Why is the Sky Blue, Mom? Help!! I Need Ideas for My Kids.
IF YOU’RE OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER “CALGON, TAKE ME AWAY,” THEN YOU KNOW WHAT I’M REFERRING TO.
There is a great book I used to read to my girls when they were younger. It is completely appropriate for this time in our lives and I highly suggest buying it: Five Minutes Peace. This book gets us, and gets our life, if you have kids. Especially if you have younger children. We love our offspring but it’s the constant questions, the fighting between siblings, the cooking, the cleaning, the online school, having to entertain these animated objects full of boundless energy. You need to be “on” at all times and when you have no escape, no place to truly go, parenting can be daunting (I truly believe the grey in my hair is coming in at a faster rate!). But, this social isolation will pass at some point and believe it or not, you will probably miss this time with your children. They will return to school, or leave to go back to college, hang with their friends, possibly make the dumb mistakes they continue to make because that’s what teenagers do (I could write a book on my own teenage so-called “mistakes”), and our little ones will grow up right before our eyes, which we will then say, “how did they grow up so fast?” So treasure this time no matter how much you want to lock yourself in the closet for five minutes of peace, and give your kids a hug. And to make the time a little more tolerable, here are some virtual suggestions and products I recommend just for kids of all ages. NOTE: Don’t forget to check my past blogs for previous virtual ideas, hidden gems, product recommendations, and more.
VIRTUAL IDEAS
You can make your own Dunkin' Donuts at home: Donut Kit.
Bake along with your child with these fabulous dessert recipes you can recreate at home: Dessert Ideas.
Tired of reading another story to your kids? Michelle Obama can take over: Michelle Obama reads.
Recreate some of Disneyland’s memorable recipes: Disney's Monte Cristo sandwich, Disney's churro recipe, and Disney's chili recipe.
Take a ride on Disney’s tea cups in Paris: Disnelyland Paris.
You or your child can binge watch Harry Potter AND get paid for it: Harry Potter marathon.
Hilton Hotels just released their world famous cookie recipe: Chocolate chip cookies.
Learn about sea life at the Monterey Bay Aquarium: Sea life.
Assist your budding artist with help from the National Gallery of Art: Art ideas.
You can’t get any cuter than the live Panda cam: Pandas.
Bring the San Diego Zoo into your living room: Zoo games.
Elmo and friends help your little ones cope with COVID: Sesame Street.
Toys R’ Us has come up with some brilliant ideas to kick the boredom blues: Toys R' Us.
Are your kids Lego fans?: Legoland challenge.
Bring the science fair to your home: Science experiments.
Spy on animals from all over the world: Zoo cams.
My kids LOVED this museum when they were younger: Kidspace Museum.
If your kids are a little older, and are history buffs, or you are a fan of President Reagan, you have to check this out: Ronald Reagan Library.
The Long Beach Aquarium has some amazing programs to entertain all of us: Aquarium programs.
The San Francisco Exploratorium will challenge every scientific mind: Science ideas.
Have your children become financially literate adults. Check out this link for more information : Helping your children become knowledgeable about finances
KIMBERLY’S HIDDEN GEMS
Here are a few little tidbits I’d like to pass on to all of you.
If you crave sushi, if you love Katsuya, and/or if you’re impressed with Sugarfish’s to-go bento-style box, then you are going to flip out over this: Krispy Rice.
Do you want to get your kid involved in community service but don’t know how as we are confined to our homes? Well here is a way: Californians volunteering.
If you are looking for a unique gift or have a passion for antiques, check out King Richard's Antiques.
PRODUCT SUGGESTIONS
Here are a few amazing gift ideas or products I’d like to suggest that have been tested and loved by me, my girls, and/or friends after TONS of research (NOTE: I will never recommend a product I haven’t tried or did not like):
You can now play this game at all heights: Giant Jenga
Now you can see your kids at the worst in a fun game: Kids Against Maturity
This was seriously my girl’s favorite game when they were younger: Pretty Princess
The classic guessing game: Guess Who?
