For as long as we have lived here in Glendale is about how long we have been testing on a variety of Disney rides, games, etc.  Passing along this email from the person who organizes the playtest...

Hi all!

We have another couple Disney Playtests coming up!

I am looking for NEW families who have either never tested the Disney Playtests, or at least have never tested the Adventure Detective Game.

This is the game where we tested last summer called the Puppy detective game,  that involved going around to different stations to do detective work, figure out things, and move on.

Please let me know if you are interested, and all of the information is below.

I am allowed to take a few families that have tested the Detective "Puppy" game, so let me know if you qualify.

Also, PLEASE feel free to forward this email and post it where you can, as this is the way to get the word out.

THANKS so much!

And please email me your name, CELL phone number, name and ages of kids (9 & up please), and your top 3 time and date preferences.

Playtest Dates:

Tuesday, November 29th, and Thursday, December 1st

Need families with children ages 9 and up.

Playtesting will last approximately 1.5 hours

Playtest Location: 1325 Grand Central Avenue, Glendale, CA, 91201

Playtest times:  Please email Maria your top 3 times and what date you would like to attend.

I will email you back with confirmation, as well as a map to the location.

On November 29, Tuesday:

2:30

2:45

3:00

3:15

4:00

4:15

4:30

4:45

5:30

5:45

On December 1, Thursday:

1:30

1:45

2:00

2:15

3:00

3:15

3:30

3:45

No comments:

It's WAS beginning to look like Christmas....

by mid-October.
Most of the stores decked the halls with boughs of holly and Santas and blinking lights.
Time for us to spend our hard earn dollars but how many of us are actually participating in this fiasco called Black Friday?  I did many years ago while living in Culver City.  Let's say I was bullied to go with the in-laws.  I thought it would be a great opportunity to bond with my husband's kin.  We went to the now defunct Mervyn's and the experience wasn't all that exciting.  There was no bonding involved.  A lot of pushing and shoving and grabbing.  Not my idea of fun or bonding.
I am like every other girl out there.  I love a bargain.  Sales are awesome.  Shopping is good therapy.  But the fact is there is no fun when other people's kids are running around screaming.  Why are you doing this to your children?  Taking them out of their warm beds for a few dollars off?  I left mine with their father.  They didn't even know I was gone because it was so early in the morning.
There is no enjoyment going into a crowded store to find that special gift.  Gift giving should be fun.  When a someone's birthday is coming and we shop for that special gift, I like to think about what that person would enjoy.  Look at my options and carefully chose what I think would be best for them.  It's something that I enjoy doing because I know when they unwrap that gift and I see that look of happiness in their face I picked the right one.  I just don't go and pick up what's on sale or what has the deepest discount.  My gifts are from the heart and I am mindful of what I give.  Christmas is no different.  I spend sometimes an hour trying to figure out if that someone would enjoy their gift.  Not how much I can save or get back.
It WAS beginning to look like Christmas but it just stinks of greed.

Testing the Android blogger app

Because my life is about to get busier. Good thing I've got the sugar-free Rockstar on hand. I recommend this for busy moms. No I'm not getting paid to say this. I have hypothyroid disease and unfortunately one of the affects is me being tired with little energy. Usually after a trip to the grocery I need a nap. Daily naps help some but that only works if I'm home. My kids keep me busy with homeschooling, 3 different dance classes, auditions and filming. Not to mention on the day we are all available the trip to Disneyland. Yesterday, while grocery shopping at Smart and Final, I saw a four pack of the drink and a much larger (20?) pack.  I opted for the smaller pack for now because I am still doing research and trying to figure out if it OK to use. I'm not a daily user. At this point in our lives we're not there yet. My husband, the high school teacher, is thinking about giving it a try. After a day with the inner city kids all he wants to do is veg and not deal with grading of quizzes and tests. Also, I want him to not give the excuse of being too tired to carry the trash.

Winning!

A couple of months ago I entered a contest on Commercial Mommy's, mother of Yara Shahidi and Sayeed Shahidi, website.  All I had to do was read her website (which I did.  Invaluable lessons there) and answer a few questions.  I was praying for a miracle.  Living in a one income family and the one income coming from a teacher is not so easy.  And having children with BIG dreams is very hard.

I am not a photographer.  I try to capture the essence of the subject but with a small samsung camera, and absolutely no idea what I'm doing, you do what you can with what you have.  With the pictures I took at home they girls did book a couple of student films and one feature film. They are gaining hands-on experience, for which, we are grateful for.

But this?

This was the awesomest gift we were able to experience.
Afshin Shahidi has been a photographer for over 20 years.  When you see his amazing photos on his website, take deep breaths.

Socks and Sandals wha Wha wha??!?!

Yesterday on Twitter, the topics Puertorican Problems and Dominican Problems was trending in Los Angeles.
For those who do not know, I am half Dominican and half Puertorican.  Which makes me a Dominiqueña.  Which also means I was able to connect with so many Dominicanas and Boricuas in Los Angeles.  I also had the misfortune to come across some racist creeps.  They could not bring me down.  There are SO MANY OF US. Everything from:
no more platanos in the house #DominicanProblem
to
out of sazon #PuertoricanProblem
and everything from chancletas to using Fabuloso.
Two Boricuas from the East Coast live nearby which is also so very amazing.
I enjoyed reading all the Twitter messages and laughed so hard that my homeschooler peered over gigantic history book saying, "glad someone´s having fun".  WHOOPS!
Two Boricuas from the East Coast live nearby which is also so very amazing.
I might even venture out the next time there is a Puertorican Festival in SoCal.


The other day I made this so delicious Vegan Sancocho.
Westcoasters, you can find everything you need in your local Cuban Market.  When I lived in Culver City, I used to go to El Camaguey on Venice Boulevard. Here in Glendale, I found El Mambi.  Very nice people all around.

1 lb. seitan cut in 2 inch rectangles (think short ribs)
1 can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
4 quarts vegetable stock
1/2 cup recaito
1 cup tomato sauce
1 lb each of calabaza, yautia, ñame, and yuca, peeled and diced in 1 inch cubes (you can find this in the store already peeled in the freezer aisle in the Cuban store. Saves ALOT of time since peeling is a bit of work since the root vegetables are not smooth like a potato)
2 medium green platanos, peeled and cut in 2 inch pieces
3 ears of corn cut into 1 inch pieces (or however small you can find them)
1 packet of sazon
adobo for taste
1 quart of water

in a HUGE soup pot, combine the first 6 ingredients, including ALL of the root vegetables
cover and bring to a boil.
reduce the heat to medium, cover, and simmer, for 30 minutes.
add the remaining ingredients and bring to another boil.
lower the heat and simmer, covered for 45 minutes or until the vegetables are cooked.
adjust the seasonings.

My house was warm and smelled so yummy when all was said and done.
Yummy with garlic bread.