Is it a Muffin or a Cupcake?

Last week was M's birthday and though I didn't do a big celebration, we celebrated in our own little way with lots of cupcakes. For some reason, I was doggedly determined to bake M his own cake from scratch. There's something very sweet and loving about the idea, especially since I skipped his first birthday celebration completely! I guess I am trying to make it up to him.

So, within a period of two weeks, I tried out a few recipes, having rarely baked anything from scratch. No, not even cookies! I've made candy-like toffee and truffles and cakes from a box, but nothing that really requires sifting. I remember asking our friend Keri, a sublime baker, from Forever Folding Laundry, about butter in her delicious chocolate pumpkin recipe. "When it indicates butter in a recipe, does it mean salted or unsalted?!" (Just in case you're a novice baker like myself, the answer is unsalted, unless indicated otherwise.)

My first batch of cupcakes ever, blueberry lemon cupcakes (doesn't that sound light and refreshing and summery?!) tasted good, but everyone kept asking me if I had made muffins or cupcakes. Aside from frosting, what's the difference, really?

For my first try, I have to say, the frosting was exceptional; though I did cut the recommended sugar used in the frosting by at least half. I don't like my cake and frosting too sweet and, honestly, I could simply eat the frosting all by itself!!

Here's the link these delicious Blueberry Lemon Muffcake (you like that?!) recipe:

Not wanting to ever confuse the cupcake and muffin again, I decided that chocolate cupcakes would be the best way to make the distinction. Forget the light and summery fresh cupcake - go for the decadent indulgence of chocolate.

For my recipe, I followed Ina Garten's wonderful Beatty's Chocolate Cake recipe. It is the best cupcake recipe and, best of all, it was a super easy recipe. It had everyone in our family asking for more, even though I made over 45 cupcakes for 20 people!

Beatty's Cake recipe courtesy of Ina Garten and the Food Network:

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
3/4 cups good cocoa powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup buttermilk, shaken
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup freshly brewed hot coffee

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line with cupcake pans with cupcake paper.

Sift the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment and mix on low speed until combined. In another bowl, combine the buttermilk, oil, eggs, and vanilla. With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry. With mixer still on low, add the coffee and stir just to combine, scraping the bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Pour the batter into the prepared pans and bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until the toothpick comes out clean. Cool in the pans for 30 minutes.

Thuy's notes: This recipe yielded about 24 cupcakes. For other beginner bakers out there, buttermilk is usually something I don't always have on hand so I simply add a tablespoon of lemon juice or white vinegar to a cup of milk and let it stand for 5 to 10 minutes. In many baking recipes, you can also just use plain yogurt or sour cream instead of buttermilk.

Also, the cupcake mix will seem incredibly thin and runny after adding the coffee, but it's absolutely normal. This is why the cupcake is so moist.

Ina's recipe called for a chocolate buttercream frosting. Because I didn't want too much chocolate on a chocolate cupcake, I used my first recipe's frosting to create a lighter tasting cupcake. The result was phenomenal! The combination of the light cream cheese frosting and the chocolate was perfect.

Thuy's Frosting:

1/4 cup (2 ounces) 1/3-less-fat cream cheese, softened
2 tablespoons butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup powdered sugar, sifted (add more to your taste)
squeeze of fresh lemon juice


As evidenced by M's happy face, this cupcake was a huge hit! As for me, I think I've got the cupcake bug now...Next cupcake recipe to try will be a red velvet cupcake. Yum!!

If you have any favorite cupcake recipes, please share because I've got to feed my new addiction for cupcakes!

-Thuy

As Seen on TV

I am a sucker for informercials. Many a late night have I stayed up purposely to watch them. Most times, I've been able to resist, but sometimes, I do manage to call within the next fifteen minutes to take advantage of the expedited shipping and bonus gifts, as evidenced by the Snuggie blankets and the Bare Minerals make-up (keep in mind, I don't even wear make-up) in my possession.

It amazes me the types of products people hawk but someone's got to be buying, right? Someone even more gullible than me?! Yep, there's a sucker born every minute. Rather than staying up late to catch these informercials yourself, check out a great compilation that the Huffington Post put together.

