L.A. Story

Friday Finds

2012-01-27T12:40:00.000-08:00

Since this seems to be the week of travel, I wanted to start off with a Friday Find that I'd like to take with me on the plane.

I've heard that Klorane Dry Shampoo, which comes in aerosol or an eco-friendly spray, is great for long flights when you don't have access to, say, a shower. I don't know about you, but my hair looks insane if I don't wash it every single day. Look forward to trying this out!

* Would love this book for CC.

* Where did you find those Girl Scout Cookies?

* Ha! What happened to the Leaning Tower of Pisa?

* Porn for Pregnant Ladies (It's not what you think.)

Coming Attraction: Los Angeles Times Travel Show

2012-01-25T09:55:00.000-08:00

And speaking of travel, the Los Angeles Times is hosting its annual Travel Show this weekend at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

The show will feature celeb speakers, including journalist Lisa Ling, TV travel expert Rick Steves, travel guide publisher Arthur Frommer and "Man v. Food Nation" host Adam Richman, among others.

In addition to speakers and panels, you'll also be able to check out the Xtreme Adventure Zone for thrill-seeking vacationers, a culinary stage and -- great for parents! -- an area called Kid's World, which will spotlight family-friendly destinations while offering hands-on activities and performances for the little ones.

Open to the public on Saturday and Sunday, the Travel Show is offering tickets for $10 (adults), with kids ages 16 and younger free with a paid adult admission. But, click here for discounted tickets priced at $8.

Los Angeles Times Travel Show

Los Angeles Convention Center
1201 S. Figueroa St.
Los Angeles, CA 90015
Public: Jan. 28-29; 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Tickets: $10 (adults); click here for $8 tickets

Los Angeles + Berlin = Sister Cities

2012-01-24T10:16:00.000-08:00

Sister Cities of Los Angeles sign and City Hall. (Photo credit: azza-bazoo)

If you look closely around Los Angeles, you'll spot connections you otherwise might have missed. One of those -- and there are many in this town -- happens to be an L.A. tie to Germany's capital, Berlin.

As I mentioned in my post yesterday, CC and I are making the voyage across the Atlantic to check out the 2012 Berlinale, and I wanted to share a few things about our own city that have bonded us to that Teutonic metropolis.

On June 27, 1967, Berlin became L.A.'s sixth sister city, and the mission, according to the Los Angeles-Berlin Sister City Committee, "was to advance the relationship in every way possible between the two prominent cities: culturally, intellectually, commercially and socially."

So I wanted to show you a few L.A.-Berlin spots around the city. It's by no means comprehensive, so if you have others, please let me know!

And, fun fact. Did you know that there's a Los-Angeles-Platz park in Berlin?

CC sidles up to a segment of the Berlin Wall on Wilshire Boulevard. (2009)

In addition to the above Sister Cities sign, located downtown's Main Street very close to City Hall, there's a more striking nod to Berlin on the Miracle Mile. To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, The Wende Museum in Culver City partnered with the City of L.A. to erect this wall in 2009. CC and I went for a visit a few weeks after it was placed outside 5900 Wilshire Blvd. The two white sections that you see above have been painted over with images of Presidents John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan.

"Stasi Briefcase, n.d." (Photo credit: Marie Astrid González/The Wende Museum)

And speaking of The Wende Museum, which is tucked into a small office park off Slauson Avenue, be sure to check out its collection of Cold War artifacts, which includes artifacts such as this Stasi briefcase, which was used to listen in on private conversations in the former East Germany. Admission is free.

Berlin Forest in Griffith Park (Photo credit: Al Pavangkanan)

Take the Mt. Hollywood Trail in Griffith Park to find the Berlin Forest. With pine trees planted by Berliners and visiting German dignitaries, the Berlin Forest was dedicated in 1990 and offers great views of L.A.

If you're still in a Berlin kind of mood, here are some other places of interest:

* The Goethe-Institut Los Angeles (down the street from the Wall segment at 5750 Wilshire Blvd.)
* Berlin Currywurst (all sorts of wursts from native Germans in Silver Lake)
* Orange Berlin (a hair salon on Beverly Boulevard)
* And, of course, the '80s New Wave/pop group Berlin (of "Take My Breath Away" fame) was formed right here in L.A.

Enjoy!

L.A. Story Heading to 2012 Berlin International Film Festival

2012-01-23T09:43:00.000-08:00

That's right! CC and I will be boarding a plane in just over two weeks to visit Berlin, Germany, and its famous international film festival, aka the Berlinale.

In addition to checking out kid-friendly films in the festival's "Generation Kplus" section for children ages 4-13, we'll also be visiting the Berlinale Kindergarten -- a bilingual childcare facility for kids of festival-going parents that costs less than $10 for three hours. (Would love to see something like that at the L.A. Film Festival!)

There are also plenty of kid-friendly places to go in Berlin. There's the famous zoo, the Tiergarten, the Brandenburg Gate, the German Museum of Technology (among tons of other cool museums) and, of course, the (in)famous Berlin Wall.

"Lotte and the Moonstone Secret" will screen at the 2012 Berlinale.

So, why Berlin, you might ask?

First off, did you know that Berlin is a sister city to Los Angeles? I'll be posting this week about fun Berlin-related spots around the city.

But I also have a more personal connection to the city -- well, more like the country in general. One of my college majors, in addition to English, was German Studies. I lived for a year in Hamburg, visiting Berlin several times while I was there. And I helped cover the 2008 Berlinale when I was at Variety.

And I've wanted to go back. To show CC around. To teach her about another culture. And, really, to further explore the world with my little girl. (She's already saying, "Guten Tag!")

Of course, I wish Ian could go with us, but sadly his back is preventing that this time. That just means we'll have to plan more trips for the future!

I'll be checking in with updates while I'm there, too, so stay tuned!

Free Day at LACMA Inspires My Little Artist

2012-01-20T10:39:00.000-08:00

CC poses in front of Jeff Koons' "Balloon Dog (Blue)" at LACMA.

This has definitely been a very art-friendly week. First, Royal/T, then LACMA.

As I mentioned in my MLK Jr. post, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art offered free admission on Monday, which meant a fun field trip to the Miracle Mile.

In addition to eyeing pop art, a la Jeff Koons (above) and Andy Warhol, we also caught the new "Metropolis II" exhibit by artist Chris Burden (where we also spotted a museum-going Owen Wilson).

"Metropolis II"

CC and Ian loved it. I did, too. There was so much energy in the room, which housed the mini urban landscape, complete with zooming cars, tall buildings, bridges and freeways. LACMA visitors were crowded around the exhibit, as well as above it on a second-story landing. A couple of times, CC even tried to blend in with the exhibit herself, inching her way closer and testing the strength of the protective wire rope.

My little explorer also enjoyed the outdoor "Yellow Tubes" exhibit from Jesus Rafael Soto. Kids of all ages wound their way through the long, hair-like tubes. It reminded me a little of this former LACMA exhibit.

"Yellow Tubes"

We were able to tour so much of the museum, adding Ai Weiwei sculptures, live music and "California Design, 1930-1965: 'Living in a Modern Way'" to our art-loving day.

Not only that, but I also captured this awesomely (if I do say so myself) SoCal shot on our way back to the car. Very inspiring, indeed.

Looking up at LACMA from Wilshire Boulevard.

Design Mom Asks L.A. Story

2012-01-19T08:34:00.000-08:00

Design Mom, one of my most favorite blogs on the Web, asked yours truly to contribute my thoughts about 2012 New Year's resolutions.

In her feature, "Design Mom Asks," Gabrielle Blair proposed this question: It's a few weeks into the New Year, and my million and one resolutions have been whittled down to ...

Click here for the answers, including one from L.A. Story.

I was so excited when Gabrielle asked me to participate. If you haven't yet checked out her blog, please do. Not only is she a mom to six lovely kiddos, she's also the co-founder of femme-community site Kirtsy. Gabrielle and her husband, Ben Blair, also moved to the Normandy region of France last year, which sounds like an amazing family adventure.

Thanks again, Gabrielle, and Happy New Year!

What have you decided on for your New Year's resolutions?

Travel Sites You Might Not Know About

2012-01-18T17:09:00.000-08:00

Please check out my latest story on Tecca.com, "5 Under-the-Radar Travel Sites That Will Help Save You Money."

If you're thinking about planning a Spring Break vacation with the kiddos, check out these sites -- which offer cool features that you might not find on their big-name rivals.

Thanks for reading!

'TAG, You're It' Welcomes Young Art Lovers to Royal/T

2012-01-18T10:25:00.000-08:00

Royal/T in Culver City

"TAG, You're It," the new exhibit at art space/cafe/shop Royal/T curated by Amber Nolan, is a wonder for the pint-sized set.

Created with tykes in mind, Nolan wanted to inspire the next generation of art lovers with pieces including a giant red robot, an equally out-sized puppy dog and a mesmerizing short film of a dandelion blowing away in the wind (by John Carpenter). She was even thoughtful enough to hang the art a little lower for the little ones.

CC snaps a pic of "Your Dog" by Yoshitomo Nara.

We visited on opening night, and the exhibit is fun, exciting and an attention-getter for kids (and adults, too!) In fact, CC asked for my camera so she could take a few pics of her own.

Giant red robot, aka "Chum" by KAWS

You can also stay and grab some eats from the Japanese-style cosplay ("costume play") cafe. CC snagged a couple of crown cookies from the playfully outfitted waitresses.

Cookies!

The free exhibit runs through March 25.

Royal/T

8910 Washington Blvd.
Culver City, CA 90232
310-559-6300

CC's Ocean Adventure with Dana Wharf Sportfishing and Whale Watching

2012-01-17T09:38:00.000-08:00

CC keeps an eye out for whales in Dana Point.

On an intermittently rainy Sunday afternoon, CC and I drove down to Dana Point in Orange County to see if we could spot a whale or two.

Hopping aboard the Dana Pride, the flagship of Dana Wharf Sportfishing and Whale Watching, we started our ocean adventure, keeping an eye out for any kind of sea life. We had bundled up in layers of clothes -- shirts, sweaters, jackets, hats, pants -- which was more than necessary while skimming the chilly SoCal waters. It was actually kind of funny seeing my dress-wearing daughter sporting cold-weather clothes. (She's definitely a warm-weather California girl.)

Our boat, the Dana Pride.

According to the Dana Wharf brochure, "thousands of California Gray Whales leave the cold Arctic Seas and follow the coast line to the warm, calm waters of Southern California and Baja. This 10,000 mile round trip migration brings the majority of the Gray Whale population past Dana Point ..." Which is why founder Don Hansen launched the company in 1971.

Once I boarded the Dana Pride, I was honestly so taken with the beauty of the water, the coast and the sun peeking out from behind the cloudy sky that I didn't care if I saw any kind of sea-faring creature. That would be icing on the frosty January cake.

We did end up seeing lots of what are called common dolphins -- which exist all over the world -- as well as larger bottlenose dolphins. They were all so cute, swimming within about 10-15 feet of the boat. It was amazing, watching as they leaped out of the water, swam in groups of three or four, and seemed to follow us on our coastal journey. Unfortunately, my camera wasn't quick enough to catch them jumping out of the water.

We also caught several lazy sea lions, catching some shut-eye on a large buoy.

Sea lions!

While we didn't get to see any whales this time, CC and I so enjoyed the two-hour trip. There's plenty of room to walk around on deck, and there's also a galley downstairs in case you need a bite to eat or drink. It was also CC's first time on a boat, and I was happy to see that she definitely has her sea legs.

We'll be heading back for sure!

Dana Wharf Sportfishing and Whale Watching

34675 Golden Lantern
Dana Point, CA 92629
800-979-3370
Tickets: $32 (Adults); $19 (Children ages 3-12); $27 (Seniors/Military)

(Note: Media tickets provided.)

Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day

2012-01-16T09:42:00.000-08:00

Martin Luther King Jr.

In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a couple of Los Angeles museums are celebrating in their own way.

LACMA, which we haven't visited in a while, will be free all day today (courtesy of Target). Check out Edward Biberman's MLK painting "I Had a Dream," or visit the Boone Children's Gallery, where the kiddos can make their own mini masterpieces. Chris Burden's Metropolis II, a moving sculpture boasting 1,100 toy cars zooming around on various tracks, has also just opened at LACMA's Broad Contemporary Art Museum. (You might know his other urban-themed piece at the museum.) (Admission: Free; 12 p.m.-8 p.m.)

Kidspace, in Pasadena, will also be celebrating the holiday with "M.L.K. Day: 'Lending Hands.'" Kids will be able to participate in a variety of activities, highlighting King's message of helping others, and catch a performance from Rhythm Child. (Admission: $10; 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.)

Have a wonderful, restful day.

(Photo credit: Library of Congress via Mike Licht)

Coming Attraction: 'OVO' from Cirque du Soleil

2012-01-13T15:28:00.000-08:00

Cirque du Soleil's "OVO"

The famous blue-and-yellow tent, aka The Grand Chapiteau, has once again been raised at the Santa Monica Pier, this time ahead of Cirque du Soleil's show, "OVO."

Opening Jan. 20 right next to the ocean, "OVO" tells the story of a vibrant ecosystem that can be seen from a bug's-eye view. Big, bright and beautiful costumes (did you check out the above pic?) will share the spotlight with Cirque's trademark acrobats and other performers.

