All kids should read the Classics! I love Dr. Seuss, The Velveteen Rabbit, The Giving Tree, The Secret Garden, and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn just to name a few…
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Literature
All kids should read the Classics! I love Dr. Seuss, The Velveteen Rabbit, The Giving Tree, The Secret Garden, and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn just to name a few…
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Caffeine High
Along with being major beach bums, mommy and I are addicted to coffee. There are so many chains out there, but we prefer to visit little mom and pop coffeehouses that really put a lot of love and effort into their yummy drinks. Mommy says Starbucks is only a last resort!
Our favorite coffeehouse is Portfolios in Long Beach
Port is a locals' hangout and has plenty of couches to sit and relax on. They have computers for you to use if you need to get some work done, and original artwork on the walls from local artists for sale. They make the best iced mochas ever! They're so creamy and silky, not like others that can taste chalky.
Next is The Library coffeehouse also in Long Beach
Library is pretty unique because it actually looks like a library. There is wall to wall book shelves with tons of books you could sit and read while you sip your coffee. You could just borrow a book for the day or if you really like it, you could buy their books too. They make really good lattes there, with so many choices for flavors. They even have yummy desert cakes and ice cream to go along with your latte.
An old favorite of ours is Java Man in Hermosa Beach
Java Man is just a short walk to the beach and Hermosa Pier. They are a smaller coffeehouse with just table and chairs, but they don't mind if you hang our there all afternoon. Lots of good people watching outside and great little beach bum community. The best drinks there are their seasonal drinks. They come up with the best flavors for the seasons, their pumpkin spice latte for Thanksgiving is my favorite!
When it comes to chains, the only one mommy and I really like is It's A Grind
IAG started as a mom and pop coffeehouse in Long Beach. It's a franchise now, but all the stores still use the original recipes for their drinks. They have big arm chairs for you to relax in and artwork of jazz and blues legends on their walls. The best things to order at an IAG are their blended mochas, not super sweet, just the right amount of mocha added.
I'm sure there are lots more coffeehouses for mommy and me to explore. And we'll be more than happy to taste what they have to offer!
Our favorite coffeehouse is Portfolios in Long Beach
Port is a locals' hangout and has plenty of couches to sit and relax on. They have computers for you to use if you need to get some work done, and original artwork on the walls from local artists for sale. They make the best iced mochas ever! They're so creamy and silky, not like others that can taste chalky.
Next is The Library coffeehouse also in Long Beach
Library is pretty unique because it actually looks like a library. There is wall to wall book shelves with tons of books you could sit and read while you sip your coffee. You could just borrow a book for the day or if you really like it, you could buy their books too. They make really good lattes there, with so many choices for flavors. They even have yummy desert cakes and ice cream to go along with your latte.
An old favorite of ours is Java Man in Hermosa Beach
Java Man is just a short walk to the beach and Hermosa Pier. They are a smaller coffeehouse with just table and chairs, but they don't mind if you hang our there all afternoon. Lots of good people watching outside and great little beach bum community. The best drinks there are their seasonal drinks. They come up with the best flavors for the seasons, their pumpkin spice latte for Thanksgiving is my favorite!
When it comes to chains, the only one mommy and I really like is It's A Grind
IAG started as a mom and pop coffeehouse in Long Beach. It's a franchise now, but all the stores still use the original recipes for their drinks. They have big arm chairs for you to relax in and artwork of jazz and blues legends on their walls. The best things to order at an IAG are their blended mochas, not super sweet, just the right amount of mocha added.
I'm sure there are lots more coffeehouses for mommy and me to explore. And we'll be more than happy to taste what they have to offer!
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Monday, January 9, 2012
Driving the Coast
Living in California, my mommy and I are big beach bums. There's something about the sound of the ocean that keeps us calm. It's a nice getaway from the city we live in, and mommy says it gives her time to think. So sometimes we just drive up or down Pacific Coast Highway, along the beach the whole way. There's some great views and pretty sunsets along the way. Here's some of our favorites:
Encinitas:
La Jolla Beach:
Aliso Beach:
Long Beach Harbor:
Seal Beach:
Huntington Beach:
Newport Beach:
Hermosa Beach:
Morro Bay:
Jalama Beach:
Big Sur:
San Francisco Bay:
Mommy and me getaways are the best! Surf, sand, water, peace. I'm a beach baby through and through. And we follow the sunset to endless summers!
