Traded my BMW for a Minivan

Walking with PowerStep - Review

2025-11-15T15:02:00.000-08:00

Exercise trends come and go, but walking never goes out of style. In fact, it seems like walking gets more and more credit as being one of the best sources of exercise. All you need is your feet and a place to walk. Now, I'm sure there are people who go for walks barefoot, but that would not be me! I need shoes for sure and even more, I need good arch support solutions for my low arches and pronating feet. Although I have custom orthotics I got from my podiatrist, they are pricey. I'm always on the lookout for other arch support options and the most recent stop on my quest brought me to the PowerStep website and their Slenderfit 3/4 Insoles. I wanted to try insoles that would allow me to fit them into non-athletic shoes. My reality is, sometimes I need to spend time on my feet and I can't be in casual footwear. The tricky thing is that most sneakers allow you to remove the insoles. That is not always true for "nicer" shoes. These Slenderfit 3/4 inserts are thinner (about 1/4 in at the thickest point) and don't take up the whole insole space. They go just past the arch area of the shoe.

I tried the arch support inserts in three different shoes. My first were these Ann Klein flats. The insoles fit in easily and I was able to wear the shoes comfortably. I think the fact that the shoes are bit stretchy helped accommodate the inserts. I next tried them in these Ecco Short Boots. These boots have a removable insole that I needed to remove. And I will say it was really important that I could remove the insoles as I would not have had enough room for my foot otherwise. That said, my sports insoles absolutely would not allow my foot to fit, so this proves the benefits of thinner "dress shoe" arch support inserts. I wore both the flats and the boots for several hours over two days and was very comfortable and felt the extra support.

Another thing I'd like to mention is that we can also be proactive in battling our flat feet. There are excercises that are useful for strengthening muscles. I like the examples shown in this Healthline article. I am fortunate to live near the beach and am able to walk barefoot on the sand. I know many people don't have regular beach or sand access, but, if you are able to, consider the information and research shared in this article from PromHealth. It's always empowering when you can be proactive about your health.

I definitely recommend these PowerStep Slenderfit 3/4 Insoles. I'm also impressed that their website offers a variety of products, including footwear. I wear flip flops and slides quite a bit and I'm interested in trying theirs next. I also want to try their clog slippers. Ordering without trying isn't something to worry about as PowerStep has a 90-day guarantee. Check them out!

I am not compensated for links in this post.

Tennis Favorites: Tennis Bracelets, Sun Sleeves & Cooling Towels

2025-10-15T23:14:00.000-07:00

I’ve been playing tennis since I was very young. It’s my main sport and one of my main sources of exercise. I play a few times a week and really love it. So, I thought it would be fun to write a post about some of my favorite tennis things.

Tennis Bracelets: You know when you hear about something and you wonder to yourself: “Why is it called that?” The tennis bracelet is definitely one of those things. It’s typically a thin, simple, yet elegant diamond bracelet. Looking at it doesn’t make you think of tennis. So where did the name come from? There is actually a pivotal moment in sports history that launched the name. American tennis player, Chris Evert, whom I’ve had the opportunity to meet and is one of my favorite players of all time, was wearing her diamond bracelet while playing at the 1978 US Open. During a match, her bracelet broke and fell and she asked to stop the match to pick it up. After the match, she was asked about it during an interview and she called it her “tennis bracelet.” And with that, the diamond bracelet started to be called a tennis bracelet. I’m not really a jewelry person, but I love tennis bracelets. They are so classic and go with everything. You can wear it playing tennis and wear it for a dressy occasion. Just the perfect accessory and a great gift for someone who plays tennis!

Sun Sleeves: The reality is that in Southern California, I spend a lot of time in the sun while playing tennis. I grew up in New England playing a decent amount of indoor tennis. Indoor tennis really doesn’t exist in Southern California. So, if I’m playing, I’m outside often during the strongest sun exposure times. Wearing sunblock can be so annoying. You need to reapply it and considering it gets on your hands, doing it on the court when you are about to hold a racquet, isn’t the most ideal situation. About ten years ago, I was in a sporting goods store when I noticed Nike UV Protection Sun Sleeves. I decided to try them out and was immediately hooked. They are lightweight and the white color reflects the sunlight, helping to keep me cooler. They fit perfectly with good stretch and stay in place. I wear them from my wrist on up to just under the beginning of my short sleeve. So, my arms are totally covered. I've tried other sleeves and the Nike ones remain my favorite. I can’t recommend these sleeves enough!

Cooling Towel: Playing tennis in the hot sun can really take a toll on me. I’ve found that using a cooling towel, makes a big difference in how I feel. I discovered the Arctic Cool instant cooling towel a couple of years ago and really recommend it. I just soak it and take it to the court with me in a plastic container or bag. Then when I need it, I pull it out, snap it in the air and put it around the back of my neck. I feel so much cooler and refreshed. I never head to the courts without it! This is also a really practical gift for really anyone who participates in outdoor activities.

There you have it. Three of my favorite tennis things!

I am not compensated for links in this post

Currex Acepro Insoles - Review

2025-08-10T23:10:00.000-07:00

My name is Elizabeth and I have flat feet. When I get out of the pool and walk along the pool deck, my kids tease me that my wet footprints look like they belong to a duck. My feet have been through a lot over the years. I’ve participated in sports my whole life, on all kids of surfaces: ice, snow, grass, dirt, clay, wood, cement. In school, I earned varsity letters in field hockey, cross country and tennis. As I got into my twenties, I started to really notice foot pain, especially in my arches. Or should I say in my non-existent arches? I went to a podiatrist who fit me for custom orthotics. I also found out that as well as having flat feet, my feet over pronate (see image). [For an overview of pronation vs supination, click here]Custom orthotics help a lot, but they are expensive and don’t fit well in every type of sports shoe. I’ve constantly kept my eye on innovations in the “sports insoles” category and was really intrigued when I was offered the opportunity to try out CURREX ACEPRO Insoles. The CURREX site is really informative and includes tools to help you figure out which of their sports insoles is best for you. Nowadays, I play a lot of tennis and I want sports insoles that are designed to help me on the court. CURREX ACEPRO Insoles were developed to handle extreme loads of force and abrupt changes in movement during sports like tennis, pickleball, and basketball. I put my order in and waited for them to arrive. Shipping is free on orders over $49.95 and my sports insoles arrived in four days.

They are sized in a range of shoe sizes so it will be likely you need to trim them down. I had to trim mine and it was really easy. Once I had them fitting perfectly in my tennis shoes, I went for a walk. The first thing I noticed was the heel cup gave me extra stability that I don’t have with my orthotics. I also appreciated that the ACEPRO Insoles aren’t as thick as my orthotics so they didn’t crowd my foot as much and allowed me to tie my shoe tighter. I felt the arch support but it wasn’t as aggressive feeling as my orthotics. Next I went to play tennis with my son. We played a set and I was very comfortable. I think one of the biggest things I felt was extra stability which I attribute to the heel cup and the overall structure of the sports insoles. Next I tried them in some of my other “sports footwear” and was especially happy that they fit in my spin shoes. My orthotics are too thick to work in my spin shoes. I have included photos of the ACEPRO Insoles and my custom orthotics (as you can see, they've gotten a lot of use) below so you can see a side by side comparison. Overall, I appreciate the versatility of this size/design of sports insoles. The biggest thing I appreciate is the price. At $59.95 for the ACEPRO Insoles as opposed to over $500 for orthotics at a podiatrist, there is no contest. I look forward to getting lots of use out of my new sports insoles!

Because I get asked: My favorite brand of tennis shoes are K-Swiss. They make great shoes for all types of court sports. (I don't earn anything from referring to products linked in this post)

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This is a compensated post

What is a Shift Dress? One of Summer's Top Dress Trends

2023-07-24T12:30:00.130-07:00

The notorious shift dress and where it came from

Image courtesy of Pacific Landing

From the beginning of time, women’s fashion has shifted from practicality to style. Today, women’s fashion choices are unlimited. Want to wear sweats? That’s fine. Suits are in and it is more than acceptable to sport some biker shorts and an oversized t-shirt for almost any non-professional summer occasion. But where do our choices stem from?

