As you may have noticed, 3 Kids and a Breakdown is under going a make-over. We were getting a little tired of the old look. Big Daddy always hated the header and I was sick of the pink. Plus, it’s time to update, add a few widgets and [...]]]>

As you may have noticed, 3 Kids and a Breakdown is under going a make-over. We were getting a little tired of the old look. Big Daddy always hated the header and I was sick of the pink. Plus, it’s time to update, add a few widgets and plug-ins and whatnot. What’s that you say? You don’t know wtf I’m talking about? Well, that’s okay, dearie. You don’t really need to. The point is, please bear with us while we stumble through this process. (It’s much more difficult and time consuming than one would think. Just ask Big Daddy who has spent hours upon hours helping me help myself).

I’ve been wanting to do this for a long, long time. But had no idea how to get started. Then was busy with a couple brand new social media clients, getting a business license, blah, blah, boring, boring, stfu already. And Big Daddy was busy with all his shit. Then! Like magic or kismet or whateverthefuck, the brains over at Sitsgirls  announced an online challenge: 31 Days to Build a Better Blog.  I immediately signed up.

The program is just beginning its second week and already I have learned a ton! Like which plug-ins to use and how to install them on my own. And guess what else? One of our first assignments was to ask another blogger to do a guest post for them. I did and she said yes! I’m so excited! I wouldn’t have had the balls to do that 6 months ago.  We’re still working out the details of when and what I’ll blog (translation: I’m waiting for her to get back to me, and am refraining from nagging), so I’ll keep you posted.

Anyway, all this just to say: Bear with me while we work out the kinks; keep coming back because I’ll still be posting while we are under construction; and please give me some feedback/suggestions/constructive(or not) criticism in the comments.

We took the kids roller skating yesterday for the very first time! It was So. Much. Fun! I don’t know why we didn’t think to do this before. Well, one reason is I wasn’t aware we even had a roller rink near us until very recently. But now [...]]]>

We took the kids roller skating yesterday for the very first time! It was So. Much. Fun! I don’t know why we didn’t think to do this before. Well, one reason is I wasn’t aware we even had a roller rink near us until very recently. But now that I do and now that we’ve been? We’ll be going a lot! Here’s why:

1.      All 3 girls can do this and they all enjoyed it. Yes, Jemima needed some help, but Big Daddy and I just traded off skating with her while the other one did their own thing. (And by “their own thing,” I mean skate like a fool while singing really old songs off key. Well, that was me. I shouldn’t really speak for Big Daddy)

2.     They play the best music at roller rinks. Everything from Run DMC to Pat Benatar to Ke$ha (No comments on my questionable taste in music)

3.     It  made me feel young and coordinated (2 things I am decidedly not)

4.     It’s affordable (not a lot is when you’re paying for 5 people)

5.     Great family bonding. (I didn’t yell or cuss anyone out once!)

So, I wanted to post some really awesome pictures of us skating, but Big Daddy is The. Worst. Photographer. Ever. And that’s no exaggeration. As will be evidenced by the photographs below.

OK, here are a couple that don’t suck balls:

Dude, I’m experiencing some serious winter weather this week! The likes of which I haven’t seen since that Storm of the Century in New York City in 1993. Wow. That was a long time ago. I’m old. Anyway, we’ve got Snow! And Freezing Rain! And an Ice Storm! [...]]]>

Dude, I’m experiencing some serious winter weather this week! The likes of which I haven’t seen since that Storm of the Century in New York City in 1993. Wow. That was a long time ago. I’m old. Anyway, we’ve got Snow! And Freezing Rain! And an Ice Storm! And now it’s melting and is a mess!! Woohooo.

This is our third snow day. I must give credit where credit is due. My neighbors are amazing! I heart this neighborhood so, so much. Not only is it filled with kids who are my girls’ schoolmates and buddies, but all their parents are  super cool! We have all had the best time this week sledding, watching the kids sled (or in my case, sending them out to sled while staying in drinking chardonnay), warming them up with hot cocoa and sending them back out again.

I’ve got to say, it’s all much better with power! Last winter’s snow storm kinda blew because we were without power for about 3 days. It’s all fun and adventurous for 12 hours. 24 tops. 3 days is just not fun.  So let’s all give a big shout out to electricity!!

I actually broke down and busted out the canvases and paints I bought the girls for Christmas. And guess what? It wasn’t that bad! They didn’t make a huge mess or dump paint on the floor. Yay.

