Hina Chats

Top 10 Toddler Quotes - of the moment

2009-08-24T09:08:00.000-07:00

My son is only two years old, and he definitely sees the world through two year old eyes. Sometimes the things that come out of his mouth surprise me, make me laugh, or just make me shake my head. Here are my favorite quotes to date.10. (In response to, "Are you putting your toy in the toilet?") The dinosaur has to peepee. 9. (In response to a power outage.) Uh oh. There's

Top 10 Things I Never Viewed as Luxuries Before Mommyhood

2009-07-23T12:21:00.000-07:00

10. Going on a grocery run by myself9. Savoring a treat (chocolate, a cookie, etc.) without having to hide or give up 4/5 of it 8. Cooking one meal, ONLY one, for everyone7. Cleaning the table and having it stay clean for longer than 2 hours6. Making spontaneous plans 5. Leaving the house without the baggage of extra diapers, clothes, snacks, drinks, and toys4. Going to the bathroom by

Generic Christmas Presents on the Cheap

2008-12-11T15:35:00.000-08:00

What can I say? I'm not rich, but I like nice stuff. I also believe in giving nice stuff, mostly because I have received not-nice stuff as presents, and we all know how that makes us feel.Every year, I end up doing a little bit of Christmas shopping for people I don't really know. Usually, it's for someone at work, or someone at my husband's work, or an acquaintance who I just haven't gotten

Attention Animal Lovers!!!

2008-05-19T11:44:00.000-07:00

Hi Animal Lovers.This is pretty simple. The Animal Rescue Site is having trouble getting enough people to click on it daily to meet their quota of getting free food donated every day to abused and neglected animals.It takes less than a minute (more like 20 seconds) to go to their site and click on the purple box "Click Here to Give - it's FREE!" This doesn't cost you a thing. Their corporate

Nature is Mean and Vindictive

2008-04-20T22:18:00.000-07:00

We are renting a house at the moment. There is a mini rose bush in the front yard. (It is a mini-rose bush, not a mini rose-bush. That is, it is a rose bush with small, mini roses. The bush itself is not small in the least.) When we moved in, it was so horribly overgrown that it was growing through the fence, slowly bending and breaking the wooden planks. It hung over the driveway, and we

Time Out for a Pick-Me-Up

2008-04-12T19:23:00.000-07:00

Do you ever feel like you just need a lift? Something cute and cuddly, or warm and fuzzy, or just happy and fun? After a week and a half of being sick, taking care of sick people, and just generally dealing with non-stop illness, I am ready to sit back and be entertained. I don't know if you need a pick-me-up, but I know I can use one!See a Different Side of an Elephant's PersonalityA Welsh

I Don't Have a Magical Wonder Baby

2008-04-10T22:12:00.000-07:00

I am sick. This means that my child is also sick. I tried to save him from this vicious bug. I washed my hands repeatedly, I used Purell in between, I used the Kleenex Anti-Viral tissues, I sprayed Lysol everywhere. He got sick anyway. At first I felt guilty, then I realized: this is my child who likes to sneak up when I'm not really paying attention and bite my toes and fingers. This is

Yes! Another Parental Triumph!

2008-04-03T22:10:00.000-07:00

My baby is going through a super picky phase right now. (At least, I hope it's a phase.) The wonderful veggies he used to eat have suddenly become Baby-Kryptonite. His morning ritual of Cheerios and/or Puffins cereals is no longer welcome. The last two evenings, my last-resort standbys "rice" and "noodles" were completely unpalatable.I was on the verge of a breakdown. I couldn't get him to

I've Lost My Son - Two of Him Actually!

2008-03-28T16:16:00.000-07:00

Soooooo......... I have lost quite a bit of weight. (I'd say 62 lbs. is quite a bit.) While it was a gradual weight loss, and a healthy weight loss, it happened in a relatively short period of time - less than a year. I know that I am smaller than I have ever been in my entire life, but I still have a hard time seeing what I've lost.To put things in perspective, I've put together a list of

The Cookie Made Me Do It

2008-03-26T22:25:00.000-07:00

Have you had a tough day? Did you give in to temptation? Did you skip your workout? You're not alone, and if you're like me on my weak days, it's completely not your fault. These are some of my favorite diet excuses. Some I've used, some I've heard, some came to me through email. Feel free to share your excuses. And remember: A good, hard laugh burns calories.I have to eat something sweet

Hina's Fave Breakfast Cereals

2008-03-25T23:43:00.000-07:00

Cereal is one of life's great comfort foods. It's a "Saturday morning cartoons" breakfast. It's the happy snack with prizes in the box. It's the late night, movie watching, popcorn alternative. It's the best milk-flavoring device ever! (Chocolate cereal goes into the bowl, plain white milk goes over the cereal, eat all the cereal, and PRESTO! Chocolate milk! Just like magic. And you know

