O Christmas Tree

This is the newest addition to our Christmas ornament collection. Does it look like us? I think it came out really cute. I absolutely love our tree. I could curl up on the couch with a cup of tea and stare at it all day long. Now I'm searching for a new tree topper, and maybe a little something to represent Audrey's first Christmas. Any suggestions?

"Fa La La La La...."

Today we're spending the morning at home putting up our Christmas tree and decorations, contemplating a Black Friday purchase or two. But the holiday season really started for us earlier this week when we went to see Adam perform. His December gig is being a Christmas Caroler, along with our good friend Anne. Their caroling group had it's premiere performance at a mall nearby and they sounded really great. Then they strolled around the mall singing in quartets. Love the costumes!

For Lauren

Gratitude List

I spend too much time focusing on things that I need or want - wishing for more and counting my have-nots. Today is all about being grateful for all of this stuff:

Wonderful Adam

Two beautiful children that make my life the adventure it is

That my family is safe, strong, and healthy 

My testimony of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 

Friends near and far 

All of the family I am going to spend the holidays with

My dad for making it possible to come home for the holidays

Perfect LA weather

Pilates for making me feel like myself again after two babies

All of my mommy friends and girls nights out

Watching Tyler play with his buddies

Holding Audrey - no baby is more fun to cuddle than this little girl

Diet Dr. Pepper and Carmelized Pear Tea from Aroma Cafe

Adam being able to make a living doing what he loves

Staying home with my kids - not missing a moment 

My time spent with the Young Women in the Studio City Ward

Dark chocolate and Pecan Pie

Our apartment - it has really become our home

Ugly Betty, The Office, and In Style magazine

Saturday mornings at the farmers market

Date nights

My overall quality of life... I think it is really very good.

More Reasons to Celebrate

Happy Birthday to my step-dad Vernon. There is no way you could meet this guy and not love him. He is one of a kind and wonderful - anyone who knows him knows that is true.

I love this picture of us at a delicious italian restaurant that Adam used to work at in New York City. It has since closed, but the meals we had there were some of the best I've ever eaten. My mom and Vernon had come to visit for their anniversary the summer before we moved to LA. Such a great memory. Thinking of you today V, or as your grandkids call you - Pop Pop.

Vacation Week

As co-head of the household I have officially declared this week "Vacation Week". Even us stay-at-home mom types need a vacation, right? I'm treating this week as if my kids were off school and we're doing nothing but having fun together. No crazy errand running, worrying about bedtimes, or major house cleaning. Just park-going, shopping, watching movies and the parade in our pjs, baking this pumpkin pie, rifling through our Christmas decorations, and keeping a pot of apple cider on the stove at all times. 

November Love

This morning I came home from pilates to find these words written on my bathroom mirror: Happy Valentine's Day in November. Adam and Tyler made me homemade valentines and got me a little gift. Adam took Audrey grocery shopping and gave me some one-on-one time with Tyler (which I had been craving). I took a nice nap while a delicious candlelit dinner was made, followed by dessert. Yum. The perfect end to the perfect day. Just goes to show you can have a wonderfully thoughtful and romantic day, even when you can't afford a babysitter.

To Be A Kid

Baking brownies with dad this weekend. This is the face of a kid who loves chocolate - just like his mama.

Twilight At Last

Twilight comes out this weekend!  Thanks to my wonderful husband I am seeing it on Friday with my girlfriends, and again on Saturday night. Yes - that is a bit overboard - but I can't resist seeing it with my Young Women from the Studio City Ward on Saturday. It will be hilarious to watch the movie with them - the ultimate Twilight lovers and critics! I hope it's good... especially since I'm investing so much into its opening weekend. Did you buy your tickets yet?

What We Did Today

Climbing on the trains at Travel Town with our friends Hillary, Oliver, and adorable Abby. It was a beautiful day in Los Angeles. How cute are these kids!

Majority Rule

I got brave and went with the Gwyneth. No guarantees I will always get it to look like this - Kelly has more curling iron skills than I do. But I think it came out really good. Thanks Kelly!

And just because she is so cute, here's Audrey. Look at those teeth and that hair!

