Perfect Party Dress - Ooh! La La! Couture

I decided to take my daughter shopping for her birthday party dress after school last week and knew right where to go. We found the dress at a boutique in Rockville Centre which I discovered while on a campaign run for my husband. Campaigning helped me learn more about my community including the discovery of a fabulous boutique, Kids Cottage, which has one of a kind merchandise that can't be found in department stores. Ooh! La La! Couture is the place to go for your little princess or prince. Not only will my daughter look super cute in her ensemble (not pictured), but other notable tots who rock this brand include Sam, daughter of Tiger & Elin Woods, Sean Combs' twin girls, Heidi Klum's daughter, Leni, and China Anderson, who starred in the final episode of "Grey's Anatomy last May. Click here for photos. I had no idea the dress my daughter selected after taking five dresses to the dressing room has been rocked on Red Carpets by such posh tots.

Thomas the Tank (Costly) Obsession

I'm still on the fence about giving my son a birthday party. His birthday is June 27 and he will be turning two. He shares the same birthday with my father who will not be turning two on June 27. My son has developed a liking to Thomas the Tank Engine and even goes around the house saying, "choo choo, all aboard" only the way a 23.5 month old can say it. It is absolutely adorable. So how can we not have a Thomas the Tank Engine themed celebration? I suppose we can still celebrate quietly and skip the big to do and he will be just as happy. I think I'm about pooped out when it comes to party planning for the year even though I enjoy having people over.

I did a search for Thomas the Tank cakes and this is what I found. If you look closely you will see the websites where some of these cakes can be found. Aren't they gorgeous???

Love this, but I don't think he'll like the hard frosting.

I could probably replicate this one...ummm, maybe not.

Here is a link you can click on for more idea. www.elitecakedesigns.com/au.

A few years ago, I worked in the Public Affairs Department here. Greenfield Village would host Thomas the Tank Engine for a few days, along with special programming, and the entire village would be littered with small children geard up in Thomas paraphernalia. Screams surrounded the outdoor village as mom's pulled their children kicking and screaming away from the hundreds of costly souvenirs stacked upon tables. This is the image I remembered. I soon learned to stay away from the village during these times because I couldn't bear the large crowds Thomas would draw, of course thanks to the awesome PR and Marketing department.

This would be an awesome present for my son, huh? Unfortunately the dates are incompatible with our schedule for June but September looks good!

Touring the West Wing

We learned earlier in the day that we were approved to tour the White House West Wing (not the main White House where large groups tour) at 8:30 p.m. Can you say EXCITED???? Luckily, I packed a few dresses and sandals/heels for my daughter and I. As for my son, we had to make a trip to Macy’s for a quick purchase. Funny how most department stores have tons of clothing for little girls but rarely have much of a selection for little boys. Fortunately I found two Polo shirts and a pair of Polo pants for my son. I also found a cute pair of kitten pumps for myself. I had heels with me but considering how my feet don't do well in high heels for a long period of time, the kitten pumps were a good purchase.

Retailed at Macy's for $69.99 but are on sale today for $49.99

We were told to dress no less than business casual. This is what we wore (picture).


We're standing at the official press podium seen on CNN, etc. during daily/official press conferences given by White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs.

Once we entered into the West Wing, not to be confused with the regular tour of the main White House, we stood for a few minutes in the reception area. We were immediately introduced to Valerie Jarret's Chief of Staff to the Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental Relations and Public Engagement, Michael Strautmanis who I met previously at a cocktail party during the Congressional Black Caucus in September. He more than likely wouldn't remember me so I didn't mention this. I could just feel the power surrounding me. To our right was the infamous "Situation Room," and to our left was the Vice President's wing. We weren't allowed into either area. As we waited a bit, Melody Barnes, the newly married White House Domestic Policy Advisor, walked out and we were immediately introduced. She wore this beautiful lilac and silver scarf around her shoulders and I quickly complimented her on it. She was very pleasant and briefly chatted with us.

Melody shown here with the First Lady

The kids and I standing just outside of the Oval Office

We were not permitted to take photos inside of the White House but were given permission to take them in the Rose Garden, outside the promenade, and in the press room. Because it was late in the evening, many of our photos didn't come out very well.