A mysterious egg will also come into play, along with a love connection between an awkward bug and a colorful ladybug with personality.

The last time CC and I watched Cirque under the Grand Chapiteau, it was truly magical -- especially next to crashing waves in the foggy night air.

Cirque du Soleil's "OVO"
Grand Chapiteau at the Santa Monica Pier
Jan. 20-Feb. 26
Tickets: $45-$270 (Adults); $31.50-$189 (Children ages 2-12)

(Photo credit: Benoit Fontaine © 2009 Cirque du Soleil Inc.)

Yay Math!

2012-01-11T12:03:00.000-08:00

CC has really started to like math. In fact, she's asked me to download a few apps, such as Park Math, that are great for learning basic addition and subtraction. (Don't get me started on the Sudoku app she discovered on my phone. I'm just learning that game myself.)

It made me think about what a great learning opportunity it is for her -- especially since we focus so much on reading and writing.

So it was perfect timing last week, when I learned about the PBS Kids Lab, which aims to make math "more approachable for parents and fun for kids." In addition to offering helpful online content -- with Spanish translations -- the site provides great tips for parents who are looking for ways to add math into everyday activities like car rides.

Here are a few:

1. When driving in the car, count the number of trees as you pass by.
2. Call out street signs, and identify their shapes.
3. Count aloud the seconds it takes for a child to brush his/her teeth.
4. Cook with the kids, and count ingredients.
5. Play grocery store with household items, and count out the change.

What do you do to help make math fun for the kiddos?

Playing Dress-Up at Robinson Beautilities

2012-01-10T11:00:00.000-08:00

CC dons some cool shades at Robinson Beautilities in Mar Vista.

There are still some stretches of Los Angeles that look as if they're stuck in 1962 or '42 -- in a good way. The signs are uber-vintage, with siding facades and neon-rimmed letters. On Venice Boulevard in Mar Vista, you'll run into that a lot.

Robinson Beautilities on Venice Boulevard

One shop we visited this past weekend was costume and make-up shop Robinson Beautilities. Crazy name, right? Ian had visited before -- to purchase a mullet wig, no less -- and wanted to introduce it to CC.

Like father, like daughter -- she loved it.

She tried on crazy sunglasses, a pink wig, played a little Skee Ball and rode a 25 cent train.

Pink Lady!

While the exterior looks as if it's been around since before poodle skirts were the Next Big Thing, the website says that the props part of the store has been there since 2001. Hmm. I think I'll have to investigate.

Robinson Beautilities

12320 Venice Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90066
310-398-5757

Dragons, Dragons, Dragons at Japanese American National Museum

2012-01-09T12:02:00.000-08:00

CC decorates her dragon streamer at the Oshogatsu Family Festival.

The Year of the Dragon officially kicks off on Jan. 23, but yesterday CC spent the afternoon at the Japanese American National Museum making a couple dragons of her own.

The museum in Little Tokyo was packed with families, as everyone joined in the fun celebrating the Oshogatsu Family Festival -- which celebrates the Japanese New Year (every Jan. 1).

While there was lots for kiddos to do, including origami, noodle-making and dragon-building, CC gravitated toward making dragon streamers and dragon hats. And, oh yeah, the dragon bounce house!

CC with her streamer and dragon hat -- all in various shades of pink!

We also caught a "performance" from candy artists, who turned liquid sweets into dragon and panda creations. That was pretty amazing, although I think CC was tempted to just grab the panda and start eating.

CC watches as a candy artist makes a sweet panda.

Yesterday -- a breezy SoCal Sunday in early January -- was gorgeous. The sun was out, the cool air was refreshing, and the afternoon was perfect for exploring L.A. with the kiddo.

P.S. Stay tuned for the Golden Dragon Festival and Parade in Chinatown Jan. 28-29!

Coming Attraction: Oshogatsu Family Festival at Japanese American National Museum

2012-01-06T09:49:00.000-08:00

The New Year might have just arrived, but the Year of the Dragon is almost upon us, and the Japanese American National Museum is celebrating the occasion with a free event, the Oshogatsu Family Festival, on Sunday, Jan. 8.

The all-day extravaganza will feature arts and crafts -- kids can make origami dragons -- as well as food and live performances. Kids will be able to make onigiri rice balls, jump in a dragon bouncer, watch as a candy artist sculpts dragons out of sweets and catch Shi shi mai (traditional lion dance) and taiko drum performances.

CC and I visited the museum almost two years ago, and she had such a wonderful time making sock puppets. I think we'll have to stop by again!

Japanese American National Museum
Oshogatsu Family Festival
Sunday, Jan. 8; 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Admission: Free
369 E. 1st St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
213-625-0414

CC's Little Seedling Family

2012-01-04T13:15:00.000-08:00

CC's godparents came back from New York with a terrific Christmas present for our little craft-loving girl. In a cute Brooklyn toy shop called Acorn, they found a make-your-own wooden family kit from seedling. -- a New Zealand-based toy company.

When she saw the wrapped present on the table after preschool, CC tore right into it and started crafting. She loved the colorful felt and fabric squares, the wooden pencils and the multi-colored thread. The package even comes with a little bottle of glue. How convenient!

So many choices! (Definitely should have fixed her hair first.)

After CC decided she would make a little girl (of course!) and I would make a mommy (of course, times two!), she chose the hair color, dress style and drew a little face. While this project is geared toward kids ages 4 and older, it's still helpful if parents are there to make sure everything is glued and cut properly.

Et voila! The first addition to CC's little wooden family:

CC chose the red hair, and the polka-dot dress over the yellow felt shirt.

Angels Flight for My Little Angel

2012-01-03T11:48:00.000-08:00

Angels Flight on Bunker Hill

On Dec. 31, 2011, Angels Flight Railway -- the shortest railway in the world, located in downtown Los Angeles -- celebrated its 110th birthday.

The little 298-foot funicular, which was built in 1901 to transport wealthy Angelenos up and down Bunker Hill, is only 25 cents for a one-way ride. (There are two orange cars, named Olivet and Sinai.) We didn't make it downtown for the railway's actual birthday, but my pal Mike, who blogs at Franklin Avenue, visited with his son, and rides were just a penny.

So yesterday, as a kind of last hurrah before preschool started again, I took my little angel downtown for a round-trip flight of her own.

CC checks out Angels Flight.

After going up and down the railway, we headed across the street to Grand Central Market and grabbed lunch at one of the booths, MF Gourmet, which adds a bit of hipster splash to the historic market.

Exploring the market.

What a great way to kick off 2012 in the City of Angels!

Angels Flight

351 S. Hill St.
Los Angeles, CA 90013

High-Steppin' at the Santa Monica Pier's Pacific Park

2012-01-02T09:21:00.000-08:00

The Euro Bungee at Pacific Park

If you've visited the Santa Monica Pier, you might have noticed this convoluted-looking contraption at Pacific Park. Every time I've walked past this high-tech trampoline, CC has been too young and too small for me to take it even a bit seriously. (OK, so it kind of freaked me out a little.)

But this time, when one of her friends invited us to the Pier for a play date, the girls made a beeline for it.

It's called the Euro Bungee ($5), and CC went crazy for it.

First, kids hop on a scale, which determines how many bungee cords will be attached to the child. They are then strapped into a belt and hooked up to the cords. After being schooled on the rules (no flips!), the kids can jump as high as they can, aided by a staff member who's in charge of the hydraulics.

What a thrill for CC! She was leaping high in the air -- easily 10 feet -- and was laughing and giggling the whole time. Same for her friends.

The other moms and I talked about how we'd lost our thrill-seeking ride mojo after having kids. Does that happen for everyone?

Luckily, CC also rode rides that were more my speed:

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T09:16:00.000-08:00

Happy 2012! Last night, we spent the evening blowing up balloons, wearing party hats and taking lots of fun pictures.

Hope you had a wonderful and safe New Year's Eve! Look forward to more adventures this year. :)

Happy Last Day of 2011!

2011-12-31T09:56:00.000-08:00

CC and her friends enjoy rides at the Santa Monica Pier.

Happy (almost) New Year! Hope everyone had a wonderful 2011. This has definitely been the year of adventure. CC and I discovered new places -- check out these fun, kid-friendly spaces here, here and here -- and look forward to visiting many more in 2012.

In fact, we've already got some amazing plans for the coming months. Hint? It involves a Los Angeles sister city!

Stay tuned, and in the meantime, have a wonderfully happy and successful New Year!

Why I Love Ikea

2011-12-29T09:40:00.000-08:00

CC dives into the ball pit at Ikea.

The day after Christmas, Ian and I decided to go shopping for a new chest of drawers and kitchen island at Ikea.

That idea might sound infinitely crazy on several counts: One of the biggest shopping days of the year. Ikea is huge. And will CC try to lose us in one of the faux living rooms?

But the day was great. We didn't find a chest of drawers for CC's room, but we did find a great island -- all while CC was happily playing in the supervised (and complimentary!) play space for kids.

Not all Ikeas have them, as far as I know, but the one in Carson does, and it's fabulous. Ikea staff watches your child for an hour, free of charge, while you shop. They have the ball pit, toy kitchens and shops, and a small TV with a sitting area.

We've been several times, and CC loves it. In fact, she asks to go.

We also grabbed some eats at the Ikea bistro before we left -- and that day, kids' meals were also free.

Not bad!

P.S. I know the picture is blurry, but it totally captures CC's intense love for ball pits.

Scooter's Jungle for My Little Monkey

2011-12-27T09:08:00.000-08:00

CC swings at Scooter's Jungle.

In addition to Christmas and CC's big 0-5, December also has been the month of preschool birthdays.

I love these opportunities to check out new party spots around Los Angeles. One of her friends celebrated his 4th birthday at Scooter's Jungle, an indoor play space in El Segundo. Fit for any energetic little monkey, this tropical-themed adventure land is stocked with tall climb-ables, bounce houses, a zip line, tall inflatable slides, air-hockey stations and little scooters, of course.

CC loved it. (And I loved how much she wore herself out -- perfect for a smooth bedtime.) In fact, a few of the other parents and I loved it so much, we met up the next week for a play date during Scooter's open play time.

Both times we visited, CC gravitated toward the zip line.

CC zooms down the zip line.

The "ride" was thrilling and apparently addictive for little people. Each time CC hit the soft, inflatable wall at the other side of the line, she dropped down, ran back to the beginning and leaped on the bar again and again.

She also rocked the huge slide, although she wanted me to go down with her the first time. And it was tall for me! After that, though, she was done with parental accompaniment and rode solo the rest of the time.

One of the inflatable slides at Scooter's Jungle.

I would definitely recommend Scooter's for a birthday party -- there's a separate room for pizza and cake -- or for open play ($7 per child). Especially if you're eager for your child to get a good night's rest that night.

Scooter's Jungle

606 Hawaii St.
El Segundo, CA 90245
888-516-1983

Have a Holly, Jolly Christmas!

2011-12-23T10:29:00.000-08:00

Have a very Merry Christmas! Thank you so much for reading my blog. It really means a lot.

This is our tree via Instagram. I love how the photo looks as if it's 1972.

Oh, and parents! I just discovered this site, Capture the Magic, (hat tip: Cup of Jo) which puts Santa right in your living room. :) Enjoy!

Christmas Craft: Flying Angel Cards from 'The Possibility Shop'

2011-12-22T07:54:00.000-08:00

Making angel cards at "The Possibility Shop"

Flying angel cards, featuring your little angel? What a great idea for the holidays -- especially for the Christmas tree! Check out this short webisode of "The Possibility Shop" from DisneyFamily.com for instructions on how to make this simple craft with your kids.

Here are the materials you need:

5" x 7" canvas board (or the like -- stretched canvas, a piece of wood or even thick cardboard will do the trick)
Thin brushes
Acrylic paints in a variety of colors
A beautiful ribbon approx. 12" long and 1/2" - 1" wide
Clothespin
Strong glue, such as tacky glue or a glue gun (used by an adult)
One circle doily approx. 8" wide
A photograph of your child posing like an angel

Click here for the how-to. Enjoy!

Kid-Friendly Tablets and More Last-Minute Gifts

2011-12-21T11:25:00.000-08:00

I have two new parent-friendly stories posted at other outlets that I wanted to share.

The first, "7 Top Tablets for Kids" at Tecca.com, gives moms and dads a rundown of child-friendly tablet computers from a parent's perspective.

The second, "Last Minute Holiday Deals for Kids" at Culver City Patch, shares a few discounted items at stores around the West LA city.

Last-Minute Holiday Gift Guide for Kids

2011-12-21T09:20:00.000-08:00

1. CC asked for this specifically. This J. Crew poplin party dress is adorable and on sale. It's now $44.99, down from $69.50.

2. Great for boys and girls, these soft toys from Ikea also help support quality education for kids all over the globe. For every soft-toy purchase ($9.99-$14.99), Ikea will donate $1 to UNICEF or Save the Children to support children in need.

3. This activity book from Kimmel Kids ($22) is wonderful for little imaginations -- and moments during the holiday break when kids (and parents!) are searching for fun things to do. It's a coloring book, a book of punch-out shapes and offers 12 templates for creative exploration.

4. Ian has been big on showing CC old-school TV shows and cartoons. I would love to show CC the episode from "I Love Lucy," when she and Ethel take jobs as candy wrappers and end up stuffing their cheeks with chocolates. "The Best of 'I Love Lucy'" DVD has that episode, along with 13 others, and is on sale for $9.99 at Target.

