Inland Empire Family - Moms. Kids. Life. - (Headless Mom)

Do you have your tickets for Disney On Ice yet?

Fri, 24 Sep 2010 11:24:00 GMT

There is still time!

Mickey, Minnie and the crew will be at CBB Arena in Ontario October 1-3. All of the information for tickets and show times can be found here. I've got my tickets, do you?

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Are your kids fans of Mickey and Minnie and you can't seem to make it to the park? No worries! Mickey and Minnie will be at Victoria Gardens in Rancho Cucamonga to visit with the kids and give hula lessons. You heard me right: Hula Lessons!

Where: Victoria Gardens, near the I-15 and Foothill Blvd., in Rancho Cucamonga, at the central lawn.

When: October 1, 12 pm.

Kids will have the opportunity to make leis and dance the hula with Mickey and Minnie and skaters from the Disney On Ice show. How cool is that?

So take your wee ones to Victoria Gardens next Friday to get them warmed up for the show.

And I'll see you at CBB on Friday night!

Disney On Ice comes to Ontario

Fri, 17 Sep 2010 08:57:00 GMT

Do you remember when we, as residents of the Inland Empire, had to drive all the way to LA or Orange county to see great shows with our families? Those days are over, baby! Since the opening of the Citizen's Business Bank Arena in Ontario a night of family fun is just minutes away.

Disney On Ice, Mickey and Minnie's Magical Journey will be at the CBB arena Oct. 1-3, with 6 different show times to accommodate any toddler's nap schedule, or, if you're like me, sports game/practice schedules! Ticket prices range from $16-$65. (See details below.)

Mickey and Minnie's Magical Journey will take our families on a virtual vacation. From the shores of Hawaii with Lilo and Stitch, to the African Pride Lands with Simba and Nala, under the sea with Ariel and Sebastian, and flying over London with Peter Pan and Tinkerbell, we'll get to experience all of our favorite Disney locales right from our seats in the arena. Knowing that Feld Entertainment has assembled an award winning team of skaters, choreographers, set and costume designers, coupled with great music from our favorite Disney movies? That's a winning combination that we won't miss.

Details, Details!

Ticket Information
- Prices: $16, $20, $25, $45 (VIP), $65 (Front Row) **Does not include service charges, handling or facility fees
- Order Online: www.disneyonice.com or www.ticketmaster.com
- Order tickets by phone: 800-745-3000

*If you use the code MOM you can score 4 tickets for $44! (Valid for $16, $20 and $25 tickets only.)

Location & Showtimes
Citizens Business Bank Arena
4000 Ontario Center Parkway, Ontario, CA 91764
Friday, October 1 7:30pm
Saturday, October 2
11:30am; 3:30pm; 7:30pm
Sunday, October 3 11:30am; 3:30pm; 7:30pm

Won't you join the Headless Family for a night of travel, Disney-style?

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Held Hostage in the Waiting Room

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 12:10:00 GMT

After sitting in a doctor's office for 2 1/2 hours this morning with an antsy 8 year old I've come up with a few tips for doctors and their staff.

1- When you KNOW that your office visits last a minimum of 2 hours remind the patient during the reminder call.

2- Follow-up appointments should not take longer than 30-45 minutes. Especially when they are scheduled within the first 15 minutes of the office being open.

3- Please do not over-book your office. I understand that you have a lot of patients and multiple patient rooms but if you are making people wait over 2 hours for appointments to be complete, it's too long.

4- The temperature of your waiting room should be warmer than a meat locker.

5- Magazines should be available, and not under trash.

6- Offer doctor's excuse notes for schools without being asked. After a marathon in your office your patients usually forget.

If you've ever been held hostage in a doctor's office, tell me (and the doctors!) what you would add to this list in the comments!

Kendra lost a week of her life this morning in a waiting room.

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Budgeting

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 21:54:00 GMT

Isn't Back to School time also Back to Budget time?

It seems like every August we're hemorrhaging cash around here. There's football, and baseball and school pictures. The dentist, the car, tuition. I really should anticipate this better.

Since I don't, that's where you all come in. I'm looking for your best budgeting tips! Share how you save money when the going gets tight, or on a regular basis. Do you use coupons? The envelope system? Let me know in the comments!

