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April 2012

  • A Few Thoughts on Traveling with a One Year Old

    Gwyneth suitcase
    This trip has been really fun so far. Gigi and I are getting ready to head down to San Diego to visit our friends, Steph and Andy. This first part of the trip has been wonderful but has involved a lot of juggling and visiting lots friends. I'll do a more detailed post on all our busy activities when we get settled in San Diego.

    I have learned on this trip that having flexible expectations is key. I thought I'd have time to settle down and work, to watch movies, go to the beach, have picnics at parks, to read, etc. But traveling with a 15 month old is kind of a goose-chase. I've been staying the last couple of nights with Tara` and Cole. Tara has been a nanny for years so she totally gets it and has been just wonderful! She's helped me baby wrangle here at their apartment, and out at meals which has meant I can breathe and finish my sentences. You don't realize how squirrelly a one year old is until you travel with them by yourself!

    I'm amazed at how much we've done in the past few days and how much fun I've been having with my little sidekick. She's been a trooper with all the changes in location, routine, sleep habits, meal times, etc. She's a good girl.

    Once we're in San Diego it'll be me and Steph hanging out during the days while our three little ones play quietly together and nap in tandem, and all sleep through the night. Right?

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  • An Update from San Diego

    Gwyneth and Harrison

    Well, I will just have to do a full report on the trip when we get settled back at home. We've been having so much fun here in San Diego. It's so much fun to be playing and adventuring with my friend Steph and her two sweet kids, Harrison and Lucia. Harrison and Gigi get along really well for the most part... we fully expect a future marriage. They are really sweet together.We have been to the San Diego Zoo, made some nice dinners, taken the kids for walks, and today we're going to the beach.

    Gigi is taking a much needed morning nap and I'm getting some work done. Since I've been sleeping in the same room as her she's been waking up a few times a night. I'm so sleepy I actually got in the shower in my bra the other day. It's great having a second mom around, we are really helping each other out... maybe there's something to this group parenting program.

    On Friday we are heading back up to LA, then we have a nice weekend planned, and on Monday I get to visit a film set. Then we are heading home early on Tuesday morning! We've been so busy I've hardly had time to think about how much I miss Kyle. It's hard being away from him for so long.

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  • An Update from L.A. and Happy Easter

    Deborah Dion with Gwyneth
    Happy Easter! We are back in L.A. and staying with Cole and Tara again. They went to the store yesterday and put together the sweetest little Easter basket for Gigi. I feel so lucky to have them as friends. It's one thing to be welcomed into someone's home, but it's a whole other thing to have your child welcomed, loved, and spoiled by someone. It's really amazing.

    Yesterday we got to visit again with Deborah (in the photo above), Hadley and Hal. Now, Gigi is taking her morning nap and we are going to get ready to go see the Herb Ritts exhibition at The Getty Center, and go down to Venice Beach! I fell in love with Herb Ritts' work when I was in high school so I'm really excited to see this exhibition. The weather here is just gorgeous and will be perfect for a little museum time and stroll of Venice Beach. Today is my tourist day. Tomorrow, Tara is going to babysit Gigi while I go visit a film set (I wish I could tell you a bit more about it but it's a secret)! I am so excited because it's the film of a director who's work I really admire. Then, early on Tuesday we are heading home! I can't wait to see Kyle.

    I hope you all are having a wonderful Sunday. Happy Easter.

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  • Our Trip to California

    Me and GwynethHappy Gwyneth
    Gigi and I had a wonderful trip to California. G makes a great little travel companion and I really loved this time with her.

    The main thing I discovered on this trip was that we really have some wonderful friends in California. It is really amazing when your friends open their homes up to you and your silly, squirrelly, sometimes-tantrum-throwing, one year old. It meant so much to me to be welcomed into our friends' houses for a night, a week, a cup of coffee, or a shared meal. Everyone was so excited to meet Gigi and loved her so much. We are very happy to be home but are already missing all of our wonderful CA friends.

