tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-98419712013-05-23T21:21:27.637-07:00sweatpantsmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02501471972355692992noreply@blogger.comBlogger482125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9841971.post-38596520920399948872013-05-23T03:26:00.000-07:002013-05-23T03:26:11.945-07:002013-05-23T03:26:11.945-07:00

This is my latest post over at Mom.me, where I talk about what you can do to avoid embarrassing your teens. Unless what you really want to do is embarrass your teens, in which case just do completely the opposite of what my article says. Actually the whole thing is just an excuse to watch this video of a cat in a shark costume chasing a duck while riding a Roomba. You're welcome. There is a

sweatpantsmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02501471972355692992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9841971.post-33741912813115120432013-04-04T03:57:00.000-07:002013-04-04T03:57:41.930-07:002013-04-04T03:57:41.930-07:00

Hey! I know it's hard to believe, but I'm still writing. Here are my recent posts over at Mom.Me, where I write all about the teenagers – even though they don't like me writing about them anymore. Hopefully they won't see these – teens don't really know how to work the internet yet, do they? Unplugging the Kids See this picture? It's my teen daughters engaging in an ancient pastime that

sweatpantsmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02501471972355692992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9841971.post-91543034467182872502013-03-09T22:44:00.000-08:002013-03-09T22:57:19.175-08:002013-03-09T22:57:19.175-08:00

Last week we were lucky enough to be invited to opening night of Cavalia Odysseo, taking place in that huge big-top white tent you've seen in Burbank. You've probably heard it referred to as "that horse show" but it's really much more – an uplifting, energetic, beautiful blend of theatrics, live music, acrobatics, dance – and yes, horses. Lots of horses. Sixty-seven of them to be exact. Which

sweatpantsmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02501471972355692992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9841971.post-3512900462058546562013-02-13T15:38:00.000-08:002013-02-13T16:57:46.194-08:002013-02-13T16:57:46.194-08:00

A couple of weeks ago I told you about the important role art has played in my life, and those around me. Then I made an off-color joke and I confessed to eating an eraser, two things that are the basis of around 99% of my blog posts. But wait, there's more. I also mentioned Art Room Aid from Blick Art Materials, a program that helps teachers by enlisting the help of parents, families,

sweatpantsmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02501471972355692992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9841971.post-46894586086790903992013-01-15T14:52:00.000-08:002013-01-15T14:52:19.756-08:002013-01-15T14:52:19.756-08:00

How important is art to my family? Let me count the ways. It's how I made a living for most of my life. It's how Rigel and I met. It's how we've supported our family, and it's how my uncle, aunt and cousin have made their livings, too. Not to mention the fact that I'm 99% sure it's how my girls will support themselves in the future as well. (Insert smartass Asian stereotype joke here about

sweatpantsmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02501471972355692992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9841971.post-82003256914563144562013-01-12T15:49:00.000-08:002013-01-12T15:49:07.568-08:002013-01-12T15:49:07.568-08:00

I'm not a fan of going to the grocery store; the crowded parking lot, the long lines, the unflattering lighting. And it's even worse during the holidays, although I have to admit I did get an adrenaline rush out of wrestling that woman over that last Christmas ham. (Sorry, mom – hope your shoulder heals.) So I was thrilled when I was asked to check out SPUD.com, a company that delivers

sweatpantsmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02501471972355692992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9841971.post-58923862366868075982012-12-08T13:02:00.000-08:002012-12-08T13:02:47.842-08:002012-12-08T13:02:47.842-08:00

Next we got to witness the unveiling of the brand new 2013 RAV4. I don't want to get too dramatic, but I have to say it was pretty exciting to be the first ones to lay eyes on this beauty as it rolled onto the stage, not unlike seeing your child being born. Okay, that's going too far – maybe just like seeing your friend's child being born. Read more... A car is born. . . . . . . . . . .

sweatpantsmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02501471972355692992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9841971.post-19937741717373871352012-11-30T11:28:00.000-08:002012-11-30T11:28:45.897-08:002012-11-30T11:28:45.897-08:00

True story: When I was in my 20's, a friend and I were put in charge of dinner plans for a group of us celebrating a friend's birthday. We did what all normal twentysomethings would do: We concocted an elaborate hoax and a web of lies intended to fool those close to us. Instead of cooking, we bought a ton of really good Chinese food and told everyone we'd made it ourselves. (Because who has

sweatpantsmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02501471972355692992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9841971.post-28172598907580098382012-11-16T18:58:00.000-08:002012-11-16T20:08:09.098-08:002012-11-16T20:08:09.098-08:00

