Free food at McD's

I apologize for the lull on posts this week..

This post is a day late (more apologies), but if you're passing by a McDonald's tomorrow morning on your way to work, school, or running errands, consider this:

McDonald's is offering customers a free McSkillet Burrito today and tomorrow, Feb. 28-29, with the purchase of a medium or large beverage.

If you grab one, let me know what you think of it.

Lipstick Jungle vs. Cashmere Mafia

Am I the only one who gets the plot lines of these two series crossed in my head?

In the last episode of Cashmere Mafia, when Caitlyn Dowd (Bonnie Somerville) was desperately looking for a 'fresh designer' for Fashion Week, I wondered why she wasn't calling Victoria Ford (Lindsay Price). Oh yeah, duh - that's "Lipstick Jungle."

I must say, I had higher hopes for LJ since it's based on the book by Candace Bushnell, writer of Sex in the City. The premises of both shows are weak, and so similar I sometimes wonder if there's a mole in one of the studios leaking plot info to the other camp. Or maybe being pursued by a billionaire is a typical day in the life of a high-powered NYC woman? Hmm, I doubt it. But I keep watching anyway.

How about you?

Tote the Rainbow

Colorful bags are a hot trend this season. These ladies can afford to splurge on their bags. I'm sure I can find some great options at Forever 21.



Tip and photo from WhoWhatWearDaily.com

Hello, Hawaii! (I wish...)

If you've been daydreaming about basking in the sun and nibbling on pineapple in Hawaii, now is the time to go.

Spring is the season for savings on trips to the Hawaiian Islands. Airfares start around $360 from the west coast. Room rates also reportedly drop about $15-$20 per night too.

I wish I was in a position to jump on a plane tomorrow, don't you? (I live right by the beach though so I can't complain too much).

If you go, send a postcard!

Spring Safari - Splurge or Save

It's hard to believe its time for Spring fashions again. Doesn't it seem like just a few months ago we were donning natural-toned wedges and wood bangles?

Safari is a hot look this season, as showcased by DVF's fabulous Spring 2008 Collection.

Splurge on her style:

Diane von Furstenberg - Trinia Safari Shirt Dress, $398. saks.com

Or score this look for less:

Old Navy - Safari Shirt Dress, $34.50. oldnavy.com

My Bio-sphere

So I'm back on my feet again after about five days of illness.

Except for a brief walk to our nearby beach park for some much needed sunshine, I've been in the house. I'm bored stiff, but I know not to push myself. I still have to rest every three hours. Ugh.

Thoughts of my recent boredom lead me to ponder something I encountered several times over the last few weeks...

I was a contributing writer for a few local magazines recently and the editors asked me to write a brief bio. I also had to write a bio for my new Mom blog at OCMoms.

[Insert deer in headlights gaze here]. Honestly, there's no worse writing assignment than having to write about myself. I sit and stare at the blank screen pondering what it is that I exactly do from sun up to sundown every day. What makes me interesting? It's enough to evoke a sort of quasi mid-life crisis.

I enjoy my life. I keep busy doing those things that I enjoy, but I'm not sure how interesting they are to read about. This is what I love to do - write. It's the reason I'm in these magazines in the first place. The books I read are about how to write better. I read magazines to spark ideas for other stories. I circle my favorite words in magazines, and I make lists of words I want to use in future articles. I am, in short, a nerd.

The stuff that I used to identify with was a long time ago, I feel like. Before kids, or when I was in my 20s. Much of that is either stale to me now, too expensive, or there's simply no time.

Does my life now read like some kind of stereotypical personal ad? I enjoy walking on the beach. I stay busy being a mom to my kids. I write. I struggle to keep my house clean. I love hanging out with my girlfriends when I can. I miss my family. I enjoy shopping when I can. I want to really believe in something again.

It's sparked a desire to fulfill those things I want to achieve - like my music, which is at a current stand still, again. And my book, which I've only written one chapter of so far.

