Holidays

Let it Snow at the Four Seasons Westlake! Last weekend my cute crew and I headed to the Four Seasons Westlake for their annual ‘Let it Snow’ holiday event. A family favorite year after year, the ‘Let it Sow’ event features a holiday wonderland with festive bounce houses, train rides, professional photos with Santa, cookie decorating and more. Oliver went completely nuts for the “More” portion: ELMO and COOKIE MONSTER. Need I say more? (Literally). No seriously, brilliant move on the event team’s part— nothing says holiday happiness more than those two characters. They don’t even need to be dressed in an ugly holiday sweater. That’s how loved they are. When you ...Read More
For my family, Christmas day is all about food and movies, movies and food. Traditionally, we gather at someone’s house in the morning, drink endless amounts of coffee and mimosas and eat my mom’s famous egg and cheese soufflé. Oh, and bagels too. Because you can never have enough carbs after you’ve had Chinese food on Christmas Eve. After we stuff ourselves (again), we head off to the movies (You don’t think we go empty handed do you? Please, we stuff candy and cookies into our purses like little old ladies who save Sugar packets). Tradition, people! Tradition! One year, for a holiday celebration, I had to bring Star of David-shaped  cheese sandwiches to Jonah’s preschool ...Read More
My Top Holiday Hosting Tips In just a few days, my house will be filled with 26 adults and 3 children (and 1 baby!) for Thanksgiving. While it may be totally nuts to take such a big hosting “gig” on with a newborn, I love this holiday and am excited to open our home to our favorite family and friends. Luckily (and I say this with lots of love in my heart, dear family), we do not have any out-of-towners. This means that no one is spending the night(s)… hence, the arduous task of laundry loads, changing out sheets, and a fridge stocked morning, noon, and night. However, with 29 people, ...Read More
From our wedding invitations and save the dates, to thank you notes and holiday and New Year’s cards, it’s pretty safe to say that Minted is my go to site for all things stationary. 2014 has been an incredible year filled with so many rich moments and memories. It’s important to me to find cards that reflect these sentiments and joy — but that doesn’t require a completely focused brain to create or order. (i.e. doesn’t require me to realize that when I order a $3.99 Frozen Elsa wand with stickers for my niece, that I should not select shipping for $27.99 to get it to me the next day. Ooops. ...Read More
Exactly two years ago this week, I came home from a 3 day trip to Haiti on a mission with Ladies’ Home Journal, Crocs Cares, and Feed the Children to deliver shoes to school children. It was the best time of my life and the worst time of my life. To travel so far and literally outside my comfort zone to a world I would have never imagined traveling to, and to be in a position to take some part (albeit, small) in helping children in need: The Best. The worst: To be so far away from home and to know that when I do get home, teaching my child what gratitude really is, in a world ...Read More
Growing up in Southern California, every year my family had a tradition of going to Knott’s Berry Farm during the holidays. When the temperature dropped, and Thanksgiving/ Christmas Break mode kicked in, we headed to Knott’s for a day of fun and of course, funnel cake and fried chicken. As a mom, it’s now such a joy to recreate this tradition and introduce my son to the holiday season at Knott’s Merry Farm. Knott’s is such a great destination for our family that we’ve decided to become Season Passholders. Right now, New passholders can purchase a 2015 Season Pass today and use it for one 2014 visit! Plus, visit additional days ...Read More
This year, Thanksgiving and Chanukah are sharing the spotlight. For my family, this means that at 5 o’clock when the turkey coma usually sets in, we’re going to have to rally for a little dreidel and gift exchanging action. This also means that as the Thanksgiving host, (I must be out of my mind to take this on this year), in addition to getting my menu prepped and table decor in line, I’m going to have to going to have to think about gifts about a month sooner than I normally would! As a curator for eBay’s new collections program, I’ve gotten a head start on all the things I want ...Read More
12.22.11
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Recently many family members asked me what Jonah wants for Chanukah. I would often respond with a “he doesn’t need anything” (an answer that grandmothers cannot accept) and follow up with “okay, um….okay… he’s in to robots and science stuff…” But at a recent westside “be a better parent” group, I learned from the jedi parenting master that 4 year olds are in such a “gimme gimme” stage, that now would be the time to talk to them about giving back. That instead of them telling us all the things they want and need, we should encourage them to think about what we can do or give to others. So I ...Read More
12.04.11
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Ho, friggin’, ho. ‘Tis the season to be jolly… and make fun of holiday sweaters. Whether the lit up mall and long lines for Santa are getting you in the holiday spirit or not, one thing is for certain, this time of year, especially for parents, is pure madness. From holiday parties at schools, to gifts for teachers, to scheduling play dates and plans while school’s out, our dance card is full… And that’s not including the holiday work parties and family/friend get togethers (where I pray that the egg nog is spiked and the latkes are extra crispy). A few weeks ago, my girl Robin Saperstein of High Heel ...Read More
11.20.11
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Earlier this year, Robin Saperstein of High Heel in a Haystack and I met and as I’ve said before, I was convinced we were not only separated at birth, but that we shared a deeply stylish karmic fashion connection. Robin, a fashion stylist based here in Los Angeles gave me a complete wardrobe makeover. Not only did she go through my closet and help me determine which clothes shouted 1993 and needed to be bagged immediately, but she put together some fantastic looks for me that inspired me to continue to think about style and actually enjoy getting dressed (in something other than yoga pants and my American Apparel pullover). Well ...Read More