You can also find Kendra whining on her personal blog, The Adventures of the Headless Family

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8 Tips for Back to School Success

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 21:53:00 GMT

Have your kids gone back to school yet?

Whether you are elated at having your days back, or dreading the silence, there are a few things that you can do to make the transition back to school a little easier for the whole family.

   •   Start a week early on getting your kids on a regular bed time. We all know that we slack on bed time in the summer and it's really hard to get back on an 'early to rise' schedule for school. Move lights out earlier by 15 minutes each night until you've reached the desired time. Same goes for getting up. Although, in our house it's easier to just do that one like a band-aid....quick. It only hurts for a minute!
   •   Menu plan and grocery shop. This is so important for me so I'm not running back and forth to the store a million times because I forgot that favorite lunch box item or that last, essential ingredient for a recipe. There's lots of other things I'd rather be doing!
   •   Remember that you're going to have homework on the first night. It happens every year, but somehow we always forget about all of that paperwork! (Selective memory maybe?) Block out time on that first evening to get ALL of it done. You'll feel better that it's done, and some teachers even give extra credit to kids whose parents get it done on the first night.
   •   Back-to-school night. Is yours always in the first week? Ours is, and like the paperwork, I always forget. Pencil it in early, then even if you have to change the date it will at least be on your radar.
   •   This may sound silly, but if your child needs a new backpack? Buy it early. This year was the year of the Great Wheeled Backpack Hunt. I ended up at 4 or 5 different stores over several days and still had to buy it online since the only one that I could find with wheels was an iCarly, with pink trim. My 8 year old boy was not amused. True story.
   •   Make sure you make time to sit with each of your children and discuss their first day. Learning about their teacher(s), who is in their class, what they're reading, etc., is a great way to connect. We do this over a traditional first-day-of-school frozen yogurt. With toppings, of course!
   •   Start your homework routine on the very first day, even if it's just reading. It will make actually doing 'real' homework so much easier if your child knows exactly what to expect. Make sure, also, that paper, pencils, erasers, and other supplies are close by and restocked so they can get right to work.
   •   Make a weekly calendar to post where all members of the family can see it. I tape one to a kitchen cupboard door, at eye level, so we can see at a glance who is going where, and when. Especially helpful for husbands to glance at to see how busy everyone is and why dinner isn't on the table at 6. ;-)

And, if you're like me, you'll be humming "It's the most wonderful time of the year" even though it's not Christmas!

Minor League Baseball is coming to a close ...

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 08:43:00 GMT

There are a few weeks left in the minor league baseball season. Have you caught a game yet?

We have a great opportunity for family fun here in the Inland Empire. The Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, Inland Empire 66ers, and the Lake Elsinore Storm are all close and a great value for a night out. Tickets run from $6-$12 and there is always more than baseball to watch.

Often you will see your friends and neighbors also in attendance since many local organizations book group tickets for the games. With tickets as low as $7 each, it's a great way to unwind with your coworkers or church group.

My sons had the chance to go to a recent game and present the flags for the flag ceremony. All of the boys had fun getting out on the 'big field' and proceeded to eat their weight in cotton candy before the fireworks.

If you haven't gone to a game yet there's still a few weeks left in the season. Check the links above for the closest stadium to you and support our local teams. You might even get to see a few stars... like Manny Ramirez! (Quick! He starts rehab with the 66ers today!)

Visit Kendra's personal blog, The Adventures of the Headless Family.

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Circuit Training for the Busy Mom

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 22:13:00 GMT

I'm the mom of two active boys, ages 8 and 10. I could easily fall into the trap of "I'm too busy! I can't possibly find time for me!", especially with back-to-school, sports, scouts and the like.

The best time that I've found to exercise is when they are. Sports fields and parks are the perfect venue to get moving, and since many parents feel uncomfortable leaving younger children, you're there anyway so you may as well use your time well. Here's how I get the most out of one of my children's work outs, for myself.

1) Use the track or walking trail. Walk for a mile or so at an easy pace for a warm up, then stop and stretch. Use short walls, fences, benches or trees for balance. Continue walking, or jog, alternating if you wish.