Glad you asked, because in this article we’re going to discuss:
The evolution of women’s dresses
How to wear a shift dress
Where to buy a shift dress

The Evolution of Women’s Dresses

How did we get to the popular shift dresses?

Alt text: A picture of the painting “Birth of Venus”

Caption: The history of women’s fashion generated from the birth of florals and silk.

B.C.

The femme fatale archetype, Egyptian queen Cleopatra was not only influential to the development of Roman politics, but greatly coerced the development of women’s clothing. Linen and sheer clothing covered in gold and stones were what her main outfits consisted of. Soft, flowy designs were taken advantage of in ancient Greece where clothing was designed for the blistering heat and smoldering temperatures. Silk and linen sheet-like dresses served as a feathery, light fashion statement.

15th-19th centuries Europe

Clothing started to show off wealth in the thirteenth century. Heavy fabric was layered in medieval times, velvet as the main material utilized. Square necklines and high-waisted silhouettes emphasized the chest and the waste and showcased any jewelry worn. Women’s fashion altered in later times, highlighting the airy designs like in Greece. High necklines and ruffles complimented the light layers. Full skirts and ruffled sleeves with large floral embroidery became popularized for a more conservative look. Corsets and ruffles showcased a woman’s waist.

Twentieth century

In the early twentieth century, Hemlines rose as fabric became heavier. Then, the 1920s flowy and fun flapper dress made sleeveless gowns flourish. After the Great Depression, women’s dresses loosened in fabric and structure, became less formal, often paired with a belt and buttons up the front. Accessories became the forefront of plain dresses, fitted to silhouettes but relaxed with fabric. The sheath dress (aka the shift dress), became widely popularized when Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis styled her high hemlined, silhouette with tight-fitting sleeveless shift dresses in the 60s.

How to Wear a Shift Dress

What works best with a shift dress?

Alt text: Jackie Kennedy wears a magenta sheath

Caption: Jackie Kennedy showcases her pink shift dress at a public function.

Jackie Kennedy increased the popularity of this liberated, relaxed dress. This versatile, knee length, boxy dress is normally made from soft, casual fabrics like cotton. Usually styled sleeveless and short, these dresses are great for a warm weather day with a touch of professional nature. To achieve a 60s look, accessories look great with this neutral dress. Scarves, hats, gloves and belts can be styled with this dress.

Shift dresses work great with heels or platform shoes to give a boost of height to complete the high-hemline leggy look. For an elegant fall look, pair an autumn shift dress with a collar and a belt.

For a sleek summer look, pairing a brightly colored, vibrant shift dress with light silver or gold jewelry. Paired with sandals and a light jacket, this can be a great summer barbeque outfit.

Why “Shift Dress?”

How did the shift dress get its name?

The shift dress got its name originally from the Middle Eastern word “schift” which means to move or change direction. This loose, boxy dress moved to the shape of your body, making it ideal for any semi-professional occasion.

My grandma, a young woman during the 60s, said she and her girlfriends used to call the notorious dress simply a “shift” normally wearing them to work with high heels.

These flapper-like dresses were created in the 1920s by designers like Chanel to create a loose-fitting but stylish box dress but ushered into the look we know today by 60s icons like Jackie O.

Where Can I Buy a Shift Dress?

What is the best

Alt text: three 1960s women sport shift dresses in different patterns

Caption: Shift dresses are available in all different patterns to wear for any event.

Shopbop

Shopbop sells shift dresses in multiple patterns, colors, textures and lengths as perfect summer wedding dresses.

Tweed Shift Dress

Alt text: a pink and black plaid tweed shift dress is worn by a model

Caption: Best for colder autumn and winter, this look can be styled with black tights, heels or boots, and a long sleeve turtleneck. Image courtesy of Shopbop.

Made with non-stretch tweed fabric and frayed edges, this look is timeless and retro. Made of cotton and polyester, this is a more fragile material worn for specific more professional events.

Night Shifter Dress

Alt text: A model wears a bedazzled floral multi-colored black shift dress

Caption: Made with non-stretch cotton, this dress is best worn in the fall or autumn.

Image courtesy of Shopbop.

This iridescent sequined floral dress is made with satin lining and polyester. Paired with neutral accessories and jewelry, this look can be worn for a night out in the summer or spring months.

Luca Shift Dress

Alt text: a model wears a short white and yellow beachy shift dress

Caption: Shift dresses have evolved into more shapes and sizes for all events and people

For a beachy look, this shift dress is lightweight, light colored, and easy to throw over a suit while in the sand. The v-neck and quarter length sleeves add a touch of chicness for a relaxed summer event.

Banana Republic

For a classy look, Banana Republic sells a basic sleeveless thigh-length shift dress. With a slightly professional feel, this dress comes in a “trailblazing” orange, black, or flax tan.

Nordstrom Rack

Nordstrom Rack sells a flowy shift dress that can easily contort to your body with a brief button hole opening at the back of the neck. Available in red, navy, peach, and more, this is a great outfit to pair with some flat sandals for a relaxing–and now comfortable– summer dinner party night.

JCPenny

JCPenney provides a plethora of summery designs and different styles of shift dresses for the warm months such as babydoll, long sleeve, and layered.

The Last Stitch

The evolution of women’s fashion has gone through amazing changes, from the most extravagant floral layered linen designs to the most ethereal, flowy simple white dresses. Perfect for any semi-formal summer event, shift dresses are the perfect combination of professional, classy, and flirty.

Wordless Wednesday–The Moon, Cross & American Flag

2015-07-29T00:47:00.000-07:00

I stepped out on my front porch at 1 am and saw this ethereal story

It’s a Tradition: New Year’s Eve at Knott’s Berry Farm

2014-12-21T13:35:00.000-08:00

The holidays are a time for family traditions. To be honest, our family traditions are rather ordinary: buying the tree, decorating the tree, putting up the decorations, the outdoor lights. The Elf on the Shelf. Y’know, the things everyone does. I always take notice of the traditions in other families that seem to stand out as being different. I have wanted to have a tradition that is a bit different. It turns out our family does have a tradition that is out of the ordinary: We go to Knott’s on New Year’s Eve! We have gone the past two years and we are going again this year. Three years in a row meets the requirement of a “tradition” in my book. And it can be your tradition too!

Knott’s solves the problem of finding a New Year’s celebration that is suitable for the whole family. I love Knott’s on New Year’s because it just feels like a celebration in every section of the park. All the rides and attractions are open and there is live entertainment such as salsa dancing in Fiesta Plaza, a dance party in Calico Square, a bluegrass band in The Birdcage Theater and comedy in Wagon Camp. The park is all decked out with holiday decorations and we always arrive in the evening when everything is perfectly lit up. Having grown up in New England, New Year’s feels more real to me when it’s cold out. The past two years have been chilly enough that we have actually needed to bundle up a bit! You will be fine with light jackets, fleece and maybe some gloves/mittens. There are lots of opportunities to go inside to warm up for a bit.

For dining options, the restaurants in the park are open. You just may have to wait to be seated so plan accordingly. At peak times it can be as much as a 45 minute wait. There is a New Year’s Eve Buffet in Spurs Restaurant from 4:00-9:00pm with prices of $26.99+tax for adults and $14.99+tax for kids ages 3-11. We haven’t done the buffet but maybe we will this year. If you want to maximize your time going on rides and participating in the live entertainment offerings, you might consider eating before you get to the park. This could also be a good plan with younger kids who may not be able to stay up late into the evening.There are plenty of places to get snacks and refreshments to keep you going through the night. As our kids have gotten older we have been able to stay later, but we have yet to make it to midnight! If you do make it to midnight (the park is open until 1:00am) there is an awesome countdown with the Sky Cabin ride going up the K Tower with a special lighting effects show. When it reaches the top at the stroke of midnight, there is a big fireworks show.

For more information visit Ring In The New Year at Knott’s. On New Year’s Eve, Knott’s is open from 10:00am to 1:00am with the New Year’s Eve Celebration included with the regular daytime admission.

Disclosure: My family has received admission to Knott’s New Year’s Eve for my event coverage. All content and social media shares are original and my own opinions.

Making My Way Back

2014-08-27T23:00:00.000-07:00

I am on my way back!