    Here are a few of my favorite photos from our trip...
    Gwyneth Deborah Dion
    Gigi with Hadley and Deborah. G and I went over to visit Deborah and Co. twice, once to cook dinner for them and once for coffee. I wish we could have spent even more time with this lovely family.

    Whitney Johnson blogger with Gwyneth
    We met up with Whitney of Eat Sleep Cuddle for lunch on our way from San Diego back to LA. I really love her blog and it was so nice getting to meet her, I only wished we lived closer so we could cook and eat together all the time!

    Stephanie Harrison Lucia
    We spent almost a whole week in San Diego with Steph and Andy and their kiddos, Harrison and Lucia. Steph and I are so similar and every time I get to see her I just feel completely understood, fulfilled, and loved. She's a great friend.
    Gwyneth Harrison hug
    There's also this little blossoming romance.
    Gwyneth holding hands

    San Diego Zoo
    We spent a great day with Steph and Co. at the San Diego Zoo. I have wanted to go to the San Diego Zoo ever since I was a little girl. I wanted to either be a zoologist or an actress and was obsessed with a promotional CD/game from the San Diego Zoo. It was a blast with the kids. It was one of those perfect days where not one of them cried and everyone was happy.
    San Diego ZooGwyneth Harrison hug
    (In case you were wondering, Gigi is licking the flamingo fence in the photo on the right. It's good for her immune system, right?)

    Getty CenterGetty Center
    We stayed with Tara and Cole for the majority of our time in LA. They were so welcoming, accommodating, and loving. Gwyneth loved playing with them, and I loved having helping hands. They were amazing. They even babysat for me while I went and visited the film set of one of my favorite directors for half a day.

    We did a lot together: trip to Venice beach, lunches and dinners out, a morning at The Getty Center to see the Herb Ritts exhibition, and Tara and Cole took the time to put together a sweet Easter basket for G too!
    Herb Ritts Getty CenterGwyneth Easter

    Gwyneth and Romi Dames
    We also got to visit with our lovely friend Romi Dames (a very talented actress), my wonderful agent Carlyne and her daughter Joell, our friend/casting director Rene, our friend Karman, and our friend Darren. It was two weeks packed full of friends. 

    We had so much fun together on this trip. Gigi is a total California baby!

    California Baby Gwyneth

     

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  • March Care Package

    With the trip to LA I'm a little behind on some posts. I thought I'd get caught up and ahead on my trip... boy, was I delusional with my expectations. This was a little care package I sent to my sister just before we left for our trip. She's expecting a baby boy in June! I can't wait to be an Aunt. I already love this little boy so much...
    Care Package Baby Boy Gift Ideas

    In Baby H's care package... a nice card, Gossie (one of our favorite kids' books), Carter tie onesie and jeans, and two pairs of BabyLegs. The Argyle BabyLegs are one of my favorites but I also fell in love with the monster ones! How perfect for a boy?

    Take a few minutes to send a little care package to a friend this month. It's my new favorite hobby. If you do send one, please come back and tell me about it!

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  • Style File: Mini Date

    This was obviously shot before I chopped off all my hair and went back to blonde. But, like I said, I'm a bit behind on things after my trip to LA. Kyle and I love to grab a drink after he wraps up work on Fridays. Since he's a brewer, it's quite often that we just meet up at the brewery and have a pint. But, every once in a while we like to head to one of our great local restaurants for a cocktail, or glass of wine. I like to think of these little outings as mini-dates... usually Gigi comes too and it's a nice way to relax and play as a family after a long work week. I like to keep things comfortable and simple, but I still like to feel a little dressed up. Adding fun heels to a simple jeans and t-shirt look is perfect for me. These Corso Como heels are one of my favorite pairs.

    Date night look jeans t shirtDate night look jeans t shirtDate night look jeans t shirtDate night look jeans t shirt

    T shirt: Target Tissue T
    Jacket: thrifted
    Jeans: Free People
    Heels: Corso Como

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  • Beach Baby

    One of my favorite things from our trip to California was taking Gigi to see the ocean (which of course involved a lot of sunscreen and an adorable swimsuit). I was surprised by how much she absolutely LOVED the ocean. Poppy and her family met Steph and me at the beach just North of Solana. Poppy helped me walk Gwyneth down to the water and as each wave cold came and splashed up over their feet, both girls were in fits of giggles. It was awesome. I'm pretty sure G wanted to ditch me and run straight into the waves.

