Eat, Pray, Love- One Fab Mom's Review!

After reading the book Eat, Pray, Love, by Elizabeth Gilbert, I was set to be disappointed by the movie. The book was so wonderful I thought there was no way they could capture it on film. Guess what, they did!

Yes, the movie has the scenery and the food, but what it really focuses on is relationships. Elizabeth Gilbert (played adeptly and subtly by Julia Roberts), is on a journey to find balance, and ultimately to find love. This was the focus of the film and rightfully so. They could have just made a movie with gorgeous locations, stuck Julia Roberts in with hot guys (Oh my word James Franco and Javier Bardem are yummyyyyy), and not really cared about the journey. That would have been the Hollywood way to do the book on screen. Thank god they knew people would not put up with that!

Julia journeys to Italy to eat, to India to pray and to Bali to love. She accomplishes all three as her demons finally catch up with her. The supporting cast was amazing. Billy Crudup as the boring but sweet husband, Viola Davis as her editor and best friend, but I felt it was Richard Jenkins, as Richard from Texas, that really was perfection. His story of why he was at the ashram was heartbreaking. I also thought the movie was perfectly cast with Javier playing Philipe. He was the perfect mix of steady and sexy!

This was a very modern, deep and fun adaptation of Elizabeth Gilberts book. A must see. I am giving it 5 cosmos. The top honor! Did you see it? What did you think?

A Dozen Eggs! Greatest Give Away Ever!

 At least I think so! I love A Dozen Eggs. I have ordered from them for teachers, parties, new babies and friends! (how cute are these baby girl cookies!)

A dozen eggs is a small, owner-operated, fully licensed bakery located in Mount Holly, Vermont. They started their business in 2004 in Boston, Massachusetts, their home for 16 years, before moving themselves and their pets to the bucolic splendor of Vermont!

Because I am such a fan, they have agreed to do a give away of my favorite cookie collection!


The Palm Beach Collection!

Could you die? Shift dresses, flip flops, sunglasses, flamingos and palm trees! All in Pink an green! I know you want these for your next party, best friend, or just yourself!!!

To enter:
1) Go to A Dozen Eggs and tell me your favorite cookie favor or collection. (That gets you one entry!)
2) Become a follower of my blog (That get's you another entry!)
3) Follow me on twitter (another entry!)
4) and leave your contact info! Also let me know how many entries you have!




That's it!
Good luck!
Winner will be drawn this Friday!

Wordless Wednesday- The Getty Museum

The Water Whisperer- Changing Lives One Toddler At A Time!

This summer we enrolled Landon in swim lessons with the Water Whisperer. This was not something Landon, or I was looking forward to. He was one of those kids who did not like swimming. He was very nervous, didn't like water in his face (not even in the bath!), and he was not happy about getting in the pool.

We showed up for lessons and the first day or two, there was a lot of tears. He was upset, he didn't want to swim. By the third day, Landon was feeling more confident. By the fifth day, he was thrilled. He was happy. He was joyful. He was swimming!

This has seriously been the highlight of my summer. To have a kid who was not happy about swimming become a person who loves the water, is worth it's weight in gold to me. The water whisperer has great instructors who are kind but firm, loving but disciplined.

I am telling you I have been blown away by Landon's progress. I am so proud of him! Thanks Water Whisperer!!

Toys For Toddlers- Melissa and Dougs Stack and Sort Board!

Landon had this and adored it. He loved sorting the colors and stacking the blocks! I knew it would be the perfect thing to take out for Coco! It's so fun seeing these toys the second time around! Great that it can be enjoyed twice! Talk about recycling!

You can get it here in my Open Sky store!



What else do I like by Melissa and Doug? Go to my store and see!

My Thoughts Exactly

Okay so it's an ad. So what? I love what this says. What do you think?

Welcome Cooking Underwriter!

After absolutely begging my bestie, neighbor Sheila, she started a cooking/recipe blog! She is the Cooking Underwriter. Insurance underwriter by day and chef by night! Please go and say hello, follow, her, follow her on twitter and make her feel welcome! You remember your first post right?

This is her first post! Blueberry pomegranate cobbler!!!! I was the taste tester and it is INSANE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Eat, Pray, Love, Mid Life Crisis?

I know it's going to happen. People are going to see Eat, Pray, Love and there will be a major mid life crisis epidemic. After all a lot of us think they should be, or could have been, living another life. Something more exciting, passionate, and adventurous. For some people living in California or Los Angeles for that matter, is a dream life. Sun, beach, movie stars, it's all here, but you better have thick skin because the entertainment business is no joke.

It was my dream to live and work in California, like Carol Burnett. I dropped everything and move out here. I left family, friends and a boyfriend behind and came out to LA knowing no one! Looking back it seems so brave. I was terrified but it didn't stop me. The other option was to not ever try to live my dream.

My dreams have changed over the years, simplified a little. When you have kids you tend to focus on their happiness more than your own.  Lately though, after turning 40, I have been dreaming more. I think a lot of people are looking for more after forty.


Don't get me wrong, I will be lined up to see Eat, Pray Love. I loved the book. I understood Elizabeth Gilberts wanting more, feeling trapped, and needing adventure! Sometimes I wonder about living doing somewhere else, doing something else. Would I be happier? Probably not!

I'm not sure we all need to go to India and Italy to find our true happiness. I know Elizabeth Gilbert needed to get away and find herself, but let's be serious, not many people have the time or money to go gallivanting all over the world.

I have one simple way I solve this. I try to bring the excitement, the adventure, into my own life in big and small ways.

Here are just a few:

I rearrange my living room and den every few months. 
I drive home different ways to find new places.
I find new cool restaurants to try.
I have friends over and try new and exciting new table scape's and menus.
I arrange girls nights with different groups of women and try to connect people.
I grow my hair long and then cut it short.
I stay open to living in other places, making new friends, and joining new groups.
I take day trips on the weekends with the family.
I take on new projects, even if it's outside my comfort zone!


Let's face it life can feel dull and monotonous, especially when you are running a household and raising kids. You need to keep it fun and interesting!

Not So Fabulous Forties- My Eyes Are Going!

Imagine having perfect eyesight for 40 years and then whammo! Suddenly I cannot read things up close and my vision is blurry! I mean WTF.

This fabulous forty thing is something I subscribe too. I enjoy all propoganda to this end. I even have my forty things to do before forty list going. Do you? Start one! Here's my whole blog dedicated to it!

Anyhoo, so when I notice my eyes are going bonkers I am not thrilled to say the least. Suddenly I imagine I am going blind (dramatic screenwriter here) and will need friends and family to cart e around with my walking stick. I head in for my first eye exam. I ask husband, who has been wearing contacts for years, how this is going to go. I don't want someone touching my eyeball. I mean that is yucky. He assures me nothing bad will happen. Hmph.

At the eye doc, he does all these tests, can you see the shaky line, can you read these letters, how about now? Now? NOW?

The good news? My eyes are healthy and my general eyesight is 20/20. Bad news? I need glasses for computer (which I am on 29 hours a day) and for reading (who has time to read a book?). This is made more upsetting by the fact that my mother has readers and this will be added to the list of ways I am turning into her. But that's a whole other post.


How are your eyes?

My First Open Sky Product! Tasty Baby!

As you know I am now an Open Sky seller! I am asked all the time about the products I use, love and want to share! This is a great way to do it!


My first product is Tasty Baby! This is the best organic baby food company! Founded by mom's, one I know well! Their food is amazing and inventive and delicious!


Coco loved the corn! The only veggie she would eat!

Get yours here!