Day Off

We spent the morning at The Grove. We got there around 11am and it was so nice and peaceful... then somewhere around 1pm the crowds hit and it was CUH-RAZY. Sadly this meant the latter part of the day we were all pretty cranky. Hoping to make up for it this evening with an easy dinner and a stop at our favorite little gelato shop down the street. Hope you're having a lovely end to the three-day weekend.

Riding on the top of the double-decker trolley was a highlight this morning.

Trying to get a family shot...

There we go.

Stuff for the Weekend

I have to get Nate Berkus off the top of my blog because I am going slightly crazy wondering if anything is going to happen there. Here are a few things I'm thinking about today:

Buying a huge ol' watermelon and grilling a ton. I mean, it is Memorial Day Weekend. One thing I love about living in LA is that everyone's always ready for a holiday. There is a constant vacation vibe around here once the summer hits. I told Adam I don't care what we do this weekend as long as we all get along, love each other, and are happy. That's the truth. I just want to have a GREAT weekend.

Lyndsay posted this article that I need to study. How to clean your house in less than two hours. Now that I have the cleaning products from my Design Mom win, I'm ready to get this place cleaned up.

Friday night pilates is a great way to kick-off the weekend!

I really love Cooking Light magazine. I got a subscription through Tyler's preschool and it just ran out. Might have to subscribe again... I already miss it.

Driving around LA you see a lot of billboards advertising just about everything. Sometimes you'd rather your kids not see what they're advertising (read strip clubs). But right now, I love these billboards for Toy Story 3 that are literally on every corner of our neighborhood. This movie is already special to us because it will be Tyler's first movie in the theater. Gonna get a sitter for Audrey and head out to the movies just the three of us, grab some popcorn, and hope that all goes smoothly. Here's Buzz Lightyear. Every time we pass a billboard the kids yell, "Toy Story Threeeeeeeeee" from the backseat.

If you are a woman and have a few seconds, read this. It is wonderful. Written by Elizabeth Gilbert, of Eat, Pray, Love. She says, "The key to a well-lived life: Screw up (often and boldly), learn from your mistakes, repeat". Nice. That I can do. Thanks for the link Jen.

Adam got me some of this dark chocolate today. Deeeelish.

Gotta get some good guitar practicing in this weekend. Music class training is going so well. Everything is falling into place and it just feels right. I couldn't imagine a better way to slowly creep back into the working world.

We rented Peter Pan tonight. Can't wait to watch it with the kids.

The last thing I'm thinking about this weekend? Nate Berkus, Nate Berkus, Nate Berkus. Just sending out some more good vibes a la The Secret (my theory is that works with these Oprah folks).

Enjoy your Memorial Day Weekend. Your family, the food, the sun, the sales. Just enjoy!

I'm Gonna Be On The Nate Berkus Show

People! Do you know Nate Berkus? Well he's Oprah's main design guy and he's getting his own show this fall. Yesterday Oprah did her last show with Nate and all I could think when I was watching was, "I need to be on the Nate Berkus Show". I felt compelled to write him, and just put it all out there. Here's what I wrote:

Nate! I saw your last Oprah show today and all I could think about was the project I have going on in my 2 bedroom apartment and how much I would LOVE your help. Our place is tiny, but filled with love... and we love it! I live with my husband Adam, and two awesome (albeit exhausting) kids - Tyler, 4 and Audrey, 2. Absolutely at the end of the day, all Adam and I want to do in our bed is sleep. Well, it's not all we wanna do, but between the two of us we juggle four jobs and are parents on top of it. Anyway, our other problem... our two year old still sleeps in our room!!! Nate! Please help us reclaim our bedroom as our own, and help me move my son and daughter into their own room together. We want to love our bedrooms - we want our space to speak to who we all are. My husband and I want to get it on, and feel sexy again - not like two friends sharing a room with a baby. It's time to move on, get her OUT, and find each other again! Please Nate... can you help? PS - We are huge fans and are super fun to hang out with, too.

