wong's golden palace, it's a must. you may turn around and run back to your car before you even get to the bar... or you may just love it. wong's has been a staple of university avenue for longer than i've been alive. they serve stiff, cheap cocktails and their chinese food can satisfy any greasy tooth. it's no Kip's.... but still decent. friday nights are karaoke, and my karaoke crazed friend has chosen this gem for her celebratory night out with all the ladies tonight. needless to say, i won't be driving home...

for the special night, i have to break out my most favorite two sparkly things. as you may have guessed Givenchy is one of my favorite brands. not only do they make the most delicious cologne for men, but their specialty and limited edition items are second to none. this year santa was super good to me (aka gigi) and i got these two bad boys in my stocking.... for when you need to feel that extra glamour, spritz this on and use this mascara on top of your own favorite mascara. you'll stop the show.

out the door...
xo
mercergirl

2012... here we come

2012-01-03T16:12:00.000-08:00

big sigh of relief that 2011 has finally come to a close. i started my 2012 off with a fabulous fake tan, with my new favorite tanning product. not only does it come out totally even and no streaks at all, it looks super natural. one of my resolutions for this year is to continue wearing sunscreen on a daily basis, and since i don't dig the look of natural cellulite- this stuff saves me. don't fret about the oompa loompa face you'll have as soon as you apply it, it washes off to perfection and people will think you've been sipping mai tais somewhere on a chaise lounge. combine this with the super dooper awesome organic coffee and cocoa nib brown sugar scrub I whipped up for Christmas, and you'll be supermodel status in no time. email me anytime for a jar of your own...

i just got home from a day of crazed catching up. my car had writing on the back window and after delivering cooper back to my mom, a serious vacuuming was in order. luckily i had the help of my five year old for the day. he's currently wrapping every toy he owns, so that he can have Christmas all over again tonight. anything to keep them busy...

my best friend just called and nudged me into the camp pendelton mud run in june. it didn't take much to convince me, as it's the most fun i've ever had getting my ass kicked. considering the first quarter mile of the race includes being drenched by fire hoses, which have really good looking fireman attached to the other end- it's a good time. the mud stinks, the lake most likely has creatures or at least leeches, and last year it was over our heads... but it's still my favorite race by far. i've also committed myself to the santa ynez wine country run- because running and drinking wine are two of the best things in the world, so combining them is a good idea. between feeling fit, i'll be at coachella and jazzfest in new orleans. not sure how i will squeeze any of these things in along with job, school, children and laundry... but i'll figure it out, or die trying.

one thing for sure will be an update to my ipod. there's so much good music out there right now. if you haven't purchased the new black keys album or the new noel gallagher album, please do so. the raspy and delicious sounds of el camino should encourage me to cross any finish line this year- and i have a lot of them to cross.

lastly... out of the host of perfume samples i've tried lately- i'm in love with the new elie saab. go sniff it at your nearest nordstrom or bloomies.

peace in the new year.
xo
mercergirl

TGIF

2011-12-30T12:01:00.000-08:00

my boys have been with their Dad all week for the holiday in LA... so with all this "free time" i've had in between showing property, i've managed to put one dog to sleep and spend last night in the emergency room with another. i thought nothing could top my Wednesday, after a morning meeting i had a hysterical call from my Grandma Alma, who is 90 years old and a dog lover like the rest of us in the family. she has three dogs, two now. Mia and Grandma found each other four years ago in a Ralph's parking lot adoption through 4 paws. it was love at first sight... although Mia couldn't walk well because of spine issues and had a myriad of problems before coming to my Grandmother's house, she came at the perfect time.

wednesday Mia had seen better days. she had fallen and couldn't manage to get up on her own. with my Mom making her way back just in time from Temecula (because these things always happen while out of town) we got to my Grandmother's in time to help her through euthanizing Mia, as we both knew the possibility of our absence left room for Grandma to potentially think Mia could wear a diaper and scoot around in a doggie wheelchair. i'm all for saving our best friends, but this wasn't the time. we hired the help of an amazing woman named Cynthia, who did this all in the comfort of my Grandma's home for Mia and essentially oozed compassion. we couldn't have asked for more.

fast forward to another hectic day on Thursday, property showings, house-cleaning... and the hopes of a peaceful night at home to myself to catch up on Parenthood episodes and Up All Night. my mom and i share custody of her big albino lab named "cooper". coop is just over two years of age and full of energy, he's also the size of a small pony and has a tail aggressive enough to take out an entire table of wine stems in one swish. i'm in love with cooper and he is great company to our 14 year old golden, "Lager". since i love to run, and lager barely likes to move these days, my half-weeks with cooper are the perfect solution. i all four of his legs out on these hills of la mesa.

yesterday when i arrived home, i grabbed the leash and hit the streets with cooper. the weather was amazing as usual and we got a good walk in. my walk included a chance private tour of the most exciting restaurant to hit la mesa in the last 50 years. i'm fortunate to not only have cousins in oregon and washington whom i adore... but one of them also knows brian malarkey. brian happened to be there and after meeting him in person he let me inside to check things out. i'll need another day entirely to write about the menu he created for Gingham, and the energy this man emits... so let's get back to cooper.

back up the hills, ass a little tighter, dog winded, in need of water and a shower... back home.

dinnertime comes and i find myself making a great batch of buffalo wings (you can take the girl out of lakeside...) and a ballast point IPA. i stroll back into the kitchen, only to find cooper on hind legs scarfing down the entire plate of wings. and for those of you who have read this blog for a long time, yes- this IS the same dog who ran directly through our 55 year old plate glass sliding door a couple years back. off to the emergency room i go with cooper. luckily my best friend is not only crazy enough to be best friends with me, but she's also talking me through this whole thing- because there's no way i'm calling my mom at this point.

after just a while in the emergency center, which happens to be one of the best in San Diego... and just down the street from me- cooper emerged, purged of his spicy wing extravaganza and tail wagging. we made it to friday. here's to our four legged friends, good food, good drink, family and friends... and an incredible ending to 2011.

xo
mercergirl

the dog day's are over...

2011-12-28T14:15:00.000-08:00

as much as i miss the good ol days of phones with cords, mixed tapes and my Brother word processor...i'm pretty damn happy to be sitting in the sunshine and gingerly tapping away on my new Motorola tablet. having the internet at my fingertips is an incredibly powerful thing, dangerous almost. as long as i can practice some self control by avoiding anthro, zappos, and nordy's, i'll be in good shape.

its a tough day to write. its pretty much a tough day to do anything other than look at the back of my eyelids. the week between christmas and new years is like doldrums at sea. for those clocking in, or retired, business owners, and the unemployed...its the same feeling. let's see this year off and bring in the new. it doesn't help that the last few weeks of weather in san diego have been impeccable. i was thrilled to pull out my favorite Colorscience sunscreen today and dust it all over.

i rang in some cheer at one of my favorite San Diego spots this past week. if you havent been to The Pearl in point loma, its a must. take a mid-century classic re-vamped motel, add kick-ass drinks, great food, movies poolside and a great vibe... and that's The Pearl. we had a great bartender named Jamie- who made me a cucumber martini of some sort... it was award worthy and quenching for these Santa Ana's. The entire staff seems really awesome and approachable, and the crowd was cozy. thanks for a good time...

a good friend asked me to blog about my so-called "routine" for my products on the daily. that's my next installment, as my number one rule is to avoid commitment to any one line and be adventurous. it may take a bit, but i'm comprising the faves in my head that i don't leave the house without. just as a tease... this is the best daytime eye cream I've ever used. I'm not a huge fan of Dermalogica... as they just have way too many lines going on these days- but this stuff is a Mom's best friend. It will take you from dull and tired to atleast public worthy in one application.

until next time...

I survived the land of Kirkland...

2011-12-24T20:30:00.000-08:00

thought I was out and about earlier than everyone yesterday to pick up my last minute food items for Christmas day.... that is, until I saw the parking lot for Costco. Deep Breaths. I am so proud of myself for not only remaining super calm (meds help), but whisking through with a smile on my face and getting everything I needed without having a nervous breakdown. It was shear madness. I have never seen lines so long, along with the regular bah-humbugs, I was surprised to see how many people seemed joyous and content. I heard folks whistling Christmas tunes, saw happy parents picking out last minute gifts for their kiddos, women buying gorgeous tails of lobster for their holiday feasts. I must say that not only did I make it out alive, but I made it out and was actually happy to have gone. I managed to restrain myself from buying the fuzzy sweatshirts and the 24 packs of Cinnabon cinnamon rolls that were calling my name, and stuck to the necessities... vodka, prosecco, pumpkin loaf and two giant rolls of goat cheese (which is the only food that I believe I could actually survive on all by itself).

After my fridge was stuffed and buldging at the doors, I tossed my boys in the car and headed to Campland on the Bay, for some much needed time with great friends and sunshine. Campland on the Bay is one of the best places for families to camp in San Diego County. Not only for its coastline location, but for the amount of activities and cool things to do for kids of all ages. Whether you send them to "Huff and Puff" park, or down to the arcade to waste copious amounts of money trying to grab a stuffed animal with a claw... it's well worth your money. Unfortunately, they've dropped the ball with their new management. Although the entire park was sparse with humans, the few carnies that were working the front desk made sure to be diligent about our dogs off leash and any noise level that was above a whisper. I miss the good ol' days... when camping meant being able to relax and have a good time, and your camper neighbors were on the same page. Despite the Campland police, we had an amazing day, which ended up as a dance party in the toybox and me trying to teach my boys to duggy. Let's move on... but before we do, here's a photo of our super crowded campground.

It's another terrible Christmas in San Diego, 75 and sunny.... even at the coast. Why wrap presents and get anything ready for the weekend, when the outdoors is calling and I can wear a bathingsuit?

Not sure how much writing I'll be getting in this weekend, so if it's not until after Christmas... have a warm and lovely one. May Santa bring you all that you desire, and may you spend your days with good friends, family and cheer.

why baking cookies is a waste and the best lip gloss to spend too much money on...

2011-12-21T19:39:00.000-08:00

in my honest opinion, the baking of dough is an unecessary step. I have yet to make cookies when I did not eat most the dough on it's own. I usually make a double batch, so that I can serve the cooked ones to friends and have a pyrex dish in my fridge for large bites followed by a swig of milk. Raw eggs, flour, sugar, vanilla, chocolate... bring it on. I grew up on it and I remain committed to supporting cookie dough as an edible. Although I strive to be a from scratch woman and when possible I avoid cutting corners when possible... but I will wreak havoc on a tub of toll house.

I feel somewhat the same about firelogs. I dig a real wood fire... there is nothing like it. It's warm and smokey and full of great natural smells and memories. At our pad, we use Duraflame. I'm all about throwing some real logs on top and faking the funk, but at the end of the day... we always have a box in our garage.

one thing I don't cheat on is lip product... whether it's my homemade delicious lipscrub or this amazing Dior gloss, I will go all out. This time of year especially, I'm all for getting rid of the flakes and prepare my pucker for a sweet Winter color. It's one of the few I carry around year round. It enhances your own color, so it's nude and sexy and totally hydrating. Please do yourself and avoid anything with petroleum.... chap stick is an addictive and alcohol based product, it will do nothing but make your situation much worse.

off to threaten my rugrats with Santa.
xoxo
mercergirl

my joys...