5. Your son asked you for a guitar this Christmas? This T-shirt from ThinkGeek sports a working electronic guitar on its front. So cool! Pick one up at Old Navy for $24.94.

Merry Christmas!

Story Pirates Bring Marie Curie to Life at Geffen Playhouse

2011-12-19T08:41:00.000-08:00

CC with Zoe Jarman (as Marie Curie in "Brilliance!")
at the Geffen Playhouse.

Who knew that the life of a famous female scientist could be turned into a clever, kid-friendly musical that brings out the laughs in children as well as adults?

That's exactly what the acting troupe Story Pirates did with their play "Brilliance!" at the Geffen Playhouse. CC and I caught the final show a week ago Saturday and had a wonderful time learning about two-time Nobel Prize winner Marie Curie and her radioactive discoveries.

Set to music from a single keyboard, the play told a pared-down version of Curie's life and the challenges of being a brilliant woman in the company of men. Played for humor and silliness -- with a large dose of fun audience interaction -- Curie's efforts in the scientific world took center stage.

It was great listening to the audience boo the grumpy old men of the Academy of Sciences, which ultimately refused Curie's membership into its established community.

CC and I also had fun watching musical numbers -- complete with feather boas -- about Curie's life and love of science.

After the show, which lasted about an hour, we headed into the lobby and picked up a complimentary snack and drink for CC. She also had the opportunity to meet the cast and take pictures.

I was chatting with Zoe Jarman (pictured at top), who starred as Marie Curie. We were both chatting about how important it is for girls to be encouraged in the math and sciences. And then it occurred to me that CC might not even register that it's ever been a challenge for girls or women to be accepted into any field.

Which made me happy to think just how far we've come.

Stay tuned for more performances from Story Pirates at the Geffen. With their Create-a-Show program, the next one set for Feb. 5, they encourage little ones to actually write the script, which they then perform.

Story Pirates at the Geffen Playhouse

Saturday mornings (check website)
10886 Le Conte Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90024
310-208-5454

[Note: Media tickets provided]

It's Not Christmas Until Someone Loses a Gingerbread Toe

2011-12-16T15:32:00.000-08:00

CC about to break open her Gingerbread Man Kit.

Sometimes I really have to pat myself on the back. Last month -- even before Thanksgiving! -- we were at Trader Joe's, and I had the foresight to buy not only an Advent Calendar but also a Gingerbread Man Kit, both for a song.
While I've seen plenty of calendars since my lucky visit, I haven't seen even a crumb of a gingerbread man. Go Mom!

CC had lots of fun spending some time last Saturday afternoon working on her Gingerbread Girl. All of the ingredients were included, and she was able to use her imagination when it came to design.

Of course, once she was done, it was all about the eating. Poor Gingerbread Girl didn't have a chance.

"I want her head!" CC screamed as she bent poor GG's noggin forward. "I'll bite her toe!" she added.

What had I created? (No wonder GG's face looks a bit troubled in the above pic.) Maybe next year, we'll go back to the relatively benign gingerbread house. No bodily injuries can be associated with that one.

Stonyfield, L.A. Story Help CHiPS for Kids Holiday Toy Drive

2011-12-15T13:22:00.000-08:00

Two CHiP officers accept toys for tots at the mall.

What would you do with a gift card for $50, if given to you specifically to give to someone else?

I've been thinking about that for almost a week now, ever since Stonyfield sent me a gift card via MomsLA to spread some holiday "sweetitude."

You'd think it would be easy, right?

But when I started thinking about all of the charities I could donate the money to -- American Indian College Fund, for example -- my head started spinning.

And I'm not really great about walking up to people in line and paying for their items. It just seemed too awkward.

So I decided to buy a bunch of toys and donate them to the California Highway Patrol's CHiPS for Kids Holiday Toy Drive. For more than 20 years, the officers have been donating toys to underprivileged kiddos in the area. It's local. It's for kids. And to think that I could help make a child's Christmas a little brighter is just amazing.

If you're interested in donating, too, here's a link to all California Highway Patrol offices.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

(Full disclosure: No compensation was received for this post. I was given $50 byStonyfield to give away as part of their #Sweetitude program for theHolidays.)

Back Surgery. Boo.

2011-12-14T12:16:00.000-08:00

Ian is having disc replacement surgery on his back this afternoon. If you've had this particular problem -- or know anyone who has -- then you know just how frustrating something as simple as sitting down can be. He's had to endure that for several months now, and he finally got the thumbs up for surgery. For me, it's both a relief but also something that makes me nervous.

Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers today.

CC Meets Santa & Santa Snoopy at Knott's Merry Farm

2011-12-13T09:45:00.000-08:00

Knott's Berry Farm, er, Knott's Merry Farm -- as the theme park is called through Jan. 1 -- hosted a special blogger day, which also happened to be CC's birthday. And not only did CC get the chance to meet Santa and Mrs. Claus, she also got her picture taken with a very special "Peanut," Santa Snoopy.

Knott's decks out the park in all things Christmas and wintry over the holidays. From the Christmas Crafts Fair, which offers hand-painted glass and embroidery in the old-fashioned village setting, to Elf Mountain, and a Peanuts' holiday parade, the park is more than ready to bring a winter wonderland to the kiddos.

In addition to exploring the park, we rode a few rides and caught a live performance of "The Gift of the Magi," a story about holiday love and sacrifice based on the short story by O. Henry. The play was funny, full of music and short enough to keep children's attention.

CC even got a pic with the cast after the show.

While we didn't have a chance to check out the parade or the "It's Christmas, Snoopy!" ice-skating show -- it was, after all, CC's birthday, and we had a lot planned for the day -- she did have the opportunity to sip hot chocolate while decorating cookies.

Santa and Mrs. Claus joined in the fun, too.

Knott's Merry Farm
Through Jan. 1
8039 Beach Blvd.
Buena Park, CA 90620
714-220-5200

Kidspace Children's Museum + ScholarShare Giveaway

2011-12-09T15:45:00.001-08:00

CC at Kidspace Children's Museum last year.

UPDATE: Congrats to everyone who commented on the post! You will be receiving tickets to Kidspace Children's Museum. Just email me at losangelesstory@gmail.com with your address, and I'll have them sent to you.

Just after CC turned 1 year old, Ian and I set up a California 529 college savings account for her. We didn't have a ton of money to save, but we did want to have something for her when 2024 (eek, I know!) rolled around.

And every month since we started contributing, I've loved watching it grow.

ScholarShare, which handles California's 529 plan, is sponsoring a section of Kidspace Children's Museum, that educational adventure-land CC loved last "Noon" Year's Eve. And I'm giving away 5 family four-packs of tickets to L.A. Story readers.

If you haven't been to Kidspace, it really is a wonderland for little ones. They can crawl through little tunnels, pretending they're ants. They can also climb the 40-foot Raindrop Climber (which is totally safe, by the way). Parents and kiddos will also enjoy exploring the outdoor water wheel and grassy paths.

Kidspace Children's Museum
480 N. Arroyo Blvd.
Pasadena, CA 91103
626-449-9144
Admission: $10 for adults and children over age 1; free for children under 12 months

*** GIVEAWAY ***

I'm giving away 5 family four-packs of tickets to Kidspace Children's Museum.

To enter, just leave a comment below telling me any savings tips you have for you or for your kids.

For more chances to win, follow me on Twitter and retweet this giveaway. I'm at @la_story. Or you can "Like" the L.A. Story Facebook page and share the giveaway.

Just be sure to leave extra comments telling me you did so.

Good luck, and I will announce the 5 winners on this post on Friday, Dec. 16!

This contest is sponsored by ScholarShare.

Friday Finds

2011-12-09T13:32:00.001-08:00

I love this idea! Why send out Christmas cards when you can make an awesome holiday video? The Foster family has done just that, and it looks amazing. This definitely gives me a few ideas for next year. (Hat tip: Design Mom)

* Check out these tech-friendly gloves.

* This glitter nail polish would be perfect for holiday parties.

* Another reason to love Ikea.

* This would be a fun addition to CC's wall.

Coming Attraction: Free Winter Holiday Festival at Downtown on Ice

2011-12-08T10:26:00.001-08:00

Downtown on Ice at Pershing Square

Santa and his reindeer will be riding (skating?) to Pershing Square on Saturday for a free Winter Holiday Festival at Downtown on Ice.

Presented by the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks, the event will feature lots of snow, crafts, puppet shows, a train ride, as well as the jolly old elf himself.

While the festival itself is gratis, admission to the outdoor ice-skating rink is $6 per person and $2 for each skate rental.

We've never been to the Pershing Square rink, but this definitely sounds like something CC would enjoy!

Winter Holiday Festival at Downtown on Ice
Saturday, Dec. 10; 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
Free (Skate rental and admission is extra.)
Pershing Square
532 S. Olive St.
Los Angeles, CA 90013
213-847-4970
(Downtown on Ice is open every day through Jan. 16, 2012.)

Free Screening: 'Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked'

2011-12-07T13:01:00.001-08:00

"Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked" will be hitting theaters Dec. 16, but I have a special opportunity for readers to catch an advance screening on Saturday, Dec. 10, courtesy of 20th Century Fox.

The movie, which CC is looking forward to seeing, stars Jason Lee, David Cross and Jenny Slate, as well as the voices of Justin Long, Matthew Gray Gubler, Jesse McCartney, Amy Poehler, Anna Faris and Christina Applegate.

Here's the synopsis, according to a press release: "The vacationing Chipmunks and Chipettes are turning a luxury cruise liner into their personal playground, until they become ‘chipwrecked’ on a remote island. As the ‘Munks and Chipettes scheme to find their way home, they accidentally discover their new turf is not as deserted as it seems."

The movie will be showing at the AMC Burbank 16 on Dec. 10 at 11 a.m. (See below for more details.)

There are 50 available spots for the screening on Saturday, and seats are guaranteed if you follow these instructions:

* Visit gofobo.com/RSVP and enter the code LASTB4VG to download your passes.

"Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked"

Saturday, December 10; 11 a.m.

AMC Burbank 16

125 E. Palm Ave.

Burbank, CA 91502

Let me know what you think of the movie!

MomsLA, Tecca Team on Holiday Gift Guide

2011-12-05T16:16:00.001-08:00

While I haven't officially started my Christmas shopping yet (eek, I know!), I have been scouring gift guides all over the Web.

There's even one that I contributed to myself. And this holiday gift guide marries two great themes: parenting and tech.

MomsLA, the blogging group that I contribute to, and Tecca (where I've also contributed) teamed up this season to provide a holiday guide that's great for parents who also happen to be tech fans.

You'll be able to find gifts for the kiddos, as well as Mom, Dad and tech-savvy G'parents.

My contribution -- a Leapfrog LeapPad tablet -- is something that Ian's mom gave to CC for her birthday. And she loves it!

Happy shopping!

Coming Attraction: 52nd Annual L.A. County Holiday Celebration

2011-12-05T13:26:00.001-08:00

The Jazz Tap Ensemble rehearses for the L.A. County Holiday Celebration.

Tap dancers, jazz musicians, a capella groups and more gathered this past weekend at the Music Center downtown to rehearse for the 52nd Annual L.A. County Holiday Celebration.

The spirited (and free!) holiday event will once again take place center stage at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion on Christmas Eve, from 3 p.m.-6 p.m.

CC and I caught a few rehearsals this weekend (as we did last year), and watching these talented artists perform inspired my little one to show off her own smooth moves.

CC dancing at the Music Center.

According to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, which sponsors the event, there will be more than 20 choirs, music ensembles and dance companies, all of whom come from local neighborhoods.

The rehearsals we caught included the Jazz Tap Ensemble (pictured up top), which blends jazz musicians with super-skilled tap dancers. (CC even broke out into her own tap dance after watching this group.)

Traditional Christmas songs sung by the lovely and costumed Charles Dickens Carolers also had CC humming along.

Prime Note Ensemble

Prime Note Ensemble, an all-male Filipino choir, provided gorgeously sung entertainment that CC loved.

What's amazing is that all of these groups have only about 20 minutes to rehearse before the big day. But, if you haven't been, the Christmas Eve performance is truly thrilling -- a wonderful L.A. family tradition.

If you can't make it in person, the event will be broadcast live on KCET and KPFK-FM and streamed live at www.kcet.org.

52nd Annual L.A. County Holiday Celebration
Saturday, Dec. 24 (3 p.m.-6 p.m.)

Dorothy Chandler Pavilion of the Music Center
135 N. Grand Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Tickets: Free. Parking, too, will be gratis.

For more information visit HolidayCelebration.org.

Happy Birthday, CC! You're 5!

2011-12-04T08:13:00.001-08:00

CC with her Hello Kitty pinata.

Happy birthday, CC! I can't believe you're 5 years old.

Although today is your actual birthday, you've had a busy week. You had a wonderful party at preschool, where you and your classmates did a number on your lovely Hello Kitty pinata. After that, the kiddos, teachers and I indulged in a very pink My Little Pony cupcake cake.

Today we're heading to Knott's Berry (er, Merry) Farm before the three of us visit Benihana for dinner.

I'm so proud of you, my sweetheart. You are a curious, kind, friendly, whip-smart little girl. And I remember the moment you were born like it was 5 minutes ago rather than 5 years.

I love you!

