We’ve all been waiting, patiently to see the  all new, reinvented Nissan Quest Minivan. With all the other players in the market starting to look the same, Nissan took a breather and waited to re-introduce their minivan. It seems it was a wise decision as the new Quest definitely stands out from the competition stylistically speaking, and with some unique functionality as well. Some of the highlights I experience:

• Ergonomic seating and lower entry/exit designed suits the entire family, even grandma. High tech foam padded seats make the journey seem shorter.
• Cleverly split storage keeps things in their place. A platform above the rear storage well keeps your groceries from disappearing into a black hole.
• Visibility is great with huge rearview mirrors, convo mirrors, back up cam and blind spot warning systems.
• Dual sun/moon roofs and a high ceiling give a spacious, light and bright feeling even in the third row.
• The entertainment system rocks with one of the largest single screens out there.
• Intuitive, well thought out dash puts everything in your field of touch.
• Powerful V6 delivers 253 hp & super smooth ride for total control and security while driving.
• CUV/SUV-like styling makes you feel less like a minivan mom.

The Quest doesn’t fare as well as some of the other minivans on the market in the mileage game – it rated 18 city/24 hwy. This mileage is still better than many SUV’s however. This vehicle is lot more comfortable/practical for a family on the go than most SUVs.  Pricing starts at $27,500 and maxes out at $41,500 for the top of the line loaded model.

Thanks to Caryn Bailey of Rockin’ Mama & Elizabeth Peterson of Traded My BMW for a Minivan for impersonating my children and Ellen Seidman of Love that Max for being such an awesome test drive co-pilot!

Hill Harper’s book about relationships is a perfect kick off for a fall book club! The book is called  “The Conversation” because it’s really about communication. How can we be more honest with ourselves? How can we take that first step towards getting what we most want/need out of our relationships: true, authentic connections.

It’s a great read, sure to provoke some heated discussion. Hill Harper (who stars on CSI and was a classmate of Obama’s) has fascinating insight into the unique problems facing  single African Americans as they seek their soul mates. But the advice and issues he addresses are universal. We all face myths and stereotypes and engage in self sabotaging behavior. Even those of us that are already married! This book seems to be a well spring of good, common sense advice. It’s definitely a conversation starter!

This soft spot in my parent’s heart is now a soft spot in mine as well. I am in love with this kitschy, fun and family friendly resort. To me it’s the closest thing I’ve found to an east coast style vacation, but on the west coast. Why do I say that? It’s the sort of place where you do crafts, play cards, sit on the beach around a bonfire and peddle around in campy quad bikes. It’s all about family and friend at this newly renovated bungalow dotted island resort. There’s tennis and watersports, a lagoon pool, and dinner at Barefoot Grill or Baleen, overlooking the water and listening to (Barefoot Grill) live music as the sun sets into the Pacific and the entire bay lights up like a pastel rainbow.

There’s no need to hurry, and there’s plenty for families to do – from movie night at the pool to roasting s’mores on the beach (kits are available at the resort). But should you wish to venture outside the resort, Seaworld is right across the street.

The bungalow renovation brings lots of thoughtful details in – tiled floors look like hardwood but are easier to keep clean when you have constant foot traffic from the beach and pool. Wall mounted dispensers deliver luxury brand shampoo, conditioner and bodywash, cutting down on the number of disposible packages being thrown away. Throughout the rooms several unique touches (love the bedscarves!) lend a comfortable, relaxed, tropical breezy atmosphere.

Check out all the family deals on the Paradise Point website and read more about the history of this classic destination in San Diego.

I first learned about the Gracie method when one of my friends shared their audition for Oprah’s own show on YouTube. Their videos had millions of hits and the charismatic brothers became an overnight sensation. These two engaging coaches take a no nonsense, FUN, approach to teaching kids the skills to both give them confidence and the ability to defend themselves. Two essentials for making themselves “bullyproof”. Now the Bullyproof series is available on DVD.

