Amy Anderson: FunnyYellowMom

MomsLA Post: My Sweet Little Nelly (And I'm Not Talking About The Rapper)

2012-01-23T10:55:00.000-08:00

I have a new post up at MomsLA and it's about something in this photo. And it's not my kid...well not totally. Click to read:

Modern Family Wins The Golden Globe!

Join Me On Wikets!

2012-01-21T23:30:00.000-08:00

I've been playing around with a new app called Wikets and I want to get more people signed up so we can help get the Wiket ball rolling! It's a fun app and a great way to share stuff you love. I kind of describe it to people as a Yelp, meets Twitter with a WeReward type of points system. Did I mention it's FREE?!!

Wikets is compatible with Apple iPhone, iPad and ipod touch with iOS 4.0 or later. Wikets allows you to recommend products (called "recs"), apps and places to your friends and in turn, search for great recs from people you follow. Then you can earn points for sharing and using each others' recommendations and redeem points for e-gift cards. The e-gift card program is being hammered out right now, but while they are working out the details, it's a perfect time to get started, earning points and discovering new places and products.

Personally, I don't buy much of anything these days without a recommendation from a friend or great word of mouth, so this app is really helpful and it's fun too! One of my favorite aspects is getting a glimpse into the homes of my friends - what kind of products to they use, what do their kids eat and play with, where do they like to go?! It's fun! And if you join with my promo code, you can spy on Aubrey and me :)

Here's how to sign up:
- Go to the Apple App Store and search/download Wikets.
- When prompted for a promo code, enter: funnyyellowmom and you'll be ready to REC and roll!! Ok, that was really cheesy, but I do think you'll have fun with it!

Frankenstein's LAVATORY!!

2012-01-08T22:20:00.000-08:00

Happy 2012 Everyone!

Sorry I've been blog remiss, but the holidays really did get the best of me in the most wonderful kind of way. Now we are in FULL swing back to work and it's awards season, to boot. Modern Family has been nominated as Best Ensemble Cast for a SAG Award and Golden Globe. Crazy. Awesome. Exciting. Surreal.

In a moment of normalcy around the house tonight, Aubrey started telling me about the haunted house at Universal Studios. Her dad takes her there a lot because they got season passes and apparently there is a Frankenstein character who walks around the park and goofs around with people waiting in ride lines. Aubrey has been led to believe, or more likely has made up in her 4yr old mind, that Frankenstein is in the haunted house.

Initially, she was TERRIFIED of old Frank. Screaming and crying every time she saw him, but my little turkey has a long history (well, ok about 3 years) of facing her fears head on. She does this on her own and we didn't teach her to do this. It's in her nature. When she's afraid of something, she obsesses over it until she desensitizes herself and eventually, grows to love the former fear. Essentially, she's her own psychotherapist which, in the long run, should save me a fortune.

Sally The Snake Cake! I made it. Woot!

Last year it was snakes after a reptile guy came to her preschool. She obsessed over snakes so much she decided to have a snake themed birthday party and now, the fear is old news.

Tonight, she started rambling on and on and on about Frankenstein, which is nothing unusual these days. The desensitization process involves talking endlessly about the subject. But I heard her say something that was too good not to capture on video - for future bribery and humiliation. Maybe at her graduation party or wedding reception. I bet her prom date will like this too. God being a parent in the digital age is great:

Merry Christmas From Us!!

2011-12-25T02:20:00.000-08:00

It's officially CHRISTMAS 2011! Woohoo!

In case you missed it, here is the holiday Smilebox card I made for friends, family and fans. Aubrey and I really did have an amazing year. It was not without its ups and downs - like some HUGE ups and downs - but as I look back, I am proud of how much both of us grew and learned in 2011.

Personalize your own free picture slideshow

As you probably know, I am a single mom and tonight was a Christmas Eve of solitude for me. Aubrey's dad and I have shared custody and she is at her other home for Christmas this year. She headed over there this afternoon after a fun morning together of The Muppet Movie matinee and lunch at one of her favorite restaurants.

As a single mom, not having my child on a major holiday always brings mixed emotions. Most people would assume that it's totally sad, not having my little turkey girl here for Christmas, but it's not all sad. This is a time for me to relax, catch up on some work, stay up late and sleep in (!!!!), go to some grown-up holiday parties, watch American Horror Story on the DVR in the middle of the day and talk on the phone uninterrupted. I need this time to re-charge my mom-battery. I hate the phrase "me time" but that's what it is.

Aubrey and Bob Barker

Of course, the other part of me is sad that I won't have the traditional Christmas morning with her. These magical holiday years go fast and this is the first year she is excited about Santa Claus. The first year she actually gets the concept and is anticipating his visit.

Tonight, I was thinking that I hate not getting to see her reaction in the morning when she wakes up to discover the cookies and milk gone, her stocking full of treats and toys under the tree. But honestly, she's four and I bet she'll believe me if I tell her that Santa is coming one more night because he knows that she has two houses. Then we can have Christmas all over again next week when everyone else is standing in merchandise return lines and trying to figure out what to do with the rest of the kids' vacation days. We will be opening presents, having our own Christmas.

Motherhood has not been typical for me, in ANY way. Not since the day she was born. And while it's not a storybook ideal, it's still pretty amazing and I do believe we have a really splendid life together. We often have to make up our own rules and traditions as we go, but this is what makes our little family of two, special.

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday time this year, no matter what that means to you. YOU define your happiness and joy!

...and if you are spending time with family this holiday season and would rather be at home alone like me, check this out:

How To Avoid Holiday Family Fights

Hell Hath No Fury Like An Elmo Scorned

2011-12-22T23:06:00.000-08:00

Don't let the happy photo fool you - this was a WEIRD outing!

Aubrey and I are on "staycation" (that word sickens me a little bit) this week and next, so I've been trying to find fun things for us to do during the day. I had an audition in Hollywood late this morning so as we were driving up towards Hollywood Blvd to head back to the Valley, I thought it would be fun to go to the Disney Soda Fountain, next to the El Capitan Theatre for lunch.

Hollywood Blvd is beyond bustling with tourists right now. It's a little insane, but since we were't shopping and it was still pretty early in the day, I didn't think we'd have too much hassle. And we didn't...UNTIL... we encountered the man I'll to refer to as GHETTO ELMO.

To go to the Disney Soda Fountain, the only place to get validation is under the Hollywood and Highland complex. For the non-locals, this is the shopping mall (yes, it's a mall with a Pac Sun, Sephora and everything) where they shoot the Academy Awards ceremony every year and it's where the famed Grauman's Chinese Theater and Walk Of Fame are. It's a super touristy place and most locals only go out on the Blvd when they have guests from out of town.

When you walk out of the H&H complex to cross Hollywood Blvd to get to the Soda Fountain, you have to wade through several costumed roving street characters. Right as we emerged, straight ahead of us was a motley crew of Sesame Street characters. Three dudes dressed as Elmo, Big Bird and Cookie Monster.

Now, I've known for years, that these "characters" are pretty lame. Many of them have worn out, dirty costumes and some of the superheroes look like they're wearing Underoos. I wish I were kidding. But I'm not. For this, they expect a tip in exchange for a taking a photograph with them.

OK, I think a tip is fair for a photo, but a tip is just that. A tip.

Merriam-Webster's Dictionary defines a TIP as such:

TIP (noun): A gift of a sum of money tendered for a service performed or anticipated: GRATUITY

GRATUITY: Something given voluntarily or beyond obligation, usually for some service

Now, let's get back to GHETTO ELMO. I admit, I may have gotten Aubrey a little excited about the characters, because I saw "Big Bird" - I use quotations because he looked more like Big Bird's 4th cousin from the backwoods of Kentucky. I guarantee this was not an officially certified Sesame Street costume and he was lucky he wasn't lightly dusted and frying in a pan of oil somewhere.

OK, Backwoods Big Bird was really tall and stood out and as we emerged from the H&H complex, I said, "Look! It's Big Bird!" What four year old wouldn't be excited? Aubrey scurried up to the anemic looking trio, shoulders hunched up, sweet and innocent grin, waving her tiny little hand in a friendly pre-K "HELLO!"

GHETTO ELMO, down on one knee, quickly grabbed Aubrey while uttering a few generic pleasantries in a very non-Elmo-y voice, like, "Hi little girl. Do you like Elmo? Yeah? Do you want a picture?" GE stood her in photo taking position and said "Go ahead mom, take a picture."

It is at this point that:
1) I knew they would want money for this photo
2) I honestly don't know if he said anything like, "This is gonna cost ya, mom," but I KNOW he didn't say it was going to cost me $3.

I took the photo because, more than anything, I felt the need to rescue Aubrey from the dirty fur clutches of those stanky costumes.

Um...yeah. A picture really does tell a thousand words.

Click with the iPhone 4S (yay!) and Aubrey was back at my side. Just like that.

As I was taking out my wallet, GE, who was clearly the spokesman for the group, said to me in a hustler tone, "Don't forget, we work for tips. We work for tips." I handed Aubrey a dollar bill and told her to say thank you and give it to Elmo.

This is where it got ugly.

Dialogue:
(Please keep in mind, this is all me talking to a grown African American man in spectacles through a giant Elmo head in front of my 4 year old child. I know because that's how see-through the giant mesh patch on the front of his Elmo head was.)

GE: You don't have two more dollars? There's three of us working here.
Me: That's what I have. Thank you very much.
GE: Hey there's THREE people here. One-Two-Three. You can't just give us two more dollars?!
Me: No, sorry (I start herding Aubrey through the crowd to get away from him)
GE: (LEAVING HIS POSSE TO FOLLOWING US! SHOUTING AT ME!) That's the way you gonna be? Just walk away? Here lady, just take your dollar. We don't need it.
Me: Just take it. I don't want it back. Just take it.
GE: (Following us, following us) No! Here take it. I have NO USE for this. How am I supposed to share this with two other people?! Just take it! (waving it in my face)
Me: (he's holding a giant WAD of cash in his left hand and a plastic trick-or-treat bucket full of cash hanging from his forearm) You don't split your tips at the end of the day? Don't you pool them and split them, give me a break.
GE: What?! Split a dollar? 33 cents each?!! Just take your dollar lady!!
Me: It's a tip and that's what I have to give you.
GE: Yeah it's a tip and I told you there was three of us and that's how it works. Three dollars!
Me: You never said that.
GE: YES I DID!!

OK - pretty sure this is illegal in some way at this point. If he expects $3 then he should put out a sign that says: "Pictures with us in our dirty, shitty costumes: THREE DOLLARS!!"

This was about the end of the conversation. I really don't like confrontation and especially since Aubrey could be recognized, I don't like mixing things up, but I wasn't about to give this guy anymore money and I certainly didn't feel he deserved any more because he was harassing me, he manipulated the situation to take advantage of us and he was scaring my daughter.

I managed to wave him off and escape without getting my dollar back but I did have to have an odd conversation with Aubrey about what happened. She knows that those are people in costumes, but she's used to the Disneyland variety. The kind who are loving, gentle, clean and mute. I had to let her know that the man in that costume wasn't very nice and he wasn't being mean because of anything she did. We made a LARGE loop, through the crowd, around the freak show and arrived at the Soda Fountain where we then received the worst service ever for the most mediocre over-priced lunch in town. The only other time I have been there was on Mother's Day earlier this year, and it was horrible then too. Such a shame because it has AMAZING potential for being something really special. But it's just not. :(

Safe at last in the Disney Soda Fountain, that we will never go back to.

So much for fun. Well, Aubrey did have fun. In fact she had a ton of fun because she was with mommy and there was Disney stuff all around her as she gnawed a hot dog and fruit. She sat next to a giant stand of monster sized lollipops, and really that's all you need for a fun outing when you're four.

I'm grateful she managed to enjoy the day after that bizarre incident and even more grateful that we made it out of Hollywood alive. Or at least without an arrest for assault. I was pretty close to punching GE in the face. I just hope he gave that 33 cents he had no use for to Backwoods Big Bird and Cousin Cookie Monster so they could each have no use for 50 cents.

One last note: apparently I'm not the only one who has had this sort of encounter with the "cartoon characters". Even Zorro is on my side. For your Only-In-Hollywood reading pleasure:

Hollywood Blvd Characters Booted From Walk Of Fame

Judge Says Costumed Characters Can Perform On Hollywood Blvd

And Jimmy Kimmel has done a fine job at exploiting these characters on his show and has some pretty funny clips of them on YouTube. I only found this one with the Ghetto Elmo of which I speak and surprisingly he's the only one who seems to have a preschool education (yes, Aubrey studied the answer to this question last year and again this year), but this will give you an idea of where I'm coming from:

Have you ever had an encounter like this? Do you think I should have handled it differently? Honestly if there had been a police officer near by, I would have reported it immediately.

Disney's Toy Story 3 On Ice

2011-12-18T16:28:00.000-08:00

Aubrey and I had a BLAST at Disney's Toy Story On Ice 3 last Wednesday. Aubrey was honored to be invited as a VIP guest in support of the Children's Hospital Los Angeles and Toys For Tots! Aubrey did the red carpet, skated with the characters and had a great time watching the show. I still have NO idea how those people skate in those giant costumes. Amazing.

If you are interested in attending Disney's Toy Story On Ice 3 or any of the other Disney On Ice shows across the country, visit: http://disney.go.com/disneyonice/ to find a show near you!

SO excited for the show to begin!

Happy Holidays everyone!

Fresh And Easy Does It Again!

2011-12-12T21:02:00.000-08:00

I always like to eat, but eating during the holidays is one of my favorite things. I allow myself to let loose in the food department and the belt department and reflect on the year that has passed and the year to come whilst stuffing my face.

And I like it all - savory, sweet, sugary, meaty, fruity, chocolatey, liquory and my most favorite of all... BUTTERY.

The fine folks of Fresh And Easy (my FAVORITE grocery store on the planet) invited me down to a Holiday face stuffing extravaganza last week which was awesome within itself, but the venue was amazing as well - The Queen Mary Verandah Grill. It was my first time on the QM and it was a beautiful night to gorge oneself on a ship.

