Last year, she played a lamb. The year before that, a flower princess. This year, she isn't dancing in the Nutcracker. But she is seeing it. Maple Youth Ballet presents The Nutcracker, December 18th through the 23rd. And finally, my youngest, JBean, will get to see it. She has been wanting to see it most of her life.
She did see a Nutcracker, of sorts, last year. The dancing was wonderful, as was the staging. But it was a special performance for schools and included awful narration, referencing how much more exciting it was then the Power Rangers! My daughter was disgusted. Who narrates a ballet, she wanted to know.
This time around, we are seeing the real Nutcracker, at Irvine and Newport Beach's premier conservatory of dance, Maple Conservatory. We cannot wait. I hope this is the start of a holiday tradition.
You can attend, too. There are still seats available! Why not take a break from your holiday preparations to enjoy some family time? Tickets range from $20-$28 dollars, which is reasonable for a full-fledged production. I can't wait, and I know my daughter is filled with joy at the prospect!
T, who always wanted to be able to dance
full disclosure: I was not paid for this post, but I was given tickets to the performance. Opinions stated are always, always my own.
It was the poodles. Small, furry piles of whirling dervish. They jumped through hoops and pranced around in their floofy white and grey coats all pretty as you please. They were eager to perform. And we were eager to watch. With a flourish, the trainer raised her arms, and the dogs came flying over her head. The audience gasped, then clapped. It was to be expected. We were at the circus.
And this year, we get to go again, as Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey come to Orange County in July. And, in preparation, there is a contest.
Nominations are currently being accepted for “The Barnum Award,” a Southland search to honor three stand-out kids who are making a difference in our community.You can nominate a child between the ages of 8-14 who is demonstrating the entrepreneurial and philanthropic spirit of P.T. Barnum. Nominating is easy, by answering a few brief questions on the online application at The Barnum Award. First, second and third place winners will receive cash prizes to continue their service. The award ceremony will be on opening night at the Honda Center, July 28th.
And..as if that wasn't enough, you can get discount tickets!
MOM Ticket Discount –
The multi-ticket discount returns this summer, with a special $48 Family Four-Pack Offer on select performances or $4 off single ticket prices on select shows. The discount can be redeemed online at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling (800) 745-3000 . To redeem, use the discount code “MOM”.
T, who says send in the clowns
I did not get paid to write this, but I do get tickets to see the awesome poodles.
Nope, this post isn't about sex or Carole King. This afternoon, we had an earthquake here in California, a nice long, slow one. It was fine, just surprising. The quake was centered in Mexico, and was a 7.2. All part of living in Southern California, and waiting for the Big One.
Some quick pics of our celebration:
Spring cupcakes
My girls, and their cousins
the Easter Bunny brought rain boots
Poppy, with her toy from her Easter bucket. Yes, that is a flamingo..isn't it funny?
The holidays are upon us and in between the mad rush to get JBean to Nutcracker rehearsals and performances and JBug to church musical rehearsals and productions and all three of the kids to band rehearsals and the concert, and decorating the house, getting a tree, stringing lights,finding a parking place, shopping, cussing because they're out of what I really wanted to buy, wrapping presents and baking and basting a turkey (WHEW!) {BREATHE}
We are taking time out to seeDisney on Ice: World of Disney. JBean is excited. You can get more information about the show, including line up and dates.
And to sweeten the deal, Disney on Ice has passed on a deal to you, my readers, as well. Click over to Sweet Talkin', my review blog, to get the scoop.
T, who is making memories for her children, if it kills me
He wants a skateboard. I want him to keep his body intact. So, for years, I have vetoed the skateboard requests. Well, not exactly vetoed, I have simply said, "When you're older." He doesn't get that I am putting him off. He first started asking when he was 7. Visions of scrambled brains fanned across the sidewalk filled my head when I answered: "When you are 10." It seemed a long way off at the time. Now that he is 11, he is asking again, repeatedly. We're at an impasse, and I have to take him seriously. But I am worried.
Understand that I am the mother who made her oldest daughter sit in a booster seat until past the 6th grade because she wasn't tall enough or heavy enough to sit without it. When they say 8 years or 80 lb. I take that seriously! My littlest one, at 8, is still in a booster seat and will be for the foreseeable future. I was the mom who made the kids wear bike helmets long before it was law. I have seen too many of those brain-crushing YouTube videos to feel comfortable otherwise. And what about stubbed toes, broken feet? I am thinking of ordering bubble wrap to wrap around the kid to keep him in one piece.