I included photos of our bedroom and the kids' room. I also put a photo of Nate on my fridge (not exactly sure why, but it felt right). Now all this might seem silly, and I really didn't expect much to come from it - BUT... I got an email from one of his producers today! The chances are still super slim that we will be chosen, but she wanted more photos and more information about me and Adam. Wahoo! So this post is just to put it all out there again. Come and get me Nate Berkus. The Tait family bedroom makeover will make some fantastic television. Fingers crossed.

Last Soup of the Season

Well, probably not seeing that June Gloom might creep up on us in LA, but here is a recipe we have always loved. Adam found it online and made it for me while we were engaged and still living in Queens. It was the first Christmas we spent 'just the two of us', and he was in charge of dinner (I did brunch). He made black bean and chorizo soup, and chicken enchiladas. I was super impressed and decided that, yes - I would still marry him. Since then we've discovered Trader Joe's soyrizo, and believe me - make this soup with the soyrizo. You won't even notice the swap, and it's so much healthier. Here's the recipe:

Black Bean and Chorizo Soup

1 link (3-4 oz.) Spanish chorizo (or soyrizo)

1 medium onion, chopped

1 garlic clove, chopped

1/2 green pepper, chopped

1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes

1/2 tsp. ground cumin

1/4 tsp. salt

2 Tbsp. olive oil

2 1/2 - 3 c. chicken broth (or vegetable broth)

2 cans (15-19 oz.) black beans, rinsed and drained

Cook chorizo, onion, garlic, green pepper, red pepper flakes, cumin, and salt in oil in the bottom of a large pot over moderate heat, stirring until vegetables soften (about 10 minutes). Add broth and beans and simmer partially covered, for about 15 minutes. (You can add more broth if you want it "soupier"). Lightly mash beans to thicken. Garnish with fresh cilantro, sour cream, pico de gallo, avocado, tortilla chips. We like to serve this soup with cheese quesadillas on the side (and for dipping) because the kids love quesadillas. You could also do cornbread. Our kids love this soup, too. It's not too spicy.

(PS - I am still going strong on my vegetarian diet. I feel lighter and cleaner. I'm trying to go vegetarian whenever possible. I cook that way at home, and if I eat meat it is no more than twice a week. Every body is different - this is is making mine feel super good.)

Also, since summer's right around the corner - here's one of our favorite, easy (read store bought) summer desserts. Pick up a yummy angel food cake from the grocery store, whatever berries are on sale, and some vanilla fro yo (my favorite is Dreyer's Yogurt Blends). Cut up berries if needs be, put them in a container with a little water and your sweetener of choice (I choose agave nectar or Splenda) and let it marinate in the frigde a few hours. Serve berries over cake and yogurt. You can also add a little whipped cream if that's your thing. Mmmmmm. Guilt-free summer goodness.

Flowers

When it comes to romance or thoughtfulness, husbands seem to have "their thing" they're good at. Surprise phone calls or text messages, cooking dinner, planning a romantic evening, giving a great massage. Adam is fantastic at bringing me flowers (and the massages, too... and cooking. He does alright). He took Tyler and Audrey to the park the other day, and afterward they stopped at the store specifically to get flowers for mommy. Love that. And in doing this he teaches our kids what you do for someone you love. Really love that. The funny part? These are my flowers:

This little guy is happily sitting in a vase on my kitchen table. Uh, why not? Happy Graduation to you, too.

Karate Kid

Look out! A yellow belt lives at our house. Congratulations to Tyler for graduating from his white belt to the yellow belt. He's now ready to defend my honor, ward off grumpy tenants, and protect himself against a certain toy-stealing little sister.

