Las Vegas Mama

Its All Hallows Eeeeeeeve!!! I have finally finished making costumes (Halloween and All Saints Day ones), participated in our church's Trunk or Treat, and put together my Dia de los Muertos altar. I love this season for how cold its starting to get, for all the fun activities, and for the fact that it means the holiday season is close at hand! We all get to start dressing in warmer autumn clothing, which I adore. How cute is Ivy's outfit?? Trunk or Treat was a lot of fun. We set up a pocket projector to play old school Halloween cartoons like Silly Symphony's Dancing Skeletons and Disney's Halloween Treat , and decorated around it. It was a beautiful evening with a gorgeous full moon. I dressed all three girls up as angels, though Rose's wings are so tiny they are hard to see. Here are a few pictures of these angelic children. See those tiny wings?? I noticed the sun behind them and tried to get them with halos. Here is ...

Since I was fortunate enough to be invited to this Graco blogger event, I got this niftly little carseat to review. I will go ahead and admit it... getting swag is my number one perk for having this blog. The end. You can read about the Graco party here , but pictured below is the highlight of that party. You will have to read the actual post to find out what I am doing. Looks fun, right? It was at this party that I learned that this car seat is the only one on the market to allow the entire seat to shift backwards in order to give the child extra leg room, and the only rear-facing one out there to have a 40 pound weight limit. Keeping your child rear-facing makes them 5 times safer than they would be in a forward-facing seat. So this is a pretty fantastic piece of baby gear, in my opinion. The car seat is called the Graco Snugride Click Connect 40 . I loved how snug it really is, and how it cradles Rose perfectly. See that?? Snug.  And look how pretty that pattern ...

Success! I have found sugar skulls! Thanks to a friend of mine who gave me the info, I was able to get some sugar skulls for my altar. Where did I find them, you ask? Why, at the Broad Acres Swap Meet of course. It was the first time I had been there, and I was quite impressed by the selection of washing machines and most especially by the diabetic socks. The quantities of diabetic socks was really, really, just... wow. Actually, I thought it was pretty cool how they had nances, elotes ,  cacahuates calientes and things like that. It was very Mexico-y. I dig. One of the stalls featured a ton of religious art, and this is where I found the sugar skulls for just $3 each (about the size of an orange), as well as larger ceramic ones. So the icing was a little crushed, so what! For the price and considering I couldn't find them anywhere else, I'll take it. It turns out they also had papel picado , and I mean the good kind - with the skulls punched out in cool designs. My gh...

I have been wanting to make my own ofrenda , or altar, for Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). This is an altar in remembrance of our loved ones who have passed away. Its a celebration of life and an attempt to demystify death so it isn't so scary. That's why it so often features skulls and skeletons, which are always depicted as happy or dancing and playing music. The ofrendas are decorated brightly with papel picado, sugar or chocolate skulls, and photos of our loved ones. I decided to start with papel picado - its super easy to make and it turns out quite nicely. Of course, mine will look nowhere near as sophisticated as these-I don't even have a template, much less the know-how. All I am doing is folding the paper and cutting random geometric shapes. Still, I think that the result I achieved is very pretty and festive enough for my purposes. I plan on making some more out of a few more colors. The other thing I am trying to do now is find fresh mar...

I went to a blogger event on Wednesday evening at Child's Play so the kids could go nuts while I checked out Graco's latest carseat, the Snugride Click Connect 40. Emily from Family and Life in Las Vegas orchestrated the whole thing, and kudos to her for picking the perfect venue for moms! The Snugride Click Connect 40 is brand new and happens to be the only car seat on the market that adjusts so that the child's legs aren't squished as they grow, and you can keep them rear facing for much longer than with traditional rear-facing car seats. I have always loved Graco for their innovation and design. Remember that cute little Zoo Crew grooming set? Which I still love. Which you can watch me review in this video of me at the ABC Kids Expo . Who is ready to celebrate safer car seats? Me. Well, and Graco too. All I am saying is that Graco knows how to par-tay! Why yes, it was delicious. And yes, I did almost eat the entire cake by myself. Can you blame me? Don...

I have been thinking about my blog lately, and how little I have posted about places in Las Vegas. When I started out, there were no other blogs that talked about family activities in Vegas (at least none that I knew of), so I felt I was providing good information. But now there are other blogs that talk about family-friendly places, and there is one blog in particular that does such an amazing job of it that there is really no need for my focus to be there any longer. My recommendation for finding family events and places is Vegas Family Events. They have a fantastic calendar of events and basically everything your little family-oriented heart could desire! I guest posted for them so head over there and read a little more about the upcoming As They Grow event. Yes, I still want you to read my blog, but you are simply going to have to rely on my sassy writing style for entertainment, and not expect to have too much valuable information come out of it. If you  can afford to ...