Another Confession Monday ..... sigh A True Foodie Weekend

2008-03-23T21:26:00.000-07:00

I am hoping that since this past weekend was Easter, I wasn't the only one who splurged on food. And I don't mean, "Oh, I ate too much." I mean, I really splurged on food. Not only did I eat too much food, I ate too much really, really good food.It started on Saturday morning, with a 5.4 mile walk, which really kick started my appetite. So I got home and had a tasty smoked salmon sandwich

Foodie View: Vanilla Ice Cream - AKA a Blank Canvas

2008-03-20T14:59:00.000-07:00

I am a chocolate lover first and foremost, and vanilla isn't exactly a stand up and take charge flavor. Sometimes, I want my ice cream to take the lead, rather than being an "I dunno, what do you want to do?" sort of flavor. Generally, I want my ice cream to be a flavor that "shows up with dinner reservations, has a wine recommendation, has plans for a movie, and has a lot of scintillating

Baby Loves Disco - A Great Place for ... Adults!

2008-03-18T21:33:00.000-07:00

It is hard to be a parent, or a kid, in an adult's world. Remember when you used to hang out and mingle at the restaurant's bar, or get your groove on at a club? If your baby is with you, many bars won't even serve you alcohol - and really, you probably shouldn't have your kid at a regular bar anyway. Going dancing at clubs is also out. The blaring music with questionable lyrics, lots of

My Friends are Supposed to Protect Me from Myself!!

2008-03-17T13:11:00.000-07:00

Ok, I thought I had great friends. I thought we had a very real "friendship bond" kind of thing with each other. They're my friends. They're supposed to protect me from my own innate stupidity!! Why weren't they there???Problem #1 - They deluded me.So, I thought, "Hmmm... There is this 8K race coming up. It's for a good cause, and maybe this will be the kick I need to lose the last 10 lbs.

Shopping with a baby can save you money

2008-03-14T16:02:00.000-07:00

I know I am not the only parent who finds it difficult to go shopping with a child. I know this because I see other parents in stores, and they're huffing, puffing, and some of them are yelling and losing it, too. Maybe it's wrong, but that makes me feel so much better because I know it's not just me.I remember when shopping was a fun pastime. Shopping for clothes, for towels, for gifts, and

My Baby Loves ... His TV Friends!

2008-03-12T21:19:00.000-07:00

I'll be completely honest, I have a love/hate relationship with "Children's Television Edu-tainment." I love that these programs teach numbers, the alphabet, and socialization skills like sharing and saying please and thank you. I love that my son gets so happy and excited when Blue's Clues or Elmo show up on the screen. And I REALLY love that I can sneak away for a few minutes to grab a bite

The Importance of Friendships ... With Other Parents

2008-03-11T22:10:00.000-07:00

Before I was married, I had a free and fun social life. I took off for concerts, went out for dinners, hung out at clubs and bars, and visited friends at all times - even around 2am on a week night. There were no restrictions. Then I met my wonderful husband, and "we" had a fun and varied social life. We went to movies and concerts, explored restaurants, hit happy hours and dinner parties,

In Hina's Low Cal Kitchen...

2008-03-10T23:38:00.000-07:00

If you are on a weight loss journey, chances are you're working on reducing your caloric intake. And if you're a foodie like me, you've already realized that it is hard work to keep those calories down!!Here is a list of some low calorie foods I keep in my kitchen and pantry. They really help me eat foods I like, while keeping my daily caloric intake within my 1200-1500 range.Unsweetened Almond

5 Sandwiches Under 300 Calories

2008-03-06T21:53:00.000-08:00

I am a busy mom. I am also a woman with a weight loss goal. My lifestyle requires me to eat healthy, low calorie meals that are quick to prepare, quick to eat, and quick to clean up. All parents know that their children are capable of getting into five different escapades in the fifteen minutes it takes to grab a quick lunch.So here are my Five Current Favorite Quick-n-Easy, Low Cal Sandwiches

My Baby Loves ... Amusing Websites!

2008-03-05T10:42:00.000-08:00

Seriously, what did our parents do without the internet? I have sung, danced, read stories, played, turned on the tv, made silly faces, and done practically everything short of juggling bowling balls to make my Mr. Baby smile. However, on some days, he is just an inconsolable baby! When my Mr. Baby turns into my Mr. Crankypants, due to teething, diaper rash, a runny nose, etc... these websites

Hungry After Exercise?

2008-03-04T14:47:00.000-08:00

Dear Hina: I am having a problem with my exercise. I was thinking you might have some advice. Every time I increase my level of exercise, I just get WAY hungrier. Makes sense, I'm increasing my metabolism .... but then I find myself pigging out and I think it's not going to do much if I exercise more and then just eat more. I like that it's healthier and makes me feel good, but I hate the

Confession Monday! .....Aack!

