Rain, Rain Go Away

After being pounded with weather that flooded homes, caused mudslides tornado damage and high surf, we finally got a breath of fresh air this past weekend. We were so happy to see the sun shining; a sight that wasn't seen for a week and half. It was a welcomed sight since being stuck inside with all the family can cause some tension between everyone. We are spoiled living here and in that week and a half cabin fever was on the rise.

Jim and I decided to enjoy the warm day that was given to us and went on an adventure. First stop was the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. It is an amazing piece of architecture but reminds us if a tin can that has been bent and torn open. Isaac was confused. He thought Mickey and Minnie would be there since it was Disney.

A few blocks away we delved into the old world and went to the Grand Central Market. It was wonderful seeing all the booths set up with fresh produce ready to buy, butchers displaying every type of fresh cut meat you could imagine including pig head and cow intestines. There were also booths with fresh caught fish and many food vendors that included everything from baked goods to fresh made ceviche' to brains to Chinese. I delighted my taste buds with some carnitas that were to die for! The pork was so succulant! Jim and Isaac bought some yummy cookies and pastries. Before we left, we stopped by a produce stand and bought some ripe mangoes, a bundle of asparagus and a bunch of bananas that were the size of my fingers. Jim and I told Isaac they were "Isaac size" bananas.

From the market we drove a few miles for lunch at Phillipe's. They have been on a few food shows and is a classic in downtown L.A. They are the ones who created the very first french dip sandwich and are still serving them. Jim had a beef french dip and I had a pork one. They were both very good. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. Another thing that they are known for are their purple eggs. They are hard boiled eggs pickled in vinegar and beet juice. I was interested, so I tried one. Not bad if you like beets and things pickles. Nonetheless, I don't think I could eat that everyday or a lot of them in one sitting.

With our bellies full and the mid-afternoon sun shining, there was only one more logical place to go next. you guessed it, Disneyland. Isaac was asking all day if we could go but we never said yes. He fell asleep in the car on the way there and when he woke up, you would think that the kids has NEVER been there before. He was SO excited!!!! After riding a few rides, watching the parade and the fireworks, it was time to call it a day or should I say night. It was a great day to get out and enjoy the weather plus we all had a great time hanging out together.

What's New for Disney

Disney: What's New for 2010

Also click here to see the new Disney Resort in Hawaii

Coconut Milk and Banana Bread?

I had some bananas that I needed to make into bread otherwise they would need to go in the trash. Since I hate wasting food I decided to make banana muffins but I added a twist to the normal recipe: I added coconut and coconut milk. The result? Moist, chewy muffins with toasted coconut on top! Here is the recipe.


Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins with Coconut
2 1/2 C all purpose flour
2 1/2 C whole wheat flour
4 tsp baking powder
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp cardamon (you can use ground ginger as a substitute)
1 tsp salt
4 eggs
2 C sugar
6 large, smashed bananas over ripe
1 can coconut milk ( I like "Taste of Thai")
4 tbs butter, room temp
4 tbs unsweetened applesauce
2 tsp vanilla (I always add more)
1 bag (7 oz) sweetened, grated coconut
1-2 bags semi-sweet chocolate chips (depends on your liking)
1 bag (7 oz) sweetened, shredded coconut (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Combine both flours, baking powder, cinnamon, cardamon (or ginger) and salt. In another bowl, wisk together sugar and eggs until they are combined and smooth and then whisk in the bananas, coconut milk, butter, applesauce, vanilla. Once that is all mixed well, add the grated coconut and the chocolate chips and combine. Now add the wet mixture to the dry mixture mixing with a spoon making sure that all the dry ingredients are incorporated into the wet mixture. Using a 1/3 cup, fill the cup with the mixture and add to the baking cups in the cupcake pan. Sprinkle a generous amount of shredded coconut on top of each muffin. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until top if firm, coconut is toasted and testing stick comes out clean or with just chocolate on it. Yields: 44 muffins.

Cheese Balls

I seriously LOVE cheese balls! Well, good cheese balls anyway. I am talking about the kind that used to come in the blue tin with "Cheez Balls" written on it. Well, I haven't seen that tin in probably 10 years and when I was pregnant with Elizabeth, this is one of the things I craved yet couldn't find. Well, a couple of weeks ago Jim was grocery shopping at Ralph's when he came across huge containers (look hard on the bed by the blue pillow) of Herr's Cheese Balls so knowing how much I love them, he bought me a container and surprised me with it. Being the skeptic, I almost didn't even want to try them since all of the cheese ball wannabes that I have tried failed miserably compared to the precious ones in the little blue tin. However I did try them and low an behold they tasted EXACTLY like the blue tin ones!!!! Wooo Hooo!! I naturally went and bought another container.