Christmas DVD Fun + Giveaway

2011-12-03T12:45:00.001-08:00

UPDATE: Congrats to Ruth, who won the 5 DVDs from NCircle Entertainment! Thanks to everyone who participated, and stay tuned for more giveaways.

Ho Ho Ho! It's almost time for Christmas. CC and I have been checking out several holiday-themed DVDs, courtesy of preschool-friendly NCircle Entertainment, and I'm offering all 5 of them as a giveaway!

But first, let's talk about each of the offerings.

CC was so excited when she saw "Chloe's Closet: Chloe's Winter Wonderland" ($8.99) and demanded to watch that one first. Sitting with her little next-door neighbor, CC squealed with laughter as Chloe went on snowy adventures after playing dress-up in her closet. The DVD features four episodes from the PBS Kids series, each with the charming and imaginative girl and her little ducky.

Next up was the Aussie television series "The Fairies: Christmas Wishes Fairyland" ($5.99). This winged duo takes preschoolers on a magical journey through their fairy land, where they meet lots of fun characters. Little girls in tutus (some playing violins!) made their way to the winter wonderland, singing a variety Christmas songs.

"WordWorld: Happy Holidays WordFriends" ($8.99) is a new DVD from the PBS Kids show that has three holiday-themed episodes and, according to NCircle, one bonus music video, "Dancing Dog." I'm such a fan of this preschool show. I love how each object is created by using letters that spell the word. Very clever!

"The Wiggles: It's Always Christmas With You" ($8.99) takes viewers on a journey around the globe to see how other cultures celebrate the holidays. This new DVD is the group's first holiday entry in seven years and features celebrity guests, including 'N Sync's Joey Fatone.

And, finally, we have "The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That: Told From the Cold" ($8.99). This holiday DVD, featuring the voice of Martin Short as that famous feline, offers a few chilly lessons with the onscreen fun. "Discover how water can turn into snow, that penguins don't fly," according to NCircle, and how black bears get ready for hibernation.

*** GIVEAWAY ***

I'm giving away all 5 of the above NCircle Entertainment DVDs!

To enter, please leave a comment telling me your child's favorite preschool show or character.

For more chances to win, follow me on Twitter and retweet this giveaway. I'm at @la_story. Or you can "Like" the L.A. Story Facebook page and share the giveaway.

Just be sure to leave extra comments telling me you did so.

Good luck, and I will announce the winner on Monday, Dec. 5! (I know! It's a quick one.)

Friday Finds

2011-12-02T15:27:00.001-08:00

While I love the fact that I have a very California girl, I still want my little beach baby to know about her roots. (I'm from Oklahoma, and Ian is from New York.)

That's why I thought this beautifully simple "My Roots Lie Here" print, complete with 2 heart stickers, from Children Inspire Design is so wonderful. In addition to the USA version, there are also prints of all the (inhabitable) continents, countries and individual states ($40 each). Or, you can just take the whole world for an additional $10.

* CC loves Mo Willems' children's book "Knuffle Bunny." Now the writer has a cool app.

* The cleanest pet by far.

* Yay, working (outside the home) moms!

* What a great tool for measuring your child's foot (and finding her shoe size!)

Gingerbread Houses for Ronald McDonald House Charities

2011-12-02T10:32:00.001-08:00

CC's and my gingerbread house for Ronald McDonald House Charities

In addition to receiving Advent calendars and holiday toys, CC is also getting the chance to give back to those in need.

This morning before preschool, CC and I decorated a gingerbread house (above) for Ronald McDonald House Charities, an organization that gives families with hospitalized children housing and other support.

When you make a donation on the website, you can create your own gumdrop-friendly house. RMHC is celebrating The Season of Giving and is hoping to raise $550,000 "to help keep parents and siblings with their sick child this season and beyond."

You might remember when CC and I visited the Ronald McDonald House here in Los Angeles two years ago. It made an impression on my little McNugget, and I want her to continue to know how important it is to help other families.

As a coincidence, we went to McDonald's yesterday. CC kept her Happy Meal box and said this morning that it was her own Ronald McDonald House.

Click here to find out how you can help, too!

Coming Attraction: 'The Nutcracker'

2011-12-01T09:42:00.001-08:00


The Joffrey Ballet performs "The Nutcracker." [Photo credit: Herbert Migdoll]

With Christmas time comes "The Nutcracker," that beautiful Tchaikovsky ballet filled with gorgeous costumes, beautiful music and, of course, dancing sweets.

The Joffrey Ballet will be performing the famed ballet at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion beginning today through Dec. 4, as part of the 2011-12 Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at the Music Center season.

Click here for tickets, which range from $34-$125.

Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
135 North Grand Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Advent Calendars!

2011-12-01T06:59:00.001-08:00

[Image courtesy of Oh Happy Day!]

Happy December! Can't believe it's already here.

And speaking of December, today I'm breaking out the Advent calendar for CC. She loves them. How awesome is it to open up a little secret window filled with goodies every day until Christmas?

While we opted for a cute polar bear calendar from Trader Joe's, I also wanted to share with you a clever calendar craft I found here (and pictured up top). You can download free printables to make your own Advent calendar. Very cute!

Now go and open up that first window!

Sunset on the Beach

2011-11-29T16:27:00.001-08:00

CC at Venice Beach

I have to say, I love living about 15 minutes from the ocean. It's gorgeous, especially on cool nights like this one. During the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, we drove over to Venice Beach to walk along the pier and stroll along the canals.

It was amazing watching CC just playing in the sand, as if the entire coast were her playground.

Rolling Robots: Hands-on Fun in Glendale

2011-11-28T11:04:00.000-08:00

CC plays at Rolling Robots.

Eager to introduce CC to an unconventional playtime experience, I jumped at the chance to take her to Rolling Robots at the Americana in Glendale. For little gear heads looking to jump start their creative motors, this is a fun place to build, experiment and just play.

And while it's definitely popular with boys, girls can -- and should -- get in on the fun, too.

Owner George Kirkman, who founded the shop with his wife (and fellow aerospace engineer!) Bing Jiang, invited CC and me, plus her tyke friend G and his fam, to see what the shop was all about. Gathering at a long table in the store, which sits on the Brand Boulevard side of the mall, we unpacked complimentary boxes, gears, screwdrivers and other assorted nuts and bolts, and built a couple of robots.

CC, G and his family work on robots.

Kids of (mostly) all ages can find something fun to do at Rolling Robots. While little ones who still need practice with fine motor skills might get a bit frustrated, children who are about 4 or 5 and older will find something to get their little fingers moving.

G chose to build a small robot that could be used for coloring, while CC opted for Robox, a cardboard robot kit that also contains a storybook and stickers. (I think it had her at "stickers.")

CC and Robox

Rolling Robots also offers parties and workshops. In fact, while we were there, we watched as a group of about 15 kids built their own mechanical robots with the help of a few staff members.

Talking to a couple of workshop leaders, I also learned that they offer classes in basic electronics. Kids can build circuit boards, make motors as well as delve into the world of electromagnets(!). Kirkman said that they want to make learning fun -- to show that it's not intimidating or scary.

Older kids can even build complicated machines like the one below.

If parents are looking to just peruse or maybe get a small sample of robot fun, the shop also sports a robot arena (see top photo), where kids can play with remote-control robots in a large, enclosed space. (Prices are based on time spent playing.)

Of course, CC is still smitten with princess toys, but giving her the opportunity to build her own toy, I think, helped her to find fun in the grittier part of playtime.

Rolling Robots

The Americana at Brand (and on Palos Verdes Peninsula)
757 Americana Way
Glendale, CA 91210
818-241-2308

[Note: While we received a complimentary robot-making session, the views in this post are solely my own.]

Zooming into the LA Auto Show

2011-11-25T09:29:00.001-08:00

CC admires BMW concept cars at the LA Auto Show.

CC spent the day before Thanksgiving pretending she was driving me to Disneyland in various cars that we definitely can't afford. That's right. We were visiting the annual LA Auto Show at the Los Angeles Convention Center downtown, and we checked out everything from new Range Rovers to Smart cars to, of course, the Volkswagen CC.

CC with the, natch, CC.

We had fun wandering around the expansive Convention Center, moving through a maze of shiny, accessible automobiles. Unfortunately, though, we missed out on the Kids' Fun Zone, a tyke-friendly oasis that offers face-painting and bounce houses. (It's only available on the weekends.)

CC chooses tunes for our pretend Disneyland trip.

The closest car we could find that was CC-sized was the orange Smart Car. If I didn't have a child, I would have one of these for myself. They're very affordable and cute. (Although, not sure I'd take it on the freeway.)

CC gets in the driver's seat of a Smart car.

Of course, there's always something unexpected at the LA Auto Show for non-car experts like us. We stumbled on this "executive" car, below, and were mystified. How great would this be on road trips with kids?

A little something extra.

LA Auto Show
Nov. 18-27
Los Angeles Convention Center
1201 S. Figueroa St.
Los Angeles, CA 90015
Tickets: $10-$12; Kids 12 and under are free with an accompanying adult
[Note: Media tickets provided.]

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T07:22:00.001-08:00

Have a happy and safe Thanksgiving! Enjoy spending time with family and friends.

Bunnies in Santa Monica

2011-11-22T16:54:00.001-08:00

Ian took CC to the Santa Monica Pier yesterday. On the way there, they stopped to hold a few baby bunnies, which their owner had on display.

How cute is that?!

Disney Princess Castle Extravaganza + Giveaway

2011-11-21T16:29:00.001-08:00

Guess who's excited about her Disney Princess Ultimate Dream Castle

UPDATE: Congrats to April G, who won Mattel's Cinderella 2-in-1 Ballgown Surprise doll! I'll send you an email to get your address. Thanks to everyone who participated (and to Random.org), and stay tuned for more giveaways!

There was more than a little excitement at home when we received the Disney Princess Ultimate Dream Castle. As a member of Mattel's Disney Insider Program, I've had the chance to check out a few toys. And gauging from CC's above reaction, I'd say this one is a hit -- and it wasn't even out of the box.

The castle ($149.99), which has three levels and is just a bit taller than CC herself, includes different rooms that are decorated to match the various princess's personalities. The kitchen is styled for Princess Tiana, and Ariel's bathroom sports a bubbling seashell tub. There's even a staircase, complete with secret glass slipper compartment, just for Cinderella.

CC and Ian build the castle together.

What took me by surprise was how much Ian enjoyed building the castle with CC. As a guy who grew up loving G.I. Joe, Ian still looked right at home as a castle creator for his little girl.

Once it was finished, CC opened the Cinderella 2-in-1 Ballgown Surprise doll ($19.99), which arrived separately, and played in her room for what seemed like hours. (To a tired parent, even a few free minutes must be cherished.) She loved changing Cinderella's ballgown (which turns from blue to pink with simple flipping and folding) and having the princess doll move through her glorious estate.

What I loved the most was seeing CC use her imagination to create stories, set up tea time with her other dolls and handle small pieces with care.

In that way, Christmas came a little early for me, too.

*** GIVEAWAY ***

I'm giving away 1 Cinderella 2-in-1 Ballgown Surprise doll.

To enter, please leave a comment telling me your child's favorite Disney princess or which princess room your child would like to play in the most.

For more chances to win, follow me on Twitter and retweet this giveaway. I'm at @la_story. Or you can "Like" the L.A. Story Facebook page.

Just be sure to leave extra comments telling me you did so.

Good luck, and I will announce the winner on Monday, Dec. 5!

'Arthur Christmas' Review

2011-11-16T19:00:00.000-08:00

Arthur and Bryony the elf in "Arthur Christmas"

"Arthur Christmas" will be coming to town Nov. 23, but CC and I caught an advance screening of this touching, family-friendly movie last week -- and loved it.

You might have read my positive preview here, but now that we've seen the entire Aardman/Sony Pictures Animation movie, I can definitely say that CC and I are big fans. In fact, my little Christmas elf has asked me to retell part of the story every time we're in the car. (But more on that later.)

As I wrote in my previous post: "'Arthur Christmas' is the story of the younger, bumbling and Christmas-sweater-loving son of Santa Claus. Voiced by James McAvoy, Arthur wants every child to believe in Santa and the Christmas spirit. While he's the heart of the operation, his older brother Steve (Hugh Laurie) is the brains. Steve's got Christmas Eve present-giving down to military precise operation. And there are some serious G.I. Elves here.

Field elves on Christmas Eve.

"But there's one problem. One child -- a girl who's on the fence about the existence of Santa -- gets left out by elf error. And it's Arthur and his GrandSanta (Bill Nighy) who want to make things right. The old-fashioned way."

Arthur is also joined by a gift-wrapped-obsessed elf named Bryony (Ashley Jensen). She is CC's favorite character, and who could blame her? Not only is Bryony a faithful friend, she's also sassy, fun and seriously determined to give children the best-wrapped presents ever.

As a parent, I especially loved Arthur's wide-eyed wonder at Christmas and his admiration of dad, Santa Claus -- "the best man ever" in his eyes. When that's contrasted with Steve's lack of the proverbial Christmas spirit ("Christmas isn't a time for emotion," he says at one point), you see how nice it is to revel in being a kid again.

There are also a lot of clever moments in this 3D movie (and I'm not just talking about that Justin Bieber music video at the beginning, which CC enjoyed despite my lack of Bieber hysteria). The Kidscan, which I mentioned before, measures kids' naughty or nice score, and there's the HOHO 3000, aka Handheld Operational and Homing Organizer. There's even a squeaky cameo of Aardman's Shaun the Sheep.