2) Arms/Upper body: After your warm-up, stop once or twice each lap at a bench or low wall. Do incline push-ups, tricept push-ups, and planks. Begin with 5 of each (or whatever your fitness level will permit,) and work up. Keep an eye out for pull up bars, or other play equipment that can double as your 'gym equipment.' You can carry light weights if you wish to do arm curls and lifts, also.

3) Remember Your Abs. One of the best and fastest ways to burn belly flab is to stand tall and suck it in. Really. When you're walking and keeping your torso in the proper position, your body works harder. This goes for those pushups, too, especially if you're like me and don't like to lay down in the grass. Keep your abs in tight for the duration of your workout and you can save the floor work for your living room!

4) Vary Your Laps. Getting bored? Try alternating running and walking. Try a full lap of lunges. Add a high-knee step. (With abs in tight and shoulders back, bring your knee up to hip-height. Sounds easy...that is until you've done it for a full lap!) Walk backwards. Skip. All of these variations work different muscles and can be a great way to snap the 'same' out of the old circular workout.

5) Set your ipod on shuffle. You love all of the music in there, right? So why not listen to it all. When a fast song comes on, run or walk at a quick pace. When a slower song comes on move to slower, more purposeful movements.

6) Don't forget to do a cool down, stretch, and stay hydrated.

If your kids are like mine you'll easily get to do this workout 3-5 days a week. Much better than gossiping and sipping on a latte, don't you think? So get out there and show your kids how it's done!

Visit Kendra's personal blog, The Adventures of the Headless Family.

This post originally published on Diets in Reveiw, August 7, 2010.

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Local LPGA Member Erica Blasberg Dies at 25

Mon, 10 May 2010 20:30:00 GMT

Erica Blasberg, a member of the LPGA tour was found dead at her home in Henderson, Nevada on Sunday. There is no word yet on the cause of death and the investigation is ongoing.

Blasberg, who grew up in Corona, California, enjoyed success on the junior tour as well as an undergrad at the University of Arizona. She joined the Futures Tour in 2004. Her only tour win was in the 2005 Lexus Cup, a now defunct match play tournament. Her highest finish on the money list was in 2008, with $113,000. Blasberg also signed an endorsement deal with Puma in 2006.

Her agent, Chase Callahan, was quoted Monday saying, "She lived out her dream of playing professional golf on the highest level on the LPGA Tour, allowing her to help inspire others. We are proud of Erica for everything she accomplished. This is a painful loss, we feel it in our hearts and we will miss her. Erica would want those close to her to celebrate the life she lived. We ask that you keep Erica and her family in your prayers."

All of us at Inland Empire Family send our condolences to the Blasberg family.

A version of this article also appears on Draft Day Suit. photo

Not Happy

Sun, 02 May 2010 21:14:00 GMT

Over on my personal blog, The Adventures of the Headless Family, I wrote about what is making me Happy this week. Over here, I think that I'll change it up a little and tell you what is not making me happy.

   •   My husband is still fighting bronchitis.
   •   Watching shows on channels like Discovery and History. Bo-ring.
   •   My parents have to leave tomorrow after only being here for a few days.
   •   The busy-ness of May. So busy. Ugh.
   •   The lack of marks in the W column for my son's baseball team.
   •   My other son's lack of attention skills.
   •   Laundry. For the 20th time this week.
   •   Clutter.
   •   Trying to decide which item on the To Do list is most important.

So, what's on your list? Let me know in the comments!

Bath Time

Tue, 20 Apr 2010 20:18:00 GMT

When my kids were little I was paranoid about bath time. One of us was always within reach of the boys-like all parents should be. However, as the boys got a little older and just being in the room would work, I got bored. Really! How many nights can you play bubbles? Once they were washed, I was done. But, of course, they were not. My boys LOVED to play in their bath.

This is where the tips come in...??It really worked for me to:

   •   clean out the cabinets and drawers- refold towels, throw away old whatever that was shoved way behind everything else.
   •   pluck my eyebrows.
   •   sort laundry.
   •   give myself a mini-facial.
   •   scrub the toilet or shower.
What else can you come up with?

*PLEASE REMEMBER! These tips worked when my kids were older, I never left the bathroom, and I was always able to see them and monitor their play and safety. Just sayin'.