Well, about a week ago and no cheese balls in the house, Jim buys one more and we hied it Isaac's room on a high shelf in the back of his closet. Out of sight, out of mind, you know? Well, today I had my friend Serene over and she brought her daughter Sydney to play with Isaac. As Serene and I were talking in the living room, we can hear the kids playing nicely in the bedroom. An hour later when it is time for them to go home, this is what we find. We now have to children with oompa loompa hands and 1/3 of the cheese balls unaccounted for, which means they are in their bellies. They other 2/3s are all over them, the bed and the floor. They were in heaven and thought it was the greatest thing. So naturally I had to take a couple of pictures and a video before I cleaned them up, stripped the bed of the bedding so I can wash it and vacuum the floor. What sneaky children I tell you and I still don't know how Isaac found them to begin with.

Last Chance for Fun

Last weekend we decided to do one more fun thing as a family before Jim gets his head stuck in books and then off to an internship. Since Disney was still continuing the extended discount to season pass holders, we decided it would be fun to have a "vacation" at the Disneyland Hotel. We originally were looking at the hotels across the street from the park but when we found out that we had a 40% discount and with that discount it was only a few dollars more, we decided to stay there. It was a FANTASTIC choice! We were able to check in at 10:30am so we had all day to play around the hotel and hang out in the room since we weren't in any hurry to get to the park. Isaac said he liked his "new Disney house." Since the weather was fabulous, in the high 70''s, low 80's, we decided to take the kids swimming in the Neverland Pool. Isaac thought it was the greatest thing to go sliding down the slide and jump in from the side of the pool. He was quite disappointed when it was time to go back up and change. Elizabeth could care less about the pool. She took a quick dip and then fell asleep in the warm sun.

After a swim and a change we headed off to the park for a couple of hours and then went to Goofy's Kitchen for dinner. This was so much fun. Both kids thought it was great to have all the characters come and visit you personally at your table while you were eating. Also, every half and hour Isaac was able to go to the buffet section and cook and dance with Goofy. Besides seeing a TON of characters, Isaac loved eating the worms in the dirt for dessert.

Elizabeth fell asleep after dinner so I stayed back in the hotel with her while Jim and Isaac hit the park one last time before bedtime. It was great because I was able to watch the firework show from my balcony and the tv had a station that played the firework music as well. I was excited for this fireworks show in particular because it is my favorite. They did it about 4 or 5 years ago and are bringing it back for the park's 55 anniversary this year. FYI: The actual birthday of Disneyland is July 17Th.

After checking out, we spent the next day in the park and had a great time. Isaac and I were lucky enough to be able to sit with the drivers of the steam train, something very few people know you can do. We were shown the fire in the train and I can say I have NEVER seen such Strong, bright flames in my life! The drivers were 2 cute old men who loved telling me Disney trivia and of course I didn't mind, but they also let Isaac ring the bell every time we were coming to a train station.

After looking at the pictures below, you might notice that something is missing. Well, that would be the water in the River of America. That is right, they drained all the water. I have never seen that done and I guess they do it every 5 years to do maintenance on the track and the boats. Both Jim and I thought it was pretty cool looking but it smelled like fermenting fish.

We had such a great time as a family and it actually felt like a vacation since we were able to rest at a hotel instead of driving home after a long day with the mouse. With 2 children passed out in the stroller while waiting for the parade to start, Jim and I started talking about our only regret. I wish we were able to stay for 2 nights instead of 1 however, this was a great, fun splurge and we created a bunch a family memories.

Celebrity Update

On Wednesday, The Biggest Loser came to Pepperdine to shoot a challenge in the pool. I was able to see Allison Sweeny, the host of BL and the contestants. It was a big production with all the film crew there. The challenge was that the contestants had to dive down and retrieve their colored balls at he bottom of the pool and put them aside. The first team to do that, won. There were 10 teams I believe that were there and I can tell you that they must have asked some teams back because some that aren't on the ranch now according to what is now airing were apart of the challenge on Wednesday. I am looking forward to watching it on tv.

