Summertime fun… just in time for Summer to end.

It’s the last week of summer break for my kids. Next week marks the passage into 3^rd grade for Lucas and {transitional} Kindergarten (a 2-year K program at our school for kids with late fall birthdays) for Zoe. Being that it’s late August and school is about to begin means one thing in San Diego – our summertime weather has only just now started. SIGH.

All summer the kids have been begging me to get in the pool with them, but being a spoiled So. Cal native means I only take a dip when it’s really warm out. Besides, you should see our community pool after a day of 1000 kids…not really where I want to be swimming.

Last month Sony asked me to be a “Sony Mom.” As an ambassador for this program, I’ll have the opportunity to review various products over the next few months. The first product was a Sony Cybershot DSC-TX20, a super cute waterproof camera perfect for capturing those days at the pool and the beach.

While I couldn’t wait to try it out…I kept waiting for warmer temps. Then I went to NYC and somehow managed to bring the sweaty weather back with me. Flip side? I finally got to really try out my new Cybershot.

The kids had a great time “posing” underwater, and the pictures and video were clear and crisp. For a little more drama, I ran the images through Snapseed and played with coloring and effects. I love the cool vintage feeling.

 

Next time I want to do a full “dressed-up” underwater photo shoot with the kids. I also can't wait to take this camera to the beach or snorkeling. Guess we may just have to take some kind of tropical vacation...  

Now that we are all dreaming of sitting on a beach, sipping a Pina Colada, I will give you the techy info:

The Sony Cyber-Shot TX20 comes in five different colors: orange, green, black, blue, and pink. It’s currently retailing for about $300 – but check around because the price ranges.

It has:

- 16 MP “Exmor R” CMOS sensor

- Waterproof, dustproof, freeze-proof, and shockproof

- 25mm equivalent lens with 4x optical zoom, 8X virtual zoom via “Clear Image Zoom” technology

- “Extra High Sensitivity” technology enhances low-light shooting capabilities

- Captures 12 MP still images while shooting video

- Full HD Movie Shooting capabilities with 1920×1080/60i and two direction Optical Image stabilization with “Active Mode”

- 3.0" touch screen

- BEST FEATURE EVER: The "Soft Skin Mode." It's like automatic air brushing for the skin. I highly recommend always keeping this feature on when shooting anyone over the age of 10. Your friends will thank you and will probably use the picture you take of them in this mode as their new Facebook profile picture. Seriously. It's that good. 

**Disclaimer: I was selected to be a part of the Sony VIP Mom Blogger Review (#SonyMoms) program. I was given a Sony Cyber-Shot TX20 for the purpose of this review. I was not otherwise compensated. The thoughts and options shared above are my own and do not reflect those of Sony.

Loving My: Longchamps Le Pliage Tote

Bags by hipmamab featuring longchamp tote

I needed a new tote bag. Something I could carry on with me when I flew to New York but then could also use to carry around my iPad, water bottles and random pieces of swag while at BlogHer. My mom has had this same Longchamps tote for awhile and has always raved about how light of a bag it is; Perfect for schlepping whatever it is you need to schlep. 

Determined not to get the same bag as my mother, I searched high and low for a tote bag that a) zipped b) was light and c) was big, but not too big. Coming up empty handed, I quickly ordered the Longchamp tote from Nordstrom five days before I left for New York City.

When it comes to bags, I should just always defer to my mother... She was right - this is THE PERFECT bag for travel. I got magazines, water, a pashmina and all other "purse" items it without issue. It sits nicely on my shoulder, fits perfectly under the airplane seat and most importantly - it looks CHIC.

In fact, I noticed that it is currently THE IT bag of the ladies of NYC.

Since I've returned, I've continued to use it as my daily purse. It looks as good with a shirt dress and flip flops as it does a business suit. And a MAMA BONUS? It's nylon, which means easy cleaning. I already had a mishap involving something chocolate and the 100 degree heat wave, but it cleaned right up with a wet nap. 

Needless to say, I'm in bag love... 

Waking Up In The City That Never Sleeps: My Top 5 New York (non-BlogHer) Highlights

I'm still on my NYC high. Yes, while I may look like death, the thought of my trip to the city is still making me giddy. For me, this was a wonderful trip. It was part work, part blogging world, part NYC - the perfect combination of an amzing trip. 

Friday I was texting Jason telling him to pack up, we are moving east... but by Saturday I was ready to head home to the cool nights and Pacific Ocean breezes that I love at home. I could bore you all and go on and on about each of my 5 days, but in the interest of sanity (mine and yours) I'll bring it down to the top 5 things I loved about my trip New York City. 