Originally published on The Adventures of the Headless Family, May 27, 2008
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My Day

Mon, 29 Mar 2010 20:28:00 GMT

If you ever wonder why I'm "headless" you won't after you read this.

Last week we took an impromptu trip up the coast to see Solvang, Morrow Bay, Monterey, and San Fransisco. Upon returning home we found out that Headless Dad had lost his work notebook.

Task #1 for Monday morning? Call rental car company and attempt to retrieve work notebook.

During our trip our youngest accidentally broke HD's glasses. (It was pathetic, really. He was honest about it and so upset you couldn't get mad.)

Task #2: Call the eye doctor to try to get the prescription so HD can get new glasses. Sidetracked....his prescription ran out in December so there were more phone calls to figure out what to do, including making an appointment for my husband.

On Thursday, Headless Boy #1 started to get sick and by this morning he didn't want to go to school. Unusual for him, so I had to call.

Task #3: Call doctor and get my son in before the younger son gets out of school.

Task #4: Get prescription for #1, tonsilitis and bronchitis.

Later this week, my husband will have shoulder surgery...the third shoulder surgery since 2001. Since I've been through this drill I know how to prepare. Yesterday I made a menu for the week, secured the 19 year old for after school care/homework help/baseball practice shuttle, and did all of the grocery shopping. Today was finish laundry and ironing. And this was all before 3:00 when #2 got home from school.

Believe me. At 5:00? I had a glass of wine while I was cooking dinner.

Oh yeah. And Task # eleventy million today? Doing the dishes for the second time.

*sigh*

Headless, I tell you. And the surgery isn't for another day and a half.

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Dear Neighbors with Pools,

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 08:09:00 GMT

Hey! I'm so glad that you chose to come on by. Have you been enjoying your summer? I'm sure that your POOL has given you many hours of glorious fun with your children this summer. Countless memories of splashing, wet, laughing moments.

I'm really happy for you. Really.

I do however have one request. I hope you don't mind. It's just a small thing.

Are you sure? OK. Here I go.

Next summer? Could you refrain from saying, in front of my pool-less children, that you would love to have us come over? That you'll call and set it up? That you would love for my children to come over to SWIM?

Now, like most kids, mine love to swim. They are fish, when they are able to get in a pool. They are good swimmers; I don't even have to get in the pool with them anymore.

I have 2 boys with memories like elephants.

Next year I would like to not have to field the questions of "When are we going swimming at _____'s house?" If you say it, they will remember it. And I will have to make excuses for you.

(Which, really? I need to make excuses for my own shortcomings, so making them for you is cumbersome at best.)

Don't get me wrong, we would love to come swimming. The kids (and me!) love getting in a pool when it is 100+ outside for most of the summer. Just, please, for the love of God, don't say anything in front of my boys until we have a set date and time.

Now, don't get me wrong. If you really don't want us to come, that's ok. I'm sure the constant stream of wet children through your house gets old. I can imagine that there are many parents that "drop and go" assuming that you are happy to watch their children while they go get a mani/pedi. I am not one of those moms. I will happily watch my own kids unless you tell me to leave.

If you haven't noticed, I'm also not one to call and invite ourselves. I was raised that inviting yourself is rude. If you say "Oh, they can come anytime," but don't expressly call to invite us on a particular day you won't hear from us. Well, at least to come and swim in your pool. You may still hear from me because I would like your kids to come and entertain my kids-

While I blog.

Originally published on Adventures of the Headless Family, August 2008 at the end of the summer, although, the case could be made that it's much more perfect at the beginning of the summer. Please, like I said, don't say anything to my kids unless we have something set in stone?
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Totally Buggin'

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 10:24:00 GMT

While I’m nursing a cold I thought I’d share a few things that bug me. You already know about my disdain for the uninformed in the school drop off line, here are a few more:

*toothpaste in the sink
*paper towel bombs on the kitchen counter
*drivers that squeeeeeeeze through on the right side and make their own turn lane when there isn’t one
*clothes that don’t quite make it into the laundry basket

*the cobwebs in the highest corners of our vaulted ceilings that would take a giant or 12 feet of scaffolding to get at
*our female monthly visitor
*the lack of ‘snark’ font on my laptop
*celebrity worship

What’s bugging you this week?

