Live from Napa!

We decided to trek to Napa for the weekend, testing the notion that a wine-tasting destination is for grown-ups only. That might prove to be true in the end, but the sights, sounds, smells and, of course, cuisine, is suitable for all ages.



Our accommodations for the weekend are housed in the Gaia Napa Valley Hotel and Spa, which bills itself as the greenest hotel in the U.S., proudly proclaiming its status as Gold LEED-certified. The carpeting is from recycled materials, the paint and adhesives do not emit any toxic gases and housekeeping uses only Earth-friendly cleaners. Even the toilets use only a gallon per flush, as opposed to the usual 1.6. And to drive home the nature-loving point, a friendly trio of ducks and a pair of majestic swans cheerfully welcomed us at our patio, which overlooks a small pond and waterfall.

The hotel, which also offers a spa and a pleasant restaurant, is oddly situated south of Napa but is a pleasant oasis and jumping off point for the wineries and other attractions (which we hope to hit while we're here).

For dinner, we jumped in the car and headed into downtown Napa. Tired from six hours jammed into the car, we tumbled out into the first restaurant we saw that seem to exude warmth and the aromas of a wood-fired oven. Uva Trattoria Italiana turned out to be a family-friendly but linen-tablecloth affair, just the right mix of upscale candlit tables and casual diners. We cuddled up to the table, dipped warm ciabatta into garlic-infused olive oil, and plotted our main courses. Kate opted for the kid's cheese pizza with an extra sausage topping, Jack took the regular cheese pizza and Steve and I took our leads from the hand-written menu filled with fabulous specials.

Mine was the Pasta e Fagioli al forno – cranberry beans, prosciutto, fontina cheese and bread crumbs. Each bite was like wrapping myself in a warm and buttery Italian hug. Steve had the overnight roasted porchetta - pork shoulder rolled with caramelized onions and herbs with butternut squash risotto. The mixture of meat and creamy risotto yielded  such a happy medley that each bite made me feel as though I'd be able to speak fluent Italian.

And the best part? There were babies, couples and groups of people all happily snuggled into the inviting rooms!

Tomorrow: wine and other adventures? Stay tuned ...

Parenting & Paychecks, Part II

UCLA Today (the faculty and staff newspaper) just posted a story about my mini-seminar there on balancing work and parenting. Read all about it here.

Wishing for Good Gifting

Don't get me wrong: I love to buy gifts for people. To amble among the shops, checking out stuff my friends or family would like, brings me great pleasure.

But as you might already know, I don't have time for that.

So when I have to buy a gift, I freak a little bit. I put it off, then run around like a mad woman. Then I stress that my gift is going to look like something I just snatched off a shelf at Ralphs, which it often is.

That's why Valentine's Day is such a difficult holiday. I want to show my husband how thoughtful and giving I can be. But I usually end up looking like a heartless cad on Valentine's Day, while he delivers a beautiful bouquet and some tasty sweets from an upscale candy shop from some hard-to-get-to spot in L.A.

Just in case you run into this dilemma, too, I thought I'd tell you about WishWrap.com, a unique gift Web site that allows you to shop by what you might be wishing for a recipient, such as "wealth and happy circumstances" or "festive cheer." I fell for the Nuts About You package, which includes a stuffed monkey with an insert that can be heated for cuddling and cinnamon and dark-chocolate nuts. Enclosed is a message that says, "Playful, cuddly, spicy and sweet...just like you! Wishing you love and warmth today and forever. XOXO." Then the gift is beautifully wrapped up in "green" and reusable packaging.

It's a bit on the pricy side ($65 for the monkey and nuts) but will definitely keep the guilt and stress at bay. And Steve will just think I'm sweet.

I've Got Mail: Football!

Welcome to the 21st century. This Sunday, my family will be huddled around the Super Bowl game wearing not just our usual football-watching attire; we'll also be wearing 3D glasses.

As part of a promo for the new Monsters vs. Aliens movie from DreamWorks (hitting theaters on March 27), I also received a football with an eyeball on it (in honor of lead character and gelatinous blob B.O.B.), drink coasters with the movie characters on them and the all-important stress ball, just in case the game's a close one.

The glasses will be for viewing the movie trailer as well as a barrier-breaking 3D Super Bowl commercial featuring those groovy and talented dancing lizards from SoBe Lifewater. (I've been told to keep them handy for the next day, too, when NBC will air a special 3D episode of Chuck.)

Need your own 3D glasses? Pick them up for free at any SoBe Lifewater displays at the grocery store and other locations.

Balance Beam

A glimpse into my day:

• 5:30am: My alarm goes off.


• 6:05am: I leap out of bed after oversleeping.


• 6:45am: I bark orders at Kate, clip my hair to my head and hope that I'm wearing pants as we dash for her bus stop.


• 7:15am: Try to transition from hectic morning drill sergeant to calm working professional. Clear head. Drain coffee pot. Try to collect the zillion tasks that day into one doable to-do list. Remember all the things I forgot in the morning rush (although I am wearing pants). Forgot to put new soap in the shower. Steve probably showering without soap.


• 4pm: Trying to slip back into "mom" mode after day of juggling deadlines. Remember soap, but there's no replacement soap. Dang. Remember that I forgot to call sister. Call sister. While talking to sister make snack for Kate while nagging Kate to get homework done. Yell at dog for eating sofa cushion.


• 9:30pm: Plop down on sofa (minus one cushion) after dinner, kids' baths, homework, lunches made. Arms too heavy to pull me up to get myself off to bed. Remember that I forgot to buy soap...

It's not always that hectic and tiring, but like so many other parents, I often feel the tug of having too much on my plate. The result is that I often feel off-balance.

I was invited by the UCLA Staff and Faculty Counseling Center to share some experiences and insights yesterday for a program they called "Parenting & Paychecks: Time, Energy and Balance." The staff and faculty there are pretty fortunate to have such a great resource at hand, where they can seek help and support for a variety of issues.

Finding support and sharing our war stories are often the best ways to keep our lives (somewhat) in balance. The one-hour lunchtime seminar was a great way to bring a lot of them together to comiserate and get some ideas. And I got some, too. As a way to create some quality time with spouses, one mom said she and her partner take the occasional day off to just hang out together, get massages, have lunch. Great idea! I might use that time to buy soap...