Train Ride

Here is Friday's Metro adventure. We got the train in Burbank and rode downtown to Union Station. Walked around Olvera Street, demolished a plate of nachos and a couple diet cokes, let the kids pick out a little something from the street vendors (toy car for Tyler, maracas for Audrey), and headed back home. Our resident train lover Tyler had so much fun buying his ticket, checking out the station, watching the trains arrive and depart, finding the conductor and handing the ticket over, reporting on everything we would pass on our ride and how fast we were going. Very exciting stuff indeed.

Next train adventure .... Chinatown. Who wants to come?

A Little Something for Friday

Wanna start your Friday off right? Do a little bit of what she's doing:

Or make a batch of these. Three ingredients people! Three.

Or start counting down your fantastic trip back East, which will include time with family in Virginia, a road trip (with husband only) to see best friends in Queens, and a long-awaited wedding on Cape Cod (again husband only, thanks to brave grandparents). Wahoo!

Today we are taking the metro rail on a train adventure to Downtown LA. Mostly because I've been promising Tyler for weeks that we will ride the metro, so here we go. Gonna check out Union Station and grab a little Mexican food at Olvera Street. How far is Chinatown from Olvera Street? I've never been there either. Tonight Adam and I have a date to see Iron Man 2. The kids have pizza, babysitter, and a movie. Perfect.

Happy Friday, and hey -- don't forget to give me some music suggestions here. I wanna know what makes you get up and dance!

Question

What are your favorite songs to jam to with your kids (or hey, by yourself)? I'm making a playlist for the music class I'm teaching, and for each class I get to bring in my own music for "free dance" and an instrument jam. The songs can be anything, from anywhere, any genre. Preferably upbeat and "feel good" stuff. Obviously clean, (my kids and I can break it down to "Like a Virgin" but for obvious reasons I won't be bringing that one to music class). Here are some I've downloaded:

3x5 (John Mayer)

I Gotta Feelin' (Black Eyed Peas)

Walkin' on Sunshine

Your Love Keeps Liftin' Me Higher

Hey Ya! (Outkast)

Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' and Beat It

Who Says You Can't Go Home (Bon Jovi)

Break My Stride

1234 (Feist)

Video by India Arie

Ain't No Mountain High Enough

Don't Stop Believin' (Cast of Glee)

Senorita (Justin Timberlake)

Clocks by Coldplay

Be Okay by Ingrid Michaelson

Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go, Walk Like an Egyptian and a bunch of stuff from the 80's

These are just a few of mine. I'm curious, what are your favorites to rock out to with the kids? Gimme some suggestions and you might just make my playlist.

Party

A few weeks back when I asked Audrey what she wanted to do for her birthday all she said was, "pizzas.... and cupcakes". So that's what we did. Friends, family, and a pizza picnic at the park. With cupcakes, of course.

Tyler and one of his best buddies, Jonah.

The party. We're only missing Emily, Penny, Simon and Michelle in this picture.

The cupcakes were deeeeelish if I do say so myself. Strawberry cake with Magnolia Bakery vanilla buttercream.

Opening presents

These are two of my girlfriends from the "old days", Rachael and Kat. We all worked together in Beverly Hills when I was pregnant with Tyler. They were both in the neighborhood and stopped by the park to help us celebrate. So great to see them.

Audrey hugging Katrina's little girl, Kali. Audrey has to play mommy to any child younger than herself.

Tyler helping Audrey open presents back home.

More present opening with Grandma Tait.

Checking out all her loot.

Happy 2nd birthday sweet girl.

Tinker Love

For the first time I'm seeing Audrey really into something of her own (besides her baby dolls. She's always loved her babies). She plays with Tyler's trains, cars and trucks, watches Thomas the Tank. But now there's Tinker Bell.
Somehow Audrey discovered Tinker Bell. (I think my dad sent her a Tinker Bell t-shirt from Disney World.) Lately, if she sees anything Tinker Bell (on TV, at the toy store, on another little girl's tee), Audrey lights up. "Tinker Bell!". Audrey has never been too girly, so it's kinda adorable to watch her do this. I let her pick out a beach towel at Target the other day, and what did she pick? Tinker Bell. We rented the movie for her birthday movie night. She watched it sitting on her beach towel (I have to spread it out just right so she can see Tinker Bell's face), eyes wide open, huge smile on her face. Oh, Tinker Bell. Now I'm having an overwhelming urge to buy this child everything Tinker Bell, mostly because this is the first time I've seen her attach to something that is just hers. Nightgowns, pjs... just keep me away from the Disney Store. For now we'll just enjoy our movie, and Audrey's little eyes lighting up while we watch.

