Homage To The Teenagers Over At Mom.me

Yes, that's right, even though they may not see it that way I'm actually honoring my teens with my stories about their addiction to technology and parents dancing at parties wearing inappropriate clothing. They'll thank me someday, really they will. Here are my latest posts over at Mom.me.

7 Things Never To Say To A Teenager

It's inevitable. No matter how diligent you are, or how carefully you choose your words, at some point you're going to say something that will make your teen wish she was from another family. In fact, sometimes even a benign question like, "Are these your pants?" will make her want to stab you. But here are a few things you should never say, if you want to avoid ruining your kid's life forever. Read more...



Your Handy Guide To Teen Pop Stars

If you have a teen, chances are you’ve heard plenty about Harry Styles, Selena Gomez and Cody Simpson. You may have read about who Taylor Swift is dating, or listened to your girls sing along to Ariana Grande, but how much do you really know about these pop stars who occupy 78.5 percent* of your teen’s daily thoughts?

You may not think this is important knowledge to possess, but someday you’re going to be at a dinner party and the talk will turn from foreign affairs and mutual funds to the Teen Choice Awards, and trust me—you don’t want to be the only one asking if Justin Bieber is the lead singer of One Direction. Read more...


In Defense Of Skipping Extracurriculars

When our girls were younger, we were always careful not to overschedule them. We didn’t care that our kids were the only ones in the neighborhood who didn’t play soccer, or who weren’t on a rigorous schedule of dance/art/music lessons. Our girls were limited to one extracurricular activity each, making sure to keep our schedules free for other impromptu outings and, more importantly, time to just chill at home. We liked to think of it as “unstructured creative time,” but deep down inside we knew it was just slacking. Read more...

Baby You Can Drive My Car (Please.)
I remember how excited I was to get my driver’s licence. On my 16th birthday my dad drove me to the DMV to take my test. I passed with flying colors, of course, because I’d been practicing every chance I got. That same night, brand new licence in hand, I picked up my friends, and we drove around until the wee hours. No one—not even the parents of my passengers on this maiden voyage—seemed concerned in the least bit. “Oh, you’ve only been driving legally for three hours? Here, let me put my kids, the most precious things in the world, right into that car with you.” Read more...

It's Hip To Be Square

There are so many negative things said about teenagers these days. With all of the horror stories you hear from friends plus all of the bad hype in the media, you’re probably convinced that right this minute every teenager in the world is binge drinking at a party naked, getting pregnant and about to smash in your mailbox with a baseball bat.

So here’s a story that might show you another side of these mysterious creatures. Teenagers can be beautiful beings if you give them a chance. And hey, maybe your mailbox was really taken out by a car. Read more...
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
 

Tweet Pin It

Villa Metro: Dream A Little Dream

Last week I got the chance to check out a brand new housing development called Villa Metro in Valencia. I'm not looking to buy a house at the moment – we're pretty much consumed with figuring out how to pay for college for my oldest daughter who will be graduating high school next year – but that doesn't mean we don't dream about making a move in the future, maybe after the kids have moved out. It's sort of like trying on a pair of Louboutins even though you know you're going to keep wearing your Chucks because they're easier to drive carpool in.

And Villa Metro is pretty dreamy, for sure. Consisting of 315 gorgeous contemporary Mediterranean-style homes, their goal is to create a small-town vibe and foster a community atmosphere. The most intriguing feature and the one that caught my attention are the live/work lofts – units that would allow you to live upstairs and have a retail space downstairs. I immediately starting dreaming of the coffee house I wanted to open someday, or a recording studio that our kids could run. Uh, after college, of course.

The units are all beautifully laid out and designed, with light playing an important factor. I took one look at this kitchen and immediately texted my husband to tell him to free up some funds – maybe college wasn't so important after all. Would it be so bad if my daughter became a barista? Free coffee!

There are currently three neighborhoods in Villa Metro: Aqua, Terra and Sol, and all reasonably priced from the low $300,000s. Even the largest home – plan 3 in the Sol development (and featuring the kitchen above) starts in the high $300,000. Pretty reasonable when you consider they are all detached houses, not condos, and all feature at least one backyard/patio area and two-car garages. Another big bonus: the Metrolink station is right across the street.