What CC seemed to love the most -- and what she's made me retell a dozen times already -- is a moment in the movie (I'm not giving anything away) when Arthur is visiting a child's house and meets a chihuahua that loves his fuzzy reindeer slippers.

What Arthur does for the chihuahua is sweet, tender and full of holiday spirit -- something I love to see in my own little elf.

Why, hello, Chicago!

2011-11-16T10:39:00.001-08:00

[Photo courtesy of bryce_edwards/Flickr]

Today I'm flying to Chicago to present at a conference for English teachers. I don't happen to be an English teacher myself (I teach a journalism class here in L.A.), but I'll be discussing the process of creating a Writing Center at secondary schools, something I'm working on with the school where I teach.

I'll still be posting, though, and announcing winners for the "Brilliance!" giveaway and the LA Auto Show giveaway.

Talk soon!

'Cars' Exhibit Revs Up at Petersen Automotive Museum

2011-11-15T16:27:00.001-08:00

CC and Lightning McQueen at the Petersen Automotive Museum.

CC got up close and personal with Lightning McQueen and a few of his pint-sized "Cars" friends at the opening of the exhibit "From Silver Screen to Die-cast: Disney*Pixar Cars Imagined by Mattel" at the Petersen Automotive Museum.

On Friday, we joined local children, parents and designers of the die-cast toy line while surrounded by the extensive collection of little Lightnings and tiny Tow Maters, which will be at the museum for the next six months. CC even found a pink "big rig" in one display case and announced it as her favorite.

Located in the Hollywood Gallery alongside a selection of auction items from Bonhams -- including the 1949 Triumph Trophy TR5 Scrambler Custom motorcycle ridden by The Fonz in the TV series "Happy Days!" -- the "Cars" exhibit sported several fun dioramas and hundreds of mini coupes, pickups and buses.

We even got to meet Scott Derman, the designer of Mattel's new "Cars 2 Lightning McQueen Alive," a motorized car that zooms, spins and talks (and sometimes taunts!), complete with moving eyes and mouth. Derman said the car took about a year and half to make, particularly because it needs three motors to move its various parts.

CC was lucky enough to be able to take home one of the toys. She's been zooming around with it ever since.

Petersen Automotive Museum

6060 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90036

Weekend Giveaway: Tickets to 'Brilliance!' at Geffen Playhouse

2011-11-12T12:11:00.001-08:00

Zoe Jarman stars as Marie Curie in "Brilliance!" at the Geffen Playhouse

2nd UPDATE: Congrats to Adri, who won the Family 4 Pack to the Dec. 3 performance of "Brilliance!" I'll send an email with details. Thanks again to everyone who participated!

UPDATE: Congrats to Chanscom, who won the Family 4 Pack to the Nov. 19 performance of "Brilliance!" I'll send you an email with details. I'll announce the winner for the Dec. 3 performance on Monday, Nov. 21. Thanks to everyone who has participated!

What do you get when you mix science with family-friendly theater? "Brilliance!" according to the Geffen Playhouse. The theater's in-house education partner, Story Pirates, today kicked off performances of this kid-focused comedy about Nobel Prize winner Marie Curie.

Created as a companion show to Alan Alda's "Radiance: The Passion of Marie Curie," which opened at the Geffen Playhouse Nov. 1, this light-hearted look at the first woman to win a Nobel Prize is geared toward kids ages 5 and up.

According to the theater, "[T]he Geffen Playhouse Story Pirates will inspire audiences of all ages to laugh and cheer their way through a fast-paced and interactive exploration of Madame Curie's radioactive discoveries."

An added bonus for the audience: You can also stay for snacks and meet the cast after the show. This sounds like a great way to introduce kids to theater -- and to reinforce the idea that girls can rock at science, too!

"Brilliance!"
Geffen Playhouse
10886 Le Conte Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90024

Remaining performances: Nov. 19, Dec. 3, Dec. 10 (11 a.m.)
Tickets: $15 (adults) $10 (children)

*** GIVEAWAY ***

I'm giving away 2 Family 4-Packs of tickets to "Brilliance!" -- one set for the Nov. 19 performance; one set for the Dec. 3 performance.

Just leave a comment below, with your email address, telling me which performance you'd like to see.

For more chances to win, follow me on Twitter. I'm at @la_story. Or you can "Like" the L.A. Story Facebook page.

Just be sure to leave extra comments telling me you did so.

Good luck, and I'll announce the winner Thursday, Nov. 17!

Friday Finds

2011-11-11T15:31:00.001-08:00

3-D Drawing Set from The Container Store

I'd be on Santa's naughty list if I told you I hadn't started thinking about Christmas gifts. Maybe it's the chill in the air. On the other hand, maybe it's all the catalogs we're getting in the mail. In any case, here are a few cute items I've found for little ones.

* Check out this 3-D drawing set from The Container Store. And it's only $6.99 for 50 sheets + glasses.

* I love these personalized throw pillow covers.

* Would your kiddos go for this super-retro game?

* Wall decals for the fashion-savvy girl.

* OK, so this one is for me.

Veteran's Day

2011-11-11T12:57:00.001-08:00

If you're looking for a way to support our troops, check out the Gary Sinise Foundation. The actor ("CSI: NY" and Lt. Dan from "Forrest Gump") honors veterans, first responders and their families through his nonprofit organization.

Have a wonderful day!

LA Auto Show Gets Motors Running + Giveaway

2011-11-10T12:03:00.001-08:00

BMW i3 concept car, which will be on display at the LA Auto Show.

UPDATE: Congrats to Little Gray Pixel, who won the family 4 pack to the LA Auto Show! Please email me at losangelesstory@gmail.com with your address, and I'll send over your tickets right away. Thanks to everyone who participated (and to Random.org for helping me decide).

CC and I had a fuel-injected blast at last year's LA Auto Show, and we're looking forward to cruising down to the Los Angeles Convention Center to check out electric, concept and just plain wacky cars at this year's Nov. 18-27 event.

What's great about the LA Auto Show is that it appeals to grown-ups and tykes alike. While I enjoyed getting to climb inside some of my favorite cars (hello, Volvo XC60!) and pretend that I could just walk off with a new one, CC liked visiting the Kids' Fun Zone, where she was able to play with an iPad, ride in mini Police cars and play games with other kiddos.

And, if you're a "Mission Impossible" fan, you'll also be able to check out the BMW i8 concept car, which will be featured in the upcoming Tom Cruise movie.

LA Auto Show
Nov. 18-27
Los Angeles Convention Center
1201 S. Figueroa St.
Los Angeles, CA 90015
Tickets: $10-$12; Kids 12 and under are free with an accompanying adult

*** GIVEAWAY ***

I'm giving away a 4 pack of tickets to the LA Auto Show, running Nov. 18-27. (It's open on Thanksgiving Day, too.)

Just leave a comment below, with your email address, telling me what you'd like to check out at the event.

For more chances to win, follow me on Twitter. I'm at @la_story. Or you can "Like" the L.A. Story Facebook page.

Just be sure to leave extra comments telling me you did so.

Good luck, and I'll announce the winner Thursday, Nov. 17!

Weekly Deal: $18 Manicure at Plush Beauty Bar for Moms

2011-11-09T10:06:00.000-08:00

I've written about Plush Beauty Bar for Moms before. It's a great spot in West Hollywood where moms can pamper themselves with a manicure, pedicure or waxing treatment while letting their kiddos entertain themselves happily in the attached play area.

Yes, you can bring your kids, too!

When I brought CC, she played with toys, watched videos and was also able to see me while I was enjoying some "me" time.

Right now, Plum District -- a deal site geared specifically for moms by moms -- is offering a deal from Plush Beauty Bar for an $18 shellac manicure (regularly priced at $35).

And you don't even have to worry about getting a babysitter.

Plush Beauty Bar for Moms

7879 Santa Monica Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90046
323-656-0030

'The Possibility Shop' Helps Parents Scare Away Monsters

2011-11-08T09:26:00.000-08:00

Courtney Watkins talks monsters on "The Possibility Shop." [Photo courtesy of DisneyFamily.com]

I'm not sure if Halloween is to blame, but CC has been running into our bedroom at night seeking comfort from monsters.

She told me the other morning that a pile of things on her dresser looked like a zombie, and she hid under her covers.

Well, now I have a solution -- thanks to Courtney Watkins and her online show "The Possibility Shop."

Watkins' 3-minute webisodes, produced by The Jim Henson Company, can be found on DisneyFamily.com. I've written about her before here. She offers great tips for parents who want fun, manageable playtime ideas for their kids.

So, back to monsters. Watkins has a crafty recipe for scaring them away. It involves a spray bottle, sweet-smelling liquid, labels and water. And voila, you have your very own Monster-Be-Gone Kit.

I'm definitely going to try this with CC.

Timothy Shriver Joins Conversation about Obesity and Special Needs Children

2011-11-07T10:51:00.000-08:00

Childhood obesity is a topic that's on many parents' minds. We want our kids to be healthy and active, and we want them to avoid any of the health problems associated with being overweight.

As the mother of a blessedly healthy child, I have a lot of control when it comes to prevention. I pack CC's lunchbox every day. Ian and I decide what she has for breakfast and dinner. And she loves to play and exercise. We feel so lucky.

But what about children who have special needs? The ones who have health problems that make it difficult to combat the problem of childhood obesity?

I had the opportunity last week to talk to Sheryl Young, CEO of AbilityPath.org, an organization that supports parents with special-needs children. The organization just released a report ("Finding Balance") stating that kids with developmental disabilities such as Down syndrome have a tougher time combating the obesity epidemic. Also on the conference call were Timothy Shriver, chairman & CEO of the Special Olympics, and Robin Sinkhorn, an RN and mother of "Glee" actress Lauren Potter.

According to the report, children with special needs are 38% more likely to be obese. Why is that?

For healthy kids, the relationship with food can be straightforward. Not so for kids with special needs. For example, according to AbilityPath, "children with disabilities may have physical or behavioral barriers to a healthy diet. Children with Down syndrome and cerebral palsy may have trouble chewing or swallowing, which can lead them to eat softer and more processed foods."

And, instead of diet, nutrition and fitness, said Shriver, "doctors are treating the diagnosed condition."

Sinkhorn, whose actress daughter has Down syndrome, praised the report, saying, "It really is an issue that Lauren and I have struggled with on an almost daily basis. There is good news, because the report is filled with practical solutions ... that parents and educators can really use for our kids. As a mother, nurse and a health advocate, I'm so happy to be part of the discussion."

While Shriver saw the report as "bad news" because it reflected a lack of attention we as a nation are paying to children with special needs, he did say that Special Olympics (which was founded by his mother, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, in 1968) "is committed to redoubling our efforts to engage a new generation of young people."

Not only that, but kids who don't have special needs can participate as well -- by being inclusive and encouraging kids of all abilities to join in during playtime.

"I don't want to miss the answer under our nose," Shriver said. "Expand play and sports opportunities for kids with and without special needs. That can be a big carrot when the dieting and nutrition road feels like a stick."

For more information, visit AbilityPath.org.

(Correction: An earlier version included a misspelling of Robin Sinkhorn's name.)

Friday Finds

2011-11-04T15:59:00.000-07:00

Chalk writing by Mia Nolting (Image courtesy of Design Mom)

Because I was out of town last weekend, I didn't have the chance to post my new Friday Finds. Well, today you're in luck.

I've stumbled on a few cute things this week, the first being the opportunity to help out a talented artist who also has her fair share of student loan debt.

Mia Nolting Draws Letters is the brain child of an artist who is still literally indebted to art school. For $1 (via PayPal), she will draw in chalk the name(s) and/or phrase(s) of whatever you submit. The letters are in a lovely script, and the hi-resolution file is then emailed to you for you to frame. Not bad for a buck!

I ordered one for CC and can't wait to find the perfect place to hang it.

Just looking on Mia's website, it seems she's catching up, but check back with her soon, or visit her site for other available art pieces.

While I was at the Fort Worth Stockyards, of all places, last week, I found this book for CC that's pretty amazing.

"Gallop!," by Rufus Butler Seder, is a "scanimation" picture book -- meaning the pictures of the animals inside move, as if the animal is running, strutting or, you guessed it, galloping. It works sort of like a zoetrope and it's super cool. CC loves it.

Little Passports

How cute is this? I love to travel. (I don't get to do as much of it anymore, but I still love it when the opportunity arises.) And I love the idea of giving children the opportunity to explore the world -- even if it happens to be from their own living room.

Little Passports is a company that introduces kiddos to a new country every month via characters Sofia and Sam. They travel the world and send adventure kits, including stickers and activity sheets, to kid subscribers, who can then learn about the geography, history and culture of another country.

The first month's kit is great, complete with a little suitcase and passport.

Happy Friday!

'Cooper and Me' Book Review + Giveaway

2011-11-02T16:44:00.000-07:00

"Cooper and Me" by Monique and Alexa Peters

UPDATE: Congrats to It's Just Me, who won the book "Cooper and Me!" Please email me at losangelesstory@gmail.com with your address.

The first day of school -- heck, any day of school -- can be filled with anxiety and pressures for kiddos. Sure, it's exciting. Friends! New clothes! New trapper keepers! (Oh wait, that last one was me twentysomething years ago.) But sometimes, what makes that first day back easier is having a little something from home.