Thank you for your patience while I've been on hiatus. There is much to say and I shall be saying it here soon.

Safety 1st BoostAPak

2014-02-26T09:24:00.000-08:00

I love convenience. I love products that have more than one use. My latest review represents both of those qualities. Please allow me to introduce you to the Trunki BoostAPak by Safety 1st. The BoostAPak is a child booster seat that is also a backpack with storage. How cool, is that?

You may have noticed that safety is an important topic for me and one I cover regularly. Here in California, kids are required to be in booster seats until they are 8 years old. I looked at the Governor’s Highway Safety Association chart and see that 48 states and DC have booster seat laws. Unfortunately, I have noticed that a lot of my kids’ friends do not use booster seats. I don’t know if it’s just ignorance of the laws (the age was raised to 8 just a couple of years ago) or figuring it’s not necessary. Proper seatbelt positioning on a passenger’s body is very important. The extra “boost” the seats give equals a boost in safety! Chip and Lulu are very much on the circuit of having play dates, getting driven in carpools and just generally in other people’s cars. I also often have at least one kid in the minivan who does not belong to me. The BoostAPak is a super easy way to make sure my kids and their friends have a booster seat.

When the booster arrived, Lulu could not wait to check it out. She uses it the most. When I first learned about the seat, I thought it would just be an “extra” booster to have on hand. It turns out that it is Lulu’s preferred everyday booster. She has managed the conversion since the first use. It’s really intuitive: Pull up the flap, flip up the green arms (which serve as seatbelt guides) and belt yourself in. The reverse is just as easy with the added step of pressing buttons to fold down the green arms. It just takes seconds to do which is really important when everyone is rushing into school at drop off!

Regular booster seats can be cumbersome for little kids to carry. The “hands free” backpack design just can’t be beat. The storage area is the space under the seat. I would describe it as a nice size space to put a few items. I don’t think it is big enough to double as a school backpack. As you can see the size is compact but is comfortable for my 6 and 7 year olds. Lulu is taking a plane trip next month and is excited to be able to bring her BoostAPak on the flight. It fits easily into a plane’s overhead compartment.

I definitely recommend this seat. The only drawback I see is the height limit versus the weight limit. It doesn’t really make sense to me. Chip is just about 52” and 52 lbs with Lulu a few pounds and a few inches behind him. Obviously, according to the specs (see below), they will both be out of the booster (due to height) before they are 8 years old. It would be great if they could add to the height limit especially because some kids need boosters even beyond the legal requirement. Safety first!

Price: I have seen the Trunki BoostAPak available online from $43-$75. It certainly makes sense to shop around.

Specifications: The BoostAPak is a backless booster for kids 40-80 pounds and 43"-52" in height. Made of a durable plastic shell with high visibility reflective trim, Removable cover for easy spot cleaning and an ID tag. Product weight is 3.4 lbs. Product dimensions are 14.0 x 12.0 x 18.28.

Disclosure: I was provided one Safety 1st BoostAPak for review purposes. All written content and opinions are my own.

New Swiffer Sweep & Trap

2014-02-07T01:27:00.000-08:00

I constantly have my eyes open for products that will make my life easier. I’m already a fan of the Swiffer products so when I was asked if I’d would like to review the new Swiffer Sweep & Trap, I didn’t hesitate. The first thing that caught my attention is that it multitasks…As the name says, it “sweeps” and it “traps.” I love things that do double duty because, theoretically, that should mean I don’t have to buy two separate things. That in turn should mean: I’m saving money!

I opened up the box and assembled the the Sweep & Trap. There are four pieces that click together to make the handle which was easy to do and took about 15 seconds. The handle goes into the Sweep & Trap. You then attach a Swiffer Dry Cloth (two are included in the box) and off you go. To me, this is like a carpet sweeper but it’s for hard surface floors. Although I have plenty of messes around my house, Swiffer actually sent me two packs of test items. The first was a handful of wood shavings and the second was a few nuts and screws which I dumped on my hardwood floor. The Sweep & Trap made quick work of both messes. I then continued around my house a bit testing it out on some travertine and tile. It does what it’s supposed to do, “scoop up” and trap the bigger particles and sweep the floor with the dry cloth.

Swiffer Sweep & Trap

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The great thing about this gadget is that you don’t need to plug it in and it’s quiet. In the past I might have gotten out the vacuum or tried the dustpan and broom method. This is easier and faster than either of those. It is also small which allows you to tuck it somewhere handy--yet out of sight. When you want to empty the trap, you just open it and shake out over the trash. Easy. The only thing you have to replace is the dry cloth. I’m keeping mine. I can’t imagine anyone not being able to use one of these. Go pick one up at Walmart, where they have just hit the shelves. You can connect with Swiffer on Twitter and Facebook.

This is a sponsored post for SheSpeaks/Swiffer. All content is my own.

Jay Leno and me…We go way back

2014-02-06T23:07:00.001-08:00

Tonight is Jay Leno’s final night of hosting The Tonight Show. Twenty-two years. As I start writing this post, I see it is nearing 11:30 on the East Coast. In honor of this occasion, I am going to tell you about my connection to Jay. This is something that I haven’t ever written about. Tonight seems the perfect time. So heeeeere’s my story! (Yeah, I know, wrong host. But Johnny passed the helm to Jay. Ok?)

The year was 1979. Maybe 1978, but I’m pretty sure it was 1979. I was down at the office of my elementary school, Bancroft School in Andover, MA. Mrs. Halbach, the school secretary asked me to take a man, who had just walked in, “up to your loft.” We called our grades “lofts” because they were large open classrooms…Like lofts. Our school was a really cool building. It looked like a modernist castle. Unfortunately, it wasn’t well suited to New England winters and the build up of snow caused the roof to leak in many, many places. As a result, there were a lot of construction workers around during that school year getting ready for a re-engineering project. I was sure the guy I was showing up to my loft was someone involved with the work. He had jeans and a plaid shirt on. I had him figured out. So up we went, I don’t think we talked. I brought him to Mr. Spencer, one of our teachers. All of us kids were called to the center of the loft and we sat on the floor.

Mr. Spencer proceeded to introduce this guy. He said, “This is my friend Jay Leno.” None of us knew who he was. But we soon learned that that he was “on TV” and lived in LA. He grew up in our town, Andover, MA and went to school with Mr. Spencer. He called Mr. Spencer “Billy” and we all thought that was a riot! This guy, Jay Leno, told us about himself, talked about growing up in our town and that his parents lived here. He answered lots of questions. Of course we all wanted to know when we could see him on TV. I can remember exactly what he told us, because I wrote it down and saved the paper for a long time. I’m sure that scrap of paper is still in with my stuff in my parent’s house. I wrote down, “Silver Bears,” Albert, “American Hotwax” and “Hollywood Squares” with two dates that coming July. Jay said he was in the movie “The Silver Bears” playing Albert, the movie “American Hotwax” and would be on the game show “Hollywood Squares” on two consecutive days in July. I asked him if he lived on Rodeo Drive and he laughed and said no. Rodeo Drive was pretty much the only thing I knew about LA at the time. Perhaps I knew Jay was going to make it big? He lives a stone’s throw from Rodeo Drive now! He signed autographs for each of us (about 75) kids. I was so excited to tell my parents I had met Jay Leno! They had no idea who he was. But they were really happy for me.

That summer, my mom allowed me to stay home from camp those two days to watch Jay Leno on The Hollywood Squares. Being that it was 1979, I knew I had a better chance of going to the moon than seeing those two movies he said he was in. But I kept an eye on the TV Guide. On the off chance, y’know?

From there our interactions with Jay were random but fairly constant over the next decade. He always remembered me. The next year or so, my mom and brother were at the McDonald’s in town and my brother spotted Jay. My mom thought it was a hoot because she still didn’t know who this guy was…That my brother and I knew. We would see Jay around town periodically. I got to high school in the late 80’s which coincided with the time he starting being a regular fill-in for Johnny Carson. Some of his teachers were still at Andover High and Jay would come in for visits. He was always such a genuinely nice guy. Joking around and reminiscing about his teenage shenanigans and being “Class Clown.” As his star was rising, local Boston TV stations would come out and do stories. Once I sat in on a staged study hall where he was interviewed sitting at a desk with the rest of us doing our homework. Andover High has a local access TV studio and during my years there, I hosted some shows. Jay would come by and say hi and sign autographs. Once we had a telethon and he called in from California with a very generous donation for the studio. I had friends who lived a couple of doors down from his parents. His mom and dad were super friendly.

