Strawberry Shortcake: Follow Your Berry Own Beat

Strawberry Shortcake Live

Yes, I spent Saturday afternoon hanging out with the one and only Strawberry Shortcake. And? It rocked. Or as SS would say, "It was BERRY Awesome."

It really was an adorable show - full of catchy tunes and good messages of friendship and girl power. Zoe LOVED every moment of it. She didn't sit down for more than a few seconds and at the end she actually rushed the stage like a rabid fangirl (check out video below - we may have to have a talk about things like this later in life...).

The show was really cute and the girls who played all the "berry" characters from "berry bitty city" were adorable and sweet. We had a VIP "strawberry milk and cookies" party to start off the show, and Zoe almost died when she got to meet and hug all the characters.

For us moms it was a walk down memory lane. I think whenever we get to do these things with our kids the memories of being 5 come flooding back.

I love what they have done to update the franchise, and we, of course, are big fans of the HUB show and I think we have watched the Jammin' with Cherry Jam DVD 28 times in the past 2 days.

While this was the US debut of the show, the show has been touring in Canada since January.

The production also brings to life her best friends Orange Blossom, Lemon Meringue, Blueberry Muffin, Raspberry Torte, Plum Pudding, and Cherry Jam and features original and fan favorite songs from the hit TV show, “Strawberry Shortcake’s Berry Bitty Adventures,” currently airing on The Hub network in the U.S. The musical adventure takes audiences to the whimsical land of Berry Bitty City where the whole town is buzzing with anticipation for the Glitzy Glaze Talent Show.

Additional tour dates include:

February 7 – Jacksonville, FL - Florida Theater (6:00pm)

February 8 – Clearwater, FL - Ruth Eckerd Hall (6:00pm)

February 9 - Coral Springs, FL - Coral Springs Center for the Arts (1:00pm)

February 10 – Melbourne, FL - King Center for Performing Arts (1:00pm)

February 16 - North Tonawanda, NY - Riviera Theater (1:00pm & 4:00pm)

February 17 – Toronto, ON – Sony Centre for the Performing Arts (1:00pm)

February 19 – Guelph, ON – River Run Centre (6:30pm)

February 20 – London, ON – Centennial Hall (6:30pm)

February 21 – Windsor, ON - Chrysler Theatre (6:30pm)

February 22 – Chatham, ON - Chatham Capitol Theatre (6:30pm)

February 23 – Hamilton, ON - Hamilton Place (1:00pm)

February 24 – Kingston, ON - Grand Theatre (1:00pm)

February 26 – Cornwall, ON - Aultsville Theatre (6:30pm)

February 27 – Ottawa, ON - Centrepointe Theatre (6:30pm)

February 28 – Peterborough, ON - Showplace Performance Theatre (6:30pm)

March 2 - Belleville, ON - Empire Theatre (1:00pm)

March 3 – Oshawa, ON - Regent Theatre (1:00pm)

March 9 – Wallingford, CT - Toyota Presents The Oakdale Theatre (1:00pm)

March 10 – Westbury, NY - Theater at Westbury (1:00pm)

March 17 - Grand Rapids, MI - Devos Performance Hall (1:00pm)

Yes, that is Zoe bouncing up and down and waving in the front...

*disclosure: I was provided tickets for Zoe and I to see the show and attend the VIP meet and great before the show. Opinions are my own.

Holiday Insanity? Prepping for a 10-Day Family Road Trip

What happens when 2 bloggers and their 2 kids hop into a 2013 Cadillac SRX Crossover?

Yeah... I'm not so sure. 

Sometimes I wonder about my sanity. On top of work, my blog, the gala I'm helping with and the impending holidays, we decided it would be a good idea to take a 10-day roadtrip out to Omaha, NE to see Jason's family for Thanksgiving. While Jason grew up with road trips and actually sees them as relaxing all I think is "OMG STUCK IN THE CAR WITH THE KIDS FOR HOURS ON END!" as I start to hyperventilate. 

The key to a road-trip is obviously to make the driving as fun as possible and I have to say I'm very excited to be making the drive in the SRX, on loan to us from GMC West for the trip. With the entertainment system in the car, plus all our various iDevices, I'm hoping the trip flies by in a series of naps, movies and photo stops. But the complusive planner in me is stressing, which is why I thought I would share my (non-expert!) list on prepping for a road-trip.

1) Plan out the route - but don't set it in stone

The last time we made this trip we were re-routed a few times by weather. Instead of going up and over the Rocky Mountains as planned, we ended up taking a southern route though New Mexico and Kansas. While stressful at the time, we saw parts of the country that we never even expected to see. But we also lost money on hotels paid for in advance. Luckily with all the apps out there we will never really be stranded without a room for the night, so while we are making reservations, we are not paying for anything up front.

2) Packing smaller "hotel bags"

While I plan on taking the big ticket items out of the car at night (ie: computer bags, iPads), it's nice to not have to take everything out of the car. We pack smaller "trip bags" with just the things we need for the on-the-road part of the trip so we don't have to unpack and repack each day of the drive.

3) Mapping it out with the kids

While the getting out to Omaha, NE part of the trip will be the direct route, coming back we decided to take an extra 2 days and let the kids chose where to stop - well, to an extent. While they wanted to see the Grand Canyon, after looking at the map we realized that probably would be too much of a non-direct haul, so we decided to stop in Moab, UT and see Arches National Park. 

And the 2nd stop that the kids wanted? Vegas, Baby. I guess it stems from us always saying how fun Sin City is... but even though we won't be partying it up, we are staying on the strip and going to show them some of the tamer sights the city has to offer. 

But you know the trip wouldn't be as much fun with out Jason and I broadcasting our every move. So yes, we will be tweeting, blogging, instagraming and updating statuses along the way. 

Follow along with us at #SRXRoadTrip - tell us where to eat, what sights to see and if there is someplace we need to stop.

The Kawasaki Disease Foundation Gala - Can you help?

Just going to be upfront on this - I'm going to tell you a little story that may pull at your heart, then I'm going to ask you for a favor…

My baby boy was 9 months old.

Sweet, little Lucas had just celebrated his first Thanksgiving, was starting to pull himself to a standing position and was about to celebrate his first Christmas. One evening, Jason and I took him to Balboa Park, to what used to be called "Christmas on the Prado" to see the lights. He was all bundled up and tucked in tight to his stroller when our friend looked down at him and said "Wow, I never realize how red his cute little lips were!" Jason and I stared at each other, both of us wondering why we had never noticed either. 

We were only 9 months into this parenting thing. Maybe the baby was cold? Maybe he ate something he shouldn't have? Thoughts raced through our minds. The next day our sweet boy had his very first fever. We called the nurse line and doled out the proper dosage of infant Motrin and gave him a lukewarm bath. Our normally happy baby was crying and sleeping and visibly uncomfortable. The next day the fever continued on. His lips grew redder and his eyes were a little bloodshot. Monday came with an early visit to our pediatrician. She made note that this looks "something like Kawasaki Disease" - but told us not to worry.. that was a very rare illness. She told me not to Google it and freak myself out. She put him on antibiotics and sent him in for a chest Xray to rule out pneumonia. 

This was before smartphones - with my day spent at doctors and caring for my little one, I didn't Google Kawasaki Disease...but when he was admitted to Rady Children's Hospital the next day, I wish I had.

Kawasaki Disease is the NUMBER ONE CAUSE OF ACQUIRED HEART DISEASE IN CHILDREN. And going on 8 years later, doctors and scientists STILL don't know exactly what causes it. 

We were lucky.

At the time, many pediatricians weren't trained to recognize and treat KD, and far too many parents were losing their kids to this disease. Our doctors diagnosed the disease in time for a successful treatment. Thus far Lucas has had no lasting heart damage. But as the research continues to grow and mature along with the little hearts affected by KD in the past, we are learning that things can always change.

That's why Jason and I are standing together to not only raise awareness for the disease, but help raise funds for the continued research of this disease.

BUT WE NEED A LITTLE HELP

Saturday, November 17th is the 4th Annual "To Save a Child's Heart" Kawasaki Disease Foundation Gala.

This is going to be an amazing culinary evening at La Costa Resort in Carlsbad, celebrating all we know and raising money to keep on answering the millions of questions still unanswered. 

At this event, 18 celebrity chefs will cook table side for intimate groups of 8 people. Some of the top chefs from around the country and coming in and donating their time for this cause. I'm proud to be on the committee helping with the gala. I'm happy that I can do anything to give back the community that was there for us when we needed them 8 years ago.

If you are interested in attending the event, you can find more information on the chefs at www.KDFGala.org.

But even if you can't be there - I would still love your help. 

To help raise money at the event, we are looking for donations for the silent auction portion of the evening. 

Anything from gift certificates to restaurants, bottles of wine, work-out memberships or a basket of products would be greatly appreciated. 

I'm going to be collecting items over the next few weeks. If you can help in anyway, please let me know. 

Yes, I'm begging. Because I'm still scarred from the experience and learning all we can about this disease is the only way I can help other parents not have to go through what we went through. 

Toy Story Syndrome

This weekend Zoe and I took the train to LA to visit my parents and go to a friend's daughter's birthday party at the American Girl Place. While we make the drive all the time, this was the first time Zoe and I took the train. While I will always be a California girl to the core, there are times when the cost of living, crowding, job market in San Diego makes me want to pack it in and move. I need to remember this train ride the next time I think that way. Honestly, the 30 minutes between Oceanside and San Juan Capistrano may be the most beautiful 30 minutes I've ever travelled. But, I digress. We took the train and Jason and Lucas were supposed to meet us up in LA Saturday night after a rugby tournament.

