-
The Beauty of Pewter
This past week my mother, brother, husband and I flew to her home in Colorado and went through the entire house and basement to categorize things that she wanted to bring back to California with her and things she wanted to sell in an estate sale. We came across many wonderful heirlooms that her mother and grandmother had passed on to her. My mom knows I am a big fan of pewter (as was her mom) so she gave me this wonderful Pewter coffee and tea set that her mother used. I’m not sure what it is about pewter, but I have loved it since I can…
-
Culture :: History of Skateboarding in Southern California
Growing up in Southern California in the 70’s I was introduced to skateboarding early on. I have a vivid memory of skateboarding down the street near my house trailing behind my dog, Max (a large Standard Poodle) holding his leash while riding. I thought it a good idea to grab a tennis ball I found in the gutter and throw it and jump back on to have Max drag us along. Hmmm… not such a good idea as I went tumbling when my board hit a rock and I still have to this day a scar on my elbow. When my daughter asked for a board last year I did…
-
PBS Kids PEG + CAT debuts “Chickens on the Loose” DVD
Many of you know that we are big fans of the PBS Kids series PEG + CAT. Each PEG + CAT adventure finds Peg and her sidekick, Cat, overcoming challenges that requires them to use math and problem-solving skills. The series demonstrates through each show the importance of resilience and perseverance. I had a chance to met the creators of the series, PEG + CAT was created by Billy Aronson (“Rent,” “Postcards from Buster”) and Jennifer Oxley (“Little Bill,” “The Wonder Pets!”), at the PBS annual meeting last year. I was so impressed with how clever the show is and find Cat hysterical. His humor is quite dry but childlike.…
-
Culture :: Selfies – Are They Really Such A Big Deal?
If your kids are on social media, then you’ve probably heard them mention the word ‘selfie’ a time or two. The trend of taking pictures of themselves and then uploading them onto social profiles seems harmless enough, but when you look a little deeper, it’s a trend that could be fostering some negative behavior. The infographic below, by TeenSafe.com, provides more insight into selfies – what they are, where they came from, and why they’re so popular. While the photos can be a light-hearted way to connect with peers online, they can also create a sense of narcissism and self-obsession. Even more frightening is the fact that 25% of all…
-
PBS Kids Cookie Monster’s Challenge App Review & Giveaway
“Me want to go to school!” Can’t you just hear Cookie Monster saying that while eating a cookie? My daughter has grown up with Sesame Street as I did! PBS Kids provides the best educational programming and Sesame Street is one of our absolute favorites. Now kids can join Cookie Monster as they head back to school with a new app from PBS KIDS and SESAME STREET – Cookie Monster’s Challenge. This marks the first time the two children’s media organizations have collaborated on a mobile project. The app, a mix of whimsy and education to help kids ages 3-5 get back into the school mindset, launches…
-
Education :: Exploring The Wild West With The Kids
There’s something about the Wild West that strikes everyone’s interest. For some it’s the cowboys and Indians, for others it’s the gold rush, or the lore of treacherous travels through uncharted wilderness. This summer, we embarked on a mini-exploration of the Wild West and it was fun to see which parts intrigued my kids the most. I’m in the Los Angeles area so we kicked off our adventure with a visit to the Autry National Center. The museum is fantastic. While some of it is structured like a traditional museum – stay behind the ropes, don’t touch the artwork, and keep your voices low- there were several opportunities for…