    Gwyneth Beach SwimsuitGwyneth Beach SwimsuitGwyneth Beach SwimsuitGwyneth Beach SwimsuitGwyneth Beach SwimsuitGwyneth Beach SwimsuitGwyneth Beach Swimsuit

     

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  • My Review of SUPER Products by Nicholas Perricone

    I am so in love with SUPER Products by Dr. Nicholas Perricone. I had been using a combination of other products for a long time but ever since pregnancy and breastfeeding hormones have taken over my body, they just weren't working for me anymore. My skin was constantly dull, dry, and I was having lots of breakouts. With most of my work as a blogger and photographer having issues with my skin isn't a huge deal, but as an actress, it's really important that my skin looks great. So, you can imagine my delight when these...
    super by dr. perricone face products
    ...showed up on my doorstep! I had wanted to try SUPER products for a really long time because I've read great things about them on websites and in magazines.

    I have been using the SUPER products, which were specifically selected for me by the getSUPER team to help clear up my skin and solve brighten my dull, dry skin, for two months now. I wanted to give them a real try before I shared my thoughts on them with you all. I have to say, I'm totally amazed. My skin has cleared up and I have much fewer breakouts than before. My skin feels moisturized, fresh, clean, and it looks brighter. The products they sent me quickly addressed all my issues and I truly feel that my skin is back in balance. I know this sounds crazy but I actually felt a difference in my skin overnight. While my skin still isn't perfect, it is remarkably improved.

    Here are my thoughts on the products they sent me...
    super by dr. perricone face products


    Click on the images below to read more about them or buy them on the getSUPER website...

    super by dr. perricone face products
    SUPER Sweet Clean Cleanser
    I love this cleanser. It feels so amazing I find I don't even want to rinse it off... and it smells fantastic. It moisturizes while it cleanses so it doesn't dry out your skin.

    super by dr. perricone face products
    SUPER Brightening Activator
    This toner exfoliates, brightens, and tightens my skin which makes me look fresh. I love this melon-powered activator, it gently exfoliates and moisturizes.

    super by dr. perricone face products
    SUPER First Blush
    This serum is fantastic! It really warms up my skin tone and makes my face glow. It soaks right into your dry skin and I felt the results of this right away.


    super by dr. perricone face products

    SUPER Sun Kissed with SPF 25
    With my fair skin I have to wear sunscreen rain or shine but putting all those chemicals on my face makes me nervous. This tinted moisturizer uses zinc oxide and turmeric as UV protection. I was afraid the tint might have been to dark for me, but it blends in and looks great. They also offer an untinted version.

    super by dr. perricone face products
    SUPER Bright Eyed
    This eye cream works immediately to fresh and tighten the skin around my eyes. I use this at night for moisturizing and repair, and in the morning to "wake up" my skin. It is also a great primer for under-eye makeup. I always have dark circles and this allows my concealer to go on easily and helps it look clean and natural.

    super by dr. perricone face products
    SUPER O-Mega Moisture
    I didn't realize how dry my skin was (and how much that was the cause of my breakouts) until I started using this rich moisturizer every night. It smells so good and feels amazing. When I use this I feel like I'm really doing something good for my skin and special for myself.

    super by dr. perricone face products
    SUPER O-Mega Oil
    When I first looked at this oil I thought, you want me to put oil on my oily skin?! But my skin was so dry, and even peeling a bit around my nose, a few tiny drops of this oil at night made such a dramatic difference. I also use a drop or two on Gwyneth's cheeks when they get dry. It works so wonderfully and doesn't feel oily or greasy at all.