Encinitas:
La Jolla Beach:
Aliso Beach:
Long Beach Harbor:
Seal Beach:
Huntington Beach:
Newport Beach:
Hermosa Beach:
Morro Bay:
Jalama Beach:
Big Sur:
San Francisco Bay:
Mommy and me getaways are the best! Surf, sand, water, peace. I'm a beach baby through and through. And we follow the sunset to endless summers!
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Susan G Komen 3 Day for the Cure
I never met my grandma. She passed away before I was born. But I know that she was the most beautiful woman in the world, and my mommy loved her very much. Sometimes people get sick, and I don't know why they go away, but they just can't hang on anymore and God takes them from us. But mommy says we don't have to forget them, we find ways to honor them.
So last weekend, my mommy and I walked the Susan G Komen 3 Day for the Cure in San Diego in honor of grandma! We raised $2300 to walk 60 miles in 3 days. It was tiring and exciting and made me feel super happy at the same time.
We camped out in our own private pink tent along the water from Del Mar through La Jolla, passed Mission Beach and Pacific Beach and ended in downtown San Diego. It was a great adventure!
Along the way we made a few friends, and the whole community came out to cheer us on. We were nicely taken care of by volunteers who made sure mommy and I stopped to rest every few miles and gave us snacks so we wouldn't get too tired or hungry. We even got to collect stickers along the way! Mommy cried. It was a powerful and emotional journey to see thousands of people walking together for the same cause...so no baby will ever again have to say I never met my grandma.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
The Pumpkin Patch
For some adults, Fall and Halloween mean time to dress up and party. But for baby teddy bears like me, it mean trick-or-treating and Pumpkin Patch fun! It was so cool, so many pumpkins big and small. Mommy let me climb all over the huge pumpkins!
There were carnival rides like a choo choo train, and real ponies! Even a petty zoo where I can visit the baby chicks, bunnies, and goats. We ate nachos and got our face painted. Mommy even bought a baby pumpkin for me to take home. I love small trips to local fairs and patches! They are mini vacations mommy and I need in between our big adventures :)
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Our 5 Fave Hidden Beaches in Southern California
Mommy and I love the beach! It's perfect we live in sunny Southern California. But, some of the beaches down here can be pretty crowded. Some are just so famous that everyone wants to visit, and they get overrun with tourists and teenagers and party seekers. We're much more mellow than that. While it's fun to watch a surf competition amongst thousands of fans and media crews, mommy and I prefer to just chill. Sitting on the sand and watching the peaceful ocean toss a few waves is much more our speed. Thankfully, there are a few sleepy beach towns left with their old fashioned Main Street of mom and pop stores hidden for just us locals to enjoy.
1. Hermosa Beach
Down the street from the hustle and bustle of the popular Manhattan beach, is the little town of Hermosa Beach. Yes, it does have a small pier with a few drinking spots, but it's not quite as crazy, and the uphill Pier Ave is a great walk of small shops and local coffeehouses that are great for strolling along. Try Java Man, they're gingerbread lattes are amazing! The town itself is only about 1.3 square miles. Mommy and I love to sit on the Pier next to the Tim Kelly Lifeguard Memorial Statue and people watch.
2. Seal Beach
This beach is our favorite! (We used to live here) Down the ways from the uberpopular and famous Huntington Beach lies the sleepy beach community of Seal Beach. It's only about 13 square miles and the historic downtown Main Street is a picture perfect replica of a 1920s beach community. Mommy and I often saw a movie at the old Bay Theater that shows our old favorites as well as new arrivals. Not many know of Seal Beach's existence because it's hidden, not noticeable as you drive down Pacific Coast Hwy like most other beaches. It's even got a gated playground right on the sand for families with little kids like me to enjoy.
3. Aliso Beach
As fun as window shopping through Laguna Beach can be, the nearby Aliso Beach is much more serene, and relaxing on the sand at sunset is that much more beautiful when no one's around but you and the rocks. Aliso Beach doesn't have a main street to walk through, but the view of the cliffs and the waves crashing onto the rocks is a sight you just can't miss. The waves here can be pretty big and crash quite heavily, so mommy and I just sit on the sand and enjoy watching nature do its work.