2011-12-20T21:58:00.000-08:00

this has never been a Mommy blog, and never will... I live each day consumed with the loves of my life, Nash and Tate. Not a moment goes by that I don't have them on my mind, and every goal in my life is established for them. That being said... my joy right now is seeing Tate with a blinking rudolph nose on, sassing me because he doesn't want to go to bed and pulling every ornament off the tree. I'm waiting for it to fall on him... but I blog away.

life is such a precious thing... it's fragile and ultimately difficult for just about everyone. In these shitty times of recession and losing homes, jobs, family members, friends, war... it can sometimes be the really small things that make a difference.

aside from my kids... my joy lies in music, friends, food and fitney *my copyrighted word for fitness. Despite your crazed week of last minute shopping, lack of money and full on stress... take a minute to just count your blessings. Take care of yourself... because if you don't take care of yourself, you can't take care of others. Here are some suggestions....

good tunes... (sigur ros, whiskeytown, the verve, bon iver, zac brown, fleet foxes, band of horses, mark farina) and if you haven't heard of these bands, please go to itunes immediately.

good wine or a great mug of beer (pliny the elder comes to mind)

a burning fire, candle or fireplace..... no matter

family and friends.... the more the merrier, surround yourself with people that make you smile and laugh. If you have not laughed until you cried recently, you need to.

deep breaths.

wishing you all a really good week of hectic shopping and craziness.... may you all be able to relax and get some "you" time this weekend.

xo
mercergirl

this just changed my whole night....

2011-12-19T23:52:00.001-08:00

http://youtu.be/lwQmDvuORY0

egg nog balls and being thankful for Snow Day...

2011-12-19T23:29:00.000-08:00

it's been a night for me... i won't expand, other than I have been hurt by someone who I love and trust and have spent the last few years investing in. Business, love or otherwise- when you get screwed, it sucks. This has led me to drink an extra bottle of Snow Day (Amen for NewBelgium) and eat myself sick on Egg Nog Maltballs from Sprouts *Henry's for some of you.

the egg nog malt ball is quite possibly the best thing I've put in my mouth in months (why do I still hear my children awake at this hour...? Jesus) They are bursts of beautiful festive nog, wrapped in candy coated sweetness. If you are within a 100 mile radius of Henry's... go buy them.

I hate leaving my blog on a bad note.... so let me enlighten you by my night at Hoffer's. Not only did I have the best beer there, but I finished with an Orfila Port that made my night. Luckily I can walk home. I'm foaming at the mouth about my business situation, but I'm lounging in front of my 9 foot tree, having a Snow Day and counting my blessings. With every door that closes.... there is a new one that opens. Karma is a bitch my friends.

bali hai mai tai and sample scores...

2011-12-17T01:50:00.000-08:00

just returned home from a great evening.... wrapped up my Christmas shopping and finished the night at Bali Hai. For anyone who has not experienced a proper evening at the Bali Hai... you are missing out. Since their exceptional remodel some years back, it's by far the best place for a Mai Tai that will knock your socks off, and a view of America's Finest City. Sit at the bar, order Mai Tais and soak up what a great place we live in. I would love to include the recipe of the Bali Hai Mai Tai... but it's a big secret, and honestly if I had the recipe- it wouldn't taste the same as it does at a friendly bar with a sweeping skyline view of San Diego.

as for my sample of the day...

I got lucky with my big bag of samples that arrived with my Luckyscent package I received
"Black Jade" by Lubin, Paris. Super clean, sexy, violet, night time based, alluring and ultimately warm. I wore the sample twice and bought the bottle. For any of you who don't experiment with scents, but have every desire to... check out LuckyScent. You can order sample vials of just about every fragrance, shipping is fast and the website is not only fun, but really easy to navigate.

night night.

my love for St. Germain and pretty bottles of perfume...

2011-12-16T13:35:00.000-08:00

yesterday in Bevmo I sold two bottles of St. Germain just from my description... I don't work at Bevmo, but I would if I had the time. St. Germain is one of the loveliest liqueurs I've ever enjoyed. It's elderflower and full of floral and vanilla. It's sultry, not overly sweet, perfect with good champagne, mixed in martinis or just on it's own. The bottle is exquisite. I am never without this in my pantry. It lasts a long time and is meant to be enjoyed with great company, hence the reason I had it in my chilled flask last night for our limo ride. Pouring a drink from this bottle just feels rich. Seeing the pale liquer glide over chunks of ice is even richer...

my obsession with scents and bottles can get me into trouble in many different locations. Nordstrom being one of my favorites, Bevmo being a close second. Although I love Jo Malone, I am not a loyal perfume wearing girl. I don't have "my scent". I have a different scent for every mood and every occasion. I keep 5+ rollerballs and purse atomizers on me at all times... just depending on how I'm feeling when I need to reapply. I'll go into my love of rollerballs later... but for now, I have to share one of the loveliest bottles of perfume I've purchased recently. The scent is creamy and beautiful. It's lasting and will wear itself perfectly along your scarves and mittens. It's one of those beautiful smells that you totally forget about and then get a hint of it on yourself later in the day and smile. It's womanly and full of class. The bottle says it all...

put one on your list for Santa.

salty chihuahua... and jo malone does it again

2011-12-15T01:30:00.000-08:00

office holiday party tonight. stretch Escalade limo, Pacific Beach, let your mind wander.... I'd like to think that a group of Sotheby's agents would do something way more classy, but we pulled it off with flying colors. This includes individual lap dances in the limo. Genius. I was careful enough to take a few aspirin and alternate my drinks with water, only so I can hold my own in my big day of Christmas with my best friend Tara tomorrow. We intend on hand making all our gifts tomorrow (they're going to be sweet) and let our children go bonkers with gingerbread houses and Christmas crafts. Happy Birthday Jesus.

Knowing that I'll probably wake up with a raging headache, this will be my recipe for the morning after my girl arrives. It's called the Salty Chihuahua... and I could not be more excited to shake it up....

-8 cups fresh grapefruit juice (wtf? really? use Simply Grapefruit... it's nearly as good)
-1.5 cups silver tequila (uh? how about 3 cups... and make it patron or hornitos)
-1/4 cup cointreau (grand marnier for the big wigs)
-1.5 t salt (for rim of glass)

shake it up...
and as for my favorite line of scents and lovelies, Jo Malone has done it again. For those of you who have not experienced Jo Malone... do yourself the favor of going to visit Scott Anderson at the Fashion Valley Jo Malone counter. He's the fragrance devil in disguise. I love him... and as soon as I convince him to be straight- we will marry and wed ourselves on an aisle of Jo Malone Red Roses and have an Orange Blossom candle burning eternally in our room. Until then, I just adore him and he hooks me up with the best new samples and entertains my craziness. Jo's new scent for the season is Eucalyptus and Pine. It's to die for. Screw the real tree... get a faker and burn this on your mantle.

peace and love.

my cookies were put to shame...

2011-12-13T00:48:00.000-08:00

this picture explains it all...

it does not matter how hard you have slaved away in the kitchen all day for your 5 dozen cookies... when you see a homemade gingergirl like this- you tuck your tail between your legs and know that it is the most ultimate cookie of the evening. I won't go into the other diverse gingers that she was nestled between, because she commands full attention.

this cookie my friends... was baked by a Mom of 3 month old triplets. I intend to seal this sweet little girl in glass or plastic until next year, and remind this Mom of how awesome she is.

sounds of the season and the best shortbread cookies in the universe...

2011-12-11T12:20:00.000-08:00

i don't have a musical bone in my body, but i adore music. from sweaty warehouse beats to Whiskeytown... my taste varies. in the last year i have been consumed with Bon Iver...the haunting voice and incredible musical talent puts me in the right spot. i can listen to any of their albums over and over and over again. if you've never heard Bon Iver, i've attached one of the songs that has been on repeat lately. Another fave is The Black Keys... and their new album "El Camino" is just in time for the holidays. It's bluesy and gorgeous... it makes me want a big red wine and a rare steak. It's just plain sexy. I have a big year of tunes ahead for 2012. Coachella and Jazzfest. How I'm going to afford to go to both is a pure mystery... experiences are priceless though.

It's lucky I've been getting my ass up Cowles Mountain and The La Mesa Stairs (which if you do not know about, please contact me, i will show you how to get your ass kicked and super tight before the New Year)... because tomorrow night is one of my favorite nights of the year. It's the annual Braunwarth Cookie Exchange. I bake the same cookies every year, and every year I get hounded for the recipe. It's actually from Ina Garten a.k.a The Barefoot Contessa. This woman knows how to do amazing things in the kitchen...I love the copious amounts of butter in her recipes her unabashed use of all things delicious and fattening. These cookies are no exception. Put it this way... at the end of the night I still try and take most of mine home. I'm an only child and we're not very good at sharing, it's true. I promise you that once you make these cookies and try them out, you will do it again...

this is an inspirational and colorful thing I see on my way to the stairs... it's been in this same place for over 10 years... love it.

enjoy your weekend....

had to share...

2011-12-10T07:45:00.000-08:00

only the hysterical Chris Cantore could capture the Lunar Eclipse like this... Thank you Chris, for making my morning.

wakey wakey! eggs and bakey!

2011-12-10T07:34:00.000-08:00

missed the lunar eclipse this morning (no one gives me a heads up on those things), but woke up to blog and stalk people on Facebook instead. I'm so productive. I was excited to see one of my very favorite homes in Mt. Helix on my page though. As a lover, owner and seller of Mid-Century homes, there is absolutely nothing like seeing them properly adorned during the holidays. Kudos to my close friend and amazing Landscape Designer, Todd Pitman... he and his wife Carmen really know how to make a place shine...

the photo above makes me want to walk around in a robe with a martini, but since I'm a Mom, I made soup instead. Cooking is one of my favorite things to do... considering I have a degree in Culinary Arts and went to Brooks Institute for food and Advertising photography (not joking, why do you think I ended up in Real Estate?) I'd like to consider myself a decent cook. I haven't won any awards or written a cookbook - yet... but I write my own recipes and sometimes they are bitchin. Yesterday I decided to make a black bean soup, it was super tough. Instead of using the usual called for water (blah), I used chicken stock and a can of organic pumpkin. I have never had or heard of Pumpkin Black Bean Soup... so this is a Mercergirl original as far as I'm concerned. It's good and super hard to make as you can see, perfect for Wintertime and full of healthy goodness.

back to my school days...

as if attending 4 colleges is not enough, I'm going back to school in January (no joke). After 10 years in Real Estate (blatant plug) and many ups and downs in life, I want to incorporate something I absolutely love into my career. I've always wanted to be an esthetician. Aside from being a product whore and a lover of all things smelly and delicious for body and face and food... it's my calling... and I'm hoping that after I give someone a glowing face and an amazing Brazilian... they may trust me more in helping them buy a house.

and now for some of my favorite gifts to give at the Holidays. My dear friend Kelly Halavais owns and runs her own company called "In The Raw". She makes some of the most heavenly candles, lotions, body washes and baths that are all natural and each made by hand. The smells are intoxicating. I'm hoping she gives me a new Vanilla Spice candle for my kitchen very soon... Her things are unique and loved by everyone I've given them to. Because she's a good friend, and a smart business woman (she made me write that)... if you go to her website and place an order, you'll get 20% off your entire order with the code mercergirl - use all lowercase. Thanks Kelly. Now go shopping...

these are a few of my favorite things...