I just might survive this snow stuff.

It’s a sad, sad day here at the Breakdown house. My bestest friend and most favorite person in the whole wide world (don’t freak out friends, you are close seconds) was supposed to arrive this afternoon. She wanted to spend her 40th birthday celebrating with ME! Me! She [...]]]>

It’s a sad, sad day here at the Breakdown house. My bestest friend and most favorite person in the whole wide world (don’t freak out friends, you are close seconds) was supposed to arrive this afternoon. She wanted to spend her 40th birthday celebrating with ME! Me! She has a ton of friends (with her personality and charm, of course she does) but she wanted to usher in her 40th year with little ole me!

And we have been so excited! Making plans and dinner reservations, buying wine and goodies. But, alas. This fucking snow storm has put the kabosh on all that fun and merriment. I held out hope – and so did she.  She was on the plane, people! She even purchased snow boots! But conditions are just too bad. The restaurant where I made my reservation called this morning to tell me they wouldn’t be open today. The airport runways are iced over. And we currently have freezing rain.

So she and her husband (who I also love a bunch!) are making the best of things in their sunny hometown of San Diego. I believe they are dining al fresco and sipping cocktails to numb the pain. But we miss each other! And we’re bummed! And she really, really wanted to celebrate her big day on Bainbridge Island with the best broad she knows!

However, plans have been altered. She and her husband and hopefully their amazing kids, whom we all love, will be here for MY birthday in March! So we’ve agreed to say that it’s her birthday too and we are both turning 40! Why not, right? Lemons = lemonade.

I love you, Lisa. I hope you read this (she’s my bff and the catalyst behind this blog, but she only reads it twice a year. I refuse to nag her any more about it. I do have some pride, people).

I’m reposting this because seriously, if you live in San Diego you MUST book an appointment with Cody and let him change your life. That’s no exaggeration. And if you don’t live in San Diego? Well, you can follow him on Facebook and Twitter [...]]]>

I’m reposting this because seriously, if you live in San Diego you MUST book an appointment with Cody and let him change your life. That’s no exaggeration. And if you don’t live in San Diego? Well, you can follow him on Facebook and Twitter so that you can get some great do-it-yourself skincare tips. Also? You can order his fantastic, life-changing skincare products online and have them shipped right to your door. Isn’t the internet great?

While I was in San Diego partying like a rock star, I managed to get a little pampering along side my drinking. I, of course hit Pretty Kitty just as soon as I could. Still the best, fastest, least painful Brazilian wax I’ve ever had.  I also took my girls and myself for mani/pedi’s. So fun! But the absolute best beauty treatment I had while in San Diego? Well, that would be a facial and a chemical peel done by the incomparable Cody Montarbo!!  Seriously.This man is a witch! And I mean that in the good way. He’s like magic!

My bff has been raving about him for over a year now. So of course I had to see him while I was in town. Not only is he super smart, funny and nice, he is amazing at what he does. I had a facial for the low, low price of $39 and immediately my skin looked better. I am fortunate in that I don’t have many wrinkles (I’ve been accused of using Botox more than once), but I do have sun damage and acne (still! when is that going away?!).  After one treatment my skin was noticeably improved.  A few days later I went back for a chemical peel for the low, low price of $75. Yes, it hurt. Like a mofo, but not for very long. I didn’t cry, whine or curse, so you know it couldn’t have been that bad.

I have to tell you that right away my skin looked better! To the point that my husband couldn’t stop commenting about it. So imagine how much better it looked after I finished peeling! My skin is glowing! And it’s clear with a much more even skin tone. And those faint little crows feet I did have are gone! Magic.  In addition to his facials and peels, Cody has a line of skin care products. Now if you are anything like me, you try every cream that comes out from drugstore brands to the most expensive lines you can only purchase at Neiman’s. Well, I am done with all that! The Montarbo Skincare line is fantastic! Magic, I tell you!

I have had dark skin under my eyes and on my eye lids for more years than I’d like to admit to being alive. I figured it was due to my Eastern European heritage. But Cody told me it was sun damage. And then? He gave me his magic potion that lightens such spots! Amazing! I know I keep using that word, but really, it is. And so is his sunscreen, which is not at all heavy or greasy; and his Vitamin C moisturizer which is an oil that somehow leaves your face glowing but not at all oily. His face wash is this great foam that is light as air. Honestly, I don’t know how he managed to make everything so moisturizing, yet not leave you feeling greasy.  He also has this incredible scrub that is unlike anything you’ve ever used before. I mean it! I know I tend to exaggerate, but I’m not this time.