From the list, the Tiddy Bear and Kush are my favorites:





Seriously, you've got to check out the stupidest product videos because it ranges from kooky to completely disturbing. Lucky for me, the Sham-Wow isn't on the list...I'm still eyeing it.

Remember, watch the videos but don't be tempted to call the 1-800 number!

-Thuy

Public Service Announcement

1. BOGO Deal Jamba Juice - Expires Sunday, July 12, 2009. Good way to cool off this summer.

2. Jcrew – Twenty percent off all sale items. Use code “EXTRA20." Expires Friday, July 10, 2009.

3. Fit Flop - The silver and red fit flops are 50%, meaning you can get both for $24.99. Bliss Spa offers free shipping on all Fit Flops and MBT footwear via code 079906. I just have to wear these shoes to get toned legs and butt? Sign me up!!

4. Canon SLR Camera & Lens Deal - $509 is the best deal we’ve seen for the camera and its lens. We have this camera and love the quality of all of our pictures. Free shipping and no tax. Sweet!!

5. Container Store - 25% off everything in the store. Expires Sunday, July 12, 2009. Have you tried the shop and pick up feature? Saves so much time. Do remember to contain yourself!

-Thuy

Bathroom Occupied

My poor blog partners have been stepping in for me, because, frankly, I've been a bit occupied. For over three weeks, my mind have been focused on nothing but grout, grout color, tile pattern, and toilet and fixture selection. Remodeling when you're trying to be your own designer is exhausting, especially when I lack style or worse yet, confidence in my choices. I get easily paralyzed by all the choices out there. That's why I turn to Costco.com for some of my stuff, including this fabulous sink.

First, I have to tell you, our house is 102 years old, but the previous owners remodeled it in the early 80s and removed all the charm of homes of that era. Since we've moved in, we have been trying to restore a bit of that charm to our house, as well as modernize it along the way. Here's a peak into one of the dirtiest/cleanest room in our house. :)

Before: Ugly vanity and narrow bathtub

Before: The slippery tile and no room for dirty laundry

We were trying to empty our bathroom contents when we took this picture. That's why it's so messy. Yep, that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.

After: The bathroom looks so much bigger

After: A place to throw the dirty laundry in

Every remodeling project from, the kitchen to our new bathroom, involve copious amounts of subway tile. I love them, can't you tell?!

One funny thing about this bathroom remodel was that I was at the plumbing store A LOT. Seriously, almost every weekend. It took us a bit of time to shop for a toilet because I wasn't sure what I was supposed to do at the plumbing store. There was a row of 30 toilets and aside from assessing them for aesthetics and water conservation, how was I supposed to pick a toilet? I wanted to sit on the porcelain throne and try out the seat...you know...for comfort, but no one else seemed to be doing it that way. When I did finally try to test out a few of them, the salespeople gave me a weird look and a few people smiled politely and looked away, as if they were interrupting me. (You know you want to test it too, people!) I finally just picked a dual flush Toto toilet (I highly recommend the dual flush) and when it arrived, I again immediately tested the seat in the privacy of my own home. Much to my relief, the seat proved durable, clean, and comfortable. Whew!

I hope you enjoy the little tour of little bathroom. Happy 4th of July to you and your family!

-Thuy

Craigslist in Pictures

I love a good bargain and, in our area, the first and foremost place for such deals is the venerable Craigslist. Where else can one swap things, search for a job, find an apartment, potentially meet their future spouse, and sell their old baby toys, all in one URL? Also, did I mention I sometimes go on to read all the missed connections? Some are really sweet messages of yearning and some are just plain creepy, but it's fun to casually browse...just don't get sucked into reading them all.

Lately I've been on Craigslist because I've been searching for the perfect desk/play table for M and, though I keep searching with the mentality of, "I'll know it when I see it...", I quickly became frustrated at having to click on every post just to see the posted picture. Well, it looks like I found a site that only shows me the pictures within the category I'm looking at. It's called Listpic, and it's been a simple solution to filter out only the posts that have pictures.

I admit it's not a very robust search tool, but it does the job for a quick browse in the morning. A picture is indeed worth a thousand words.

-Thuy

Trailer Trash

You all know how I love my weekly dose of trashy US Weekly, but after four weeks straight of reading about Jon and Kate of the show Jon and Kate Plus Eight, I'm ready for other salacious scandals of actual celebrities. Really, how many times can I read about Jon and Kate's fledgling marriage and that Kate is a tart-tongued abrasive controlling diva?!

In my thorough literature research of Kate via US Weekly and OK! Magazine, it seems the magazines always point out the fact that she grew up in a trailer park. I am a bit sensitive to the magazine's citation of Kate's trailer park upbringing as if it explains why she's such fame seeking money monger.

Truth is, I actually lived in a trailer park in Dodge City, Kansas, for a year while growing up. It is a fact that even my husband didn't know. My family and I arrived in the US when I was eight without anything and we moved around quite a bit as my guardians couldn't find employment easily without knowing much English. We lived in the trailer park for a year before we got "the hell out of Dodge" and moved back to Dallas, Texas, where I spent my pre-teen years.

Like, Kate, I too had a mullet; albeit mine was when I was ten and Kate still has hers, even if it is a reverse mullet. I was tempted to post a picture of my mullet haircut, but fear that I would lose all crediblity. Really, next time you see my name in a post, you'll be thinking, "Oh, it's the girl with the Neck Beard/The Tennessee Top Hat/ The Kentucky Waterfall/ and The Camaro Crash Helmet [insert any sort of nicknames you may have]."

Kate is no class-act, but no matter how much "success" we achieve, can Kate and I ever be free from the trailer trash stigma? You can take the girl out of trailer park, but can you really take the trailer park out of the girl?! I would like to think so, but maybe I'm naive?!

-Thuy

Beyond Bulk Buying

I just came back from traveling with the family down to Southern California to visit friends and relatives and though we prefer “staycations,” it was a good way to test the waters before planning longer, more adventurous trips with an active toddler.

I’m a horrible procrastinator and despite knowing of the trip months in advance, I still planned it last minute and thought surely I’d probably have to pay through the nose for it. Not true. The Deal Gods must be looking down on me...I got amazing deals on Southwest airfare despite buying my tickets only a week in advance (HINT: always check airfare first; don’t assume it’s cost prohibitive) and even more drool worthy car rental deal of $14 per day for a mid-size from Costco. Yep, I said, Costco. Seriously, it cost more for us to park the car at the hotel than to drive it around.

Even as a single person, I shopped at Costco and some of my friends would laugh because it seemed excessive but it’s been so ingrained in me to try to get the best value out of anything. So aside from buying paper towels, wipes, and roasted chicken, and now, booking some of my travel plans from the website, I have also added hardware to my list. During my kitchen remodel, I bought a name brand garbage disposal, German engineered kitchen faucet, and other hardware accessories at extremely reasonable prices. Now, in the midst of our bathroom remodel, I turn to Costco once again for my bathroom vanity which was delivered this morning.

I get overwhelmed by too many options and after going to three showrooms, I just needed my choices narrowed down for me. Plus, if I don't like what I order from Costco.com, they have an amazing return policy. Not that I would ever do this, but I saw a person return a BBQ, 3 years after they’ve bought it. Costco still took it back. Got to love a company with that generous of a policy.

Before making any new purchases, I am now in the habit of looking at what’s available at Costco.com first. Just last week, I saw Phil and Ted Vibe Stroller with Doubles Kit for around $500. Their selection changes daily so it's been fun just checking to see what they have online. Here are some things for the kids that you might have never thought to look at Costco for, including the Boon bath set. For $44 you get the frog, the flo, and bath toys, and shipping and handling is included. It is indeed a boon to find such a deal!


Check out some other items that you might have never thought you'd find at Costco.com:

Play kitchens:

Nursery furniture:

Announcements, invitations and thank you cards:



Family ticket pack for Legoland, Santa Cruz Boardwalk, and Disneyland:

Browse around because it's always fun to just look.

-Thuy

When in Doubt, Sound it Out

Last night, I watched the Scripps Spelling Bee, an annual tradition for me. Ever since I watched Spellbound, the documentary about eight teenagers and their parents' quest to win the 1999 National Spelling Bee, I've been completely hooked. I love that finally the smart kids get the attention they deserve and it's truly the only day on TV when it's cool to be so uncool.

If you haven't watched the Spelling Bee, you're missing out on these great moments. Get a good laugh on a Friday.



Here's one of my favorite Spelling Bee bloopers from last year:



Join me in celebrating N-E-R-D-I-N-E-S-S.

