Lifestyles of the sick and suffering

The medical care system in California is infamously expensive. Doctors overcharge, insurance coverages are selective, and big pharma continue to balloon the cost of prescriptions.  I know a little something about this when we took a deep look into the healthcare industry when Portia was sick.

 

Fancy schmancy affair

Last summer, Portia and I were summoned (courtesy of Resy) to have afternoon tea with Her Majesty Hello Kitty at the Hello Kitty Grand Cafe.  We are the Duchess and Princess of San Fernando Valley after all. 

Twelve and thriving

Portia just had a birthday.  I've been documenting her for 12 years.  That means for 12 years I've watched her grow into the most amazing human girl.  And yet, there's so much I still need to tell her.  Teach her.  Show her.

Portia on silks

My little eleven year old doing a little aerial routine.  I had dreams of her becoming a ballerina.  But my heart is beaming when I see her doing what she loves. 

Thank you Belle for recording this gem.

Portia's 10th Birthday

The day I never saw coming has arrived.

Portia turns eight

She's a beauty and she just turned eight.  Portia's my mini me, that's what people say.  But she's so much more than I ever was at eight years old, confident, passionate, and so, so smart.

diy ramen costume + green tea hat

Last year a monstrous child size AT-AT, a.k.a Imperial Walker came trick-or-treating at our door step on all fours. And I went, "WHAT THAAA!!!!" I was in awe and envy that this mommy neighbor could attempt such greatness.  Yes, I had a mommy crush for a while.  But it was this kind of inspiration I needed to create my own version of a mini WHAT THAAA!!! in my diy ramen costume.

Goodbye circle time, hello common core

Portia's culminating in seven days! No more day care.  Good-bye half-day programs.  She's on her way to full days and I'm on my way to freedom.  I'll be FREE, FREE, FREE...unless she falls victim to the common core hysteria. Although, I know she'll excel just like her big brothers. 

Portia + video

It's only been a couple years since this simple girl(me!), who usually likes straight-forward, basic functionalities, has owned a Windows smartphone.  David had insisted on getting rid of my dumb phone due to it's low-end capabilities.  I like low-end capabilities.  I'm just now finally getting the hang of doing things I consider fancy - syncing, sharing, uploading.

Portia's week in pictures

This is FIVE!!

Beauty school dropout

I got all made up.  Literally.

This was the first time I let Portia paint my face. It was a pretty big deal since my makeup drawer is off limits to her.  No make up.  No nail polish.  She even has to get permission to put on chap stick. I'm trying to put off big girl role playing for as long as I can.  I just want my little girl to stay little for wee bit longer and if that means preaching the "natural" speech to her over and over, it's worth it.

What I did find out is that a career in cosmetology may not be Portia's calling.

Me + mini in the kitchen

When I was little I used to love being in the kitchen watching my mom cook.  She taught me how to make rice in a rice cooker, the basic prerequisite to Asian cooking.  And while watching her mix and steam her Chinese pork meatloaf, I caught on quickly to our culture's little-bit-of-this, little-bit-of-that measuring style.

Fast forward thirty years later, Portia is now watching me and falling in love with cooking too.  She loves mixing...pouring...stirring. Anything of a sweet batter consistency that she can lick the spoon after prep are her favorite recipes. Portia has even discovered the likes of Ina Garten, Bobby Flay, and Ree Drummond. Her obsession for Food Network has her curious about what celebrity chef is going to make what and who will win cupcake wars!  

Before we look at pictures, let me stress by saying how an unskilled baker is teaching an aspiring baker (who sees me as a pastry God) how to bake somehow all makes sense in the eyes of a four year old.  She's going to read this one day and not remember me as gastronomically challenged but just special moments in the kitchen with Mom.

Enough talking.  Portia's Brown Butter Blueberry Muffins!!

Preschool, end of an era

Week-to-week weather changes and seasonal swings have me asking are we in winter, spring, or summer? Well, the earth's changing position tells me that spring is ending soon and summer should be upon us.  

Love is in the air

 ...twice.  Ooops!

Here are Portia's Valentine's Day photo cards from 2013 (left) and 2015 (right).  I LOVE this years raining heart droplets template I found.  I didn't even think about when I used the same slogan in 2013! I've always done photo grams for a more personal touch since the preschool doesn't allow candy, stickers, or trinkets.

I already printed out 16 for her classmates.  What a waste of ink and paper to start from scratch. Don't cha think!!??

Happy Valentine's Day!

Same fence, different wheels

One month it's her bike.  One week it's her brother's scooter. And then one day it's her trike.

She likes variety and versatility.

Gardening through winter

Two things happen when the new year starts.  Winter and I break up while spring and I start a love affair.  I'm dreaming about the new plants I'm going to buy and estimate how long I can keep them alive. When you've got 75 degree weather gardening through winter is possible.  It was our first time at Green Arrow Nursery

Same fence, different tights

Now at four years old, Portia is becoming very self-sufficient being able to pull on her tights and dress herself most mornings.  It's one less thing off my...making breakfast, packing lunches, wrangling the boys into the bathroom to brush their teeth and get them off to school...a.m. duties list.

Her "dresses and tights" phase right now is so feminine and girly.  She's definitely her mother's daughter.

Appetite for headbands

I'm not crafty.  I don't sew.  I don't scrapbook.  But I do headbands (lately).

Portia, I, and DVF

A first (of many) grown-up girls only day. No Lego or Pokemon here.  Just Diane Von Furstenberg and The Journey of the Dress exhibition.

This week in pictures | Jan 13-Jan 19, 2014 (the Portia edition)

Birthday girl was all smiles: