Category Archives: kids
baby wine + baby champagne
I often wonder, what are other families’ rituals around the dinner table with little ones…? In our house, we take every manner of festive occasion seriously– and so do our kids. We plan dinners together, discuss at length what we’ll serve, how we’ll decorate, who will serve… For better or worse, our family operates by-committee + is loaded with colorful opinions + suggestions.
For these dinners, we serve our children Concord grape juice + sparkling apple juice disguised as ”baby wine” + “baby champagne.” They have even cherry-picked their way through my favorite collection of cordials and identified– with great pride– their own “baby wine glasses.” With these glasses, they stand up and make toasts to loved ones around the table. “Baby wine” is associated with celebration/ specialness/ time stopping. It makes appearances year-round.
I love that the ceremonies of the dinner table have meaning + purpose. I ask myself, why shouldn’t children have precious ceremonies of their own? Charming accoutrements of their own? Generosity of spirit is a learned behavior + the dinner table is the most fertile ground.
ANY THOUGHTS HERE?
Posted in kids, musings, my beat
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the merry, merry world of vintage home
Vintage Home is a store I could write about all-year long, but it is my favorite store in America come December 1st, when it is transformed into an Austrian wonderland, giving the fabled Christmas market of Vienna a RUN for its’ money. Laura Rombauer is the proprietress of Vintage Home and has curated the most enchanting old- world Christmas emporium, loaded to the gills with brilliant, thoughtful, and elegant gifts + tree ornaments that haunt a woman like a pair of Louboutins… but what makes me the most nuts is— the extraordinary inventory of wooden crafts she carries… all those Christmas pyramids of all sizes, nutcrackers, candelabras, and smokers.
Every year my husband + I collect a new wooden heirloom, after having wildly anticipated this new purchase for months leading to December 1… On that day, we arrive to inspect all the wooden loot– mercilessly analyzing which new prospect would fit-in best with our house/ family/ other wooden friends…. And then bring it home as if it were a Picasso. From there, we assemble our entire collection on a table in our front foyer; and then we all congregate around the table to light all the colored candles + marvel at the magic illuminating the room, and on to the small faces and hands of our children.
This spectacular extravaganza is what indelible memories, ceremonies + rituals are all about– and some day these wooden friends, who have brought my family such joy, will be my children’s heirlooms.
{photo credit: nicole mcintosh bruce}
Posted in entertaining, kids, my beat
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lonna sez…
When I need answers to all-things kids related, I turn to Lonna Corder, the director of my preschool, who always steers me to the best alternative/ solution/ remedy. As you can imagine, top of mind lately is kindergarten transition… Luckily, I am not alone here, and Lonna shared with me the tips she has shared with countless other first-time kindergarten families.
Best tip… Know the game you are playing: anticipate your child’s historical strengths + weaknesses as your personal guide.
Posted in kids, my beat
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claiborne’s napa
Posted in kids, my beat
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ooooozing of summer: the calistoga fair
As they always are, county fairs are a highlight of our summer. Like carnies from a past life, we seek them out with shameless elation + squeals.
There are many fairs coming to towns near you in July + August– so be sure to catch yours!! And be sure to have your favorite bottle of wine ready for when you come home, once the kids are finally in bed with all their stuffed animal winnings!
photos courtesy of: soooooooooooo
Posted in kids, my beat
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in case you were wondering…
Posted in itineraries, kids, my beat
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wish me luck!!!!
This morning my family is heading to the newly opened Disney resort in Hawaii called Aulani… Really hoping there is a good wine list somewhere on the property.
Posted in kids, my beat
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modern luxury
How much would you be willing to pay to have your kids stay in bed until 7am, every morning???
How often have you heard a little voice on your monitor asking if it is time to get up, when confusing a street light or garage light for sunlight?? How often have you found a little person in your bed asking if it is wake up time?? Everyone with young children knows pushing wake up time to an acceptable hour is devastatingly hard… Part of the problem is children don’t have a sense of when it’s morning time or 7am; and so to them, eyes open must mean it is time to get up…. 
So, I decided to write about my most valued possession this morning– it is a humble piece of modern technology that has literally transformed my life, and cost me $40… I have shamelessly hawked it to friends + strangers alike, with the passion of a QVC presenter. 
My world changed when I got my hands on the Teach Me Time Clock… A clock that teaches children when is wake-up time with the “green-light-to-get-up” feature. We started using the clocks the moment our children transitioned from crib to big bed– and the clock became a part of the excitement + upgrade of the transition. Our kids immediately lost anxiousness of not knowing when it was wake up time, and learned to rely on the green light to inform them of morning time.
You too might become obsessed– check it out here!
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OXBOW the hub of downtown napa
The Oxbow in downtown Napa is a true foodie emporium that just found its groove; and it took a while. Today, it is packed on the weekends with locals + thrill-seekers looking to taste, try, and be delighted. And much like the Ferry Building in San Francisco, it is becoming the hub of the emerging Napa community and a must-visit destination for the gastronomically inclined + out-of- town visitors. There is just so much to love + something for everyone– especially my small children.
My gang has a true method to our madness– and here is how it shakes down:
One parent minds the kids and stalks a table, while the other (usually me) races through the building ordering the following:
6 Drake’s Bay oysters from Hog Island
2 WET cappuccinos from Ritual Coffee Roasters
1 small children’s pizza from Ca’ Momi Enoteca
2 salmon tacos from C Casa
2 Kara’s Cupcakes
1 scoop of something from Three Twins Ice Cream
1 sweet crepe from La Crepe!
All this happens if we don’t go to Gott’s… But we usually wait to do that in St. Helena, so not to blow our whole wad of options.
Oxbow Public Market
644 First Street
Napa, CA 94559
hours vary
photo credit: welcome to oxbow via pureluxury.com, all other nicole mcintosh bruce
Posted in kids, my beat, naughty food
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