Cupcake Making

What good is a birthday without getting to lick the icing out of the bowl, beaters, countertop... well, off just about everything? Party preparations are in full swing.

Perfect birthday girl face

This Is Two

Audrey with Pink Bear. They are inseparable.

My baby is two. Can you please tell her to stop growing up? Please. She's a big girl now. So much to enjoy and look forward to - like summers on the beach, long outings to museums, her ability to tell me what she likes and doesn't like, watching her personality explode, I can (occasionally) reason with her. Somethings are slightly more difficult - like the No's, the Mine's, fighting with Tyler, shoplifting from the grocery store because she really wants some chocolate (Rolos... always Rolos, and she knows just where to hide them so I don't see until we're in the car). Seriously? Like I said, this is two.

Two years ago Audrey came into the world on one of the craziest nights of my life. Now that I know her so well, I can only imagine that that won't be the only dramatic entrance she'll ever make. She's spunky, outgoing, independent, aggressive, knows what she wants. She's adorable. Melts your heart. Keeps me on my toes. Has the cutest haircut and passersby tells me so. They say, "She is just to die for" and things like that. Because she is. The things I will miss most about her right now? Her perfectly round face and cheeks. Her double chin. The toddler run. Chubby fingers. The way she says certain words, like "zippa" (pizza), "oatno" (oatmeal), or "appy jooce" (apple juice). The way she grabs my face and kisses me right on the lips. How she sings at the top of her lungs and can memorize a song after one hearing (this talent won't go away anytime soon I hope). Even at two she is true to herself, and I think that is a quality she will always have. She has shown me how much more room there really is in my heart.

Here are some photos I dug up of Audrey these past two years:
This tiny girl fills my heart. She is simply a wonderful, beautiful little person that I have the honor of raising, and spending every day with. Happy birthday to my sweet baby big girl. Now let's celebrate!

Pretty Please

The other morning my pilates instructor told me about this place. Ummmmm... yes please!

Pilates and Italian cooking lessons at a villa in Italy... need I say more? Okay, I will. Swimming, sauna, spa, traveling around the country on a food tour with a professional Italian chef. Eight days exploring, eating and cooking delicious food, and staying fit. Who wants to come? Now I just need Adam to make some BIG bucks! How do you say "pretty please" in Italian?

Meal Plan

This is kinda cool:

Five days of lunches, one hour of prep, $25.

You could modify some of the recipes to adjust fat content, or leave the chicken out if you're trying to go vegetarian (just substitute tofu, nuts, white beans, extra veggies and it would still be within price range). Sounds yummy, healthy, and relatively easy. I think I'll be trying this in June when Adam goes back to work and I'm solo on lunches again.

My Boy

Me and my little guy at the preschool Mother's Day Tea last week. Man, I love this kid.

Happy Mother's Day

The other night after movie night, Tyler, Audrey and I did our usual and read a couple books before bed. We read them on top of the pillows and blankets we had set out on the floor for movie watching. It was nice to cuddle like that. Then they did their after-book "usual" and started being silly and wrestling each other. Sometimes I get bugged, like "go to bed already". But this night I just grabbed them and we all wrestled and tickled and hugged on the floor. Giggling, smiling. I didn't care (like I usually do) that the clock said 8:45pm and bedtime was at least 15 minutes ago. I just enjoyed this warm, easy connection between us. We belong to each other. We are complete because we are family.