2011-12-09T06:27:00.000-08:00

I'm up early. Last night after two Riviera cosmopolitans(one is great, two is obnoxious), I was convinced it was a great idea to commit to running Cowles Mountain this morning with two friends of mine. I woke up with an earth shattering headache, headed immediately for a triple mocha and Aleve, and figured I could crank out a few words before I climb a big pile of rock with a hangover.

In my shower this morning I used one of the best products I've ever taken out a loan for in my life. It's Jo Malone's Vitamin E Scrub. It comes in a container the size of a Home Depot bucket and will change your life forever. I won't lie, it's an investment. You will have to choose between having skin like a baby's ass or paying your next month's mortgage- but it's worth every penny. It may even be worth working another job. The smell is pure heaven. Not fragranced and foofy, just pure oily bliss. There is nothing like it in the world.

I'm not ready to give up my eye cream secrets yet- because I want everyone to think I actually got 8 hours of sleep and that I'm not nearing 40. I will however; let you in on a little secret concoction that goes a long way for a woman. Firstly- if you're not using primer, get with it. It's one of the single most important steps in faking it. Not only does it fill in lines (which I don't have because I just turned 25 again), but it smoothes your face and preps it for all the other crap you have to pile on. I myself am lazy though... why not combine some steps and save yourself the trouble? The best primer I've used thus far is by Napolean Perdis. I have only been able to order it through Ulta (love), and it's not cheap.... but the next little ditty is. Mix some of this up with the new Physician's Formula Organic tinted mineral moisturizer. It's 9 bucks and it rocks. It blows some of the other big labels away. Smooth, creamy, 4 colors to make your decision easy. Apply the little mixture with a Beauty Blender sponge (a must), or one of the Beauty Blender knockoffs that you can buy at Target (because no one needs a brand name sponge), apply some lipstick and you can be out the door looking halfway decent.

Lastly... I'm known to rock an amazing bed head look. I have a girlfriend that calls it JBF hair, but that doesn't necessarily apply to me or many people for that matter, so let's keep it clean. The reason I can rock bed head, is because I have a simply amazing haircut. I'm not a long haired girl. Hats off to those of you that are, but I'm super boring with long hair and it makes my face look chubby. I was told yesterday by someone very close to me that long hair gave me "fat face". Point taken. Getting to the point, spend good money on your shoes, teeth and hair. Those are the three biggies. Everything else you can skimp on, but your feet have to carry your ass to your grave, nobody looks good toothless and if you are still wearing the same hairstyle you did in the 90's- please change that. I will let you in on my incredible and super sexy hair professional. Her name is Carol (she so does NOT fit the name Carol, sorry Carol) and she creates magic. She also gives the best head massage known to human kind and is one of the most well-educated and up to date girls in her entire salon. If you go see her, mention Mercergirl and you'll get a free Bumble and Bumble trial size product of your choice. You will love her. She's at JDM salon in La Mesa...

Almost time to pull on some tight pants and strap on my shoes for Cowles... at least I have lunch with a friend today at the Brigantine, so I can get some fish tacos and a Cadillac Margarita to begin my weekend and put a stop to this headache. Enjoy your day.

red shoes, red meat, red lipstick

2011-12-07T20:55:00.000-08:00

It's a wonder I'm sitting at my computer writing this, while there's a new Dermstore catalog sitting next to my bedside. This is dedication. I couldn't skip writing about the shoe score I got today. I spent the entire morning and afternoon helping my Mom, a.k.a "Gigi Paige" sort through her closets (plural) to divide and conquer and get some items to the really cool consignment shop in my little village of La Mesa. It has relocated to a newer and much cooler building that was redone by local architects, and it's chock full of some of the coolest clothing, shoes and accessories. We ended up with 10 full Rubbermaid containers full of clothing and figured that while the owner *who is super cool, sorted everything.... we'd head next door for a good beer and a glass of wine at Hoffer's.

here's Gigi... she rocks

Upon return to the consignment shop, barely two boxes were picked through- I made the mistake of looking around... and found the red pair of shoes that have been waiting for me to purchase them. They were gleaming at me from the top of the rounder, robust and perfectly red.

and here are my shoes.... Coach nonetheless

now for the red meat.

If you live anywhere near Valley Farms Market, you must go. They consistently have the best meats, including chicken and fish. Their produce section is fresh and primarily local, their beer selection would beat out just about anyone's I know. They even carry most of Alpine Brewery's beers- which are hard to find unless you go to the brewery itself (well worth the trip for a growler). Valley Farms stocks Julian Apple Pies, Pumpkin Pies and is pretty much one of the coolest places to shop for grocery in the East County. Their meats are the standout. You will pay much less at Valley Farms for the nicest cuts of prime meats, being served up in good ol' butcher paper from some of the hottest meat cutters in the county.

I'll end this note on something totally important...

my girlfriends and I have tested and approved three different red lipsticks for your holiday season. Nars "cruella", Nars "joyous red", and Nars "Shanghai Express". Try any of the three and you won't be disappointed. Cruella is essentially transferproof and very deep and sexy, Joyous Red is a bit more calm-totally acceptable for daytime use and Shanghai Express transports you somewhere else all together....

enjoy.

i swear that i am part mexican.

2011-12-06T20:29:00.000-08:00

there is nothing like living in San Diego. Fresh Queso and Chile Tamales, Hass Avocados from Rainbow Farmer's Market, Poached eggs and Tapatio. It doesn't get much better than this to start your day. If you haven't visited Rainbow yet, you must go. If you need a good hook up for tamales.... email me.

Is it only Tuesday?

2011-12-06T19:43:00.000-08:00

How come I feel like I've been drug many feet behind an 18 wheeler and it's not even the middle of the week yet? Most of this may come with two boys 5 and under, multiple jobs, holidays, marital issues, recession... oh wait, let's keep this on a high note. How about the holidays? How do we make it through? How do we get here so fast, 365 days later and each year ask ourselves where the time went? For me, regardless of whether there is heaven or shear hell in my life- the holidays bring a time to reflect and take a deep breath. It's a good time to look at what you've done in a year and how you want your next year to be different. Whether this be by a new job, hobby, resolution, weight to lose, sailing to learn, caves to explore, or recipes to try.... how do YOU want it to be different?

This has been a trying year for me in many ways. I have been stretched in directions I never thought I could bear to reach- but here I am. For every obstacle I've endured and for every mistake I've made (I've made a ton this year) I am a stronger and a more durable human being. Life is precious and it is short. Do what you love and don't let anyone tell you different. Spend quality time with people who you enjoy. Laugh and smile and try to live in the moment. Forget your five year plan, you may not be here tomorrow.

BUT....If you are here tomorrow.... you need to buy a bottle of the best port on the face of the earth and if you're a scent fanatic like me... spray some of this on.

Hangover Face....

2011-12-05T14:43:00.000-08:00

It's the Holidays. If you're anything like me, you'll have plenty of mornings with puffy eyes and fuzzy teeth. I have two solutions that may just change your life. Let me preface by saying I have intense rosacea, sensitive skin, and a love for martinis. These are my go-to things for late nights when you don't want to bother with a five step routine. First of all, I never am without these amazing facial pads next to my bedside. They are a cleanser, toner and moisturizer in one. They smell absolutely delicious... in fact, you may forget your entire night... but the smell of your face in the morning will bring a smile to your lips. Closely following, throw on some of this magical solution from Kiehl's. The maximum amount of time you'll spend on this ritual is five minutes and your face will thank you greatly in the morning. Happy Holidays, Bottoms Up!

Never thought I'd see the day...

2011-12-02T07:23:00.000-08:00

Tis the season for evening events, soirees, food, drink and time spent with family and friends. Last night I was my Mom's date to one of her girlfriends homes. It's actually described best as a palace on the hill, decked out with lights, tinsel, jewelry, wine and women. We had a great time. Event being fully catered by a really nice and talented woman, we assumed that the layers of puffy white cake and frosting were one of her creations. Bellied up to the dessert bar, my Mom raved to me about this Italian Wedding Cake. She skipped the meatballs and stuffed shrooms all together (huge surprise). Not being much of a cake or dessert eater, I was cajoled into trying it. Right again. After pleading with the caterer for the recipe- she was shocked that a guest had brought the cake. Mom spent a good portion of the next hour tracking the broad down. Clearly we weren't leaving the house without this recipe, and were convinced that it had to be some family secret that was passed down for generations until it made it to our mouths. It wasn't.... and here it is. Despite my loathing of Sandra Lee's "tablescapes" and boxed food, this cake is the shnizzle. Try it this holiday.

-off to begin my day of domestic bliss.

It's Always the Season for Zin... big Zins.

2011-11-29T17:46:00.000-08:00

I'm fortunate to live within a few miles of a great little spot called K&B Cellars. Although the service and the food can sometimes be hit or miss, this guy knows his wines. It's one of the only spots I can find my favorite Zin (next to Seghesio) - Candor Zinfandel. It retails for a mere 20 bucks. It's worth every damn penny. It's big on fruit, huge on the finish and absolutely drinkable. I won't go into jargon about leather and tobacco. Spare me. Buy a bottle and see for yourself, actually... buy two.

Can I Just Get a Peek?

2011-11-29T09:49:00.000-08:00

Here it is ladies and gents... my medicine cabinet. Don't be fooled, this is but a nibble of the amount of products that I keep neatly stored in baskets, drawers, make-up bags, etc... but it is my storage for the go-to products that I'm using daily. I will confess to always buying more before the last jar runs out. I will also confess to being a cheater. I rarely use the same product twice, unless I find that I cannot live without it. Let's see what's inside. I'm happy to review some of my faves and please don't get your hopes up for seeing my fragrance collection. In my past life I lived in Paris and dined on fresh baguettes filled with creamery butter, while I mixed intoxicating scents to make each moment a memory. Only very few peeps are allowed to see my fragrances. Some have even reaped the benefits of hand me downs. This has been after quite a few glasses of good zin though.

Let's start with a photo

So... beginning at the bottom shelf, you may recognize some must haves. I live by Neutrogena's eye makeup remover. It's cheap and it gets the job done well. Even after long nights and walks of shame. To the right of my Neutrogena is Givenchy's face mist. It's glorious. I use it to set my makeup and basically to feel all over glamorous. It smells clean and divine and I swear I look younger. In front of those is my Jurlique Calendula Day Cream... a saving grace for anyone like me who has rosacea or sensitive skin. Jurlique is wildly expensive and some of their products are way too flowery for me- but this cream nails it. The rest aren't too exciting. I bought the Bobbi Brown face oil, because I use her makeup line almost exclusively, but it was not much better than any other oil I have used on my face, so she went back to Nordy's yesterday (wait till you see what I exchanged her for... in a later post people).

