Mommy Daddy Blogs

New Parents (they're parents and they're new to me) added to my blogroll:

• Whiskey In My Sippy Cup
• Cheaper Than Therapy
• Playgroups Are No Place for Children
• My Minivan is Faster Than Yours

Corporate Greenery

Yes, I realized I stole the idea from the first collage that inspired me, but I think it's safe to say that I took the Go Green fad seriously...

New Addiction

I have found the website of my dreams. A cool way to create a colorful collage of material things. How creative and fun - and addicting - is this?

I can't wait to share more...

Rodeo Drive

After checking in to the new-ish Thompson Hotel in Beverly Hills, my Kane/Miller colleague and I headed for a nice walk down to Rodeo Drive. That's right! We enjoyed a leisurely stroll down the famous strip and enjoyed a shopping day that we probably will never experience again. Although we didn't stop inside every store, we did manage to hit the dressing rooms and I even purchased a few items for the celebrity gifting suite Kane/Miller was sponsoring.

Just to mention a few stores on the three-block strip: BCBG, Bebe, Bulgari, Dolce & Gabbana, Giorgio Armani, Gucci, GUESS, Hugo Boss, Jimmy Choo, Juicy Couture, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Ralph Lauren, Versace, and Yves St. Laurent.

I may end up going back someday but the next time you'll find me inside a Prada store will most likely be at the outlet center just outside Palm Springs.

It's Party Time!

Shopping in St. Paul

I leave for St. Paul next Saturday and already I'm preparing for an after December 25th shopping spree. Ever since I started this blog, my mother has been - besides my #1 fan - very helpful when it comes to sending me links and relevant articles that relate to parenting, shopping or could somehow fit in with the content on this site.

Here then is a list that she sent me a while back. I did not forget about it but this time I will have more time to take in the sights and enjoy the recommendations from this compilation:

gifts, jewelry and home accessories

Woodbury-made bath and body products

kitchen accessories and equipment

designer denim

toys

Danish-designed fashions and home accessories

Scandinavian home furnishings, accents and more

stationary and personalized gifts

natural toys and baby care

Latin American-inspired jewelry

children's shoes

The Romeo & Juliet Shops:
gift ideas for any occasion

artist-designed paper, gifts and baby things

Wonderment:
wood toys and creative objects

See you in the Cities!

Delightful

I've managed to distract myself from holiday shopping momentary, clicking through a few links, adding one or two (or three) items to my cart and somehow ended up purchasing some delightful products for my home office.

I realize that I have a long list of friends and family to purchase items for yet and if anyone knew how organized I really am (my gift-giving list is in an Excel file which I'm happy to share with you if you ask nicely), they'd wonder why on earth I haven't finished this annual task by now.

I like shopping - ok I LOVE LOVE LOVE it - and I also enjoy a good deal - despite what the price tags may show ; ) - so I look online for discount codes, coupons and exclusive deals to help cut the cost of shipping or that offer me a percentage off the bottom line.

Would you like to have access to these same coupon codes? Provide me with your email address and I'll send you regular updates that will provide you with the best deals (that I've come across) on the web. I'd be delighted to share!

San Diego Shopping

Finally, I've compiled a list of just a few of the trendy boutiques found in San Diego:

For Kids

Gracie Kids










Leaping Lotus




Because Diamonds (and Silver) Are Forever







LUZ


Photography

Just Hatched


For Hip Moms and Dads









Neighbourhood Boutique
(Tell Christine you read about her here!)



Viejas Casino & Outlet Center

Happy Shopping!

Shopping Spreeeeeeeeeee

Wow, do I LOVE to shop. We drove to the desert on Friday, the day after Thanksgiving and headed straight to our hotel. We stayed at the Renaissance Esmerelda Resort & Spa in Indian Wells. After a long windy drive through the mountains, I was SO glad to get into our room and relax.

Saturday we sat by the pool before our MAJOR highlight of the weekend - shopping! Did I mention that my shopping partner - a male - was SO MUCH FUN to shop with? He helped carry my bags, waited outside a few dressing rooms for me and dragged me away from the $500 green Prada suit I was drooling over in SPACE. I can't even remember what stores I didn't go into since there were so many at the Desert Hills Premium Outlets.

