My day starts at 6:30. That requires getting up, showering, packing up the kid’s things for school, responding to emails, getting breakfast ready, getting the boys up, dressed and ready to go (all three of them) and getting out of the house early enough to make it to work on time

So after a long morning and a busy day in the office, sometimes you need ( and deserve) a special treat. My treat of choice? The Mint Mocha Chip Frappuccino at Starbucks… It’s basically dessert in a cup. Almost as good as the Peppermint Mocha during the holidays. You can imagine my utter disappointment when I found out that two of my local Starbucks discontinued the decaf version!

Pregnant and nursing mothers unite… send your complaints to Starbucks! It’s bad enough that we can’t eat sushi, deli meat, hot dogs and drink tea, but we’ve been denied our Starbucks, too!

The introduction of call-waiting was huge. Then 3-way hit the streets and you couldn’t tear the phone away from a teenager even if you tried. Then we made it cordless and mobile and now we have our current situation… cell phone mayhem.

The iPhone should be added to this timeline of telecom achievements… I’m a teenager with my first pager all over again! Visions of hiding out in the bedroom closet whispering on the phone in fears of waking mom and dad have quickly evolved into me hiding out in the bathroom at work so I can write this blog entry on my new iPhone!

I LOVE this phone… I gotta admit… It took a lot of convincing from my husband to get me to switch from my

Treo, but I am thrilled he talked me into it. I can check email any time of the day, take pics with the touch of my thumb and even use it as a flashlight (you gotta get that app)!

So here’s to you, Apple… You’ve done it again! But please wait a few months before you come up with a new version… I wanna be ahead of the trend for a little while.

It feels like forever since my last post… the kids have been sick… as in really sick. My littlest man had pinkeye in both eyes, two ear infections, a really bad wheezing cold and a fever. I know, major stuff…but now the worst is over and we can look on the bright side of things… at least we got his fourth tooth out of it! Woo hoo!

Aiden didn’t have it as bad… just a fever and a bad cold. We’re praying the pink eye doesn’t spread (please, please, please!).

Anyhow, it looks like we’re back up and running. Prior to the germ bug attacking our household, Rattle Me has been super busy. The Appel & Frank Babes and Babies Show last Sunday was a great success! We had such a fabulous time and the crowd was awesome. Thank goodness Grandma and Grandpa came to help watch the kids! We’d like to thank everyone that purchased some of our goodies (that sounds so R-rated, doesn’t it?) and we hope you love your Rattle Me apparel just as much as we love making it for you!

We also had a fabulous time chatting it up with the friends we’ve made along the way.

• The Spoiled Mama… Gotta love ya and your adorable son! Our boys get along so well.

• Nate from New Skool… As always love your line and your creativity. Your speakers rocked!

• Vonnie from Chicks and Frogs… Adorable goodies (there goes my R-rated talk again).

• Bunny and Bee… Their line is awesome and oh, so popular.

• Mison Lee… I was able to sneak away and buy a super-fab dress! Using the bathroom as a fitting room wasn’t ideal, but desperate times call for desperate measures.

And thanks to all our friends and family that came out to support us. We couldn’t do any of this without you!

Pictures of the show will follow shortly.

We’d like to welcome EcoLogiQue into the Rattle Me family! Taken from their website…

“EcoLogiQue provides goods and apparel made to impose as little impact upon the earth as possible.”

We love it when people make efforts to lessen their carbon footprint, so to sum it up, this means we love you, EcoLogiQue!

Go ahead with your thoughtful self and show everyone that apparel can still be amazingly fashionable without harming the world we live in. After all, there’s nothing better than an indulgent shopping trip when you know your purchases are doing good for the environment. At least that’ll be my excuse next time I go to shop!

EcoLogiQue
141 Gough Street @ Oak
San Francisco, CA 94102
415-621-2431
www.ecologiquesf.com

Sunday 12-5pm
Closed Mondays
Tuesday – Saturday 12-8pm

I love change… to a certain degree. I love taking vacations to new and exciting places. I love trying new restaurants and experimenting with new cuisines. I love taking road trips to other cities close enough to drive to, but far enough away to feel like a mini-vacation. So why, oh why am I feeling so down about changing jobs?

My new job is such a positive and exciting change! It’s a great company, friendly people, fitting role and eventually down the line, more opportunity, which is the main goal of a job, right?

Anyways, the more I think about it, the sadder I get. It’s not because I’m having second thoughts… not at all. I’m thrilled about this new opportunity. But this change in my life can be best compared to high school or college. You get used to doing the same thing, seeing the same people and sharing in the same drama every day. As much as you complain about it and count down the days ’til you get out and graduate, when you get to the finish line you can’t help but look back and realize what a great time you really had.

So here’s to you, (enter my company name here)… you’ve given me six great years of memories, skills, experience and friendships that will last a lifetime. Not to mention FREE food from Costco every day I’ve been here! I’m missing you already (referring to the company… and a little to the food, too)!