Whether you live in the inner city or the poshest suburb, your kids will at some point face a bully. Consider this:

• According to the National Education Association, 160,000 kids miss school every day in the U.S. just to avoid a bully.
• According to the U.S. Secret Service, the majority of school shootings have been linked to cases of excessive bullying.
• Studies show that adults who were bullied as children have higher levels of depression and lower self-esteem than those who weren’t

The Gracie Academy was established in 1925 to teach kids and adults vital self defense skills through the art of Jiu-Jitsu.

You don’t have to live near the Gracie Academy to learn from the Gracie family. You can learn remotely using their innovative dvd series. Watch the short video above for a preview of the sort of games/activities you’ll find in this DVD series.

We were initially apprehensive about these videos but once we saw what they were all about, we were hooked! Each video contains a series of exercises that are really games. In fact they are called the “Gracie Games”. These exercises are pretty similar to what your kids already do, rolling around wrestling with each other, with you or a friend. But they have specific objectives and moves. And they are fun. Fun for you and your kids. It’s a great way to be active and physically rewarding. My kids had such pride at being able to “beat” me and their dad at various wrestling assignments.

The videos are a full course in that you can register your child online, purchase a belt and receive stripes for your accomplishments when you send in a video of your child performing the assignments.

Check out one of the games online for a taste of what this video series is about. I cannot think of a better gift for your children than the gifts of confidence, security and physical fitness that this series promises. The fact that the Gracies make it fun is just the icing!

Two summers ago when I leased my current car – a 2008 Honda Odyssey Minivan, I had a really tough choice deciding between the three main players on the market at the time: Honda, Toyota and Chrysler. I blogged about, tweeted about, asked friends, test drove and finally made a choice. I wasn’t unhappy with my choice, but I was unhappy that none of the choices had, at that time, EXACTLY what I wanted in a minivan. I chose the Honda because it had the features I considered most important: Comfortable seats, great mileage and a more powerful engine with sportier, better handling than the competition. What I “sacrificed” were a bunch or little amenities including multiple cell phone chargers and a more intuitive ergonomic dash.

Cut to the present. Honda has completely redesigned the Odyssey again and this time… I am both happy and a little sad (because I have a full year left on my lease!) to say they have hit it out of the park. This new van is the whole package. If I had to make a wish list of all the changes I’d wanted, it would look very much like this redesign. No surprise that pretty much everyone on the redesign team is a parent, and Odyssey owner.

So what fab features can you look forward to finding in the new Odyssey vehicles? Here are a few that I picked out as awesome.

Exterior:

• More rigid Chassis and new roof design protects occupants and pedestrians
• Sleeker, more modern ( less “van” more CUV) styling on the exterior, highlighted in the lightning bolt window design
• Blind Spot sensors and Trimode rearview camera with parking assistance modes
• More aerodynamic, lower platform

Interior:

• FIVE (yes you heard me!) latch positions, including three in the second row, two in the third.
• Wide mode for seats in the second row to allow for three carseats or for passage to third row with two seats installed in the second
• Center seat in the second row slides forward to allow toddlers/infants to sit closer to parents
• Redesigned dashboard creates “zones” for types of entertainment and interior controls – very intuitive
• Satellite linked navigation with traffic and weather updates
• Voice controlled nav, ipod, phone etc allows for safer driving
• Navigation screen is integrated into dash up higher, near windshield for less driver distraction
• Multiple charging ports including a USB in the glove box for your ipod (you have no idea how important this is to me)
• More storage created just for the things you store. Fewer enclosed compartments in the rear (a good thing, nothing like mystery junk in enclosed compartments to make this mom crazy)
• An integrated trash bag holder (insert hallelujah music here).
• Extra legroom and shoulder room in the third row. It’s remarkably more spacious. Seats six adults comfortably
• Better sound – the interior has been redesigned to allow conversation between the first and third rows, which was previously dicey. Not sure if I love this. Sometimes I don’t want to hear what’s being said back there!
• Reclining seats in the third row
• 16.5 inch wide split screen dvd player. Watch in widescreen mode or watch a movie on one side while someone plays a game on the other. It’s all about option.
• In dash cooler for your drinksĀ  – oh yeah!

Safety:

• The vehicle’s frame and airbags have been enhanced
• Additional protection for pedestrians
• Handling, particularly on turns and in tight stopping situations, has been enhanced to keep the driver in control

Economy:

• At up to 28mpg the Odyssey boast the best fuel economy in its class.