The stores I do remember: Armani, BCBG, Coach, Gucci, Guess, Juicy Couture, Levi's, Oakley, Skechers, and we had to wait in line (just to get inside) at True Religion and Burberry.

Shopping sprees like that are dangerously exciting for me - orgasmic - and something that I will probably not experience for a long, long time or I will need to seriously sell my soul to the credit card companies (and charge them interest).

We also had a really good meal that night at The Falls in Palm Springs, although we kept having to change our reservations later and later because we just couldn't stop shopping!

Christmas is coming, I realize. I'm sitting at my computer thinking about all of the wonderful online sites I can hit up to fill the gift boxes for those on my list.

Oh, and to top off my wonderful weekend, my sweetie completely surprised me this morning with a beautiful 7-diamond necklace as my early Christmas gift.

My luck has changed!

Shopping in St. Paul

...and Minneapolis (Part Two)

I spent a good portion of my time researching boutiques for Moms and children in last week's post. Here, I'm going to focus on even more!

Cal Surf: large selection of skateboarding / snowboarding gear
Uptown

JL Esso: stylish footwear on the edge
Southdale

Shu: global footwear
Grand Avenue, St. Paul
Grand Way, St. Louis Park

Wiggles N Giggles: shop there for their shoe section
Blaine

Awakenings: Enhancing intimacy, education & strengthening relationships
St. Paul

Bjorling & Grant: pieces with a past
Minneapolis

Happy Shopping!

Ready, Set, Shop!

Minneapolis Mamas

I was in the Twin Cities this last weekend. In my role of Marketing Manager for Kane/Miller Book Publishers, I was there to present our fall titles at the Midwest Booksellers Association. It was a brief seven-minute presentation, but I made the quick trip to the Minneapolis Convention Center and along the way, rediscovered the wonderful city and all it has to offer.

Now that I'm a parent, I can fully appreciate the culture and diversity in the Twin Cities and I am pleased to share some exciting new shopping sites as well. They may just be new to me, but for new parents or for holiday shopping expeditions, these are the hip places for fashion, design, and boutiques featuring clothing and other hot products for parents and children in the Minneapolis / St. Paul area.

Hot Mama: shop where hot mamas shop
3 locations (Grand Avenue in St. Paul, The Shoppes @ Arbor Lakes in Maple Grove, and of course 50th & France in Edina).

Ivy
Calhoun Square

Joynoelle: Cities couture
Como Avenue

Little Giants Boutique: Apparel ~ Toys ~ Accessories
Technically located - just outside the Cities - in Hudson, Wisconsin, this is a fun little boutique to visit and a quaint area to spend an afternoon.

Oilily: Children's boutique and fashions for women.
Galleria

Schreier Home: dare to be remarkable
Interior design center and retail store to open in Stillwater in April 2008

Sister Ugly
Northfield, MN

Stephanie's
Cleveland Avenue, St. Paul

Lulu & Luigi: the best dressed dogs in town
Located in the Wayzata Village Shoppes

Uber Baby: Hip Maternity Store
Galleria

Gravel Road Kids: as seen on The View
Woodbury, MN

The Red Balloon Bookshop
Grand Avenue, St. Paul

Club Monaco: modern, timeless, clean, graphic, essential, luxury, chic, urban
Mall of America

Martin + Osa: Here, There, Everywhere
Mall of America

Sisley: If you recognize this name (brand found in Benetton stores), imagine an entire boutique dedicated to this unique style!

Mall of America

Steve & Barry's: exclusive distributor of Bitten by Sarah Jessica Parker
Brookdale, Burnsville Center, Knollwod Mall, Northtown Mall

Kiddywampus: an inspired place for kids
France Avenue, Edina

bebe babble: children's lifestyle & design boutique
Edina, MN

Red Rover Kids: bigger, better, funner
Stillwater, MN

Did I forget to mention that there is no Sales Tax in Minnesota? Pure shopping heaven.