So when Etnies, an Orange County-based sports shoe and apparel company, invited the bloggers from OC Family to visit their headquarters, I have to admit I didn't know what to expect. I know many swear by skateboarding, but when the force for skateboarding can be 17x that of standing still? Well, call me over-protective, but I am not a happy mama. I am concerned about safety.
Fortunately, so is Etnies. With the only biomechanics lab for skateboarding in the world, they are concerned with safety and performance for skateboarders. With features in their shoes like a reinforced toe box to protect feet from impact, and patented cushioning in the shoe as well, it helps me feel just a bit better about protecting my son's extremities. The owner Pierre was a professional boarder, and many who work there are serious about the sport, too. The company is all about innovation. The employees at etnies clearly are passionate about what they do. Clad in jeans and flannel (oh, the flannel!) they seem happy to be there. They were kind, helpful and gave us cupcakes!
And? The shoes are nice looking, with a ton of variety. Because face it, it doesn't matter how well-made or what safety features are involved if the kid thinks the shoes are ugly and won't wear them. Once I get a chance to get pads, helmet and bubble wrap, my son may just find a skateboard underneath the Christmas tree this year.
Even mama couldn't resist the shopping spree and I had a hard time deciding which shoe I wanted. (I will tell you that their womens' shoes seem to run a bit narrow, so if your foot is on the wider side, like mine, you might want to order a size up, or even try on a pair first. Because they have such a molded footbed, they don't give a lot of room for wider feet. However, because I love the shoes so much, I'm ignoring that. I have to do that with a lot of shoes, it is my curse).
In any case, don't say I never gave you anything, because etnies is giving you a special deal, too. Just in time for Christmas. Click over to my review blog, Sweet Talkin' to get your deal.
This Friday night was date night with my husband and we found ourselves in a little-known coffee house in Fullerton. Down a small alley on a not-well-traveled side street off Harbor Blvd. is Max Blooms Cafe Noir, a newly opened treasure. Entering into the store is like going back in time.
Part museum, part coffee house, the love of 1940's era is everywhere: from the vintage photos of Fullerton, the antique typewriter as well as the antique piano that is still played in the establishment today, the joint oozes atmosphere. You expect Mickey Spillane to step out of the shadows any minute. Mixed about with the authentic film-noir era movie posters, you will find an eclectic collection of movies for sale. It's a sort of rental system, buy the movie for $15, and they buy it back from you for $12. A bank of theatre seats faces a television and a shelf of books ranging from "Husband-Tested Recipes," an old paperback cookbook from the era, and a ton of books on old films and directors. It's the kind of place you can spend some time exploring. There's even a map to point out pieces in the collection.
Everywhere you look is a testimony of the labor of love that is Max Bloom's. And
the coffee? Oh, the coffee!
Like nothing you have tasted. Roasted personally by owner Stephen Sprague, it is smooth, and toasty without a hint of bitterness. I am still dreaming of the amazing mocha latte I had. It was perfect. Smooth, creamy, with a touch of chocolate, and in a mug, no less! My husband had the regular coffee, and it was just as good. And where can you get a cup of joe for $ .89? Coffee is a passion for Stephen, and it shows.
Coffee is serious business. He explained to me how to make the perfect cappuccino, and why they don't travel well. (the perfect capp is 1/3 espresso, 1/3 milk and 1/3 foam...so you can't make it to go). He can make you a latte, though. And it will be the best you have ever had.
And, with bakery treats and a refrigerator stocked with old-fashioned sodas, they have something for everyone. But don't forget your wallet, because Max Bloom's only takes cash.
If you are tired of big-chain coffee, maybe you need to stop in and see Max Bloom.
Asperger's, HFA, quirkiness, crazy-making behavior..whatever you want to call it...My son, the fruit of my loins, and paper in my birdcage, is not known for his patience. He wants everything now, now, now! This could be part of his Asperger's, or it could be that I am a crappy mom and have never taught him to delay gratification. I am going with the first one. I mean, I can delay my gratification all of.. let's see... I have not did just eat a molten chocolate lava cake while writing without sharing.. yeah, ok, I am a crappy mom. What' ya gonna do? Sue me?
