Credit: Bridgette White

I hope you are all enjoying  a cozy evening at home on this chilly and wet Monday. To start off the week, I wanted to share about our newest contributor Bridgette’s, inspiring post about running a half marathon. She shares all about her amazing experience and how we can do it too!

I think most of us have a bucket list or a list of things we want to do or accomplish in our lifetime. Running a marathon was on my list. I have to admit, it wasn’t at the top or near the top of the list for that matter. Being a full time mom keeps me busy, but in the back of my mind it was there.  I was checking my email one day and I noticed a brochure for Team in Training, an organization that trains people to do marathons, triathlons, etc. Team in Training also helps raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. I decided after looking into it that I was going to do it! Run a marathon-check and donate to charity?check- Sign me up!

I started to look for races to run in and came across the inaugural Tinkerbell Half marathon at Disneyland. I mean there is no place on earth that would be more fun to run 13.1 miles!  The race fell on my son’s 2nd birthday and we were heading there anyway. It made the decision pretty easy. Disney sponsors over a dozen running events at its various parks. They have kids fun runs and family friendly 5Ks.

Fast forward 11 weeks after I decided to sign up and thanks to some amazing training from my coaches from Team in training, I was ready for race day. I woke up 3 am to meet my coach and teammates for a walk to the starting line. Over 12,000 runners were at that starting line that morning. I was nervous, but my body was ready. Did I mention that I had never run more that 2 miles at a time in my life before I started training? Before I knew it the race had begun and off I went to cross that finish line. Two hours and forty one minutes later, I crossed the finish line. I was exhausted but exhilarated! It was hard, but it was FUN!  My hubby and kids were there waiting for me and watched me receive my Medal!

There were bands and cheerleaders to encourage us along the way. Running thru Disneyland and seeing some of the rides behind the scenes was an amazing experience.  It made my first half-marathon even more special!  Maybe this will inspire some of you moms and dads to go out there and do it because you really can! If I can do it, so can you!

To learn more about TeamTraining head here and to learn more about all of the Disney races head here.

When Bridgette is not running, she spends her time with her husband and two young children exploring beautiful Southern California.

Last week the kiddos headed to their semi-annual visit to the dentist. We have tried making the visits to the dentist as fun as possible and are glad to have a dentist that understand this and who makes the experience as fun as can be. I was relieved to learn that the kids had no cavities, however our dentist also reminded us to be flossing and rinsing every time we brush our teeth. I have to admit, I’m pretty consistent with having the kiddos brush their teeth twice a day but that’s the extent of it.

Did you know that many of us don’t realize that brushing alone misses 75% of our mouths? I didn’t either until I learned this past week from both our dentist and a live chat I was able to participate with Listerine dental health professionals. I also learned that you should make your child’s first dental appointment at a year old. I have to admit, I totally missed the mark on that one since we didn’t visit the dentist until their third birthday.

This month I’m vowing to install better oral habits for all of my family. I’m taking part in the LISTERINE Halthy Habits for a Lifetime Oral Care Challenge that happens to coincide with National Children’s Dental Health Month, that is taking place in the month of February.  We have been challenged to adopt some healthier oral habit and boy does my family need the challenge. In addition to brushing two times a day, we will also be rinsing with LISTERINE and also be flossing. I’m going to admit that the flossing with the kiddos is going to be a challenge for us but I am determined to make sure that flossing becomes a habit because it is so important!

Stay tuned as I keep you posted about our progress and what we accomplished during our three week challenge. I hope you can join me!

Disclosure: I received products and compensation from Johnson& Johnson and The Motherhood as part of my participation in the Oral Care Challenge. However all thoughts and opinions expressed in this post are my own.

Credit: S Morales

Do you love cupcakes? Who doesn’t right? Syreeta shares about a one of a kind event all about cupcakes.

Two weekends ago I took my best friend to the LA Cupcake Challenge, hosted by Drink Eat Play, for her birthday.  What is the LA Cupcake Challenge?  It is a battle between awesome bakeries and cupcakeries from all over Southern California to determine who has the best cupcakes in our land.  Eighteen fierce competitors came together at the Renaissance Hotel in Hollywood on Saturday, February 4^th armed with two of their best mini cupcakes for patrons to partake in.  The tickets to the event are $40 (plus $3.86 service fee, natch), and that may have you thinking no cupcake is worth such a steep cost.  But what other time can you pig out on cupcakes in the name of history?!  The price of the ticket grants you entry into the event and one of each mini cupcake flavor from each of the 18 bakeries.

Credit: S Morales

When you enter the main room at the hotel, you will be overwhelmed by the noise and the amount of people packed inside waiting to have their sweet tooth satisfied.  At first glance, there appears to be a line for the row of bakeries that leads around the room like a Candy Land board game.  As you make your way through Yummy Town, people will ignore the line and cut in front of you, but resist the urge to smear frosting on their faces.  There are enough cupcakes for every ticket purchased.  The most important thing I learned is that, unless you have 18 hands to hold your 36 cupcakes, you will need to bring some form of Tupperware or cake box large enough to hold your treats.

By far, the best part of the LA Cupcake Challenge is the bakery owners and their employees.  They are enthusiastic, super knowledgeable about cupcakes, and downright jolly.  This is what they love to do, and they are beyond thrilled to see you gobble up their masterpieces.  As you make your way to each bakery’s table, they will mark their name off the yellow rate sheet you are given when you check into the event.  They will describe each of their cupcakes to you in delicious detail.  You will want to stop right there and dig in.  Be strong!  There’s time for that later.

Credit: S Morales

After you gather all 36 of your delectable treats, find a table and stake your claim pronto.  A few dedicated cupcake lovers had to sit on the floor.  They didn’t seem to be enjoying their cupcakes any less.  Sit down, and prepare for sugar overload.  The second most important thing I learned was to share one mini cupcake at a time with my best friend, instead of digging in to a whole one all by myself.  Once we started this practice, we were able to enjoy more cupcakes without feeling sickly.  Plus, you can take the leftovers home to your kids and they can eat them without wondering why there’s a big giant bite taken out of their dessert.

This year, there was only one category: Best Bakery.  After you’ve filled up on cupcakey goodness, you choose the Top 3 bakeries whose cupcakes you loved the most, and turn in your yellow rate sheet.  The rating given by the ticket holders and a special panel of judges chosen by Drink Eat Play determines the winner.  My Delight Cupcakery in Ontario was the winner for the 3^rd year in a row.  While I was not impressed with either cupcake they brought to the event, I am a HUGE fan of their bakery.  My faves at the event?  Sugar Babies Cupcakery with their savory ‘n sweet  Pancakes ‘n Bacon cupcake, and The De“Bite”ful Cups Cake Pop Shop who brought a mind blowing treat they dubbed Pastelitos Caliente: a hearty cornbread cupcake with bacon, and a cilantro frosting.  YUM!  Will I be attending the LA Cupcake Challenge next year?  Me and my 18 arms can’t wait to buy a ticket!

Syreeta is  mom to two very busy boys, ages 3 and 10.  She works full time as a loan processor at a local credit union, and part time as a finder of fun!  She loves to take her  family out on new adventures all over Southern California.  Disneyland is her  favorite place to make memories, but she  also enjoys other amusement parks, museums, zoos, exhibits, and anywhere else there are good times to be found.