    A couple of other things... I really love that these products use plant based ingredients to combat common skin issues... leafy greens to normalize oil production, chia oil to hydrate skin, and turmeric for UV protection. Since I strive to eat healthfully, it only makes sense to me that what your put on your body is as important as what you put in your body.  super by dr. perricone face products superfoods
    I'm also impressed by what's not in these products... they contain NO parabens, propylene glycol, mineral oil, phthalates, sulfates, synthetic dyes and fragrances. As if that weren't enough their packaging is also made with 80% post consumer paper and recycled wood fiber from well-managed forests, they use wind power and print in a carbon neutral facility.

    Every product I've written about ranges between $30 and $50, which I think is really reasonable for what you're getting in each bottle. After using them for two months, I can see most of the products lasting between 4-6 months. Like with all quality products, a little goes a long way.

    I am so thrilled with my new skin care routine which is mostly available under the Uneven Skin Tone line and the Hydration line, and I can't wait to try more of their products like their 3-Minute Facial, their Head-to-Toe Hyration line, and their 24/7 Wrinkle Protection line. I highly recommend the SUPER products if you're looking for something new.

    Note: SUPER did send me these products to try free of charge but they did not ask me to write a review. I was so pleased with their products that I wanted to share them with you. I have put a link to their website over with my Sponsors (they are not actually a sponsor but I wanted it to be easy to access their site).

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  • Sister Time

    This weekend my sister, Meghan came down for a visit. She and her husband Rob are expecting a baby boy in early June. I haven't gotten to see my sis in a couple of months and was so excited to see her growing belly. She looks just beautiful and I cannot wait for her to become a mom. She and Rob are going to be such amazing, loving parents. My sister also happens to be a very talented photographer, so while they were visiting we took some time to take family portraits for each other...


    Wonderful Weekend Sister visit family portrait sisters

    Wonderful Weekend Sister visit family portrait sisters
    ... I'm so lucky to have a big sister like her.

    First I took a few of Meghan and Rob...
    Wonderful Weekend Sister visit family portrait pregnancyWonderful Weekend Sister visit family portrait pregnancy
    Wonderful Weekend Sister visit family portrait pregnancyWonderful Weekend Sister visit family portrait pregnancy

    Then she snapped a few of us...
    Wonderful Weekend Sister visit family portraitWonderful Weekend Sister visit family portraitWonderful Weekend Sister visit family portraitWonderful Weekend Sister visit family portraitWonderful Weekend Sister visit family portrait

    I was so sad they had to head home early today, I wish we lived next door to each other. Gwyneth and I will be heading up for a week soon to spend helping her get food in the freezer and the house all ready for their baby to arrive. I can't wait to meet him!

    I hope you had a wonderful weekend too.

     

     

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  • Potty Training a One Year Old

    Potty Training 1 year oldPotty Training 1 year oldGwyneth is now almost 16 months old, but when she turned one I (half-jokingly) told a mom of five I know, that I was going to come to her when it was time for potty training. She told me, "Start now. Just start putting Gwyneth on the potty before baths or at diaper change times to get her used to the idea." I know for a lot of mom's they run into a big issue with potty training because their tykes are frightened of the toilet, so it seemed logical to me to introduce her to it before it would occur to her to be scared.

    I ordered a Baby Bjorn Toilet Trainer potty seat for her and started setting her on the toilet for a few minutes every night while I got her bath ready. The seat works great and I've been really happy with it. She's seems really comfortable on it. She went pee while perched there once or twice but it was most likely a coincidence (which we made a HUGE deal out of). Then, when we went to California the project got put on hold. But she was with me 24/7, including on trips to the bathroom. I showed her how "Mommy goes potty" but didn't think it was really sinking in until... we got home and she started going to the bathroom on the potty!

    Potty Training baby bjorn toilet trainer potty seat review

    It's now been more than a week since I've changed a poopy diaper! I am still kind of shocked. I really didn't expect for her to figure it out so quickly. Since it was so obvious that she was trying and succeeding at using the toilet we've really ramped up our training. I watch (and listen) for signs that she may need to use the toilet (usually she's very quiet or very.. uh, gassy) and we try to make it really fun. If she says/signs "all done" we get her down right away so it doesn't feel like something she has to do.