Today I had to take my daughters to their aunt's house, about 25 minutes away. In rush hour traffic. Which, as anyone who lives in Orange County and drivescamps cusses in traffic knows, is really get stuck at every freakin' red light, then crawl for 15 feet at a time traffic. The only rush is to stand still. My son does not endure inactivity well. He gets bored. And, when he is bored, he has to let everyone around him know it. So, let me set the scene:
I am driving, JBug is riding up front, JBean is behind me and JBear is behind her. Complaining. A lot. About the stupid traffic. Ad nauseum. And I stop for another red light, probably the 457,823rd red light on the route. And from behind me comes:
"Red light, you'd better move it.
"
::pause::
"I mean it, I have a bazooka."
(and just where did you get that, young man??)
At this point, I am snickering, because, well, I just am. But I am trying not to call attention to it, so he will hopefully continue.
The light stays stubbornly red.
"I have a bazooka and a hand grenade. Those can do much more damage than you'd think."
I am now biting my lip to keep from laughing out loud....
The light still doesn't turn green.
"If you pulled the pin on a hand grenade and covered yourself, you'd still die, it's not like the movies."
At that point, the light got the message and turned green. Lucky for the light, because I would hate to see what would happen when JBear pulled the bazooka out.
(and maybe I would want to borrow it...)
He is the master of the non-sequitur, this kid. He keeps me in stitches. (when I don't want to kill him...)
So the other day we were driving (shuddap, yeah, I know, driving...big surprise huh? Why in the hell they call it "homeschooling" I have no idea...I am always, always in the car) ..We were driving and my daughter commented on the new building for Karl Karcher Enterprises. AKA Carl's Jr/Hardee's... makers of those absolutely porny commercials for their food, which I won't link...want to see, google them. Now, not only am I not observant, I didn't know they were building. I am the one who drives by a gas station and JBear will comment, "Oh they painted the bench red at the gas station. It used to be green." And I will think..."there's a gas station here??" And yeah, I have passed it twice a day for 7 years. So?
In any case, we are talking about this building, not important, just chatting, when from behind me (it's always behind me) I hear:
"If they cloned Yoda and made him evil, the Jedi wouldn't stand a chance."
Me: ::Doubletake:::
WHAT? Where did that come from? Yes, that's right, The Master of the Non-Sequitur (or as I like to call it, the "WTH Moment")... strikes again.
I am absolutely never bored with my on-board entertainment
T, who carries a pad of paper in her purse in order to write this crap down
awesome Far Side reenactment photo from The Rocketeer, used under creative commons
This weekend I attended my first tweetup (that's where you get together with the people who live in your area who hang out on twitter). It was at The Jazz Kitchen at Downtown Disney. I wasn't sure what to expect, and arrived a bit late to find the first table full and it sort of felt like when you were in high school and walked in to find all the cool kids sitting at the table with no room left for you. (no, that's never happened to me either). So I took a deep breath and sat at the next table, praying others would show up. I brought J with me, so at least I wasn't sitting alone. I shouldn't have worried, very shortly, both tables were full. I had a very nice time and met some great people.
from left:@godotchris(can't see)@brd78,@melaclaro,@crispydragon,@SWgeek,@fstop23, @cloud79,@ladyblackwood,@mr_o,@kameelyan,@kirstenwright,@mannyaragon,@annwillmott
same, except @colorsign on right
from left:@ladyblackwood, @mr_o; on right:@fstop23
from left:@ksablan,@ocmarisa,@danasipper,@sipperphoto;
Right:phraklet (next to @phraktyl, who you can't see)@ro, @cheapcheapcheap
@markdavidson,@DrYueh,(not sure),@thevixy
not pictured:@californiagirlj
If I misssed anyone, let me know, I will edit so I get it right. It was fun, and can't wait for the next one!
T, who was going to link all those names, but it is so late now I need to go to bed
"Life. slightly dark, cheaper than candy, and half as sweet."
Glad you're here! I'm a freelance writer, specializing in autism, special needs and education. I freelance for numerous national publications. This is where I let it all hang out, sans editor.
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