In "Cooper and Me," ($12.99) a book illustrated by 11-year-old Alexa Peters and written by Alexa and her mom, Monique, a little girl finds comfort in her friendly black Labrador Retriever, Cooper. While she can't take him to school, she does receive something from her mom that helps her face the day with confidence.

I've been reading this book to CC over the last few days, and she loves it. In fact, she asked me to read it to her last night while she was brushing her teeth and at bedtime. She even took it to preschool with her this morning for her teachers to read in class.

She really appreciates that it's from a little girl's point of view -- and that there's a cute dog to boot. (I agree. A cute dog never hurts.)

But what's particularly charming about this book is that it is interactive with its audience. There is a cute questionnaire at the end, written in a child's voice, asking the reader about her favorite activities at home and at school. There are also discussion questions for parents to ask kiddos. It was great. It helped me learn a little bit more about CC's day at preschool.

Who knew she played "sisters" with one of her classmates so often?

*** GIVEAWAY ***

I'm giving away 1 copy of "Cooper and Me" to a lucky reader.

To enter, please leave a comment telling me what your child loves to do at school or how you've helped him/her feel confident despite first-day jitters.

For more chances to win, follow me on Twitter and retweet this giveaway. I'm at @la_story. Or you can "Like" the L.A. Story Facebook page.

Just be sure to leave extra comments telling me you did so.

Good luck, and I will announce the winner on Wednesday, Nov. 16!

Halloween Treats Keep Coming

2011-11-01T17:03:00.000-07:00

CC and Strawberry Shortcake at The Hub's Halloween party.

Yes, there was trick-or-treating last night, but the week leading up to Halloween was just as fun.

We read spooky books (see below), downloaded spooky apps and got to meet Strawberry Shortcake at The Hub network's Halloween party at The (amazing) Carondelet House, near MacArthur Park.

CC played the bean toss and won cool prizes -- a My Little Pony doll and a Plum Pudding figure. And speaking of My Little Pony, the Hub screened a Halloween-themed episode from the animated series, "My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic." We also had the chance to meet Tara Strong, the voice of Twilight Sparkle (below left) of "MLP" fame.

"My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic"

We had a wonderful time and can't wait to visit The Carondelet House again. Brides-to-be might want to consider it for a reception. Just sayin.'

***

CC and I also read a few stand-out Halloween-themed books for the holiday. I wanted to share a few because they're great reading year round.

CC loves "Dinosaur Train" and to go on "The Spooky Scavenger Hunt" ($3.99) is a fun treat. She gets to learn about nocturnal creatures, why some animals' eyes shine at night, as well as what some dinosaurs once did in the dark -- all while being entertained by Buddy the little T-Rex and his Pteranadon sister Tiny.

"Big Pumpkin" ($6.99), written by Erica Silverman and illustrated by S.D. Schindler, is another great Halloween find. The story of a witch whose pumpkin is too big for her to pick and carry home teaches kids about cooperation and that help can come in even the smallest of packages.

"The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything" ($6.99), written by Linda Williams and illustrated by Megan Lloyd, makes me think of what CC will be like in about 60 years. Fearless and Clever with a Capital C. This little old lady takes what could be a scary situation and turns it on its (pumpkin) head.

"Room on the Broom," ($6.99) written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler, has an amazing rhyme scheme and reinforces the idea of how important friendship is -- even with new, unexpected friends.

Hope you had a super, treat-filled Halloween!

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T12:12:00.000-07:00

Have a safe and candy-filled holiday!

CC decided to go dressed as Capt. Jack Sparrow this year. Well, really the "girl pirate" version of that, anyway. It's fun to see her breaking out of the princess mold a little bit.

This morning before preschool, I snapped a pic of her while she was saying, "Yo ho ho, mateys!" -- her new favorite catchphrase.

Lucky that we had a pair of pink and black Paul Frank socks to match!

Back From Fort Worth, Texas!

2011-10-31T11:43:00.000-07:00

The famous Forth Worth Stockyards

Howdy, y'all! I'm back from my adventure in Fort Worth. My friend Barbara got married this weekend at the gorgeous Fort Worth Botanic Garden.

While I had an amazing time, I do wish Ian and CC had come with me. There's so much for families to do in this very manageable city. Fort Worth's neighbor Dallas usually gets more of the spotlight, but FW has a few hot spots of its own:

Longhorns!

* The Stockyards just north of downtown are definitely worth visiting. Every day at 11:30 a.m. and 4 p.m., cattle rustlers bring out the longhorn steers for a mini cattle drive along the main drag. They also have mechanical bull rides for kids of all ages. How funny is that?!

* The Botanic Garden is so lovely. Barbara's wedding was in the rose garden on a beautiful Saturday afternoon.

* I also visited the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame. What an inspiring place for little (and big) girls.

Fort Worth also has a lively downtown life for visitors who'd rather grab cocktails instead of cattle.

Coming Attractions: 'Puss in Boots,' Theatricum Boo-tanicum, Boo at the L.A. Zoo

2011-10-27T13:09:00.000-07:00

'Puss in Boots' Opens Oct. 28

Check out Antonio Banderas as the voice of Mr. Puss in Boots in this DreamWorks animated film about the legendary cat. CC has been asking and asking and asking to see this movie, and now that the billboards are everywhere, I'm hearing about it even more. This movie, which also features the voices of Salma Hayek and Zach Galifianakis (love him!), is the story of Puss's adventures before he meets Shrek, Donkey and the gang.

Theatricum Boo-tanicum Halloween Extravaganza on Oct. 28

The family-friendly Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum in Topanga Canyon is hosting its inaugural Halloween party on Friday. Visitors will find a haunted house, game booths, live music from Peter Alsop, Many Distant Cities, the Matt Van Winkle Band and Tommy Santee Klaws. Kids can also hear ghost stories and carve pumpkins. Keep an eye out for "zombie thespians," according to the theater's website. (Friday, Oct. 28; 4-10 p.m.; kids 5 and under - Free, kids ages 5-12 - $5, adults - $20)

Boo at the L.A. Zoo Oct. 29 & 30

While the animals might not know what all the costumed fuss is about, kids are sure to get a kick out of all the Halloween activities on offer at the L.A. Zoo this weekend. From trick-or-treating to face-painting to creepy creature encounters (spiders! snakes! did I mention spiders?!), there's lots to do for little ones. They can even check out snow leopards, gorillas, elephants and others chewing on pumpkin treats. And speaking of Puss in Boots, he and Kitty Softpaws will be on hand from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. each day. Click here for more info.

Disney Online Plugs Into Halloween Fun

2011-10-26T09:48:00.000-07:00

CC learns to draw a penguin at the Disney Interactive Halloween Bash.

Getting an early start on Halloween fun, Disney Interactive Media hosted a costume-friendly party at the Walt Disney Studios lot in Burbank.

In addition to donning her Snow White costume (we just got her a Capt. Jack Sparrow outfit for this year), CC decorated cookies, added a Mickey Mouse face to paper bats (the flying kind), played online games and learned how to draw a penguin, courtesy of a Club Penguin artist.

Of course, at any kid-friendly party, desserts tend to come first. The cookie-decorating station was first on CC's agenda, and Tinker Bell was her design du jour. That came just before she visited the Pixie Hollow station, where she was able to dress up a variety of virtual fairies online.

CC gets her sweet tooth from somewhere (*ahem*), and mine led me to the DisneyFamily.com table, where adorably decorated desserts were on display. What I loved the most were the Jack Skellington cupcakes (see below). Click here to get the directions.


Jack Skellington cupcakes [Photo courtesy of Disney Family]

We had a wonderful time checking out the games (and getting a sneak peek of Disney Universe). There's always something special about being on the Disney lot. I don't know if it's the movie costumes on display, the building that features the (ironically large) seven dwarves as part of its architecture, the animation cells from "Snow White" or just knowing how much creativity has come from inside those gates.

Whatever it is -- pixie dust? -- CC had loads of fun and drew the best penguin I've ever seen.

Back to the Pumpkin Patch at Underwood Family Farms

2011-10-25T06:46:00.000-07:00

CC dives into pumpkins at Underwood Family Farms.

It's pumpkin season again, and you know what that means! This was our second year to head to Underwood Family Farms in Moorpark, and we had a lovely time checking out wagon rides, tractor slides and, yes, pig races.

CC meets John Deere.

CC loved playing in the various kiddie areas, particularly on the wooden train and underground tunnels. But it was the wagon ride (for all ages) and the cow barrel ride (for little ones) that served as her main highlights. That, and the pumpkin pie.

Underwood Family Farms is such a beautiful, family-friendly place located in such an idyllic spot. It's full of wide open spaces, and you can also admire the rolling hills of Ventura and Los Angeles Counties.

I actually decided to take a different route this year, ditching the freeways and taking the road less traveled. And it definitely made all the difference. I took the PCH to Malibu Canyon Road and drove through the rugged mountains and hills to reach the San Fernando Valley on the other side. It was truly magnificent, as sunlight shone down on the winding roads and natural landscape.

On the way back, I was even able to spot a jackrabbit sitting by the road and a dolphin leaping around not far off the Malibu coast. (CC, unfortunately, was playing with my phone and missed both. Ugh.)

Visiting Underwood Farms has definitely become an October tradition, and I already know my route for driving back next year.

Underwood Family Farms

3370 Sunset Valley Road
Moorpark, CA 93021
805-529-3690

Friday Finds

2011-10-21T10:46:00.000-07:00

I love scouring the Internet for cool finds. There are so many amazing websites and small retailers out there, and I'd like to share some of my discoveries. So I'm starting this new feature called Friday Finds, and I'll link to family-friendly items, stories or events that I've found particularly enchanting.

* Take, for instance, the above poster by Christian Jackson. It's one in a series of classic fairy tales reinterpreted from a minimalist perspective. (Hat tip: Cup of Jo) He's also a working dad and has a clever infographic about the challenges that come with that role.

* How awesome are these DIY mini piñatas?

* These would be an adorable addition to a baby's room.

* Do you dress up to drop off your kids at school?

* Get ready for The Nightmare Before Christmas!

* Check out this family festival to celebrate L.A.-centric Pacific Standard Time exhibits.

* As National Anti-Bullying month continues, kids can take a peek at a special episode of "The Adventures of Chuck & Friends" on The Hub (Monday, Oct. 24, 7:30am PT) that shows tykes a way to deal with bullies.

Weekly Deal: $100 for a $200 Credit Towards Swim Lessons at the Lenny Krayzelburg Swim Academy

2011-10-21T10:03:00.000-07:00

$100 for a $200 Credit Towards Swim Lessons at the Lenny Krayzelburg Swim Academy

Not only is learning to swim a great way to bond with your children, great exercise, and fun for the entire family, it's also a lifesaving endeavor. Take advantage of today's deal for a $200 swim lesson credit at Lenny Krayzelburg Swim Academy for just $100. As one of Los Angeles' premiere swim schools, instructors will take students from the beginning stages of swimming all the way to learning all 4 strokes, freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly. Classes are available for every age range, and instructors work with your child's individual needs to ensure success and safety in the water.

The Lenny Krayzelburg Swim Academy offers a learn to swim program for children of all ages. Started in 2005 by 4 time Olympic Gold Medalist Lenny Krayzelburg, the school's core purpose is to teach and inspire children to be water safe. Since its inception, the school's instructors have taught thousands of kids water safety and the importance of knowing how to swim. Using the SwimRight Method, they utilize the swim-float-swim technique as their foundation, and focus on providing children with the knowledge of confidence and safety in and around the water. From these basic skills, instructors take students from beginning stages of swimming all the way to learning all 4 strokes, freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly. The Academy offers a variety of classes to meet every parent's need. From parent tot classes, private lessons, group classes and stroke development, you can find it all here at the Lenny Krayzelburg Swim Academy.

Click here to get this deal!

(Sponsored post from FamilyFinds.com)

Live in the Vineyard Auction Benefits City of Hope Cancer Center

2011-10-20T10:44:00.000-07:00

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and there are many ways that you can take part. Whether it's donating time, funds or support, this is definitely a cause worth getting behind.

With that in mind, I wanted to pass along some information about a fun, Napa Valley event, Live in the Vineyard, which is hosting an eBay auction benefiting the City of Hope comprehensive cancer center.

Taking place Nov. 5-7 and featuring live musical artists including Daughtry, Michelle Branch and O.A.R., Live in the Vineyard will also combine food, wine and other activities.

For the auction, according to the press release, readers can bid on one of two packages benefiting City of Hope through October 20. (That's today! You have until 7 p.m. PT.) The auction package includes:

* All access passes for the winner and guest to ALL acoustic concerts
* Cooking demos and wine tastings during the 3-day period (November 5-7)
* Accommodations at either the Westin Verasa Napa or the Napa River Inn
* Southwest Airlines (2) green passes travel vouchers
* Transportation from your hotel to any of the offsite Live in the Vineyard shows/events
* Gift bag with wine and special promotion items

If you're looking for a getaway, while also wanting to donate to a worthy organization, this is an awesome opportunity. In fact, I wish I could do it myself. Good luck!

For other ways to support breast cancer research, click here.

