Mommy Diva

By Jes Alexander Seventeen years. For seventeen years we've been hauling our East coast posteriors to the center of the United States, each December, for Christmas. Dull, you say? No, no, my lovelies, not at all. Each Christmas brings new places, new tales, new foods, and new adventures. Sometimes, the journey to what I used to think was going to be nowhere even involves innovation. To some, our Christmas adventures read like tales of woe. I prefer to think of them as tales of the unknown, for we never know exactly what the holidays shall bring ... and to me, that's sort of the fun of it. In the beginning, our pilgrimages to the wheatlands were largely uneventful, and the spousal unit and I would fly from our Mid-Atlantic refuge, in suburban Hooterville, change planes in some non-descript hub-city, and land, several hours later, to be greeted by my in-laws in what seemed like the coldest place on the planet. I am a Manhattanite, and while I knew such a place actually existed, I had never been to Kansas, and if you are wondering, they do not greet you at the arrival gate with a hearty Midwestern handshake, and welcome you with an offering ...

[gallery] By Anna Carranza Title: Fiesta of the Virgin of Guadalupe Location: Mexico City, Mexico Description: Divas of faith can join thousands from around the country of Mexico and help make the pilgrimage to the Basilica of Guadalupe where the image of la Virgen Morena is kept. On one of the most important dates in the Mexican calendar, most make the trek on bicycles with their hearts set on seeing the monumental atrium. Dancers and musicians add to the richness of the spiritual celebration to Mexico’s patron saint. By the early morning the brilliant lights of fireworks crown the fiesta dedicated to the mother of all mothers. Diva tip: Bottled water and sunscreen are great accessories for worship. Contact information: Plaza Hidalgo 1, Colonia Villa de Guadalupe Tel: (55)77-6022 Date: 2008-12-12

Title: Surin Elephant Round-up by Anna Carranza Location: Surin Thailand Description: It’s not everyday you get to party with the elephants, but in mid November, a small town north of Bangkok celebrates one of Thailand’s best-known annual festivals. Once an ancient courtesan display and now criticized for commercial exploitation. For three days, hundreds of trained elephants parade in medieval warfare, play football and engage in a gargantuan game of tug of war. Diva tip, don’t wrestle the elephant yourself, unless you want to be dragged in front of forty thousand spectators. Tickets for The \"Elephant Show\" 500 Baht and 200 Baht Advanced reservations are available for 500 Baht tickets. Please call Surin Provincial Office: 0-4451-2039 Contact information: TAT Northeastern Office - Region 1 Tel: 66 4421 3666, 66 4421 3030 Fax: 66 4421 3667 Start Date: 2008-11-18 End Date: 2008-11-19

California Seen -Landscapes of a changing California, 1930-1970 Long Beach Museum of Art exhibit Nov. 7 – April 5, 2009 By Angela Rocco DeCarlo, copyright 2008 Southern California is as much a state of mind, as it is a real place. It is brilliant sunshine, Sorrento-like ocean views, combined with dynamic enterprise. That’s the story illustrated in the marvelous plein aire (painted  outdoors) paintings at the new exhibit, California, Seen, at the Long Beach Museum of Art, opening Nov. 7th and running until April 5, 2009. Families are welcomed Sunday, Nov. 16th, 1 – 3 p.m., to the Museum’s free Art making Workshops to learn how to make their own plein aire paintings. Museum educators will work with the children to experiment to make their own watercolor creations. All materials and instruction are provided free. The artists on display in California, Seen, were influenced by European art styles of the late 19th century, especially Impressionism. While the majority of the works are watercolors, there are, also, vibrant oils. Paintings such as Ben Messick’s oil circus paintings have the vitality of an Edgar Degas painting, drawing the viewer into the churning scene.  Messick, along with other stellar artists on display, such as Phil Dike, Millard ...