In 1992, Jay became the permanent host of The Tonight Show. In 1994, my brother and I visited LA. I put a call in to the Tonight Show and said I knew Jay from Andover and was interested in getting tickets. I had no idea how it worked. It turned out my cluelessness got us put on a list at NBC Studios Guest Relations and meant we didn’t have to wait in line. I remember wearing an Andover T-shirt and wondering if Jay might spot it in the middle of the audience. Original idea, huh? In 1996 I ended up moving to LA. I worked at Disney Studios in Burbank and every day drove past NBC where the Tonight Show is taped. Over those next couple of years, I saw Jay a few times driving in one of his many cars. He was always in a good mood and waving to people. I met three people during those years who were helped by Jay when they were having car trouble. Jay is well known for pulling over to see if he can help someone. I marveled at the “small town Andover” way he lived his life in the huge city of LA. I think it was around 1998 when my friend Anna came out from Kentucky with her friend who had never been to LA. I called the Tonight Show and again said I was from Andover. Without hesitation, we got on the Guest Relations list. The next few times I went to The Tonight Show it was because I had a friend at NBC who got me tickets. I always went not knowing who the guest was going to be. I ended up attending two shows when Bridget Fonda was a guest. What are the odds? Once I went and David Bowie was the musical guest. I. About. Died. Huge fan. That made my year. You are probably wondering if I ever tried to connect with him in person. The first time we went, on the way out of the studio, we asked someone if Jay was around because we knew him from Andover. The guy seemed genuinely disappointed to say that he was leaving right away. Jay is a really hard worker and on many (most?) nights after he tapes a show, he goes and does a gig somewhere. Other than maybe a chance to connect with him after a taping, what was I going to do? Call him to do lunch? Ha, ha, ha! He’s such a nice guy, I bet he would’ve had lunch with me. I lived a few blocks from where he taped his “Jaywalking” segment on Melrose Avenue every week. My husband would drive past him on his way home from work. I meant to make it over there sometime. Life was busy and I never did.

The last ten years or so have been hectic. I got married, had two kids back to back. Time flies. Last year it was announced that Jay would be ending his run in February 2014. I felt sad because Jay’s career has been such a part of my life. He made it to the top. I cheered the whole way. Last Spring, my kids’ school was having their annual silent auction and I was working on auction items. I wondered if after all these years, could I call and say I’m so and so from Andover and get some tickets donated? I called and again, spoke to someone who was so nice. That’s the thing I always experienced when I called or when I was there. Every single person who works for Jay is so NICE! They arranged four VIP tickets and a VIP meet and greet after the show. Of course, they said they couldn’t guarantee the meet and greet because Jay may have to leave right after the show. I said, “Oh, I know. He might have a gig.” I felt that giving my “semi-inside knowledge” might help to legitimize my phone call. I asked his assistant if she would please express to Jay how grateful I was. And if you could tell him it’s Elizabeth and l listed off a bunch of ways we know each other. She was so nice and said she would. So, did I have an in with Jay? Do I still have an in with Jay? Or are they just so nice at The Tonight Show with Jay Leno? Who knows? What we all know though, is that Jay has been top of the ratings for over two decades and he is going out on top. Leaving on a high note as the class act he is.

Here we are. February 6, 2014. Jay already taped the show. It will be airing here shortly. The last show has already been seen in our hometown. I have a feeling Jay isn’t going into retirement. Maybe I could ask him to go to lunch? Maybe he has a little more time now? After all, Jay and me. We go way back.

Being Safe with Kidde

2013-12-17T02:46:00.001-08:00

Many of you know that safety is an important topic for me. While attending Mom 2.0 this past Spring, I met some representatives of Kidde. I think the first thing out of my mouth was, “I have one of your CO [carbon monoxide] alarms!” However, I wasn’t very familiar with the rest of their offerings. Kidde is the world’s largest manufacturer of fire safety products including: smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, fire extinguishers and escape ladders. Recently, a member of the Kidde team e-mailed me to ask if I would be interested in writing about winter safety in the home. I said, “absolutely!”

I think I credit my parents with setting a good example for fire safety preparation. We had smoke detectors, an escape ladder and a plan for getting out of the house with a meeting point. When I was about seven, our neighbor’s house caught fire and the parents weren’t home. I remember my mom going over to get everyone out and call the fire department. One thing I did not grow up with is a carbon monoxide alarm. Although I knew about CO poisonings and deaths, having heard about them on the news, it didn’t really register that it could happen to anyone. That reality blindsided me when a college friend died of carbon monoxide poisoning, at age 27, in a home with a faulty heater. I will always have one in my home.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), most home fires and CO poisonings occur in winter. Someone in the United States dies in a house fire every three hours, amounting to 3,000 deaths each year. Besides heating appliances, seasonal activities such as increased cooking, using candles and decorating Christmas trees all add to the risk. I took the following quiz to see how ready I am. I encourage you to take it too. I’ll tell you how I did below.

Home Safety Quiz

One in four older homes needs to update fire safety equipment. How old are your alarms?

· Replace smoke alarms every 10 years. Replace CO alarms every five to 10 years, based on the model.

· Purchase an alarm with a 10-year sealed lithium battery, such as Kidde Worry-Free smoke and CO alarms, to receive hassle-free protection for a decade --no need to change a battery or hear a low battery chirp. Available nationwide at retailers like The Home Depot and Walmart, each alarm installed will save you $40 over its life in battery costs.

Seventy-five percent of homeowners don’t know where to install smoke alarms. Do you have one on every floor, and inside/outside all bedrooms?

· Choose alarms with room-specific features, such as an LED light in the hallway, or a voice notification for the bedroom.

· Place a CO alarm near sleeping areas and on each floor. Keep them 10 feet away from fuel-burning appliances.

Do your alarms incorporate the newest features and technology?

· A sealed-in 10-year lithium battery continuously powers the alarm for 10 years. It’s tamper-proof and can’t be removed.

· A digital display shows the level of CO in the air and updates the reading every 15 seconds.

· An intelligent multi-sensor responds faster to real fires and CO, plus it reduces nuisance alarms like those commonly caused by cooking.

· An end-of-life warning lets you know when to replace your alarms.

Do you need other safety products?

· Fire extinguisher – place one within reach in rooms where fires often begin: kitchen, garage, bedroom, living area

· Escape ladder – place in second and third-floor rooms as an alternative escape route

Have you developed a family escape plan?

· Practice it regularly. Know two ways out of every room and who will assist children and loved ones with mobility/health issues.

Do your children know their address and how to dial 911?

· Post your home address and emergency phone numbers on the refrigerator.

Are your appliances and chimney winter-ready?

· Have a professional inspect fuel-burning appliances to ensure they function properly and that they vent outside.

· Have a professional clean or inspect fireplaces annually. Birds and small animals can make nests and leaves can build up on top of the chimney, preventing carbon monoxide from venting properly.

· Have you created a 3-foot clutter free zone around fireplaces, space heaters or wood stoves?

Did you take the quiz? Here’s how I did: My smoke and CO alarms are under 10 years old. I did not know that they need to be completely replaced every ten years. I have my CO alarm in my kitchen, however, I live in a ranch house so I think that placement is ok for my layout. My smoke and CO alarms are about five years old, thus they don’t have the newest technology. I love the 10 year batteries (in the Worry Free alarms) mean we don’t have to hear that beep (it inevitably happens in the middle of the night) telling us the battery is dying. Here is a link to the Worry-Free alarms product line. My CO alarm doesn’t have a digital display. Hmmm, maybe I should be upgrading sooner than I thought? We have two fire extinguishers. I know these do expire and should be replaced every 12 years. You should also check the pressure gauge periodically to make sure it is pressurized. Chip and Lulu do know their address and how to call 911. It’s something we practice with them. We had our chimneys cleaned about two months ago. I’d say I did really well! For more information and a downloadable checklist, visit worryfreealarm.com. I also highly recommend the Safety Made Simple area of Kidde’s site as a great starting point in your quest for home safety knowledge. I’m passionate about safety and I hope you will also be passionate about making your home safe this winter.