During the tour of the Oval office and other parts of the West Wing, the kids showed minimal interest in what they were seeing. My son kept removing his sandals, and my daughter kept her eye on the fly on the wall. She has this thing with flying insects. I can't wait to tell the kids when they're older. My dad said my son felt comfortable taking his shoes off because he knew that the White House is being branded as "the people's house" so he felt right at home. Another highlight was an original painting of George Washington crossing the Delaware River. We were asked to find at least 10+ items that were questionable. One that stood out right away was a horse riding in a boat a bit larger than a canoe, as well as a soldier who looked like a woman. What? They also said the artist used the images of friends in most of the soldiers in the boats. Shady....

Me standing at the official press room podium.

Standing at this podium felt very natural to me. It actually sparked something in me. My undergraduate degree is in Public Relations which is why I felt at home behind this podium. I haven't officially worked as a publicist for seven years but once a publicist always a publicist. I have publicized activities for the Miss Brooklyn Scholarship Pageant and did a pretty good job if I do say so myself. I even made Page 6 of the New York Post which many take years to crack. I cracked it the first year. Anyhoo, I'm thinking of returning to the field in a year or two so watch out!

To wrap this up, the tour of the house was exciting. Peeking into the pristine Oval Office was inspiring. We saw the bowl of apples the POTUS mentions in interviews. Even though we were kept at a distance, we saw his personal family photos behind his desk. The history behind the office is amazing. I do plan to go back once we're granted a tour of the main White House. Honestly, I think I would have been more excited had we been able to tour the East Wing where the First Lady's staff is housed. I'm sure that day is coming.

To request an in-person tour of the White House, please click here.

For a virtual tour of the White House, pleack click here.

Testing Turtle Park - Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C. - Turtle Park

On Thursday morning, I took the kids to breakfast while hubby began his morning with the firm retreat. Shortly after breakfast, we stopped by the room to load up on snacks, diapers, wipes, toys, etc. for the trip to Turtle Park located at 45th & Van Ness, NW, Wash. DC 20016. The kids really did not care that we were in the nation’s capital. All they cared about what when they were going to the park. The night before I did a Google search for the Top 15 things to do with kids in Washington, DC and one of the places that caught my eye was Turtle Park.

The sandbox was a hit for most of the kids at the park

The directions said it was about 15 minutes from our hotel, and it probably was, but because DC is filled with multiple streets criss crossing and going diagonal and every which way, I got turned around several times. The directions took us past all of the Embassy properties which were amazing. Even though we were in America, many, if not all, of them were built using their native architecture. The one that stood out the most to me was the India Ambassador’s home. I wish I had stopped to take photos but I did not think that would have been such a smart move.

We went up and down this ramp at least 100 times! The railing should be enclosed with netting so the little ones don't fall through and hurt themselves. Can you picture me wearing ballet flats going in and out of these tires, running down to the end of the slide in time for my son to come down? Tire-ing!

Outside of making sure my son did not fall through the ramp railing up to the slide while walking on top of the car tires, and stopping my daughter from staring down the little girl who had the sand shovel she wanted, the park was a pleasant experience for all of us. It is situated in a quiet neighborhood lined with beautiful homes. There were shaded and sunny areas as well as plenty of seating. There was plenty of free street parking, and the park was gated making it even safer for kids. There were also plenty of swings/bucket swings as well. On the way back to the hotel, we passed by Georgetown University, and American University.

The grounds were safe enough for the kids to walk around barefoot

We soon left the park after about 1.5 to 2 hours of playing at Turtle Park, we picked up lunch at Five Guys in the shopping center one block from our hotel. The kids had hot dogs and I had a bacon cheeseburger, and then we returned to the hotel for a long nap. I did not care for the french fries seasoned with paprika.

Plenty of toddler sized placed to crawl in and out of

Fortunately, the kids went right to sleep once we returned to the room. I explained to my daughter that we were going to the White House where Mr. Obama works later that evening. I think she was excited about that. I make sure she is able to recognize them whenever they are on TV, in a magazine, or on the radio. Yes, she knows the POTUS voice.

Tomorrow: Touring the White House West Wing

The Thomas' Take D.C.

Last Wednesday, the family and I loaded up the SUV and headed down I-95 toward our nation's capitol. When we pulled up to the Willard Hotel I knew I would enjoy my stay. This hotel was not only beautiful, as it should be at $599/night, but steps from the most powerful center of the country/world. We were there from Wednesday through Saturday so my husband could attend his firms annual minority retreat. The hotel address was 1401 Pennsylvania Avenue which was just two blocks from the most recognizable address in the country, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, a.k.a. the White House.