2008-03-03T16:20:00.000-08:00

For me, living a healthy lifestyle is like a full time job. I've got to work at it all the time, because it's so easy for me to slip back into my Super-Snacking-Sloth habits. I will readily admit that I would prefer to sit on my butt, nursing an entire table of snacks and food, while watching tv/movies or reading a book.This past weekend, I indulged in good food. I attended a party where the

A Low-Cal Day Can be a Filling Day!

2008-02-29T10:58:00.000-08:00

I've mentioned it before, but it's worth mentioning again. Sometimes, when people lose weight, and you ask them how they did it, they answer very vaguely. You've heard these lines, right?"Oh, you know. I just worked out and stuff." ~ "Well, I just eat healthier. That's all." ~ Or my favorite, "I don't know. I'm just losing. Isn't it great?"I am all about sharing. Sharing info, sharing

Foodie View: Hina's Top Three Cupcakeries!

2008-02-28T22:57:00.000-08:00

One of the things I love best about cupcakes is that they eliminate the guilt of not sharing. It's a very personal dessert, and regardless of the size, nobody hears the word "cupcake" and expects you to split it. How can you? It's a cupcake! Two bites, and you could be done. And if you did offer to share, what would have to give? "Sure, I'll share! Here, extract the maximum amount of

My Baby Loves ... Music!

2008-02-27T08:00:00.000-08:00

My baby is growing up and becoming a person with clear likes and dislikes. I find this extraordinarily fascinating, and I'm sure other parents out there can relate. There's just a happy wonderment that fills you up when you realize, "Oh, the baby is enjoying this!" It's such a progressive step from the time when your child sits around and stares, to the time when they focus on something,

Foodie View: Vietnamese food in Chula Vista

2008-02-26T18:00:00.000-08:00

I know people on the East Coast probably don't believe me, but winter does hit Southern California. No, we're not neck-deep in snow, but for us, the need for a sweater means it's freezing! You know when it's cold outside, and you're feeling chilly on the inside, and all you want is some good food to warm you up? That's where I was about a week or so ago, so we went to Pho Hiep and Grill, a

The New Miracle Toddler Diet

2008-02-25T20:26:00.000-08:00

Hahaha!! I love this!! I got this in my email, and it is one of the most truthful diets around. I couldn't find any author information online, but it's a great read. I hope you enjoy it, and start your week off with a smile!Each new year brings an onslaught of new diets. The trouble is, most people don't get enough to eat when dieting (the starvation diet), or not enough variety (the liquid

Foodie View: Hina Cooks! Super Easy Vegetarian Stir Fry

2008-02-21T19:34:00.000-08:00

Is it incredibly vain to write a review of your own food? I fully admit, I'm bragging right now. I made a totally awesome stir fry dinner, and I am so proud of me!It was a quick meal, an easy to make meal, a healthy meal, a vegetarian meal, a satisfying meal, and a super yummy meal! The veggies add lots of flavor and texture, not to mention color. The soy based ingredients (tempeh, baked tofu

Hina's Fave Diet Resources

2008-02-21T15:26:00.000-08:00

When you're taking on a huge task like losing weight, I believe in getting all the help you can. Use all the tools available to you! These are just a few of my favorite tools for battling the bulge. Check them out, and if you have any great tips or sites, share the knowledge!Counting CaloriesIt's hard enough sticking to a specific number of calories per day without having to guess how much

I Didn't Fall Off the Bandwagon - I Just Never Diet

2008-02-19T17:02:00.000-08:00

So, the past few weeks, I've been on a total eating kick. I totally splurged on two Thai restaurants (read the tasty reviews here Part I and here Part II), as well as Thai take-out, IN-N-Out Burgers complete with fries and a chocolate/vanilla milkshake, Claim Jumper (although I managed to get out without a dessert, and if you've ever been there, you know how hard that is!), Rock Bottom Brewery (

My Weight Loss Buddies

2008-02-14T12:26:00.000-08:00

My aunt forwarded me an email that contained the line:"Aspire to Inspire before you Expire!"I really like that message! Since posting my Weight Loss Mantra, I've gotten some great comments, questions, and commiserations. It really helps me to know that I'm not alone in my weight loss journey. I hope I can help inspire some people to lose weight, or just help others realize that they're not

My Baby Loves ... Baby Loves Disco!

2008-02-13T17:42:00.000-08:00

Attention all parents with kids 7 years and under!This past weekend we went to Baby Loves Disco in San Diego. If you haven't heard about it,"Baby loves disco is an afternoon dance party featuring real music spun and mixed by real djs blending classic disco

Tantrum Averted - - You May Proceed to Parenting Level 2!

