san diego: disney on ice presents passport to adventure, september 25-29

san diego friends, join me on a globetrotting tour of disney destinations in disney on ice presents passport to adventure coming to san diego, september 25 – 29. I am always looking for fun experiences to share with my kiddos and this is truly fun for the whole family!

pack your bags and get ready to embark on the ultimate sightseeing adventure in disney on ice presents passport to adventure performing at the valley view casino center (former sports arena) from september 25-29, 2013. join mickey mouse and minnie mouse as your tour guides on this magical getaway as they travel to four exciting disney destinations all in one fun-filled ice production!

audiences will be transported straight from their seats into the enchanting worlds of disney’s the lion king, the little mermaid, peter pan and lilo & stitch in this sightseeing spectacular created for the entire family! explore the pride lands with simba, timon and pumbaa; voyage under the sea with ariel and all her aquatic friends; tour jolly old london with peter pan and tinker bell, before flying to never land; and travel to hawaii to visit lilo and stitch.

disney on ice presents passport to adventure features an international team of award-winning figure skaters, high-energy choreography and a colorful set that captures all four unique worlds. audiences will be entranced as they experience this exciting excursion — one that will fill the arena with magic, music, and best of all, mickey and minnie!

when: 

wednesday, september 25 – sunday, september 29

-wednesday, sept. 25 7:00 pm

-thursday, sept. 26 7:00 pm

-friday, sept. 27 7:00 pm

-saturday, sept. 28 11:00 am, 3:00 pm & 7:00 pm

-sunday, sept. 29 1:30 pm* & 5:30 pm

*spanish language performance


where: 

valley view casino center (formerly known as the san diego sports arena)
3500 sports arena blvd., san diego ca 92110

tickets: 

ticket prices range from $17, $25, $39 (vip) and $55 (front row)

special opening night discount tickets available for only $10 each (not valid for vip/premium level)

all seats are reserved; tickets are available for purchase online at ticketmaster.com, charge by phone at 800-745-3000 or in-person at the valley view casino center box office.

*tickets may be subject to service charges, facility and handling fees.


for more information, visit www.disneyonice.com or visit us on facebook, twitter and youtube.

simple solutions: how to fold a fitted sheet

sometimes, it is the little things that make me happy. knowing how to fold a fitted sheet so it will fit neatly in my drawers and closets is one of those simple pleasures. i know. it makes me sound like a crazy person. still, i'll take it...and my neatly folded sheets.

these pictures are of a fitted crib sheet because it is easier to photograph. the same directions apply for a king sized sheet. beautifully folded sheets are a thing of beauty. enjoy!

mmmmm: loaded baked potato casserole

it's back to school time and, to me, that means easy-to-fix, prep-ahead meals. this loaded baked potato casserole is a family favorite----it is delicious, filling and comforting----*plus* it makes for fantastic left-overs (if you have any). :-)

loaded baked potato casserole

ingredients:

10 large russet baking potatoes (about 7 pounds total)
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese
1/2 cup + 1 tablespoon country crock
1 cup sour cream

1 cup half and half
4 cups shredded cheddar cheese (divided use)
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1/2 cup chopped green onions, for garnish
2 lbs. bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled (divided use)

directions: 
preheat oven to 350 f. pierce potatoes and place on baking pan. bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes, until very soft. remove from the oven and set aside on a wire rack until cool enough to handle. (you can also choose to peel and boil potatoes, if this is easier for you).

when the potatoes have cooled, cut each potato in half and, using a spoon, scoop the flesh out of the skins and into a large bowl. to the bowl, add 1/2 cup of country crock , the sour cream, cream cheese, half and half, minced garlic, salt, and pepper and mash until chunky-smooth. add half of the bacon, half of the grated cheese, and mix thoroughly.

coat the bottom and sides of a 13x9-inch baking dish with 1 tablespoon of country crock (it is so easy to spread). place potato mixture in dish, cover with plastic wrap or foil and refrigerate casserole until ready to bake.

when ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 f, remove plastic wrap and bake casserole 35-40 minutes until hot. sprinkle remaining shredded cheese and bacon over casserole and return to oven for about 10 minutes, until bubbly around the edges and heated through and the cheese on top is melted and lightly golden. serve hot,  garnished with chopped green onions, right before serving.

country crock has 0g trans fat per serving, contains no partially hydrogenated oils and no cholesterol. it also has 70% less fat than butter per serving and 30% fewer calories.

visit country country via their pinterest page or their facebook page for more #QuickFixCasseroles.

i was selected for this opportunity as a member of clever girls collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

mmmmm: fresh caprese quinoa salad

quinoa is a staple in our house these days. it is is chalk full of protein but you feel like you are eating a carb, which is pretty much heaven in my book. i am a sucker for a good caprese salad.....there is something about the cold tomatoes and fresh mozzarella, the beautiful basil and the sprinkle of salt combined with the drizzle of olive oil and balsamic that is simply heaven on a plate for me. i have been experimenting will all sorts of ways to incorporate quinoa into meals and came up with this delicious, fresh recipe. i chose to incorporate fresh, grilled chicken bites into it for added protein, but it is just as yummy without. hope you enjoy!

fresh caprese quinoa salad

• 2 cups quinoa (any color is fine)
• 8 oz fresh mozzarella
• 1 carton grape tomatoes, halved or quartered
• fresh basil
• 1/2 cup toasted pine nuts (optional)
• 2-3 tablespoons olive oil
• salt & pepper
• drizzle of balsamic (trader joes makes a wonderful balsamic glaze that is perfect)
• (optional) 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts grilled with olive oil, salt and pepper. cool and cut into bite sized pieces

1. cook quinoa according to package directions. (my favorite way is in the rice cooker).
2. cool the cooked quinoa in the refrigerator first before assembling the salad. (warm quinoa will melt the mozzarella).
3. prepare your ingredients by slicing grape tomatoes in half or quarters and cut the block of fresh mozzarella into bite size pieces or use the smaller balls (i still chose to half these into better bite-sized pieces). mix together well with chopped basil, toasted pine nuts and chicken and then cooked quinoa. next, drizzle on the olive oil and season with a little salt/pepper (to taste). give your salad a final toss and serve garnished with a basil leaf and drizzled with a small amount of balsamic. serve cool or at room temperature.

"love will save the day"

i love to browse facebook.  somehow in the isolation that is motherhood, it makes me feel somehow connected with the outside world, a world without piles of laundry and dirty toilets to scrub. while browsing through my list of friends, i found and read something that completely changed the course of my day and, i daresay, my attitude for the foreseeable future.

you see, i have amazing friends. as i read about little pieces of their lives on facebook, i am constantly reminded how incredible they are. i am surrounded by people currently who come along side me and help me navigate this stage of my life but i have been in the company of extraordinary people for each and every stage i have traversed. this week, two of their stories came back to me and reminded me of some very important lessons.

justin

i met justin my freshman year of college. he is hilarious and one of the kindest people i know. we hit it off and i had the pleasure of his friendship my entire college career. justin had some muscular problems our freshman year of college and even before. i can remember the day he walked into the ASB office of PLNU having received the news from his doctor. at that time he was told he had ALS, Lou Gehrig's Disease. since then, his diagnosis has changed slightly and he officially has been diagnosed with Multifocal Acquired Motor Axonopathy. the symptoms are much like those of ALS and justin has slowly lost the use of muscle groups in his body.

this hasn't stopped him. he got married out of college to one of the most beautiful and inspiring women i have had the privilege of knowing. kirstin is, without a doubt, one of greatest people on the planet. when it comes to her ability to love her husband, she lives out that love every day of her life. she is amazing. together, she and justin haven't let the disease slow them down. with their three kids, they have founded www.the-disabled-traveler.com where they help people with disabilities overcome their fears and see the world. they have just returned from three months in italy, sharing all they learned with other travelers with limited mobility.

