Wednesday, July 25, 2012

When your daughter tries to BRIBE you...

I'm not quite sure how to feel about this.

As all moms and dads know, parenthood is a topsy-turvy world. Much like the fun-houses you enter at a Carnival, you are constantly being surprised by unexpected twists and turns, albeit in a colorful and "fun" environment. A place you entered at your own will, knowing sometimes the "fun house" will make your heart jump and your adrenaline speed up.

Sometimes you think you're doing a good job as a parent, but then you look in the mirror and you see a distorted version of yourself- in other words- you're not sure how "good" or "bad" of a job you're doing.

This week, I had an incident happen to me.

Sometimes I reward my daughter's achievements with "prizes" in the form of gifts, money, or promises to take her to the movies with popcorn and soda to boot. Well, if you choose to call it a bribe, so be it.

But on Friday, my daughter turned the tables around and I was just not quite sure how to react.

Basically, she got a bad mark on her behavior sheet which means she talked out of turn in class. Every day, parents are to sign this sheet so you can monitor your kids daily behavior and read the teachers comments to see what kind of misbehavin' they've done so you can apply the appropriate lesson at home.

Before my daughter handed over her behavior sheet so I could sign it, she told me, "before you see it, mom could I give you $5.00 so you won't be upset?" With that pre-emptive strike I knew I was probably going to see something I didn't like, but how should I feel about my 8 year old child bribing me?

I had mixed feelings. First, I appreciated her creative spirit. She anticipated a conflict and before facing it, thought it out and figured out a plan about how to mitigate it before it got ugly. Second she demonstrated an entrepreneurial side, hey if money gives you rewards, then money can also help you "buy" your way out of a problem.

But how should I feel, as the parent. My mixed reactions also included, "Oh, no! Have I been teaching her that money can 'allow' you to be 'bad' in class as you can 'buy' your way out of trouble?"

I took the money, and gave her a disapproving smirk. I know at this young age, she values money as I always make her save it and buy most of her own stuff like toys and other miscellaneous knick knacks.

I know giving up an entire $5.00 was slightly painful for her, and punishment in and of itself. Much like many parents have "swearing jars" at home, where you need to put a quarter in the jar every time you swear, I figured, for her giving up a weeks worth of A's and good behavior on her sheet was something that probably pained her.

But she was not completely out of the woods yet. The next morning as I drove her to school, I started  lecturing her on how she needed to behave in class, not talk out of turn, yadda yadda yadda.

As she exited the car, she said, "mom, you are lecturing me, so now you owe me my $5.00 back.!"

PARENTHOOD... quite the fun house it is... But I'm keeping the money.











Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Got Crabs?? Put on a bib and go get ya'some !

When my in-laws were visiting this weekend from Colorado, Tiny (my husband's nickname for his mom) wanted to take advantage of the beautiful California Coastline (and who can blame her) and have lunch somewhere near the water. Jeff my husband suggested The Crab Pot in Long Beach. !


We all ordered "The Alaskan" which is a big pot of King Crab, Dungeness Crab, Snow Crab, Shrimp, Steamed Clams, Pacific Mussels, Andouille Sausage, Corn on the Cob and Red Potatoes! 


The best part about it: NO SILVERWARE NEEDED! The waiters literally drop the pot of seafood yummi-ness right on the table and you use your bare hands to get right into it! 


You also get to wear a cute bib, so in ways I felt like a toddler all over again- eating with my fingers and wearing a bib! I'm 8 months pregnant so I'm about to go through the "messy eating-wearing bib" stage with a real live baby in just a few weeks, so it was nice to feel like a kid again myself before I need to be a real adult and take care of a little one.

Eating here was a good way to have some great seafood, re-connect with the "baby" in all of us, and have an amazing time with my in-laws, husband and daughter near the beautiful Ocean. 






If you don't live near Long Beach California, there are Crab Pots in Seattle, Bellevue, Rancho Mirage and La Quinta!
HERE IS THEIR WEBSITE : The Crab Pot.



Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Yes... I'm a guilty wife, can you blame me for this guilty pleasure?


"There are people in here who want me dead, some for retribution but most to establish their own notoriety.  It would be a sure path to celebrity to kill me or one of my friends, known collectively as the Monte Carlo Mistresses. That was the moniker that stuck in the international media."
- EXCERPT from the book "Guilty Wives" by  James Patterson & David Ellis

MY "GUILTY WIVES"BOOK REVIEW.

I've never been into James Patterson novels. Mainly because I would much rather read biographies and memoirs because most of them are about successful people and how they handled adversity. I love reading about real people, real situations, real outcomes.

But... once in a while I indulge in the 'guilty' pleasure of reading fiction. I was first attracted to this book because of it's title. The words guilty wives conjures so many different emotions. Ohhhh the shame of being a guilty wife. But guilty of what? Perhaps guilty of not being the "perfect" wife? Not being as crafty as Martha Stewart? As good of a cook as Paula Dean? As good looking as Gisele Bundchen? As smart as Condoleezza Rice? As politically savvy as Hilary Clinton? As alluring as Jacqueline Kennedy Onasis? As sweet looking as Katie Holmes? The list goes on.... Wow I'm GUILTY on all counts!

Well, hold on..  this book is about another type of guilt. Murder. Adultery. I would describe it as "Sex and the City" meets "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" meets "Beverly Hills Housewives."

"Guilty Wives" centers on four extremely wealthy women who are all married, and decide to take a girls weekend trip to Monte Carlo. Its like the rich people's version of Las Vegas. The book takes you directly into their world, and gives you a taste of what its like when you can do what you want when you want when money is not an issue. The girls party like rock stars in an exotic Hotel and end up spending an "interesting" night on a rich man's yacht. When they wake up, the President of France (who was partying with them) is found shot dead and the murder is linked to the four women.

Its a whodunit novel with a feminine twist. Once I started reading it, it was hard to put down. The books extravagant setting in Monte Carlo and Paris made the mystery even sweeter.

Yes... im Guilty... of loving this book.

TO GET "GUILTY WIVES" CLICK HERE