I have in the past been pretty excited about the things I have found at the As They Grow consignment event. Who doesn't love getting amazing clothes, toys and baby accoutrements for the price of a Starbucks latte? But now I am super double extra uber excited, because As They Grow is coming to Henderson!!! It's true! No longer do I have to drive all over town to get to my favorite place in the world for shopping! Let's review some of my favorite As They Grow finds. Christmas dress from last year, $15 Christmas dress from last year, $10 Adorable brand new shoes, $5 Let me list a few more favorite items that I or my shopping companions have found: A slew of like-new dress shoes, $3-$7 each. Petunia Pickle Bottom diaper bag (tags still on, originally $145) for $20 (seriously!) Several hand smocked girls dresses, each one between $5 and $10 A Nordstroms girls dress (tags still on it, originally $75) for $15 The truth is, I can buy my kids' c...

We went on a family vacation to San Diego and L.A. this past week, and I just wanted to share some highlights of the trip. At the San Diego Zoo we started out at the petting zoo and the Insect House. Here is a sign that for some reason just plain cracked me up. The Spanish version at the bottom says, "Please do not ride the goats." L-O-Ls 4-Ever!!! And here was a fun photo op next to the Insect House. Is it sad that the highlights of this world-class zoo were both at the kids petting zoo area at the start of the trip? Perhaps. But if you had to walk uphill the entire time, you would have lost your sense of humor pretty quickly too. I still don't know how we managed to go up hills constantly but downhill only once. It's a mystery. Another fantastic thing about San Diego (apart from our awesome hotel with the patio that opened up onto a private beach in front of a marina)...   ...was this restaurant, with a very long tag line in Spanish. T...

I was excited to be invited to a screening for Disney Pixar's new movie Brave last week, because I am cheap and don't like to pay for movies but mostly because the girls have really been anxious to see it. So we showed up for the screening and there was a huuuuge line. It occurred to me that perhaps this was a screening for the hoi polloi, rather than important bloggers such as myself. We waited in line for a while and then I finally realized I needed to probably jump the line.  Because I am special. And I am not a part of the hoi polloi. So I went up the to door and I was all, "Hey there friend, I am on the list. You know, press? " And then they were all, "Um, you aren't on this list." And then I was all, "Yes I am, its the name in in bold at the top of the list." And then they were all like, "Ohhh, right. So sorry, please - come right in!" So I'm like, "That's what I thought! Yeah..." But of course it turns ou...

I don't know what is happening here, but I am turning into a cookie monster. This is not going be a cookie blog from now on, I really promise! But that said, check out my latest cookies! You only wish you could taste them. They are delish. These are also for a friend's baby shower. So now I have the cookie decorating bug. I am fairly certain that I am going to be cookie obsessed for a little while longer. I actually just made some more for the baptism of 2 of my friends daughters. I will post those soon as well. I am going to be all cookie obsessed for a little while longer, and then before you know it, I am going to be completely over it and you will never see another cookie on this blog again. Peace out!

I'm awesome because I know that I am, and that makes me awesome. Its a circular paradigm, and it works for me. But I will allow you in to my secret chamber of awesomeness by actually showing you the proof of it. The proof is actually NOT in the pudding. It's in the cookie. Ready? Ready? BAM. I made these. I was so outraged that people charge $4 per to make beautiful cookies that I decided to just make them myself. Here is another picture of them.   You just fell in love with me a little, didn't you. I can't say I blame you. I threw this baby shower tea for a good friend of mine and I was convinced she needed baby-themed cookies to make it complete. For those of you interested in party planning ideas, here are a few other particulars. Cherry blossom gift boxes, with little "It's a Girl!" Hershey kisses inside. I forgot to take a close up of the finished box, but here is one half way through it. The pink circle went at the top of the box to h...

Violet got sick these last few days, and sleep has been patchy at best. This morning, Rose decided to add to the sleeplessness by waking up for the day at 6am. Painful. Phillip took Rose out of the room and kept her with him while he got ready for work and fed Ivy, and then he kissed us all goodbye and went marching off in the world to bring us home some bacon. I finally dragged myself out of bed, and walked into the kitchen to find this: Um, those are tiny little boxes!! I know what's in tiny boxes...tiny shiny things! I am like a crow. Not in that I am creepy and I hop in slow motion, but in that I love shiny things. I opened it all up (the card was propped up in the back by a box of chocolate), and you know what? I suddenly didn't care that I hadn't slept. I am married to the best husband ever.  You can't see it on the card because the chocolate (raspberry filled, my fave) is blocking it but the girl is holding a knife. Ha! He knows me well. For the ...

