Life with Dylan

Year: 2011

  • First Day of School

    Well, it’s official. My little boy is all grown up and a big 3rd grader. I think this is the first year he is actually bigger than the backpack! He was so excited to start school that he just walked (or should I say ran) to the car this morning.

    When he got home from school I asked him what is favorite thing was about 3rd grade. His response … I get a real math book! Not the kind you tear the pages out of. And even cooler, I get my very own planner!

    Such a proud mom!

  • Manic Monday

    A friend of mine, Pam Brashear, recently wrote an amazingly honest article for OC Moms about how she is taking a break from reading blogs because what she reads is depressing. The perfect homes, the fancy meals, pictures of family vacations .. you get the idea.

    Well, Pam threw out an idea on Facebook and I decided to go with it. So here is the first of hopefully many “Manic Monday” posts.

    This is my living room … on a good day!

    I’m not perfect, and I’m sure many of you are not either. Join me and share your real life Manic Monday pictures. Let’s show the world that we are real people with real chaos in our lives.

    Pam, Thanks for saying what many of us could not and for inspiring me to be as honest as possible with my readers.

  • Another Successful Baking Project

    What’s more fun than making a cake for your child’s birthday? Not much, but making these cakes and cupcakes for my friend Roxanne’s son Sam was a blast! Sure the baking insanity took over my life for two nights and the 30 minute car ride to the party was filled with anxiety that the cake would be destroyed … but his smile when he said “Light-neen M-keen” and “May-ter” was so worth it all.

    Photos courtesy of Roxanne Hack.

  • Good-bye Summer, Until We Meet Again …

    I can’t believe summer is over and my little boy will be starting 3rd grade in just two days. Where did the time go?
    It seems like the older I get, the faster the years go by … and the more I wish I could freeze time. My cuddly little boy is growing up so fast.

    As I look at school pictures from the past 3 years, my mind is flooded with memories and my heart is filled with love. Through pictures like these, I can freeze time … at least in my mind.

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  • Wordless Wednesday – S’mores

  • Do Your Friends Know the Real You?

    What would the world be without friends? Where would Eeyore be without Pooh or Tigger without Rabbit?

    Over the past week or two I have been going through some pretty tough times. Probably some of the toughest and most trying times I have gone through as a mother in a long time. I was at a loss for words and didn’t know where to turn.

    Photo courtesy of Disney

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  • Even a Child Can Make a Difference

    After watching the news with me this morning and seeing footage of the East Coast, Dylan said I wish we could help those people Mom. I told him that it’s hard to help people when a natural disaster occurs because we really have no control over it. I told him that unlike earthquakes, Hurricane Irene gives a warning. We can track the progress and estimate where the hurricane will hit. This gives people some time to evacuate and get to safer ground.

    What came out of his mouth next practically put me in tears. He asked what would happen to all of their food and clothes that they couldn’t take with them … what about their new backpacks for school?

    Remember, Dylan is only 8 years old.

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  • Fill In The Blank Friday


    Simplicity is Good Sometimes

    1. One of life’s most simple pleasures is … my morning cup of coffee.
    2. People talking on the phone or texting while driving makes me want to punch someone.
    3. I like dolphins because, they are always smiling.
    4. Humuhumunukunukuapua’a is a funny word. 
    5. If I had to choose one beauty product to use for the rest of eternity it would be Philosophy’s Purity Made Simple.
    6. I’m happy that I can relax by the pool this weekend. 
    7. I would never intentionally cause harm to an animal.
    Share your random thoughts in the comments below 
    or over at the little things we do …


  • Do You Live an Earth-friendly Lifestyle?

    Recycling is the most common thing people do to help the environment. Many think that this is all they need to do and nothing else really matters. Well, have you ever thought about how you recycle your aluminum cans and plastic bottles? Most people grab a plastic bag and start filling it up. When the bag is full they head over to the recycling center and collect the money.
    Well, that plastic bag is usually just thrown away. Plastic bags do not go away. Plastic bags end up polluting the ocean, harming marine life, and filling up our landfills. Think outside the box when you recycle your cans and bottles. All those reusable shopping bags you have … I know I have at least 15 in my trunk and about 10 in my home. These reusable bags make a great way to collect your recyclables until you make a trip to the recycling center. Especially if you live in an apartment.

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  • Aquarium of the Pacific Visit and Giveaway!

    Earlier this week Dylan and I were invited to visit the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, California as part of the aquariums first Mommy Blogger Event. The doors opened an hour early for this event and we were provided a lovely continental breakfast before touring the aquarium.


    We had the opportunity to meet the staff, learn about some great programs and events offered, and best of all enjoy the aquarium before it opened to the public. Knowing how much we both love the ocean, I knew this was going to be another wonderful day. One sure to make memories for both of us. If you have a child who loves the ocean half as much as Dylan does, you need to make a visit to the Aquarium of the Pacific.

    Any day he can touch an animal is a great day in his book!

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