2008-02-10T09:32:00.000-08:00

So........Am I the only one who found the transition from DINKhood (Double Income No Kids) to Parenthood to be a painful process? I miss the freedom of being able to get up and go - anywhere. I used to take off to the store for groceries, to the mall to buy a pair of jeans, or we could just go out to dinner if we didn't feel like cooking. Leaving the house now is akin to packing for a week

Foodie View: Hina's Thai-licious Weekend (Part II)

2008-02-09T16:40:00.000-08:00

My friends, I have most excellent news. I have found something truly special. I have discovered one of those rare, elusive restaurants which has..............GREAT FOOD! Yes, it's true, and I am so excited! (And I'm so full. Ohhh, my stomach hurts from the intense splurging, but how could I not? I have found GREAT FOOD!) Super Thai-licious in Los AngelesThailand Plaza (AKA Jinda Thai)2nd

5 Things I Did Today to be a Good Parent

2008-02-08T12:15:00.000-08:00

Today was very challenging, for me and my toddler. Between a very late night, diaper rash, temper tantrums, impatience, hunger, and reinforcing boundaries, we have dealt with about five consecutive hours of intense stress.At one point we were both on the living room floor crying with frustration. My child will, at times, be emotionally out of control. However, I am the parent, and as hard as

Foodie View: Hina's Thai-licious Weekend (Part I)

2008-02-05T23:05:00.000-08:00

I think I've mentioned that I love great food. I am always on the hunt for great food. This past weekend, I had a major spice craving, and we went to two different Thai restaurants, one in San Diego and one in Los Angeles. Since we ate so much food, and since I love to rave about all the food I eat, I'm splitting my review into two separate posts.Thai-licious in San DiegoLanna Thai4501 Mission

Hina's Top 5 Ordinary Items as Baby Toys

2008-02-01T10:22:00.000-08:00

I'm sure everyone has heard the anecdote: We spent so much money on such-and-such a toy, and my baby only plays with the box.I don't know about you, but I am not rolling around in excess cash. Of course I would love to shower my child with every known baby luxury, from toys to furniture to clothes. I just don't have the means. And really, Mr. Baby doesn't need all those things. He has a

Hina's Weight Loss Mantra

2008-01-30T19:58:00.000-08:00

"My weight loss is a happy byproduct of a healthy lifestyle. I am working towards a Healthy Life, not just a skinny life." ~ MeI came up with my mantra while giving a weight loss pep talk to one of my friends. She has managed to lose a considerable amount of weight through dedication, personal strength, and hard work. She inspires me to stay true to my newly acquired healthy lifestyle, and I

Hina's High Tea Eats

2008-01-27T20:30:00.001-08:00

As you may have already guessed from past posts, I am extremely fond of tea. Not just the beverage, but also the entire afternoon tea or high tea experience, complete with petite finger sandwiches, savouries, pastries, jams, creams, and an enormous selection of desserts.For your gustatory pleasure, I have assembled some of my favorite afternoon tea sandwich recipes. These are some of the tea

When I grow up ... Or am I already there?

2008-01-27T16:07:00.001-08:00

When I graduated high school, I thought I would feel all grown up. Then I went to college, and I felt like a kid pretending to be mature. When I had my 21st birthday, I thought that would make me an “adult,” but I was working and paying bills, and learning horribly awful financial responsibility lessons. (To eat out or to buy shoes? *sigh*… Neither, because the rent is due.) I realized that

My Mommy Reality Check

2008-01-24T12:04:00.000-08:00

Moms all over the world are laughing at me. I am sure of this. I used to work for a child care center when I was in high school. I thought that had prepared me (at least a little) for what it's like to have a baby. I knew all about feeding, changing, and bathing - the smells, the smears, the spitting and the mess. I knew about playing with food, spraying liquids out of bottles and cups, and I

Afternoon Tea - Sit, Chat, and Eat, Eat, Eat

2008-01-23T23:30:00.000-08:00

“There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea.” ~Henry James, The Portrait of a Lady I have a great fondness for afternoon tea. (Even better than that is high tea, but I usually end up skipping that and going straight for dinner.) I love the little sandwiches, I enjoy the hot tea with pretty sugars,

Foodie View: Hina Goes Fishing In San Diego (On Land Of Course!)

2008-01-23T17:25:00.000-08:00

Ahh, the great weather of San Diego, the zoo and parks and many dog-friendly areas! This place is great - that is, until I want to get some seafood. Now, I started trying out some of the "Best Of San Diego" restaurants, and I was consistently disappointed. Not just with the boring and limited menus, but with the substandard dishes and lousy service.

I Remember Shopping Being Simpler

2008-01-23T16:23:00.000-08:00

Ok, so we're having tea this Saturday, so I had shopping to do. I went to one store for some jams and scone mix, but they didn't have clotted cream. My darling 1 year old decided to poop. So in the middle of shopping, we stopped, went to the bathroom, and I changed my squirmy, poopy child on the tiniest counter in the universe. Then we came out to see that the efficient staff had taken away