I LOVE Fresh And Easy and their holiday specialities this year are amazing! Grab one of their Holiday Guides or view it online, and go to town. You can even order an entire fresh cooked holiday meal for 8 of turkey, ham or beef roast from between $45-$65!! Just be sure to order by December 18 if you would like to have it for Christmas.

The San Fernando Valley Ninja Moms - We are STEALTH! (BTW, I just made that name up. We're not really ninjas.)

There's a lot to choose from and lots of it is seasonal so don't wait or it will be gone. Some of the items we sampled were the...

Cheeses, meats, veggies, nuts and dried fruits, crackers, salad and shrimp cocktail...

Petite Quiche (come in 3-cheese and Florentine, frozen section),

Sweet sausage and yam skewers (YAY Chef Cindy!!),

mini beef en croutes and brie & cranberry pastry puffs

Pie bites (apple raspberry & chocolate caramel, frozen section) & mini eclairs, pumpkin cheesecake pie, holiday cookies...

And of course, we all left with a giant bag of holiday goodies to sample and share with friends:

Aubrey and Bob Barker are ready for the holidays!

Belgian Biscuits, Dark Chocolate Nut & cranberry Squares, Pumpkin Bread Mix, Orange Spice Granola, Napa Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Organic Cinnamon Flavored Coffee, Peppermint Hot Cocoa Mix, Panettone, Peppermint Bark, Swiss Dark & Milk Chocolate Truffles, Vermont Maple Syrup With Vanilla Bean

Aubrey is in love with the peppermint hot cocoa and we munched some of those truffles in the movie theater over the weekend. Shhh... don't tell. That's what the "mom purse" is for after all. Tonight I'm going to bring the wine and biscuits over to a friend's house to share and the rest is MINE!! ALL MINE!!!! Mwahahaha! I'll be cracking open the rest over the holiday week at home with Aubrey. I especially can't wait try the vanilla bean maple syrup on my homemade pancakes :)

Food makes a great holiday gift and I haven't tired a single thing from Fresh And Easy that I haven't liked yet. Great prices, amazing natural products with no corn syrup, no artificial colors or flavors and minimal use of preservatives. Stop by and pick up a gift - even if it's just for you!

Happy Holiday Eating everyone and thank you, Fresh And Easy, for a fantastic kick off to the holiday party season!

Bacon Jam at WEST Restaurant and Lounge

2011-12-08T14:44:00.001-08:00

Bernadette & I downing shots of fresh corn soup (AMAZING!) and crispy quail egg on bacon jam - Thank you Chef Woolf!

Last week the Mom Bloggers of MomsLA and I hit the top floor of the beautiful Hotel Angeleno in Los Angeles for a holiday get together at their WEST Restaurant and Lounge. It was so much fun and a much needed break from the room I call my "OFFRY"(that's a super lame combination of "office" and "laundry". I think you know where I'm coming from.

If you haven't been up to the Hotel Angeleno, you may not realize that it's not the old Holiday Inn it once was, years ago. I'm talking about that cylindrical hotel off Sunset and the 405 southbound. It is now a chic, hip hotel with an awesome, grown up restaurant and lounge on the 17th floor, offering stunning view of the city lights... and there aren't any more lights anywhere in the city than the 405.

WEST is a perfect gathering place as a pretty central location for most Los Angeles area folks and... I know I'm getting old, but I love that it's truly sophisticated without being pretentious. There aren't poser hipsters wearing clothes so ugly that they're cool, no hip-hop music blaring, no Rosetta Stone language audios being piped into the bathroom (anyone get that reference?). It's just a nice comfy place with great drinks, amazing food, perfect ambience, spectacular location. Prices are a little up there, but I have several friends who have had their birthday get togethers here and have had a great time. Oh, and there's live music on

So if you want to learn more AND help me to win a "staycation" there, check out their Facebook page and "LIKE" the link I post to this blog! I have absolutely nothing to give you in return other than my undying affection and gratitude. But come on... consider it a holiday gift. Just a click:

https://www.facebook.com/westrestaurantandlounge

In the meantime, do yourself a favor and get yourself a spoonful of crispy egg on bacon jam. That's right bitches, BACON JAM. Chef Matthew Woolf is cooking up some mean dishes up there.

Thanks and enjoy!! aa

EA Games Got Game!

2011-12-03T12:17:00.001-08:00

The awesome folks over at EA Games, the premiere name in video games, sent over some goodies a couple weeks ago and I'm finally getting around to trying some of them out.

They have some really fun family friendly games that would make great holiday gifts and several are apps so there's no postage involved!

First off, they sent us some console games and we don't have a gaming console, BUT the very kind and generous Nolan Gould (he plays Aubrey's tv cousin, "Luke Dunphy" on Modern Family) has an extra Wii and is giving it to us. Aubrey will be SO SURPRISED AND EXCITED!! And I'm excited because I'll have some new activities to keep the energetic Aubs busy and physically active indoors during these dark, blustery winter weeks. Yes, we do get coolish, windy weather here in SoCal.

First for gaming consoles or PC I'll give you a quick list and links so you can check them out. I haven't played these (remember, no console) but they look really fun:

The Sims 3 Pets - available for Xbox360, PlayStation 3, Nintendo 3DS, PC/Mac
Be a pet or have a pet - it's up to you.
ESRB Rating: "T" for Teen

FAMILY GAME NIGHT 4: The Game Show - available for Xbox360 (with Kinect functionality), PlayStation 3 (with Move functionality), Nintendo Wii
Experience re-imagined versions of your favorite Hasbro family games - CONNECT 4 Basketball, YAHTZEE! Bowling and SCRABBLE Flash to name a few.
ESRB Rating: "E" for Everyone

MONOPOLY Collection - available for Nintendo Wii
Hasbro's No 1 family game is packaged in this two games in one value priced collection. Play Classic Monopoly or Monopoly Streets. You can also check out EA Games' Monopoly versions on Facebook, iPhone, Android and Pogo.com.
ESRB Rating: "E" for Everyone

TRIVIAL PURSUIT: Bet You Know It - available for Nintendo Wii
Two different game modes to choose from with more than 7000 questions based on current event, pop culture and more. Also check out EA Games' TRIVIAL PURSUIT games on Pogo.com and iPhone, iPad and Android apps.
ESRB Rating: "E" for Everyone

And now for the app games! We tried 5 of these apps so far and we're hooked:

The Moogies - iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch
Targeted for children 2-5, this isn't really a game so much as it is a silly activity for kids. A crazy cast of animal characters that do stuff that kids will get a kick out of. Aubrey is ADDICTED! It keeps her happy in the car and at restaurants and really, isn't that 98% of the reason for having an iItem when you have a kid? Worth every cent. Enough said.

Rope Rescue - iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch
Help Rupert the parrot save baby birds in cages by connecting ropes through a series of pulleys and obstacles. This is one of those games that your preschooler will somehow be better at than you. Aubrey loves the birds!

Roll In The Hole - iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch
Guide Popo the panda through physics based puzzles to collect popsicles on his way to the portal into the next world! This game is a little to hard for Aubrey - she is 4 yrs old - as it does take motor skill precision and quick reflexes - but my boyfriend and I had a lot of fun with it. It is challenging AND adorable. (Tip: Great drinking game at a bar. Somehow seems to get more and more challenging the more you drink.)

Tetris - iPhone, iPod Touch, Android
The classic addictive game with new modes and official Tetris Rank and Tetris Club... in case you're competitive like that.

Bop It - iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch
As annoyingly wonderful as it's tangible counterpart, but not as easy to trip on in the dark. This is stupidly addictive and ALSO makes a great drinking game! No joke. I don't know why they don't market it as such. Invite some friends over, mix up the martinis and Bop It.

Some other fun family apps you may want to check out are Theme Park, Road Trippin' and Fantasy Safari. I haven't had a chance to check these out yet, but anything by EA Games is sure to be high quality and plenty of bang for your buck. I love theme parks, so I think I will check that one out next.

I hope you got some holiday shopping ideas for the game lovers in your life - or at least a new cocktail party theme.

You have 22 days left until Christmas and if you're Jewish, better get crackin'. Happy Holidays and THANK YOU EA GAMES!!

To Do: Get Lots Of Stuff Done

2011-12-02T19:24:00.001-08:00

This is how my desk looked all week. OK, it still looks like this, but I moved the stuff off of my computer to the side so I could type. Please ignore the laundry hanging in the background. It's not like my office is actually the "laundry room" or something lame like that.

I'm having one of those rare days...let's call it a... SUPER PRODUCTIVE DAY! Why? Why am I getting so much stuff done you ask? Because my boyfriend is at work and my kid is at her dad's. I'm in an empty house!! (cue the angel voices) AHHHHH!!!!!!

I let our nanny go after Aubrey booked Modern Family because since I started managing her, I'm either with her all the time at the studio or at home, or I'm on the road and she's at her dad's. It doesn't happen very often that I'm at home alone, but when it does, I go into superhuman mode and get amazing shit loads of stuff accomplished. Why, just today before 6pm, I...

- Finished my whole cup of tea at breakfast while it was hot - amazing
- Washed and folded 3 loads of laundry
- Read 2 magazines from start to finish over lunch
- Ate my lunch without having to get up and cut someone's food, get someone more food, get someone different food or wipe anyone's butt (I'll let you guess if that's the kid or boyfriend)
- Brought a load of old clothes to the re-sell shop
- Brought a pair of pants into the tailor's
- Picked up the mail from the po box
- Bought a gift
- Finished writing a tv series treatment that has been on the back burner for 5 months
- Activated my new iPhone and set up the apps, email, etc
- Updated my performance calendar and organized my current show contracts
- Got an audition on the calendar for next Monday
- Caught up on my emails
- Made egg salad
- Took out the trash and recycling
- Dropped off my e-waste that has been sitting in a bag on my office floor for a year, at a drop-off site
- Pooped without the dog or a 4 yr old coming into the room to talk to me (yes, my dog talks)
- And now, I'm even blogging!

Before I had a kid, I was like this every day, but rather than laundry and household errands, I was focused on my career and myself. I worked from the second I got up until the second I went to bed. I exercised 6 days a week and I was 103 lbs, strong and fast. My career had some great momentum. I had a social life. I knew what day of the week it was and the name of the current president. I miss those days. I mourn the loss of that life.

Now I have a little muffin top and my day gets divided up into mom duties, career stuff, domestic chores and there's a man, a kid and a dog who all seem to want something from me at different times.

But it's all good. I don't think I'll ever find a balance, but somehow it's all working out. My career is maybe going to move a little slower this way, but we haven't starved to death yet (even if I did have to take a shitty side job this summer) and I'm starting to feel more ok about that than I did the first couple years of motherhood.

There aren't a lot of advantages to co-parenting with an ex you don't particularly care for, but then there are days like these. I'm lucky to get a super productive day alone every once in a while. It keeps me human so for that I'm grateful. Now if you'll excuse me, my dog wants to talk to me about something and I promised her a couple minutes of my time.

Discount for Disney-Pixar's Toy Story 3 On Ice!

2011-12-01T10:09:00.000-08:00

People keep asking me if I'm ready for some football and you know what? No. I'll only ever be ready for football to end. Zzzzzz... but this holiday season, Aubrey, Lee and I are continuing an annual tradition of attending a Disney On Ice show which is something we all enjoy. It really is fun, even as an adult, and nothing is better than watching a preschooler's face light up with pure joy and wonder at the spectacle of gigantic costumed people doing flips and triple axels. Honestly, I think they should make character costumed figure skating an Olympic event because I have no idea how those people skate AND do tricks in those get ups. No idea. I couldn't even walk in those costumes. Anyhoo...

I promised you a discount code a few weeks ago and code I shall give you!

Use code word MOM when you buy tickets online, over the phone or even at the box office and receive $4 off per ticket on the $16, $21, $26 priced tickets. You can also buy a family four pack for only $48! That's a pretty good deal. :)

Once again, for the dates, times and locations, visit http://disney.go.com/disneyonice/
and here are your venue and date options here in SoCal:

Los Angeles Staples Center: Dec 14-18
Honda Center of Anaheim Dec: 20-25
Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario Dec: 28-Jan 1
Long Beach Arena: Jan 4-8

Anderson Family Thanksgiving Update

2011-11-23T20:59:00.001-08:00

We are here in rural MN!! Here's a quick run down of the Anderson family Thanksgiving frolic and drama, thus far:

- Airplane ride with Aubrey went very smoothly. She's an angel to travel with until...
- Got to the rental can and Aubrey hated the smell of the air freshener so much she started to cry and screamed, "This car smells disgusting!" Right in front of the Enterprise lady. That lady was a bitch anyway, so it's all good.
- Boyfriend arrived on a separate flight and has been on good man behavior
- Mom fell and broke her shoulder yesterday (uh... yes)
- Went to a big indoor water park with Aubrey, SIL, nephew and boyfriend today which was a much needed getaway from the house for the kids. And adults.
- Have eaten more carbs in 3 days than I've eaten in all of 2011 leading up to now
- Found out my mom's bathroom scale is 4 lbs under actual weight. DAMN YOU SCALE!
- Got my newsletter mailed out
- Got an interview for a show I'd love to be on
- Watched the new episode of Modern Family with MY Modern Family
- Ate Dairy Queen and Culver's - awwwwww yeaaaaaahhhh!
- Back is killing me from the very stiff mattress in my parents' guest room
- Having a great time being with Aubrey. She makes every day sun shiny!

Tomorrow is the big T-Day. We'll see if my boyfriend drinks too much and picks a fight with me, how long it takes for either my dad, my brother or me to yell at my mother to sit down and rest (remember, she broke her shoulder?! She WILL attempt to do it all with a sling and an oxygen tank.) and if Aubrey can make if through one more day with her cousin without a time out. She came VERY close tonight.

Tis the season! I give thanks for my interesting family. What else would I blog about?