Here are two different views – one of the pool area, and one of wide open space and blue skies. (According to the developers, there will be no building on those hills to obstruct this view.) Along with the pool, there is also a gym and a large communal recreation center perfect for parties and gatherings. I'm not gonna lie – as I gazed out these windows I was putting together a guest list and a menu for our first party in our new Villa Metro home. (Shrimp skewers and sangria, in case you were wondering.)

This is a kitchen from the smallest home in the Aqua neighborhood. These units (around 1,081 square feet) are perfect 'starter' homes for new families. Gorgeous, isn't it? This is considered a 'bachelor' unit, although I can honestly say no bachelor I've ever met has a kitchen this elegant. (Also, the place didn't smell like old socks and Axe so it really threw me off.)

Each home can be customized to your liking, with different choices of cabinets, flooring and options like this built-in desk. By this point in our tour, I was already figuring out where my computer and printer would go, and how I would need to buy a new set of pots and pans to go in this kitchen. Suddenly we had a lot of free cash since we talked the girl out of going to college.

By the end of the tour I'd come to my senses and knew we wouldn't be buying one of these homes anytime soon, but I do know a few people who are in the market and I'm going to encourage them to have a look at Villa Metro. The good news is, I didn't touch the college fund. Although, my daughter did swoon pretty heavily over this bedroom and I told her maybe someday, it would be hers. A girl can dream, after all.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   

Villa Metro is located at 21853 Soledad Canyon Rd. Santa Clarita, CA 9135, on the north side of Soledad Canyon Road at the intersection of Gladding Way, just across from the Santa Clarita Metrolink station.

Check out these other reviews of Villa Metro:
SoCal Mom
MomsLA
Agoura Hills Mom
Retro Modern Mom
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   
Disclosure: I was compensated for this post but all opinions and off-color remarks are my own. 
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  

Tweet Pin It

Lunch at Farmer's Market, in Short Order

This is not a sponsored post. We paid for our own food, damnit.

Last Sunday was another CicLAvia event, where they close off long stretches of roads in L.A. exclusively for bicyclists and pedestrians. The girls and I participated in our usual way – by figuring out what nice restaurant is at the end of the route and then meeting Rigel – who bikes from start to finish – there for lunch. We had the ridiculous thought of actually riding with him, but you know – tired. And hungry. The only way we might consider it is if we could hook up with this genius crew:



Luckily CicLAvia always seems to end at a nice dining spot – last time it was the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica, and this year it was in the Miracle Mile district. The girls and I decided to meet Rigel at The Original Farmer's Market adjacent to The Grove. That way we could eat and shop while while waiting to meet up – in other words, while Rigel was working for ways to reduce his carbon footprint, we were working on ways to increase it tenfold.

We love the Farmer's Market for its old-fashioned stalls and variety of foods, but on this day we opted for a new sit-down spot we hadn't tried before, Short Order. I'm not gonna lie, the reasons we picked this place were not because of some glowing Yelp review or on the recommendation of one of my foodie friends. We picked it because:

1) We found a parking spot right in front.
2) We didn't feel like looking for a place to eat because – tired.
3) The girls spotted a couple of cute waiters and so the food must be awesome.

But we made the right choice. I found out that Nancy Silverton (La Brea Bakery, Campanile, Mozza) is one of the people behind it and menu items are all made with with locally raised and organic ingredients.

I started with their Fresh Ginger Ale. So good.

Then I had their Cobb Salad. Note that I had no intention whatsoever of ordering a salad when there were so many awesome burgers on their menu, but this one came with a FRIED EGG ON TOP. Yes, those all-caps were to symbolize my love for anything with a FRIED EGG ON TOP. I even have an entire Pinterest page dedicated to it. Go ahead, behold Things That Are Better With A Fried Egg On Top.

It was the best Cobb Salad ever. And not just because it had a FRIED EGG ON TOP.

The service was great, prices are reasonable (my Cobb was $12) and they have two nice patios (upstairs and downstairs) for dining al fresco. Oh, and the waiters were pretty cute. We can't wait to go back – maybe next time we'll ride our bikes there.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  

Tweet Pin It

You'll be sorry if you miss 'Priscilla Queen Of The Desert: The Musical'

Note: This is not a sponsored post. We did get free tickets through my girls' school, but it's not required that we write a review, only that we share the excitement of live theater with our teens. And keep them away from the bar. I know I succeeded with at least one of those. 