    We also have a great book pop-up called Princess Potty Time (there's a version for Superheros too) that my Dad and Stepmom got for her. I also have a couple less interactive books like Curious George Visits the Zoo, and I just take time talking about the different animals (as opposed to reading the story in an animated way). She seems to be able to focus better when it's not too interactive or animated. She likes to hold the book at first but then when she's ready to go, she hands it off to me and I show her the pictures while she goes.

    Princess Potty Time Potty Training one year oldsuperhero potty time potty training one year oldcurious george visits the zoo

    When she successfully uses the toilet I give her one square of toilet paper (which is the most thrilling thing ever) and she gets to "wipe" then throw it in the potty. I quickly flush the toilet, and I try not to let her see how it's done (I don't need her continuously trying to flush). Then she claps for her self and cheers, "Day! Day! Bye bye poo poo!" I only give her the toilet paper and only flush when she goes because I want her to learn that those are rewards, otherwise I'm afraid she'd just say "all done" to get to the fun stuff without actually going potty. This week I'm planning to make her a "Star Chart" that she can put a sticker on when she uses the toilet successfully.

    Gwyneth is still wearing her BumGenius 4.0 diapers all the time and while she does occasionally pee in the potty, her diapers are usually really wet. Where we're having the most success is with pooping in the potty. Those signs are easy for me to see. This toilet training business happened so naturally for her. It takes awareness, time, and patience from us but it's so worth it. I'm ridiculously proud of her.

    I'm by no means an expert on this process. I'd love any advice, or tips you want to share! Every kid is different and everyone finds their own methods that work for them. I'll keep you up to date on how the process continues to go, and what's working for us.

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  • A Day Off

    chai 10 speed coffee hood riverGywneth Hug

    This morning I woke up full of plans to get everything done. I made the decision to go to school full-time this quarter so I can wrap up that chapter of my life. I feel a little crazy over here at times. I love this blog and my foodie website and I'm so thrilled about all the great oppurunities their bringing into my life. I'm staying busy with my photography business, and I've started working with Double Mountain (where Kyle is a brewer) doing some social media work.

    With all of that great work, and school full time, I just sometimes feel like I'm not being the best mom. There's been not enough book reading, and park visiting... and way too much Winnie the Pooh (which she now asks for: "wiinneee-a-poooooh?") and way too much "Hold on one second, honey". Next week is midterms and I then I'm halfway there! Only 6 more weeks of school, then I can focus on all the projects that are near and dear to me (including being a more attentive mama).

    Anyway... like I was saying, today I woke up with a big list. But we were all cuddling in bed and Gigi took Kyle's hand, and mine and said, "GO?" while nodding vigorously. So... we went. We walked to the coffee shop, got lattes and amazing Strawberry Rhubarb Scones. Then I walked home and took an hour to work out, which I haven't done in a while (more on this later). Then I took a shower with Gigi, where we sang silly songs and stayed in for way too long. Then we got ready for the day, made lunch, and before I knew it... I had decided to take the whole day off!!!

    No work for me today. I'm doing laundry and picking up, hanging out with Gigi, cuddling lots, I finished a good book, and will maybe start another. It's raining and I'm just enjoying not forcing myself to power through homework. It will mean an extra crazy day for me tomorrow to wrap up the week, but I needed a break! What do you do to decompress (I could use the suggestions)?

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  • Sister Time: A Few More Photos

    Last week I shared some of the photos that my sister and I took of each others families. I wanted to share a few more with you, including a few more family shots, a few pregnancy shots, and a few headshots. It's so much fun having such a talented sister around...

    family portraits gwyneth
    This one is my absolute favorite! I love, love, love it.

    actress headshotfamily portraits gwyneth
    This is an options for my new headshot, and another one of me and silly Gigi.

    Wonderful Weekend Sister visit family portraitWonderful Weekend Sister visit family portrait
    And a couple more family portraits. This one is really how we are most of the time.

    Wonderful Weekend Sister visit family portrait
    My beautiful sister with Gigi. Isn't Meghan glowing?!

    Hope you're having a great start to your week! We've got a crazy week ahead with midterms, lots of work, and a trip to Seattle planned. Here goes...

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