Two Princesses

2011-11-15T23:51:00.001-08:00

It's almost Thanksgiving and I have a CRAZY week coming up with a show in CT on November 17, then a show in WA state on November 19, then home to pick up Aubrey in SoCal on November 20 and leave for MN on the same day. We'll land in Minneapolis late that night and head up to the nowhereland my parents decided to retire in the next morning to hang there for Thanksgiving. It's a 2.5 hour drive from Minneapolis.

We'll be travelling alone, Aubrey and me, and anyone who has travelled alone with a young child knows how harrowing of an event it can be. Fortunately, Aubrey is good as gold on an airplane because she loves flying, loves getting snacks and watching videos and having her own seatbelt and tray. She thinks it's a hoot. But it's still a ton for work for mom - lots to schlep alone. I'm dreading the schlep, but looking forward to the time with family and playing in the snow with Aubrey and her cousin, David.

Anyway, this was a really roundabout way of saying this week has been really busy getting ready to head out for work and holiday travel, back to back. Today was the only afternoon to spend with Aubrey before I leave and we took a little time to play princess. Aubs isn't all that much into the princess scene (thank God) but she does love to dress up in anything frilly or silly. She got out these princess crowns and made up her own rules. This girl never stops cracking me up!

WIKETS! Recs & Rewards!

2011-11-08T19:56:00.000-08:00

Hi Peeps!

I'm helping a friend of a friend launch their new app called WIKETS. I just downloaded it today and it's really quite cool. It's kind of like Facebook meets Yelp meets Amazon meets Twitter... but not complicated at all.

You build a network of friends and make recs (recommendations) of products (your favorite blender, the best spatula you've ever bought, the warmest snowboarding mitts on the planet) and places (sushi that will make you die, only garage to get your car serviced, the Thai massage that made you cry for your mother...in a good way), build wish lists and then earn rewards like Amazon gift cards for using friends recs, wishlists and re-recs.

WIKETS is FREEEE and currently available for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch with iOS 4.1 or later.

Here's one last thing I should mention - I'm in a contest to see who can ge the most people to download with their promo code. I can will a MILLION DOLLARS!

OK, it's actually only $500 but that could buy a lot of tater tots (currently Aubrey's favorite food).

Here's what to do:

1) Install WIKETS from the app store on your device, for free
2) Open the app on your device
3) Create an account
4) During account creation, it will ask you if you have a promo code: FunnyYellowMom

That's it! Then enjoy the app! It's pretty fun and could be addictive... like you need another time sucker! HA!

You can follow me too, to see my recs. :)

GooooooOOOOO WIKETS!

Disney Pixar's Toy Story 3 On Ice!

2011-11-08T09:36:00.000-08:00

Tis the season to put things on ice and I've seen lots of stuff on ice... Smurfs, Christmas, Vanilla.... but nothing is better than Disney characters on ice. Last year we took Aubrey to Disney On Ice "Let's Celebrate" and she went so ape sh*t for it, she STILL wants to read the program as a bed time book, a year later. So when I told her there was a new Disney On Ice show, well, monkey poo flew. She's a little excited. Just a little.

This year we will be treated to our favorite Toy Story characters, Woody, Jesse, the Potato Heads, Buzz Lightyear, Ken and Barbie as they tell the story of installment #3. Aubrey loves these characters and I know I can't wait to see a horse, a t-rex and a pig on skates. Really, how do they do that?

Disney-Pixar's Toy Story 3 On Ice will be touring all over the US this winter starting this week through April 2012. If you live in WA, CO, NV, AZ, UT, FL, KY SC or the best state in the country... CALIFORNIA, you are lucky people. The show is coming to you!

Here in SoCal, you have four options:
Los Angeles Staples Center: Dec 14-18
Honda Center of Anaheim Dec: 20-25
Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario Dec: 28-Jan 1
Long Beach Arena: Jan 4-8

Check back here on my blog to find out how to get discount ticket pricing with a code that can be used for orders online, by phone or at the door!

In the meantime, happy Thanksgiving! Gobble gobble!

For ticket, dates, locations, please visit: http://disney.go.com/disneyonice/

Disney Interactive Media Halloween Bash!

2011-10-29T00:25:00.000-07:00

My mini-MJ busting some sweet moves

Last week, Aubrey and I went to the Disney Interactive Media Group's Halloween Bash at the Disney Studios in Burbank. This group puts on the BEST parties and this one was no exception!

Guests were treated to samplings of the newest Disney console and online video games and web site offerings on DisneyFamily.com and FamilyFun.com and there was even an artist on hand giving lessons on how to sketch the penguins from Club Penguin!

Of course there were amazing treats and activities too! Aubrey loved decorating her own Tinkerbell cookie so much, she made two.

Mmmm...Tinkerbell cookies!

If you're into family video games, there are some really fun ones that just came out including Disney Universe, Cars 2 and LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean but Aubrey's favorite was the Phineas and Ferb: Across The Second Dimension.

Aubrey and her bestie, Isabella, playing Phineas and Ferb

Her other favorite of the night was Club Penguin. I'd heard about the Club Penguin craze and now it has become a reality for us. I may need to put a lock and chain on my laptop. What am I talking about? Aubrey has a job. She can buy her own compter! Geez.

Aubrey held this poor woman prisoner for a large part of the evening

Little ones can also check out Pixie Hollow online and the new mobile apps: Where's My Water and Puffle Launch for iPhone, iPad, iPod and Android devices.

A well-deserved Jack Skellington cupcake!

We had an AWESOME time that night and the perfect end to the evening was that Aubrey won the kids' costume contest with her Michael Jackson get up. She even busted a couple moves to Thriller when they queued up the music to call out her name. She was, literally, thrilled!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE! Have a safe and super fun holiday!

xo Amy & Aubrey

Mickey's Halloween Party 2011

2011-10-04T17:17:00.000-07:00

If you've ever wanted to witness several thousands of people attempting to collect $49 - $64 worth of free candy, then have I got the party for you!

This past Friday, the fine folks of the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim invited Lee, Aubrey and me to attend Mickey's Halloween Party at Disneyland for the second year in a row. We had SO much fun last year and this year was even more fun because Aubrey was old enough and brave enough to go on some of the scarier rides!

She wore her Michael Jackson costume (sans homemade sparkly glove & wig - too much hassle on the rides) and we went on tons of rides including the Haunted Mansion Holiday, Mr Toad's Wild Ride, the teacups, the Matterhorn, Pinocchio, Peter Pan, Dumbo and more and of course, Aubrey had to see the Captain EO movie!

MJ, I mean Aubrey, all ready to Rock The Night Away!

There are only eight more nights to attend Mickey's Halloween Party and it is a separately ticketed event during the evening/night time hours. You'll be treated to a special Mickey's Costume Party Cavalcade parade, photo opps with Disney characters in their Halloween garb, and a really kick-ass Halloween fireworks display. They have also added scary elements to Space Mountain and there are two really fun dance parties with characters which Aubrey really enjoyed.

Aubs Shakes Her Body Down at Buzz Lightyear's Intergalactic Space Jam!

Mickey's Costume Party Cavalcade Parade

The best part of all was the Trick-Or-Treat Trails. Throughout the park there are candy stations and when you check in you get a huge bag to collect as much as you want. And the people handing out the treats were very generous too - handfuls at each stop! Oh and there are raisins, carrots and apple slices in addition to the candy so you can eat one of those and then feel justified in downing a pound of peanut butter cups. We now have so much candy at our house...we should be put out of our misery. I'm expecting love letters from our dentist to start arriving any day now.

LOTS of candy, people. Lots.

Check event details, dates and prices here and I would suggest buying tickets in advance. The night we were there it did sell out! Get those costumes on and have a great time!

Aubrey Explores Her Possibilities With Courtney Watkins

2011-09-30T15:36:00.000-07:00

Hey, you forgot your pearl necklace, Courtney!

Aubrey and I attended a special event at the Jim Henson Studios in Los Angeles with Courtney Watkins from Disney's Family.com webisode show, The Possibility Shop.

Courtney Watkins is a teacher, crafter, writer, hostess and super mom with the mostest. From what I can tell she's kind of the Martha Stewart of family activities (aka the polar opposite of me). She even writes, creates and executive produces this webisode which leads kids and parents through creative activities, projects, games and more all fueled by your child's imagination. No gimmicks, no game consoles or apps involved. Amazing, huh?

Aubrey and her flaming flashlight!

Aubrey really enjoyed the activities that evening which included making shadow puppets and putting on a show, creativity exercises that were as simple as coming up with different uses for a lemon and playing the "Get To Know Me" game. She also got to make a flashlight into a pretend campfire with tissue papers, cellophane and rubberbands and then the kids set up a pretend camp ground! (Today at preschool, she brought her special flashlight for "share day".)

Jar O S'mores

I think her favorite part of the night was getting to make a take-home S'mores snack jar, which I'm doling out to her in small portions at a time. Anything involving marshmallows is a hit with Aubrey.

You can check out The Possibility Shop webisodes on www.Family.com/PossibilityShop and follow the show on Twitter.com/PossibilityShop too!

So Proud To Be A Modern Family!!

2011-09-21T11:21:00.000-07:00

It's already old news that:

1) Modern Family swept the Emmys on Sunday night. Like rolled it with a Hoover and then dust bustered the crumbs people. Amazing.
2) My super awesome and snuggly Aubrey is the new "Lily" on said hit show:

Most moms/parents would be proud of their kid scoring the sweetest job for a 4-yr old in prime time television and I'm no different. I'm so proud that I can hardly contain myself from telling complete strangers at the gas station, the grocery store, public restrooms... but I'm also aware that there is a stereotype of the Hollywood-Showbiz mom and it's not a pretty one so I wanted to take a few minutes to tell you my feelings about this recent life changer and dispel any celebrity gossip. HA!

I have been in this business for over 14 years as a stand up and improv comedian, an actress and writer (...and waitress, dog walker, temp worker...) and I know the ups and downs of this business, the pitfalls and the pleasures. Show business is not for the faint of heart and it is not for most, but there is a special breed of freak who just can't resist the spotlight. I truly believe you are born with this freak gene and my kid seems to have inherited it from me.

Am I proud? Yes. Am I excited? Yes. Am I a little scared? Of course. But I feel equipped to guide and coach her in her career and be a real mom to her as well.

So before the rumor mill begins swirling after this initial night of worldwide exposure, here are some tidbits that I have already been asked about a lot already:

1) Aubrey wanted to try out for the show and she was NOT a child actress before this. This was her first time memorizing lines and acting. I had no desire to get her into this business, mainly because I'm pretty busy driving myself to auditions and feeding myself snacks in the car.

2) We are not rich now. As soon as I posted the news that Aubrey had booked the role back in July (?) FB "friends" started making comments about us going on vacations and buying expensive rides, etc. We are still living in our rented town home, driving a 10 yr old mid-sized luxury sedan with lots of scrapes on the bumper (previous owner, thank you very much), clipping coupons and accepting clothing hand-me-downs. Aubrey is making decent money for a four year old, but Ed O'Neill's salary it is not. We are VERY fortunate to be able to plan for her future and right now we are focusing on her well-being, happiness and education. She does attend regular pre-school on days she's not on set.

3) Aubrey's dad and I are not together. We were a couple for several years, but never married and split when she was an infant. We are both involved in her daily life and share responsibility of raising her. We are both very happy about her success but mostly both love being her parents. She's an amazing girl.

4) I am a Korean born adoptee which means Aubrey is half Korean and half caucasian. The Hiller twins (they played Lily seasons 1 & 2) are Filipino and caucasian. So, no one is actually Vietnamese... get over it and there are tons of Asian adoptees who are mixed race. So get over that too. :)

5) Most importantly, Aubrey loves her work with Modern Family. She truly enjoys the time she spends with the cast and crew and even begs to go see her "tv friends" on days she's not scheduled to work. We have hit the jack pot, not just in the monetary sense (see #2) but with this show. My boyfriend, Lee, and I were devoted fans long before Aubrey booked this role. The show is brilliantly funny with the best writers and I can honestly say that every person we have worked with on the show - cast, crew, admin, execs - kind and wonderful people with good hearts. I think it shows in the product they put out each week, does it not?

We are thrilled to be a part of this amazing show. BEYOND THRILLED and I am so touched by our friends and family who have gotten excited for us, telling everyone they know to tune in! Tonight is the night and life will never be the same for us. I'm not sure that we are ready, but we are grateful. Thanks for coming along on the ride!

MODERN FAMILY
1-Hour Season 3 Premiere
ABC 9/8c
September 21, 2011

MOM Ticket Discount for Phineas and Ferb!

2011-09-12T09:09:00.000-07:00

Remember I told you I would have a special discount deal for Disney's Phineas and Ferb: BEST Live Show Ever? Well here it is. For all my SoCal friends, there are two venues for the show and you can use the discount at either one:

THOUSAND OAKS
Fred Kavli Theatre at Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza (2100 E. Thousand Oaks, 91362)
Friday, September 23 – 4:00pm & 7:00pm

LONG BEACH
Long Beach Terrace Theater (300 E Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90802-4825)
Saturday, September 24 – 4:00pm & 7:00pm
Sunday, September 25 – 1:00pm

Ticket Prices: $65.00 / $35.00 / $25.00 / $20.00
To order tickets by phone: 800-745-3000

See your favorite characters - Phineas, Ferb, Candace, Isabella, Baljeet, Buford and Perry The Platypus (or as Aubrey calls him, the "Ploctypus") live on stage in a high energy, musical adventure!

THREE Ways To Get The $5 Discount:

1) Print this flyer and redeem in person at the box office

2) Buy tickets on www.TicketMaster.com and use promotional code MOM

3) Call 1-800-745-3000 and use promotional code MOM

Here is the flyer! Hope to see you at the show and have a GREAT week!

SoCal Life The Aubrey Way

2011-09-11T12:35:00.000-07:00

OK - So I started writing this last week and am just now getting around to posting it... so imagine it's Monday, September 5...

Stacy and I have been friends since 7th grade. Like over 20 years. Wild. Through umpteen moves and life changes, we have managed to remain friends. This weekend, she and her two boys (Brendan, 9 and Keenan, soon to be 5) made the mini van trek all the way from Tucson to visit. Being true Southern Californians, we took them to the beach on Saturday and The Happiest Place On Earth on Sunday.