I want to live a fuller life. I want to embrace each day for the potential it offers me. And I want to know I didn't shortchange myself at all.

(Photo by my sis, Rebecca Wilkins)

The Work-At-Home Conundrum

I've been sick these last few days, but I don't want to lag on posting. I decided to repost something I wrote the other day on the OC MOMS forum on OCRegister.com (slightly revised):

My career as a writer allows me the flexibility to work from home, a set-up that's allowed me the luxury of putting my boys in daycare no more than 10 hours a week, if that. I'm lucky, I realize. But working from home has its own set of challenges, am I right?

It's hard to find "quiet" time. And having an uninterrupted phone interview - forget it. I always have to preface any interview with "I work from home and I have a 2-year-old." And I often feel it takes me seven days to do what I otherwise could do in four.

Another unexpected obstacle is the struggle to convince my spouse that although I'm physically here, I'm working, and can't focus on keeping the house clean during the day. The boys make messes and I can't stay on top of it right away. I just can't work at Superwoman-like speed, doing everything my household and job requires day in and day out, or I'll burn out. And I do -- hence my current illness. (And a nanny isn't in the cards - too expensive).

My mom never worked so my perceptions of her are different than I believe my childrens' perceptions are of me. I recall a day when I was cleaning the house and told my 5-year-old, "Not right now, Mommy's working." He replied, "But Mommy, where is your computer?" Enough said.

I do try to take time out and do fun things. Like today, after I picked up my son from school, we went to a pizza place for pizza and milk, then made a quick trip to the Dollar Store. I couldn't do that if I worked in the newsroom full-time, and I'm so thankful I have the flexibility.

Work-at-home parents, how do you make working in a home office work for you?

Silence is Golden

I'm sitting here at my computer this morning and I pause to listen. It's quiet.

Nate is at school. Jim is at work. Jake is still asleep. The TV is off. No children are screaming. Jim is not riddling an insurgent with virtual bullets in one of his XBOX games.

The house is still. I feel still.

Inhale...Deep breath out...

I'm going to enjoy this calm for the few short moments I have it.

My first step on the red carpet - kinda'

I covered my first big fashionable event on Sunday, the 50th Annual Grammy Awards. I wasn't on the red carpet, no, I was working feverishly in the Orange County Register newsroom in Santa Ana.

For a behind-the-scenes scoop of the Grammys, click here. For a behind-the-scenes look at my experience covering Grammy fashion, keep reading...

I've written a fashion blog for SqueezeOC for over a year (not so much these days), but covering Grammy fashion was something else entirely - for me anyway. I arrived at 3 p.m. and got to work visiting sites (CBS.com) that offered live Web previews. We didn't get the East Coast TV feed in the newsroom, so without the Web I would've been stuck in real time.

As I'm sure you know, newspapers have a tight deadline sched. Online too. The Web editor on duty, Cindy, and I hurriedly checked the AP photos of the red carpet arrivals. I chose several photos and wrote complimentary or snarky captions (depending on the respective look) while she loaded them online and handled the polls. The pace was quick. Fingers were flailing on the keyboard. I had minutes to form an opinion about each look, think of an interesting way to say it, Google to verify spellings and in some cases, who the person is and what they do.

Around 5:30 p.m., I walked over to see photographer Jebb and designer Kelly to help choose what photos would go on the print page. They looked to me for my picks of good and bad. Both were pretty easy - I think the "hots" and "nots" were pretty clear-cut this year, how 'bout you? But I felt a small flutter of butterflies in my tum knowing that in that moment (and online, and tomorrow, in the paper), I had that authority.


Then it was time to write my piece - to bring all my opinions and observations together, and in about 30-45 minutes turn out a solid block of copy for the print product. I worked with editor, Andre, to edit my piece and then went back to my desk to make it read a little lighter. [Cardinal rule of writing: edit, edit, and edit some more. You'll never get it right on your first try, and it's OK. Stay open to input and changes by editors and you will learn so much].

