This year Christmas fell just three weeks after Thanksgiving. We traveled to Oakland to see my family for Thanksgiving and then the first week back had to get our tree and try to somehow pull it together to decorate our house. The central thing I had on my mind going into this busy holiday season was, how can I streamline each step of hosting Christmas? A friend shared that her sister made delicious a delicious braised short rib recipe with polenta for Thanksgiving and everyone was drooling over ...
So, Are You Having a Colonoscopy?
I did it. I'll say it. I had a colonoscopy and an endoscopy and I'm under 40. And, honestly, it wasn't that bad. Follow me on my journey. Hopefully it will help to demystify the process. Or at least have you laughing at a few poop jokes. ha! Finding a GIWho knew that finding a good GI is really tough in LA. I'm surprised because this is such a progressive city. One of my close friends who has IBS and is in the healthcare industry literally said that she has seen four GI's and wasn't ...
Carrot Cake Oatmeal Recipe
I'm always looking for ways to sneak vegetables into each meal of the day. This morning, I was craving oatmeal and we ran out of zucchini, which I often grate into my oatmeal. So, I looked in the fridge, saw a carrot and thought, let me try to make a play on a carrot cake oatmeal recipe. It's pretty darn delicious. I think I may even eat the second portion for dessert. Carrot Cake Oatmeal Serves 2. Adapted from Oh She Glows 1/2 cup old fashioned rolled oats 1 cup ...
Birthday Dinner on the Beach
To celebrate the birthday of a close friend of ours, Will, his wife, Christine, planned a chill birthday dinner on the beach - at Manhattan Beach. We both have kids that would rather be running around than sitting in a restaurant. So, a dinner on the beach was a brilliant idea! And also a very easy to execute family birthday outing with kids. It's the small details that make a difference. Christine told us to meet her at Manhattan Beach at 5:00 and that she would have dinner, ...
Potty Training Mr. Stubborn
Ellington, who turned three a couple of months ago, is a very strong-willed child. Very. When it came to potty training, he was pretty clear that he had zero interest. He would rather lay down and let you change him. We tried everything - bare bottom waist down, a large dinosaur in the bathroom with reward stickers when you potty and bribery with cars and cupcakes and even seeing his new friends at school use the bathroom. He had zero interest. Nothing motivated him to want to go. Lateef ...
Baby Led Weaning Recipes
I always thought I would be one of those moms who pureed all her babies' food way ahead of time and had it labeled and had it perfect in the freezer and ready for my little ones. When I was pregnant with Ellington, my pediatrician told me about baby led weaning ("BLW"). She recommended it and did it with her kids. I read up on BLW and as soon as I heard that there was a food introduction method that cuts down on time slaving over a blender and putting it in small containers, I was sold. I love ...