July 3rd, 2009, 8:37 am by Suzanne Broughton, Contributing Writer
(Enter to win a photo workshop class from Anytime-Art by leaving a comment.)
The moment people become parents, their world is immediately filled with “I wish I had my camera!” moments. But sometimes, even if you do have your camera, you end up with images that don’t have the impact that a special moment deserves. To inspire your creativity when photographing your children, we , Mali from Mali Workman Photography and Noel from Bosh Images who combine creative forces for the Anytime-Art website, are going to give you these 3 tips to keep in mind:
1. Try new things: One of the best things about a digital camera is that there is no cost for the bad pictures you take. Experiment all you want! Use different angles like from below and from above instead of always being at eye level with your kids. You’ll be surprised at what you get. As you try new things, some will work and some won’t… so remember to delete all the bad ones once you get home. Your computer will thank you later.
2. Think about your composition: Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in: Guest Mom Bloggers • family photography • guest blogger • orange county bloggers • photography | 11 Comments »
July 3rd, 2009, 7:00 am by Marla Jo Fisher, Staff Writer
 I have toyed briefly with the idea of getting another dog, because Curly Girl has raised the issue 1,001 times, and also because I feel sad for Buddy the Wonder Dog when he has to stay home all alone!
My fellow Mom blogger, Jenny, raised this topic earlier.
But, really, just one little terrier has cornered the world supply of dog hair.
I guess it’s true that you do turn into your mother as you get older, because my mom was the original NO PET HAIR ON THE FURNITURE fanatic, and it’s started bugging me a lot too.
Growing up, we had cats, dogs, gerbils, turtles, guinea pigs and fish. But guess what? None of them ever got on the furniture.
One of my friends challenged this statement. “How could you keep pets off the couch?” my friend asked skeptically.
Well, she doesn’t know my mother. If my mom had been running the Soviet Union, we’d all be speaking Russian today.
I recently saw this woman on TV simpering to the camera, “I just don’t know how I get so many dust bunnies in my house.”
Well, hello, the woman had five pets! Is there any possibility the woman could be so stupid Who knows?
So, sadly, Buddy, I’m afraid you will have to continue to live as an Only Dog.
Though, if you want to have an invisible friend, it’s OK with me.
Posted in: Frumpy Middleaged Mom - Marla Jo Fisher • Buddy the Wonder Dog • pet hair | 2 Comments »
July 2nd, 2009, 5:36 pm by Roxanne Hack, Web Editor
 Here are a few things for you to do with the family in Orange County on the Fourth of July:
105th Annual Huntington Beach 4th of July Parade and Celebration - 3-day pier festival: Friday-Saturday, July 3-4, 10:00 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday, July 5, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. at Huntington Beach Pier; parade: Saturday, July 4, 10 a.m. to noon; fireworks display Saturday only, 9 p.m.
4th of July Street Faire & Fireworks Spectacular - Featuring food, rides, games and more. Saturday, July 4, noon to 9:30 p.m. at Olympiad Road between Marguerite Parkway and Melinda Road, Mission Viejo
4th of July Community Fireworks Show and Festival - Featuring food, games, music by Cloud 9 and a fireworks display. Saturday, July 4, 5 to 9:30 p.m. at Downtown Fullerton, Fullerton
Click here for a complete listing of
4th of July events in Orange County
Posted in: Alerts, news and more • holidays • summer | Post a Comment »
July 2nd, 2009, 3:30 pm by Staff Writer, the Orange County Register
Do you have a little Picasso yearning to leave his or her mark on the artistic world? How about a Dalí? Maybe even a Van Gogh or a tiny Rembrandt?
Nordstrom is giving young artists an opportunity to display their talents by painting a sea life-themed tile for their new Fashion Island store set to open in April next year. There are 200 tiles available for children to paint, and all will be permanently installed on the Kids Wear floor for all to see.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in: Alerts, news and more • Kids in OC • art • CHOC • family events • Nordstrom • summer | Post a Comment »
July 2nd, 2009, 1:14 pm by Roxanne Hack, Web Editor
 My little monster has been very lucky. He turns 10 months tomorrow and has yet to have a cold or any sort of serious sickness.