Last week I saw 'Priscilla Queen Of The Desert: The Musical' at the Pantages Theatre. Put on your Lycra jumpsuit, your neon wig, your six-inch platforms and run, walk, sashay and boogie on over to see it because it is FANTASTIC.

Seriously, this was one of the best, most entertaining shows I've seen in a long time. If I didn't run the risk of embarrassing my kids and all of their friends who I was sitting with, I would have jumped out of my seat, threw my hands in the air and boogie-oogie-oogied in the aisles as soon as the first strains of 'I Will Survive' started booming from the stage. Teenagers, consider yourselves warned.

It had all the makings of the perfect show – a heartfelt story, great acting, the best music, amazing costumes and hellacious wigs to die for. Check this out:

Photo: Joan Marcus

Did I mention the music? Donna Summer, Madonna, Cindy Lauper, Gloria Gaynor and more. It was love at first sight with the opening number, when three turned-out divas descend from the heavens singing 'It's Raining Men.' And don't get me started on my favorite scene, where you will hear the most creative, awesome use of the song 'MacArthur Park' ever in the history of using songs in theater.

And about those teenagers – I don't think I've ever seen them so excited about a show. They were laughing, clapping and singing along through the whole thing. I actually heard one of them say, "Dude, this show is LIFE," which roughly translates to "Dude, so much better than being at home on Facebook."

So, if you can get over to the Pantages to see the show in the next couple of weeks before it closes, DO IT. Otherwise, you're going to feel like you left your cake out in the rain, and I don't think I can take it.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  

'Priscilla Queen of the Desert: The Musical runs through June 16 at the Pantages Theatre, 6233 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles. 8 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays, 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sundays. Call for more info and to purchase tickets (800) 982-2787 or click here.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  

Tweet Pin It

We all won when Hollywood High took the prize for Best High School Musical

You probably have heard me talking about 'In The Heights,' the annual spring musical at my girls' high school. You may have seen me mention it on Facebook, or on Twitter, or on Instagram – or maybe I walked up to you at Costco, rammed your cart and ordered you to come to the show. If that was you I'm really sorry I made you drop your baby.

But the show was really that good, and I wanted people to see how talented these kids are, how hard they work and what an incredibly professional production the school put on. It's not your average high school show – and believe me I know. Back when my high school put on The Wiz, the backdrop consisted of a huge piece of butcher paper that the freshman art class stenciled with poster paint. I remember Dorothy was wearing a blue apron over a tube top and kept reaching behind her to adjust her gym shorts.

So you can see why I wanted everyone to see the caliber of the show Hollywood High put on. And apparently other people thought this show was pretty awesome too, because Sunday night the show won Best High School Musical at the Jerry Herman Awards at the Pantages Theater. 

'In The Heights' beat out 22 other productions from high schools all over Southern California to take the top prize, and it was presented by Kenny Ortega, the producer/director/choreographer of the mothership of high school theater - Disney's High School Musical movies. It was like having Spock escort you into a Star Trek screening.

I know everyone always says, "I had no idea I was going to win," whenever they accept a prize, but in this case we really, truly had no idea we were going to win. Because did I mention we had no idea the show was even nominated? All along we'd thought that because 'In The Heights' took place so late in the year that the show wasn't included in the judging. Hollywood High wasn't even mentioned in the video montage that opened up the night's festivities that features all the participating schools.

(I totally compared it to the feeling you get when you're watching that TLC show about women who don't know they're pregnant and then give birth. You know what I'm talking about. One minute they're standing in line at Starbucks and in the next scene they're walking out of the bathroom with a baby and you're screaming at the TV, "Holy crap you were just ordering a Frappuccino and NOW YOU'VE GIVEN LIFE.")

The award is so fantastic, of course, and so very much deserved. But even more satisfying is seeing the school and these kids get the recognition they've had coming for a long time. So many negative things have been said about public schools – especially those like ours that don't have the wealthy demographic or resources that other schools have.

Another win? A chance to see these kids showing such a positive side of teenagers – that much maligned segment of the population. This group of talented students have been working non-stop for the past few weeks - after school and into the night and even on weekends - while still keeping up with their regular classes (all performers must keep up their GPAs in order to participate in the production.) Like the sets you see in the picture above? They were all built by the kids. That's right – my daughter learned how to use a power saw after geometry, people.

