Summertime fun… just in time for Summer to end.

It’s the last week of summer break for my kids. Next week marks the passage into 3^rd grade for Lucas and {transitional} Kindergarten (a 2-year K program at our school for kids with late fall birthdays) for Zoe. Being that it’s late August and school is about to begin means one thing in San Diego – our summertime weather has only just now started. SIGH.

All summer the kids have been begging me to get in the pool with them, but being a spoiled So. Cal native means I only take a dip when it’s really warm out. Besides, you should see our community pool after a day of 1000 kids…not really where I want to be swimming.

Last month Sony asked me to be a “Sony Mom.” As an ambassador for this program, I’ll have the opportunity to review various products over the next few months. The first product was a Sony Cybershot DSC-TX20, a super cute waterproof camera perfect for capturing those days at the pool and the beach.

While I couldn’t wait to try it out…I kept waiting for warmer temps. Then I went to NYC and somehow managed to bring the sweaty weather back with me. Flip side? I finally got to really try out my new Cybershot.

The kids had a great time “posing” underwater, and the pictures and video were clear and crisp. For a little more drama, I ran the images through Snapseed and played with coloring and effects. I love the cool vintage feeling.

 

Next time I want to do a full “dressed-up” underwater photo shoot with the kids. I also can't wait to take this camera to the beach or snorkeling. Guess we may just have to take some kind of tropical vacation...  

Now that we are all dreaming of sitting on a beach, sipping a Pina Colada, I will give you the techy info:

The Sony Cyber-Shot TX20 comes in five different colors: orange, green, black, blue, and pink. It’s currently retailing for about $300 – but check around because the price ranges.

It has:

- 16 MP “Exmor R” CMOS sensor

- Waterproof, dustproof, freeze-proof, and shockproof

- 25mm equivalent lens with 4x optical zoom, 8X virtual zoom via “Clear Image Zoom” technology

- “Extra High Sensitivity” technology enhances low-light shooting capabilities

- Captures 12 MP still images while shooting video

- Full HD Movie Shooting capabilities with 1920×1080/60i and two direction Optical Image stabilization with “Active Mode”

- 3.0" touch screen

- BEST FEATURE EVER: The "Soft Skin Mode." It's like automatic air brushing for the skin. I highly recommend always keeping this feature on when shooting anyone over the age of 10. Your friends will thank you and will probably use the picture you take of them in this mode as their new Facebook profile picture. Seriously. It's that good. 

**Disclaimer: I was selected to be a part of the Sony VIP Mom Blogger Review (#SonyMoms) program. I was given a Sony Cyber-Shot TX20 for the purpose of this review. I was not otherwise compensated. The thoughts and options shared above are my own and do not reflect those of Sony.

Zoe Alyce's Wonderland Tea Party

Last year after 35 kindergartners and the brain cake, I SWORE I would start to pull back on the birthday parties. I get too obsessed! I spend too much! Jason threatens to leave me! And then there is the age old thought of "why bother since the kids would be happy with 3 friends and cake..."But I like this stuff. And while two hours before the party it may not seem like any fun, whatsoever, for anyone involved - I love to throw a good party.

This one was down sized. I only invited 10 of Zoe's little girl friends over for an afternoon tea party. I felt HORRIBLE excluding MY friends with boys, but inviting the world is what gets me in trouble, so I apologized to my moms-of-boys friends and just invited girls (and a couple of older brothers for Lucas' sake). I ordered the invites through one of my favorite invitation designers, TomKat Studio, and then (if you can believe this) kinda put the party out of my mind. Until last week. When I promptly freaked out.

I had planned on using real china all along. I threw my good friends a tea party baby shower a few years ago and was excited to be able to use it all again. I had it in my head that I wanted to get a tiered serving dish, so I stopped by Home Goods and was blown away when I found actual Alice in Wonderland serving plates, cups, trivets, and a 2 tiered serving dish. I called my mom and my friend Maria from inside the store actually squealing over my find. But then my mind started racing... what else could I do to really make the party special?

Desserts.

 

Since I know that at this point most kids have been on a 7-day sugar high, I was going to stay away from doing a dessert/candy table. But I couldn't help myself. Beautiful Cupcake Love cupcakes, gum balls and candy buttons make every party happier. And with the edition of a Princess Cake from Sweet Lady Jane in LA (my mom's idea), the table pretty much set itself. 

While I'm sure the kids liked the dessert table the best (note the tiny holes in the frosting from tiny fingers sneaking a tiny taste) my favorite things are the details. The tables, the mantle, paper lanterns... the items that give it a true Wonderland feel.

Being that this was the first party in the new house, it was hard figuring out what what to put where. Since temperatures were in the 90's this past week, I had planned on an outdoor event. When the wind starting gusting around noon and the temperature dropped 15 degrees, I quickly make the executive decision to move the party inside... confusing us even more. Where do I put the bar for the moms? How do I set-up the tables? Where ARE those tablecloths?!

 

Having had a {crazy} boy first, I'm used to "boy parties." Running around, things getting knocked over, no hope of an organized craft or plan. But little girls are different. They will sit there and delight in drinking tea (Candy Cane non-caffinated from Trader Joe's) or sparkling lemonade out of proper china. They all dressed up in party or princess dresses and sat and drank their tea and ate their cookies with perfect manners. Thanks to Christina for a gift certificate that she couldn't use, we had Martha from Pinky's Big Top do face painting and balloon animals... she was wonderful and the kids LOVED it. 

 

While, yes, one can argue that I do my elaborate parties more for me than for the kid, I don't really see it that way. While Zoe may not remember the "drink me" tags or the little heart shaped topiaries, she will always have a special memory of her Wonderland tea party. And to me, that's what birthday parties are all about; Creating a perfect memory.

Happy 3rd birthday to my little pickle princess!

Where the surf meets the turf...blogging mama edition

If you ever get the chance to watch a race at Del Mar from the winner's circle - take it. The energy that flows as the horses race by at top speed is unmatchable.

If you ever get the chance to bet on a horse named "MO Cheese".. take it. Even a $2 bet. I mean WHO doesn't want MO CHEESE to win?

And even when MO CHEESE fails you (like it always does my thighs) it's still a great story.

 If you ever get the chance to dine at the Stretch Run Grill on a glorious day in San Diego with a group of great women - take it.

Oh, and have the Del Mar Sweet Tea.

Trust me.

<-- that's me with Theresa, Christina and La Jolla Mom Katie 

Left to right - me, MamaMary, RockonMommy Theresa, Mamarazzi Suzette, CoffeeMommyof3 Christina, Sugar Jones, HipMom Sondra and Jen_eration_X Jennifer

BIG THANKS to The Del Mar Thoroughbred Club for hosting us, and to Jennifer for taking such great pics!