today, i got to hear about justin's newest adventure. here it is.

www.illpushyou.com

once i finished wiping the tears from my eyes, i started thinking, and was inspired when i remembered a similar story of courage and hope.

jeremy

jeremy was another friend from college. have i mentioned i have always been surrounded by the greatest people on earth? jeremy is one more of those people to add to the list. jeremy was active in college but when he was in a horrible motorcycle accident after we graduated, his level of activity skyrocketed. jeremy is paralyzed from the waist down but has used his current disability to push himself to do more, to be more.

in the last couple of years he did the following TEDx presentation. since then, he has, with the help of some very cool "legs," taken his first steps since his accident. did i mention my friends are inspirational?

please note, if you are having trouble viewing this on our site, please click on the 

following link to view it on youtube: Jeremy McGhee TEDx

after i finished watching and rewatching their videos, i was refreshed into remembering some life-improving skills.

1) stop complaining: what do i have to complain about? even on my toughest days, my life is pretty amazing. it's good to remember that.

2) surround yourself with great friends: do i have people who would push me in a wheel chair for six weeks or cheer me to the top of a huge mountain? my friends may never have to do that literally but i'd like to think i have friends who figuratively do that everyday. whatever you are going through, have you surrounded yourself with people who cheer you on and push you toward your dreams? did you notice the wall hanging on justin's kitchen? "love will save the day." do you have someone who would love you like that? if you don't, find someone. be someone.

3) be that type of friend for someone else: am i the type of person that cheers on others? will i encourage others to dream big and then do whatever i can to encourage them on that path? am i the type of person who would say, without hesitation, 'i'll push you?" i want to be.

4) get out there and make it happen: i need to remember some of my dreams. i don't have physical limitations that are keeping me from dreaming big but i have mental and "real life" limitations. somewhere along the line i've stopped dreaming like i used to. i need to remember that i can still dream big...and that, until my life is over, i can work to make those dreams happen. it's time for me to step out and remember how to dream...and then to work like crazy to make those dreams a reality.

today i am reminded of greatness, of big dreams, of amazing and inspiring friends. today i'm willing to step out and be brave. today i'm going to be thankful for things big and small. today i'm going to love well.

what about you?

my 20th high school reunion: to go or not to go....that was the question.

it's been 20 years since i graduated high school. i have to catch my breath a little when i say that...because in some ways it feels like it was just yesterday. a few of the memories are so real and recent in my mind. how did we get so old?! don't you remember being a kid in high school and thinking how *old* 38 was? it seems so ancient. in other ways high school seems like a lifetime ago....a distant memory of a person i barely remember. 

i never went to our 10 year reunion. there may have been a legitimate excuse.....maybe a wedding to go to or something.....but the truth is i don't remember and i probably wouldn't have gone, even if i had nothing to do. 

i too have felt many of the reasons i hear from people about why they don't want to go to their reunion: 

1. if they were *really* my "friends" we would still be friends today.

2. why don't we just have a small get-together with the people we actually hung out with in high school...not all the "randoms".

3. why would i want to pay to hang out with people i don't even know anymore?

4. my life is not impressive enough yet. i have nothing to brag about.

5. i am fatter, balder, etc and just don't look the way i wanted to for a reunion.

the list really does go on and on.....

thinking about my upcoming 20 year high school reunion didn't exactly leave me giddy. i adore a lot of people and memories that were made during such a short four years of my life, but i thought (just like so many others) that i have facebook. seriously? a reunion? what is the point of paying to see people that i am already "friends" with and know what is going on with their lives, where they get their coffee, how well their child is doing with potty training, their favorite quotes and how much they love their spouse?! 