You should know I was not asked to write this post nor am I being compensated in anyway. If I love something, I want to sing it’s praises and make sure everyone knows! You’d be crazy not to book yourself an appointment immediately.  Log on to his website right now! http://www.montarboskincare.com/

This is probably where I should post a pic of my glowing, clear, even-toned skin. But because I run an insane asylum and am not completely with it myself, I have lost the charger for my camera battery!! But soon I’ll either find the damn thing or buy a new one and I’ll post pics of my gorgeous face!

So we went to the Mochi Tsuki Festival at Islandwood today. And, yeah. Not so much. It was super crowded and therefore hard to see the guys actually pounding the rice into mochi. Also? The Japanese drumming that we were so excited to see [...]]]>

So we went to the Mochi Tsuki Festival at Islandwood today. And, yeah. Not so much. It was super crowded and therefore hard to see the guys actually pounding the rice into mochi. Also? The Japanese drumming that we were so excited to see (only Big Daddy was excited for this. Zeta & Nita saw them at school and their verdict? Too loud.) only had tickets available for the show that was scheduled to start 3 hours from the time we arrived. I knew we weren’t going to last 3 hours.

We didn’t even last one hour. Or a half hour. I think maybe we were there twenty minutes. Because? The mochi is yucky. And we thought we were going to get ice cream. That’s right. We’re idiots. We thought we were going to get the mochi ice cream like you get at Trader Joe’s. What dopes!

Also, my children have my DNA so they are adverse to waiting in line or joining in any sort of crowd (unless it’s for wilding. Then they’re at the front of the pack). So they weren’t really too keen on waiting in a very crowded line, inside a very crowded room to get the opportunity to pound rice into a doughy blob that tastes like paste. (Not that I would know what paste tastes like. I was not one of those kids).

It is just rice, after all. I’m not sure why I expected it to taste any better. The pounding was cool to watch though. So we did have that.

A lot of people really enjoy this festival, so don’t go by us. I think we’re pretty lame. Last year there were over 1300 people.  What do we know? We thought we were getting ice cream. Yeah.

Dudes, I’m so excited! I got me a job!! A paying job. A part-time, work from home, paying job!! Yay me! I’m so fabulous!! (I have a new thing where I refuse to say anything negative about myself. Either to myself or to anyone else. So excuse me [...]]]>

Dudes, I’m so excited! I got me a job!! A paying job. A part-time, work from home, paying job!! Yay me! I’m so fabulous!! (I have a new thing where I refuse to say anything negative about myself. Either to myself or to anyone else. So excuse me if I get a little obnoxious saying great things about myself. But it needs to happen.)

What’s this gig, you ask? Social Media Extraordinaire for Designer Maternity and Baby.  It is a new business started by my extremely stylish, beautiful and smart friend. Seriously. This is going to be A-May-Zing! If you’re pregnant, plan to get pregnant or know someone who is, you’ve got to check out the website, read the blog, “like” us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter (@TheStylishMommy).

I’m super excited! I’m going to have something to do with my time other than housework and yell at my kids. And I’ll be writing/working for a company I really like with a fabulous boss! Plus, earning a little mad money for my martinis and Brazilian waxes.  Woohoo!! Also? I’ll be building up my confidence and my resume for when the time comes to take the bar exam and get a full-time job.

Don’t you just love a new year and a new start?

I was driving home today and noticed lots of Christmas lights still up on houses in my neighborhood. I even saw a tree in a window or two. Which is completely crazy to me. It’s a Christmas tree, people. Christmas is over. We are the family that takes [...]]]>

I was driving home today and noticed lots of Christmas lights still up on houses in my neighborhood. I even saw a tree in a window or two. Which is completely crazy to me. It’s a Christmas tree, people. Christmas is over. We are the family that takes the tree and all decorations down on December 26th. Always. Every year. There has never been an exception. It just bugs me to keep it up after the fact. And we are also that family who puts the tree and trimmings up early. Thanksgiving weekend or right after. So after a month of the ho, ho, ho we’re ready to dismantle and get back to normal (or you know, our version of normal. Which is not all that normal).

So, how long do you keep your tree up? Come on. I know there are a couple of you out there who won’t take it down til Valentine’s Day. Admit it.