This is a sponsored post for Kidde. All written content is my own.

Wordless Wednesday–Red Sox Win The World Series

2013-10-30T23:18:00.001-07:00

Orange County Moms You Should Know

2013-10-09T11:47:00.001-07:00

My latest post on CBS Los Angeles is about my top picks for online moms in Orange County. The list provides a nice variety covering different ages and interests. These gals make being a parent in OC much easier! So head on over to read Follow These Savvy Mom Bloggers for Parenting Advice in OC

Mary Tran & Family of Let’s Play OC

LA County Fair– final weekend

2013-09-26T17:08:00.000-07:00

I have only been to the LA County Fair once. It was years ago, before we had kids. Since having kids, I have wanted to go, but something kid related always seems to keep us from getting there! I’m pleased to say, we are going this weekend. The last weekend of the fair…But there still is time! The fair opened on August 30 and closes this Sunday September 29. The LA County Fairgrounds are in Pomona, close to several freeways. If you aren’t up for driving, or traffic, I noticed you can take Metrolink Trains that run between Los Angeles and San Bernardino and take a free shuttle right to the gate.

Once you are there, the variety of things you can do is rather mind boggling. You have to tell yourself you can’t do it all and try to make a plan. The hours vary during the course of the fair and depending on the day of the week. Saturday has the longest opening hours, from 10am-midnight. Considering how hot it is this time of year, we are planning on attending at least part of the day when the sun is down. The fair’s website is extremely well done and includes lots of information. I recommend Free Fair Stuff from A-Z, Plan Your Visit, Daily Event Schedule, and Promotions & Discounts. There is also an LA County Fair app for iPhone, iPad and Android that I plan on downloading. It’s a kick that the site has a search function for type of food. I selected “Fried Food” from the pull down menu and before me appeared a comprehensive list of offerings and locations. I’ve decided I’m going to try to sample a deep friend cheesecake and/or a deep fried Klondike bar because they strike me as the most insane. Or maybe I’m just hungry right now…

Since I actually haven’t been yet, I can’t do a review. I decided to give links to posts from some of my favorite So Cal bloggers. Check out: Caryn Bailey on CBS Los Angeles, Tee on That’s It Mommy, Liz on Family is Familia and Jennifer on Toddler Trails. I discovered some great info on those posts! I’m most looking forward to seeing the animals. I remember having a blast at the petting zoo several years ago. I’m also hoping to get to see The Star Trek Exhibition, Wilderness Ridge and this weekend’s Asian Festival.

Disclosure: I was given tickets and parking for the LA County Fair

Back to School–Back on Track

2013-09-25T00:29:00.000-07:00

By now, everyone is back to school and the after school activities have been pinned down for Fall. The craziness of the end of summer and beginning of school often sets the stage for a disorganized start to the new school year. Today we have guest blogger and mom of three, Rebekah Rosales, with some tips to help get families back on track.

Create a family calendar in a central area, like the kitchen, where everyone can write down their activities. Either the night before or in the morning, discuss everyone’s schedule. Establish school-day schedules for homework, TV, baths and bedtime and make sure your child is aware of those times.

If your routine for packing lunches and snacks isn’t working for you—try switching it up. Lunches do not have to be made in the morning. How about doing as much as you can the night before? Or maybe you are already doing night prep but it is making you unhappy because you’d rather get to sleep. Try switching to morning lunch making, just make sure to allot the proper amount of time. Get creative with easy, healthy ideas for school-day meals on websites like Pinterest. If you think your child’s lunchbox won’t make it through the school year, pick up a new one now, while all the back to school clearance sales are going on. Putting a surprise note or picture in your child’s lunchbox will reassure your child during their school day that they are loved. If your child is older, have them help pack their lunch so you don’t have to hear the dreaded, “I didn’t want that!” If possible, plan out your dinner meals for the week ahead of time. That way you are not trying to figure what everyone is going to eat when the kids are hungry and cranky. Now that you realize you are in the car driving kids around during typical dinner prep time, menu planning might be something to try. There are websites like Allrecipes.com that let you search for recipes that contain ingredients you have on hand.

Now that kids are underway with after school sports and classes, take not of what is working or not working for you, the kids or the whole family. How are your children coping with homework and other commitments? Use this as a guideline for winter activities. You can always add more activities as the school year goes along. Make sure to leave enough time for family down time and unstructured play.

Rebekah Rosales is the owner of Beach Cities Domestic Staffing, located in Los Angeles. Are you looking for a helping hand? Check them out at BeachCitiesDomesticStaffing.com and on Facebook.com/BeachCitiesDomesticStaffing

My Visit to “Mom”– a New Sitcom on CBS

2013-09-23T15:26:00.001-07:00

Last week I had the opportunity to visit the set of “Mom” at Warner Bros Studios. Mom is a new sitcom premiering tonight on CBS 9:30 ET/PT. The stars are Anna Faris (Christy), perhaps best known for her roles in the “Scary Movie” franchise, and Allison Janney (Bonnie), who many recall played CJ Cregg on “The West Wing".” The sitcom centers around a multi-generation family: Christy is a newly sober single mom of two kids who works at a posh Napa Valley restaurant and is trying to overcome her past. Bonnie is Christy’s mom and a recovering alcoholic who reappears in her life. Other main characters are Christy’s daughter, Violet, her son, Roscoe, her ex, Baxter, her boss, Gabriel, the restaurant chef, Rudy and Violet’s boyfriend, Luke. Christy tries to remain positive as she pursues her new path in life, but she faces an uphill battle, surrounded by a dubious support system—and lots of dysfunction. I like that the show deals with real characters, with real problems and who have to actually work for a living. Chuck Lorre is the creator of “The Big Bang Theory” and “Two and a Half Men” and he is also the co-creator of “Mom” along with Eddie Gorodetsky and Gemma Baker. I actually lived next door to Eddie when I was a little kid and he was a teenager, in Providence, RI. I hadn’t connected with him for a few years and it was great to catch up with him a bit on the set. I was also able to tell him truthfully, that his show is funny. One of my earliest memories is of being about four years old and being lifted up to crawl in a small window because his mom was locked out of the house. What is my point in telling you this? I guess I have a few points: 1) be nice to your neighbors, you never know who they will become and 2) Hollywood is a very small town!

Mom CBS

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We got the chance to see Anna and Allison rehearse two scenes and, like I told Eddie, they were well written, well acted and funny! During a break in the shooting, we got the chance to sit down for a Q & A with Allison, Anna, Gemma and Sadie (who plays Violet). It was really fun to hear about their thoughts on the show. They were in the midst of their 7th episode with the show yet to premiere and we could really sense the excitement on set. Allison talked about how much she loves how live audience sitcoms are like the theater. Everyone agreed what great hours sitcoms are for actors. They really allow you to have a life outside the show during the shooting season. This is particularly important to Anna who has a one year old son. I look forward to watching the premiere tonight and I encourage you to join me!

Many of the castmembers will be live tweeting the show (on East Coast time), so if you are on Twitter, here are the handles: @AnnaFaris, @AllisonBJanney, @sadiecalvano, @imnatecorddry, @mattjonesisdead, @frenchstewart, @sadiecalvano, @momcbs (show) @cbstweet (cbs). You can also like the show on Facebook.

Los Angeles Moms You Should Know

2013-09-20T12:59:00.001-07:00

Jen Levinson of Jen's List and Family

Los Angeles is a big place to navigate as a parent. There are some key moms who are plugged in, networked and oversee online information centers. I have gotten so many tips, leads and ideas from their sites and forums. I am featuring some of my favorite LA go-to moms today on CBS Los Angeles in my post For Savvy Parenting Advice, Follow These Moms

LA Moms' Top OB Recommendations

2013-07-10T22:37:00.000-07:00

credit: WALTRAUD GRUBITZSCH/AFP/Getty Images

In a place as huge as LA, choosing an OB can be overwhelming. I talked to power moms in all parts of LA to find out the local top docs. I'm over on CBS Los Angeles with the list: LA Moms' Top OB Recommendations

Guide To The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library

2013-04-22T10:56:00.002-07:00

I'm on CBS Los Angeles with my Guide To The Ronald Reagan Library. I encourage everyone to visit, the location and library are superb. There is something for everyone.