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The Last Olympic Straw

Sun, 28 Feb 2010 12:50:00 GMT

I recently wrote about my dissatisfaction with NBC’s coverage of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver over at Draft Day Suit. (Go read it before I start here. I’ll wait.) I really and truly thought that I had gotten it out of my system.

Oh, how wrong I was.

So here I sit on the last morning of the games wondering if we’ll get ANY COVERAGE AT ALL. You see, according to the KNBC website and the listings guide on cable, Olympic coverage came on at 9 am. Really? Because all I’ve seen is Access Hollywood (rerun) and Monk (also a rerun.) The hockey game-GOLD MEDAL GAME AGAINST CANADA is supposed to be on, as well as a few other events that are having their final rounds today.

This is absolutely unacceptable, NBC. You say that your ratings are high? Honestly, it can only be because we have NO other options for viewing. Have you polled anyone lately? And, quite honestly, I think I’m done with you as a network, local and national. This has been the final straw.

Here’s how I think national Olympic coverage should look from you, NBC (and CBS, ABC, and FOX should take notice, should there be a change in networks for the next games. Please?!)

Morning show- Fine. Cute stories about athletes, whatever. Depending on the time zone of the actual games, I get this. (The morning crew has actually done a great job of interviewing the athletes.)

Just after the morning show: LIVE COVERAGE

Noon: 30 minutes of local news.

Afternoon: LIVE COVERAGE

5 or 6 pm: 30 minutes of local news, 30 minutes of national news.

Evening: LIVE COVERAGE

10 pm: 30 minutes of local news

THE END.

Seriously, it’s only 2 weeks out of every 2 years. There is nothing that can’t be put on hiatus for those two weeks. With everyone having digital television now, if a network or local affiliate feels the need to air their regular programming they can now create a digital 2.0 channel for those programs and leave the regular channel for people to find the coverage of the Olympics easily. If you really need your dose of pop culture and celebrity news there are plenty of other networks and online outlets for that.

Here on the west coast we have had to wait until 11-12 pm to watch the medal rounds and races. Why is this if we’re watching it taped? If we tape it to watch later, the morning shows ruin the results. Watching is just not the same if you already know the outcome.

As for the actual coverage? It, too, has been horrendous. Someone actually made a chart of the time that was dedicated to each category: advertising, special stories, Bob Costas, medal ceremonies, etc. Costas is getting more coverage than replays and medal ceremonies COMBINED. The Olympics are not about you, Bob, they’re about the athletes, their competition, their competitors, and their medals. Last night he actually said “If you’re in the central or mountain time zone you can figure it out for yourself,” which I found pretty lame. I tweeted “Bob Costas is a douche,” and I received the following reply from Glennia: @HeadlessMom Amen to that. A botoxed, toupee-wearing douche at that. #shutupcostas

Really Bob? As the announcer it’s your JOB to be able to tell the viewers when their national coverage begins and we only have 4 time zones. I guess we’d really be in trouble if we had something like 11 like Russia does.

Thank goodness today is the last day. I honestly don’t think I could take much more. Here’s to a new network getting the rights for the next Olympic games. One that will commit to getting it right.

(Cross posted on Draft Day Suit and The Adventures of the Headless Family)

Blogging Resources

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 22:20:00 GMT

Are you a new blogger? Are you looking for answers to questions that you never thought you'd have?

What about advanced questions about monetization or new tools for bloggers?

I have a couple of favorite resources that I think you'll love, too.

First is Melanie Nelson of Blogging Basics 101. Melanie writes about blogging etiquette, content, SEO, as well as tutorials for making buttons and everything in between, in an easy to understand and follow way. She'll instantly feel like the friend that always says "There are no stupid questions!"

Second is Darren Rowse of ProBlogger. His site is a great resource for taking your blog to the next level if you are planning on trying to make money from this hobby of ours. (This article is a great starting point.) He also runs Digital Photography School where you can find tips and tricks for making the best of that new camera that you got for Christmas, or which new lens is the best for what you're looking to do. (Hint, hint! Mama needs a zoom!)

Finally, if you're looking for a comprehensive look at blogging for women check out Michelle at Scribbit. On her homepage is a free downloadable ebook that is chock full of information for the beginning blogger.