There aren't many things that compare to the pure love of my kids. Joyous little kids. Happy with life, where they are. Feeling secure because they have things in place. Like home. And mommy. And each other. (Okay daddy, too, but this is Mother's Day, right?). I think, "I did this". I have gotten them this far. I have been given this gift and I've paid it forward to them, because look at them... they are happy. They are loved, and are stronger for it. And I am grateful. Grateful to know motherhood. Grateful for a mom who loved me like that, so I can love them like that, too. Grateful for the strong and inspiring examples of motherhood that surround me: my sister, my in-laws, my wonderful friends. Grateful for the lessons I've learned, tears I've shed, times my heart felt like it was going burst right out of my body in pride, joy, heartbreak, frustration, love - all in the name of motherhood. Grateful for the gift of being Tyler and Audrey's mommy, and for my mom being mine - this Mother's Day and forever.

Movie Night

What's better than movie night? Especially after a week of being run ragged. Preschool, music class, karate, soccer, two birthday parties, Travel Town, the zoo, a visit to Grandma & Grandpa Tait's, checked out the Pre-K at our elementary school, doctor's appointment, work, guitar practice, apartment manager duties, early morning pilates, grocery shopping, Target run. This week has been jam packed. I'd say a movie night was well-deserved. Tonight was pajamas, Wall-E, blankets on the floor, piles of pillows and stuffed animals, and a little Pop Secret butter popcorn. Perfect.

My two loves, ready for watching.

Tyler was plenty happy under his piles of pillows.

Can you feel this girl's personality smacking you right through the computer screen? Seriously, Audrey lives her life like this photo. Gotta love the almost-two-year-old "cheeeeese".

Soccer Man

This is Tyler's three week soccer journey.

Week One: Mostly crying and wanting to quit after a kick or two. Mommy by his side the whole time. Did give his coach a "high 5" though, super into his soccer cleats, and proud of himself in the car on the way home.

Week Two: 50/50 crying, holding it together pretty well. Mommy and daddy taking turns by his side on the field. (Bribing with a post-practice McDonald's milkshake helped).

Week Three: Mommy and daddy sit on the sideline like true "soccer parents" while he does everything by himself, listening to his coach. (No bribes necessary). Huge smile on his face as he says, "See, I don't need to cry on the soccer field".

It's hard to watch your kid struggle. Wondering, "Should we quit?"... "Is he too young?". Glad we stuck it out with this one. 5 weeks to go! Couldn't be prouder of our little man.

Dinner

Here is dinner tonight. Perfect for the warmer weather.

Mango and Black Bean Salad

1 c. cooked brown rice (follow directions on bag, and let cool to room temp.)
15 oz. can black beans (I used a can and a half)
1 - 1 1/2 c. fresh mango cut into small chunks
1/4 sweet yellow onion, diced
1/4 c. scallions or chives
1 lime, juice only, about 2 Tbsp. (I used three - mine weren't that juicy)
1/4 c. fresh cilantro, chopped (optional)
1/4 tsp. salt, or more to taste
lettuce of choice (I used field greens, and some leftover fresh spinach)
Whole grain tortillas

In a large bowl combine beans, mango, onion, scallions, lime juice, and cilantro. Mix and combine with the rice, season it with salt and toss gently. Chill for at least 10 minutes in the fridge (and hour is ideal). Serve the salad over lettuce, or wrap lettuce and salad (or salad alone) in warm whole grain tortillas. This recipe is really easy to add to, or leave things out. If you need to get rid of extra fresh veggies in the fridge just throw them in there. I added a little chopped avocado that was getting too ripe. Add extra lime juice (I did), or salt, pepper, whatever else to taste. The site I got the recipe from suggests serving it with carrots dipped in homemade guacamole. I had chips and salsa, and a big ol' bottle of sparkling water on the table. Easy fresh, vegetarian meal. Enjoy!