While test driving the Odyssey I had the chance to really put this vehicle to the test on a closed track. Doing donuts, taking curves at break neck speed… not things I’d normally try with my kids in the car. But what a really wonderful experience to see how the car responded when tested in this way. It gave me new confidence for a vehicle I already drive and am familiar with, and a new respect for the team that puts their hearts and souls into this vehicle (which, incidentally is made in the USA) safe and comfortable for their own families, and for yours.

If you are in the market for a minivan, and have a chance to test the new 2011 Honda Odyssey, I highly recommend it! Just maybe not as fast as we tested it, ok? Not unless you’ve got permission!

Here is the pricing for the 2011 Odyssey. It stickers out at $43k fully loaded with features to shame almost any luxury vehicle on the market.
Odyssey LX $27,800
Odyssey EX $30,950
Odyssey EX-L $34,450
Odyssey EX-L Rear Entertainment Ā $36,050
Odyssey EX-L Navi $36,450
Odyssey Touring $40,755
Odyssey Touring Elite $43,250

*MSRP excluding tax, license, registration, $780 destination charge and
options.

Seriously, does anyone ever stir and uncover halfway through the cooking cycle? Or let the food “sit” for x minutes after it’s “done”? Every single time? We’re impatient people! If we were patient we’d be heating the pot pie in the oven, the old fashioned way and eating it in an hour and a half. We’d love it if we had the time. But we don’t. So we compromise and eat food that’s less than ideal. Yuck! Why do we do that?

To be fair, it’s not always your fault that your microwave lets you down. Half the time, even when you do follow the directions to a tee, the results are spotty. The food is colder in the middle. Scalded on the edges. It’s not ideal and it’s also not safe. You don’t want to eat food that hasn’t been properly heated/cooked and you risk salmonella, do you? Scary stuff!

Why is this such a problem in such a high tech world? You’d think something as simple as making a microwave meal would be simpler. But it’s actually been a tough nut to crack.

Microwaves are all different sizes and come in different shapes too, that affect the way they heat. They come in different “strengths” as well. To further complicate the matter, your house has different wiring than one in another city and also, your microwave may be affected by things like whether the AC is running. If you’ve just cooked something in the microwave, it may take less time to make another of the same thing. Altitude also affects performance. So many variables! Are you keeping track?

Food companies do their best to write heating instructions for their foods based on an average of sorts. But with that many variables the instructions are often wrong for your microwave, your city, your home.

Enter True Cook Plus. This technology was designed to make it easier to get great, consistent results from your microwave. True Cook Plus is a smart chip that is being used in microwaves from Kenmore and LG. The technology allows you to press a button, followed by a code that tells the microwave EXACTLY how to make your meal. Everything, from your home’s altitude (you enter your zip code upon first use of the microwave) to the size of the oven, the size of the packaging, and more, are factored into creating a cooking program that will get the best results for the food you are making. True Cook Plus codes are starting to turn up on several brands of food – including some of the healthy ones we love like Amy’s Organics. Check out the True Cook Plus site for a complete listing of foods that are currently coded to work perfectly with these amazing new microwaves.

How easy is it? My six yr old can make his own food perfectly, without any additional instruction from me. It’s just one button to press followed by a four digit code. I’m not saying he’s ready to move into the dorm or asking him to make the family dinner, but I have to say that if my six yr old can do it, it’s super easy!

Best of all, no stirring or waiting.

Do you believe in Fairies? Remember when you did? Here’s an 8 minute preview of the latest film in the Tinkerbell series, to remind you!

Tinkerbell and the Great Fairy Rescue, coming to DVD on Sept 21, will bring you back to the time in your life when you believed in magic. It’s pure wish fulfillment in a film and utterly endearing. I had the privilege of watching this film on the Disney lot, and afterwards going behind the scenes at Disney Animation studios to learn a little bit about how the film was made from story to art to animation. We also got a sneak peek at some of the merchandise your fairy loving kiddos will certainly be clamoring for! Brace yourself for character gummies, fairyhouse dollhouses, backpacks with attached fairy tutus, and a gorgeous and a huggable heirloom quality Lizzie doll that I kind of wanted to buy for myself.