And when you start your blog let me know so I can come check it out!

Mission Project

Mon, 15 Feb 2010 21:30:00 GMT

We have been knee deep in the traditional 4th grade mission project. Unfortunately, my youngest has been sick so we couldn't go visit the one that my son was assigned. Fortunately, it was not a requirement to visit.

Do you remember doing a mission project in school? Amazingly, I have no memory of doing one at all. If I did, though, I certainly wouldn't remember doing research on Google, and making a 9-slide power point presentation!

I do, however remember visiting the mission when my daughter had to do her project. I loved our tour and visiting the gift shop. We also had lunch at a lovely cafe. It ended up being a fun family day, even if it was for a school project.

So, I think I'll still try to take the boys to a mission this spring or summer. What's your favorite mission? Is there one that you think I should try? One the kids would like better than the others?

I Am....

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 20:23:00 GMT

I am:

a woman, daughter, sister,
a wife, mother
a classroom volunteer
a sports-lover
a household CFO
a car-pool driver
a blogger
a friend
a scout leader
a lover of the mountains
a cook
a decorator
a housekeeper
a reader
a coordinator
a laundress
a Christian
a first-aid giver
a singer
a gardener
a painter

Most of all I am... all of those things. I cannot let one thing alone define me.

Nor should you.

So today, get out there. Believe in yourself. Do something that you love. Find joy in what you are.

Photo by Fr Antunes on flickr

Business2Blogger

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 08:48:00 GMT

Are you a blogger? Have you ever wondered what you can do to get yourself on those PR lists for fun products or paid blogging gigs? Are you a business that has great ideas for promoting your company through bloggers but don’t quite know how to get started?

Here’s a great new service that you should consider. Business2Blogger is a new website that connects bloggers and businesses and the best part? It’s totally free. Seriously. It can’t get better than that, right? From their website:

For the blogger: To give every Blogger, big and small, access to paid writing opportunities that have traditionally been grabbed before they even knew it was available!

For the business: To give businesses a free way to connect with people with voices on the internet for the promotion of their products and services.

How simple is that? I encourage you to go read all of the details-the website is super easy to navigate, and it’s super easy to sign up.

What are you waiting for? Go!

Student Awards: Good or Bad?

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 12:48:00 GMT

I’m a proud mama this morning. I just got back from the school where both of my boys received Student of the Week awards.

Also awarded today were: Writer of the Month (one per grade), Principal’s Award (doing something extraordinary), Doing the Right Thing Award (chosen by the playground proctors), and the point level club for Accelerated Reader program (30, 50, 75, 100, and above.)

I guess I should explain why I’m proud. In Kindergarten and first grade each student got the Student of the Week award, usually coinciding with the week that they were Star of the Week, our version of “It’s all about me,” or “Who I Am.” Beginning in second grade these awards become what they should be: an award for good citizenship, hard work, or accomplishing a goal. Don’t get me wrong, I agree that every student should learn what it feels like to be recognized, and that’s what they do in K and 1st. However, when a school continues to recognize each student on a rotating basis then the award becomes watered down and doesn’t mean anything. Kids are savvy. They recognize a bogus award when they see it. When my daughter was in elementary school that is precisely what they did and she could have cared less when she got it. She knew that she wasn’t being honored for her great grades (she had them,) her kind heart (she has one,) or achieving a new goal (she did,) but that it was her week in the rotation. Yay?

In second grade, and beyond, the kids are awarded for actually achieving something. There are some kids that do not get these awards. And that’s ok. Real life does not award the mediocre or the expected. I don’t get a certificate for doing the laundry or making my kids’ breakfast each morning. Nor should my child get an award for merely sitting in class each week. That is what he is expected to do. Now, when he works really hard on a difficult assignment and nails it? Maybe. When he goes out of his way to help another student? OK. But when he willingly sacrifices his recess to play with a special needs student to make him feel welcome and a part of the group? That, my friends, deserves an award. He went above and beyond, stepped out of his ‘zone’, helped someone else, showed compassion.

