Tutu Pretty

Snook's ballet studio is home to the San Diego Ballet, which is celebrating its twentieth anniversary in the most lovely fashion. They have commissioned photographer Graham Blair to create images of their dancers at iconic San Diego locations throughout the county. First up is San Diego Ballet dancer Heather Anzalone at Balboa Park. Isn't this gorgeous? I can't wait to see what else they have in store.

Finally Lefty's

I walked into the newly opened Lefty's Chicago Pizzeria a little over a week ago expecting good pizza and a good casual vibe that was heretofore seriously lacking in my neighborhood. What I did not except to find was a kids' play area complete with books, various blocks and creatures, and a toy kitchen! But there it all was. And there my mom and I sat for about an hour enjoying an uninterrupted lunchtime conversation while S 'n' B played happily and safely mere inches from our table. I don't know who this Lefty guy is, but he's a genius. We've since been back with my sister-in-law's family.The other little cutie in the pictures is S 'n' B's cousin. So sweet! So consider this your Lefty's playdate invitation. Any time. Any day.

Beach Daze

Many of my happiest childhood days were spent at the beach. So now that the summer days have become hot and steamy, I'm trying to take my kids there as much as possible.



They've definitely caught my fever for the sand and sea. I'd take them every day if I could!

The Great Salad Compromise

I like salad. The H likes bacon.So he created the B.L.T. salad!The kids liked it all.Especially the apple pie. I'll take mine without cheese next time though. Blech!

Shoe Question

Is it just me, or are little kids' shoes getting . . .
WEBOO Shoes
. . . stranger . . .
Heelarious
. . . and stranger?

Bittman's Banana Bread

Life gave me borderline-rotten bananas the other day. So I made Mark Bittman's banana bread. Minus the coconut, unfortunately, because I didn't have any on hand. The only other thing I would do differently next time is to take it out of the oven after 50 minutes instead of 55. The gooier the better!

Banana Bread

Time: about 1 hour.

8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter, plus some for greasing the pan
1 1/2 cups (about 7 ounces) all-purpose flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour*
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
3 very ripe bananas, mashed with a fork until smooth
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
1/2 cup grated dried unsweetened coconut

1. Preheat oven the 350 degrees F. Grease a 9x50-inch loaf pan.

2. Mix together the dry ingredients. Cream the butter and beat in the eggs and bananas. Stir this mixture into the dry ingredients; do not mix more than necessary. Gently stir in the vanilla, nuts, and coconut.

3. Pour the batter into the loaf pan and bake for 45 to 60 minutes, until nicely browned. A toothpick inserted into the center of the bread will come out fairly clean when it is done, but because of the bananas this bread will remain moister than most. Do not overcook. Cool on a rack for 15 minutes before removing from the pan. To store, wrap in waxed paper.

Cheeky Monkey

I really like Victoria's Secret's "Cheekies" panty collection. Cute, flirty, fun, flattering-- whatever. But I don't know. As soon as I put a pair of pants on over them, something about the pants and the cut of the "cheeky" seem to create the perfect storm of wedginess. Is anyone else feeling my pain on this? Yikes!

Whipped Into a Frenzy

My mom and I went to a concert last Saturday night. No. Correction. We went to two concerts last Saturday night. First, there was the American Idols Live Concert. The one where the audience sat comfortably in their seats, chatted distractedly with their neighbors, and clapped politely at the end of each of the finalists' songs. And then. Drum roll please. There was the Adam Lambert Concert. The one where all the chicks from 13 to 113 (and the boys too) were on their feet, screaming at the top of their lungs, throwing random articles of clothing onto the stage, and just generally going berserk. I've never seen anything like it. I didn't watch American Idol Season 8 because, well, you're looking at it. Blogging got the better of T.V.-watching this past winter/spring. But my mom watched faithfully because of one reason and one reason only. The Glambert himself. And now I can see why. This guy is one very exciting, very talented, very, shall we say, scintillating performer. And I'm here to say that he just might be here to stay. Only time will tell. But he did score the Rolling Stone cover. And (don't get too jealous now) my mom and I did, two hours and four very sore feet later, score his autograph. He's not bad-looking up close I will tell you. Not bad at all. Here, why don't you be the judge. (Sorry for the broken link, but I think it will still get you there.)

Flowers Again!

No, of course I didn't wail, "Flowers again!" to the H when this bouquet appeared on my lobster-tail bounty the other night. That would be something akin to complaining, "Steak again!" Which I would never do. Not in this lifetime.

Double Take No. 10

Both S 'n' B loved playing the same game in the same crib at about the same age.Peek-a-Boo Snook
Peek-a-Boo Bubs
And it never got old!

Legos We Go-Go

Legoland is a favorite playdate spot for several of my friends and me. Yes, it's an amusement park and there are rides, but the abundance of legos everywhere means kids (read moms) can take a break in one place for as long as they want and create to their heart's content. As a result, I find the atmosphere to be much more serene, cerebral and slower-paced than what you would normally expect at a place geared for kids. Other things that keep us coming back: Miniland USA, something everyone should see at least once; the Model Mom Club (you don't have to be a Club member to take advantage of their curtained-off nursing areas complete with rocking chairs, bottle warmers, changing stations); and lots of great, healthy food options everywhere you look. Like I'm hinting at, this place thinks of everything.Bubs and me floating down Storybook River on a recent visit. Snook floating along with her buddy Alexis.
Meeting Bob.Meeting Princess Lily. Who?Very busy managing their grocery store.And here the girls are exploring Sea Life Aquarium for the first time. Definitely the most kid-friendly place I've ever seen for kids to interact with sea creatures. Or sea creatures to interact with kids. Such good times!

Raw Deal

If you were to ask the H what his favorite food is, he wouldn't miss a beat. Steak tartare. Although a bit hesitant at first, it didn't take me too long to come around to really savoring this dish right along with him, my favorite rendition being his. It's risky. It's raw. It's really good.

Lip Blip

I knew all of the stylish people I stalk couldn't be wrong. And I was right. Laura Mercier's Tinted Moisturizer has won my heart and my vote as the hands-down, best tinted moisturizer money can buy. No big surprise there. But . . .

. . . have any of you beauty brains out there tried her Hydra Tint SPF 15 yet this summer? In mocha? Well, you should!

Kelly on Kettner

I met Darby Kelly, the artist of this beautiful painting, last Friday night when my neighbor, Joy, and I took a spontaneous stroll down to Little Italy to attend Kettner Nights. This event had it all-- art, furniture, jewelry, fashion, live music, leather chaps and free wine. I will definitely be back. Anyway, back to the painting, or portrait collage as Ms. Kelly referred to it. Joy and I were struck by how much the artist looked like her cherubic subject. Striking too was the creative use of a stiletto for the stem of the fiery, red calla lily. But mostly my mind kept drifting to what Snook's collage would look like if such a work were commissioned. She tromps around in my heels all the time so shoes would definitely have to be integrated somehow, as well as books; a battered, old, stuffed kitty-cat; and maybe chocolate.

Happy Fourth!

Snook, July 4, 2008