Podshare Hollywood

2013-04-02T00:15:00.000-07:00

There is a new concept in the hospitality industry--overnight accommodation meets social media. Check out my take on it....I'm on CBS Los Angeles with Podshare: A Modern Twist on Hostels.

Cavalia – OdysseO

2013-03-23T00:41:00.000-07:00

This blog post is written by Jessica Cribbs of BurbankMom.com. I was unable to attend and was very happy that Jessica could go with her family and do a guest post. Thanks, Jessica!

The skyline in Burbank changed earlier this month as the world’s largest traveling show came to town to set up camp. Cavalia is back after three years with an amazing new performance, OdysseO. First of all, I’d like to thank Elizabeth for the opportunity to guest post on her site about it! She knew this was right up BurbankMom’s alley, so I loaded up the family in my minivan and headed over to the 8pm premiere with orders to report back.

The Cavalia tents, if you haven't seen them...or have no clue what they are, are gigantic. The Big White Top is 10 stories high and the stage itself is 15,000 square feet and features a real carousel and a magically appearing 80,000 gallon lake. The backdrop is the size of 3 IMAX screens. There are stables for all 67 horses, a warm up tent for the performers as well as paddocks for the animals to have time outside every day.

With all that being said, it’s not hard to imagine how spectacular this show was!

If you know nothing about anything Cavalia has done, think Cirque Du Soleil....with the addition of horses. Ok, so the horses aren't actually spinning on high ropes or performing acrobats, but they certainly perform and move you like the music or artists do. They are breathtaking.

The mind behind the show, Normand Latourelle, is one of the co-creators of Cirque Du Soleil. In an interview last week with Mr. Latourelle, he said to me that he had once done a show where he put one horse on stage with all of the performers and he noticed the audiences were watching the horse more than the people.

That’s when Cavalia was born.

From start to finish, this two hour show kept me drawn in. I have a hard time even comprehending not only the insurmountable creativity it takes to think of every detail, but the hours of dedication it obviously takes to train the horses. They are just some of the most magical animals on the planet. They are strong, powerful, graceful, stunningly beautiful and so very intelligent. Consider me equine-illiterate if you will, but I had no idea that these animals were capable of such memorized choreography and elaborate training.

Can we talk about the human performers for a minute? I swear they must be from another planet. The men and women who grace the stage with trick riding, acrobatics, tumbling, spring stilts and pole dancing (Yes, I just said pole dancing) are so spectacular, they simply must be related to Superman. The human body is so brilliant, and paired with horses, choreography and music, it all becomes poetic.

Louisiana native, Anna-Laura Edmiston provides the vocals for six acts in OdysseO. Her voice is absolutely majestical, etherial almost...what a perfect cast. It took me a while to even notice the orchestra was playing live above us, including Anna and her voice.

This is way more than just a horse show. To me, it was a piece of art that was breathtaking and full of innocent wonder. I sat next to my children with the same amount of excitement on my face as they expressed.

OdysseO is a journey around the world. With every act, you are taken to a different place on our beautiful planet and you are taken there by horse. Fitting then, is the cast of people and equine that make up this show. There are 11 different breeds of horses from around the world and the artists are from at least eight different countries. The concept, the backdrop, the artistry, the choreography, the costumes and original score let you travel and experience the journey of man and horse as it should be...appreciated.

This is an absolute family must while it’s in Los Angeles!

OdysseO plays through Sunday, April 14th in Downtown Burbank, just off the I-5 freeway.
It’s conveniently located at 777 N. Front Street, Burbank, CA 91502.

For tickets and show times visit, www.Cavalia.net or call 1-866-999-8111.

Jessica Cribbs is a wife and the mother of three and secretly loves the Valley. She is co-creator and producer of Expressing Motherhood and publisher of BurbankMom.com. Jessica also runs an annual charity event in the memory of her mother Rose, who lost her battle with breast cancer 4 years ago, called The Rose Run. You can also follow Burbank Mom on Twitter & Facebook.

Jamiel Andre Shaw II 12/22/1990 - 3/2/2008

2013-03-02T18:56:00.000-08:00

Every year, since the second anniversary of Jamiel's death, I have reposted this. 2012 saw victories for the Shaw family. In the Spring of 2012, Jamiel's murderer was found guilty. On November 2, he was sentenced to death. We held our breaths for four days after. That was because there was an initiative on the California ballot to repeal the death penalty...Election Day, November 6. Thankfully, the initiative did not pass and Jamiel's killer remains on death row. Today is the fifth anniversary of Jamiel's murder and again Jamiel's family will be holding a candlelight vigil. In the five years since Jamiel's murder by an illegal alien gangmember, more Americans have been killed by illegal aliens. Our government continues to look the other way and even reward illegal aliens for breaking our laws. Although justice has been served, the journey continues.

I will keep posting this on the anniversary of Jamiel Shaw's death until Jamiel's Law is passed.

Today I share with you a post I originally wrote for the now closed Los Angeles Moms Blog, exactly one year ago today. Even as I cut and paste and tweak something that “I’ve already done”. It’s as if I’m slammed backwards one year as I struggled to write this. If it weren’t for Jamiel’s aunt, Althea Shaw, patiently speaking with me over several phone calls, reliving her own tragedy with someone she didn’t know….I wouldn’t have gotten this piece done. I had the pleasure of finally meeting Ms. Shaw on a scorching hot day this past August in Beverly Hills at a political rally. I rolled Lulu in her stroller through the crowds looking for her. When we finally connected, we hugged like old friends.

My friend Althea Shaw is taking action, right now, right here in Los Angeles. She is running for Los Angeles City Council for District 10 to unseat incumbent Herb Wesson who has done nothing to protect young black men from becoming victims of illegal alien gang members. It’s clear Herb Wesson has an agenda that does not include following the law and/or protecting US citizens. In fact, in April 2008, when the Shaw family was planning to go before the LA City Council to speak about Jamiel’s Law, Herb Wesson sent out one of his representatives in advance to offer Jamiel’s father, Jamiel Sr., a “position on a board”—a bribe to get them to back off. Then when the Shaws actually arrived at the City Council meeting, Herb Wesson escorted them into his chambers to keep them from being able to speak during the Public Comment section of the meeting. He warned the Shaws that, “They were messing with a hornet’s nest.” It was ONLY due to the crowd assembled chanting “let them speak, let them speak” that the City Council was embarrassed into re-opening the Public Comments. I urge everyone who votes or knows anyone who votes in District 10 to get the word out to vote for Althea Shaw for Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday, March 8, 2011. Let’s take back our city with honorable, ethical people who look out for what’s best and do what is right.

I now present Jamiel Andre Shaw II 12/22/1990 – 3/2/2008, originally posted on The Los Angeles Moms Blog, March 2, 2010

Jamiel “Jas” Shaw was on his was home from the Beverly Center exactly two years ago today. He jumped off a city bus with a buddy a few blocks from his house near the 10 Freeway, said goodbye and started to walk the couple of blocks to his house. His dad called him on the way to confirm their plans to head out and buy him a new pair of running shoes. He was a standout member of the varsity track and football teams at Los Angeles High School. That morning Jas had participated in an invitation only weekend football training program. A program that prepared top high school football players for college football and even the NFL. Scouts from UCLA, Stanford and Rutgers had inquired about him. It looked like Jas was really going places. Sadly, he did not make it home that afternoon.
Three doors from his house, Jamiel Andre Shaw II was murdered. Shot twice, although there were three entry wounds. The first bullet went through his hand and then entered his stomach. The second bullet hit Jamiel’s head. Jamiel’s alleged murderer, Pedro Espinoza, an illegal alien gang member from Mexico, belongs to the 18th Street Gang. Espinoza had been released from jail on a firearms charge the day before he murdered Jamiel. The Shaw Family has been continually thwarted in its demands to know how this was allowed to happen.

Jamiel’s mom, Army Sgt. Anita Shaw was serving in Iraq at the time of her son’s murder. This aspect has been the most painful for me in preparing this piece. I cannot even put myself in her boots. Fighting for freedom in Iraq and receiving the news that her son was killed on his way home from the mall. Jas also left a little brother, Thomas, now ten.