Until this week. He’s been a little fussy, which isn’t normal, and he has diarrhea. He’s vomited twice, and coughs when he swallows. So I decided to be cautious and take him to the doctor, just in case.
Now, I am a loving, caring, patient, smothering with kisses kind of mom, but I am not paranoid. I let my boy play with toys that have fallen on the floor, and when he bonks his head on the coffee table I don’t scoop him up and caress him — I let him keep playing. So my decision to take him to the doc wasn’t a knee-jerk reaction to a little sneeze.
But the doctor sure did a good job of treating me like it was.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in: Me and My Monster - Roxanne Hack • doctor's appointments | 4 Comments »
July 1st, 2009, 10:27 pm by Jenny Angelici, Contributing Writer
Today three of my mom-friends and I packed up our eight boys and one tiny girl and headed off to Adventure Playground in Huntington Beach. Mind you, this isn’t your typical playground. Think Huck Finn and you’re on the right track.
Building forts with real hammer and nails, gliding across a swampy pond on a raft, splashing down a mud slide, and zooming across a tire zip line were just a few incredibly fun things our kids experienced.
As moms, we were all a little nervous about letting our young boys (ages four to six) swing away with hammers. But, our guys made us proud without a smashed finger in the bunch. They even had saws, but we weren’t that brave.
If your kids like dirt, mud and adventure like mine, they’re going to love Adventure Playground located in Hungtington Central Park.
♦$3 per child.
♦All adults are free.
♦Open through August 13.
♦Suggested age is 5-12.
♦Everybody must wear closed-toe shoes.
♦For more information call 714-842-7442.
Posted in: Gray Hairs and Teddy Bears - Jenny Angelici • Adventure Playground • Huck Finn • Huntington Beach • summer | 2 Comments »
July 1st, 2009, 1:00 pm by Theresa Walker, Editor
 I’m not ready to die yet. Don’t worry, I’m not facing some grave illness or health issue the way our dear Marla Jo “Frumpy Middle-aged Mom” Fisher was. (She’s recuperating fine, by the way, from her surgery to remove a brain tumor.)
 I bring up the subject of dying because I got this business flier in the mail at home the other day from from some company called Burial Insurance Program out of Little Rock, Ark. — for the third or fourth time this year, already!
The first words that greet me when I open it up: “Important Senior Information.” OK, now I admit I have crossed over to the dark side of the moon as far as my sunshine days ahead. But I AM NOT A SENIOR CITIZEN YET! Not saying there is anything wrong with being a senior citizen, but why rush it? Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in: Blog On Board - Theresa Walker • burial expenses • cremation • Dodgers | 2 Comments »
July 1st, 2009, 8:39 am by Suzanne Broughton, Contributing Writer
 My kids and I headed to the Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific yesterday. It was crowded–real crowded. We had to waive through the tight, dark corridors lined with big tanks of every kind of sea life.
Summertime weighs heavy on these heavy hitter attractions, I knew that before I got there, so I was prepared for the inevitable crunch of kids, parents, and exhausted grandparents.
I was a little stressed being there with the kids by myself. It was a struggle to keep my eyes on them in the dim light and among all the people pressing their way to the glass. But, there were little moments of wonder that made it all well worth it!
These jellyfish, which I know now are Pacific Sea Nettles, were our favorite part. We stayed in this part of the aquarium for a long time, just watching them spin and dance around. So beautiful.
Ben, my five-year-old, who just minutes before declared he would only be a fish if he could be a shark, now included jelly fish as an option for fishness. “It’s good to have choices,” I agreed with him.
✻✻✻✻✻✻✻
A friend of mine told me about this online ticket purchase discount.
Also, 10% discount with AAA, which is probably true for most things we do, I just always forget to ask.
Parking is $7, but make sure to have cash ready because you pay before you park.
Posted in: MomCrush - Suzanne Broughton • summer | 8 Comments »
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