Ivy is 5 years old. And because she is practically a grown up at this point, I was thinking that it's time she starts earning her keep. To that end, I figured I should teach her how to change Rose's diaper. Not that I mind changing diapers, but having Ivy do it could free me up to do other important things such as playing hopscotch. This is where I line up drinking glasses, fill them all with scotch, and drink every alternate glass. Maybe filling them with iced tea would be more prudent. But frankly, hoptea just sounds like a stupid made up game. So a couple of days ago, I asked Ivy to come and change Rose. The moment she got close enough to smell the diaper, she gagged. Melodrama , I thought to myself as stifled an eye roll. I told her to forget it and not to worry about it - I would change Rose myself. But Ivy is a good girl and she really wanted to please me. "No, it's ok mom, I can do this," she insisted. But as she tried to unbutton the onesie at the bu...

So I know I have talked about caffeine addiction , but because I am flawed and weak human being, I admit that addicted to chocolate as well. I have been using caffeine and chocolate to get me through stressful times, sleepy times, and just general times (as in, any time of the day). I had been keeping a candy stash , which was my go-to source when I needed a little pick me up. But I knew this was totally unhealthy, so I had stopped buying a candy stash in an effort to curb the chocolate addiction. However, simply not having it around does not eliminate my craving for chocolate, sweets, and anything sugary. This is why I soon found myself desperately searching the cupboards for anything that could be remotely considered a "sweet". The only thing I could find was chocolate sprinkles in my baking cupboard. This, of course, is not really chocolate. But it was all I had and I eagerly ate some. Bleh! They do not taste very good when not on cupcakes. It suddenly dawned on ...

It's a lazy day today. I can't shake the sleepy from my eyes, but I don't care, because it's Saturday. There is something sweet and beautiful about Saturdays. All the toil of parenting during the week is relaxed because it is the weekend. I struggled all week long to keep the kids from watching videos in the stead of more mentally stimulating activities,  I schooled, I made nutritious-ish meals (or at least tried), I did laundry, I vacuumed, I picked up, I parented firmly. But today is Saturday, it's everyone's day off, right? Well ok, there is not really a day off for parents. But I am taking one anyway. This means that I lingered in bed even though I was awake, I made hot chocolate for the kids, and I put on a video for them. Today I am not going to cook, I am going to heat up pre-made meals. I am not going resist their cries of "more bideos, more bideos!" I am going to nurse Rose frequently so I can sit in one spot. I am not doing laundry and ...

Having a baby and being exhausted a lot of the time makes me feel really old and decrepit. Sometimes I see a picture of myself and I am surprised by how young I look, simply because I feel so old. And something about feeling old makes me want to at least fake youthfulness. In fact, I think this is what you call a mid-life crisis. Or a mid-childbearing crisis. I don't want to be matronly. I don't want to be called "Ma'am". I want to be youthful and be called "Miss". Sure, the correct term for a married woman with 3 children is "Ma'am". But I am throwing convention to the wind here because I pretty much want to pretend. I want to get hip. Be cool again (ok, I've never actually been cool, but I did say this was for pretends). So I took a little trip down to the fantastic Euphoria Salon for some  help. Here is before, at home with the baby. Clearly something needs to be done with those split ends either way. Soooo.... let's cho...

Things are getting more and more interesting around da hood. I have to call it "da hood" now because of all the crimes that seem to be happening around here. First, it was the theft . Now, it is murder. There was a dead body in our backyard. There was a gunshot wound. It seems someone thought it would be a good idea to do target practice on pigeons, and this poor guy fell out of the sky and right into our nice, clean, normally blood-less backyard. My children found the body. Great. Now I am going to have to put them into years of therapy to heal their trauma. Interestingly, the pigeon had a leg cuff on with an ID. Turns out it is a racing pigeon. Which brings up some other questions like, "How do you race a pigeon?" and "Who would ever want to race pigeons?" I don't really have an answer for those questions, but apparently enough people want to race pigeons to warrant an organization called the American Racing Pigeon Union . Since this seem...

Someone stole my stroller. Does this sound like a non-statement? Because to me, this is a big deal. Last week I had come home from running errands, it was late in the afternoon, all three kids were melting down and I was ready to faint from exhaustion. So I unloaded everyone, put them down for naps and passed out in my bed for an hour. I had to settle for the bed because I still don't have a fainting couch for some inexplicable reason. When Phillip got home he pointed out that that I had forgotten to close the garage. I scoffed at the importance of this. After all, I have become fond of pointing out to anyone who will listen that Henderson is the second safest city in the nation after Plano, Texas. Fast forward to this week. I had spent the entire morning getting everyone ready for a walk to the park. But when we went to leave I could not find the stroller, which had been in our garage. I called Phillip to ask him where he put it and he said he had neither seen it nor moved...