Hair Poll

I'm getting my haircut on Monday and am pretty indecisive. I have two ideas and here they are:

Keep it long like Jen's - OR - chop it off a bit like Gwyneth. (I know I watch too much Oprah!)

Do you have an opinion? If so, vote on the sidebar. Or perhaps you have some other idea - you can leave me a comment below. If you don't care, that's cool too. I'll post a photo of the results on Monday (if I'm happy with them). Disclaimer: I may not be brave enough yet to do the chop. And I won't be going blonde.

Slumber Party

What is it about your kids sleeping that is just so sweet?

Pack Your Knives and Go

The new season of Top Chef premieres tonight at 10pm on Bravo. I swear Padma has my dream job. If you consider yourself a foodie and haven't checked out this show, set your TiVo tonight. Not only does it make you wish you had better skills in the kitchen, it will make you so hungry. What's even better - this season is set in New York City... the best place to eat in the world.

Monday Night Dinner

This fall has brought out the cook in me. I recently found a recipe for homemade pesto on Oprah.com. I decided to whip it up because it is in line with my current diet - dairy and nut free (no parmesan cheese or pine nuts, although I think it would be delicious if you add them). This sauce is quick, easy, and so tasty. All that fresh basil - yum. I mixed about a third of the sauce with farfalle pasta, roasted rotisserie chicken, chopped roma tomatoes, and froze the rest of the sauce to use later in the week. Now I'm trying to come up with some more pesto recipes. Maybe I'll spread it on sourdough and make pesto garlic bread covered with fresh tomatoes. Or mix it with tortellini and serve it with a caesar salad. Even Tyler devoured this stuff.

Homemade Pesto

4 cups fresh basil leaves
4 cups Italian parsley springs
4 large cloves garlic
1 1/2 cups olive oil
1/4 tsp. salt

Chop basil, parsley and garlic in a food processor (I used a blender and it worked great). Slowly add olive oil and keep chopping. Add salt. I tend to like mine a bit on the saltier side, so I added extra salt to taste. Enjoy!!

Happy Birthday G-Mom!

Happy Birthday to my wonderful mom (aka G-Mom to Tyler and Audrey). I wish I could be there to bake your cookies in person. Have a great day and let's end it with a Skype date. We're thinking of you today.

Chew On This

I was at The Right Start today and found these adorable teether toys. They had a big assortment of different fruits and veggies. I picked up the bean for Audrey. It fits perfectly in her chubby little hands. I also grabbed Sophie La Girafe and tucked it away for Christmas. And if you happen to be browsing the store, make sure to pick up my favorite teether for your little one. I think these are perfect gifts for babies with sore gums looking to gnaw on everything.

On Location

Yesterday after voting we walked over to our neighborhood park and found this:

They were filming a scene for an upcoming episode of Samantha Who? and brought in this entire faux park. It was so cool. We love this show! I'll have to keep my eyes peeled for our favorite playground on the small screen.

Yes We Can!

Barack Obama is the 44th President of the United States. I am optimistic and full of hope! Here's to hoping I still feel this way in the years to come. These are exciting times.

History in the Making

We voted this morning! Now we wait...

It's Birthday Season

Have a great one li'l sis - aka Aunt Lauren!

Political Ramblings

Things are heating up. The election is just days away. We live in a two-party household so you can imagine that it has been a little tense around here. I can see an end to the "lively" discussions on the horizon. Hurrah! I have to say that I am proud of us. I think (for the most part) Adam and I have learned how to have a well-balanced political discussion without taking things too personally. Or at least we've learned when to end the discussion before it gets too personal. I think our eyes have been opened wider to "the other side" and a point of view beyond our own. We have been pushed a bit outside our comfort zone and I tend to like that in this case.

But here is what I really love. I see how influenced both Adam and I have been by our families and life experiences. I think as much as you try to be even keeled it's hard not to influence your children in politics. I am grateful that my children will have a well-rounded political upbringing - both sides represented in their home - so that someday they will have the tools they need to make their own well-informed decisions. For that reason (and a couple others I can think of), I will gladly share my home with this particular Republican. Here's to Tuesday, and to anxiously awaiting the results!