You’d think that a young, promising black teenager, killed by an illegal alien gang member would get all kinds of attention from leaders of the black community. The Shaw Family couldn’t even get a return call from Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton. How about the elected officials representing the Shaw’s district? Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, City Council member Herb Wesson, and Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas have done nothing but throw up roadblocks. Their Congresswoman, Diane Watson has also ignored them. Clearly, there’s a mighty, mighty big elephant in the living room.

Where can we place the blame for the circumstances that led to Jamiel’s murder? One prime culprit is Special Order 40. A law put in place by the Los Angeles City Council in 1979 that prevents Los Angeles Police from obtaining immigration status from detained suspects. This law was upheld in 2006 when Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa promised to make Los Angeles a “Sanctuary City for Illegal Aliens”. Let’s take a look at Pedro Espinoza and his 18th Street Gang. According to a 2005 report by Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), “an estimated 80 percent of [the 18th Street] gang's members [in California] are illegal aliens from Mexico and Central America."

When Pedro Espinoza was arrested, among the tattoos recorded on his body were “BK” on his neck representing “Black Killer.” On October 30, 2007, the U.S. Attorney in Los Angeles announced he had indicted members of "The Florencia 13, a street gang," for "shootings of African-Americans in neighborhoods the gang claimed to control." Mara Salvatrucha (MS 13) is another large gang founded in LA and now operating in other parts of the US and Central America. It is clear that these gangs, moreover, do not limit their “code” to "traditional" crimes like extortion and drug-running: they endorse ethnic cleansing.

Some may ask: Well, is Jamiel’s murder an isolated case? I’m afraid not. Just last month, Ronald Barron, a black anti-gang activist with Ameri-I-Can was killed by a Latino gang member when he tried to stop him from tagging in the 5500 block of Pico. On April 17, 2009, Marquis LeBlanc, an 18 year old black man was chased down a Pomona street by a group of Latinos, suspected gang members as reported by witnesses, and murdered. Here I ask, what of the numerous unsolved murders in Los Angeles? I don’t want to stir controversy unnecessarily, but can we get some answers? How many unsolved murders of young black men are there in Los Angeles? In a phone conversation with Jamiel’s Aunt, Althea Shaw, she stated that when Sheriff Lee Baca was asked this question in a news conference, he evaded answering.

We have a class of US citizens, young black men, who are being targeted by illegal alien criminal gangs and our politicians and law enforcement officials are unwilling to do anything about it. The sad irony is that just a few months after Jamiel’s murder, our country elected our first black president. President Obama, what say you about protecting our young black men?

For the past two years, the Shaw Family has been working very hard to get information, answers and to get Jamiel’s Law on the ballot. The ballot initiative has been spearheaded by 2009 mayoral candidate Walter Moore, who gave Villaraigosa legitimate competition last year. Jamiel’s Law, if passed, would permit Los Angeles police officers to arrest gang members for breaking U.S. immigration law. It would supersede Special Order 40. To get information about The Shaw Family’s fight, please visit JamielsLaw.com and follow them on Twitter.com/GoJamielsLawGo
The Shaw Family invites the community to a Candlelight Vigil to remember Jas, tonight at the site of Jamiel’s murder, 2136 5^th Ave. Los Angeles 90018
Photos courtesy of the Shaw Family
An original post for The Los Angeles Moms Blog
After Elizabeth takes a deep breath, she can be found over at her personal blog, Traded My BMW for a Minivan.

Comments (These are the original comments from the post on the LA Moms Blog)

Kirsten said...
Thank you for posting this. It's very well written and I'm glad to know about it. It's very sad. Best wishes to the family and for their efforts to stop this horrible violence, too.
Reply March 02, 2010 at 08:52 AM
Kim Tracy Prince said...
Liz,
I'm feeling physical pain in my chest as I read this. I remember when this happened and I cried and cried for the lost life, the lost big brother, the lost son, the lost friend. You ask tough questions. I have no faith at all in our city or state elected officials to legislate the purchase of office supplies for schools, much less pass meaningful laws, so it seems to me there is less hope in that direction and more in community activism on the ground. Nonetheless, I hope this post gets some local attention and I will promote it myself.
Damn you. Now I'm sad.
Reply March 02, 2010 at 11:32 AM
Eunice C. said...
Once again, I find myself in support of vigilante justice. So sad.
Reply March 02, 2010 at 01:52 PM
erin m said...
so horrifying. really makes me sick.
i am disgusted by our mayor.
my hubby's cousin was able to make a bit of a difference in Orange County....www.allanmansoor.com.
Reply March 02, 2010 at 06:16 PM
Sarah Auerswald said...
This is so frightening and sad for so many reasons: the injustice and the lack of compassion at all levels of government. Thanks for telling the story.
Reply March 02, 2010 at 06:48 PM
carrie meadows said...
Is there a petition for the ballot, or an online donation site set up?
Reply March 02, 2010 at 07:39 PM
Elizabeth Peterson said in reply to carrie meadows...
Hi Carrie, thanks for your interest. This info is on the home page of JamielsLaw.com
To donate financially and/or mail funds directly to the Jamiel's Law Committee account.
The mailing address for the account is:
The Committee to Pass Jamiel's Law
USC Federal Credit Union
1025 W. 34th St.
Los Angeles, CA 90089
for further info:
GoJamielsLawGo@live.com
323.806.9918
Reply March 02, 2010 at 09:01 PM
Jamiel's Law said in reply to carrie meadows...
Official Website http://isupportjamielslaw.com/
Twitter Page - http://twitter.com/GoJamielsLawGo
Reply May 16, 2010 at 08:27 PM
Yvonne Condes said...
I remember when this happened. It’s a horrible and senseless tragedy. I can’t imagine the pain the Shaw family has gone through these last two years.
I don’t know, however, if Jamiel’s Law is the answer. If it becomes a law it will give the LAPD the right to arrest anyone who looks like an illegal immigrant gang member. That means any young Latino can be arrested for simply looking like they could possibly be illegal. It will stop illegals from coming forward when they have information about the perpetrator of a violent crime for fear of being deported. It’s racial profiling and that’s not the answer.
According to the LA Times, Special Order 40 wasn’t a factor in Espinosa’s release the day before the murder because he was arrested and released outside of LAPD jurisdiction. But that’s beside the point. I think the problem with gang violence has as much to do with the LAPD as with illegal immigration. There are not enough police officers for a city of this size. There are not enough resources in these gang-ridden communities to give young people any other choice.
Something has to be done to stop the gang violence that’s terrorizing this city. And we need to elect officials who are willing to do everything they can to make that happen.
Reply March 03, 2010 at 01:06 AM
April said...
I hope the Shaw family NEVER GIVES UP! Keep asking questions and demanding answers! Use the press to get them to be accountable for this very preventable tragedy!
Please check out www.numbersusa.com There are all kinds of facts and information on illegal immigration on this website. Also, on www.fairus.org We MUST speak out and DEMAND from our politicians to build the border fence and to crack down on illegals.
E-Verify is what is needed nationally. E-Verify is currently a volunteer program that employers use to "match" the documentation a new hire gives (only used after hiring). No match, no job. If this were implemented, within months, illegals would be self deporting. No job, no reason to be here! Americans like Jamiel Shaw should be able to walk down the street at any hour, and not have to worry that an illegal gang banger is going to kill you! God bless The Shaw family, and thank you Mrs. Shaw for serving your country. DON'T GIVE UP THE FIGHT!
Reply March 03, 2010 at 01:09 PM
Kathy said...
Elizabeth,
thanks for posting this. My heart goes out to the family of that poor young man. How brave of them to be putting their energies into something positive.
Kathy
Reply March 03, 2010 at 02:16 PM
Michelle T Griffith said...
WOW...thanks for sharing. I'm really just about speechless. My heart just sank and I'm thinking of their family.
Reply March 05, 2010 at 06:00 AM
Sickofignorantpeople said...
I'm sorry, but not all Latinos are murderers, just as not all African American . If the Jamiel's law passes .. Simply put is that the Shaw family is encouraging racial profiling. I understand that they have hate in their hearts for a senseless act of ONE person, but there is no need to generalize all Latinos!!
How many times do African Americans murder Latinos or Americans ? And simply you don't see us all up in the media to try to pass a law to arrest every black person who walks down the street that may look like they are either from the crip or blood gang that sag their pants past their butts just to have them sent back to Africa ! Do I sound ridiculous ? Well, that's how this whole thing is being brought about.
To all: NOT all Latinos are Mexican . That's the ignorance of an uneduated individual . Read
about history before assuming and just because we speak Spanish does not mean they are Mexican !! I know that the famIly wants justice, but racial profiling is not the answer. And for Mr. Shaw to call Mr. Ridley Thomas a sell out simply because of his decision on not supporting the Arizona law on racial profiling is just plain wrong.
I just hope that the Shaw family's hearts heal and that it was a very unfortunate situation ,
but wanting to do is simply wrong.. Do they not remember the 1960's era.
It's a shame if they have forgotten on how it feels to be discriminated ?
And with that I have nothing else to say!
Reply June 08, 2010 at 03:01 AM
BlkWmSpeaks said in reply to Sickofignorantpeople...
@Sickofignorantpeople.........
First of all, need I define the word "INVASION" for you? Cuz that's exactly what's happening here .... illegal aliens are crossing our borders by the thousand each day.
So, it's not 'racial profiling' at all....it's PROTECTION for the Americans to enforce EXISTING immigration laws. According to federal law....immigrants are required to establish their immigration status [upon request...in other words....show "papers".....this is FEDERAL LAW .... "federal law" that "unfortunately" hasn't been enforced.
Likewise, Americans must show driver's license, car registration and car insurance "upon" request. What's the difference?? Why shouldn't Latinos show "papers", especially known gang members?
The illegal alien problem has gotten waaaay out of hand, it's "beyond time" to enforce existing federal immigration laws, however, if you have the necessary "papers" to establish your status..........what's the problem?
The majority of illegal aliens crossing the borders ARE Latinos [from Mexico]....there's no getting around that FACT.
The issue isn't about 'tit for tat' or "how many African Americans have kill Latinos" [as you so IMMATURELY put it] ... the issue is whether or not the Latino doing the crime is an "illegal alien".
Americans can't go to Mexico and do what the hispanics are doing here. please. Buy a clue. I'd rather the police stop every single suspicious Latino in town and enforce existing "federal immigration laws," if necessary...... than risk more loss of black life....our black youth are being gunned down by mexican "illegal alien" gang members [who, openingly, admit to ethnic cleansing].
Are we [Black Americans] supposed to stand by while these people kill MORE of our children....our people???? You must done lost your freakin' mind.
So, no, it's not racial profiling.....it's PROTECTION for americans [& black people ARE Americans] from INVASION .....from those who seek to kill us and our children. If anyone is ignorant, it's YOU......cuz obviously "you" don't know "your" history or federal law.
Every other country has rules, regulations, policies, and LAWS that are set in place to protect its citizens.....the US government has a moral & constitutional obligation to protect Americans from this [current] invasion from mexico.
And, before I forget.......YOU don't get to compare or minimize the plight of Black Americans [blk ppl. were FORCED here]........ to Latinos who come here "willingly" and ILLEGALLY on their own accord....those same Latinos can GO BACK TO MEXICO, if they don't like the laws here.
Go back to your own corrupted Mexican government [with it's hypocritical president]........cuz we all know.....the immigration laws in Mexico are a lot worse AND much harsher & strict. Yet, ya'll come 'here' and complain.
I ask you, dear readers, what's wrong with this picture? "eyeroll"
Reply June 11, 2010 at 10:05 PM
W. Martin said...
Jamiel “Jas” Shaw
I found this by accident and it brings me to tears.
To the Shaw family: I know your lives are forever changed but hope you have found strength through the pain. Jamile sounds like he was such a light with such a promising future.
I wish our government would listen to the will of the people. I believe they are all pawns of corporate greed. How can they see what is happening and not care? It's beyond me but money is the root of all evil.
We need a revolution.
Reply June 17, 2010 at 11:23 PM