Malibu was beautiful with impressive surf rolling in all the way from New Zealand, putting on a fantastic water show. The weather was perfect and the kids would have frolicked in the sand all day if we had let them. Grilled burgers and dogs on our patio that night for dinner.

The next morning took us down to Anaheim. Our visitors had never been to Disneyland, so it was a real treat to see them experience "Disney Magic" for the first time. Aubrey, now 4 years old and having been to Disneyland exactly three other times, is an old pro. She told me this morning she would like to go every day. Ha! Better book another tv show then, kid.

I've been to Disneyland 5 other times before yesterday (Excluding the time my family drove there circa 1976 and it was closed. Couldn't make that shit up.) and each time I experience something new. There is so much to do and see, and depending on who you are with, it can be totally different each time.

Firsts for me this time were:
- Mr Toad's Wild Ride
- Ariel's Undersea Adventure
- Ate at the new Paradise Garden quick serve restaurant - surprisingly AWESOME! The chicken kabobs were delicious!
- Saw Captain EO - shamon! Hee hee!

The main crazy of the day was that the Disneyland Half Marathon was that morning and many of the roads into the park, resort, etc were closed off, so it took us about an hour of driving around and around and around the park in bumper to bumper traffic before we were able to get to where we were supposed to be. But it was smooth sailing after that.

All day, Stacy and I kept freaking out about the fact that were were at Disneyland...with our KIDS! WHAT?! How did that happen? It feels like it was just yesterday that we were wearing stirrup pants, forgetting our locker combinations and taking off our shirts for that awkward scoliosis test. OK, maybe not YESTERDAY, but where do the days, the years go? And how did we turn into adults with children tall enough to ride most of the rides at Disneyland? Yikes!

Time certainly does fly, but it sure is fun with good friends and having Aubrey allows me to experience life and SoCal in a whole different way. I probably wouldn't have built a sand castle and caught sand crabs at the beach and I definitely wouldn't have bought and tasted cotton candy at Disneyland. She reminds me to enjoy the simple things and to savor the sweetness that is all around us. Lucky me.

I was recently talking to a good friend about balance in life. Career, relationships, parenting, health. There are only so many hours in the day and in the past, most of my hours were spent on career. I said I felt that Aubrey came into my life to give me better balance. I'm not sure I've figured out the balance yet - or really, I'm not sure I ever will - it's more like I just try to squeeze more into each day so I can do it all, but this weekend with friends, with family, with children, with Mickey Mouse... it was a good step back from our busy lives and a nice break for fun together. I hope you all find the time to let fun and joy in your lives. If you're not sure how to do it, just ask yourself, "What would Aubrey do?"

Phineas And Ferb: Best Live Tour Ever!!

2011-08-28T20:46:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone! Disney Live is bringing Phineas And Ferb: Best Live Tour Ever to SoCal and I have a discount for you!

OK, I'm going to admit that I have never seen Phineas and Ferb, but Aubrey watches it at her dad's house and she LOVES it! It has been the #1 animated show for tweens for three years running and the Best Live Tour Ever is kicking off this month on an 80 city tour.

Favorite songs from the show, such as "Squirrels In My Pants," "Backyard Beach," "Busted," "Today Is Gonna Be A Great Day" and more inspire the plot for this part action adventure, part rock concert show.

If you'd like to check out the show here in SoCal there are two venues:

Ticket Prices: $65.00 / $35.00 / $25.00 / $20.00
To order tickets by phone: 800-745-3000

And check back to my blog in September to get a special ticket discount!

Aquarium Of The Pacific = Fishtastic

2011-08-23T17:09:00.000-07:00

Aubrey and I got to be special guests at Aquarium Of The Pacific in Long Beach, CA this morning and it was a first visit for both of us. We had so much fun and I learned a lot of surprising things about the Aquarium!

We spent the morning looking at several of the over 11,000 species of marine life and animals there but our favorites we the creatures we got to touch with our own fingers, including jelly fish, mangrove rays and zebra, epaulette and bamboo sharks! Did you know those 4-5 visible rings in the bell of the jelly fish's body are its stomach?! Cool, huh?

We also held an orka tooth and a dolphin jaw bone as well as peered though the teeth of a shark. And there is more to the Aquarium than just fish... we saw Arctic Fox pups in the Molina Animal Care Center and the Lorikeet Forest too. After catching the sea lion show, Aubrey cooled off in the Shark Lagoon area Squirting Squid play area and then back inside to check out giant lobsters, crabs, sea horses, star fish and tons and tons of fish!

My only complaint about the Aquarium Of The Pacific is that it isn't closer to where we live. We only got to experience a small portion of what the Aquarium has to offer, so we'll definitely be back for more visits in the future!

If you would like to visit the Aquarium Of The Pacific, be sure to check out their website to plan your visit and make the most of your time there. You can also find out more information about the many festivals, films and camps that they have for kids of all ages and the entire family.

Aquarium Of The Pacific
100 Aquarium Way
Long Beach CA 90802
562.590.3100
www.AquariumOfPacific.org
Open 9am-6pm every day of the year

Upcoming Shows: The Improv at Harrah's - Las Vegas!!

2011-07-30T23:15:00.000-07:00

Wendy always practices Safe Comedy

After a CRAZY few weeks here in AmyLand, I'm happy to announce my next shows in VEGAS BABAY! I'll be featuring for my dear friend and super amazing funny woman, Wendy Liebman. Two shows a night, Aug 2-7, so no excuses if you're in the area. For the rest of you, I have two words: ROAD TRIP.

You can click on the LaughStub links on the right to see more info but here are the basics. Hope to see you there!

The Improv - Las Vegas
August 2-7
8:30pm & 10:30pm nightly
Harrah's Hotel & Casino
Reservations: 702.369.5223

Get FIVE Screaming Bucks for FREE!

2011-07-27T13:16:00.000-07:00

Some of you may know that I'm a brand ambassador for an awesome company called Screamin Daily Deals. They are a SoCal company, based down in OC and I'll cut to the chase - the deals work like a Groupon. Free to register, get emails with deep discounts on cool and fun stuff, have a limited time to purchase the deals. There is one big difference, however, and that is that SDD gives 10% of their proceeds to local schools and non-profit charities and you can even choose an organization you would like to benefit from your purchases! Cool, huh?

Screamin Daily Deals has already donated over $422,000 to schools non-profits AND they were just acquired by Local.com which means the deals will be getting bigger and better.

Like I said, it is free to sign up and if you use this special link, you will receive a $5 credit in your account to use toward any deal you want! So get on it people - it's a no brainer:

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP & GET A $5 CREDIT!!

Have a great day everyone and thanks for stopping by! I hope you find a deal you love soon!

I have a marketing connection to ScreaminDailyDeals. Through the use of affiliate links contained herein, I may collect fees from purchases made.

Perfect Pairing Brunch Was Dip-tastic!!

2011-07-17T22:30:00.000-07:00

This weekend was the dreaded weekend of CARMAGEDDON here in Los Angeles (they shut down a large section of one of the main freeways in L.A. which also happens to be one of the busiest freeways in the entire US) so everyone was in a tizzy about that, but when I was asked to drive over an hour south to Yorba Linda to eat Frito-Lay chips and homemade dips with 5 of the coolest mom-bloggers in SoCal, I said, "Traffic be damned... let's head out on the highway!"

OK, the truth is I committed to go before I realized it was happening on Carmageddon weekend, but it all worked out great! Almost NO traffic because everyone (except us) listened to instructions to stay off the roads if at all possible, and the food and company was outstanding.

The fine folks from Frito-Lay provided each of us with chips and a grocery credit to make a homemade dip and pair it with a Frito-Lay chip and then get together and EAT THEM! Hello! This was pretty much my dream meal. I have been a long time chip and dip fanatic and I was really excited to see what my fellow bloggers came up with.

Here's what we had and here is the recipe for what I made:

- @rockinmama / http://rockinmama.net made a mango salsa
- @thoughtsofamomy / http://thoughtsofamommy.com made a cheese fundido dip
- @daytrippingmom / http://www.daytrippingmom.com made a pico de gallo
- @OCMomActivities / http://www.OCMomActivities.com made a bruschetta dip
- @LA_Story / http://www.LosAngelesStory.com made a spinach artichoke dip

and I made a SPICY BLACK BEAN DIP and here's the recipe:

1 teaspoon olive oil

1 green pepper, chopped

1 red onion, chopped

2 (15 ounce) cans black beans, drained & rinsed & 1/4 cup liquid reserved

1 1/2 teaspoons cumin

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

1/2 teaspoon chili powder (more or less as you like)

1) Heat olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat2) Add the pepper and onion
3) Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened (about 5 minutes)
4) Add beans with reserved liquid to the skillet
5) Simmer covered for about 10 minutes
6) Place mixture with remaining ingredients into a food processor (I used my blender, cuz I ain't got not food processor. Do I look like Martha Stewart to you people?!)
7) Pulse to combine, but do not puree
DONE! I served it hot - it's healthy and DELICIOUS!

We noticed that the Hint of Lime and Hint of Jalapeno Tostitos really brought out the flavors in the Mexican style dips and I also learned that a 1-oz serving of Tostitos tortilla chips have less sodium than a cup of plain yogurt! That's food for thought.

It was a really fun way to spend a Saturday afternoon and I also got some awesome new recipes. If you'd like to get the rest of our Perfect Pairing dip recipes, just click on the other bloggers' links and get dipping!

(Oh, and I also made a dessert to share which were Hamburger Slider Cupcakes... recipe here!)

My First Kid Stuff Review: Calico Critters Deluxe Village House!

2011-07-04T13:30:00.000-07:00

After several weeks of researching which doll house to buy my 4-year old daughter and how much to spend, I got the idea to start doing Kid Stuff Reviews. We are faced with so many options when it comes to shopping for our kids, it can make your head spin a la Linda Blair sometimes. It can be hard to know what to buy and where to get bang for your buck. I felt I could help my fellow parents out AND provide some much needed comic relief in your day.

Please check out my FunnyYellowMom YouTube channel and watch, subscribe, comment and share. My first video is up where I review the Calico Critters Deluxe Village House and in the future, you can expect to see reviews of more toys and gear too.

Enjoy the video (watch for a cameo by Bob Barker The Wonder Chihuahua) and Happy Independence Day!
Amy

Paul Frank's Academy Of Awesome Tour 2011!!

2011-06-29T10:14:00.000-07:00

My super awesome daughter, Aubrey and my oh so awesome boyfriend, Lee and I got to attend the launch of Paul Frank's Academy Of Awesome Tour 2011 last Saturday here in Los Angeles. The event was held at the uber hip Pacific Design Center and it really was AWESOME!

I have been a HUGE Paul Frank fan for years so it was a real treat to get to attend this event.

Activities and goodies for the evening included:

Snacks from Pirate's Booty & juice from Kern's...YUM! Mango, Aubs' fave!

Merchandise store - wish I had a zillion bucks

Freshly silk screened tees & totes. Can't wait to wear mine!

The Academy Of Awesome Winnebago! Aubrey loved chillin inside.

Scurvy ping pong

Monster inflatable obstacle course & bouncy house! GO Aubrey & Caroline!

And of course, pics with the monkey himself, Julius!
Aubs with one of her BFFs, Isabella

Lee, Aubrey & I take a ride in the photo Winnebago

There were also coloring and temporary tattoo stations for the little ones, a cocktail lounge for the big ones, a live music stage, free ice cream from the King Kone truck, the Kalbi truck was there and they even had a Puppy Prom contest. We didn't bring Bob Barker (our chihuahua) but we saw some pretty snazzy canines.

Aubs acts like a monkey for the red carpet

The Academy Of Awesome Tour 2011 continues on across the US, literally everywhere from Arizona to Wisconsin, Louisiana to New York and in between. If you'd like to get in on some of the awesome action, visit the official Paul Frank Facebook page and click on "Academy Of Awesome" on the left menu bar. You'll find the dates and locations for the tour there.

Ciao for now my little monkeys!

Phew! Aubrey's Snake Cake Was A Success!

2011-06-20T10:26:00.000-07:00

I really enjoy baking. I wouldn't say it's a passion, but it is a lot of fun and it's something I do well. Every year I take on the challenge of making a birthday cake for Aubrey. It's my gift to her and I'll do it for as long as she enjoys it. I know someday she'll want me to just drop her off at the mall so she can eat a Hot Dog On A Stick for her birthday, so this is something I want to make special for her while it lasts.

Her first birthday was my choice, so I made her a monkey cake:

Her second birthday, she chose a Yo Gabba Gabba theme and I think the cake turned out adorable, if I don't say so myself:

Last year, my mom sent me a Williams-Sonoma donut shaped cake pan as a just-for-fun gift and as soon as Aubrey say it, she wanted me to make it so we had a giant donut cake for her third birthday and made it a baker's theme. She got her own baker's hat and apron with her name on it too:

This year, a reptile guy came to Aubrey's preschool and the kids got to touch snakes, lizards, toads and more. Aubrey was taught to be afraid of snakes by some other parent and nanny in her life (a-hem) and she freaked out a little when it was her turn to touch the snakes, even though I was the parent volunteer holding the snakes.

Needless to say, I was a little shocked when she told me she wanted a SNAKE CAKE for her birthday this year! One of the many ways Aubrey amazes me is that she takes on the daunting task of facing her fears head on - all on her own. No one taught this to her, she just does it. She forces herself to confront her fears until she desensitizes herself and even starts to enjoy the thing that scares her. She's done it with hippos (yes, hippos), pirates and skeletons and now, snakes!

So a snake cake it was and I let her choose the color: "Orange with purple polka dots!"

The clock started ticking and I started planning the cake. I've decided to post the instructions and results here because after I finished it, everyone asked me HOW I made it. I admit that I stole the basic construction concept from some ideas I found online, but the rest is original and she was a real hit at Aubrey's party!

