A Saturday at the Whitney Museum with Kids

This trailer makes absolutely no sense. It's trying so hard to be the Breakfast Club. I could have taken some creative liberties and changed the template. But I didn't. I trust the geniuses at Apple know what they are doing. It stars my kids and the Jeff Koons exhibit at the Whitney Museum. I couldn't love it more. 

FYI: The Jeff Koons exhibit is your last chance to roam The Whitney Museum before it moves to its new downtown location. Go before it's too late! If you have kids, I suggest going this Saturday, September 27th for a special Family Day from 9am-1pm. You will not be disappointed.

After we ate breakfast at the museum, roamed all the floors, and then walked through Central Park, we came home for a few hours to rest. That's when Owen had the nerve to ask, "So is this going to be a stay-at-home day?" Ahhh. Sometimes I want to move to the middle of Nebraska. These kids don't even remember half the stuff they see anyways. Even on the actual day. What's the point?

Meals I Thought Were Worthy of A Photo

Presenting food I thought was worthy of a photo . . .

Don't worry. It's organic. 

Let's see here. We've got candy corn, a veggie tray, chips, and ritz crackers. 
Was this pic taken at a party from 1979? Nope. My house party, October 31, 2009. 
Was I trying to be retro? Nope. I was trying to be fancy. 

Quick! Get the camera. My kids are eating artisanal ice cream from the local creamery. 

I forget the reason for this picture, but I hope I was trying to be ironic. Otherwise, I have problems.  

My only request that night: Eat a sundae that mimics my hair color and style.
Done and done. 

My Glorious Twenties

This is what a typical house party in my 20's looks liked. The video was taken 2009 in my house in Belmont, CA. I was around 26 years old. Such a bizarre time in my life. Tons of screaming babies, not just for me, but my friends. It felt like we were all living the dream. The mormon dream! Young and happy and married with kids. This video captures the chaos perfectly. I'm so glad it's over.

PS The only reason I'm skinny is because I got free child care at my gym from 9-12pm and 3-6pm. I went twice a day to escape my kids. It was the biggest motivator to get me in shape. Don't let all these fit mammas fool you. It's the free childcare! Now that my kids are older, I haven't set foot in a gym in years.

Throwback Thursdays: This One's for You Mom

Cut in a circle shape for a scrapbook. Oh la la so clever. 

This is one of the last pictures I took with my mom. She took out her oxygen tubes just long enough to say cheese. She looks so proud and beautiful. The picture was taken at the hospital because the doctors advised her not to attend my high school graduation ceremony. My principal recreated the event at the hospital's chapel. She died a few weeks later from breast cancer. I was devastated. I wish I would have known about organizations like CancerCare. Now is my chance to spread the word! If you know of anyone with cancer, their caregivers, loved ones and the bereaved, listen up. CancerCare is here to help.

It was founded in 1944 and is the leading national organization providing free support services and information to help people manage the emotional, practical and financial challenges of cancer. CancerCare helps one million people each year throughout the U.S. and distributes more than $30 million in financial assistance.

Over the next few months, CancerCare will be hosting their largest fundraising programs. Communities in my area will come together to walk or run in memory of those they have lost to cancer, honor survivors, and support those currently facing the disease.

The first Walk/Run for Hope is this weekend on September 14th in Fairfield, CT.  Future walks will be held on Sunday, September 28 in Paramus, NJ and Sunday, November 2, 2014 in Woodbury, NY. I hope you can make it out!

And now it's time to do my speciality: pictures and captions. It's a formula that seems to work over here. This round will be starring me and my mom. Since she died in 2000, she left zero digital impact on the world. No selfies. No Facebook. No sponsored posts. Not even a single Throwback Thursday. Until now! She would have loved all this social media madness.

 Thanks mom for always supported my decision to perm my hair right through the 90's. I can't wait for it to come back. My hair takes a great perm. I wish she could see round two. I suspect in the year 2020, the perms will be even more awesome. Mommy/daughter perms or . . . 

. . . mommy/daughter bobs?
Anna Wintour obviously had a big influence in our hair styles.
We were very high fashion for a brief moment in the early 90's. 

Dog purse alert! Ruff. My mom apparently wanted to steal mine when I wasn't looking.    

I always liked my mom's teeth. When she first married my dad, his father told her she would make a great singer. When she asked him why, he responded, "Because your teeth are slightly bucked." This story always made her laugh. I miss her big old buckaroos.

 This post was brought to you by the makers of Tic Tac® mints. I received compensation to write this post through the Shake, Share & Care® program. All opinions expressed are my own.

NYC House Tour: 5 People, 2 Bedrooms, 1 Bathroom

We've been living in the same apartment for almost 4 years. It's the longest we've ever lived anywhere. Every time the lease renewal comes up, we keep saying we're going to move, but we don't. We just extended our lease until March 1, 2015. Which means only one thing: HOUSE TOUR TIME. It's taken me so long to finally feel like it's finished. That day has arrived.

Ah yes. The universal problem of too many pillows, not enough cases. I think Shakespeare wrote a play about it.
Still haven't hung up any artwork or installed that air conditioner. The chalkboard? It's going to look awesome when it's hung. Decorating my house is so low on my priorities. It's my way of rebelling against the stay at home mom stereotype. I'll show them. Them? Oh, right. No one cares. 

Lamp shades? Optional. The 2 flattest lumpiest pillows on earth? Must-haves.  

I can only imagine what distraction made me stop sweeping and drop the broom immediately. I think it was this post. When inspiration hits, I don't let anything stop me. Not even brooms. 

Whatever.

Most days walking down my hall requires me to do this:

She also babysits my kids. I asked her to send me this pic. 

I started using Olay Regenerist Anti-Aging Peel and Aveeno night cream a few days a week. The results are amazing when the picture is slightly out of focus. 

I have a big decision to make: wash some clothes or push them back into the hamper. I'm so overwhelmed. Important decisions like this make me feel like my life has value. 

The Dorkiest Family Video Ever Made

What happens when someone with questionable taste finally discovers video templates on her iPhone? This. The dorkiest family video with cringe worthy background music. Who's in charge of creating these things? I don't need nerdy options to tempt me. I can't resist. Here it goes my first production. I love it.  
Also: I'm ready to kill the apostrophe. I'm too lazy to look up whether or not it's needed in the title.