From The Archives: Will You Be My Valentine?

2013-02-13T00:47:00.001-08:00

I originally wrote Will You Be My Valentine? For the now closed LA Moms Blog in February 2009. I revisited it in 2011. The kids are older and Valentine's Day brings up many of the same discussions. Chip is now in first grade...The grade I was in for a pivotal moment in my Valentine's Day life experience. It seems only appropriate we re-examine the topic. I have been talking to a lot of people this week about Valentine's policies. I have also been observing how Chip sees things and how I see things...And how I saw things when I was his age. It's interesting to have childhood memories that you know are trapped in the brain development of that age....And maybe colored by the experiences you have had in the decades since.

Now, dipping into the Traded My BMW for a Minivan archives: Will You Be My Valentine?

Strawberry Shortcake Live!

2013-02-08T19:50:00.000-08:00

I loved Strawberry Shortcake when I was a kid. I’m glad that Lulu loves her, too, because that isn’t always the case with things from my childhood. We were really excited to be invited to the Los Angeles show of Strawberry Shortcake: Follow Your Berry Own Beat. The tour will go to 32 cities in the US and Canada through March. We were treated to a pre-show party with yummy snacks including: strawberry milk and strawberry shortcake (of course!) and a meet and greet with Strawberry Shortcake and her friends, Orange Blossom, Lemon Meringue, Blueberry Muffin, Raspberry Torte, Plum Pudding, and Cherry Jam. I miss the prairie outfit that Strawberry Shortcake wore in my youth. However, I also appreciate the modern updates. I really like that the Strawberry Shortcake characters are “appropriately attired” and wear outfits similar to what their little fans wear.

Next we headed to the show at Club Nokia to find our seats. It turned out we had general admission tickets for the open area right in front of the stage. There were a bunch of area rugs covering much of the seating area. However, there was not enough space on the rugs for everyone. It resulted in many of us, including me, sitting directly on the hardwood floor. I found out from people sitting around me who had purchased their tickets, that they did not know they would be sitting on the floor. Many people were frustrated and unprepared, ie: not wearing clothes they would be sitting on the floor in, someone had a back injury, elderly family members, etc. I went with it, but I will admit it wasn’t very comfortable to be sitting on a hard floor. This got especially uncomfy when Lulu wanted to lean against me. I suspect this seating option isn’t going to be at all venues, but I recommend looking into the seating information before you purchase your tickets. [I also want to mention that I noticed people who were needing assistance were able to get help from the Club Nokia staff and in some cases I saw they were moved to seats in the next section] The show entertainment started with The Doodlebops as the opening act. They did a good job getting everyone warmed up for the main attraction.

Then, Strawberry Shortcake and her pals took the stage….Suddenly I realized we were in a kiddie mosh pit as Lulu and all the little girls started dancing around. The Hub is a popular channel in our house and Lulu enjoys watching “Strawberry Shortcake’s Berry Bitty Adventures.” The stage show has a lot of the same songs from the tv show. It was fun for the kids to recognize the songs. The premise of the story is a musical adventure set in the whimsical land of Berry Bitty City where the whole town is buzzing with anticipation for the Glitzy Glaze Talent Show. There is plenty of action, group numbers and solos to keep the show humming along at a nice pace. I actually liked the show…And I can’t say that about every kid show…For sure! At the end, all the characters came to the front of the stage and Lulu and her buddies were there reaching up receiving handshakes from Cherry Jam and Blueberry Muffin! It was a total rock star scene and way too cute. If you have a Strawberry Shortcake fan in your family, I highly recommend going to this show. For the tour schedule with cities and ticket information visit, strawberryshortcakeontour.com/tour-dates/.

I have some more good news for you, Strawberry Shortcake: Berry Friends Forever is going to be released on DVD on March 5. It is available for pre-order now.

Disclosure: We received a gift bag with Strawberry Shortcake merchandise as well as complimentary tickets to the show. All opinions and content are my own.

Luxury Family Getaway at the Hotel Bel-Air

2013-02-03T22:47:00.000-08:00

Having kids doesn't mean you have to give up high end hotels. Check out my latest for CBS Los Angeles: Luxury Family Getaway at the Hotel Bel-Air.