Uncategorized | SoCal Savvy Mom

Dec 19
2013

What do you do for a living?

by Nicole Connerley

All of us stay at home mom’s have been asked this time and time again.

So, what do you do for a living?

I’m a stay at home mom.

How many kids do you have?

Just my son.

O, really? What do you do with yourself?

Generally when you have just met someone the polite thing to do is say well I also (fill in the blank, for me it is blogging) but what you really want to do is to tell them to go to you know what! I know that sounds harsh, but I have chosen to stay at home. It is not that I can not work or even don’t want to work it is that my son needs me more. I understand a lot of families cannot afford for a parent to stay at home full-time, but mine can and no, I do not miss working. I do not miss getting up at 5 a.m. to leave at 6 a.m. just to miss the traffic. I do not miss being stressed out at night thinking “did I send that e-mail, or when was the deadline?” I also hate the question don’t you miss the adult interaction? I do not really understand this question. I am an adult, my husband is an adult, our friends are all adults and I interact with them daily. But I will answer it anyway… No, I don’t miss the bitch of a boss I used to have, the bitchy co-workers, and of course the office politics. I do not miss being nice to someone I despise because they have stolen my ideas time and time again!

My favorite line from working moms is… If I could stay at home, my house would be so clean, the laundry would be done, I’d go to the gym everyday, make dinner every night and everything would be perfect. Guess what that is pretty much my life, my house is clean, my laundry is always done and my life is NOT perfect. There is no perfect life, stay-at-home mom or working moms because there is no perfect world! At the end of the day we are all the same, we are all moms! We all want what is best for our children, for me that is being a stay-at-home mom, and for others it isn’t. Just because I am a stay at home mom my life is not any less important than a working mom, regardless of how much money she makes.

Next time someone says they are a stay at home mom, please don’t respond with… what do you do all day? Because that stay at home mom regardless of how sweet she may be is not thinking nice thoughts about you.

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Dec 14
2013

Cheese, desserts, more cheese and wine… Heaven.. close it is Whole Foods!

by Nicole Connerley

Incase you missed it let me fill you in on what was going on at Whole Foods Encinitas on Thursday at their Dressing Rehearsal. We arrived right at 6 because we didn’t want to miss out on any of the yummy tastings they had to offer. Our first stop was at Jackie’s Jams for a jample and it was pretty much the best jam I’ve ever had. Jackie’s Jams are made locally in San Diego and my favorite thing is they never use high fructose, corn syrup, coloring or flavoring.

If you are going to a holiday party and would like to bring a little something sweet Whole Foods has you covered! Tons of options and all decorated for the holiday season, with prices starting at only $2.99 you will be sure to find something amazing!

I am not going to lie my favorite stop on our sampling tour was in the wine department (shocking I know!) but the main reason is Steve! We were sampling 3 different Cabernet Sauvignon from 3 different price-points. The first was in the $10-$15 range and was nice and sweet, the next was in the $20-$25 range and was a smoother, and then the winner of course was the $30-$40 wine. Steve is so knowledgeable about every single wine in the store because he personally has hand-picked every bottle! I was able to tell him what type of wine I was looking for and he found me the most amazing bottle normally $40 on sale for $25, I grabbed that bottle of wine quick!

Whole Foods has literally everything you will need this holiday season whether you are hosting a party or going to a party and need to bring something. The pre-paid food items are not only delicious but made fresh everyday! Do yourself a favor and ‘Like’ Whole Foods Encinitas on Facebook, they post one-day sale items on the Facebook page that you will not want to miss! Happy Holidays!

Dec 11
2013

Hilarious Holiday fun @ Target!

by Nicole Connerley

I stopped by Target yesterday and couldn’t believe how many hilariously funny holiday items they have for sale! My favorite has to be the mustache wine stopper… who can resist doing this? Well, obviously not me! For only $9.99 you receive a adorable wine stopper and cork screw opener. I am having a holiday party this weekend and can’t wait to give these away as door prizes!

It is also a perfect item for a white elephant gift exchange. I found a few other pretty cute and hilarious items as well. There were a few different options for the little flasks, with funny things on them, but this has to be my favorite! I snagged a few because they are perfect for a stocking stuffer. Target has a full line of Hilarious Holiday items this season be sure to check them out!

There is also a full line of ugly sweaters unfortunately all of them were sold out at the Target in Encinitas, I was hoping to wear one to my party this weekend. Check your local Target for the #HilariousHoliday line!

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post by Target, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Dec 9
2013

Giveaway $50 to Whole Foods – Special Dressing Rehearsal in Encinitas 12/12/13

by Nicole Connerley

Join us at Whole Foods Encinitas this Thursday 12/12/13 from 6-8 pm. for a special event to get ready for the holidays! The event will host beer & wine parings and sampling, yes sampling! Whole Foods will also show off some of the amazing premier party dips with more samples! My favorite I already know is going to be the holiday cheese board and how to create a perfect one for your holiday party. There will also be coffee and seasonal treats as well, I almost died and went to heaven looking at the holiday treats in-store today!

Whole Foods asked me to share one of my favorite holiday recipes with all my items from my shopping trip today. I decided to make my goat cheese endive spears, always a HUGE hit at my parties. The recipe is very simple and so delicious everyone will think you spend hours preparing it.