My son making sure we have a nice view...which we didn't.






My daughter checks the firmness of the bed while my son inspects the garbage can.






How do you turn this thing on? What?! No Nick Jr.?



After check in and a quick survey of the room, we headed down the street and around the corner to the White House before sundown. Hubby and I recently stopped by outside a few months earlier while we were in town for the Congressional Black Caucus. Only this time, we had no idea that we would be given a private tour of the West Wing of the White House the following day. What a surprise that was!




The future President and Vice President of the United States of America


The Obamas were in the house because I could see the snipers on the rooftop which is clearly an indication. My husband reached out to a friend he met while studying for the Bar who now works in the White House. Within minutes, we soon found ourselves scrambling to find the kid's SS#'s which is needed for access. We truly do have a friend in the White House. I usually travel with our passports but this time I didn't. Luckily my husband retrieved them, submitted them and then the wait began for the final word on whether or not we were granted a tour.


We decided to have dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe where my son couldn't stop dancing to the music. The waitstaff at HRC was awesome. My husband was back at the room searching for the SS#'s which means I was solo with the kids for a bit. They brought crayons, picked them up when my son threw them, distracted him when he got upset, etc. You know how it goes sometimes when kids are hungry, tired, and cranky. After dinner, we snuggled into a very comfortable bed at The Willard for a good night's rest. I took a much needed hot bath in the spacious tub sprinkled with Carol's Daughter Mango Melange Body and Bath oil. I think the bath was a bit too long. When I came out, everyone, including hubby, had fallen fast asleep.



Mango Melange Body and Bath Oil - Retails for $30


For those travelling with children, The Willard is an amazing hotel but a bit questionable on the kid-friendly front. My kids loved the spacious rooms, as did I since we brought along our pack 'n play, but cable TV only included Nick, and not Nick, Jr. Those that know understand that Dora, etc. go off after a certain time and shows targeted to older children come on. Luckily we brought toys and a portable DVD player along to hold their attention. Room service came a bit late on the first day, 4 p.m., and when they did they didn't give us any fresh face towels. The valet is $35/night which is pricey but the service was top notch. One staff member even walked me to my car to help me retrieve my single stroller (the double stroller was killing me) instead of having to go through the trouble of bringing the SUV to me. There is no room for any milk in the room bar, but there are mini fridges available at a fee. We did not use one. I do want to add that the hotel is a 10-minute walk to the Mall which is home to many historic monuments as well as the various Smithsonian Museums. It's also a 15 minute drive to Turtle Park. More on that tomorrow.

Field Trip: Dee's Nursery!

I have been trying to find ways to "pimp" my house from the inside out so what better reason is there to visit a nursery? This morning I took the offspring to Dee's Nursery for a little floral browsing. We visited the nursery back in the fall when they had a big bouncy thingy for the kids, a petting zoo, and much more. It was a pretty exciting first visit to the nursery for the kids as well as hubby and I. This time, sans the bouncy thingy, it was just as exciting.



How cute is this garden decoration?







As we walked in, the kids were excited to see all of the fountains and even stuck their itty bitty fingers in a few of them. I tried not to cringe and quickly reminded myself that it's what kids do. Madame Olivia told me that this and that was a Cherry Blossom. How did she know that?
I went with the task of finding hanging plants for the patio but realized it was still a bit chilly. If you hang them out too early in the season, the cold air can zap them and your wallet of $30/plant. So I mosied on over and found some ivy.


Dipping while no one is watching

I asked an employee if ivy grew in shady areas. He said, 'ivy will grow on your living room floor if you dropped it!' I thought that was pretty funny. That's the kind of plant for me! We have an extremely shady backyard which is home to a very large Oak tree. On the side of the house we have an area where grass just will not grow. As a former Brooklyn resident, I noticed many brownstones had ivy in their tiny front yards. The area was too tiny for a lawnmower, not that many Brooklynites could store one in their apts., but I remembered how nice it looked. So I bought four starter ivy pots for $4.99 each. If it grows as fast as they say then four is all I need right? We'll see!




The kids loved this tree! A bit on the borderline of scary but the smile made it better.



Love the name of the company that grows these. Hort Couture! They're on blogger too!

I look forward to sharing before and after photos of our backyard. Stay tuned!