I don’t think I’m wrong on this. Earlier this week I found a link to a video that I think you should watch. Ashley Merryman: On Parenting. It’s just over 18 minutes long, but so worth it. (Hat tip to Jodifur for linking the video in the first place.) It is spot on to what I consider what is wrong with how we have been told to raise our kids today. It pokes at the ‘self-esteem’ movement, technology, and being a parent in today’s culture. And by ‘pokes’ I mean not in the funny way, either. More like a ‘wake up and smell the coffee’ way.

Please, go watch the video. (It’s the weekend, I know you have time!) and then come back and comment. What’s your opinion? What kind of awards does your children’s school give? Do you agree or disagree with their policy? Why? (Let’s remember to keep it nice, ok?)

Image from BrickstoreMuseum.org

Salsa Chicken

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 22:14:00 GMT

In 2008 Stephanie O’Dea made a resolution to cook in her slow cooker every day for a year. She chronicled her journey on her food blog, A Year of Slow Cooking. The success of her blog translated nicely into a cookbook of fantastic slow cooker recipes, Make it Fast, Cook it Slow. This is my latest find from the cookbook.

Salsa Chicken

6-9 boneless, skinless chicken thighs. (or use breasts of equivalent weight, about 4 breasts)
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup white corn, frozen
1 1/2 cups chunky salsa (use 2 cups if you use breasts or you want a more a liquidy sauce)(Yes, that's a very foodie term.)

Toss it in and go. Low 6-9 hours, or high 4-5. If your chicken is frozen you might want to make sure that your cook time is on the longer side. Use a fork to shred the chicken before you serve.

Notes:

you can serve this over rice or with tortillas
you can add sour cream (1 cup) or cream cheese (1/2 block)
Diced avocado was amazing on this as a garnish (Headless Dad and I each had a half of an avocado on our bowl of rice and Salsa Chicken.)
or try shredded cheese
or serve as a topping for tortilla chips
the leftovers were possibly even better than the original batch
I also think that if you want a little extra zing you could add a 4 oz can of green chiles.
this would be a great addition to your menu for the Super Bowl

Everyone in my family loved this. I have a feeling it will go into heavy rotation during baseball season.

Try it and let me know what you think!

American Idol

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 21:21:00 GMT

Are there any other American Idol fans out there?

I have to admit, I’m a die-hard fan. I watch casually in the early, audition weeks, but once the voting starts? I’m a freak.

I’ve been watching since the second season and rarely, if ever, miss an episode. OK, sometimes I have to use the DVR, but mostly I try to schedule things around it. Was shocked when Ruben won instead of Clay. (Don’t get me wrong, I loved Ruben, too.) I was a Carrie fan, then and now. Last season? I predicted that Adam wouldn’t win.

I love Simon, Randy and Kara. I was in the “Thank goodness she’s done” camp when it was announced that Paula would not be returning. I think Ellen will do a good job... it will at least be entertaining, right? I’m not sure what will happen to the show when Simon leaves after this season, but I’m going to be watching all the way.

Do you have a favorite yet? There have been a couple of stand-outs, but as you know, the real excitement starts during Hollywood week. The exhaustion and stress really separates the men from the boys, so to speak!

Remember where I said that I’m a freak when the voting starts? What about you? Do you blog about American Idol, too? I’d love to follow your re-caps as well! Chime in here, and follow my live blog re-caps each Tuesday (or Wednesday,) on my personal blog, The Adventures of the Headless Family.

What we lack in winter weather,

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 21:47:00 GMT

...we make up for in awesome skies.

Have you seen the sunrises and sunsets lately? Let me tell you, from my little hill, they have been amazing!

Do you have a favorite spot for these type of shots? This is one I took last week. These palms, (and one light pole!) are always in my sunset shots. What are your favorite subjects?

This was the view on Christmas morning. Peaceful, no?

I'm trying to learn how to take better photos. Do you have any tips for me? Leave them in the comments!

Derailed

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 08:15:00 GMT

The first week of 2010 is kicking my butt.

I had high hopes of hitting the ground running this year and starting on all of the projects that I have in my mental list. The list that includes, but is not limited to:

-putting away all of the Christmas decorations
-getting my exercise mojo back
-prepping walls for the Great Painting Project of 2010
-cleaning out my kids rooms.