Here's How I Made Aubrey's Cute Girl Snake Cake:

It was a 3 day project, a little bit at a time.

BAKING MATERIALS:

- I used one Giant Donut Cake Pan from Williams-Sonoma which is actually two ring pans and then an additional, slightly larger ring pan which I had a fairly hard time finding but finally got at a specialty cake store. I'm sure you can order online if you plan ahead... unlike me.

- I made marshmallow fondant from scratch on day 1. There are many recipes online and very basic to make, easy to store and work with. Just a sticky mess to make, but tastes WAY better than regular/store bought fondant!

Blurry pic of fondant process - powdered sugar EVERYWHERE!

And also did some prep work like julienne slicing the licorice for grass and gathering together all of my decorations and tools.

Making grass from green apple licorice

- I made buttercream frosting on day 2 and stored in fridge

Buttercream icing for the crumb coating/fondant adhesive

- I baked the cakes on the 2nd night and cooled them, so I had 3 rings total. Also, a fun thing about this cake is you can make different flavors so I had a yellow cake ring and 2 chocolate cake rings.

Two smaller rings which made the top coil and the head/neck & tail

- The 3rd morning, I did all the decoration assembly with lots of help from another 2 hands. It was at this point that I'm going to publicly admit that I almost threw the entire thing in the trash! It was 8:30am and Aubrey's party was at 5:30pm. I didn't like the way the cake baked and my buttercream was overthawed, I had no idea how to apply the fondant and I was pretty sure it was going to be a disaster. In a nutshell, I felt like I was on one of those cake war shows. STRESS!

But I pulled myself together and made it work. Thus the PHEW in the title of this post.

For the design: I cut the larger ring lengthwise, in half to form 2 rings. These formed the bottom coil and the middle coil. Then one of the smaller rings formed the top coil and the last smaller ring was sectioned in two to make the tail and the head/neck.

For the coils: I rounded off any sharp edges with a sharp serrated knife and ate the shavings because I was starving. Yum. I also trimmed out some of the center hole of the top coil so it was large enough to stick the neck through later. I also use a little of that piece that I trimmed to help form the head in the following steps.

For the tail: I shaped about a 1/3 of the one smaller ring like, well, the tail you see here and make sure it matches the height of the lowest ring so it looks "realistic" (all using a sharp serrated knife).

The head: This was definitely the HARDEST part for me as the piece of cake you have left (2/3 of a smaller ring you just shared w the tail piece) doesn't look anything like a snake head. I had to use smaller scrap cake pieces to piece together a roundish head, then sort of hold them together and try to frost it all. An assistant (like my very nice boyfriend) is helpful at this point.

After cakes were cooled and cut and frosted in a "crumb coating" - I stuck in fridge as I went - it's a very easy cake to work a piece at a time.

Iced the top ring in buttercream

Obviously, start with the bottom coil and work up. Roll out your fondant and apply. I used long strips and because I'm not very skilled with fondant yet (this was my 1st fondant cake) I had to use 2 strips on each coil. I couldn't figure out how to apply it all in one piece without it getting to bunched up in the center, so I did it in 2 pieces each coil and you can see the seams - not the end of the world.

Applying fondant to the bottom coil

Two coils done!

Once I had the 3 coils covered in fondant and stacked up, I did the tail - wrapped in one piece and then tucked the end of the fondant underneath the bottom ring, molded it with my hands to sit near the body. And then the head. OH MY GOD! The head was tricky and all I can say is it took me a long time to gently stretch the fondant, trim it with kitchen scissors and tuck the bottom seam and edges in a way that wasn't too bulky and could be hidden along the bottom of the piece. I pinched the fondant at the end of the neck and tucked the piece into the center of the coils to have her peeking out, head resting on the top coil.

Oooh! She finally looks like a snake!

Then the fun, creative part... DECORATE!

I used:

Eyes: Mrs Potato Head's eyes!! Perfect for poking right into the cake!

Mrs Potato Head's Eyes!

Polka Dots: Wilton Sugar Sheets (pain in the ARSE without their expensive cutting machine. I thought metal cookie cutters would work, but they don't. I had to have my boyfriend pound out each polka dot with the cookie cutters and a heavy duty rubber mallet! You might explore other options, although I think they look great. Apply with a light amount of water on a small paint brush.

Flower: store bought sugar cake decoration

Grass: Green apple licorice that I julienned - bought at bulk candy store

Rocks: Chocolate candy rocks - bought at bulk candy store

Cookie Lettering: Trader Joe's Cinnamon Schoolhouse Cookies - painted them orange with aerosol spray food coloring (bought at Michael's). Stuck them to the foil covered cutting board with dots of icing.

Nostrils: I had some Halloween colored cookie sprinkles and used 2 black dots from there - applied with a dot of icing

Tongue: cut out of a berry fruit strip (fruit roll ups work too). Tip - draw and cut out a guide on a piece of card stock first and then lay it on the fruit strip. Trace with a very sharp knife. (i.e. don't screw it up if you only have one fruit strip)

Used some of the chocolate cake batter to make one cupcake for the candle holder since I didn't want to put them in the snake, and my daughter really wanted the other little candles, so I made a little fondant candle holder for them.

The birthday girl and her snake cake!

Sad...

I had a blast making this cake, but it was a lot of work. The beauty of the decorating I used was that I could cover the seams and any imperfections with polka dots :)

Finished Snake Cake!

And that's my Cute Girl Snake Cake! I hope she inspires you and good luck if you try it.

Four And Counting

2011-06-07T11:08:00.000-07:00

It happened last night, four years ago at 11:13pm PST. My little turkey girl, Aubrey Frances, made her grand entrance into the world (in Santa Monica nonetheless - no wonder she loves the beach so much) after 26 hours of labor. Many moms, and dads, will tell you it was the happiest moment of their lives. Sadly for me... not so much.

I wanted to kill my boyfriend (now my ex and co-parent) for SO many reasons I simply don't have the time or desire to go into
I had a horrible delivery and recovery
Bottom line - I wasn't excited about motherhood

Yes, I said it. I admit it. I'll say it again. I wasn't excited about becoming a mother. My pregnancy was not planned and my relationship was already on the rocks. But there I was, pregnant for the first time in my life at 34. I considered my age and my relationship status and decided to give it - the baby and the relationship - the good old college try out of fear that this may be my only opportunity to have a child. Even if I had chosen not to have the baby and broke up with my boyfriend, who knows if I would ever meet someone within my childbearing years that I wanted to reproduce with. I felt it could be now or never.

Also, I was really into my career. A career in an industry that does not favor women and really does not favor women with children. A career that I had been building for over 10 years at that point and I was finally starting to get some recognition in Hollywood. I was just chosen for the CBS Diversity Comedy Showcase and was headlining colleges across the country. The timing felt all wrong on so many levels and the stress of it all really took its toll on me.

When Aubrey was born, I did not cry. I did not feel joy or happiness. I was numb. I was angry. So depressed from my dysfunctional relationship, that I couldn't savor that sweet moment. This is probably the most painful truth of my life as a mother and I hate that I will never get that moment back. There's no do-over or rewind. But I've spent the last four years learning to forgive and let go and for me, motherhood has been a process, a journey.

After two months of post partum depression and escalating fights with my boyfriend, the dark clouds gradually lifted and I went into survival mode. I gave the relationship one last shot - talking him into couples therapy. When he stopped going with me after about three sessions, I decided to continue on my own and by the time Aubrey was around seven months, I decided to leave the relationship and become a single mom.

It was the hardest time of my life - moving out, finding a new home, legal proceedings for the custody agreement, re-establishing my career, all with an infant in tow - but it was during this period that I found myself again and began to truly love my daughter. Of course I loved her from the beginning, but it wasn't until I started to shed the toxic elements of my life that I was able to really fall IN love with her and I can honestly say I have loved her more and more each day.

Having a baby was not in my plans and whether or not the decision to move forward with motherhood was for the right reasons, I guess is completely subjective. Even now, four years later, I can't say that I made the "right" decision or the "best" decision, but I do know this for sure: I love my daughter more than anything in the world and I never want to live a day on this earth without her in it.

So this week is a celebration of her fourth year of life! For her, it's a non-stop party week. Since she has two homes, she gets double the gifts and double the parties spread out over several days with the back and forth. (There are some good things about having separated/divorced parents.) She is having a blast and I hope I am creating some wonderful memories for her. For me, this week is a celebration of the gifts she has given me and the lessons she has taught me. A reflection on how far we've come and excitement for what our futures hold. Thank you, my little Aubrey, for showing me what it truly means to love and be loved. Happy birthday to you!

Out With The Old And In With More Stuff

2011-06-01T14:56:00.000-07:00

Aubrey's 4th birthday is this week and her big party is next weekend. As she gets bigger, so does all her stuff. Bigger shoes and clothes, bigger toys and more stuff too. I HATE clutter and I'm not a fan of stuff. You will never see me on an episode of Hoarders unless it's me raiding the hoarder houses and selling all their crap on eBay.

In honor of Aubrey's birthday, I'm cleaning house and getting rid of as much old stuff as possible to make room for the new. I'm selling tap and ballet shoes, DVDs, some phones, a shredder, a printer, clothes, ink cartridges, shot glasses and more. It's my virtual garage sale. Woohoo!

I also just took three bags of crap and an old office chair to the Goodwill donation center. What do you do with your STUFF? Do you hold on to things or are you a thrower/seller, like me? If you keep things, what compels you? One last question: Anyone want to buy this wallet?

Who's Bad?

2011-05-29T23:07:00.000-07:00

About a month ago, I introduced Aubrey to Michael Jackson and now, she can't til she get enough. Literally, as soon as we get in the car she needs to hear an MJ song or she gets a little surly.

Bad is one of her favorites and here she is dancing and singing along to the video on YouTube. I hope you're having a great holiday weekend!

Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

2011-05-28T19:25:00.000-07:00

Happy Memorial Day Weekend! You made it to the long four day weekend that marks the beginning of summer! WOOHOO!

Today, Lee (my cutie pie) and I were waiting in the long line for discount gas at Costco, when we noticed the man in the line next to us shaving with an electric razor in his car. Really? Did he plan this activity? Does he keep his electric razor in his car just for these moments? Does he let the stubble fall all over his lap like a big, disgusting slob? Doesn't he have a smart phone with Words With Friends or Bejeweled or something? Geez dude. I'm almost always in a hurry, but come on. It's a holiday weekend. (And no, we're not going to talk about the time I tried to take my bra off and out from under my shirt while driving on the 101 south going to Pasadena because it was too tight. Hey, I was pregnant and expanding!) Relaxxxxxx...

I hope you all have a safe and fun holiday weekend and don't forget to honor and thank the many veterans who have served our great country!

Kung Fu Panda 2 - The Good, The Bad & The Toys

2011-05-19T22:51:00.000-07:00

Last week Aubrey and I wend to the Dreamworks campus in Glendale to attend a special preview screening of the animated sequel Kung Fu Panda 2 . This screening also included a sneak play preview of the Mattel KFP2 toys and a lunch where fried macaroni and cheese balls and mini bundt cakes were served, so we were pretty happy campers.

A VERY excited Aubrey!

Although Aubrey was a little disappointed that there weren't any slushies and popcorn at this screening (we saw the film in an actual Dreamworks screening room) she was very excited to see Kung Fu Panda 2. She has been a long time fan of the original Kung Fu Panda movie - even though I somehow have managed to never see it - and she was pumped and ready to go for this special event.

In this 2nd installment, Po (Jack Black) joins forces with a new group of animated animal kung fu masters to take on the evil peacock Lord Shen (Gary Oldman) and his deadly new firecracker cannon.

So I'd like to start off with the positives:

- Kung Fu Panda 2 is visually stunning and we didn't even get to see it in 3D. Ya done good Dreamworks and I'm sure it will be even MORE stunning in 3D. For anyone who is an animation geek, this one is a must see. It was even breathtaking at times.

- The story was interesting and held most of the kid' AND adults' attention spans for a long time. Like I said, I had never even seen the first one, but I was able to jump right on the Panda wagon and get into it.

Mattel figurines

- The Mattel toys also seemed to be a hit and we were lucky enough to take a couple of them home with us in a gift bag. Aubrey received the figurines above and ended up playing with them for well over an hour later that night. However, I did hear her yelling her own made up line of, "DON'T YOU EVER KILL MEEEEEE!!" while pulverizing the bad wolf guy with the Panda. Which leads me to the "You Judge For Yourself" portion of my review...

Here are my not so positive opinions and then we'll wrap this up in a nice little bow at the end:

- The second half of film was fairly dark and violent and from what I heard from some of the parents who had seen the first one, it was darker than the first one. But I've seen this pattern in many kids' movies, including the uber popular Toy Story franchise. Toy Story 3 kind of made me feel like I was watching the family version of Saw at one point. Anyway, I digress. My daughter is almost 4 years old and generally doesn't have too much trouble sitting through an animated feature. The last section of KFP2 is quite violent, however, and while it is action packed, it did seem to me to just go on and on and on. Just when I thought, "OK, NOW the big fight scene is over," it would gear back up again.

I guess my heads up number one for parents of little ones is that this IS a rated PG movie. If your younger child has a tough time with darkness and bad guys for a prolonged period of time, maybe not for you. And maybe my kid was a little more sensitive to it because (sorry) she's a girl and she's never pretended to shoot anything in her life. I dunno.

- Here's heads up number two and this is something that I would have liked to talk about in a Q&A perhaps, but we weren't given the opportunity, nor would our kids have sat through it... but (MINI SPOILER ALERT!!!) in the movie, we find out that Po's panda parents abandoned him to save his life when their village was pillaged by Lord Shen and his bad guys. There is a heart wrenching scene where the mama bear is shown hiding Baby Po and then running for her life. And I'll let you guess as to whether she makes it or not (the mom ALWAYS gets the axe or the lock up in animation - Bambi, Nemo, Dumbo...). While they don't show the attack on her, it is implied and the scene actually made my daughter cry and get pretty upset. Oh and I was sobbing too and so was every other mother in the house. It's sad! But I was surprised at how emotional it made my daughter. She's older now and she's starting to "get it" which is cool and scary all at once. All afternoon I had to answer the questions, "Why did the mommy bear leave her baby," "Why was the baby panda crying?" and "What happened to his mommy?" Ugh. Wahhh!