Kind Campaign Founders Want to End Girl-Against-Girl Bullying

2011-10-19T09:28:00.000-07:00


Kind Campaign founders Molly Thompson, left, and Lauren Parsekian

We've heard about it from frustrated parents. We've heard about it from curious filmmakers. And now we're getting the lowdown on how to combat the menace of girl-against-girl bullying from a couple of enterprising young women who have founded a nonprofit organization focused on playing nice -- the Kind Campaign.

Molly Thompson and Lauren Parsekian wanted to put an end to the damaging "Mean Girls" mentality -- we've all been there! -- that regularly breaks down girls' self-esteem, so they created both a documentary ("Finding Kind") and a genuine movement.

They've even partnered with Mattel's Monster High, a brand of teenage dolls that are the kids of famous monsters (Draculaura is one!), and got "monster-fied" in a special webisode to spread their message to tweens and teens. It makes for a great match because Monster High is all about being proud of yourself and your unique sensibilities.

Kind Campaign visits Monster High.

The duo also made the rounds to cities including Los Angeles and invited mothers and daughters to share in a screening of "Finding Kind" followed by a frank discussion about bullying.

This is such a worthy endeavor from a pair of thoughtful young women. And while this movement is focused on tween and teen girls, I think it's never too early to start teaching our daughters to be kind.

CC is only 4 years old and finishing up preschool this year, but I've already heard stories about girls excluding girls in her classroom. I don't know what it is or why that happens -- especially in children so young. Luckily, we're very happy with CC's teachers, who refer to all of her classmates as "friends" and work hard to promote sharing and playing together nicely.

After all, as parents, we all want our children to play nicely with others, to build up their friends' self-esteem, and to just be kind. I'm happy to see that girls all over the country have a couple of talented role models in Lauren and Molly.

Check out their Facebook page here and their Twitter feed here.

Real California Milk Supports SoCal Schools Sponsored

2011-10-17T08:26:00.000-07:00

Got milk? If not, you might want to head over to your local grocer and pick up a gallon or two.

The California Milk Advisory Board on Oct. 1 kicked off its Real Seal Appeal! sweepstakes, which is an opportunity for Southern California elementary schools to win up to $2 million in cash, Scholastic books and other prizes. (Did I hear Wii Fit games, too?)

Continuing through Dec. 31, the sweepstakes invites families to collect Real California Milk labels from milk and dairy products to give to their teacher. Each label acts as a sweepstakes entry. The more they collect, the more opportunities the school has to win.

And families not only will be helping their school's chances of winning. They also will be helping the more than 1,600 California dairy farmers with each purchase. Not bad!

We are definitely a milk-guzzling family. In fact, while Ian and CC prefer 2%, I always opt for skim. So there are always plenty of cartons in the refrigerator.

And it's extra wonderful to think that we can help our local school by doing something we do every day. What school -- especially in Los Angeles, where there have been so many cuts and layoffs -- couldn't use the extra funds?

While some schools are looking to beef up on their technology (hello, iPads!), others want to keep valuable library personnel to help children navigate the world of books and scholastic research.

So drink up, SoCal families! Because, oh yeah, milk is also great for you!

Check out these prizes:

* Grand Prize: 3 winning schools will receive $20,000 plus a Wii Fit™ game for
every child in classroom (up to 50)
* 2nd Place: 3 winning schools will receive $10,000 plus a Wii Fit™ game for every
child in classroom (up to 50)
* 3rd Place: 3 winning schools will receive $5,000 plus a Wii Fit™ game for every
child in classroom (up to 50)
* Runner Ups: 2,595 winning schools will receive $500 prizes

(Elementary schools in Imperial, Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties are participating in the program.)

[Note: This is a sponsored post, however the viewpoints expressed here are my own.]

'Arthur Christmas' Sneak Peek

2011-10-13T13:23:00.000-07:00

"Arthur Christmas" [Image courtesy of Sony Pictures Animation]

There was no shortage of snow last week at Sony Pictures Animation in Culver City, where CC and I caught sneak-peek footage of "Arthur Christmas."

Filling the grounds with the holiday spirit, Sony invited carolers to sing songs while kids grabbed handfuls of the icy snowflakes and decorated cookies and crafts.

Just after CC met a new little friend and boarded a sleigh pulled by several (faux) reindeer, we headed over to a screening room where we caught some scenes from the animated movie, which arrives in theaters Nov. 23. Ashley Jensen, one of several talented Brits lending their voices to the film, was also in attendance.

CC, right, and a friend board a sleigh at Sony Pictures Animation.

You might have caught an early trailer of the film if you saw "The Smurfs," also from Sony, in theaters. We did and, to be honest, I wasn't quite sure what to make of the movie.

Now that I've seen about 20 minutes of the film, I have to say that CC and I can't wait for it to arrive.

"Arthur Christmas" is the story of the younger, bumbling and Christmas-sweater-loving son of Santa Claus. Voiced by James McAvoy, Arthur wants every child to believe in Santa and the Christmas spirit. While he's the heart of the operation, his older brother Steve (Hugh Laurie) is the brains. Steve's got Christmas Eve present-giving down to military precise operation. And there are some serious G.I. Elves here.

But there's one problem. One child -- a girl who's on the fence about the existence of Santa -- gets left out by elf error. And it's Arthur and his GrandSanta (Bill Nighy) who want to make things right. The old-fashioned way.

The scenes CC and I saw were a true delight. They were funny -- CC laughed out loud at the slapstick -- while I was impressed with some clever visuals (one reindeer has a cone collar) and that the elves measure children's "goodness" or "badness" in percentages.

It was also very touching, which makes for a great holiday mix.

Wordless Wednesday: On the Way to Escondido Falls

2011-10-12T13:55:00.000-07:00

Tecca.com: iPads Programs Growing in Classrooms

2011-10-11T09:27:00.000-07:00

Please check out my latest article on Tecca.com, "How schools are putting the iPad to use in the classroom."

It's really amazing to see how quickly schools across the country -- public, private and parochial -- are adopting this new device.

CC's school has started an iPad 2 program this year, with the hope of providing one to every student in grades K-8. (Preschool, alas, isn't getting one.)

Does your child's school have an iPad program?

Weekly Deal: $18 for a monthly unlimited pass to Little Barn ($60 value)

2011-10-11T09:17:00.000-07:00

$18 for a monthly unlimited pass to Little Barn ($60 value)

Get the kids off the couch and into their play clothes for a day of fun and excitement at Little Barn, an expansive indoor playground in the heart of Los Angeles. Check out the bounce house, ball pit, slide, climbing wall, swings, tows, coloring stations and more. Hungry? Check out their huge selection of healthy snacks. They also serve a variety of coffee drinks for parents that need a caffeine fix. Today's voucher is good for a monthly unlimited play pass for just $18 - a $60 value. The Little Barn also offers music classes and birthday party packages.

The Little Barn is a dream come true. The owners are working moms who do it all. If you know what that feels like, you know the importance of being able to spend your treasured hours with your children in a safe, fun yet relaxed environment. This can be very daunting when you've got a list of things to do, errands to run and only that one block of time in your day that you are going to give the gift of play to your children and hopefully some relaxation to yourself. Out of their desire to have that one perfect place in those few treasured hours came the Little Barn. The Little Barn takes cleaning seriously. They have one of the cleanest ball pits on record and use the patented UV Super Mini by HyGenie to clean and disinfect. Check their website for the rest of their cleaning methods and prepare to be amazed.

Click here to get this deal!

[Sponsored post from FamilyFinds.com]

Cirque du Soleil's 'Iris' Unspools at Kodak Theatre

2011-10-10T11:08:00.000-07:00

Ethereal acrobats. Levitating aerialists. Curvy contortionists -- Welcome to Hollywood!

You should feel right at home.

"Iris," Cirque du Soleil's new production based at the Kodak Theatre in the heart of Tinseltown, is a delightful and surreal voyage through the history of cinema -- an appropriate homage given its permanent location.

I had the chance last week to check out the show at Blogger Night, along with some of my L.A.-based bloggy friends, and I came away thinking just how weirdly (in a good way) talented these people are and how rare this kind of performance art actually is these days.

On the surface, "Iris" (written and directed by Philippe Decoufle) tells the story of a lovestruck couple -- a very limber young man named Buster and a beautiful starlet named Scarlet (pictured below) -- who have a difficult time connecting after they're thrown into a world of film. Of course, in the Cirque world, as well as in Hollywood, there are more than few distractions to trip up any potential pair.

All the while, the audience is along for the celluloid-friendly ride, as dancers, acrobats and contortionists -- as well as cleverly costumed performers, such as the Praxinoscope woman above -- glide, flit and drift onto the stage for their figurative 15 minutes.

Black-and-white, noir, action-adventure are all on stage, complete with specially placed cameras to film the action as it's happening, creating a hypnotic backdrop to actual live action. Danny Elfman's score adds a dramatically dreamy sense to the occasion as well.

Some highlights include twin aerialists who swing and spin what seems like miles above the audience; a group of acrobats dressed as colorful insects who perform physical feats of flipping that you wouldn't believe; as well as a gangster number that involves cleverly placed trampolines.

And, of course, given its subject matter and Academy Awards venue, there's a fun Oscars spoof.

So, parents, I know you're wondering if children are welcome. As far as Cirque rules go, the show is recommended for ages 5 and older. I have taken CC to see another Cirque show, "Kooza," which she loved, and I would love to take her to see "Iris," because she would go crazy for the dancing and the visually stunning tableaux.

It's a dazzling tribute to film that pokes fun while honoring the place where it all got started.

Cirque du Soleil's "Iris"

Kodak Theatre
6801 Hollywood Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90028
323-308-6300
Tickets: $43-$253 (for anyone age 2 and up)

[Note: Media tickets provided.]

Totsy Playhouse Giveaway

2011-10-07T14:32:00.000-07:00

Box Creations Cottage Playhouse

UPDATE: Congrats to yellowismyfavorite, who won the Box Creations Cottage Playhouse from Totsy! Please email me at losangelesstory@gmail.com with your address. Thanks to everyone who participated (and to Random.org for its rad-yet-ruthless decision-making skills). Stay tuned for more!

As deal-seeking parents (who isn't one?), you might already have heard of Totsy, the online private-sale site that offers clothing, accessories and other gear for the family. And these are awesome sales, too -- up to 90% off.

If you haven't, check them out here and on Facebook here. You might find an adorable elephant rocker on sale for almost half off or festive holiday dresses for girls marked way down. It's a great way to pick up cute items without having to deal with the usual sticker shock.

*** GIVEAWAY ***

Well, lucky L.A. Story readers, Totsy is sponsoring today's awesome giveaway. They are giving away a Box Creations Cottage Playhouse (retail $39.99; pictured above) to one of my lovely readers.

To enter, please visit Totsy to become a member. (It's free, and you can invite friends to receive a $15 credit once they make a purchase). Then leave a comment below.

For more chances to win, follow me on Twitter and retweet this giveaway. I'm at @la_story. Or you can "Like" the L.A. Story Facebook page.

Just be sure to leave extra comments telling me you did so.

Good luck, and I will announce the winner on Friday, Oct. 28!

The fine print: No refunds or exchanges allowed for the prize item, and Totsy will ship the prize to the winner.

Guess who's in LA Weekly ...

2011-10-06T08:53:00.000-07:00

It's finally here! LA Weekly has published its annual "Best of LA" edition, and besides getting the downlow on awesome places around the city, you'll also spy a familiar name among the contributors.

Yes, yours truly has added her two cents on what to check out in Los Angeles.

Coffee bar meets indoor play space for kiddos.

Want to plan the perfect getaway?

Trainiacs of all ages can hop on board here.

Or looking for some sweet kicks?

How about a retro shave, dads?

There are a ton of great tips on where to be a tourist in your own city, so be sure to pick up a copy. Not only that, but, as always, the Weekly is free!

'Toy Story' Blasts Off into Space + Giveaway

2011-10-05T10:27:00.000-07:00

CC plays with the Toy Story Buzz Lightyear Spaceship Command Center.

UPDATE: Congrats to ryanac32, who won the Buzz Lightyear Spaceship Command Center and Space Figure! (And thanks to Random.org for helping me decide.) Please email me at losangelesstory@gmail.com with your address. This was an amazing giveaway, and thanks to everyone who participated. Stay tuned for more!

Mattel and Disney really are taking the "Toy Story" crew to infinity and beyond with their new space-centered toy line.

With the Toy Story Buzz Lightyear Spaceship Command Center ($49.99; pictured above) and Toy Story figurines, including Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Rex and Zurg ($10.99 each), kids can have a blast using their imaginations to create fun space missions.

CC had the opportunity to check out the space station and the Woody figurine, and from the moment we unwrapped all of the twisty-ties and tape from the box, she was making up little space missions of her own. There's even a little voice amplifier that lets her order her space minions around the ship.

The Woody space figure zooms around on a rover vehicle.

I received this package for review as part of the Mattel Disney Insider program that I belong to, and while I thought it was a cool toy, I wasn't sure if my princess-loving daughter would adopt it with such enthusiasm. But she did! There are lots of fun noises and compartments, and she was rolling it around our wood floors when she wasn't using it as a command center.

Mattel also created a "Toymation" stop-motion short movie that can be a jumping-off point for children's imaginations. Chances are, though, they'll know exactly what to do once they get their hands on the toys.

*** GIVEAWAY ***

Here's the extra awesome part. I'm giving away 1 Toy Story Buzz Lightyear Spaceship Command Center and 1 Toy Story Space Figure.

To enter, please leave a comment telling me your child's favorite part of the "Toy Story" films.

