On the election….

in

The other day I noticed a new banner hanging outside a local printer store. It read "Real Americans For America Vote Romney."

This is not a new statement; in fact it's been going on for years. But for some reason this one I took personally. I think the whole "birth certificate" issue with Obama is downright disgraceful, and is nothing more than thinly disguised racism. And maybe I take it more personally than some, as I was not born inside the borders of the country. While both of my parents were born here, I am "An American Born Abroad." Seriously, that is the official title on my birth certificate. And because of that, I was told at a very young age that while I can purchase property in Barbados (Holla! A benefit 37 years unused) I could never be President of the United States. So does this make me less of an American? Or would no even think twice about it due to my blonde hair and blue eyes?

One of Lucas' classmates is a distant(ish) cousin to Romney, so politics and rhetoric copied from parents is running wild in 3rd grade. We've been open and honest with Lucas that we vote for candidates that fight for rights that we believe in - but he doesn't really get it. In his 8.5 year old mind, he doesn't understand why a woman and a woman and a man and a man can't get married. He doesn't understand the significance of an African American president, since Obama has been POTUS since he was 4. This is his "normal". And how do you explain "women's rights" to a child whose mother has worked his whole life? And let's not even get into trying to explain to him why for years he was denied health insurance…He can tell you the technical reasons, reciting words he's heard Jason and I use for years, but until he graduates college and has to pay his first deductible on his own, he won't be able to grasp the importance of it all.

The thing that is killing me about this election is the fact that if Romney wins, all of this is at risk. The beliefs that many of us - the need for true equality, the power of diversity, and the idea that Americans are all in this together - have ingrained in our kids are at risk. Forget taxes, forget the economy -  those things WILL figure themselves out. But basic things like birth control choices and racism… how CAN we go back?

Last week a friend of mine posted a note his daughter wrote to Obama on his Facebook profile. This letter broke my heart. It broke my heart because how does a parent explain these things to their kids? We can say the words, read all the books, but HOW can you look your child in the eyes and really get them to try and grasp something that is so foreign to them? And better yet - why should we have to?



We need to keep moving forward - not backwards. Not for us. For this amazing generation of kids that has been placed in our care.

 

Fashion FLASH: What Women are Wearing In Paris RIGHT NOW

in

As I type this, my good friend, Maria, is in Paris. 

Sigh. SO. JEALOUS.

Maria and I connect on a lot of things, but obsessing over clothes, but what to wear for specific occasions is something we are blood sisters on. So for the past few weeks we've been going back and forth on what she NEEDED to buy to wear while on her fantasy 10th Anniversary trip to Paris. She's now been there are few days, and today I got a few updates on current trends straight from the streets of La Ville-Lumière.

So what are the four must haves for Fall in Paris? 

Boots. Leather Skinnies. Leg Warmers and Finger-less Gloves. 

Apparently the chic women of Paris are rocking short boots. From moto style to cowboy style, booties are the rage. But what are they wearing them with?

Leather skinnies/jeggings and LEG WARMERS. Yes, apparently knit leg warmers are running city wild on Parisian legs. 

And then we have the fingerless knit gloves. 

While my first thought is Madonna circa 1984... look at how cozy those look!

So, there you have it. The Paris "must haves for Fall 2012."

Now I'm headed to the mall!

The Kawasaki Disease Foundation Gala - Can you help?

in

Just going to be upfront on this - I'm going to tell you a little story that may pull at your heart, then I'm going to ask you for a favor…

 

My baby boy was 9 months old.

Sweet, little Lucas had just celebrated his first Thanksgiving, was starting to pull himself to a standing position and was about to celebrate his first Christmas. One evening, Jason and I took him to Balboa Park, to what used to be called "Christmas on the Prado" to see the lights. He was all bundled up and tucked in tight to his stroller when our friend looked down at him and said "Wow, I never realize how red his cute little lips were!" Jason and I stared at each other, both of us wondering why we had never noticed either. 

We were only 9 months into this parenting thing. Maybe the baby was cold? Maybe he ate something he shouldn't have? Thoughts raced through our minds. The next day our sweet boy had his very first fever. We called the nurse line and doled out the proper dosage of infant Motrin and gave him a lukewarm bath. Our normally happy baby was crying and sleeping and visibly uncomfortable. The next day the fever continued on. His lips grew redder and his eyes were a little bloodshot. Monday came with an early visit to our pediatrician. She made note that this looks "something like Kawasaki Disease" - but told us not to worry.. that was a very rare illness. She told me not to Google it and freak myself out. She put him on antibiotics and sent him in for a chest Xray to rule out pneumonia. 

This was before smartphones - with my day spent at doctors and caring for my little one, I didn't Google Kawasaki Disease...but when he was admitted to Rady Children's Hospital the next day, I wish I had.

Kawasaki Disease is the NUMBER ONE CAUSE OF ACQUIRED HEART DISEASE IN CHILDREN. And going on 8 years later, doctors and scientists STILL don't know exactly what causes it. 

We were lucky.

At the time, many pediatricians weren't trained to recognize and treat KD, and far too many parents were losing their kids to this disease. Our doctors diagnosed the disease in time for a successful treatment. Thus far Lucas has had no lasting heart damage. But as the research continues to grow and mature along with the little hearts affected by KD in the past, we are learning that things can always change.

That's why Jason and I are standing together to not only raise awareness for the disease, but help raise funds for the continued research of this disease.

BUT WE NEED A LITTLE HELP

Saturday, November 17th is the 4th Annual "To Save a Child's Heart" Kawasaki Disease Foundation Gala.

This is going to be an amazing culinary evening at La Costa Resort in Carlsbad, celebrating all we know and raising money to keep on answering the millions of questions still unanswered. 

At this event, 18 celebrity chefs will cook table side for intimate groups of 8 people. Some of the top chefs from around the country and coming in and donating their time for this cause. I'm proud to be on the committee helping with the gala. I'm happy that I can do anything to give back the community that was there for us when we needed them 8 years ago.

If you are interested in attending the event, you can find more information on the chefs at www.KDFGala.org.

But even if you can't be there - I would still love your help. 

To help raise money at the event, we are looking for donations for the silent auction portion of the evening. 

Anything from gift certificates to restaurants, bottles of wine, work-out memberships or a basket of products would be greatly appreciated. 

I'm going to be collecting items over the next few weeks. If you can help in anyway, please let me know. 

Yes, I'm begging. Because I'm still scarred from the experience and learning all we can about this disease is the only way I can help other parents not have to go through what we went through.