The other part of this portion of the story line (MORE SPOLIER) is that we learn that the noodle house owning goose, Mr Ping (James Hong - YAY James Hong!) adopts baby Po and raises him as his own. As a Korean born adoptee raised by geese... I mean caucasian people... this actually got me emotional on different levels and with so many Americans parenting transnational and transracial children these days, I hope they, the parents, are prepared for the barrage of emotions and questions that will come after the movie. I explained to my daughter that I was adopted by my mommy and daddy just like Po was and then she wanted to know why my mommy couldn't keep me (I don't know). Did she abandon me (yes). Was I going to ever leave her - NO! So, even though we had a great time, it turned into a bigger day of emotions and issues that I was expecting. Anyone immediately touched by adoption (birth parent, adoptive parent or adoptee) is going to have some feelings about this movie. I'm just warning my people!

- And my final and most serious issue with the film is the whitewashing of the cast. This is an American made film set in China. Yes, it's a cartoon, but it is clearly set in China (not a Chinatown in the USA) and it draws it's story, character names, movement and imagery from the rich and real history of China and Chinese kung fu. So why weren't more of the actors of CHINESE descent? Or at least Asian American? I, as an Asian American actress, get a little upset about this kind of stuff and I don't think I'm being too ridiculous. While I never felt the film was mocking Asian or Chinese culture in a way that was racist or inappropriate, throughout the entire film I kept hearing recognizable voices of non-Asian actors and the handful of actors who were of Chinese descent were in lesser billed roles. The director of KFP2 is Jennifer Yuh and so... that's cool. But the stars of the film are all white. I get it that picture deals are made and contracts are signed and Dreamworks has to do it's job to sell this movie, but there's no reason Lucy Liu shouldn't have had Angelina Jolie's top billed role and no reason James Hong or Jackie Chan shouldn't have had Gary Oldman's leading role of Lord Shen. Although, James Hong steals the show in his role as Mr Ping. He is a true pioneer and a sweetheart to boot.

But I digress... Of the 13 top billed names on the cast, only four are of Asian descent . So shame on someone. And I'm going to go ahead and say it: It's because the roles are Asian. There's even a black guy in the main 13 characters of this movie. I've already discussed this issue with some friends and some people have thrown the "But it's just an animation and you don't see the actors who are playing animals so why does it matter" argument at me. But it does matter. Asians are now and have been the most underrepresented minority on tv and film for eons and it's because we are simply not given the due respect that other human beings are given in this industry. We are not seen as Americans and we are not respected as people with spines. Therefore, it is socially acceptable to cast The Last Airbender (yikes) and Akira and Kung Fu Panda with white and even black actors. If you think I'm being a tad overly sensitive, ask yourself this question: In an animated film where a character was a white person or a black person would they hire an Asian actor to play that voice? Kind of doubt it, but the reverse is always fine when it's a role of color, even when it's not animated! We'll get there eventually, but it's a slooooow row to hoe. Yes, I just said ho and set myself up for some horrible Asian actress jokes. Go ahead. Make them. Every Asian actress has played one or been asked to play one and we all own our own lab coats for auditions. (My big prostitute role was when I was 9 months pregnant too! It was a dark, dark comedy.)

Aubrey going SKA2OOSH!

But, once again, I digress. After all of that bitching and moaning, I still think you should go see the movie. I did enjoy it and my daughter did enjoy it. I think the film is more appropriate for kids who are a little older - perhaps 6 and up (remember, intense!), but overall it was a fun moviegoing experience and Aubrey can't stop talking about it. It also introduced her to more Chinese culture has piqued her interest in martial arts. Maybe I have the next Michelle Yeoh on my hands. BTW, she played the Soothsayer and was awesome! Did I mention we got fried macaroni and cheese balls?

If you would like to learn more about Kung Fu Panda 2, please visit these official sites:

Official Movie Site: http://www.kungfupanda.com

YouTube Experience: http://www.youtube.com/dreamworksanimation

Royal Caribbean Sweepstakes!! http://www.facebook.com/kungfupanda?sk=app_199032100139302

The McDonald's Amy Salad - I Mean, ASIAN Salad Is Back!

2011-05-16T17:48:00.000-07:00

This is my actual salad! I ate it all too!

Almost every restaurant that serves salads, both quick serve and sit-down, has some sort of Asian or "Oriental" salad. To tell you the truth, I always feel a little silly ordering them - it feels like it's the only salad I'm allowed to order since I'm Asian. Ha! Some are good and some are bad. Most have the adorable little Mandarin oranges in them. Little oranges just scream "Asian" don't they? But they're out there and since I travel for a living, I've eaten a lot of them.

In 2003, McDonald's added a line of Premium Salads to their menu and in 2006 it debuted the Asian Salad. It was my favorite fast food salad and a great healthier alternative to the greasy menu items for when I'm on the road and don't have time for anything else.

Much to the dismay of its loyal fans, the Asian Salad was was taken off the McDonald's menu. I just thought it was the crazy ginger side of Ronald McDonald, teasing me. But today I learned it was because of the weather changes in Asia. The main supply of soybeans was compromised and it wasn't cost effective for them to keep selling the salad. A few years later, the US has amped up it's soybean production and we have a reliable large-scale supply of soybeans again. The Asian Salad is back for a limited time (wahhh) and McDonald's is now the largest buyer of soybeans in the world. Nuts, huh? Well, beans actually, but interesting.

Frozen Strawberry Lemonade

Today, I was able to sit down with a group of friends and Renee Taylor from Hot 92.3 (cool... we talked potty training!) and experience the re-introduced Asian Salad as well as the new McCafe Frozen Strawberry Lemonade. Both were hits and here are some of the details:

- The greens of the Asian Salad are a mix of up to 16 different varieties of lettuce and the chicken is white meat chicken breast. Other Asian Salad ingredients are pea pods, red bell pepper, edamame, carrots, almonds and Mandarin oranges.
- You can modify the Asian Salad in a variety of ways to suit your taste and dietary desires: choose grilled or crispy chicken, almonds slivers come in a separate packet, Newman's Own Low-Fat Sesame Ginger dressing is also on the side. Overall, you're looking at approximately 270-300 calories for the grilled chicken version and just over 400 calories for the crispy chicken.
- The McCafe Frozen Strawberry Lemonade contains NO corn syrup! It is made from real fruit (strawberries and lemons) and ice with added sugar. It really was good and perfect for summer!

The downside of this salad, in my opinion, is the high sodium content but that is the price one pays for fast food consumption. This is a healthier option and nothing in any fast food restaurant is meant to be eaten every day. But you're smart readers, you get it.

With HOT 92's Renee Taylor and McDonald's Nutritionist, Monica

If you're on the go or you need a quick, family friendly place to grab something, drop into McDonald's - there are healthier choices out there! I'm not a huge advocate of fast food consumption and my own daughter has had very few fast food meals in her own life, but fast food is a big part of our culture and it's not going away. It's our responsibility to teach healthy habits to our kids and in today's fast-paced society, I say moderation is often the key. Choose wisely young grasshoppers!

Lead AND Background

2011-05-10T11:53:00.000-07:00

Aubrey is going through a BIG Michael Jackson phase right now. Here she is in the car, singing along to Beat It. I love how she sings all of the Beat Its - even the background vocals. She has Man In The Mirror, Bille Jean, Thriller and - her favorite of all - Bad memorized now. This was a couple weeks ago.

Four Is Not The New 30.

2011-05-03T22:43:00.000-07:00

So, all parents whose kids are older than 5 years know that the "Terrible Twos" is a complete misnomer and even a joke compared to 3 and 4 year old behavior.

Aubrey is rapidly careening towards her 4th birthday on June 6 and she is crazier than ever. There's an uber-irrationality that comes along with 3 and 4 year old mental processing and it's not worth anybody's time trying to figure it out. You try to get a straight answer out of a tired 3/4 year old, you get this:

This craziness is a result of Aubrey not wanting to pee before going to the park. Do you now understand why I can't be on time to anything for the next 14 years?

We don't use any corporal punishment in our household, but I now know who spankings were invented for. Every once in a while, the temptation is strong, but I'm very fortunate that Aubrey is, in general, a really fun, sweet, easy going kid and actually, quite easy to reason with. No really, she is fairly logical for a kid when she's in a good mood. It's only when she's tired that the beast is released and it always seems to be when I'm the most tired as well.

It's all good. Once we get through this crazy 4th year, I hear things get quite lovely until they turn 12 or so. Then I'm supposed to prepare for the return of the beast x ten.

Wisconsin Ice Ice Baby

2011-05-01T21:53:00.000-07:00

So glad to be back in SoCal. I had some really fun shows in Wisconsin this week, but I woke up to this on Friday morning, April 29th... HA! It's 80s and sunny here in SoCal and you know what? It doesn't suck.

What The Hair?!

2011-04-28T19:51:00.000-07:00

More adventures from the road...

The Not So Super 8 Of Appleton, WI

2011-04-28T12:53:00.000-07:00

I'm on the road. Like most comedians, I love it, I hate it, I can't live without it...

This is my last stretch of college shows for the 2010-2011 school season. I'm all over Wisconsin this week and it's cold and rainy. Here's the deal with my college shows: 99% of the time, the school chooses and pays for my hotel. I have been put up in everything from scary truck stop motels in rural Pennsylvania where I thought I was going to be raped and murdered to five star hotels with Egyptian cotton sheets and town car pick up at the airport.

Last night, I was in Appleton. WI and the Fox Valley Technical College (where I had a fun show, btw) put me up in the local Super 8. I've stayed in more Super 8s than any human should have to endure in a lifetime and I can honestly say that there is no such thing as a great Super 8, but every once in a while, you can get a tolerable Super 8 if you are lucky enough to get one that is newly constructed. Other than that...forget it.

I thought I'd share a little bit more of my continued life of glamour on the road. Don't be jealous...

EASTER EGG HUNT!!

2011-04-20T21:51:00.000-07:00

This is the school Easter egg hunt at Aubrey's preschool today. Forgive my crappy camera skills on this one - it kind of turned out like the Blair Witch Project of Easter, but I was busy getting the point across to Aubrey that she had to grab as many eggs as possible before everyone else got them. See, my child was born without ANY sense of urgency whatsoever. I have no idea where this comes from. Seriously. I'm never not in a hurry. Anyhoo.... it's pretty darn cute, so I hope you enjoy this little slice of our lives:

Wubbzy's Egg-Cellent Easter on DVD!

2011-04-20T10:11:00.000-07:00

I recently started playing Santa and Easter Bunny now that Aubrey is old enough to get the concept and her father poisoned he mind with the idea that they are "real" so... I've been on the look out for non-candy basket ideas. Don't worry, little person is getting plenty of sugar, I just felt there should be something else too.

Anchor Bay Entertainment's new Wubbzy's Egg-Cellent Easter DVD not only uses the time honored "egg-cellent" pun in it's title but it's really cute too. Aubrey LOVES Wow Wow Wubbzy and this DVD features 6 full episodes of Easter themed animation: Eggs Over Easy, Big Bunny Blues, Flower Day Parade, Watch The Birdie, Wubbzy Bounces Back and The Flight Of The Flutterfly.

The DVD also includes coloring and activity sheets and a music video! So quick, grab it before this weekend. I just saw it in Target stores for only $7.99!! Wow Wow!

HELP ME!!!!

2011-04-01T22:49:00.000-07:00

OK, I'm not particularly proud of this moment on the road, but a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do. Ever drive so much that you feel ready to Thelma and Louise it off of the next cliff, but you can't because you're in central Iowa and there aren't any cliffs? Just dead cornfields for miles and miles and miles. There's not even a bridge or a hill? Just DEAD CORN and this is the 4th time in 5 days that you've had to drive back and forth for hours on the same freaking corn lined highway because that's the stupid order you're shows got booked in?! Ever been there? I have. Earlier today, as a matter of fact.

My deepest apologies to all George Michaels fans everywhere... especially those in Iowa

New Jelly Belly Bubbles For Easter!

2011-03-29T18:08:00.000-07:00

Hey There! For all of you Easter Bunnies out there, I just found out about a fun new basket goodie that's a nice alternative to the typical sugar overload - Jelly Belly brand has new scented bubbles! Woot!

Aubrey is almost four now, so she's healthily obsessed with candy. I can't blame her, I love candy too, but I do limit the amount of sweets she gets. Easter is just around the corner and while looking for a candy alternative for her basket I found these new Jelly Belly scented bubbles and I think they'll be a big hit so I wanted to pass on the info!

I think most preschoolers like bubbles and what kid wouldn't like a bubble that smells like a fruity sweet Jelly Belly? The bubbles come in a four different styles and each in three different colors/scents:

Jelly Belly Squeeze and Blow Pop-Up Bubbles

Jelly Belly Scented Bubble Necklace

Jelly Belly Scented On-The-Go Bubbles

Jelly Belly Scented Giant Bubble Wand

All of these products are available in Very Cherry, Grape Jelly and Top Banana scents and also look for the other new Jelly Belly Scented products: Body Wash, Nail Polish, Moisturizer, Ice Shaver, Stationery and Candles, all available on Amazon.com

I know Aubrey is going to go nuts for these in her basket and hopefully they will distract her enough to allow me to eat all of her Resse's Peanut Butter Eggs and malted milk ball eggs. Hey, what's the point in having a kid if you can't put YOUR favorite candies in their Easter basket?

Comedian Amy Anderson On The Road Part III: Snow Storm!!

2011-03-23T08:26:00.000-07:00

Greetings from Marshall, MN - the southwestern part of the state! A big chunk of the Midwest got hit with a snowstorm overnight and lucky me, it includes all the areas I'm currently in and supposed to be driving through today and tomorrow.