Also, last night we went to dinner at Malibu Seafood on PCH and I had the most delicious Ahi burger but that is not why I am mentioning our dinner. While Jim and Isaac were waiting down in the market for our food to be ready, Elizabeth and I were in the covered patio up on the hill when I noticed an older lady with short brown curly hair that I recognized. She was talking to me out of concern for Elizabeth because she thought it might be too breezy for her, which it wasn't. But anyways, it is driving me mad because I can't remember what I have seen her in or what her name is. I have tried to google it, but I don't have much to google. I wish Jim would have seen her so he could help me.

Brotherly and Sisterly Love

Elizabeth has been wanting to start solids for the past month but besides little bits here and there, she didn't start them until the holidays were over. She has such a strong personality and makes her wants known. The other day I made fish sticks for Isaac to eat for lunch and she was over the top mad that I would not give her any fish sticks. No type of food would pacify her so I was lucky to listen to her scream as if I were beating her because I would not giver her a fish stick.


Isaac had to have his picture taken since Elizabeth was having hers taken, go figure.
She love to suck away on melon. Here she is eating watermelon and probably secretly wondering why I have held out for so long on giving it to her.


I love these pictures of the love and bond that Isaac and Elizabeth have for each other. They can make each other laugh and giggle and they can also calm each other down when the other one is upset and/or crying.




This video makes me laugh because of course I go to take a picture of Elizabeth and Isaac feels that he needs to be in it. Well, Elizabeth wants no part of it and as long as Isaac is by her and/or blocking her view of the camera, she makes it known! After he moved, she was fine.

Elizabeth's Blessing and New Years

We spent New Years in Disneyland this year. I know, surprise surprise, right? We rang it in with our friends Paul and Angie Simpson by accident. They were on the road traveling back from the Bay Area to Utah when they called us saying that they would have to drive down through Vegas because of the snow up north and wanted to know if they could stay with us for a couple of days and go to Disneyland with us for New Years. We were so happy that they called us. We LOVE them! They are so much fun to be around so we knew that DL would be fun. I would not recommend going to DL for New Years with kids unless you have annual passes. The crowds are INSANE!!! All of the line for the rides are a minimum of 40 minutes and it filled to capacity which means once yo leave, even if it is to go to California Adventure Park, you are out for the day. We had a great time, though. We ended up being in the park for 16 hours! The kids were such troopers! DL passed out hats and blowers, which Isaac loved, plus had DJ's an lights starting at 11pm. Once midnight came around there was a special fireworks show too. The icing on the cake was that Angie and I were able to participate in the Tiana's Showboat Jubilee Show which is promoting The Princess and the Frog movie.. The video in this blog isn't with Angie and I since I accidentally had my camera in my bag on the boat with me, but you can still watch the show with random other people. It is a part 1 and part 2 video. Angie and I couldn't stop smiling and giggling through out the entire show. It was fun to see Jim, Isaac, Paul and Elizabeth watching us. Isaac was excited to see us and he would wave to us all the while Jim and Paul had smirks on their face laughing at us and shaking their heads. We really enjoyed ourselves. If you haven't seen the Princess and the Frog, I suggest you go see it., It is a great movie with FANTASTIC music!




We blessed Elizabeth in San Leandro so most of the family would be able to make it. It was a nice blessing and I was fortunate to have my parents and grandparents be in attendance. I think ELizabeth looks so beautiful in her blessing gown. Isaac kept asking me if Elizabeth was sick since she was getting a blessing. He had a hard time understanding.

The Many Hats of Isaac

We always take a trip with my family to San Francisco during the holidays. This year we took the ferry from Jack London Square over to the city. We had a great time hanging around Pier 39 and Fisherman's Wharf. There is a hat store at Pier 39 called Krazy Kaps and in addition to "normal" hats, they have silly ones too. Isaac had a fun time trying on some of these silly hats. We had our clam chowder in sourdough bowls which is always a favorite, watched the sea lions and went to Musee Mecanique which in my humble opinion is a hidden gem in a commercialized wharf and pier setting. It is a FREE museum that features antique arcade games and musical instruments. You can take your quarter and put it in an old arcade game and play them. We always have such a great time when we go.
Isaac also wanted to go on the bungee trampoline. He was doing flips and was jumping, well more like shooting, up towards the sky. I wish I would have videoed more towards the end when he was doing thing by himself and going super high. He created a huge crowd around him. I am sure that he is on some people's vacation videos.
Even though we had a great trip, one of the 2 weeks that we were there, all four of us came down with fevers and a bad cold. it was unfortunate that we git sick because week 2 was so filled with visits that it was hard to enjoy it. We had a great time despite the sickness.