Instead, I’ve been:

-nursing a sick child, home from school for two days
-sitting in an ER with my husband who dislocated his shoulder for the 3rd time in 4 months
-dealing with whiny children who are sooooo tired and ironically do not want to go to bed
-trying to figure out (at the last minute) what were having for dinner.

Life is getting in the way of my BIG PLANS.

So, what has derailed you this week? Or are you one of those people? You know what I mean, one of the ones who actually gets something done when you put your mind to it?

click image for source

Resolutions, are you in?

Fri, 01 Jan 2010 18:01:00 GMT

In the spirit of the season I’ve been thinking of what resolutions I should make for 2010.

There are some personal resolutions that I’ll make, true, but I’m talking about resolutions that we here at Inland Empire family can all share in. In 2010 I resolve to:

Get out more with my kids. There are literally tons of things to do here in the Inland Empire with our kids. Museums. Parks. Mountain getaways. Bike trails. Let’s get out there and explore our backyard!

Get out more with my husband. My husband loves trying new restaurants and there are some great ones here in the Inland Empire that are just waiting to be found. I would love to explore some of the downtown areas of our local cities-antique shops, boutiques, quirky stores.

Blog Meet-Ups. I know that there has to be a lot of us bloggers here! Let’s all resolve to have some ‘blogger time.’ My husband glazes over when I start talking about blogging and if I can meet some of you, then maybe he won’t have to listen to it around here as much.

So are you in? Do you have some suggestions for me on great places or restaurants to visit? I’ll try to blog about as many of these as I can, and maybe we can set some events up that we can all attend. 2010 is going to be a great year here at Inland Empire Family!

image courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net, by Salvatore Vuono

It's crunch time!

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 21:58:00 GMT

I’m sure I’m not alone in this. Every mom I know has ‘the look’ this time of year. Oh yes, we smile and say the right things but when you look close? The bags under the eyes give it away.

Every year I say “Next year will be better,” but ‘next year’ never comes. I’m on the Groundhog Day loop and somehow never learn. I’m perpetually on the hamster wheel and can’t figure out how to get off.

Exhibit A: I volunteer every stinking year for the class party/holiday centers/class project. In Kindergarden it was gingerbread houses for 33, this year I’ll be making apple pies with 4th graders.

Exhibit B: I somehow ‘forget’ that I need to do gifts for the teachers. This leads to much gnashing of teeth and late-night baking.

Exhibit C: I always leave the shopping for my own family for the last minute. I happily shop for out-of-town family early and get boxes sent, but my children? Sometimes they are lucky to get any gifts at all. (Shhh! Don’t tell!)

And every January I resolve that it won’t be the same again next year. I will shop early! I will deep clean my house in October so I’ll be ready to decorate in November! I’ll bake the first week of December so I won’t panic on the 17th of December, the night before the last school day of the year.

*sigh* Somehow it never happens.

How do you prepare for the holidays? Is there something that you always do early? Always leave for the last minute? Oh, and any tips for these bags under my eyes?

click image for source

Disaster Preparedness

Sun, 13 Dec 2009 21:53:00 GMT

We’ve all heard the tips on things to include in your disaster kit: water, medications, food, etc. We listen intently when newscasters run down the list of important things to take with us when we are evacuated: the computers, the financial records, and photos. All of those things are certainly the most important material things-get out with you and your families’ lives first. But what about when you have a few minutes longer to gather other things? What would you take? After being evacuated during the Old fire several years ago I learned the following things:

1-Put the most important things in first: financial and insurance papers, photos, including wedding albums, the computer if you can. Keep them in plastic, stackable bins for easy loading.

2-Evaluate what keepsakes are irreplaceable, and know where to find them. When we were evacuated I realized that I had left behind 3 quilts that my grandmother, mother and aunt had made. I would have been devastated if they had been lost. Believe me, I won’t make that mistake again.

3-Know what items that your husband and children would want. For your husband it might be the only picture that he has of his mother that passed away years ago. For your youngest children it might be as simple as a blanket or stuffed animal. Remember, schools routinely discuss disaster preparedness with children so asking your school age child what they would want will not scare them. You might need to limit it to just one item, though. There are enough Happy Meal toys in the world, right?

Hopefully, I’ll never have to evacuate again, but I do know that the above things won’t be left behind again. That is, if I have time.