When I checked forecasts before leaving CA, it didn't look like this kind of weather was going to happen, so I didn't bring any gloves or a hat or even my regular winter jacket (smart, Anderson) but I'm a true Minnesotan at heart. I've had my cheap hotel waffle and a hot beverage and I'm ready to brush off that car and head to South Dakota! Nothing can stop my comedy. (Except maybe a Krispy Kreme donut.) (Or a little more snow.)

My Big Run In With Small Town "Law"

2011-03-21T13:53:00.000-07:00

At least I got a picture

I'm going to warn you right now: This post is a rant. You have been warned.

I'm on tour this week, traveling through the heartland of our great country - northern Illinois, Iowa and South Dakota.

Yesterday, while driving through Mason City, IA I decided to stop and take a gander at the Frank Lloyd Wright Stockman House.

While crossing the main street in town, in my rented Ford Focus, I passed a car. It was a student driver car and it practically came to a stop in the middle of the intersection, so I passed it on the right hand side.

Suddenly, I heard a horn honking. Not just like "honk honk" but HONK HONK HONK HONK HONK HONK HONK... This guy had something important to honk.

Now, before I proceed with the rest of my charming small-town story, I'd like to note, it was Sunday afternoon and it was cold and gray. There was almost NO one outside and no one on the roads. I was probably driving about 20-25 mph at the time I passed this guy. I have a 100% clean driving record and in 22+ years of driving have only been pulled over twice for speeding and received only one ticket about 9 yrs ago. I'm far from being a reckless driver.

After the barrage of honks subsided, I realized this clown was now following me. When I got to The Stockman House, I parked at the curb and this self-appointed douche bag vigilante did the same and proceeded to get out of his car and approach mine, motioning to me to roll down my window like he was some sort of cop.

Now, in hindsight, it was at this point I should have just driven away, but honestly, for all I knew in a crap-hole town like Mason City, IA this guy maybe WAS the cop, so I thought I'd hear what he had to say.

At that point he told me I passed him illegally back at the intersection and he already called it into the police and it was probably going to cost me a $500 ticket. OK, so in hindsight, THIS is when I should have told him to told him to stop harassing me and driven off... over his toes.

He was condescending, he kept insisting I was from Alaska (apparently Alaska and South Dakota licence plates look alike?) and he was attempting to intimidate me by saying the police know him and he reported it so they might want to talk to me now... blah blah blah blah blah. Oooh! I'm shaking in my boots Mr 65 Year Old Fat Driving Instructor man.

This was one of those situations where I can now think of a million "should haves" - after the fact. But at the time I was so shocked and amazed at what was actually happening that I was kind of speechless. I also tend to be way to nice to people, overall, but I'm thinking of abandoning this policy.

I really don't like to pull the race card or the female card, but let's face it - people are fucking racist and sexist in this country. I'm not saying it's so much better in other countries, but it's 2011 and it's time for America to get its shit together. If you can't treat your fellow Americans, who aren't the same as you, with respect then go back to where YOU came from.

Was this a racist incident? I don't know but I'm leaning toward yes and I guarantee you it was a sexist incident. There is no way that fat, somewhat elderly white man would have had the balls to approach and verbally assault and threaten a grown OR young white man or man of color, or probably even a black female - because of FEAR. But a small, young looking Asian woman? That's someone he felt he could take and he even admitted to me, after I talked him out of his arrogant tree, that he thought I was "much younger". Thanks for the compliment pops, but I'm not some scared little FOB girl you can frighten, although I did let him waste WAY too much of my time.

I'd like you to take a look at the demographics of the sweet town of Mason City, IA:

http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/19/1950160.html

Mason City, the much beloved town of Meredith Wilson's The Music Man, is a bunch of uneducated, middle aged-elderly white people. So why am I shocked that I have some sort of questionably to blatantly racist incident when I am in smaller towns in Iowa? I need to give small town Iowa more credit for what it is. Small in more ways than one.

Last time I was in a small town in Iowa, I sat in a mom and pop diner and listened to two women behind me go on and on about how much they disliked some "oriental" guy because of the way he smelled and dressed. And he wasn't just an "oriental" guy, they literally said he was "some kind of oriental" and the disdain in their voices was blatant.

In all fairness, it's not just Iowa. Iowa is just on my shit list right now because I've been there a lot recently. I've had shady incidents all over the country but particularly in the upper Midwest. This is espeially disheartening to me because I grew up in Minnesota and I hated it for this reason, 20+ years ago! I got teased a lot as a kid and I couldn't wait to leave, but I hoped it would have changed a bit by now. I guess not?

Probably the worst racist incident I've ever had was when I was living in South Minneapolis. A woman in a truck got mad at me for not letting her cut in front of me in a long line of cars at a light. She rolled down her window and started screaming at me, "You stupid chinky bitch! You people can't drive because of your fucked up chinky eyes! Learn how to drive you stupid chink bitch!" She went on for the entire light. The best part is when I started to say something back to her, she would roll up her window. All racists are cowards.

With all the recent racism against Asians and Asian Americans highlighted in the media (the Alexandra Wallace video, the negative Japanese earthquake responses, Gilbert Godfrey jokes on Twitter, etc) I admit I'm a little on edge. I'm tired of being treated like a foreigner in my own country. I'm tired of having to politely answer ignorant questions and educate stupid people in awkward situations. I'm sick of reading friends' blogs and finding out their little children are being called niggers and chinks on the playground. None of this is acceptable and if you think people of color, people who are gay, people who are non-Christian are ruining the United States then GET THE FUCK OUT and find yourself a better place to live. YOU are the ones ruining this country. You are the ones spreading hate and fear, brainwashing your children with the same poison. SHUT UP! I feel sorry for your kids and it pisses me off that you think you represent "Christian" values when all you are is the devil here on earth. People who live out a true Christian example are embarrassed by you. Over 75% of the people in the US identify as "Christian" but I sure don't see 75% of the people in this country acting like Christians. And yes, yes I did go there. Don't get your undies in a bunch. Or do. I don't really care.

And for those of you who aren't bigoted a-holes, it's still your responsibility to teach your children to treat all people with respect and kindness. If you don't teach anti-racism and anti-hate to your kids, then it's open season on their minds at school, on the playground, at the mall - they will be taught by someone else. If that's what you want, then say nothing and act like it dosen't affect you so it doesn't matter.

And to my white friends who act so shocked and surprised when I tell them these things happen, well screw you too. Believe it and be part of the solution.

I'm now going to brave some cooler temps and go for a run outside in Madison, SD. This town is one tenth the size of Mason City, IA. Let's hope things so smoothly.

Shoes to Japan - You have until April 10!!

2011-03-21T11:52:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone! A quick note for another EASY and inexpensive way to help out relief efforts in Japan.

ALL 55 Sports Chalet stores in CA, UT, AZ and NV are taking gently used shoes to donate to earthquake/tsunami victims in Japan through the organization Soles4Souls

NO EXCUSES folks! Even if you are low on cash or out of work, this is a simple way to help others in dire need. We all have ONE pair of shoes we could live without a pair that your kid has grown out of and they will take men's, women's and children's.

From now through April 10, just bring your shoes in to ANY Sports Chalet store and ta-da! You helped.

Here's a link to help you find a Sports Chalet near you!

Donate $5 to Relief Effort in Japan and LivingSocial Will Match It!

2011-03-17T17:57:00.000-07:00

Just quickly before I head out the door for a run... I know not a lot of us have a ton of money to donate to causes. And if you donated to every cause you cared about, you'd be broke, but here is a low-budget, easy, and legitimate way to donate to relief efforts in Japan and then have your small donation doubled!

Give $5 to the Red Cross relief fund for Japan and the good folks at LivingSocial.com will match your $5 donation 100%. Feel like you can't give $10? Well, YES YOU CAN! Woot!

Please take the time to do something so small for something so hugely catastrophic. It's a latte or a value meal. If we all do a little, it will end up being a lot. Let's help our global neighbors by doing what we can!

Here is the link and please share it with friends. As of right now, 3/17/11 6pm PST, there are 16 hours left to take advantage of this easy way to give:

https://livingsocial.com/deals/32115-5-for-10-donation-to-red-cross-relief-efforts

Fresh & Easy's New California Wines!

2011-03-15T17:38:00.000-07:00

Marsha (@Sweatpantsmom) and I get to tasting!

Fresh and Easy is my FAVORITE grocery store and now there is yet another reason to sing their praises - NEW WINE!!

F & E has added 27 new varieties of proprietary brand wines from our very own delicious California grapes and some of us lucky local bloggers, foodies and Tweeters were invited to a tasting party at the Smog Shoppe in Culver City.

The Smog Shoppe was the perfect and coolest venue for this event. An actual former automobile smog-check garage, it was converted into an eco-friendly, indoor/outdoor event center. I'm telling you - it is one of the best kept secrets in Culver City! You can get married there, screen your newest cinematic masterpiece or have a party and eat and drink like pigs. I'll give you one guess which one we did.

We were treated to a tasting of four of the new Cali wines:
Open Field Pinot Gris
Cloud Valley Chardonnay
Open Field Pinot Noir
Barrel Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon

I think the general consensus of the night was that pinot noir was the favorite. While many people I talked to really liked the pino gris, I have to admit that the white wines weren't too awesome tasting to me, but I was like, "rock on with the reds, dude" (I'm trying to give a California-ny description).

All 27 of the new wines are offered at affordable prices with the most expensive bottles being $19.99 and the bargain bottle being only $3.99! Quality drinking at recession prices. I like.

Bernadette (@Bernadette923) and I enjoying some great F & E appetizers

We also enjoyed a full belly of Fresh and Easy fare ranging from cheeses and fruit, to ceviche, to stuffed artichoke hearts to lobster ravioli to cookies and chocolate cupcakes. There was even more and I'm getting hungry just remembering everything we consumed that night.

Get to your local Fresh and Easy store and dig in! There is so much to enjoy there and now you have 27 more reasons to go. :0)

Ceviche and skewers = Party!

Mars Needs Moms! Opens TODAY!

2011-03-11T11:59:00.000-08:00

I'm sure you've seen the trailers and ads by now, but the new Disney movie, Mars Needs Moms, opens today and Aubrey and I were included in a lucky group of families who got to pre-screen it earlier this week.

The movie is based on the children's book of the same name, by Berkeley Breathed and it is the story of a young boy, named Milo (played by Seth Green). Milo's wonderful mom is swept up by Martians who need moms who know how to make their children behave. Mars has been ruled by a crabby old lady Martian for generations (played brilliantly by the ever hilarious Mindy Sterling) who has orchestrated an army of "nannybots" to raise the baby Martian hatchlings. In order to program the nannybots, they need real moms - thus the abduction. Milo ends up on an intense, but entertaining quest to rescue his mom from Mars with displaced Earthling "Gribble" (played by Dan Fogler) and a rebellious Martian girl, "Ki" (played by Elisabeth Harnois).

Here's a quick, helpful MOM review in-case you were wondering whether or not to bring your kiddo.

1) We really liked it! Dare I say, better than Toy Story 3? Yes. I liked it, believe it or not, a lot more. The storyline was great, the animation was cool and the acting was impressive. The film's animation is getting a little bit of a thrashing in other reviews I've read and while I'm not animation expert, I'll let you know it's that computer generated motion-capture style - the same technology they used in Polar Express. I guess this creeps some people out, but I kind of like it.

2) The movie is rated PG, so it may be a bit too intense for younger ones. My daughter is 3-1/2 and wasn't scared at all, but she was scared during Toy Story 3 several months ago. Go figure. Most of the scenes in the movie are dark and there is a lot of intense action, including falling, laser gun shooting, chasing, etc. You will have to judge if your kids are good at handling intense action, even though it is a kid/family movie.

3) Stay and watch the credits if you can, as they show clips of how the motion-capture style animation is shot with the live actors. I think this was actually my favorite part! So fascinating and cool to see!

4) Wah-Alert: Lots of moms told me they wah-wah cried during Toy Story 3. Well, watch out then. There are a couple mom-centric scenes in this one that will get you!

5) The main thing that I found to be a little disappointing about this film - and this is mainly from an actor's perspective - is why Seth Green to play a little boy? They manipulated his voice to make him sound age appropriate and I admit, he did a really nice job with the part, but why? Aren't there a zillion boy actors out there who would have done a great job? Whatev.

This wasn't the perfect kid/family movie, but it was a really good one and we are glad we saw it. Aubrey loved the girl Martian character, "Ki" so much, she has a temporary tattoo of her on her forearm now. I don't think it's going to be a giant Disney classic, but the entertainment value was there and I'd totally recommend it. Just remember, it is PG. The little ones might think it's a little s-c-a-r-y.

Mars Needs Moms opens TODAY in theaters across the US. For more information visit:
www.Disney.com/MarsNeedsMoms and www.Facebook.com/MarsNeedsMomsMovie

China's... I Mean MY One-Child Policy

2011-02-18T17:20:00.000-08:00

Last weekend, I visited a longtime friend and mother of two. We have been friends since 1st grade and throughout all of life's many twists and turns, we have always kept in touch. Her oldest son is 5 months older than my one-and-only daughter and part of the reason for this recent visit was to meet her new addition, son number two. He's almost 5 months old. We are nearing... GULP... 40.

My daughter is 3-1/2 now. Even though we all know 3yo's are CRAZY, irrational little Nazi's, she's not a baby anymore. I am not a baby person and it has been a relief having her at an age where she's finally "easier". She's potty trained, she can put food in her own mouth, she can play independently for quite a while and most importantly, she sleeps about 11 straight hours every night, takes a 1-3 hour nap in the afternoons and attends preschool every Mon-Fri morning. WOOT!

One of the photos that help me remember the good ol' baby days. Not.

Wait, I take that back MOST importantly, I have my body back to myself. I'm not super vain about the appearance of my body. I work pretty hard to keep in shape but I don't kill myself and I don't strive for physical perfection. I leave that madness to the rest of the freaks here in L.A. I'm a comedian. But the 4th degree tear, the post-partum depression, the leaking breasts (Yes, I was like a dripping faucet. Well, two dripping faucets.) are all but a faint memory now and for some reason, I'm having a hard time deciding to let it go and move forward with life. Until... last weekend. Remember? I went to visit my friend.