1) Dinner at Bar Pitti

Maria, my SD bestie, used to live in NYC. As we chat over wine, we've often fantasized about our girl trip to the city. As luck would have it, our trips out east overlapped by one evening and I couldn't wait to spend one evening with her the fabulous city. We met her friends in "the village" for dinner at hotspot Bar Pitti. There was wine, italian food and a crazy homeless person outside. My experience was off to a perfect start. As we were wrapping up dinner, I logged onto FourSquare. The bonus of the geotracking tool on vacation is that you always know where you ate last and I wanted to be sure I could refer back to it. After I check-in, a tip came up saying that the crowd at Bar Pitti is normally "1/3 celebrities and 2/3's 'Bravolebrities'." We all began to look around at our fellow patrons...no one of note.

Then as we were walking out Real Housewife of New York City Princess Carole Radziwell practically ran into my friend. Carole was stumbling around like a hot mess on the sidewalks of NYC. Maria SWORE it was her. I begged to differ because of the dirty 2001-era mini Louis Vuitton in DENIM she's holding. Then she walked right past us again, and there was no mistaking those emaciated arms and 6-inch Loubitians. 

2) 20 Minute Facials at Dermologica Academy

You always read about city dwellers feeling caked in city grime, and with temps in the 80s and high humidity, Iphoto taken with my Olympus PEN E-PL3 camera now totally understand that. Nightly my face felt like it was caked in my grandmother's foundation. But the lucky ladies (and men!) of NYC have the Dermologica Academy - where they can pop in for a quick and easy 20 minute facial for $20. Yes. $20. If I lived in NYC I would be there weekly. Now, usually I get red and blotchy after a facial, but after my Dermologica facial I was smooth, glowy and refreshed.  

   

I also walked out of there with the brand's top selling product, Daily Microfoliant. This stuff is a super cool grainy powder that you shake into the palm of your hand; add a little water to it and you get a soft but effective daily facial scrub. While I've been using this for a week, my skin is looking really smooth and nice. And after all that sweating, heat and sampling new make-up products, I was sure I would come home with the skin of an pubescent 14 year old. But no! Still glowing and smooth - and I'm going to credit Dermologica for that!

3) The Braid Bar at The John Barrett Salon at Bergdorf Goodman

Years ago I read the book Bergdorff Blondes. In the book, the main character's life revolves around the hair salon at this landmark department store.  So when I found out that the legendary John Barrett Salon recently opened a "Braid Bar" to help ladies whip up the latest styles in "pinterest hair," I booked my appointment immediately, and went in 2 hours later. See, I was all about having New York experiences, and having my hair did at this salon was SO on the list. 

 Braiding goddess Kayley Pak litterally braided me to perfection in 15 minutes. And I rocked that 'do for the next 2 days. In the heat, it was perfect - I didn't have to worry about sweaty hair sticking to my forehead. 

 So, hair done at Bergdorfs? CHECKED off the bucket list!  

 

4) Halal Guys Street Food

 picture taken with Olympus PEN E-PL3Halal Guys is nothing less than pure street food perfection. We first passed by the stand on our second night in the city and the aromas overcame us. From a block away you can smell the meats and veggies being cooked...and you can see the line, at least 30 people deep. The cab driver told us that no matter the time of year or time of night they have a line. Thursday night found my roommates Romy, Candice and I racing from event to event with no real food consumed. When we got back to the room at 11 PM we all agreed, it was Halal Guys night. 

Romy has a contact at Le Grand Courtage and they sent us a case of mini bottles of bubbly for our room. And just for the record, really yummy sparkling wine and really yummy NYC street food DO go very well together. 

Our sink: a chiller of Le Grand Courtage bubbly! Take with Olympus PEN E-PL3 

5) My Classic NYPD Story

 By now maybe you have heard about the insane swag bloggers get at these conferences. Thursday night was the Big Toy Book Sweet Suite party which I actually worked with Nukotoys. Upon leaving the party I was given two huge bags of toys to take home. Add that to my purse and swag bag from the party I went to earlier in the evening, I was pretty loaded down. The party was held in the Viacomm building right smack in the middle of Times Square. As I walked out it became very apparent that there was no way I was going to make it through the crowds and back to the hotel carrying as much as I was. I noticed two other bloggers that were also at the party with me standing on the corner, figuring out how they were going to get back also. I asked them if they were headed back to the Hilton, and if so if they wanted to catch a cab.  

After standing there, trying to figure out which way to go, the other bloggers, Joanna and Akemi, asked a group of NYPD standing at the corner where the best spot to catch a cab was. Now, I must interject here that these two bloggers were both VERY pretty, tall blondes (As a woman I can totally say that.) And yes, it's imperative to the story because I'm sure this wouldn't have happend had it just been me standing there. 