When we got to AG Place the next morning, all the other girls had a special carrier for their dolls. I told Zoe she could get one thing there, and she chose this particular bag to carry her doll in. At one point during the lunch, Zoe handed me Kanani to hold. While other mothers may have laid the doll on the floor, or on a chair, I actually sat there, holding Kanani in my lap. One of the other moms made a comment that it looks like I really love that doll. While my main thinking was that I'm not going to put the $100 doll in her $40 outfit on the store to get trampled on, I realized that it was more than that. I didn't want the doll sitting on the floor, missing the party while all the other dolls were sitting at the table. Yes, I anthropomorphized the doll.

But this isn't anything new. Ever since reading the Velveteen Rabbit as a child I have thought of special toys as having feelings of their own. A child's love can turn an inanimate object "real." And thanks to the Toy Story franchise, I now "believe" that toys come to life the moment we leave the room. When we were moving a few years ago, I found myself actually telling Zoe's Woody doll not to worry that we would find his hat, and then actually being excited when I did find his hat hours later in another corner of the house.

A few weeks ago, Zoe misplaced "Yubbie" (her lovey - a pink blanket with a bear that she's had since she was born). Yubbie never left the house, so it's here - somewhere - stuck in a random closet/cupboard/pile of junk. The first night we noticed it missing, Zoe decided to sleep with a stuffed fox that my mom got her for Christmas. "Foxy" was a soft, squish-able stuffed animal that has become a favorite and quickly attached itself to our hearts. So yes, Foxy made the trip to LA with us this weekend.

After a long, cold and rainy tournament on Saturday, Lucas and Jason decided to not come up to LA. No problem: Zoe and I would just take the relaxing train home Sunday afternoon. After almost leaving Foxy at my parents' house, Zoe clung to her Yubbie replacement in the car on the way to the train station. After getting out of the car I stuck Foxy in the bag with Kanani that I was carrying. Union Station in LA was crowded and hectic. We got to the train, claimed our seats and settled in for the 2 hour ride. Right before our stop, I grabbed all our bags. I did a once over noting that we had my iPad, my phone, Kanani, 2 backpacks and our duffle bag. We got off the train just as Jason and Lucas were driving up. It wasn't until bedtime last night that we noticed that Foxy did not make it home. After checking the car, all the bags, calling my parents, it was apparent that Foxy was gone. I even called Amtrak on the off chance that someone turned her in, but alas, Foxy is gone.

All night I kept thinking of poor Foxy, all alone, cold and possibly wet from the rain as she lay somewhere between Los Angeles and Oceanside. I hope that she knows she was loved and that maybe another child picked her up to give her love and years of cuddles. And then I realized...

I'm freaking insane. 

You're In The Jungle Baby...

Yesterday we took the kids to see Megamind. For a 3 year old Zoe can sit quietly through most movies, but she's still too little to be able to hold her bladder through a whole movie. Of course, the big fight scene during the climax of the movie is when she she turns to me and screams "I NEEDS to POTTY NOW!"  As we were rushing back into the theatre from our little "break," the hero and the villain are battling it out on the big screen to the sounds of one of my all time favorite songs, "Welcome To The Jungle."

Uh... wait a moment??

"Welcome To The Jungle"? You mean the song about drugs and hard city living? You mean from the 1987 Guns 'n Roses album Appetite for Destruction, where the original album art was banned because it was a robot alien raping a girl? You mean the song whose B-side on the single was "Mr. Brownstone," the song about heroin addiction?

Yup. And it's in a kid's movie.

I am in no way uptight about or overprotective of my kids' sensitive ears. That is very much evidenced by the fact that my children listen to Katy Perry. But I will say that I was slightly taken aback by this song. To me, GnR and Appetite for Destruction represented my first break from parental approved music. That first album (yes, I had the LP) that my mom made a disapproving face at, the first time I was yelled at to "turn that noise down." "Welcome to the Jungle" was the first toe into my pool of adolescent discord. This was a song that made our mothers cringe and grandmothers cry! And now my 6 year old song is walking around asking "You know where you are??? You're in the jungle baby!" This song that I once hailed as the theme song of bad-ass rock is now appropriate for a cartoon movie.

Tonight we turned on Percy Jackson and The Olympians: The Lightning Thief to watch with Lucas. While the plot may be pushing a bit with Lucas, he loves Greek mythology and movies like this. During one of the scenes featuring the three teenage stars of the movie driving down the street, AC/DC's "Highway to Hell" blared in the background. Unfazed by it at all, Lucas turns to Jason and comments, "This song sure is in a lot of movies."

Now I'm left wondering, are we raising a generation of children that can't be shocked? Of which no word, no song, no movie will ever offend or appall them? Or should, as parents, we just be very scared about what they will find to horrify us in the future?