-Thuy

Public Service Announcement

It's been awhile since I've posted deals, but it's Friday and what better way to end the week than to save you all a few pretty pennies. Here are a smattering of deals that I found this week:

1. Pampers on Amazon:
Save up to 30% on select Pampers and Luvs diapers sold by Amazon.com. Save 15% when you enter code PMPRSJN9 at checkout. Plus, save an additional 15% when you combine the instant rebate with your Subscribe & Save order--bringing your total savings to 30%. Subscribe & Save is only offered on select Pampers and Luvs products. Offer valid through May 31, 2009. (You don't have to commit to Subscribe and Save; simply cancel after your order ships).

2. Quinny Buzz & Zapp Strollers, and Maxi Cosi Car Seats:
Save 50% on the 2008 Quinny Buzz and Zapp strollers, as well as the Maxi Cosi Car Seats. We bought our Quinny Buzz from AlbeeBaby and are really happy with it. Even happier that we got it 50% off!

3. The Gap:
Save 25% off a purchase of $100 or more via coupon code "SUMMER".. Shipping is a flat-rate $7, or spend over $150 for free shipping. Sales tax is added where applicable. Coupon expires May 25.

4. JCREW:
Save 20% off $175 or more through Memorial Day via coupon code "SUMMER."

5. FREE Coldplay Album:
"LeftRightLeftRightLeft," the free live album that Coldplay is giving away on CD to every fan who attends this summer's "Viva La Vida" tour, is now available as a free download from the band's website. Simply enter your e-mail to download the free album.

I bet you're digging how I can include Coldplay and diapers in one posting, huh?! :) Enjoy!!

-Thuy

Spreading the Awkwardness

With Father’s day coming, I am thinking of giving my husband a family portrait session with our wonderful photographer, Ruth Woodruff, because without her help, we’d be probably be posting quite a few of our family portraits on this new and awkwardly funny website called Awkward Family Photos.

The site's name says it all. It’s a relatively new website that started last month and if you don’t laugh out loud looking some of their top picks, there’s definitely something awkwardly wrong.

Seriously, you've got to check out a few of their top picks:

Happy Mother's Day (I love that they are in a lush garden of Eden setting, although there's nothing natural about this pose.)

The Wonder Years (This picture disturbs me on so many levels!) -UPDATE: May 22, 2009. They have since removed this picture.

Something this wrong has to be shared. Happy Monday!

-Thuy

The Best Form of Flattery

When Francesca asked me to share a creative project that I had done during "We Heart Art" week, I broke out in a cold sweat. I've been tossing and turning for the past couple of nights now thinking about what the heck am I going to show. Truth is, I don't know how it happened, but I was born without any creative genes. A true medical anomaly. I've been wrestling with this disorder my entire life; they really should give me a handicap sticker for this condition.

The best way that I deal with this condition is by imitating all the wonderful artists out there on the web, including one of mine and Kacey's favorite artist, Lorena Simonovich of Petit Collage. I adore all her whimsical and adorable collages and always wished I could create them myself. Well, when I saw Lorena on Martha's show last month, I was ecstatic that she was willing to share how she does her beautiful collages. Not only that, but she also shared three of her easy templates. Sweet!!

I just picked up the supplies to start my collage yesterday and can't wait to get started...though, if I don't succeed (with my condition, I regularly suffer from shortness of breath, perception issues, and poor cutting skills), I can always buy Lorena's beautiful work. Those who can't craft, buy.

If you're afflicted like me, stop by Petit Collage and use the discount code "martha" to get 15% off of your order. Is saving money an art because if that's the case, I'm quite an artiste, non?!

-Thuy

Sew Crafty

There can only be one....winner, that is. Congratulations to Debbie of Suburb Sanity for winning three adorable Evelyn Fields bags! Hooray, Debbie!

For those of you who didn't win, don't be sad. I've got a craft challenge that will cheer you right up. It's supposed to be a simple sewing project, but I'm a real dummy when it comes to sewing. I can't even sew a straight line and would fail any sewing sobriety test miserably. No, seriously, I'm not kidding or exaggerating my lack of skillz.