But don't take my word for it – come on out and see one of their productions one day. Not only will you be supporting Hollywood High, but you'll be encouraging public schools everywhere to support their teachers and nurture their arts programs and most important of all – show some faith in our teenagers.

Don't make me come over there and ram your cart. 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  

Tweet Pin It

How to Interact With Your Teen Without Embarrassing Everyone

This is my latest post over at Mom.me, where I talk about what you can do to avoid embarrassing your teens. Unless what you really want to do is embarrass your teens, in which case just do completely the opposite of what my article says. Actually the whole thing is just an excuse to watch this video of a cat in a shark costume chasing a duck while riding a Roomba. You're welcome.

There is a video circulating around that you may have seen—it’s of a cat dressed as a shark riding a vacuum and chasing a duck, and it’s the most fabulous thing in the world. I didn’t want to keep this genius all to myself, so I tried to show it to my 14-year-old. She did the “talk to the hand” gesture (don’t teenagers know that maneuver is so five minutes ago?) and said, “Mom, stop 'showing me things on the Internet.'”

She said this with that last part framed with a hefty pair of air quotes, and by the tone of her voice you would have thought I’d just shown her something offensive, like pigs being herded into a bacon factory or people over 30 kissing. Read More...



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  

Tweet Pin It

Me, over at Mom.Me

Hey! I know it's hard to believe, but I'm still writing. Here are my recent posts over at Mom.Me, where I write all about the teenagers – even though they don't like me writing about them anymore. Hopefully they won't see these – teens don't really know how to work the internet yet, do they?

Unplugging the Kids

See this picture? It's my teen daughters engaging in an ancient pastime that involves playing games with small rectangular pieces of cardboard with symbols and faces on them. Otherwise known as "playing cards," this archaic form of entertainment was made obsolete by the digital age and hasn't been seen among the teen population in years, having gone the way of other old-fashioned activities like exercising and making eye contact. Read More...
 
. . . . .

Watching R-Rated Movies...With the Kids

In the annals of parenting (no pun intended) watching a sex scene on screen with your kid next to you has got to be one of the most uncomfortable things ever. It's not something you intentionally set out to do—one minute you're watching a hip show about twenty-something girls living in New York City and the next thing you know the screen is filled with butts and boobs and hairy parts and amplified noises that sound like a pig choking. Read More... 

. . . . .

Confessions of a DIY Mom  

I would not be lying if I said I have never bought a jar of baby food. Because yes, I was one of those moms who made all of her baby's food, herself. From the moment they were done breast-feeding and started on solids, I was in my kitchen whipping up all varieties of healthy, delicious food that was devoid of taste, looked like wallpaper paste and could be gummed. Read More...

. . . . .


I Can't Blog About My Kids Anymore  

Remember that funny story I told, the one where I talked about something hilarious one of my daughters had done?

Yeah, me neither.

Because I can't tell those stories anymore. My girls are teenagers now, and due to the fact that they're fancy and toss around words like "privacy" and "boundaries" (curse you, literacy and dictionaries) I've been strongly cautioned against writing about them on my blog. Read More...

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   

Tweet Pin It

Cavalia Odysseo: From Horses to Hot Guys, Something For The Entire Family

Last week we were lucky enough to be invited to opening night of Cavalia Odysseo, taking place in that huge big-top white tent you've seen in Burbank. You've probably heard it referred to as "that horse show" but it's really much more – an uplifting, energetic, beautiful blend of theatrics, live music, acrobatics, dance – and yes, horses.

Lots of horses. Sixty-seven of them to be exact. Which is why I was a little alarmed when minutes before the show my 14-year-old says, "I hate horses," in that blasé, matter-of-fact way she usually says, "I need three dollars for donuts." We contemplated selling her ticket and leaving her with the popcorn vendor but there were people watching, so off to our seats we went...Read More...

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   

Tweet Pin It

Blick Art Room Aid: Saving art in our schools!

A couple of weeks ago I told you about the important role art has played in my life, and those around me. Then I made an off-color joke and I confessed to eating an eraser, two things that are the basis of around 99% of my blog posts.

But wait, there's more.

