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.

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. 

Cinco de Mayo with Kids

As I write this, many 20 somethings are out drinking it up at various establishments with words like "El" and "Casa" and "Burro" in their names. Not us. The illustrious life of parents with young children, we sit here watching NBC's Thursday night line-up, sipping Skinnygirl Margaritas. 

Earlier today Zoe and I met Christina and boys B & B for lunch at Rubio's - a locally-based fish taco chain. Three kids + lunch-time rush + Mexican food + Mexican Holiday = Insanity. After my third trip to get more napkins/take someone to the potty/get a new fork, Christina and I are desperately trying to piece together a conversation tainted by too many "Where was I?'s". The slurping noise to my left grabs my attention. Waiting for the impending "Mommy, I want mooooore lemonade..." I glance over at my sweet angel from heaven to notice that she has pulled the straw from her drink and is actually sipping the juice out of the bottom of the cup of her side-dish of black beans. 

Shrieking "ZOE! THAT'S Disgusting!" I grab the straw away from her and throw it on the table. Be it the heat, exhaustion, kids or lack of tequila on this 5th day of May, Christina and I break down in laughter. Meanwhile, said Angel picks back up the straw and puts it back in her lemonade. Enlisting more laughter from the adults, Zoe looks at us, smiles and says:

"Yes! I am adorable!"

Minikin Launch Party - Sunday November 7, 2010

One of the things about being a working mom is that you need support. You need support from your family, friends and community. I'm ALL about the support because honestly, I'm not sure I would have survived the past 6 years without some of the amazing people in my life.

An old friend and ex-colleague of mine is living her dream and launching a new business, Minikin Model and Talent and Minikin Brand, with some amazing other ladies.  I'm so excited and happy for them and wish them all the best! If you are in San Diego - come by the launch party and fashion show and check out what they've got goin' on...these t-shirts are just freaking cute for words!!!

I can so see Lucas rockin' the Kung Fu cupcake one.. 

If you are interested in seeing if your cutie  is "right" for representation - just fill out the form on the site.