The ironic thing is that I took a sewing class with one of my best friends a few years ago and after our 6 week class, I came home with the most expensive pair of flannel pajamas ever! (They were adorable though!!) However, within two washings, the pair ripped at the seams and had to be thrown out. What a waste!

Well, this time I'm really going to try and redeem myself with this challenge. By the end of this month, I hope to complete a few of these cute, reusable sandwich wraps. Okay, I'd be happy to complete one without it being torn to shreds after a few days. Gotta walk before I run, right?!

Join me, sew sisters, on this journey.

The instructions are from Kiwi Magazine by Vickie Howell.

Tip: For an even more sustainable sandwich wrapper, use vintage oilcloth (available at flea markets) and recycled buttons.

Materials:

1/2 yard oilcloth
4 large paper clips
1 hook and eye
2 buttons
1 thin hair elastic
Pinking shears
Ruler
Scissors
Sewing machine
Needle and thread

Directions:

1. Cut two 101/2" x 101/2" squares out of oilcloth.

2. Place one square on top of the other, with wrong sides facing each other (so pattern is facing outside). Slide a paper clip on each side of the square to hold pieces together as you sew.

3. Using a 1/4" seam, top stitch the two pieces together. Adjust the paper clips as you go to keep the oilcloth from sliding.

4. Trim around the edges of the sewn square with pinking shears.

5. Lay the square so that one of the corners is pointing at you, like a diamond. Fold the left and right corners toward the center so the tip of the points overlap by about 1". Repeat with the top and bottom corners to create an envelope. Run a fingernail over the edges to form a crease.

6. Open the top flaps, so that only the left and right corners are folded in. Hand-sew a hook about 1/8" inside the tip of the right corner flap. Hand-sew the eye on the left flap, leaving enough space inside for a sandwich (you can gauge this by using two pieces of bread).

7. Sew buttons on the top and bottom corner flaps, about 1 1/2" from each tip (again allowing room for a sandwich).

8. Place the hair band over the top button and pinch around the button with your fingers to create two loops. With needle and thread, tack the elastic so the top loop stays firmly around the top button and the bottom loop slips easily onto the other button.

Since you've now read all the instructions, you're in for the challenge, right? You ready to tear it up?! Ahem... I mean, sew it up?!

-Thuy

Not a Plastic Bag

It's amazing how many ziploc bags I go through packing lunch for me and snacks for M to go to the playground everyday. Initially, I tried washing and reusing them, but after awhile, I just gave up completely because it really became unsanitary. My unsightly problem and guilt finally compelled me to invest in reusable sandwich and snack bags.

Luckily my search for reusable bags ended with Melissa of Evelyn Fields. She makes the most adorable reusable bags from 100% unbleached cotton, which is great for keeping harmful plastics and dyes away from your food.

To help more people get on the green wagon, Melissa has graciously agreed to give our readers three of her beautiful bags. To enter, simply leave a comment with the names of the featured sandwich bags. The winner will be announced Wednesday.

-Thuy

Green is Good

Wednesday was Earth Day. It is actually one of my favorite days of the year because it brings a bit more consciousness to green living. Don't get me wrong, I still drive, eat meat, and add much to our local landfill. However, I do take little steps here and there to live a fairly green life by reducing my energy use, composting, recycling, and bringing my own reusable bags to the grocery store. Pretty simple, right?

If you'd like to start or renew your commitment to green living, Whole Foods is making it a bit easier. They are giving all of Oprah's viewers a free lunch bag made of recycled plastic bottles from now until Monday. Print the coupon and bring it in to claim your bag. Such a cute bag, too.

You get a bag! You get a bag! And you get a bag! Yes, you at home, too! Gosh, it feels good to be Oprah. :)

-Thuy

PS: Check out Oprah's Earth Day episode to find more cost saving and green living tips.

La Vie En Carnation

I love fresh flowers at home, though I am also always tortured by the impracticality of it all. I can't help but want to smell the roses every morning. Lately, like most everyone, we've been more conscious about what we spend our money on. Flowers every month from the farmer's market was the first on the list to go. It was an easy decision, but not a pretty one.

