Tiny Iron Fists

Rabbit Hunting!

I happened to look outside the living room window to catch a little brown bunny eating lunch. It only took Lulu and her cousin Emil a couple of seconds to scramble to the window for a look. The rabbit didn't do much at all, but the kids spent a good chunk of time watching it nibble away. Hunting rabbits has never been so adorable.

Outfit: PUMA girl's dress.

Absolutely Phobulous!

Lulu ate her first bowl of pho (a Vietnamese noodle soup) by herself today! And she loved it. I can't tell you how excited and proud I was to see her gulp this big bowl of deliciousness down. Poor Lulu though. Every bowl after this one won't compare unless she's eating at my mom's table. One down, thousands to go!

Outfit: Fierce Hugs retro guitar tee.

Distant Cousins

I love this still life of our family at play. It's been amazing to watch Lulu interact with everyone on a daily basis, especially her cousins. She's learned so much from them in the short amount of time we've been hanging out and it makes me a little sad that our families live on opposite coasts. I only wish for more time together...

Outfit: Seed top and Lulu's cousin's shorts.

Gazing at Gators

Can't visit Florida without gazing at gators. Next time you're in Orlando with kids and hoping to do the same thing from a safe distance, swing by the Orlando Science Center and buy yourself some quiet time.

The Science Center is a wonderful place to visit for kids big and small (unlike most tourist attractions in central Florida which are catered towards tykes only). Families are encouraged to explore, climb, see, touch, and do things together, making it well worth the price of admission (children two and under are free).

Outfit: Japanese top (gift).

Wave Hello!

My little water bug loves her ocean! I had to work hard to convince the kid from trying to go in the water. And yes, she still eats sand.

Outfit: Stella McCartney for BabyGap top,  The Children's Place knit denim leggings, and adidas sneakers.

Happy Birthday Mi-Chan!

Earlier today, we celebrated dear Mi-chan's fourth birthday at Giggles N' Hugs in Century City. Lulu had a blast as there was tons to play with and do. The facility is clean (especially the restrooms) and the staff is friendly and helpful. We enjoyed a tasty lunch spread with a healthy food option and I had two servings of Mi-chan's delicious homemade strawberry shortcake. Time is passing quickly...

Happy birthday, Miyuki! You are such a darling and beautiful young lady.

Hanging Out at the Mall... Something I Thought I'd Never Say Again!

I can be proud of myself for raising a kid who wants to kiss and hug a Komodo dragon right? And Lulu, this is not an alligator even though the parent before us said it was.

If you're looking for a clean, fun and free play area in Century City (semi-westside), I highly suggest checking out the Westfield Century City play zone (next to Giggles N Hugs Children’s Restaurant). The area is sponsored by the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles and has life-sized statues, a music wall, a climbing sculpture, coin-operated rides (including a Space Shuttle-shaped one) and best of all, plenty of benches for parents.

Outfit: The Children's Place sweater, Kumquat guitar dress, and Native Corrado shoes.

So Fresh and So Clean

Another day at the farm. Lulu watered the plants, ate fresh blackberries and smelled the flowers. The day was so fresh and so clean!

Outfit: Polarn O. Pyret hat and Fierce Hugs t-shirt.

Live at the Garden!

Earlier today, I took Lulu to Ocean View Farms, the community garden where I've been popping in over the past year. I told her ahead of arrival that we'd water plants and that she'd most likely get to see lots of fourmi (ants) up close. She was very excited for our green-thumb adventure.

Needless to say, from the moment we entered the "farm", Lulu loved, loved, loved it! She had great fun watering the plants, tasting fresh produce, and getting close to insects and the earth. It was equally fun for me to explain to her how food grows and what was in the plot. Lulu helped me cut parsley and pull two onions and a head of lettuce. She thought the dirt was a little, "ewww" but still had fun playing in it.

I share this little slice of heaven with fellow master gardener, Sarah Spitz. Thanks to her encouragement, I've been able to pursue an interest and favorite hobby of my parents. Every time I leave OVF, I'm in a zen state of mind. Gardening is so wonderful for the soul. And I'm happy knowing Lulu's going to insist on helping me water the plants in the future.

Outfit: Polarn O. Pyret hat, LostArt t-shirt, The Children's Place leggings, and Native Corrado shoes.

A Room with a ViewMaster

The ViewMaster Classic Model L 3D Blue Viewer is exactly as I remember it from my childhood. Light. Durable. Easy to use. Springy (I love the noise it makes with each reel rotation).

Although Lulu's eyes don't quite fit the view finder, she enjoyed what she could see, even if she wasn't getting the full 3D effect. She had the most fun inserting and removing reels from the ViewMaster for a long time (as seen playing with a Charles & Ray Eames: Stereo Photographs reel above) and the classic toy was designed well enough that an almost-2-year-old could work it fairly easily.

With all the battery operated toys available today, I'm crazy nostalgic for my childhood favorites, and the ViewMaster definitely cuts it for me. Best of all, at an $8.00 price point, it's a great gift for everybody -- young and old.

Outfit: DPAM barrette, Fierce Hugs confused cloud tee and BabyGap toddler boys' shorts.