I also mentioned Art Room Aid from Blick Art Materials, a program that helps teachers by enlisting the help of parents, families, friends, and other art advocates to fund art projects to keep art alive and well in their classrooms and in the lives of their students.

With budgets for the arts being cut in our school district at an alarming rate, teachers are often forced to pay for supplies out of their own pockets, or forgo art altogether. I don't know about you, but I don't want my kids – or anyone's kids – to grow up not having art in their curriculum. This concern is multiplied for kids in inner-city schools, who might not have the opportunities to gain exposure to the arts outside of their classroom.

As some great philosopher once said (Or maybe I heard it on Family Guy) "Man does not live by math, science and freshman English 101 alone." Whoever said it it's absolutely true, and why a program like Art Room Aid is so important – and why I'm so excited to be a part of it.

Another reason? I have the opportunity to partner with my sister – who has been a teacher in an inner-city school in the Los Angeles Unified School District for 37 years – to help her see her own project come to fruition with the help of Art Room Aid. (That's right – thirty-seven years. Don't complain about being at your Forever 21 cashier job for two months.)

She's embarking on a project with her 2nd grade class called Creating Young Artists for Upcycling, and we're hoping to get all of her supplies covered. Here's what she has to say about the project:

"The title of our current literacy unit is: 'Let's Create!' We've read some articles and stories about people who have used the process of repurposing materials to create works of art, and so in our classroom discussions, I've asked my students to consider what items and/materials they might utilize from their home environments to create their own works of art.

I'm excited to see what they will produce"

I'm thrilled to be able to help out my sister's class, and to be supporting this project for kids who might not have many opportunities to be exposed to the arts. And you can help if you like – check out our wish list here, and you can donate any amount you can. My sister - and her entire class of budding artists – will greatly appreciate it.

Here's a look at their project and their materials they're requesting:

Blick Art Room Aid is a fantastic way for art educators and parents to share projects and get the word out about much-needed supplies, and a way for communities to support our teachers and our children. You can start your own project (it's free!) or search for other projects to aid by going to the Blick Art Rooom Aid home page.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   

I am participating in this project via The Motherhood, who will be donating some funding to our project. This is also a compensated post, but all opinions and off-color remarks are 100% mine. 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   

Tweet Pin It

Got Art? Most kids don't.

How important is art to my family? Let me count the ways. It's how I made a living for most of my life. It's how Rigel and I met. It's how we've supported our family, and it's how my uncle, aunt and cousin have made their livings, too. Not to mention the fact that I'm 99% sure it's how my girls will support themselves in the future as well. (Insert smartass Asian stereotype joke here about there being a shortage of dry cleaners, mathematicians and manicurists.)

So the fact that schools across the country have had (and will continue to have) cuts to their art programs has affected me deeply. I grew up when schools had classes dedicated solely to art, or at least time set aside everyday for some sort of creative endeavor. Supplies were plentiful, and I'm not just talking about frames made out of macaroni or vases made out of soup cans – I remember having clay for making pottery and creating beautiful landscapes with watercolors and charcoal.

(Totally unrelated: Did you hear about the time I ate an eraser on a dare? So wasteful.)

Now you can see why I'm so excited to be a part of this important program – Art Room Aid from Blick Art Materials. Here's the basic idea: Teachers across the country can make a wishlist of supplies via Art Room Aid, and then enlist the help of parents, families, friends, and other art advocates to fund their art projects to keep art alive and well in their classrooms and in the lives of their students.

Here's how you can learn more: Join this Twitter Party to find out ways that you can support art education and spread the word about Art Room Aid. We'll also be discussing projects you can do with your own kids (no encouraging of eating erasers, I promise.)

When: Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2 p.m. ET

Where: We’ll be on Twitter – follow the #BlickARA hashtag to track the conversation. See this Twtvite for more info and to RSVP: http://twtvite.com/BlickARA

Hashtag: #BlickARA

Prizes: We will give away five total prizes - two $25 Blick gift coupons, two $50 Blick gift coupons, and one $75 Blick gift coupon.

Hosts: @theMotherhood, @CooperMunroe, @EmilyMcKhann

Art Room Aid: http://www.dickblick.com/ara

Blick Art Materials: http://www.dickblick.com/

  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   

Tweet Pin It