However, I had to share my pictures of the carnations that I received in a mixed bouquet from our family friend. I just took this picture this morning, three weeks after receiving these flowers! Most mixed bouquets have to be thrown out after only a few days, but these carnations have remarkably sustained their "beauty." I was one of those haters and considered carnations cheesy and cheap. But now, I have a new found respect for them. Cheap, pretty, and incredibly robust. Just like me in this economy. ;)

So, if you have a few dollars in your pocket, buy yourself a bunch of carnations to cheer up your home. Trick is, buy all one color. It makes a huge difference.

-Thuy

Keep on Swimming, Keep on Swimming…

Recently, I’ve signed M up for swim class. It was completely last minute, but M is at a point where he needs to work out some of his pent up energy. A lot of pent up energy.

By the time I was able to sign him up, only the earliest slot was available. Not surprising considering that I signed him up 12 hours before his first swim class. (Yeah, I’m a last minute kind of gal.) Needless to say, I was not thrilled at the idea of having to get up and immediately put on a bathing suit. Eck!

My son’s first impression of swim class was that it was “sexy.” As the moms were dressing or undressing themselves and their little ones, M made a wonderful impression by calling them and their kids sexy. Way to impress the ladies, son.

My first impression of swim class was not so positive. Swim class was like a big, warm bathtub where all the parents literally carry their children around and dance in circles, all while their bodies are half-way submerged in water. I don’t know what I was expecting, but certainly not singing and dancing to the Hokey Pokey; all that seems even hokier at 8 AM in the morning.

I was envisioning the Michael Phelps program (minus the weed), where M would be wearing those paper thin suits at the end of the program and swim like a little mer-baby around me. What’s with all this gentle nudging for them to even get their ears wet? I’m trying to train a future Olympian! Geesh! At one point, I almost wanted to tap the teacher on the shoulder and ask where the advanced class was…you know, because M is truly “advanced.”

Well, my lobbying for M’s promotion to the more advanced class is going nowhere. M and I are still in the average people swim class, but that’s because he hasn’t gotten "kicking off the wall" quite yet. We're practicing at home to hone that skill.

All joking aside, one great blessing about getting an early swim class is that the pool is clean. We all know that the swim diapers don’t do much and the idea of dancing around in pee-infested water, while singing the Hokey Pokey song, has me wanting to scream, “Everybody out of the pool!”

-Thuy

A Little Love and Understanding

It’s never easy to bring up a child. I’m always too quick to point out to my single friends that kids are tons of work and to enjoy their freedom while they can. “You think being married is like having a ball and chain?! Try having a kid!!”

Thinking back, I could kick myself for having said these things because I forget how grateful and blessed I am to have M in our lives. He’s a happy, healthy, relatively well-adjusted, and rambunctious little boy who can make us laugh with his silly faces one minute and then feel completely exasperated the next minute.

Parenting a healthy child is hard. However, I am completely floored by the experiences parents with autistic children go through. Because yesterday was World Autism Awareness Day, I took the opportunity to educate and remind myself of the challenges parents of autistic children must endure just to keep their kids safe. While I am often relieved to put M to bed and reclaim my time, my heart goes out to parents who must be constantly "on," vigilant, and apologetic regarding their child's wild, often unexplainable behavior.

If you haven’t already, take a minute to educate yourself on autism because the least we can do for these parents is lend some understanding and support.

Here are some resources to get you started:

Autism Speaks (the videos are great for identifying early signs of autism)

Autism Parents' Plea: Understand Kids' Meltdowns, a CNN article regarding a parent's struggle

-Thuy

Goop All About It

They pack their own trunk.

I have a confession to make. I love trashy magazines, like US Weekly and OK! My husband is quick to indulge this habit by signing me up for subscriptions because he secretly loves them too! I particularly love the "Stars Are Just Like Us" section, picturing stars doing mundane things such as picking up their dry cleaning, wiping their kids snotty nose, buying their own groceries, and packing their own trunk. The fine writing in this segment really does allow me to connect with the stars at a very basic human level. (Yeah, uh huh.)

It turns out that stars really do things that you and I do (gasp!): eat, sleep, take care of their own children, and of course, blog. Lately, I've been fascinated with Gwynie's blog called Goop (awful name, I know) or more appropriately, the "lifestyle newsletter." It's Gywneth Paltrow's way of sharing her secrets on style, food, self improvement, travel, and fitness; all the information and secrets her fame and fortune have afforded her that she is willing to share with the rest of us. So really, everyone can live like a star!