It's not surprising that since my kids have morphed into teens, it's getting more and more difficult to find movies that we can all see together as a family. While I'm trying to talk them into seeing the latest PG offering they're begging me to buy them tickets to (and then sit five rows behind them) for Magic Mike. By the way, their attempts to fool me into thinking that Channing Tatum plays

sweatpantsmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02501471972355692992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9841971.post-64643806779808765732012-10-30T11:17:00.000-07:002012-10-31T13:44:20.288-07:002012-10-31T13:44:20.288-07:00

Ah, October. The anticipation of fall is in the air, and the excitement of the upcoming holidays start to buzz around. Then there's Costco, busy as bees setting up their Valentine's Day display. It's also homecoming time at the high school, and my girls were getting ready. They were both performing at the game and going to the dance the next day. To quote Katy Perry, they were livin' a teenage

sweatpantsmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02501471972355692992noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9841971.post-40739470272096133372012-10-26T14:33:00.001-07:002012-10-26T14:41:31.910-07:002012-10-26T14:41:31.910-07:00

It had been one of those days, an endless blur of errands and activities. Now I'd lost my keys and was frantic because we were headed out again. I finally found my keys in the sofa, whisked both girls outside and into the car. I took one last look in the back seat to make sure I hadn't forgotten one of the kids, because according to those Lifetime movies that sort of thing happens more than

sweatpantsmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02501471972355692992noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9841971.post-56871702987059762342012-10-18T11:32:00.000-07:002012-10-18T11:33:50.244-07:002012-10-18T11:33:50.244-07:00

A couple of weeks ago Rigel and I were invited to a party and we took the girls with us. Not only that, but it was at a restaurant called Pink Taco, located on the Sunset Strip. You might be asking yourself, "What kind of crazy people take their teenagers to a party in the middle of Hollywood at a Mexican joint with a name that is slang for lady parts?" We asked ourselves this, too, but

sweatpantsmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02501471972355692992noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9841971.post-48481857183503364012012-10-16T18:46:00.000-07:002012-10-16T18:46:42.174-07:002012-10-16T18:46:42.174-07:00

One thing I've learned: teens and medical shows don't mix. I've tried before to get my 14 and 16-year-old daughters to check out past episodes of my favorite, ER, but to no avail – they prefer the world of glee clubs, mean girls, quirky twentysomethings and zombie apocalypses. I was even clueless enough to try and entice them with the George Clooney connection, to which my youngest crushed me

sweatpantsmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02501471972355692992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9841971.post-83763751456831543172012-10-12T19:24:00.000-07:002012-10-12T19:26:44.809-07:002012-10-12T19:26:44.809-07:00

We have this thing at home called a landline. It's stupid. Not only is it connected to the biggest phone you've ever seen in your life, but you can't even check your email, or update your Facebook status on this thing. What kind of genius invented this phone that is only good for making calls? It doesn't even have a camera. Stupid phone. I hardly even answer this phone anymore, because the

sweatpantsmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02501471972355692992noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9841971.post-1883383733111555422012-10-10T12:55:00.000-07:002012-10-10T12:55:17.026-07:002012-10-10T12:55:17.026-07:00

I wrote this post for MomsLA. Rigel and I are scaling down our L.A. Times subscription, and I'm finding that my morning coffee doesn't taste nearly as good without the smell of newsprint. I’ve been reading the Los Angeles Times for as long as I can remember. Growing up, I recall my parents bringing the paper in from the front porch and reading it every morning. I would wander in and go

sweatpantsmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02501471972355692992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9841971.post-4584771462978220142012-05-24T03:29:00.000-07:002012-06-18T14:07:34.798-07:002012-06-18T14:07:34.798-07:00

Sometimes I like to shock my family by saying things like, "Wake me up early" or "No more coffee for me" or "Let's go see 'The Avengers!'" That last one really threw them for a loop, since it's obvious the movie wasn't my usual fare, which is a love story centering around a couple exploring their feelings, or best friends fighting over a man, or parents trying to find balance in their life

sweatpantsmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02501471972355692992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9841971.post-74149176692727671282012-05-10T13:12:00.001-07:002012-05-10T13:12:55.940-07:002012-05-10T13:12:55.940-07:00