Teach them a classic game: Backgammon
Just wow!: Exploding Kittens
Bring live butterflies into your home: Butterfly kit
Make a cool item in 3D: 3D Pen
Remember growing crystals at home?: Crystal set
A fabulous art set for your budding artist: Massive art kit
A FEW PEOPLE FOR YOU TO KNOW
The Santa Monica Education Foundation is near and dear to my heart (my girls went through the amazing SM public school system). On Sunday, May 3 at 7 p.m., tune in for a special live stream event. They will have exciting auction items, surprises and lots of fun. And for those who want to get a head start, the event's online auction will open on this coming Monday, April 27th. They understand many people find themselves in difficult situations right now but the need for our students is still very real. So, if you are in a position to help, please join them to raise funds for essential staff and outstanding programs for Santa Monica's students. Santa Monica Wine Auction.
Lisa Taitelman is a certified transformational coach, aka Trail Blazer! She guides groups of women and challenges them physically through hiking, as well as emotionally and spiritually through meditation. She inspires and educates them that it is never too late to reinvent themselves through her six-week hiking empowerment program called Finding Your Trail. The focus is geared toward healing and finding one’s truth out in nature through self-care, self-love, and building community. Lisa Taitelman.
My friend and talented neighbor, Sandy Allbright, owns Lily The Pink Permanent Makeup LA, which is a highly rated permanent makeup and microblading studio. She is known for her excellent work and commitment to helping her clients achieve the best and most natural brow results possible. Did you know the right pair of brows can: 1) Make your face look more symmetrical; 2) Enhance or minimize certain facial features; and 3) Make you look younger? And the best part is they will be water-proof, smudge-proof, kiss-proof, sweat proof... everything-proof for years to come! Follow Sandy on IG @lilythepinkla. Lily the Pink.
A fabulous restaurant on the Westside offering amazing deals during this social distancing time is Del Frisco’s Grille in Santa Monica. In addition to their fabulous takeout and delivery menu, which they are also offering contact-free pickup service, Del Frisco’s also has phenomenal grocery options, including butchered meats, all at market pricing, as well as alcohol to go (most bottles of wine 50% off), cocktail kits, wellness food packs, and so much more. Current hours are from 12-8pm daily. In addition, they are offering spectacular meal kits to feed your family and Take & Bake meals for you to finish off at home where you can pretend you slaved over a hot stove all day. Please view their menus online, as well as their grocery list at Del Frisco's Online (you can also view their daily and weekly feature on FB & IG @DFGrille.SantaMonica). And don’t forget the upcoming Football Draft is this coming weekend, and Del Frisco’s has a special menu just for you football fans. So check them out!
Mark Bloom, a fantastic actor and a high-school friend of mine, has put together a beautiful, moving, and heartwarming video titled “Portraits of a Solo Sequester”. Please take a look. It will give you another perspective of how others are dealing with this time of social isolation, and though some of us may be alone, we truly are all in this together. Portraits of a Solo Sequester.
A FAVORITE RECIPE
As I mentioned in a previous blog, I was raised by a professional chef and I rarely measure my ingredients. But… There is one HUGE difference between someone who cooks and one who bakes: you HAVE to measure everything when you bake, but when you cook, you can “eye” your measurements (if you are a well-seasoned cook or know what you are doing).
BEST BANANA BREAD
It seems everyone is cooking banana bread these days. My girls and I have tried tons of different recipes but truly, this is the best one we have ever made. I have had this recipe in my family for over 30 years. You can vary it by adding coconut, pecans, walnuts, or chocolate chips (white, milk, dark, butterscotch). You can also make these into mini or large muffins but cooking times will vary (you can “eye” them by looking
1-1/4 cup sugar
1 stick unsalted butter, softened
2 large eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup buttermilk
2-1/2 cups flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. cinnamon
3 mashed ripe bananas
Mix sugar and butter; stir in eggs. Add bananas, buttermilk, vanilla and stir until smooth. Stir in remaining ingredients until moistened. Put into a greased bread pan and cook in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for one hour (test with a toothpick). Remove from oven when done, loosen sides with a knife and let cool on a wire rack.
A PARTING NOTE
Today’s parting note is super short: Look your kids in the eye and just say: I LOVE YOU!❤️
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PLEASER REMEMBER… when we are free to roam around town, L.A. ANY DAY will be here for all your Los Angeles vacation and staycation needs (remember I have connections EVERYWHERE and know EVERYTHING going on at ALL times):
Staycations and vacations
Friends and family coming in town (for fun, weddings, business trips, Airbnb, and more)
Long and short trips
Large tour groups
Hotels (exclusive concierge or luxury packages)
Corporate gatherings
Just to see the best of L.A. or to be a tourist in your own town
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Thank you for your support. Take care, be safe, and stay well.
~ Kimberly 🌞🌴💕
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