Shelf two...the ones my children absolutely cannot reach. Let's go right to left, just because. Mario Badescu's drying lotion, is a one stop blemish stopper. It's the best thing for pimples, period. I'm not 12, so thankfully I only get one here and there during those special times of the month- but the last one I had was so prevalent, my kids were calling me a unicorn and swore I was magic. This sweet little bottle works wonders. I am never without it and it lasts forever. To the left of that is the clarisonic eye cream for the nifty and gimmicky Clarisonic Opal. It was a gift from my Mom (who has blessed me with the love of shopping and products) probably after too much cheap champagne at the last Nordstrom event. I must admit that even though I'm committed to putting eye cream on daily, I don't use this much... but when I do, it takes at least ten years off those crows feet. It looks cool on your counter too. Moving along... I'll skip the cuticle nippers (duh, who doesn't have eight pairs of those?) but I will indulge you in the MyChelle facial moisturizer and honeydew cleanser. Prescription based, all natural, brilliant skin line. You can get it at Sprouts, Henry's, Boney's, whatever the hell it's called where you live. You can also see a little bottle of Philosophy's "Keep the Peace" serum. I also have their KTP tinted moisture- which acts like a primer. I don't like it nearly as much as the Colorscience Primer- Line Tamer to the right of that... but I like the line overall. Far left is my go-to Holiday shimmer. Molton Browns Ginger Shimmer Oil. I could live in a Molton Brown boutique. It just oozes of class.

Top shelf- quick and to the point.... never be without at least one tube of pure Retin-A from Mexico (another reason I love living in San Diego, hello Farmacia!) and some Essie nail products. Their "Good to Go" top coat is a must have for any woman who doesn't want to sit still while her nails dry.

I confess to spending way too much money at the Kiehl's counter yesterday, as well as on some Claudalie products that are bound to change my face. I will fill you in later. OH- and not to forget, my new favorite site for product reviews and just getting down and dirty about girly stuff is here. Not to be confused with one of the best places to buy products.

The Hunger Games and The Best Bloody Mary in San Diego

2011-11-27T16:16:00.000-08:00

Despite the depression I endured after finishing the last book of the Twilight series many moons ago, I've opted to begin The Hunger Games trilogy on the recommendation from a good friend. I have once again fallen into the rabbit hole. I watch the clock at night so I can sneak to my room and pull out my freshly charged Nook (yep, I went there)... and dive in. For anyone who misses the fantasy and escape they experienced during the Twilight books... go ahead and start the Hunger Games. I dare you. Even better is that the movie for Hunger Games is out soon... and it looks like something that I may not only be able to sit through, but actually enjoy. The brain cells I lost while watching Breaking Dawn Part One may actually regenerate.

Speaking of movies.... regardless of my long term girl crush on Kirsten Dunst, coupled with the earth shaking beauty of Alexander Skaarsgard- do not see Melancholia. That is, unless you are either very high on Lithium or have a warm bath and a razor blade waiting for you when you leave the theater. The acting is superb. The injection of depression, not so much.

Now for the best part. Totally suitable that a flock of wild La Mesa green parrots just squawked over my house. This is that good. Not only was I fortunate to spend most of this kid free weekend with my Mom and my closest friend (same person), but we began our day yesterday bellied up to the bar with another fantastic female at The Tractor Room. I like to consider myself a connoisseur of bloody mary's. They are like the cilantro of cocktails. There is no grey area or middle ground. You either love them or hate them and they're either mind-blowing fantastic or totally unpalatable. The Tractor Room has 17 bloodies to choose from. Out of these 17- two are not to be missed. The Bloody Caesar... which fancies a muddled anchovy and clamato (hail to the hungover bartender to has to muddle that fishy), and The Union Mary- which is the tall salty beauty that I usually default to. The Tractor Room vibe of leather and meat, along with the great crowd, dim lighting and amazing bartending skills... is quite possibly one of the best places to imbibe in San Diego. Go There.

new and improved...

2010-09-08T10:28:00.000-07:00

It's useless to describe why I have not posted in months. More importantly, Jo Malone has a new fragrance and I have some free time to blog again. Free time, ha.

We've entirely skipped Summer in San Diego. I for one, did not miss it. Rather I have really looked forward to wearing my over the knee boots, scarves and small bits of weather wear that we can afford in this sun drenched oasis. As I approach each year with grace and stronger anti-aging products, I am more aware of the lack of seasons in my hometown. While people flock here from all over to soak it up and happily pay over the top to live here... I'm hoping for Fall. Not only does Fall mean "back to school"... three of my favorite words now that I'm a Mom. Fall also means better scents in the air, baking, warmer bedding, cool nights and a break from white wine.

Thanks to Jo... I'll be rocking this really soon.

the best buttercream frosting EVER...

2010-03-31T11:13:00.000-07:00

here it is. this is no joke. I have been around the kitchen since birth and can make a mean buttercream. This Gale Gand recipe put all of my favorites to shame. We added fresh lemon zest and lemon juice for our stellar lemon cupcakes and then tried out some coconut extract for our tropical coconut cupcakes that my best friends and I made over the weekend for our friend Maddy's shower.

Do yourself a big favor and avoid using packaged frostings and cakes. Just turn it over and read the ingredients of the frosting if you don't believe me, or read them here...

Sugar, Vegetable Oil Shortening (Partially Hydrogenated Soybean and Cottonseed Oils, Mono- and Diglycerides, Polysorbate 60), Water, Corn Syrup. Contains 2% Or Less Of: Corn Starch, Salt, Colored with (Titanium Dioxide, Yellow 5, Red 40), Preservatives (Potassium Sorbate), Natural and Artificial Flavors [Milk], Lactic Acid, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate.

Contains: Milk

good news in and out of the bottle...

2010-03-31T10:57:00.000-07:00

just found out this morning that my family and I are taking a week vacation to Kauai on May 2nd. Nothing like last minute family vacations. It all began when my Mom (ie the best) called me and told me that Marriott had booked her in a 2 bedroom villa for a week and never had confirmed it with her. At that time, she had an opportunity to cancel it, or simply call us and get the entire family to do a Hawaiian vacation. It's just my luck that she really is that cool and we've already purchased plane tickets. As much as I do everything I possibly can to avoid making this a "Mommy blog"... because I loathe Mommy blogs, I may have to write about my adventures in the air with a 2 and 3 year old. I'm stocking up on prescription pills now if anyone has any donations.

For good news IN the bottle... I was recently turned on to this Candor Zin(Zinfandel being my favorite of the grapes) and it is nothing but extraordinary. Very drinkable now, BIG wine, BIG fruit, heavy on the swallow, totally delicious. It's right up there with much more expensive wines- no go buy some.

how could I forget?

2010-03-16T21:11:00.000-07:00

must be sleepy... how could I have forgotten the new annick goutal? Here it is... can't wait to try a sample. As if the gorgeous and sweet frosted blue glass was not enough...

all saved up...

2010-03-16T20:53:00.000-07:00

wow... it's been a while. Aside from waiting with baited breath for the release of Remember Me
I've been so wonderfully busy with work at Mercer York, I've found no time to blog, twitter, facebook, sleep, shower or mate.

A few exciting things on the horizon: My first family road trip with the boys in July. 10 days from California to Oregon. My Father was born and raised in Bend, OR. His entire family still resides there. Oregon is quite possibly one of my favorite places on Earth (besides Palm Springs), so I could not be happier.

Another exciting piece of news... this fabulous wine I was just introduced to: Candor Zinfandel (lot 2)
For anyone who digs BIG wines, full fruit, heavy, round and perfect...buy a bottle.
You will not be unhappy.

that's about all for now. enjoy your week.

delicious...

2010-02-10T21:00:00.000-08:00

I have a huge unabashed crush on Sam Zien In fact, I secretly hope to run into him at local farmer's markets, Henry's, Whole Foods, or wherever I can. It's cute really. Aside from thinking he is a brilliant cook and just and all-around simple and real. He's incredibly sexy. Thank You Sam... for heating things up on local TV.

just when you thought the grammys couldn't get worse...

2010-02-09T06:43:00.000-08:00

Work is busy these days and my diary has been a victim of neglect. After watching the grammy awards with elliot last week, I feel compelled to vent. As a lover of music and a wife to a musician, we hear a lot of it. It seemed that music was taking a serious turn for the better in 2009. Hearing small and talented bands come out of the woodwork, hearing less and less from overly produced flash-in-the-pan artists. We were heading and still are heading in the right direction. How come the Grammy awards does not reflect this in the slightest? Why is it that we have to be spoonfed really poor music disguised with over the top dances, outfits and themes? Did I really need to see Pink swinging from a rubber band and sweating profusely on the couture below? How about Gaga and Elton with grease smeared all over their faces on dueling pianos? Don't get me started on Beyonce dressed in sheet metal or what ever the hell that was. Has someone told her that she's not caucasian and she can lose those extensions? So much for the proud diva. It was embarassing to see a woman with such a powerful voice and persona on her knees swinging blonde locks around like the rest of the foolios. Needless to say, I was horrified at the entire show.

And... what in the hell was Steven Colbert doing hosting the Grammys? Who decided to take such a witty and DRY comic and place him on stage in front of a bunch of egomaniacs. That was a bad call. Producers should know by now that celebrities have a difficult time laughing at themselves. Poor Steven.

The best part of the show in my opinion was the tribute to MJ and the Haitian Relief duet. Why can't we get back to this? Singing and music. Save the hype for reality TV.

that's all of my venting.
now here's something I absolutely adore. It's perfection as far as I'm concerned. The classic with honey is the only way to go.

fighters of the foo...

2010-01-14T18:46:00.001-08:00

Although I have great respect for the late Kurt Cobain and his forefront position in Nirvana, I must admit that things happen for a reason. Would we ever have been blessed with the full spectrum of musical talent of Dave Grohl, if Kurt had not passed on? Who would have thought the shaggy haired drummer could write, create, perform and rock the way that he has? What a gem. Cute too. Here's to Kurt for paving the way.

loathing CVS...

2010-01-13T12:32:00.000-08:00

for as many years as I can remember, I've enjoyed wandering the aisles at my neighborhood Longs Drugs. Amongst the wide shelves of toiletries, cheap booze and fantastic bargains, I could lose track of the time it took to fill my prescriptions. It helped that everyone who worked there was friendly and the pharmacists actually took time from filling tiny bottles of pills to talk with customers and at least act interested in our latest ailments.

Recently, my little world came crashing down around me- as I found out CVS was taking over longs. I had only one experience prior at CVS, but it was one to be remembered- and not fondly. This morning unfortunately, I had another. I have many issues with our healthcare system, insurance companies, and the like- but let's start with the end of the food chain. This is CVS.

CVS in my opinion is a place that requires only a pulse and a frown to be employed there. Upon takeover of an existing and well-run pharmacy, they narrow the aisles, replace gorgeous and waxy linoleum with cheap business floor tiles, remove the overhead mirror (wtf? how else can I find my Mom when she's looking at lipstick and I'm browsing through greeting cards?) bring in their own employees to replace the smiling and helpful people that once strolled the floor, replaced their friendly pharmacists with incapable and unconcerned graduates... the list goes on.

CVS is the Wal-Mart of pharmacies, again we're faced with lower paid employees, tighter budgets and a big bottom line affecting the places we use on a daily basis. RIP Longs. I will miss you dearly, and I know I'm not alone. Thank you for many pleasant years of meandering through your pretty aisles and buying loads of lipgloss, cleaning products, small appliances and incontinence items that I did not need. In your honor today, I went slightly postal (fitting term I thought) on the apathetic woman behind the pharmacy counter, when she saw my feverish and miserable toddler in my arms and would not simply call our provider for a member number. I demanded the prescriptions back from her and proudly told her I would never set foot in there again. Here's to you Longs...

the smell of rockridge...