I wrote the post below three years ago, right before Kira was about to turn thirteen. I just came across it again, and felt like I had to re-post it. At the time I was filled with dread, visions of a teenage apocalypse running through my brain. I thought I was about to fall into the abyss, plunging into a world of teen pregnancy, tongue piercings and secret boyfriends. I imagined my beautiful

sweatpantsmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02501471972355692992noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9841971.post-34613525978212327992012-03-12T09:23:00.000-07:002012-06-18T14:01:58.662-07:002012-06-18T14:01:58.662-07:00

Read my review of The Hunger Games on Celebrity Teen Scoop. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  Maybe you've heard of this little movie coming out called The Hunger Games. Just a small film, based on a book that sold a gazzilion copies and now has people everywhere eagerly anticipating the movie's release on March 23. There will be a tiny crowd waiting outside, only in the trillions. To be

sweatpantsmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02501471972355692992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9841971.post-67976884657852020452012-02-07T19:07:00.000-08:002012-02-07T19:07:26.109-08:002012-02-07T19:07:26.109-08:00

A couple of weeks ago I was lucky enough to get invited to see Cirque du Soleil's latest production, OVO. I'm a big fan of Cirque du Soleil, but I have to admit to having a little bit of skepticism with each new show, wondering if they'll be able to top their previous production. Will the acrobats fly a little further, the jugglers juggle a little higher? I keep thinking the only way they'll

sweatpantsmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02501471972355692992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9841971.post-77598839340870821512012-02-03T01:52:00.000-08:002012-02-03T04:32:22.108-08:002012-02-03T04:32:22.108-08:00

I've been humming Hollywood Swingin' – the old Kool And The Gang song – all night. I thought I'd share it just so there's someone else who has it embedded in their brain, compelling you to run out and buy a jumpsuit and a glitter headband. I'm assuming you know the song, or at least who Kool And The Gang is, but if not here's a video to school you. (Don't worry - I won't break into the story

sweatpantsmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02501471972355692992noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9841971.post-67853844820677753982011-12-22T17:35:00.000-08:002011-12-22T17:39:56.625-08:002011-12-22T17:39:56.625-08:00

Happy Holidays! Nothing like an impersonal blog posting with an embedded photo to warm your spirits and convey the true meaning of the season! Wishing you a wonderful holiday, and may it be filled with joy, health and the company of those you love. And may you never be standing behind me in line at Starbucks because yes, it will seem like I'm ordering that many cups of coffee. . . . . . . .

sweatpantsmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02501471972355692992noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9841971.post-28298195151290371662011-12-13T14:38:00.000-08:002011-12-13T14:39:09.578-08:002011-12-13T14:39:09.578-08:00

Here's a short movie that Kiyomi made. The first time Rigel and I saw it, it made me want to cry (and Rigel, too.) Mostly out of pride, and partly because of the emotion she manages to evoke with the music and images. Also, I wasn't expecting something so polished since she set it up with "So, you wanna see my movie I made that kind of blows?" How can you not get emotional after that?

sweatpantsmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02501471972355692992noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9841971.post-54298253775044157472011-12-07T14:35:00.000-08:002011-12-08T13:20:45.507-08:002011-12-08T13:20:45.507-08:00

Kiyomi and her friend Maya made this cute little stop-motion film about making pancakes. Why pancakes? Because pancakes are awesome and tasty. They used a still camera, painstakingly moving their props around in small increments and then shooting it frame by frame. It took them forever, much longer than it would take you to make a batch of pancakes in regular time. I think they even ate those

sweatpantsmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02501471972355692992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9841971.post-91030793828868609822011-11-16T17:02:00.000-08:002011-11-16T17:39:51.978-08:002011-11-16T17:39:51.978-08:00

I can't stop watching this. And I don't care what my girls say –  this is funny as hell. I tried to explain it, but they don't seem to understand – this is DOMO. DANCING. They just gave me the same look as the woman in the photo, rolled their eyes and then went back to their homework. Kids these days. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  

sweatpantsmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02501471972355692992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9841971.post-28148568965493080272011-11-09T13:20:00.000-08:002011-11-09T13:20:54.240-08:002011-11-09T13:20:54.240-08:00

When Kiyomi was in elementary school she had a love-hate relationship with a girl I'll call E. They'd known each other since first grade, and went from intensely hating each other to being best buddies who couldn't wait to get together on the weekends for a playdate. While E could be sweet, she could also get aggressive and I know at least a couple of moms who had discouraged their daughters from

sweatpantsmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02501471972355692992noreply@blogger.com5