most of the people i had stayed close friends with over the years were not going to the reunion. i had re-connected with some very incredible women from high school that were going, but I wasn't exactly in my comfort zone. these women (although fabulous) were not my very closest friends and the real thorn in my side was.....my life isn't exactly where i thought it would be at this point. i certainly don't  have anything to brag about. in fact, the truth is that now (with the end of my marriage), the boys and i are currently "in transition", living with my parents in the very same home i grew up in. i feel so very blessed that i have such wonderful, supportive parents that are helping us through a difficult time, but there are moments that i feel embarrassed and ashamed about my marriage ending and needing to move in with my parents....like somehow i have failed. 

i decided to go against every instinct i had to "have other plans" the night of the reunion and just suck it up and go. i was worried. was there going to be someone that confronted me about something i may have done in high school to hurt them? what if i didn't recognize someone and they were offended? would "mean girls" be mean? in high school i was a very unhappy, insecure person on the inside. i doubted myself at every turn, i didn't think i was good enough for people and i was extremely critical of myself. as the days approached to the reunion, i felt that insecure, self-doubting girl resurface. i didn't like it.

the long and the short of it is this: i did it. i went to my 20th high school reunion and i am really so very happy that i did. even though i didn't get the time i wanted to to connect with everyone there (both people i knew in high school and ones i didn't have the pleasure of getting to know back then), the in-person connection you have the opportunity to experience at a reunion is nothing at all like the perception we think we have of people from facebook. sure, we all are older......some of us are fatter, some of us have less hair, grey hairs, are single, divorced, have kids or kidless. we all have taken different directions in the past 20 years. overall, i would like to think that we are all better versions of ourselves. sure, i didn't go and invent the post-it or do anything famous....but i walked away feeling like i am pretty confident in the person i have become, even if i am still coming to terms with my current situation. my favorite conversations of the night were with those that allowed themselves to be vulnerable and authentic. i truly believe that we all are better versions of our former 18 year old selves..... isn't it funny how going to a reunion makes one sometimes feel like they need to change who they currently are to feel more confident when the most refreshing and empowering thing is to embrace yourself as who you are now and simply be authentic? dare i say i am actually looking forward to the next reunion?! yes. yes, i am.

mmmmm: chicken enchilada casserole

i don't know about you, but for me when the kids are back in school i love looking for easy to make dinners that everyone will enjoy.....but won't take mama a lot of time to prepare and cook. this enchilada casserole fits the bill. save the stress for the getting back into the school homework routine and not on making dinner---enjoy! 

chicken enchilada casserole

1/2 of a white onion, chopped
2 tablespoons oil
1/2 teaspoon each: chili powder, cumin and garlic powder
4 ounces sour cream
1/2 cup bottled salsa
2 cups shredded cooked chicken
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 small can chopped olives
12-16 corn tortillas
1 can enchilada sauce

preheat the oven to 350 degrees. have one 9 x 13 baking pan ready (or two 8x8 squares). in a large saucepan, cook onion in oil for five minutes or until translucent. 

stir in chili powder, garlic powder and cumin and cook over low heat for a few minutes. add chicken and salsa. stir over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes until hot. remove from heat. stir in half of the cheese and the olives.

heat tortillas, wrapped in foil, in the oven for 10 minutes until warm and pliable (or zap in the microwave if you are in a hurry). 

spread 1/3 cup enchilada sauce on the bottom of the baking dish. add 4 tortillas to cover the bottom of the pan. spoon a layer of the chicken mixture over the layer of tortillas. add another layer of tortillas, then chicken mixture and continue until you have at least two layers. 

end with a layer of tortillas, then spread a layer or the enchilada sauce over the tortillas, followed by a generous amount of cheese and sprinkled with olives.

bake for 20-30 minutes until hot and bubbly.

cut and serve with sour cream on top. yum!

note: these can be made in advance and refrigerated for up to two days. if you are refrigerating your enchiladas, increase cook time to 35 minutes.

enjoy!

cheers to the first day of school

then there were two...

