An Afternoon in Griffith Park

I sometimes wish we had a flat backyard where Leah could freely run around and play. However, we actually do have the most amazing backyard that just requires a short 5 minute drive. Before Leah, we usually just hiked in Griffith Park and occasionally went up to the Observatory. This past year we have been discovering all the different gems inside the park, and it really is one of the best LA destinations.

Cheers, It's Friday!

After having two crazy busy weekends, I'm hoping this one will be mellow! I'm dreaming of sleeping in, breakfast in bed, and lounging on the sofa watching tv. Wait... who am I kidding?? I have a 16 month old. We don't have any specific plans, but I'm sure it will be full of adventures! 

What are your plans? Have a great weekend!

Deciding to be a Stay At Home Mom

*Since it's Thursday, I thought I'd have a throwback of some old photos, as well as my story of how I decided to be a stay-at-home-mom (SAHM). Warning: this post is super long.

The Weekend in iPhone Pics

My little monkey

I'm obsessed with pigtails.

This weekend was another blur spending time with another cousin from Hong Kong. Saturday, after the boys played golf, the family got together for dinner at Romano's Macaroni Grill.  I'm not always a fan of these big chain restaurants, but I must admit, they are usually awesome at creating a family-friendly environment. I have a new appreciation for crayons and table cloth made of paper. 

Spring Street Smoke House: This photo does not do this place justice

Sunday, the family came up to our house for lunch and to watch the Laker game, which was a big disappointment. I made shrimp tacos from this post, and it was so easy to make for a larger party! I don't think I can ever get tired of looking at these pics of Leah and my niece. They really have so much love for each other! Leah also tried to give lots of hugs to my baby nephew, but I was too busy making sure she wouldn't smash him that I wasn't able to get a photo. After the game, we headed to Spring Street Smoke House to give my cousin a taste of some BBQ. 

Monday, I dropped my cousin off at the airport, and Matt and I headed to Redondo Beach for the soft opening of Rita's Ice! I guess Rita's is a Philly favorite, and since Matt lived there for a few years, he was excited to hear about this opening. The combo of the ice and the custard is delicious! The tanginess  of the fruity ice is such a complement with the creaminess of the custard. 

And on a totally different note: Have you watched Fashion Star on NBC? I'm totally addicted and already bought two items.... oops. 

Mom Meals: Pot Roast

Pot roast is one of Matt's favorite dishes. While it can take up to 4 hours to make, with a little help from Trader Joe's, you can significantly decrease the time. When I don't plan ahead, I just throw all the ingredients in a pot over the stove and let it simmer for 30 minutes. Since I did plan for this post, I used a slow cooker to let the juices get extra flavorful!

Pot Roast

Serves 4

1 package Trader Joe's precooked Pot Roast

1 package Trader Joe's Teeny Tiny Potatoes {perfect size for little hands}

4 Carrots, peeled and cut in 2 inch pieces

1 pound Green Beans

2-3 cups Beef Stock

1/2 cup Red Wine {optional, but it gives the sauce a richer flavor}

1. Place potatoes (including the rosemary in the package), green beans, and carrots in a slow cooker

2. Place pot roast on top

3. Add in beef stock and red wine

4. Turn slow cooker on low, cover, and heat for 2 hours. Break the meat up 30 minutes before serving. Add salt and pepper to taste

5. Serve over rice or mashed potatoes

Enjoy!

The 2nd Happiest Place on Earth

I believe Disneyland truly is the happiest place on earth for young and old. You instantly stand up tall and get a big smile on your face the minute you pass through the entrance gates! California Adventures (CA) is a close 2nd! 

Cousins from Hong Kong were in town and wanted to check out CA yesterday. This was Leah's first exposure to the magic of Disneyland. Even when we exited the freeway on Disneyland Dr. she yelled out "WOW!"

The cousins had such a good time hanging out with each other. They patiently sat through parades and waited in lines, and they often held hands as they walked through the park. How adorable is that?! 

Leah really wasn't sure what was going on when we boarded the first ride. When the ride finished, however, she kept saying "More! More!" After that she was itching to get on any ride she could. Since she wasn't tall enough to go on all the rides the bigger cousins went on, she stayed back with my mom a few times while the rest of us stood in line. Every time I saw them after a ride, my mom bought her something new (juice, frozen lemonade, etc.). Lucky granddaughter! 

So we had such a good time, I gave in and bought annual passes! I can't wait to go again! Seeing the excitement on Leah's face brought an entirely new sense of happiness about Disneyland. She only took a 30 minute nap the entire time we were there, because she didn't want to miss anything. When I finally put her in the car, she fell asleep in probably 0.5 seconds! Until we meet again, Mickey!

P.S. We all know Disneyland is super kid friendly, but here are some services they provide to make the experience as convenient as possible.

• Stroller rentals: We brought our own stroller, but I saw a ton of people using them. They looked super clean and sturdy!
• Locker rentals: Bringing young children often means lugging around a ton of stuff! You can rent different sized lockers and have unlimited access to them throughout the day. 
• Baby center: The center provides areas to nurse, pump, and change diapers! Every restroom also has a diaper changing area. 

Happy Easter!

What a weekend! 

We started it off with a visit to the Easter bunny at Americana in Glendale. As you can see, Leah didn't really enjoy the bunny too much. haha She did, however, LOVE walking into the Tiffany & Co store over and over again. Future boyfriends... take note!

Saturday, we headed down to Orange County for lunch with the family and an egg hunt. This was Leah's first time egg hunting, and she had a blast! She picked up the concept quickly, and it was so fun watching her! The big kids were sweet and left the low eggs for her to find. 

We came back home and had a date night at Red O and The Groundlings. The Groundlings is an improv & comedy theater with some amazing alumni like Will Ferrell, Kristin Wig, Maya Rudolph, and Lisa Kudrow. This was our first time there, but definitely not our last!

Sunday, we celebrated the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Afterwards, Leah decided she wanted to do some dusting.  :)

Hope everyone had a great weekend!