I admit that Gwynie's continual name dropping and ideas for shopping for $1000+ Chanel and Tod's boots and $800 a night hotel rooms may sound a bit haughty and pretentious, but you have to understand that she is a star, people. She makes lots of money and this is her circle of friends. Sweet Gwynie and I are so much alike really; I can't help but mention Francesca and Kacey wherever I go. It's not my fault I have such beautiful, fabulous, and talented friends?!

Seriously though, Gwynie is just like the rest of us in that she puts the health and happiness of her family above all else. Her recipes for turkey ragu and steamed peas are homey and delicious. And of course, she also shares a bit of the workout video her trainer, Tracy Anderson, sent her about working her butt. Now, you too can sweat like the star. (Try not to gag over Tracy's excessive fawning over Gwynie's "cooking talent.")

Check out Goop and nourish your inner aspect (whatever the heck that granola mantra means; I have yet to figure out.) Live your life like the star that I know you are.

-Thuy

Kacey, Francesca, Kacey, Francesca...Okay, is my name dropping not so subtle? Alright, I'll stop.

What's the Dealio?

I fell off the wagon today. For the past couple of months, I've been very good about refraining from shopping. Our current economic crisis means shoring up the emergency fund and exercising major restraint even when the sales are so tempting. Well, this week, I caved. I caved BIG.

I really do have an excuse, though. I am starting a new job next Monday and, this week, I felt like I needed to do some back to school shopping. Perfectly justifiably, right? (Like Kacey, I can justify any purchase.) The good news is that I rarely buy anything unless it's on sale. Somhow, the price of an item can dictate how cute it is. You know, a cute top suddenly becomes a whole lot cuter with an additional 30% off.

Alas, here are some places that have excellent sales going on. Go ahead and shop; you never have to justify your purchases to me.

1. Gap, Banana Republic, and Old Navy: 30% off through Sunday.


2. JCrew.com: 20% off everything through today, Friday, March 13th. Promotion code: Secret.

3. Crazy 8: 20% off everything + free shipping through March 22, 2009. Promotion Code: SAVE20.

4. Tea Collection
Tea Collection Sample Sale: March 21, 2009 from 9am - 1pm.
1 Arkansas Street (@ 16th), Suite B, San Francisco, CA
COST: $10 admission fee to be donated to The Global Fund for Children! Bring your own bag and get $5 off.

We love Tea Collection clothes and if you do too, you could win a $200 gift certificate to use at teacollection.com by submitting your kiddies' pictures by the last day of each month on Facebook. Winners are chosen monthly.

With so many sales, how could I possibly cover them all? I can't. Instead, I check out Bradsdeals, a great site that I found recently that does a wonderful job of listing all the sales. I love that he has the printable Michaels 40% off coupon or Joanne's coupon on his site. No need to dig through the newspapers when you can print directly from this website. So useful for when you are suddenly feeling crafty!

If you have any deals to share, please do!! I love to hear about other sales out there.

Happy Savings, everyone!

-Thuy

I'm Too Sexy For My Shirt

M has finally started talking. Primarily it is either in gibberish or Vietnamese, or in most cases, Gibnamese. Actually, he knows three English words, two of which are quite handy, gentle and bus, and last but not least, sexy. Yes, you read right, sexy.

I didn't mean to teach him the word sexy. Sometimes when we strip him down for his bath, I jokingly say to my husband, "Oh, someone is getting sexy." Well, of course he picked that word up right away. It's a fun word to say, I suppose.

Last week, when M saw me change my blouse in front of him, he exclaimed, "Sexy!" (I guess I am too sexy for my shirt.) Of course, my husband and I got a big laugh out of it and thought maybe we should phase out the word "sexy" because it is indeed strange for a kid with a limited vocabulary to say. We thought we'd phase it out slowly and just correct him whenever he used it.

Who knew I wouldn't get the chance? Last Saturday, while in the middle of our local library's story time, the little girl in front of us spilled juice on her t-shirt. While her mom was changing her shirt, my son proceeded to say "Sexy!" I was absolutely mortified! I was fully prepared to give an excuse that sexy is somehow a new Vietnamese word that M just learned. Luckily for me, no one asked. The look of shame on my face was apparently enough.

We aren't bringing sexy back, that's for sure!!

-Thuy