this week marks the first day of school for countless families. my own oldest three marched off on wednesday for their first days of fifth, second and first grades. as my husband returned from dropping them off, i'm pretty sure the dance party music could have been heard from several houses away. if i had been more prepared, mimosas might have been served all around. i think i am missing the nostalgic mommy gene. 

don't get me wrong. on the first day of kindergarten for each of my three kids, i welled up with tears. my heart ached that one chapter of our lives was over. now though, it is still over and onward we march. i still get sad. i can look through old photo albums and my whole being misses the way my babies used to be. i remember their sweetness and their cuddles and their sweet cherub faces that have morphed into something else. i miss those moments when my babies were small.

even my oldest three were little once...

my current reality, however, is that they are no longer babies and that summer is LONG. i love all my kids and i am happy to have five of them but summer is exhausting. my ears are constantly listening for five little bodies. i cook and clean up meals for seven three times a day all summer long (more if there are friends over to play or guests in the house). conflict is inevitable and, let's face it, after about the first six weeks, the kids are pretty tired of each other. i feel like a summertime mix between a referee, a long term party planner, and a very under appreciated maid. 

add to that fact that i feel like i really have two separate families. i have an older family with three kids. they love to ride bikes, have friends over, play video games, and fill days with activity. my other family is made up of a three year old and a one year old. they take naps, like mickey mouse, play with blocks and play-doh and still need help wiping their bottoms. when you mix the two pieces of my family together, some group is always sacrificing and i am stretched to somehow meet the needs of two groups of little people in very different places. 

all of that to say that i am one mommy who is happy to have my kids back in school. i miss when they were babies but i know that in reality, they are growing up we all can use a break from each other. for a few hours each day i am back to being a mommy of two. we cuddle and watch mickey mouse, we have stayed in pajamas much longer than normal and we have shared one-on-two time instead of one-on-five time. those moments of baby time are precious and, as the older kids go off school, i know how fleeting they are. 

so, for now, the dance party music is still playing. i have successfully made it through another summer. i have raised three great kids who are embarking on another year of elementary school. i am enjoying the return of a routine. the very best part of back to school? i have two little boys who are dancing it up with me...thrilled to be the two remaining kiddos reigning the roost. their sippy cups are full of leftover juice from my mimosas and our glasses are clinking together. cheers to all my babies, big and small.

cheers!

baby shower fruit salad

i'm not going to lie. this thing took a ridiculous amount of time. it is work but it turned out amazingly well.

if you are hosting a baby shower, you too can spend your afternoon making one of these lovely cantelope babies. you'll feel like you gave birth and you really won't want anyone to eat the fruit. make a fruit salad to go alongside this and you won't feel so bad.

how to make a cantelope baby:

1) start with the watermelon. before you cut, put your watermelon on a flat surface and see where it wants to settle naturally. make this the bottom of your baby carriage. cut the long side first about 2/3 of the way down the melon and then meet it from the top down. using a melon baller, round out watermelon balls and place in a large bowl. as you get to the watermelon rind, use a large spoon to completely clean out the watermelon flesh. discard any extra watermelon. note: as my watermelon was being cut, it tore where i had cut it. i used toothpicks to secure the corners where i had cut and later placed ribbons to hide any imperfections.

2) work with the cantelope. i used a paring knife and started making small cuts around the cantelope until i had removed all the rind and the green portion of the cantelope. i then further shaped the melon ball to make it look more like a round head. you'll also want to place the cantelope in the watermelon to make sure it fits properly and doesn't look too big. i had to trim my cantelope head down to size to fit better in the watermelon.

4) find two small grapes of equal size. using toothpicks, poke holes where the eyes should be and attach the grapes to the toothpicks, securing them into the cantelope "head." 

5) using a melon baller, create two balls of cantelope. secure with toothpicks where the should be ears. use a third cantelope ball and cut it down to a smaller size to create the nose. attach the nose with a toothpick as well.

6) using a small knife, cut a small hole in the cantelope to create the mouth. insert the pacifier.

7) using a melon baller, create more balls of fruit out of another cantelope and a honeydew. place in a large bowl. add some grapes removed from their stems and some berries. mix well. put a small amount of fruit in the bottom of the watermelon. place the "head" in on top of a small portion of fruit. fill in the remainder of the watermelon bowl with the mixed fruit. all extra fruit can be placed in a large bowl to create a more user friendly fruit salad.

8) cut small bunches of green and red grapes. place the watermelon on a large platter. place the green and red grapes around the watermelon completely circling the watermelon bowl. continue this process with strawberries and add blackberries and blueberries to completely fill in the space.

9) using a small paring knife, cut two kiwis into halves using a zig-zag pattern in a circle through the middle of the fruit. separate the fruit and use each half as one of the watermelon "wheels". 

10) create some ribbon bows to place in the corners of the watermelon. 

11) place any extra fruit in a large bowl to create an accompanying fruit salad. 

12) post pictures. you will be as proud as a new mama!

san diego: the circus is in town! ringling bros. and barnum & bailey® presents *built to amaze!*

i grew up in san diego and vividly remember when i was 6 or 7 and my parents took me and my sister to our first circus at the sports arena. i was dazzled by all of the lights, sounds and amazing acts. i have never forgotten the feeling of excitement and anticipation i had, sitting on the edge of my seat, watching the elephants, tigers and death deifying acts by trapeze artists and the like.

last night, that moment came full circle when i had the privilege to go to the circus once again with my sister, as we introduced our own sons to the wonder and excitement that is ringling bros. and barnum & bailey® circus at the very same arena that we experienced it over 30 years ago. 

mama and s-man

my sister and nephew

happy cousins!

the the all-new circus spectacular "built to amaze!" is currently at the valley view casino center (former san diego sports arena) from august 8-11.

with more than 110 of the world’s best artists & athletes representing 17 countries along with 95 exotic and domestic animals assembled together, there truly is something for everyone to enjoy. 

my first born's favorite was watching the youngest female Human Cannonball shoot across the entire arena to land safely on the other side. other highlights of our night included alex & irina and their talented poodles, the remarkable hand-balancing duos, the always hilarious Clown Alley…and of course, no ringling bros. circus experience would be complete without their four-legged star performers, including the majestic bengal tigers (17 of them!!) and a fun-filled asian elephant dance party.

be sure to arrive early to the circus for several exciting interactive elements before the show starts! opening 90 minutes prior to each performance, *all* ticket holders are invited to tour the animal open house to get up-close with their amazing animals (an awesome experience). then one hour before show time, families can step onto the actual arena floor to meet their circus performers and animals at the interactive all access pre-show, *free* admission to all ticket holders. 

photo courtesy of first born

there are rare moments when we have the opportunity to make memories that last a lifetime. my childhood experience at the circus with my family has stayed with me for over 30 years and i hope my son's first time at the circus last night will also be one of those moments. take the time this weekend and go make memories with your family at the circus too----it truly is a magical moment.

so happy watching the circus

when: 

this weekend! friday, august 9 (today) – sunday, august 11

showtimes:

friday, august 9 -- 11:00 am & 7:00 pm
saturday, august 10 11:00 am, 3:00 pm & 7:00 pm
sunday, august 11 1:30 pm & 5:30 pm

where: 

valley view casino center (formerly san diego sports arena)
3500 sports arena boulevard, san diego, ca 92110

*free parking* in all official arena parking lots; visit arena website for more info

tickets:

ticket prices are $20, $25, $40 (vip), $55 (front row) and $90 (circus celebrity)*

all seats are reserved; tickets available for purchase online through ticketmaster.com, charge by phone at 800-745-3000 or visit the valley view casino center box office.

*tickets may be subject to service charges, facility and handling fees.