Recently I was driving to Anaheim from the Valley on a Friday afternoon. Naturally there was traffic & I was stuck in gridlock, no matter what freeway I took. My daughter was in the backseat, happily listening to music on her iPod. I decided that I needed to "get my zen on" & popped into the CD player this new album by Emeralde called Wind and Shadows. Wind and Shadows is the first album for Emeralde & it is a powerful CD that … [Read more...]
Memoirs That I Love – November 2015 Edition
One of the great things about reading a good book, especially with memoirs is that it transports you back in time & gives you the ability to experience what life was like for the author during that time period of the book. There are three memoirs that I've enjoyed recently & I think perhaps you will too! While it's no secret that I enjoy watching TV, my first love as a child was reading books & getting immersed in a world that was … [Read more...]
Seal’s New Album “7” Drops Today!
When I first heard Seal’s music back in the early 90s, I was just starting college & still rocking the big hair (not sure why). I played those two CDs (“Seal” & “Seal II”) to death! Since then, he has released many more albums. The last two recent ones “Hits” & “Commitment and Soul 2” were so-so in my book. That’s why I am super excited to review his new “7” album that releases today, November 6th! It is a true return to … [Read more...]
Bridget Wilder: Spy-in-Training {Book Review}
As a mother of an elementary school-aged girl, I’m very conscious of the type of messages that are out there in the pop culture atmosphere. The animated movies that I grew up with usually focused on a damsel in distress, waiting for her prince to come rescue her or to wake her up from a deep sleep with a special kiss. This is not the type of message that I’d like reinforced in my daughter & thankfully children’s movies as of late have very … [Read more...]
#MixedMe Book Signing and #MultiCultiMixer Recap
Last week I attended the MultiCulti Mixer in Brentwood that was hosted by my friend Sonia Smith-Kang. She is the owner of Mixed Up Clothing. I have always been interested in the topic of multiculturalism. You see, while growing up in Simi Valley in the late 70’s & 80’s, my cultural heritage has (and continues to) always come into question. I look Asian, but people were always confused by my last (maiden) name of “Valdez.” Simi Valley did not … [Read more...]
101 Movies to See Before You Grow Up Is a Must-Read!
As a mom I am very aware of the entertainment options that are available to my family. I am very cognizant of the fact that pop culture (while I am slightly obsessed with it) may not contain the best messages for my daughter. As parents, we have to decide as a family what is appropriate for our kids to watch or listen to on the radio. Let’s face it, we live in a streaming society, where all of our television or movie demands can be instantly … [Read more...]