Nature vs. Nurture

Much has been written and talked about regarding the memoir, The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls. I tried to avoid much of it before reading the book since I enjoy reading books fresh. In other words, books that I have no pre-conceived notions about, one way or another.

Having grown up in a family where addiction played a key role, this book struck a chord, although I certainly could not relate to much of the narrator's experiences, as my family was intact and had no visible signs of any dysfunctions, at least that I'm aware of.

Somehow the author / narrator steps outside of her unusual and unimaginable life and speaks about her experiences as if she was referring to someone else. I had to keep reminding myself that this was a memoir and not a work of fiction and that these were situations that were not created but recalled, and with such vivid detail.

There are four children in the Walls' family, all of whom turned out quite differently and whose experiences brought them to different places in their lives. Unfortunately, we only get to hear the perspective of one of them here and it is quite unlikely that the other three grown children remember the events the same way.

Since I studied psychology in college, I was intrigued by the notion that despite their upbringing, these children, with the exception of one who we hear little about as an adult, turn out as normally functioning members of our society. Educated, too.

It is quite apparent after reading this story that one does not need money or a plethora of material things to "make it" in the world. In fact, perhaps quite the opposite is true. Would the Walls' children learn the lessons they did if it weren't for their parents showing them and teaching them (without trying) that hard work and responsibility bring you certain advantages in life? After all, these children had to scrounge for their own food and learned to survive without their parents and in fact, spent many days and nights, most likely, worrying about them and taking care of them, both physically and emotionally.

These children saw their neighbors and classmates in a much different light. While people looked to her with pity, Jeannette sees others much differently than they see themselves and is inspired and motivated by simply wanting more, wanting to have enough and not go hungry.

One could argue that these children were neglected and that it would've been better for them to be removed from their home as children and brought into houses with warm food, warm beds and warm and loving 'parents.' One could also argue that being taken away from the only home and the only family they know could've done more harm than good.

This is quite an interesting and thought-provoking book and one that will most likely become required reading as it focuses on survival and reveals how young people today no longer rely on their instincts. Their own survival skills are not tested since they are provided with every opportunity, and an overabundance of choices which could possibly take away the chances of their ability to "make it on their own" once they step into the real world.

The Results Are In

Concerned friends and family members have been sending prayers, warm thoughts and good karma my way ever since I scheduled my biopsy. Luckily, the news I received from my doctor wasn't as bad as I thought, although I do have a condition now that needs to be treated and is something that I have never heard of, of course.

Lichen sclerosis (aka lichen sclerosus) usually occurs in post-menopausal women. Clearly, anyone who knows me can understand the irony here and can appreciate why I found myself laughing out loud when I first read this fact online.

I've always been mature for my age and have, in the last few years, been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, begun to gone gray, no longer get carded at the bar, and will most likely be wearing bifocals by the time I hit the big 4-0.

Besides this new condition, I'm pretty lucky, health wise. I don't have high cholesterol, I'm not obese or falling apart emotionally, and I have all of my digits and can function properly on about 5 hours of sleep (and a Triple Grande Soy White Mocha, no Whip). I really shouldn't complain, and yet, I find myself asking, "Why me?"

This past year has been quite the challenge and yet somehow I can now laugh about the bad luck, or karma that's come my way. In fact, just today, I spoke with my therapist about finally ending our sessions together due to the fact that I'm doing quite well, considering everything I've been through. (For once in my life, I'm in a long-term relationship with a man who, at the end of our nearly two years together will celebrate with me for finally reaching a state of complete sanity.)

He's been a part of my life for so long that I come to think of him as a friend, which is strange, considering the fact that I pay this friend to listen to my problems (and for the countless boxes of tissues he's supplied). Nonetheless, I'll miss the fact that he listens to me, feeds me every once in a while and humors me when I tell him about the drama I create in my life with men.

But, all good things must come to an end and I'm proud of myself for getting through this last year (separation, rebound relationships, court dates, financial hardship, working 3 jobs, divorce, potty-training, starting my own company) without having a complete breakdown. The partial meltdown was bad enough!

I shared this link with just about everyone I know, including my therapist, but I wanted to include it here because it's just so darn healing to laugh at yourself.