For more chances to win, follow me on Twitter and retweet this giveaway. I'm at @la_story. Or you can "Like" the L.A. Story Facebook page.

Just be sure to leave extra comments telling me you did so.

Good luck, and I will announce the winner on Wednesday, Oct. 19!

It's Raining in Los Angeles

2011-10-05T09:23:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year again. Every October, rain starts pounding the pavement in Los Angeles. It's always a nice change from the scorching heat of summer. It even reminds me a little of the East Coast.

Today, as thick, gray rain clouds hovered overhead and fat drops fell on the sidewalks, I bundled up CC in her pink kitty raincoat (complete with ears!) and rain boots. She loved it, especially now that she gets to splash in puddles.

I started off the morning with a big cup of coffee -- perfect on any rainy day.

[Image credit: DeaPeaJay]

Knott's Berry Farm Tricks Out Camp Spooky for Halloween

2011-10-03T14:56:00.000-07:00

CC and Snoopy at Lucy's Lunchbox

What a great way to kick off October! CC, Ian and I were invited down to Camp Snoopy, er, Camp Spooky at Knott's Berry Farm on Saturday to enjoy a little Halloween excitement -- and a little fright.

After kicking off the festivities with breakfast at 8 a.m. (waking up CC at 6:30 a.m. to get down to Orange County in her Snow White costume was a little tricky but definitely worth it), we met up with some familiar yet costumed characters before we hit the (little) kid-friendly rides and attractions.

I'm not sure if you remember my LA Moms Blog post about CC's first amusement park ride at Camp Snoopy. Basically, I was totally freaked out for her to go on this, the most docile of rides. This time around, CC was bold (and so was I). She handled the Sierra Sidewinder like a pro. (And I ~~didn't even~~ only let out a small whimper as I strapped her into her seat.)

Mostly, though, we stuck to the small stuff:

CC pushes and pulls on the Huff and Puff.

Hay bale maze!


CC with Peppermint Patty & a scary dude.

Kids who visit Camp Spooky will each receive a little trick-or-treat bag to fill up with candy at various stations around the park. There are also crafting activities and a live show from fave Peanuts characters.

Oh, and grown-up kids can have just as much fun, too. Ian was eager to hit all of the crazy thrill rides before the park got too crowded. (I used to be this way too, but something happened -- I think it was giving birth.) He rode the scary roller coasters and even swung over Knott's in the 300 ft. tall WindSeeker (right). Eek! Fright is right!

Knott's Berry Farm

8039 Beach Blvd.
Buena Park, CA 90620
714-220-5200
Tickets: Adults ($46.99); Children ages 3-11 ($24.99)

[Note: Media tickets provided.]

Weekly Deal: $60 for photography shoot and 25 holiday cards from Stuart Townsley Photography ($450 Value)

2011-09-30T13:00:00.000-07:00

$60 for photography shoot and 25 holiday cards from Stuart Townsley Photography ($450 Value)

Time flies. A cliché, but a true one. It’s so important to capture these moments on film before they become distant memories. And with the holidays coming up, it’s a great time to get a real picture taken – either of the whole family or just the kids – to share with everyone you love.

You could set the camera up with a timer, but those always seem to snap at the wrong moment. You could go to a big studio, but those are a little forced and cheesy. Or, you could hire a professional and take a family portrait where everyone is well lit and in focus that somehow captures not only a smile, but each individual’s personality.

When you purchase this deal, you get a location shoot with a professional photographer who knows how to work with you and your kids to find the beauty of a natural moment, not a forced “camera” smile (regularly $300). Choose from one of several locations in the L.A. area, from Downtown to the Ocean and from Venice to the Valley. You also get 25 printed holiday cards (regularly $75), a DVD slideshow and one beautiful 8x10 (regularly $45). You might be able to put a price on what this package would usually cost ($450, to be exact!), but having a photograph that beautifully captures this moment for your family forever is (in the immortal words of MasterCard) "priceless."

Stuart Townsley is an L.A. photographer with over 9 years of experience. His love for his own kids helped teach him how to capture on film just how you feel about yours. His work has been featured in magazines and on VH1's "My Big Fat Fabulous Wedding" in addition to being a favorite of many LA families. Call him to schedule a time and location for your shoot today, as holiday bookings fill up fast!

Click here to get this deal!

(Sponsored Post from FamilyFinds.com)

DidiPop: L.A. Mom Makes Fun Music for Kiddos

2011-09-29T16:54:00.000-07:00

I've gotten to meet some pretty cool moms while writing this blog, and L.A. singer-songwriter Deborah Poppink -- aka DidiPop -- is one of them.

Based in Mar Vista, Poppink has released a fun, family-friendly CD, "DidiPop Goes to Hawaii," ($14.99) which makes me long for shave ice and snorkeling in Hanauma Bay. CC, who checked out the CD review copy with me, demanded that we play it over and over again until she knew the words.

Not only that, but a song from the CD, "The Hawaiian Alphabet Song," which CC loves, won the grand prize in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest (children's category). The album also is currently being considered for a Children's Grammy nomination.

The songs are clever and inviting, complete with bouncy tunes that make kids smile. Heck, even the titles themselves are adorable -- "I Like Pigs" for one!

From the chaos that often accompanies airport visits and plane rides -- especially when you have little ones, which Poppink does; two girls, ages 5 and 3 -- she creates well-observed songs that appreciate the tyke-friendly details. Things like yellow taxis, meeting the pilot, and flying above the clouds, in her song "Wowie Gazowie (Goin' to Maui)."

"The Hawaiian Alphabet Song" is a great way to introduce to the kiddos to the sounds of Hawaiian letters and language.

And those little voices you hear in the background? Yep, those are her girls. What an amazing way for "keiki" to spend time with Mom.

I also have a great interview with Poppink that I want to share with readers, so stay tuned!

In the meantime, check out the songs on her site here, and visitors can pre-order her new CD "Everyday Adventures," which arrives Nov. 1.

'The Gruffalo' DVD Review + Giveaway

2011-09-28T13:41:00.000-07:00

UPDATE: Congrats to Raven in a Blue Room, who won "The Gruffalo" DVD! I'll send you an email with the deets. :) Thanks to everyone who participated (and to Random.org), and stay tuned for more giveaways!

I always love stumbling across adorable children's books or movies that offer a nice dose of smarts along with the entertainment. When I received "The Gruffalo" DVD for review from NCircle Entertainment, CC and I got both -- a fun, manageable tale (40 minutes total) about a super-witty mouse who outsmarts some hungry animals around him.

Narrated by the talented Helena Bonham Carter, Academy Award nominee "The Gruffalo," which is based on the book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, tells the story of a resourceful mouse who goes for a walk in the woods to find a nut only to come across hungry predators -- a fox, an owl and a snake.

Fearing for his pint-sized life, the mouse makes up a story about an even bigger predator -- The Gruffalo -- and scares away the predators who want him for their own little snack.

The story takes a turn when the Gruffalo actually shows up -- and is hungry, too! What kind of story must the mouse tell now?

Featuring a talented bunch of voice actors, including Tom Wilkinson (love him!), John Hurt and Robbie Coltrane, this little movie really encourages quick thinking and courage in the face of danger.

CC kept asking when the Gruffalo would show up, and when he did, she wondered how the mouse would get out of that sticky situation. What was great was that she understood that the mouse was tricking the predators just to stay alive.

The next day, after I picked her up from preschool, she told me she had told one of her friends about "The Gruffalo."

"And [the friend] asked me if the Gruffalo lived outside of my house!" laughed CC in the retelling. It was so cute to think of her discussing a little movie at preschool.

*** GIVEAWAY ***

I'm giving away 1 copy of "The Gruffalo" DVD (SRP: $9.99).

To enter, please leave a comment about something your child has done to surprise you.

For more chances to win, follow me on Twitter and retweet this giveaway. I'm at @la_story. Or you can "Like" the L.A. Story Facebook page.

Just be sure to leave extra comments telling me you did so.

Good luck, and I will announce the winner on Wednesday, Oct. 12!

'The Lion King' in 3D Has My Little Cub Roaring

2011-09-26T10:56:00.000-07:00

CC and I booked it over to the El Capitan on Friday after preschool to catch "The Lion King" on the big screen in 3D.

If you have the chance, go and remind yourself just how awesome this Disney animated movie is.

While traffic caused us to be about 15 minutes late (eek, I know), CC still happily wore her pint-sized 3D glasses and sang along to "Hakuna Matata." We came in during the song "I Just Can't Wait to Be King" after battling San Gennaro festival congestion and a Hollywood Boulevard closing, but CC didn't mind. She was just happy to see the little lions in the theater.

She's seen the movie on DVD once before, but it's such a different experience on the big screen. And it was great being in an audience of serious "Lion King" fans. Moms and dads were singing along with their children, and the kids were in great spirits -- gasping and ooh'ing and aahh'ing.

One thing I was worried about was The Wildebeest Scene -- you know the one. Would CC be too scared? Or too sad? Would she understand?

Well, once it happened, and as "Lion King" patriarch Mufasa was lying on the parched land, she asked out loud, "What happened to the daddy? Is he died?"

Ugh. Serious heartache. But after I explained it to her -- very simply, of course -- she was OK. Actually, it was kind of matter-of-fact for her.

She kept watching, happily, and wearing those little glasses and smiling.

"The Lion King" is playing at the El Capitan through Oct. 6, as well as in other theaters.

L.A. Story

Friday Finds

Coming Attraction: Los Angeles Times Travel Show

Los Angeles + Berlin = Sister Cities

L.A. Story Heading to 2012 Berlin International Film Festival

Free Day at LACMA Inspires My Little Artist

Design Mom Asks L.A. Story

Travel Sites You Might Not Know About

'TAG, You're It' Welcomes Young Art Lovers to Royal/T

CC's Ocean Adventure with Dana Wharf Sportfishing and Whale Watching

Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Coming Attraction: 'OVO' from Cirque du Soleil

Yay Math!

Playing Dress-Up at Robinson Beautilities

Dragons, Dragons, Dragons at Japanese American National Museum

Coming Attraction: Oshogatsu Family Festival at Japanese American National Museum

CC's Little Seedling Family

Angels Flight for My Little Angel

High-Steppin' at the Santa Monica Pier's Pacific Park

Happy New Year!

Happy Last Day of 2011!

Why I Love Ikea

Scooter's Jungle for My Little Monkey

Have a Holly, Jolly Christmas!

Christmas Craft: Flying Angel Cards from 'The Possibility Shop'

Kid-Friendly Tablets and More Last-Minute Gifts

Last-Minute Holiday Gift Guide for Kids

Story Pirates Bring Marie Curie to Life at Geffen Playhouse

It's Not Christmas Until Someone Loses a Gingerbread Toe

Stonyfield, L.A. Story Help CHiPS for Kids Holiday Toy Drive

Back Surgery. Boo.

CC Meets Santa & Santa Snoopy at Knott's Merry Farm

Kidspace Children's Museum + ScholarShare Giveaway

Friday Finds

Coming Attraction: Free Winter Holiday Festival at Downtown on Ice

Free Screening: 'Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked'

MomsLA, Tecca Team on Holiday Gift Guide

Coming Attraction: 52nd Annual L.A. County Holiday Celebration

Happy Birthday, CC! You're 5!

Christmas DVD Fun + Giveaway

Friday Finds

Gingerbread Houses for Ronald McDonald House Charities

Coming Attraction: 'The Nutcracker'

Advent Calendars!

Sunset on the Beach

Rolling Robots: Hands-on Fun in Glendale

Zooming into the LA Auto Show

Happy Thanksgiving!

Bunnies in Santa Monica

Disney Princess Castle Extravaganza + Giveaway

'Arthur Christmas' Review

Why, hello, Chicago!

'Cars' Exhibit Revs Up at Petersen Automotive Museum

Weekend Giveaway: Tickets to 'Brilliance!' at Geffen Playhouse

Friday Finds

Veteran's Day

LA Auto Show Gets Motors Running + Giveaway

Weekly Deal: $18 Manicure at Plush Beauty Bar for Moms

'The Possibility Shop' Helps Parents Scare Away Monsters

Timothy Shriver Joins Conversation about Obesity and Special Needs Children

Friday Finds

'Cooper and Me' Book Review + Giveaway

Halloween Treats Keep Coming

Happy Halloween!

Back From Fort Worth, Texas!

Coming Attractions: 'Puss in Boots,' Theatricum Boo-tanicum, Boo at the L.A. Zoo

Disney Online Plugs Into Halloween Fun

Back to the Pumpkin Patch at Underwood Family Farms

Friday Finds

Weekly Deal: $100 for a $200 Credit Towards Swim Lessons at the Lenny Krayzelburg Swim Academy

Live in the Vineyard Auction Benefits City of Hope Cancer Center

Kind Campaign Founders Want to End Girl-Against-Girl Bullying

Real California Milk Supports SoCal Schools *Sponsored*

'Arthur Christmas' Sneak Peek

Wordless Wednesday: On the Way to Escondido Falls

Tecca.com: iPads Programs Growing in Classrooms

Weekly Deal: $18 for a monthly unlimited pass to Little Barn ($60 value)

Cirque du Soleil's 'Iris' Unspools at Kodak Theatre

Totsy Playhouse Giveaway

Guess who's in LA Weekly ...

Real California Milk Supports SoCal Schools Sponsored