2009-12-22T22:42:00.000-08:00

my favorite spot in Oakland is Rockridge... a kitschy and walkable hood, filled with amazing boutiques, markets and more food. I was so pleased to stumble upon a great little store called Atomic Garden. They carried one of my favorite scent lines there. CB I hate perfume... nothing but the purest ingredients, clean, fresh and totally handmade. If you're up for spending for a very personal scent- check it out. I dabbed Eternal Return on my pulse points while I was there, just to make sure I would always come back.

keeping up...

2009-12-22T22:20:00.000-08:00

I returned late on Sunday evening from a fantastic weekend in the bay area. Some of my closest friends are scattered around in Northern California, and it's always a pleasure to get up there. This trip took me to Oakland and San Francisco. It was short and sweet, and my liver does not appreciate me. Leaving San Diego for other cities- makes me painfully aware of how suburban we are here. San Diego has been coined as a "big small town", and this term is fitting to say the least. I love it here. I was born and raised here- left for many years... only to return to start my family and business. It's a great un-city.

My love for the bay area is strong though... and here's why: FOOD. There is a food revolution happening in Northern California. It has been happening for quite some time. Local growers, handcut meats, freshly harvested mushrooms, creameries, sustainable seafoods, amazing cocktails, farmers markets, WINE... I could go on and on. The smallest markets have meat counters that are packed with fresh cuts, cheese counters to make you grin and breads to make your mouth water. Each shopping trip is an experience in itself. One of my favorite finds over the weekend was this shop. ... where I could gaze over full cuts of pork, fresh proscuitto, salumi, soppresatta... it was delightful.

Why has San Diego missed this? Is it our weather? Our lack of land and farm regions (for sake of tract home sprawl)..? I don't get it. I know I'm not alone. I've scoured this city for food. Aside from our Asian markets and a few spotted Italian markets and farmers markets here and there- we're really out of touch. It pains me. I love my city, I just need some trickle down.

I'm thankful to some of the supporters of the cause... Blind Lady Ale House, Jayne's, Linkery, The Station, Burger Joint, Cucina Urbana. Let's keep moving in this direction.

under my thumbprint...

2009-12-12T20:25:00.000-08:00

I just arrived home tonight after two very successful private open houses that my partner and I held on our current listings. In short, both homes are absolutely stunning and both by great architects. It's nothing but pleasure to show people homes like this and open them up for everyone to appreciate. These particular two have never been sold before. Both were custom built by San Diego architects for the families that lived in them for the duration of their lives. Keith and I feel privileged to be involved. There's nothing quite like it. Back to my original story... I walked in the house anticipating to see my husband strapped to a chair and my children crusted in food, the house a disaster. Instead, I opened the door to a fire in our fireplace, Christmas lights aglow, boys in bed, petit syrah open and Elliot doing the last of the dishes. It was heaven for me, and this is why I try to be thankful every day for the man I share my life with- I rarely am successful. I am great at complaining and reminding him of the things he doesn't do though. Crazy broad.

Just when I thought my night could not get better, I remembered that I have Mary Braunwarth's Annual Cookie Exchange Party this Monday night. Mary is my neighbor, I could write a whole blog about Mary. Mary has more drive than anyone I have ever met in my life. Mary kicks ass on a daily basis. When she's not running a full department at work, she's running marathons or running out of town to do something fun. She is a passionate and dynamic human being. It's a pleasure to be her friend and her neighbor. I would not miss a Mary Braunwarth event for anything. She knows how to have fun. I believe she may have invented the word. Don't be fooled, Mary will drink the best of the wine with you and then be awake before the sun to run up Mt. Helix. It's intimidating and inspiring all at the same time.... where was I going with this?

OH... these cookies!! Okay, so my Mom- who rocks, sent me an Ina Garten recipe for thumbprints some years back. We decided to make them and little did I know that I could experience joy like this in such a tiny little baked ball of dough. These cookies are the bees knees. They will delight anyone who tries them and if you bring them to a party or give them to a friend, be prepared to make them every year and at every event. They are THAT GOOD. Here's the link for all my baking babes out there. Knock yourself out.

new obsession...

2009-11-25T19:55:00.000-08:00

what piece of love do I dream about these days? nothing other than a precious piece of jewelry from Alex Sepkus. Earrings, necklace, bracelet- no matter. One day I will buy one for myself and deliver it in a tiny box to my doorstep.

I'm Still Sore...

2009-11-25T19:20:00.000-08:00

This past Monday, I was invited to the studios of Tracy Anderson in Studio City. One of my best friends Tracie (who I could right an entire blog about) is Tracy's right hand girl, and offered another girlfriend and I the chance of a lifetime. We spent all day Monday training in Tracy's studio on Ventura Blvd. in Studio City. Our day began with a 12 o'clock private reformer lesson, followed by the famous band class- taught by the woman herself... and then we were lucky enough to stay for a private cardio class that Tracy was teaching to her trainees.

I'd like to think I'm very fit. I exercise at least four to five days a week, and I have done so consistently for the last 20 years. I'm addicted to food, wine, and fortunately... fitney. "Fitney" is the word I made up years back to take the place of fitness/working out. I like the way it flows much better. Back to Monday. Put it this way, I had my ass handed to me in a big way. There were moments during each class, where I was pushed so much physically and mentally, that I considered quitting. That never happened of course, but the thought crossed my mind.

By the end of the day on Monday, I was delirious. My muscles felt like they were sliding heavily off my bones,and I developed a limp. Tuesday was a little different, I could walk easier- but the delusions of grandeur that I had the day before about working out, were a faded memory. The most I could manage on Tuesday was taking care of my kids- which can be hell in itself.

Today is another story. My legs ache a bit, but it's the small and unknown muscles that hurt the most. There is no doubt that this method works. It feels amazing to notice the pain in areas I did not know existed. Despite the amount of pain killers I've consumed in the past few days, I look forward to the next time. Today I am thankful for my health, family, good friends and Tracy Anderson.

the amazing Marstons dressing...

2009-11-12T10:57:00.000-08:00

Recently my husband and I took a one night trip to Pasadena to check out U2 at the Rose Bowl. I could dedicate this entire post to our experience at the show and go on and on about how amazing U2 is to see live, but I won't. I will say however; if you have not seen them live, you are missing out. I am not a die hard fan, nor do I have one sliver of memorabilia. I just appreciate great musicians when they come along, and I feel that U2 is sadly one of our last "Super Groups". Enough said.

Luckily for us, we stayed in downtown Pasadena. Pasadena is one of the cleanest and coolest areas of Los Angeles and Southern Cali in general. It's proven that a big venue can do wonders for a city, Pasadena embodies this. You can eat off most the streets in Pasadena, there is literally no trash to be seen. The storefronts of the early 1900's were all refurbished and not demolished. The downtown area is bustling and full of character, not to mention some amazing restaurants... and no, I'm not talking about the Yard House.

upon leaving our hotel room in the morning- we stayed here. We asked the concierge a "local" spot for breakfast. He pointed us in the direction of Marstons. From the moment we walked up to Marston's, we knew we were in for a treat. The place was tiny and occupied what was once a craftsman home on the near outskirts of the hustle and bustle, directly accross from the courthouse. There was a sign in sheet and a small wait at 11:30 a.m. on a Monday- and none of the patrons were concert goers, clearly. We had the best meal ever. Elliot had a tuna melt that even I wanted a bite of (not big on canned tuna here) and my salad was direct from the gods. This is the reason why... the dressing. Do what you can to get to Marston's in the future, but if you're far away... do yourself a favor and order a bottle. The original owner of Marston's created this dressing, and when he sold Marston's- the only thing he kept was the rights to this dressing. Smart man. Enjoy...

Mercergirl's Thoughts on Preschool With A Tall Glass Of Wine...

2009-11-10T19:12:00.000-08:00

My tall glass of wine sits next to me and felt the need to be included in this post. It's Veterans week. My boys get Wednesday off of school. Since they only go to school MWF, this means that I have them TWTh this week. I'm fortunate to have family to help with the kids and their school. I don't take that for granted and this is not about my woes and how difficult it can be to spend three full days with two toddler boys (in comes handy tall glass of wine!). This is about Moms who send their kids to preschool and Moms who don't.

My experience with preschool has been very bittersweet. I sent my eldest son, Nash, to preschool at 2 years of age. I decided to send my youngest, Tate, at 18 months. This decision was based on various reasons, but mainly because I need to work and I need the independence.

I have the best of both worlds. As a Realtor (check out www.MercerYork.com) and a Mom, I work from home most the time and on the days I have both boys- I'm essentially out of the office. I wholeheartedly enjoy my time showing houses, seeing great architecture, speaking to adults, getting paid (occasionally), and feeling like I'm being appreciated in some capacity. This is the sweet part.

The sour part is all about transition. As much as I love to be a Mom and I know that if I did not have to work, I'd never consider anything but staying home and raising my kids... being away from my kids for three mornings and afternoons during the week, make the days I spend in full with them much harder. I suppose it's based entirely on routine. Once I get in the groove and spend a few days with the boys, we're like clockwork... or I've become so coo-coo that it doesn't matter. Having half and half is much different. It's like having fat free ice cream in the fridge all the time and then three days a week having a pint of Ben and Jerry's show up. The fat free is just fine when you're eating it daily and you have nothing to compare it to- but when the chubby hubby shows up, it sure makes the fat free stuff taste different.

This has been the biggest challenge for me in trying to be a working Mom and working from home. I have many friends who stay home full time- and who love it and are fantastic at it. I also have a lot of friends who work 40+ hours a week and have their kids in daycare or preschool full time. Can I tell a big difference between the temperament of their children? No... if anything- the kids in preschool or daycare are much more adapted to the outside world, and a little more "go with the flow"...

that's enough rant for now.
on a side note, I just discovered the most amazing body scrub. I may be a day late and a dollar short- but this stuff is divine.

Super Cooper and The Sliding Glass Door

2009-11-06T13:36:00.000-08:00

Date night last night with my business partner and his lovely wife. It was a terribly long day with the kids yesterday, so by the time elliot and I got to the bar at cucina urbana (yum), it was the right time for a cocktail. phone rings... it's gigi. she says four words that no parent wants to hear. "we have an emergency". Turns out that her puppy Golden Lab, "cooper", has run through our glass sliding door. Being as you know by now that our house is fifty years old and all original, you can imagine the thickness and the hazard of our slider. Blood was everywhere, Nash was screaming, Gigi crying, Tate asleep- luckily. My husband, the amazing man that he is... had me stay at the bar to finish my drink and meet our friends, while he rushed home to help with all the clean up and get things settled.

Elliot made it back just after we ordered appetizers. Cooper is okay. Kids are unharmed and everyone is safe. Makes us all realize how quickly things can go wrong. I feel like I just exchanged some of my karma in. Bring on the repairs.

to remove or not to remove...

2009-10-30T22:13:00.000-07:00

As I sit with my feet up, laundry folded, wine near, tv spewing out news and laptop on lap of course... I contemplate the removal of my kitchen wallpaper. For those of you that don't know me all that well, I live in an all original Mid Century Ranch home. It's a dream. Seriously. All the way down to my asbestos tile kitchen floor, red formica and floor to ceiling windows- I adore my home. Our plans were never to change a thing. I have changed my mind about the wallpaper in my kitchen though. It's horrid actually. Alongside our real wood cabinets with big shiny knobs, hangs a paper abomination. The paper is white in background, and littered with big showy pink and red flowers. It makes my galley kitchen with its sweet little alcove, seem cluttered and claustrophobic.