4 oz. goat cheese
1 tbsp. honey
1/2 ts. black pepper
1/4 ts. thyme (fresh or dried)
2 heads endive
1/4 cup walnuts
On a baking sheet sprinkle walnuts and roast for 10 min at 350 in the oven. Once goat cheese is softened mix with honey, pepper, and thyme. Let the cheese sit in the refrigerator for 30-40 minutes. Once cheese has chilled spoon onto the endive spears and add a toasted walnut on top.

Incase you are wondering what exactly is an endive spear and what it looks like…
Love that you can buy nuts in BULK!

All of the ingredients needed to make the goat cheese endive spears.

The finished product!

Why I love Whole Foods…let me count the ways… there is an organic option for nearly every single item you can imagine, love the huge selection of items that you can’t find at most stores. My favorite thing about Whole Foods would have to be the staff, the staff that goes over and above any other store I go to. Everyone is so friendly, not to mention ready and willing to help you with anything. I always lose count of how many times I was asked “may I help you find something?” simply amazing!

Whole Foods has you covered if you are going to a holiday party and want to pick up a nice bottle of wine…There is a top ten list of wines all for under $25! Don’t forget to pick up some tonic and sparkling water to mix your drinks with as well!

I thought you mentioned a $50 Whole Foods Gift Certificate? Yes, yes I’m getting to that! To enter for the Whole Foods $50 gift certificate simply leave a comment on this post why Whole Foods is your favorite store!

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post for Whole Foods Encinitas, all thoughts expressed are my own.

Dec 2
2013

Holiday Events in San Diego this week!

by Nicole Connerley

Wednesday, December 4

Holiday Festival @ Hotel Del Coronado – On Wednesday, December 4, The Del will feature a special event for the whole family – “Holiday Festival…A Family Celebration” from 4-7 p.m. for the Coronado community. In addition to the outdoor ice rink, kids of all ages can visit with St. Nick and his elves at Santa’s Village and enjoy holiday booths with games and prizes. There will also be hot cocoa, libations and fireworks.

Thursday, December 5

West Village Holiday Open House @ West Carlsbad – Start celebrating the Holidays at the West Village Holiday Open House, enjoy food and drinks along with Santa, Mrs. Clause and Elves! Free face-painting, cookies, gingerbread decorating, roasted chestnuts and wagon rides. Please bring an unwrapped gift to support Toys for Tots. For more information click here.

Saturday, December 7

Holiday Parade @ Encinitas – Thousands of people will be on floats and in bands with tens of thousands more cheering them on as the 2013 Encinitas Holiday Parade rolls along Coast Highway 101. The parade begins at 5:30 p.m. and it is preceded by a 5:00 p.m. tree lighting ceremony a the Lumberyard (near Starbucks coffee).

Santa by the Sea @ L’Auberge Del Mar – The Del Mar Association and L’Auberge invite you to join them for the annual Christmas Tree Lighting in the amphitheater at 5 p.m. Directly after the tree lighting will be a special screening of the movie Elf. Bring your own camera for pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus and your little ones, and enjoy the music by the Original Dickens Carolers. Other hightlights of the night are a Holiday Photo Booth, Snow, Holiday Cookie Tasting, Hot Cocoa, Cake Walk, Dance Performance, Hot Cocoa, Passport to the North Pole, Special Prizes, and Letters to Santa. For more information click here.

Sunday, December 8

Christmas Parade & Holiday Festival @ La Jolla – The parade begins at 2 p.m. and the Holiday Festival will begin at 3:30 p.m., photos with Santa will be held at the Recreation Center at 3:30 pm. as well. The day comes to a close with the Christmas Tree Lighting at 4:30 pm.

Parade of Lights @ San Diego Bay – The San Diego Bay Parade of Lights is held two consecutive Sundays each year in December. The Parade begins at 5:30 p.m. and proceeds from Shelter Island past Harbor Island, the Embarcadero, Seaport Village, and Ferry Landing in Coronado.

Nov 14
2013

Spa Giveaway to sanctuate!™

by Nicole Connerley

spa

Last week the moms of SoCal Savvy Mom were invited for a mom’s night out at sanctuate!™ Spa located in San Diego. Upon entering sanctuate!™ you feel relaxed, the walls are a cool blue color and all the furniture is very modern with a spa twist to it. We were offered a glass of wine and an array of light appetizers to choose from while we listened to all the different types of massages available.

Hi-tech ‘smart’ massage is what sanctuate!™ is all about. You have a smart phone right? We all do, why not try a smart massage! Redefining massage to make sustaining your wellness fast and affordable for all. No matter how you feel, sanctuate!™ has the massage you need, when you need it.

The award winning massage bed uses infrared technology to scan your body, delivering the perfect shiatsu full body Hi-tech ‘smart’ massage every time. Best of all, the more you sanctuate!, the better you feel and the more you save!

SoCal Savvy Mom is giving away two 45-minute massages at Spa sanctuate!™ to two lucky readers! To enter simply leave a comment on the blog or on SoCal Savvy Mom’s Facebook page, if you share on your Facebook page you will have one extra entry for the giveaway. Don’t feel you have to share with all your friends, if for instance you don’t like you friends and don’t feel they too would like a massage by all means keep to yourself hehehe! Good Luck!