One of the male NYPD offered to help us. He walks us right into the middle of Times Square, gives us a lesson in how to hail a cab, then walks over to a cab (who's light read "off duty") stopped at a red light and talked him into taking the three of us back to the hotel. He then helped us get all our crap into the cab and sent us on our way.

Who said New Yorkers were rude?? This was one of those fabulous moments for so many reasons - it was just a hilarious moment and I shared it with two bloggers that I may have never met had our paths not crossed on this particular street corner. 

All I can really say is New York rocks. Going into this trip, the city intimadated me, but not anymore... and I'm counting the days until I can go back.  

I Love NY! Taken with Olympus PEN E-PL3 

**Big Thank You to Olympus Cameras for giving me an Olympus PEN E-PL3 to bring with me on this trip! I took some amazing pictures - I can't wait to share them all! Not to mention that I will be giving a camera away in the near future! 

HipMamaB San Diego: Get $10 off SD Magazine's Best of San Diego Party!

Ahhh San Diego.... Before I get too deep in rehashing the amazing time I had in New York City, I'm first going to tell you all about my home town, America's FINEST city. 

Those of us who live here do so because we truly LOVE this city. From Chula Vista to Carlsbad to everything in between, this town takes our breath away with its views, weather, food and general laid-back vibe.

This August, San Diego Magazine is celebrating all that we love about our city with its annual "Best Of" issue. But instead of just talking about it, on Friday August 17th they are bringing some of these highlights together for the annual Best of San Diego party. 

This year’s party will feature 80+ restaurants from the June "Best Restaurants" issue and August "Best of San Diego" issue. Along with delicious eats, you will also find 20 breweries, 15 wineries, some of the best live entertainment in the city. Additionally, a portion of ticket sales will go towardsThe New Children’s Museum. The big bash will be held at Liberty Station, known to locals as the former Naval Training Center.

“This is our biggest and most anticipated party of the year,” says Jim Fitzpatrick, CEO and Publisher of San Diego Magazine, “With so much to celebrate in San Diego, this will be the ultimate way to sample the best food, beer, wine and local entertainment in the city.”

Personally, I can't wait for this party. And since I really want to share a Stone beer or Bardot ice cream bar with you - I have a promo code to save you $10 off your ticket. 

Buy today and SAVE $10 off your ticket when you use the code:  HIPMAMAB

See you there!

*please note the event is 21+

*disclosure: I received tickets to this event in exchange for writing this post

Hangin' with my "Toys"

July 2011: I had my mind blown. How else would you describe sitting inside a video dome at “The World’s Coolest Office” in the SOMA area of San Francisco with 10ft tall unicorns flying over your head? 

Yes, this was my introduction to Nukotoys and their Monsterology and Animal Planet Wildlands games. A cool office, packed with some of the smartest and most talented people that I had ever had the pleasure of being around. And yes, I was very, very impressed. So impressed that I stalked them for the better part of last year, insisting that they needed my blogger-relations help. See, being a mom and blogger with a tech background, I was floored by the technology and the ideas that were in the works to create a whole new kind of toy company. I wanted to be part of it - in any way possible. 

When the card first taps the screen and a monster or African animal pops to life on your iPad, you too will want to have anything possible to do with this fantastic game. It's a moment to remember; you will stare at the card and wonder "How did that just happen?" And while we are trying to figure out the intricacies of such a cool technology, our kids will grab the iPad and just start playing. 

We are lucky. Since I managed to talk myself into a blogger brand ambassador position with Nukotoys my kids have been playing with the game through each new stage of development. Each stage brought new awe and wonderment, and a year later they still ask daily to play it. And that was before they ever got to tap a card.

Sometimes something extraordinary comes along and you just need to tell everyone about it. That's my role - the singer of praises. Being a blogger and having that relationship with my readers and fellow bloggers I hope that I've established a trust factor. When I say something is a MUST see, they believe me. 

This week I'll be in New York City attending the largest blogging conference of the year. While I'm going as a blogger to NYC, I'm also helping Nukotoys get the message out about the impending launch of their amazing products. If you are headed to the Big Toy Book's Sweet Suite on Aug. 2, stop by our booth and say hi. If you are interested in spending a little more time with us, let us know and we will have you for a group brunch or a one-on-one demo. If you miss us at the Sweet Suite, feel free to tweet at us @Nukotoys or @HipMamaB. 

One of the best parts about being a blogger is sharing something amazing with the rest of the world. I can't wait for you to see a Cyclops spring to life in Monsterology or a tiger leap across the open terrain in Animal Planet Wildlands.

 Find us in New York next week and prepare to squeal....