4. Encinitas
About 25 miles north of San Diego, and my favorite zoo, is Encinitas. It's one of the beaches that actually offer a camp ground near the sand. The city itself is only 20 square miles, and is divided into Old and New Encinitas. New Encinitas is overrun with new developments and all the same Starbucks' and Barnes & Nobles shops you find everywhere. Old Encinitas was our choice; it has tons of old surf shops and family-run cafes to keep you busy. Mommy and I camped out here for a couple days so we can sleep soundly listening to the ocean waves as a lullaby. Our favorite part was finding old bookstores that sold used books. Mommy spent hours browsing through all her old favorite novels. Camping is another passion of ours, aside from the beach, so combining the two is perfect for us beach bums!
5. Avalon
Yes, we did throw Catalina on the list, but with a slight twist. It's not hidden, but you must visit the island during the Fall/Winter months. The summer months are far too crowded to enjoy this beautiful city. It's only about 3 square miles and offers so many shops and seafood restaurants. You can bike up and down the hills or cruise around in a golf cart. The houses all nestled in the hills make it look like we're in the Mediterranean. In the Winter, the sunsets are so beautiful, pinks and oranges all over the sky. It's such a small community that everyone knows who is just visiting and give suggestions on how to spend your time. The shops and cafes close early and you're left watching the boats bob up and down the harbor with the pink sky as your backdrop. Mommy took me up to The Cross to see the whole island, and we dreamt about what it would be like to live there.
1. Hermosa Beach
Down the street from the hustle and bustle of the popular Manhattan beach, is the little town of Hermosa Beach. Yes, it does have a small pier with a few drinking spots, but it's not quite as crazy, and the uphill Pier Ave is a great walk of small shops and local coffeehouses that are great for strolling along. Try Java Man, they're gingerbread lattes are amazing! The town itself is only about 1.3 square miles. Mommy and I love to sit on the Pier next to the Tim Kelly Lifeguard Memorial Statue and people watch.
2. Seal Beach
This beach is our favorite! (We used to live here) Down the ways from the uberpopular and famous Huntington Beach lies the sleepy beach community of Seal Beach. It's only about 13 square miles and the historic downtown Main Street is a picture perfect replica of a 1920s beach community. Mommy and I often saw a movie at the old Bay Theater that shows our old favorites as well as new arrivals. Not many know of Seal Beach's existence because it's hidden, not noticeable as you drive down Pacific Coast Hwy like most other beaches. It's even got a gated playground right on the sand for families with little kids like me to enjoy.
3. Aliso Beach
As fun as window shopping through Laguna Beach can be, the nearby Aliso Beach is much more serene, and relaxing on the sand at sunset is that much more beautiful when no one's around but you and the rocks. Aliso Beach doesn't have a main street to walk through, but the view of the cliffs and the waves crashing onto the rocks is a sight you just can't miss. The waves here can be pretty big and crash quite heavily, so mommy and I just sit on the sand and enjoy watching nature do its work.
4. Encinitas
About 25 miles north of San Diego, and my favorite zoo, is Encinitas. It's one of the beaches that actually offer a camp ground near the sand. The city itself is only 20 square miles, and is divided into Old and New Encinitas. New Encinitas is overrun with new developments and all the same Starbucks' and Barnes & Nobles shops you find everywhere. Old Encinitas was our choice; it has tons of old surf shops and family-run cafes to keep you busy. Mommy and I camped out here for a couple days so we can sleep soundly listening to the ocean waves as a lullaby. Our favorite part was finding old bookstores that sold used books. Mommy spent hours browsing through all her old favorite novels. Camping is another passion of ours, aside from the beach, so combining the two is perfect for us beach bums!
5. Avalon
Yes, we did throw Catalina on the list, but with a slight twist. It's not hidden, but you must visit the island during the Fall/Winter months. The summer months are far too crowded to enjoy this beautiful city. It's only about 3 square miles and offers so many shops and seafood restaurants. You can bike up and down the hills or cruise around in a golf cart. The houses all nestled in the hills make it look like we're in the Mediterranean. In the Winter, the sunsets are so beautiful, pinks and oranges all over the sky. It's such a small community that everyone knows who is just visiting and give suggestions on how to spend your time. The shops and cafes close early and you're left watching the boats bob up and down the harbor with the pink sky as your backdrop. Mommy took me up to The Cross to see the whole island, and we dreamt about what it would be like to live there.
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