‘Tis the season for family gatherings when people travel from near and far to celebrate. While this time of year is filled with joy, many travelers find themselves stretched near the limit when it comes time to pack….the gifts, personal items and if you have kids, their necessities while anticipating items to keep them occupied…
Category : Review
Food
Brews & Brunch
I’ve always been a sucker for a great brunch menu. There’s nothing quite like taking an easy Sunday morning and eating your way into the afternoon. My love of brunching began when I was in elementary school and once a month after church we would head down to the country club for the brunch buffet. …
Lifestyle
Creative Nesting
Recently, I’ve been in major nesting mode. Being 30 weeks pregnant will do that. I’ve spent countless hours trying to rearrange our apartment, looking for things to purge and trying to make this place feel a little more comfortable. Since Baby #2 is a twice confirmed girl, we are planning a California Girl desert themed…
Arts & Entertainment
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
**May contain spoilers….consider yourself warned** The 5th Jurassic installment hits theatres nationwide on June 22nd and is poised a colossal box office hit. Part monster movie, part sci-fi, it borrows from classics such as Nosferatu, Godzilla, Planet of the Apes, Alien, Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark, and of course builds on…
Food
Why I Love Grocery Day
My love of cooking began back in the second grade when I won first place at my school’s summer book reading contest. The prize was a copy of the For Good Measure: A Cookbook for Children and the first item I ever made by myself was popovers. To this day, that is my go-to recipe…
Food
Bubbly Brunching
The freshly renovated Costero California Bar & Bistro inside the Sheraton Gateway near LAX is a far cry from what is traditionally thought of as a “hotel restaurant”. Walking in, the first thing that caught my eye was the beautiful and massive crystal chandeliers that adorned the lobby and set the standard for the rest of…
Events
My Staycay with Day/Axe
With the official start to summer right around the corner, it’s time to start planning your activities to get you out of the house, enjoying the fresh air and time together…or alone for some peace and quiet! No matter what kind of company you decide to keep this summer, I know you will enjoy THIS…
Events
Smurfs: The Lost Village
Sony went all out for the family-friendly premiere of its new (fully) animated film Smurfs: The Lost Village. I was honestly thrilled to join the block party and experience some of my childhood Saturday morning cartoons again. It also happened to be the 100th anniversary for Culver City itself, where Sony is headquartered. I believe…
Lifestyle
The Last Phone Case You’ll Ever Need
At least until you upgrade. But even then, Rokform will have you covered. So this post is long overdue and most sincere apologies for not sharing this momtastic find with you before! I have been using this brand for at least two years now and its universal mounting system and ingenious magnet is super handy!…
Lifestyle
Fabulous Fabula Nebulae
I love getting mail. I had multiple pen pals throughout elementary and junior high school to feed my obsession with receiving mail. To this day, I volunteer with a kids literacy program so that I get more mail. This particular piece of mail contained an extra something special – handmade natural products from a loving…
Film
Classic, With A Twist
Well, I finally made it to the theatre to see Frozen, Disney’s musical and very loose retelling of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Snow Queen. In fact, the only similarities are there is a Queen who enjoys a chill, a girl who ventures to the frozen castle and a smattering of trolls. Just in case you…
Film
The Case of the Nanny-Nappers
Call it my own gullibility or agree with me that there is something in the water causing speedy and advanced development in the youth of today. This is my story of survival for two nanny-nappings within a two week period. Perhaps it was my own fault. When I was asked how late I could stay,…
Acting
Review: Iron Man 3
*Caution: Spoilers may follow! I was a bit hesitant to go and see Iron Man 3, simply because I did not have the opportunity to watch Iron Man 2 or The Avengers and was worried that I may have missed some important plot points. Luckily for me, there was a decent amount of exposition sprinkled…
Acting
Probability Factor
Hollywood has been gearing up for one busy weekend! With the Academy Awards scheduled for this coming Sunday, February 24th, many people are stressing out on the last minute details, acceptance speeches and what to wear down the red carpet. For this annual event, the industry comes together to honor outstanding achievements in all…
Awards
Oscar Preview: Animated Shorts
One of the benefits to living in such a cool neighborhood is my proximity to “art houses” which regularly feature independent films. This past week, I had the pleasure to be able to watch the animated short films that have been nominated for the Academy Awards. All five films were very different in style,…
Acting
Review: Django Unchained
So I’m a little late to the game, but better late than never! I will preface by saying that I am, without a doubt, a fan of director Quentin Tarantino (jury is still out on Quentin Tarantino, the actor). For those who are also present in Tarantino’s world of fandom, Django promises to be a…