CCI (the writing/layout program) didn't save my changes, so I had to re-input my edits a second time which set me back. (It's not the first time that's happened to me - thank God for my semi-photographic memory).

After those kinks were worked out, Andre and I finalized the changes, captioned the photos, and then he sent the file to the copy desk. Now I was working with copy editor Nikki who hit the article with more a few edits, like two spelling errors I missed and changing "Day-Glo" to "neon" because the former is a trademark (a point that varies by editor).


[Side note: I've learned that when it comes to writing stories, I have to see the forest and the trees, so to speak. The big picture down to the smallest detail. My greatest struggle is hitting all the details. (I also struggle to create a fact-checking system I use without fail - it's part of my ongoing struggle with routine). But when it comes to writing, the smallest details are the things that stand out, like, well, neon, if incorrect. And they negate the credibility of your piece. The two names I failed to double-check spelling on, for example (if they had run). Sometimes deadline is an issue, but accuracy is a key part of journalism. (And despite popular belief, journalists care about getting things right). I work on this skill daily. Even for a piece as fun as fashion coverage. And this blog. I edit my blog posts like mad.]


I finally headed home around 10 p.m., but only so late because I lingered to make absolutely sure my role was completely wrapped. I'm glad I did because I finally got info on who designed Beyonce's dress. (Reminds me of my 'zine days in my late teens/early 20s when I lived at Kinko's).

I've always worked for weeklies, and am not used to the hectic pace of a daily paper and turning out stories quickly but I pulled it off. I love the pace and I know if I wasn't a mom I would thrive on it. Because I am a mom, I haven't stepped up into a daily reporter job because it simply wouldn't work schedule-wise. (I write from home where cartoons are my mood music). But last night - working so closely with the daily staff - was one of those validating moments that reminded me I'm doing exactly what I was born to do.


So, no snarky comments yet on my online story - about my fashion opinion anyway. But the day is still young ;)

What do you think? Did Carrie bloom or bomb? Was Nelly fab or fug?


To check out my story, click here.



(PHOTO: Carrie Underwood in a floral Badgley Mischka gown. Credit: Chris Pizzello, The Associated Press)

A Pause ... + Grammy Fashion

I'm on day 16 of this blog, and am proud that I've posted a new entry every day, sometimes twice a day. But now I'm taking a little break. I plan to start again fresh and rested on Monday.

Quick note: I'll be covering Grammy fashion for the OCRegister tomorrow, so check the Web site to see if you agree with my picks for who's lookin' hot, and who's so not.

See you Montag!

Just Say No

...to wearing socks with sandals. It's horrid. And shame on you, Hanes, for condoning it.

[I took this photo last September at a convenience store inside Grand Canyon National Park, where I was visually accosted by the sock-sandal combo everywhere I turned].

Get a celebrity 'do

Bored with your current coiffure?

InStyle.com has a fun online feature that allows you to "try on" a variety of celebrity hairstyles sans scissors and hairspray or a trip to the wig shop. Simply upload a photo of your face, or pick a model that resembles your visage, and get started.

Because each hairdo is a virtual translation from a celeb photo, don't be shocked if it looks like garish cartoon hair glued atop your forehead.

You can get an idea of what styles may work on you, but it's probably not the best way to actually choose a new one (and I doubt it's intended as such). It's a fun waste of 20 minutes though.

My best look: Cameron Diaz's carefree shoulder-length style (shown in photo).

Try it here: Hollywood Hair Virtual Makeover

I Killed the Nintendo

At least once a year, my boys and I make the grueling 10-hour trek from Cali to Florida to visit my family. To ease in-flight boredom, we bought our son, Nate, his first Gameboy.

That was a year or so ago, and we were impressed by how well he cared for the machine and his games. In November, we upgraded him to a fancy Nintendo DS for his 5th birthday.

Nate's love for all things Nintendo was pretty well established by this time, and I should have seen the signs. But we were being doting and indulging parents and wanted him to have what he wanted. And we allowed a very bad habit to form.