My journey on DIY sites has begun. Do I steam it? Dry Strip it? Soak it? Leave it the hell alone?

Is this going to be one of those ambitious projects that I begin amidst child rearing, work, housekeeping, socializing, that I never ever finish? Reminds me of scrapbooking. I won't go into that. At any rate, I will post photos when I begin. Which reminds me- I never posted a photo of our kitty litter cake. I'll get to that, promise.

While I'm at it, let me share my newest fragrance obsession by one of my favorite fragrance houses. This is definitely going to be on my list for Santa. Will someone please tell my husband?

thanks.

thoughts on baby einstein...

2009-10-27T20:28:00.000-07:00

I received an email today, and it read like this...

Dear Parents:

I have to admit, I’m upset and frustrated by what’s in the news. I am a mom. I have two daughters, one of whom was born earlier this year. Because of my job, more often than not, my personal and work "lives" intersect constantly, so it’s hard not to take attacks on Baby Einstein personally.

I take these attacks very personally because I believe in our products. I believe that music, art, nature, animals and the range of things Baby Einstein explores are positive, fun and give parents a chance to spend quality time with their babies.

"Genius" isn’t part of our name, and it’s not our focus. Our philosophy has always been to help bring music and beautiful, real-world objects to babies. Anyone who’s seen our DVDs or read our books knows what Baby Einstein is really about - and what it’s not. There are no scientific formulas or quizzes. No math equations. No memorization techniques. Yet the media and propaganda groups continually demonize and try to dictate to what parents should and should not do.

We believe that parents have a choice and we value and appreciate those of you who know, understand, and love Baby Einstein.

As long as there are parents, there will be parenting debates. For several years, I’ve been trying to take the high road and let our products speak for themselves. After the recent turn of events, I’ve decided that it’s time use my voice and get in the conversation. As always, we want to hear from you - real parents - on the continued assault on and judgment of parents.

Visit www.babyeinstein.com for our official stance on the misinformation that the CCFC has been reporting to the media.

Sincerely, thank you for your support of Baby Einstein. Let’s take a stand together.

Susan McLain
General Manager, The Baby Einstein Company

Just briefly, I need to put in my two cents. As much as I don't care for the Baby Einstein videos and books, I don't feel like any television that you plop your child in front of is going to do great things. Regardless of whether you're plugging your infant into jeopardy or Baby Einstein- something is missing- and that is involvement. Children need to be involved. It may not be right that I involve my children in dusting, vacuuming, bowel movements, phone conversations, plucking my eyebrows, pouring wine, etc... but I am not blaming a video for low test scores. It's time that parents take some responsibility for their own kids and stop blaming outside influences on their own lack of participation.

No judging here... my kids spent plenty of time in their swings and any other contraption I could use to get a shower in or do some internet browsing, but I'm not going to run out and blame the swing factory for not getting into college.

Kitty Litter Cake Day!

2009-10-24T10:34:00.000-07:00

It's a tradition for us to make this cake and take it to Halloween events. Today will be the first time I get Nash to help me bake and assemble it. It's absolutely disgusting and real looking- and it ends up being a huge hit every year and usually eaten up entirely! I suggest anyone trying it at least one time... I am off to the store to get my ingredients. I will post some photos of our final product later today, but for now... enjoy the others I've found on line here.

so much...

2009-10-21T10:54:00.000-07:00

With the disappearance of naps in our house, my patience is often worn thin by evening. I find myself too eager to reach for wine and continuously glancing at the clock. It's a shame, because I feel like it's cheating myself out of time with my boys. My oldest in particular, because he's usually the subject of my frustration by days end. It's during trying times like these, that we need a reminder of who we are and why we do the things we do. Whether a parent or not, life will throw you a bone every once in a while- you just have to be open to it.

Last night, after I heard Nash's door shut and Elliot walked out into the kitchen... it was immediately followed by a loud thud and a smearing sound. This is the sound of Nash throwing himself against the door, hands first... and sliding down to the floor in despair. It's bedtime.

Not long after, he asked for me and pleaded for me to come sleep with him in his big boy bed. How does anyone say no to that? I can't think of anyplace I'd rather be actually. I went in his room and laid with him for a while, singing every song in my nursery collection (keeping in mind my poor memory, too much wine and 30+ years since I've heard these songs) which I'm proud of. Finally Nash is near the end of his battle with bed. His eyes are heavy and his breathing is full of weight. I lean down and give him a kiss on his head and tell him "I love you"...

he sleepily responds "i love you so much".

this is perfection.

skin drink

2009-10-15T09:24:00.000-07:00

as a sufferer of rosacea and sensitive skin for years- I understand the value of a great moisturizer. A moisturizer that does it's job without being greasy, a moisturizer that soaks right in and leaves your face feeling plump and protected. I have to thank the scientists at Phytomer for this amazing product It's a pretty penny, but it's the only thing I've purchased again and again. Quite possibly the best moisturizer on the market.

new dawn, new day

2009-10-12T11:56:00.000-07:00

We're all feeling better. boys are back to school today and Mommy is back to work. My husband likes to say that every Mom is a working Mom. I love him. I'm counting down the minutes until we leave for our 6th Anniversary weekend away. No surprise that we're going to Palm Springs. My love for the desert is neverending. I would whisk away to that paradise any day of the week. I picture myself there in the future, growing gracefully older, sipping more expensive cocktails, poolside, view of the jacintos, oversized sunglasses, low playing jazz, trina turk tunic, fancy sandals... my Elliot relaxing next to me with a newspaper and a jigger. I could go on and on.

This trip, we are lucky enough to have scored a great deal at the Parker. Words cannot describe the feel of the Parker. It's a place where once you arrive, you forget about everything else and you never want to leave. Hanging lounges from looming trees, fire pits with stuffed pillows and staff at beckon call, 4 pools, lanais, top-notch dimly lit dining, fluffy organic linens, molton brown toiletries, house made infused vodkas, bikes to cruise, petanque, croquet, tennis... all houses in the most gorgeous of Palm Springs architecture and California's first Holiday Inn. Rooms are normally 350+ a night- we are staying for 99 dollars, yes- 99.

It's small outings like this, that make us better parents. After a weekend of hiking, swimming, eating in fancy joints, driving all over to check out architecture, photographing, sipping, sleeping... we come back revived, refreshed, and so ready to take on the world and appreciate each and every moment with our kiddos on the planet. It's trips like these that give us a spark and make us remember who WE are-

meanwhile, my children will be in the hands of people who love them more than life itself... their grandparents. Nash and Tate will have a steady supply of affection, hair tousling, tickling, ice cream, backyardigans, digging in our yard, dog wrestling, and more love....

bon voyage.

looking forward to posting some amazing desert pics upon my return.

My Favorite Banana Bread

2009-10-11T09:48:00.000-07:00

my close friend Robin was nice enough to tell me that the secret to her banana bread, is actually from Martha Stewart. I'm not keen on much that Martha does- but this banana bread rocks. Try it.

sick is upon us...

2009-10-10T15:31:00.001-07:00

Earlier in the week I had to take one of my boys to the emergency room for the first time. It was an awful experience. Being luckily unfamiliar with emergency rooms, I took Tate to the closest one. Unfortunately it was not the right one. Had I known better, I would have taken my baby to Children's Hospital- instead I took him where I was afraid to let him touch anything... where there were people sleeping uncomfortably on waiting room chairs, where the light was unreasonably bright, where we waited from 1am until 4:40am and never saw a doctor.

the only positive in this experience, is that I learned where I should not ever take any one of my kids or myself for that matter. Luckily it happened in a situation that was not life threatening.

Tate had a fever of 105. his normally rosy cheeks were roasted red, and his angel lips were swollen with sick. His playful laugh and constant brightness were being squashed by the flu. I was scared like I had never been scared before. It took 48 hours of fever-all suppositories (my husband still thinks Tate will be scarred from this) because he refuses to swallow tylenol syrup, lots of sleep, lots of liquid and a never ending amount of love for him to get better.
Now we're sick. I'm in a house of sick. There are bottles of cheerfully colored syrups all over my counter and kleenex boxes strewn all over the house. The Fall breeze at least brings some relief to the stagnant air in this little compound... I've got the windows open, short ribs braising, a husband in bed, a child in front of the babysitter, a child snoring an obstructed snore in his crib, and I'm trying to hold on to my last few inches of sanity.

get well soon.

Mercer York Launches...

2009-10-04T09:41:00.000-07:00

your new go to site for Mid Century San Diego homes

Sunday Things...

2009-10-04T09:24:00.000-07:00

October is here, along with cool weather. I could not be happier. We're taking the boys to Bates Nut Farm today. It's a good way to start off the holiday season, get some photos with the huge pumpkins, and let the boys run wild in the country. It's been a great weekend here. The absence of sun means gardening, being outdoors, hot coffee, comfort food and being able to wear jeans instead of shorts. I loathe shorts, and firmly believe they are the most unflattering piece of clothing a girl can wear. Although I can tolerate bermuda length in some respects, for the most part, they're all bad.

We planted a specimen tree in our backyard yesterday. Fancy, I know. We have a corner that has been lacking a feature plant for a long time. After our backyard remodel, done by our great friends and landscape designers at Inside Outside Style... we never got around to choosing the right specimen for the corner. We went to the nursery yesterday with the kids, another favorite spot , and we picked out a Desert Museum Palo Verde tree. I've wanted a palo verde for years. Palo Verdes transport me directly to the desert. Green trunks, green limbs, vibrant yellow flowers, bees... divine. It fits perfectly in the corner, like it was meant to be.

I Give 14 Hands Two Thumbs Up!

2009-10-02T10:08:00.000-07:00

For any of you who have seen the movie Sideways, you know very well that it tainted our idea of Merlot and had a huge impact on both Merlot and Pinot Noir sales. This was unfortunate, since Merlot is a great grape and pairs well with so many foods. It's not a wine to scoff at, by any means.

Lately I've been venturing back to Merlot, because I too was guilty of neglecting this wine for a few years.

This bottle has quickly become my favorite. Big ripe fruit, long finish, bold and very well balanced. Try this with barbecue, vegetarian food, or even a big hunk of cheese with crackers. It's divine.

14 hands merlot

Breaking up is easy to do...

2009-10-02T09:56:00.000-07:00

What do you get when you combine a throw-back, Americana, male vocalist... along with a sexpot starlett with a sultry voice? You get "Break Up". Since Pete Yorn is one of my favorites, I bought this album at Starbucks- gross, I know. I'm very pleased with it. Great melodies, surprisingly upbeat, kid friendly. Check it out.

check it out here...

another fragrance obsession...

2009-09-30T20:41:00.000-07:00

I vowed not to sniff another perfume house, until I was completely finished with all the half empty bottles on my counter... all of which I've adored at different moods of my life. I broke my vow when I walked through the doors of Needless Markup today. Don't judge, I had a gift card for 50 bucks... yes- someone had the nerve to get me a NM gift card for under 500 dollars. What did they think I could purchase? Lipstick I suppose, but I passed that counter on my way to Jo Malone.