While at Disney Studios I met the team that put together the film. Their creativity and dedication were infectious. So many details about this film were touching and special and it made me love the film even more. Little details like the credits thanking all the children who contributed drawings of fairies to the movie. You may be surprised to learn that Tinkerbell has her own costume designers and that her virtual wardrobe is fussed over as much as what an Emmy nominated actress wears to the awards ceremony.

If you live in the LA area you can catch special screenings of this movie at the El Capitan Sept 3-19th

Feeling fairy inspired? Head over to Momfluential for a quick tutorial on how to Make Tinkerbell’s Fairy House.

I’m a sucker for a good, relaxing throwback of a vacation. Sure I like theme parks and activities. But show me a pool and chaise lounge, a camp program and a luxurious room with a view and my breath goes out in a big giant sigh of relief. I can RELAX. Rejuvenate.

For me, that is what the Hotel Grand Del Mar is really about. Relaxing and recharging. Sure you can visit the nearby theme parks (Legoland, Disneyland, San Diego Zoo and Seaworld are all within easy driving distance) but once you check in, you might not want to. It’s just so easy to while away the hours doing nothing in utter splendor at this old world style resort. Golfers will rejoice at the adjacent golf course. If you get ants in your pants and want to explore the hotel can arrange a guided nature walk with a local expert or you can always hit the nearby beaches for a surfing lesson or head to La Jolla for a round of boutiquing.

We found the food scrumptious at the Amaya restaurant, which has (according to my son) the best Chicken Noodle soup ever. Kids menu and a croquet court a few steps down from the dining patio make dinners easy and breezy. Hot air balloons drifting overhead added to the show.

If you are planning a summer trip to San Diego and are looking for the ultimate in family friend luxury digs… I think we’ve found it! Check out the Hotel Del Mar Summer Specials and Family Deals on their site.

I’m still trying to zip my pants after all the great eating I did last week! But it’s no surprise that I’m feeling a little indulged after visiting the Thermador test kitchens. Thermador is a brand that has always been associated with high end cooking, and their test kitchens are a testament to that legend! The food that their chefs prepared for myself and the fabulous bloggers I was honored to travel with was nothing short of dreamy. What really got me about it all was seeing this fab food prepared right in front of me, almost effortlessly. Salmon Wellington, Beef Tenderloin, Creme Brulee. These are not the sort of things I regularly attempt in my kitchen. But the chefs and the equipment at Thermador not only made it seem possible. They made it actually possible for us to accomplish ourselves as they walked us through the steps. Blowtorch anyone?

We were there to see the equipment, but the piece de la resistance was Thermador’s new steam convection oven for home kitchens. This oven does all sorts of incredible things that will make your microwave fear for its very existence.

Steam/convection ovens can defrost food super fast (without the yucky dry semi cooked edges). They can cook fish and veggies at the same time with zero transfer of flavor, preserving vitamins and texture of food.  Steam is the word when it comes to succulent slow roasts. You can cook a whole turkey in a steam oven without getting up at the crack of dawn on Thanksgiving. And perhaps most (sadly) significant in our home, you can reincarnate cold pizza in five minutes. It’s utterly amazing that part. The combo of steam and convection will bring that pizza back to it’s original fresh baked state so fast you might never resort to cold pizza for breakfast again. Steam convection combo ovens are the secret tool of great bakers worldwide and make for better breads as well. After seeing how fast the steam oven reheats food I really was starting to take stock of what I use my microwave for. Coffee? Warming milk? Uh oh microwave… Thermador has another device for that. this coffee maker that I also fell in love with. It’s enough to make me stay home from Starbucks.

Other noteworthy, product lust inducing Thermador finds from the day spent at Thermador included their gas range with the signature star shaped burners and an extra low heat setting that prevents scorching and is able to hold your food warming on the stove for longer periods of time. How low does it go? Check out this photograph of chocolate chips that we melted on a paper plate. This sort of blew my mind. I’ve never been a big fan of the double boiler.