Nate's love for video games was turning him into a kid I knew he wasn't. A kid with no other interests than to sit on the couch glued to a machine. It's all he talked about with his father. It's all he talked about with friends. He wanted to take his game to the park or beach to play it there, and it was a fight to make him leave it at home. He demanded it from the moment he woke to the moment he slept.

Throughout the Gameboy era, as I call it, I didn't keep a strict, consistent time limit on the amount he played. That, of course, crossed over to the DS era.

I finally wised up and last month applied a one-hour time limit, which he could use in a single sitting or in segments. I'd set the timer so Nate - and I - would know when time was up. I set up a chore chart for him to earn time on the Gameboy. Nate took pride in being good at the games, so I tried to turn that into a positive life lesson as well.

It was all good and well, but it didn't solve the bigger issue at hand - my kid was addicted to video games.

So a week ago, I rid the house of the beast. No more Nintendo. Period. My husband took the DS to his office so he could play it on his lunch breaks. The Gameboy is around here somewhere, and when I find it, that's gone too.

Nathan pitched a fit at first, of course, but it hasn't been as bad as I thought it would be. I explained to him that I took the DS away not because he was naughty or in trouble, but because I'm concerned by his need to have it.

He now tries to compensate by playing games on Noggin.com, so I still have a challenge on my hands. But I'm starting to see an improvement - he's interacting with us more, playing with toys and his train set, and being a real kid.

I know that video games can be fun in moderation. And when Nate gets older (age 7 or 8) and can handle playing in moderation, I'll reconsider the ban.

For now, I'm just happy to have my kid back from the clutches of Mario.









Sayonara, dude!

Winston Churchill was fictional?!

I often hear references in the media to the "dumbing down" of America.

Our nation as a whole knows increasingly less about important facts, like American history, yet we're experts on the ongoing Britney-Kevin saga.

Apparently, we're not the only ones in need of a V8. Folks across the pond also have a bit of fog in the noggin, according to a London-based article by the American Foreign Press.

Click here to read what I'm referring to.

New York Fashion Week

From shimmery flapper dresses to modern-medieval garb,
check out the Fall 2008 collections stomping down the runway
at Bryant Park this week.

For video commentary, click here: http://www.saksfifthavenue.com/main/FrontRowV.jsp

MUSINK Tattoo and Music Festival

I don't have tattoos, but I do watch tattoo TV.

One thing I admire about ink diva Kat Von D - besides her ability to look great in leather pants - is when this chick has an idea, she makes it happen.

On the last episode of her TLC reality show LA Ink (the last episode I saw, anyway), Kat was brainstorming an idea for a cool music and tattoo festival to be named "MUSINK."

Well, lookee here! The fest has come together 200 tattooers strong, to be held February 22-24 at the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa.

The best ink-slingers from around the world are slated to be there, and bands Metal Skool, The Used, and Tiger Eye, and others will perform. Also tattoo contests, tattooing technique seminars, rock 'n' roll-style vendors, etc.

On a side note, I'm seeing a stark correlation between Kat's love for Sphynxes (creepy cat in photo) and her attraction to her odd-looking rocker boyfriend, Orley. Have you seen that guy??

Details:..

A 'S wonderful, 'S marvelous film

Ahhh, Erba

I love that my town's main street has the vibe of a quaint European village. San Clemente is the Spanish Village by the Sea, after all.

My favorite downtown destination is ERBA, a charming apothecary-style shoppe that makes my heart pang for the small Austrian village where I lived for a year and long to visit again.

Fragrant aromas from the shop's luxurious selection of lotions, potions, aromatherapy candles, and French-milled soaps waft in the air.

Vintage fixtures showcase other fancies like French-inspired note cards, cutesy home decor, hand care products for gardeners, and organic goods for baby.

I could browse this tiny shop for hours.

Erba, 114 Avenida Del Mar, Suite 1, San Clemente. 949-492-2355