A plethora of scents, each one remarkably identical to the fragrance described on the slick little bottle. Cocoas, figs, anise, nectarines, honey... where does a perfume trollop begin?

do yourself a favor and meander by the counter, even if just for a sniff of the vanilla and anise.

http://www.jomalone.com

Baby Book Neglect

2009-09-30T12:04:00.000-07:00

I'm guilty as charged. Not only did I stop writing in Nash's baby book when he was just over a year, but I've completely dropped the ball on beginning Tate's. I have good intentions... I keep their books both on my nightstand, underneath the piles of unread magazines, dogeared Twilight sagas and lip balm. I just never find the time to sit down and write.

I have terrible visions of my kids growing up and asking me for their books. What will I give them? What can I show them? I suppose at that time I can bring out the old hard drive and sort through thousands of photos... smiles, laughs, captured moments, bedhead, holidays, pets, garden adventures. After we go through the photos- if we have time... I can bring out all the scribbles and mementos that are shoved into folders and drawers by my scattered desk (I don't think it will be clean by this time either.)

My Days are so filled with work, cleaning, dropping off, picking up, grocery shopping, cleaning again. The moments that fit between these responsibilities are the important ones. They are playing with backhoes, pillow fights, snacktime, getting wet in the hose, kisses, crunches (a much more boyish term we use for hugs), bathtime, winetime (just being honest), and moments that I would not give up for the world.

So, let the books gather dust. Maybe my kids will have to read a blog or emails in their accounts that I've already started. Whatever piece of history I can dig up won't be nearly as important as the time I can spend with them now.

Happy Birthday Nash

2009-09-23T14:51:00.000-07:00

I cannot believe that today I have a three year old. So many parents have told me how fast it goes- but I just never knew until now. It's amazing to see my baby at almost 40 inches tall, using tons of words, becoming independent and becoming more of a boy every single day.

Today I brought homemade cupcakes to his preschool. They were blue with bright blue sprinkles. I'm sure Mrs. Cora will love me for the food coloring, but blue seems to match Nash so well. He is all about trucks, backhoes, digging trenches, getting muddy (when we're lucky enough to have mud) and being an all around boy. I adore that his favorite toys are saws and jackhammers... since he comes from a long line of mill men, developers, construction workers and engineers- I encourage it that much more. I will miss these days, and often wish we could stop Father Time.

This day is for you Nash.
Happy Birthday Baby, thanks for bringing us so much joy.

Breakfast for Energy

2009-09-01T10:36:00.000-07:00

mix equal parts of Uncle Sam's (great for fiber and omegas), shredded wheat (the real kind), and grape nuts. Sprinkle approx 10 crushed raw almonds on top (crush them in a ziploc bag with something heavy)... and use soy milk or rice milk instead of milk. Beginning my day with this mixture has given me energy and lasting satisfaction. Perfect for wrangling toddlers.

jackhammers for binkies

2009-08-27T08:48:00.000-07:00

yesterday we received my son's Halloween costume in the mail. He's going to be a construction worker- what else? It only took me minutes to realize that the child sized Bosch jackhammer that is part of his costume, could be used for bribery. I wasted no time. I pulled the shiny yellow tool from it's packaging, equipped it with triple A's and found Nash. I asked him if he wanted the jackhammer... no surprise that he would have given anything up for it at that moment. I then instructed him to find all his binkies and give them to Mommy in trade for the jackhammer. He didn't hesitate.

Come seven o'clock last night, the novelty had not worn off the tool, and bedtime rapidly approached. I tucked him into bed with his blankie and his jackhammer and said Goodnight to my big boy. Although the thought of having a 3 year old with a pacifier was horrifying to me... the thought of my baby growing up was even scarier.

2009-07-16T08:38:00.001-07:00

I have an admitted obsession to my electrolux ergorapido and wonder how any parent could live without one? Thank you electrolux for making this moms life easier. It comes in a vibrant orange color now. Utter perfection.

check it out here

Toddler Eating Habits...

2009-07-08T18:40:00.000-07:00

I've become so completely frustrated with my boys eating habits, I'm stumped. I dread dinner time every single day. It never fails that regardless of what I'm preparing- whether it's a delicious home cooked meal or frozen toddler treats... the food is thrown, spit out and hardly eaten. What is a girl to do?

I've gone as far as to succumb to the sneaky chef and possibly try out some of her recipes. I'm not hysterical about getting a ton of fruit or veggies down them- but at least discovering a few meals they really enjoy and that I can cling to in a time of need.

At this point we're on a steady diet of cottage cheese, popsicles, frozen waffles and yogurt. I find myself feeling really guilty when dinner time rolls around. I swore I'd never feed my kids "kid food" and would do my best to prepare really healthy meals and teach them the joy of food. Where have I gone wrong?

I never knew the taste of macaroni and cheese from a box... nor were nuggets an option when I was a child. Thanks to the beauty of memory loss- my Mom swears I ate everything that she fixed. As much as I don't believe that, it would sure be nice. Hell, if I could just skip one night of cleaning dinner off the floor, I would be thrilled.

On Pankah's lap

2009-05-31T11:41:00.001-07:00

My son Nash calls his Grandpa "Pankah"... because at one time he could not pronounce Grandpa. This morning while my Dad was here for breakfast, Nash was sitting on his lap and turned to him and said, "Pankah, I want skateboard for my burfday"... where did my baby go?

Isn't 3 too young for a skateboard? My husband and my Father apparently feel it's plenty old. I would however; like to avoid the ER as much as possible this early on. Thoughts?

Frozen Gogurt Treats...

2009-05-31T11:38:00.001-07:00

I swore up and down that I would not ever buy yogurt in a squeezable tube, BUT.... I was given the idea to freeze Gogurt from a friend of mine, and now there is no turning back! Not only does this remedy the mess of Gogurt, but it also makes for a great Summer treat for the kids! Just a thought... You can check out Gogurt here:

http://www.gogurt.com/

i love the crib tent

2009-05-27T20:29:00.000-07:00

So....a few months back we set off on the toddler-bed journey... to say that there were some obstacles, would be a great understatement. Our once peaceful evenings became anxious,tear-filled, screeching tantrum events- and that was just Mommy's experience. We battled it out for almost six weeks. We followed all the rules... no talking, returning to bed, being consistent, patient, etc.. to no avail. It was a fruitless adventure and was leading to much distress in each of our lives. Nash was simply not ready for the big boy bed, even though he was leaping out of his crib at every given opportunity. We could not risk him being injured, nor could we put ourselves through the agony any longer. I ordered a crib tent. I can honestly say as a Mom of two boys and someone who does not care for clutter or contraptions in her home- the crib tent saved our lives. It brought us right back to the peaceful little family we once were. Nash has returned to his bedtime at 7:30 and he loves his tent as much as we do. Thank you inventor of the crib tent. 70 dollars is a small price to pay for this tranquility.

Keep it flowin....

2009-05-27T19:17:00.000-07:00

Recently I had a letter to the editor of the Union Tribune published... you can read it here

http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/may/13/lz1e13letters20498-letters-editor/

on a sidenote

2009-05-20T14:42:00.000-07:00

I'm going to begin a small side column of things that I feel are "must try" items. More than likely the column will end up being mostly wine, since I try many and love wine dearly. I feel that this wine I'm loving now, deserves it's own small blog. It's one of those wines that I stumbled upon and cannot get enough of. It is my go-to wine for late Spring and Summer. It pairs well with anything from fruit salad and bbq meats to feisty cheeses and charcuterie. Enjoy it now. It is called Zolo Torrontes. 2007 is a great vintage, however; I'm sure they all will suffice. It's a solid wine- from the Fincas Patagonicas winery in Argentina. This is a favorite....

The Dow Jones Torrontes Index... Very Good/Delicious. Best value. Juicy, with oranges, grapefruit and a touch of honey. Balanced and grown-up. Satisfying and sophisticated, with lovely fruit and admirable restraint. The Wall Street Journal June 20, 2008 Aromas are delicate and intense; tropical flowers and fruit are predominant. Fresh flavor, well balanced with a long finish.

ding dong

2009-05-20T14:23:00.000-07:00

visited a 1940 Cliff May design this morning in Mt. Helix.... such a great experience. There are just a handful of Cliff May homes in all of San Diego and two of them are currently up for sale- I feel lucky to see them both. I took a great little shot of the original doorbell. It reminded me of how much my oldest son Nash, loves doorbells. We have three doorbells in our home- yes, 3. One of his favorite things to do is ring them incessantly and say "who's there??" over and over. It's the cutest thing. I recently read a quote I liked...
“Opportunity may knock only once, but temptation leans on the doorbell.”

i love my job...

2009-05-19T14:17:00.000-07:00

spent the better part of the morning yesterday with a good friend and colleague, as well as his precious baby girl June and a client of mine. We showed a 1952 home in the wooded area of Point Loma. The home was nothing too stunning, as some of the better elements had been messed with, however; the drive over to Point Loma, studded with Bruce Richards, Wheelers, Applebaums and gorgeous flat roof gems- made the entire outing worth while. I have to pinch myself. Getting to see some of the best architecture in this entire city, along with friends and people who love it, appreciate it and know it well- it's all I could ask for in an occupation. Here's to keeping these houses around and finding the right people for them.

binky rehab...

2009-05-17T20:39:00.000-07:00

yes, I'm the Mom who swore up and down that she would never give her kids a pacifier. Here I am, with a son who will be turning 3 in September and is still horribly addicted to his binky. It's like a bad habit- he's only allowed to have it at night and during naps. I'm not about to let him have it in public- because then I would have to face the judgment of other Moms and Grandparents alike, right? Can't we just keep it our dirty little secret? Is there something so wrong about having a pacifier when you're twelve?

In the next couple months we have decided to send Nash to binky rehab. There will be night sweats, terrors, screaming, fits and most likely many, many tears. It must be done...
We can tie it to a balloon and send it away, we can trade him for a really cool toy, we can cut the tips off so they lose their "suck" appeal, hide them, burn them, trash them. No matter how you chalk it up, it won't be pretty.

wish us luck.... and if you have suggestions, send them.

Mommy Day...

2009-05-09T20:10:00.001-07:00

I'm mid-way through a bottle of Abbot's Table. The barbecue wreaks of delicious asada and many rib-eyes of the past. I'm drunk. My husband is an angel. He gave the boys their baths, put them in their comfy pajamas, read to them, kissed them, loved them, served me wine... now he is cooking and the smell is intoxicating. It's filtering through my little office window. Happy Mothers Day.

my loves....

2009-05-09T20:07:00.001-07:00

http://usa.hermes.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?storeId=10202&catalogId=10052&langId=-1&categoryId=10883&leftCategoryId=10887&topCategoryId=10835&parentCategoryId=10878

Sarah S. Elkind Sucks....

2009-05-09T19:03:00.000-07:00

I'm pissed.
Straight from the Thursday paper- UT...
"Officials are assessing 37 city fountains, including the popular 'gusher' in front of the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center in Balboa Park..."

and here's where Sarah chimes in:
"Large showy fountains appear inconsistent with both the efforts to change San Diegan's water consumption and with the sacrifices the city is going to ask San Diegans to make....so closing highly visible fountains in public places would support municipal efforts to reduce water overall."