Her baby was adorable. Her older son was adorable. She's a terrific mom. The baby barely cried for just a few minutes before his nap. It was all pretty easy-peasy-Japanesey, but hanging out with an infant and a preschooler for just a couple hours was the nail in the coffin for me. It made me realize I do NOT want to have another child.

As much as I would love to give my guy a biological offspring to toss in the air and hang out with and as much as I would love for my daughter to grow up with a sibling, I really don't want to gestate it, give birth to it and then raise it! ACK!

It's not such a big deal, right? Lots of people are choosing to have only one child nowadays. It makes economic sense and for me, I think it's my last chance of reclaiming my sanity. So is this my body's biological clock making a last ditch effort to do it's thing? Is my hormonal urge to reproduce really that strong? After examining these hard questions I realized the answers were NO! I was questioning my one-child decision because I felt sorry for my boyfriend and my daughter. Ai yi yi. This could turn into an entirely different blog all together now. Lutheran guilt syndrome or let's talk about why I take better care of everyone else than myself. I even feed the dog and take her out to poop and pee while my breakfast gets cold. Every damn morning. Apparently, I care WAY too much about other peoples' (and animals') feelings sometimes.

Yes, I was feeling bad that maybe THEY would be missing out on something magical and no doubt, if we did have a baby, it would be awesome and we would love it and, eventually, we would be so happy, blah blah blah. But the bottom line is, I don't want to do it. And, BTW, I don't want to adopt either. One is enough. More than enough and I'm going to stop beating myself up about it. Time to focus a little more on myself, my career and being the best mom I can be to the kid I already have. Starting right... NOW!

Wubbzy Be Mine - New DVD!

2011-02-07T16:17:00.000-08:00

Aubrey is a big Wow Wow Wubbzy fan, so we were pretty stoked to hear there is a new WWW Valentine's Day DVD out, called Wubbzy Be Mine.

This DVD contains three Valentine's themed episodes: "Mr Valentine," "Cupid's Helper," and "My Speedy Valentine." Aubrey's personal favorite is "Cupid's Helper" because there is bubble-blower involved. She's a 3-1/2 year old girl - enough said.

Wow Wow Wubbzy is a really cute cartoon and the story lines seem to hold Aubrey's attention. The stories teach lessons about friendship, helping and appreciation and if you're a Blink 182 fan, I always thought the WWW theme song sounds like one of their songs. (I'm just saying.)

You can buy Wow Wow Wubbzy: Wubbzy Be Mine right now, in stores and online at all the places you'd expect to find DVDs but you can also enter to win a copy of the DVD right now, on this here blog! AND the winner will also receive Wubbzy "Conversation Hearts" candies! Woohoo! Oh and the DVD contains 8 Wubbzy Valentine's cards for your little one to decorate and give away.

This is a QUICK giveaway since Valentine's Day is just around the corner (and I was out of town for a week). All you have to do is leave a comment below, telling me how you plan to spend your Valentine's Day, next Monday. One entry/comment per person and you can enter until midnight PST on Wed, Feb 9th, 2011. Good luck! Winner will be notified on Thurs, Feb 10th, 2011.

McDonald's Oatmeal Is Here! Yipee!

2011-02-07T15:44:00.000-08:00

Last month, the good people at McDonald's asked me to host a breakfast for friends at a local McDonald's to introduce their new Fruit & Maple Oatmeal to everyone. I'm not a huge advocate of fast food consumption, but as a comedian on the road and a busy, single mom, it is part of my reality from time to time. I'm not one to be a big hypocrite, especially when it comes to food and I was already eating the Starbucks oatmeal on a regular basis in countless airports across the country, so I was actually pretty excited to see how Ronald's oats compared.

I gathered a group of friends from different walks of life (including some fellow blogger moms, my nanny, her relatives and a couple comedians) and we sat down with Monica, a registered nutritionist for McDonald's, and talked about the good, the bad and the ugly.

We got the full service treatment... yup

We all know that French fries and chicken McNuggets are not the way to go on a regular basis, but you might be surprised to know that McDonald's is offering more and more healthy options, like milk, apple slices, water, premium salads, fruit and yogurt parfaits and now... OATMEAL!

Three clowns and a nutritionist

The oatmeal can be modified to your taste and/or dietary restrictions but my personal fave was with all of the toppings which included brown sugar, real maple syrup, apples, a touch of cream, raisins and dried cranberries. You'll be happy to know that the new Fruit & Maple oatmeal is available ALL DAY (not just breakfast) and each bowl contains two servings of whole grains and a half a cup of real fruit. It's also rich in Vitamin C and I will tell you, first hand, it's really good! I had never tried apples in my oatmeal before, but I'm hooked.

You can order your oatmeal without the brown sugar and the rest of the toppings are controlled by you. I give the new Fruit & Maple Oatmeal a big thumbs up. Who wouldn't want another fast, healthy option at an affordable restaurant? And you can still top if off with a hash brown if you really want too.

Win Tickets to "In Mother Words" at The Geffen Playhouse

2011-01-30T19:46:00.000-08:00

MOMS! This one is for you! You deserve a day out and today, I'm happy to offer the opportunity to win tickets to the West Coast premiere of the hit theater production "In Mother Words" starring Jane Kaczmarek, Saidah Arrika Ekulona and James Lecesne.

As the program states, "Whether you are a parent, have a parent or ever want to become a parent, this play will elate and terrify equally - much like motherhood itself." The other cool thing about this event is there will be a reception afterwards with food and drinks, goodies from the sponsors and special guests from the Geffen and the "In Mother Words" cast.

Please tell your friends about this giveaway and help me spread the word about the awesomeness of The Geffen Playhouse! Did you know that The Geffen Playouse is a non-profit that gives back to the community every year through six major education initiatives that engage over 18,000 students and community members in the live arts every year? Through programs like Saturday Scene and CREATE, the Geffen Playhouse reaches participants as young as toddlers through seniors as old as 100!

Here are the prize and giveaway entry details:

What: 2 tickets to the play "In Mother Words" with reception to follow
Where: The Geffen Playhouse - 10886 Le Conte Ave, Los Angeles 90024
When: Saturday, Feb 19 @ 3-7:30pm
*Winner will be announced on Sun, Feb 13, 2011 and you need to make sure you're able to get yourself to the West side of L.A. to attend. I'll see the winner there!

Four Different Ways To Enter - leave a separate comment for each entry:
1) Leave a comment about your favorite live theater experience (anything - your first school performance as a tree or Shakespeare at Lincoln Center)!
2) Follow this blog via GFC
3) Follow me on Twitter
4) Tweet this giveaway and leave the URL in a comment:
"Enter to win 2 tickets to "In Mother Words" play/reception at Geffen Playhouse Feb 19 @ 3pm! http://tinyurl.com/6kvc8kf #giveaways "

Minnie's Masquerade And The Mickey Mote!

2011-01-28T15:02:00.000-08:00

About three months ago, I wrote a review of the new Disney Mickey Mote, interactive kid's remote for use with special Disney DVDs. While we weren't thrilled with the Mickey Mote at that time, I knew it was just a little too soon for Aubrey to grasp the concept and have the patience to listen to the video's instructions before pushing the buttons. My prediction was that in a few months, she would get the hang of it and love it... and I was RIGHT! She LOVES the Mickey Mote now and just in time for a new interactive DVD. Am I clairvoyant or what?

Lucky for us, we got to preview the new Mickey Mouse Clubhouse : Minnie's Masquerade DVD with the Mickey Mote and she is hooked. She loves anything Disney, of course, but especially Mickey, Minnie and Pluto. They are her current faves.

In Minnie's Masquerade - Minnie, Mickey, Donald, Goofy and Daisy - take families on a new adventure as they dress up in costumes for Minnie's Masquerade Ball. This DVD features four episodes previously seen on the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse TV show, a never before seen episode and a fun masquerade paper mask that kids can personalize.

Ignore the basket of laundry behind my child - I'm such a professional photographer.

Aubrey is having a great time with this new Minnie DVD and she even insisted in teaching her 64 year old nanny how to use the Mickey Mote with it!

The DVD can be watched just like a regular DVD or used with the interactive Mickey Mote. I love the Mickey Mote feature too because Aubrey is actually engaged and thinking while watching rather than sitting like a couch potato (the way I like to watch tv - shhh) and it even works with our 3 year old, $39, total piece of crap DVD player. (Yes, I'm that cheap. Or broke. Or both.)

Look for this awesome new DVD in stores February 8th and you can pre-order on many websites now:
Single Disc DVD + Mickey Mote = $29.99
Single Disc DVD = $19.99

Aubrey Rocks Her Mullet

2011-01-28T13:55:00.000-08:00

My daughter is three and a half years old and she really doesn't have much hair. What she does have is really thin and wispy and it seems to grow in a beautiful mullet shape. She's only had three haircuts in her life and it was because the front was finally starting to get in her eyes.

I know a lot of moms really want their little girls to have a glorious crown of locks and get upset when their little princess' hair ends up, well, like my kids hair. I, personally, could care less. Chances are it will grow into a beautiful, healthy mane and she will do something horrific to it in her early teens anyway - like chop it into a mohawk, color it orange or let her gay friend from drama class "style" it for her. Whatever.

I am the youngest of four kids in my family and the only girl, so my mom was chomping at the bit to play with my long hair. She braided it and put it up in pig tails and pony tails. In third grade, I got the Dorothy Hamil haircut that was all the rage and my mom sat every morning before school and tried to tame my stubborn Asian straightness with a curling iron, attempting to get the under-curl just right. This usually resulted in my neck getting burned and by the time I got to the bus, the curl probably straightened too.

Aubrey is still a little tiny turkey and I don't want her worrying about her looks already. I'm not quite ready for that. So for now, we are enjoying the craziness of her little preschool mop and I wouldn't have it any other way. She's my little Muppet with a mullet and she's ready to ROCK!!

James Ellroy, A Bus & A Screw Top Bottle Of Wine

2011-01-14T13:32:00.000-08:00

"Good evening peepers, prowlers, pederasts, panty-sniffers, punks and pimps. I'm James Ellroy, the demon dog, the foul owl with the death growl, the white knight of the far right, and the slick trick with the donkey dick. I'm the author of 16 books, masterpieces all; they precede all my future masterpieces. These books will leave you reamed, steamed and drycleaned, tie-dyed, swept to the side, true-blued, tattooed and bah fongooed. These are books for the whole fuckin' family, if the name of your family is the Manson Family."

I recently had the unique experience of touring around the City of Angels in a bus with legendary crime novelist and screenplay writer, James Ellroy (L.A. Confidential, The Black Dahlia, Blood's A Rover). Ellroy served as docent for this tour of famous murder sites in our fair city and to say it was interesting would be an understatement. We also were fed cheese and wine, so interesting and satiating.

Ellroy is a character, himself, eccentric and brilliant and in Hollywood, this means you get your own tv show. The purpose of the bus tour was for Ellroy to pimp his new show on the I.D. (Investigation Discovery) network: James Ellroy's LA: City of Demons. It is described by Ellroy as a "Wildy Wicked Weekly Show written and hosted by the 'Demon Dog of American Literature'". Yes, Ellroy hosts and yes, he really does use that much alliteration in real life. I shant shit you shivering sheeps as I am no blundering blogger but beguiling at best. (I don't know what that meant, but it's all I could come up with right now. I'm no Ellroy. Sorry.)

Ellroy - tall, huh?

If you like Ellroy, if you like old school crime, if you like the noir stories of Hollywood yesteryear - then you should check it out.

James Ellroy's LA: City Of Demons premieres on Investigation Discovery on Wednesday, January 19 at 10pm with possibly the most interesting episode upfront - "Dead Women Own Me" - where Ellroy tells the dark and deeply personal story of his own mother's murder when he was only 10 yrs old. Fascinating story. Fascinating guy.

Pocoyo Giveaway for National Bubble Bath Day!!

2011-01-06T13:01:00.000-08:00

Did you know that this Satrurday, January 8th is National Bubble Bath Day?!! Heck yeah! How do I celebrate, you ask? Full up the tub with hot water, pour in your favorite bubble bath, put on the outfit yo mama gave you and jump in! If you're a gorwn up, enjoy a magazine or a favorite book and if you're a kid, enjoy your favorite tub toys... like a Pocoyo toy!

Pocoyo is an award winning preschool animation series that originated in Spain and is now here in the States on Nick, Jr and PBS. My daughter, Aubrey, was in love with Pocoyo even before the American shows came out, as we discovered him on YouTube last year when she was two. She even wanted a Pocoyo party for her 3rd birthday but she didn't get one because there wasn't any merchandise in the States yet and I wasn't about to pay $50 dollars on Ebay for a Pocoyo table cloth and 8 plates. I'm a good mom, but I'm not THAT mom. Geez.

Anyway, to help spread the word about National Bubble Bath Day, I'm giving away a Pocoyo bath tub toy figurine (the one in the center of the photo below) and a 14-day Premium Pass subscription to Pocoyo's online virtual world, www.PocoyoWorld.com

The bath figurine is appropriate for children ages 18 months and older and can be purchased at Toys "R" Us stores nationwide and online at www.ToysRUs.com.

To enter the giveaway, just perform any or all of the following entry steps below. None are mandatory, but you should leave a separate comment for each one. Entries will be received until Monday, January 17 at midnight and winner will be chosen using Random.org.

Enter by:

1) Following my blog on GFC

2) Follow me on Twitter

3) Tweet this giveaway & leave the Twitter URL in a comment: "Enter to win a Pocoyo tub toy & 14-day Premium Pass to www.PocoyoWorld.com on FunnyYellowMom's blog: http://tinyurl.com/2a69tdq #giveaway"

4) Post this giveaway link on your Facebook wall: http://funnyyellowmom.blogspot.com/2011/01/pocoyo-giveaway-for-national-bubble.html

I was not compensated for this post and all opinions expressed here are my own. I didn't even get a toy. So there.