I’ve also always thought gas ranges were a necessity for the true chef but Thermador has sort of changed my mind about that as well. In the past gas was better because it had the visual aspect that induction/electric ranges did not. Instant visual feedback – look at the pot, look at the flame, adjust and correct.  Much harder to do with an electric range, right? But the induction ranges from Thermador with SensorDome have one upped the gas range. They use an infrared light on your pot’s ceramic coating (or on a semi permanent sticker that can be added to any cookware) to monitor pot temp and are able to keep your food precisely set to the right temp. That means better frying and pots that never boil over. Not that I ever walk away from my simmering pots and come running back into the kitchen to a big screaming mess. Who’d do that? Here is a pic of a pot being “watched” by Sensor Dome. It’s boiling. Just not boiling over!

I could go on and on and on about all the wow, I want that, I gotta get that equipment we saw but I needed to save room in this post for the food.  The food! The Thermador Chefs shared some awesome recipes with us and I have to share a couple of them with you including these two incredible salads from Chef Kyle Jacobi.

Orzo Pasta Salad

- 1 pound Orzo cooked al dente

- 1 large carrot, very finely diced

- 1 red onion, finely diced

- 1 celery stick, finely diced

- 1 clamshell full pear tomatoes, halved

- Sunflower seeds or pine nuts, toasted

- 6 ounces golden raisins

- ¼ cup mint

- ¼ cup parsley

- 1 tablespoon thyme

- 3 tablespoons white balsamic

- 5 tablespoons olive oil

- A squeeze of lemon and lime

- Salt and pepper

1. Combine all ingredients, except for pasta. Fold in pasta. Refrigerate for a day.

Goat Cheese and Strawberry Salad

- 4 ounces goat cheese, crumbled

- 8 ounces strawberries, quartered

- 4 ounces cashews

- 1 pound baby romaine or buttered lettuce, washed and chopped

- ¼ cup Yuzu dressing (lemon or lime work, too)

- 1 tablespoon honey, or agave

- 1 teaspoon Dijon

- ½ cup olive oil

- Salt and pepper

1. Mix Yuzu with honey and Dijon, whisk in olive oil gradually until all gone.
2. Assemble lettuce on platter, dress with strawberries, cashews, pour dressing over salad finish with cheese. Add salt and pepper.

If you are stuck in a dinnertime rut I suggest you check out the culinary center on the Thermador Site for even more amazing recipes. Thermador’s gracious and inspiring chefs are whipping up delicious food everyday just for people like you and I to try out at home. They are so good at what they do!

Many Thanks to Thermador and the amazing team of bloggers I met on this adventure. You may turn me into a bonafide foodie yet!

Disclosure: Thermador flew me to Arizona to visit the test kitchen and provided accomodations and food while there. My opinions about the brand are my own. I’m actually a third generation Thermador owner/user.

Are you ready to ditch your diaper bag? Interested in a high quality, luxury handbag that is just for you (and all the stuff for others you inevitably carry but really, for YOU!)? Then you owe it to yourself to check out the gorgeous, covetable, squeezable, lovable bags made by Belen Echandia. The colors, the styles, the signature hot pink lining… This is my first bag from this line, but I am sure it won’t be my last!

Caution: These bags are like your children in many ways. I gasped so loud when my husband threw mine in the trunk that he thought our baby had been injured.

I’ve made a video outlining why I love this bag so, but let me list the high points for you if you don’t have time to watch:

• Strap otions: (padded) shoulder or long messenger strap
• Hardware: Sturdy, high quality brass hardware. Brass feet to protect the bottom.
• Leather: Buttery, smooshy, lightweight but durable. This is a “lifer” kind of bag.
• Organization: Multiple cell, pen etc pockets that are well arranged. Pivoting center pocket, two zippered pockets and a signature hot pink lining – prevents “black hole” effect.
• Style: Easy and breezy, will take you from a playdate to a dinner date
• Capacity: Pretty capacious without looking like a suitcase. Can carry all you need for a day out with a kiddo. Or just your wallet and makeup case! Fits an iPad and a planner quite well too!

If you aren’t familiar with Belen Echandia, check out their website and all their many styles. For true bag-istas they have a couture line that allows you toƂĀ  step up and be the designer. Pick your lining, pick your leather, pick your style and Belen Echandia will make you a bag that is truly unique.