REALLY???

How about continuing to allow developers (no offense, I am the daughter of a great developer) to build massive and unnecessary housing tracts all over our county- is that consistent with your "efforts"? Have I gone completely mad, or is no one else privy to the fact that we cannot even support our taxpayers in this county, let alone all the people we're inviting in by the droves. Wouldn't it make much more sense to consider a moratorium on our residential and commercial buildings, rather than punish the community by removing or shutting down some of their favorite monuments??

I'm all for conservation- don't get me wrong. I simply do not agree with cutting back on recycled water fountains that add such an ambiance to our city... rather than cutting back on building permits and pensions for fat community leaders.

MOB

2009-04-30T13:13:00.000-07:00

I got a great phone call from my best friend today. She had her 20 week appointment this morning and found out she is having her second boy. Admittedly we had spoken about how fun it would be to have a girl- as most Moms of Boys do, but later I realized that deep down I had hoped she would be having a boy. My reasons for this are selfish. My friends who have girls are just on a different path. They have sweet music lessons, hair brushing, doll dressing, quiet time, girl time. Moms of Boys have a much different adventure, and I wanted my best friend to be along side of us during ours. I read a poem recently about boys that brought tears to my eyes. This is it...

Boys in my House
Author: Erin Jo Kilmer There are boys in my house - and Spiderman shoes And 200 papers in various blues. There's Bob (he's a builder) and Thomas the Train, There's a fireman coat to wear in the rain. They have cars on their shirts and frogs on their hats There's a glove and a ball and a red plastic bat. There's dirt on a face and a smudge on a nose; Grass stains on knees and sand between toes. There's bathtime at night with bodies to scrub, And when we're all done there is dirt in the tub! There's bandaids and bruises and curious bumps, There's smiles and laughter and sometimes there's grumps. There's odors most icky; there's boogers so green There's more yucky things than I'll ever get clean. There's piles of laundry; there's stories at night; There's bedtime and bathtime and dinnertime fights. There's cars and there's trains and there's books about trucks There's Scoop, Lofty, Dizzy, and Travis, and Muck. Sometimes there are bugs, and sometimes there are frogs; Sometimes they are lions, or dinos, or dogs. There are cute little vests and darling neckties Dragged right through the mud - oh what a surprise! There's running and climbing and jumping and falling And laughing and crying and hugging and brawling And rolling and losing and finding and creeping And whining and stealing and sometimes there's sleeping. There's tantrums and time outs and extra loud noise - There's love in my house shaped like two little boys.

girls nights

2009-04-29T15:35:00.001-07:00

where would we be without our girls nights? sitting amongst friends for good conversations, laughter, story sharing, eating, drinking - sometimes heavily, occasional crying, relishing the time we have together on the planet as women, moms, wives, sisters, daughters, friends. These cherished moments are what help keep us strong when the going gets rough. Even though I sometimes find it hard to muster the energy to throw on those clean jeans and something remotely sassy, after all is said and done- I come home to my husband and my family a better person. It lasts just long enough until the next date with my friends. A recharge if you will. Thank you friends.

Infant Swim Resource

2009-04-28T11:59:00.000-07:00

This week is a big one for us. My oldest son Nash, begins his "update" classes for ISR, while my baby Tate begins his ISR lessons for the first time. It's been a rough two days so far. Lots of crying from both of them. I had mixed feelings about doing ISR at first- but seeing Nash in the pool now and having the comfort level I have around water with them is invaluable and worth every tear.

Our day began this morning with Nash saying he wanted to go swimming, yet by the time we had reached the corner of Clairemont Mesa and Moraga- he was saying he "needed" to go home and telling me to turn around. His attitude didn't change much after he witnessed the one year old in the middle of his lesson upon our arrival-

It's tough to watch. Bobbing under the water, coming up screaming and all along parents on the edge wishing they could comfort their babes. Not to mention we've never had one warm morning in the pool since we began this journey over a year ago. It's constantly cloudy and overcast. I hate Clairemont by the way. I really do. It's a square and dismal area of San Diego as far as I'm concerned. Sorry to those who live there, because it is just an opinion... but the blocks and blocks of strip malls intermingled with boxy and poorly built 50's houses just don't do it for me. I'll have to go on about Clairemont later, because I do believe that it's one of the best places- location wise, in the county.... so wtf? More on that and the defense industry - later possibly.

I digress.

The lessons begin with such intensity that many parents can't handle it. The ones who remain and who can get through the first week or two of misery are rewarded with such peace at the end. If it only buys me a few minutes of time, should one of my children fall into the water... I'll take it gladly. Swim on.

my obsession with yogurtland....

2009-04-26T19:04:00.000-07:00

Tonight we were wiped out. After a long and exciting week in the desert, followed by a full weekend of good times- I could not find it in myself to make dinner, nor were we very hungry. Enter Yogurtland. Yogurtland is in the college area and a few exits away from us. It's worth the trip. I'd drive great lengths for their yogurt. Not only does it have the best flavor and consistency, there are outrageous and fresh toppings to go along with it. Top this off with a fresh little vibe and cute spoons- I'm sold. My favorite toppings are their plain tart and their green tea. Tonight they weren't pumping the tea, so I went with taro instead.... nearly as good. I topped my smooth cup of delight with fresh mango, kiwi and mochi. It was perfection as far as I was concerned. I just finished it.... every last bite.

where does the time go?

2009-04-18T09:27:00.001-07:00

It has been two years and one more son later that I've picked up where I left off. Welcome back. Here's to my adventure as a Mercer Girl.

magical desert

2009-04-18T09:08:00.000-07:00

just finishing up packing the - ahem, awesome new minivan.... for our trip out to Palm Desert. It's the place I love more than anywhere. Maybe because I grew up spending the Springtime there with my Mom in our little 'Robinhood' motorhome at Sam's Desert Hot Springs. I love the smell of the desert, the flora, the dry winds, the jacintos surrounding, the starry nights, the glamour, the history, the simpleness of it all. This will be our first family trip out with both the boys and my Mom. I can only hope to give them the same sense of wonder about the desert, so they can enjoy it for many years to come.

nigh nigh

2007-12-18T19:47:00.000-08:00

we met some close friends and their son out for dinner last night. We decided to eat at a restaurant that no one had tried before. It was a seedy little family Italian joint- complete with signed photos on the wall and really old carpet. They're famous for serving cheese nips and salami on a plate as a little gratis snack (although we were stiffed on this). Anyhow, our friends have a son who is a few months older than our son and they've played together since birth. We sat them at the end of the table across from eachother in high chairs, so they could keep each other entertained. Just before our dinner came, my son let out the most high pitch, blood curdling screech that I have ever heard. Heads turned in the restaurant and this begins the screaming stage that all parents fear. That screech was followed by a laugh and then another screech. The strangers at the table next to us thought it was funny, so they held up their fingers and shooshed and laughed at our son... which just made him more excited. My husband, the wonderful guy he is, got up and took Nash outside to get some energy out. There I was, almost 7 months pregnant and feeling all the blood rush to my face from embarassment. I was that lady with the screaming child. It was me. Our night continued with another screaming episode, followed by another trip outside. Luckily our friends went through this already with their son (or at least they told us this to make us feel better), so they were more than understanding and very cool about the whole scene. It helped that the restaurant we were in was a step up from Denny's.

After we returned home from the evening, we gave our kiddo a bath and put him in his jammies. My husband read him a few stories and picked him up to take him to bed... "time to go night night" we said to him... and he clearly replied "nigh nigh"... for the very first time. There our hearts were, melted on the floor in one big soppy puddle of love. Screaming and all... he is the best kid on the planet.

Gingerbread Strike!

2007-12-18T19:41:00.000-08:00

I've gone to three different grocery stores and cannot seem to find gingerbread. I thought about asking a clerk, but felt stupid... only because if it wasn't in the bakery aisle with the rest of the mixes, where would it be? Maybe I've been left out of the loop and there was a gingerbread shortage, or maybe I've had a memory lapse and gingerbread was never sold in a box mix. I found a mix at Williams Sonoma, but what ingredients could possibly warrant a 15 dollar price tag on a cake mix? It better pop out of the box and bake itself at that price.

I'm going to go watch the rest of jeopardy now, maybe I'll resume my search tomorrow.

choking on cheerios

2007-12-07T20:13:00.000-08:00

holidays in full swing. I'm laying on my couch and staring out our West facing windows with a buckwheat heat pack on my back. What the hell? I think I may have pulled something during my panic over Nash choking on a cheerio this morning. He is a repeat offender and this is the second time he's gotten one stuck in his throat enough to send the rest of his breakfast flying out.
Today was especially nice because we were in a restaurant. My Mom- who happens to be the best human on the planet in my opinion- used the clean linen napkin to wipe up the mess, while I carted him off to the bathroom. Of course there was only one bathroom that was occupied, so while I stood in the hallway of the restaurant (still visible to the rest of the breakfasters) I wondered what in the hell I could accomplish in the bathroom? I returned to my seat and missed the last few bites of my jam swabbed toast, to get my armloads of shit together and head to the car.
The rest of my day was much less exciting and slow, thanks to my cheerio induced injury.

Mommy Events

2007-06-11T06:55:00.000-07:00

went to Baby Loves Disco yesterday (www.babylovesdisco.com) with some girlfriends and their kids... what an event. All of a sudden I feel part of this secret Mommy society. This event took place at an actual club downtown. In fact, the smell of stale booze and disinfectant was lingering from clean up of the night before. I kept my eye on where my son was crawling... especially after the Jude Law scare.

The event was really fun. Not sure how many of these outings I'd be up for... but it's pretty amazing that things like this are organized and centered around kids. The club had different areas to visit. There was a "chill out" area (where we spent most the day), a dance area.. complete with DJ, hula hoops, and bubble machines. There were kids hair stylists who applied glitter, hair paint and scarves to any child brave enough and my favorites... a massage room, where Mommy could go get a quickie chair massage if she was lucky enough to have someone keep an eye on her litter. Last but certainly not least-a full bar. What?? You don't expect Mommy to get hip to the disco event without a cocktail- do you?

All in all... I was impressed. Overwhelmed, but impressed. There was even Stroller Parking in front of the club. There's a picture for you.

Chie Mihara Obsessed

2007-06-06T10:29:00.000-07:00

for any girl that fancies shoes, these are a must...http://www.chiemihara.com/

Yuckers!!

2007-06-06T10:25:00.001-07:00

On my morning stroll with Nash to Cosmos for coffee yesterday- we were acosted by a local homeless woman, who we've seen many times around the hood. She yelled "Yuckers!!" loudly a few times.. followed by a mumble of "baby diapers, something. something.." and then "Yuckers!!". Nash and I were both very amused.

Anal Gland Infection... are you kidding me?

2007-06-06T10:20:00.000-07:00

Elliot just got back from taking Mollie to the vet, after watching her scoot her fanny on our rug for the last time.... as it turns out- my Mom was right. Mollies trip to the doc included an "expression" of her anal gland. This should clear things up. Gross.

Nash is getting two teeth

2007-04-18T16:11:00.000-07:00

so- the appletini of my eye is getting his first teeth. He has two little buggers coming in on the bottom. I'm highly dissapointed and yet, very excited. Hopefully, they'll be straight. He does have British roots.