By Angela Rocco DeCarlo, copyright, 2008 Everyone should be in Chicago in the springtime…and that’s right now. Baseball fans know the city will be on high excitement as the Chicago Cubs clinched their National League Division and are in the running for the World Series. The Cubs last won a World Series in 1908, so they are overdue. Meanwhile, on the city’s South Side, the Chicago White Sox, American League, are doing well and, as of this writing,  may be in the playoffs. Notorious for its perfidious climate, Chicago is perverse enough to offer up its best springtime weather in the fall. October is, without a doubt, the most felicitous time to visit this world-class city to enjoy its many delights. In the fall the crowds are gone and the weather is usually delightful. A compact convenient city, visitors can catch the Impressionist paintings (the largest collection outside Paris, but in a much better venue) at the Art Institute of Chicago, on Michigan Avenue. Here’s where you’ll find some of the most iconic paintings in the art world: such as Claude Monet’s “Haystacks;” GeorgeSeurat’s “A Sunday on La Grand Jatte;” Grant Wood’s 1930s painting of a farmer and his daughter (not his wife) in ...

Coming down to the South Bay I expected everything green to be a little.. well.. bland... Not so the case with the hottest nail salon there!  Mani Pedi Cutie is an eco-friendly salon, filled with amazing people that greet you with a smile, cucumber mint water, and meditation rocks (of course I picked 'Passion').  The beach babe pedicure is a diva's dream!  If you'd like to celebrate your birthday there, the restaurants around will cater and you and your fabulous friends can enjoy a bottle of your favorite wine while you are being pampered.  Since I've found them, I will make up any excuse to go there and feel girlie again!  Mani Pedi Cutie gets this diva's seal of approval.  ;) PS:  I always make sure to get there around 5:30pm for my complimentary glass of wine. MANI PEDI CUTIE 507 Pier Ave. Hermosa Beach, CA 90254 T 310-376-9988 F 310-376-9981 W www.manipedicutie.com E info@manipedicutie.com HOURS Tuesday thru Friday 10am-7ish Saturday 10-7ish Sunday 10-5 Closed on Mondays. Please book an Appointment!

Forget Disneyland. And all the colorful made-up characters. Surprise your grandchildren - introduce them to real genius - Degas, Raphael, Monet, Pissarro and other great artists, whose works are displayed at the singularly splendid Norton Simon Museum, Pasadena, California. Will they be bored? Perhaps… But more likely they'll be intrigued. Imagine, someone they don't even know collected beautiful things for them to see and placed them all together to be enjoyed over and over. This is a concept even a three-year old can grasp. One day my then-tiny granddaughter, Michelle, looked around at all the old toys I'd saved from my childhood and my children's and said :"Nani, you kept all these for me." She understood! I treasured the items and wanted her to treasure them, too. That's exactly what successful industrialist, the late Norton Simon, did, as he set about collecting works of art he loved. He bought what pleased him and arranged for the display of approximately 1,000, of the 12,000 objects in thecollection, in the eponymous museum on Colorado Boulevard (seen by millions as Rose Parade floats pass by), Pasadena, California. You are right, I told her. Then explained that strangers gathered lovely things for us to see and asked if she'd like ...

[caption id="attachment_651" align="alignleft" width="150" caption=""Fluffy Guy""][/caption] As Mommies, we have the responsibility to be prepared for all unexpected situations to come.  Here are a few travel tips from one travel mommy to another. Safety For the older kids: Discuss safety rules before and during your trip. Always designate a meeting spot if anyone separates from your group. For the little ones: We reject the idea that our child can get lost, but hope for the best and expect the worst. A mom always has to be one step of the game. Get an I.D. bracelet with your contact information. You’ll thank yourself for it. Entertainment Option #1: When traveling, many destinations aren’t very big on children entertainment. To accommodate your kids, bring a mini backpack with some toys. Having a few of their favorite things will not only keep them occupied, but prevent them from getting homesick. Option #2: If you are a mother you will agree that when traveling with children entertainment “IS” everything!!! Invest in a portable DVD player. Just pop an Elmo or Transformer DVD and you are good to go. This is great for kids of all ages. Comfort Kids get antsy when trapped in the same place for a long period of time. If on a road ...