I have to admit… growing up, I never really was a big fan of cupcakes. They were messy, too small (for my appetite) and the frosting always got all over my mouth when I ate them (never been a fan of messy food). Again, not a big fan… UNTIL NOW!

I’ve jumped on the Fro Yo (see recent post) and the cupcake bandwagon and I’m now steering the revolution! At an average of $3 each (that’s right, read that again), cupcakes are really pricey. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not telling you not to buy them, but I would like you to spend your $3 wisely and make sure you buy the best.

How do I define a good cupcake? High quality, fresh ingredients, baked on the same day I buy and of course, it has to make me salivate and close my eyes with appreciation at first bite. Here’s a list of my FAVORITE flavors and where you can get them. Accept no imitations!

That Takes the Cake

• Gentlemen Prefer Reds – Red velvet cake topped with cream cheese frosting. There’s nothing out there like it.

• Key Lime-o-licious – A super moist key lime cake topped with cream cheese frosting. Aiden LOVES this one! It’s flavorful, super moist and green! What’s not to love?

• Double Trouble – chocolate devil’s food cake topped with chocolate buttercream frosting. Okay, I haven’t tried it yet, but the name says it all!

Kara’s Cupcakes

• Coconut -  vanilla (or chocolate) cupcake with a coconut cream cheese frosting. Don’t knock it ’til you try it… you’ll be begging for more.

• Chocolate Velvet – chocolate cupcake with a velvety bittersweet chocolate buttercream PLUS little chocolate sprinkles!

Sprinkles Cupcakes – I haven’t had a Sprinkles cupcake yet, but I hear they’re AWESOME!

Rattle Me will be at the upcoming Appel & Frank Babes & Babies Show on Sunday, July 20! This show (from what we’ve heard) is a big one! Shop for baby blankets, slings, shoes, bath & body items and of course, hip and trendy organic apparel from Rattle Me! There’s a ton of designers signed up for the show including our favorites:

• The Spoiled Mama – Organic and Natural Products for Moms-To-Be and Babies.
• New Skool – Infant and Toddler line for mini Hip Hoppers.
• Baby Leo Designs – Urban-inspired handcrafted blankets & accessories.
• Chicks & Frogs – Clothing and Accessories for Haute Chicks and Handsome Princes.
• Bunny & Bee – Hip and cool infant/toddler apparel, accessories.
• Mison Lee – Women’s young contemporary clothing line featuring sexy and chic maternity clothes.
• Violet’s Peapod – Simply adorable baby sleep sacks.
• Sugar Pie Bebe – Unique Handmade Baby Blankets, Burp Cloths, Bibs, Diaper Changing Totes and more.
• Sweet Shoes – Soft-soled baby shoes with a stylish edge.

Pack up the kids, hit up the ATM and get ready to shop!

Sunday, July 20, 2008
10-2 PM
JCC of San Francisco
3200 California Street @ Presidio
2 tickets for $8 or $5 at the door
Email us for FREE tickets!

Days like today are rare and precious… when outdoor temperatures hit the 80s and 90s. At least they are in our part of the Bay Area. So what do you do when you’re blessed with great weather? CELEBRATE!

• Have dinner outside. Whether you go out to eat or eat at home; push some chairs out on the patio and dig in.
• Air out. Sleep with your windows open (security system armed, of course).
• Play! Take the kids to the parkand let them run around… jacket-free!
• Have a BBQ! Nothing says summer like some shrimps on the barrr-bey.
• Walk! Take your dog (or your kids) for a lazy walk around the block.
• Hit up the nearest fro-yo joint. Try Nubi (my FAVE), Yogurtouille or Fraiche! The self-serve ones are fun for the kids!
• The number one thing to do on a hot summer day… my husband’s favorite and probably yours, too… Absolutely NOTHING!

Enjoy the beautiful day!

In 2 months, 2 weeks and 4 days (when my youngest son turns one), that’s exactly what I’ll be saying at the movie ticket booth. Why? Being the absurd execs at my local movie theater (part of a HUGE chain) have decided that children starting at the age of 1 need a movie ticket! Are you (profanity, profanity) serious?!?

It just goes to show that everyone is being affected by the “recession”. But in all honesty, this is sooo NOT a good idea.

My suggestion: If you’re sales are affected… lower prices and they will come (at least I will). Everyone loves the movies. If they make it more affordable for everyone, people will show up and spend tons of money at the concession stand. That’s where you make your money anyways!

Thank you… I’m officially done venting.

Happy Fourth of July to all!!!

In our household, today is Independence Day. Eight years ago today, our princess Indi (short for Independence) was born and entered our lives. That’s right, the red carpet was rolled out and the diva of all divas entered our home. She’s gorgeous, oh so sweet… and did I mention she thinks she’s a dog?

Yes, Indi does tricks! Shake hands, sits on command and most importantly, knows the command, “DOWN!” When the kids were born, she had no idea what she was in for and now she gets more exercise running AWAY from the kids than she did when we played with her and her toys every day.

Happy birthday, Indi-girl. We love you and our lives wouldn’t be the same without you!