The Grinch Podcast

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So, guess what? We stumbled upon this super cool event the other day. It was all about promoting the brand new podcast by none other than the Grinch himself! And get this, it's a kids podcast! How awesome is that?

Now, I know what you're thinking - the Grinch doing a podcast for kids? But hey, even the grumpiest of creatures can have a soft spot for little ones. And let me tell you, this podcast is not your average bedtime story hour. It's filled with funny stories, catchy songs, and all sorts of adventures that will keep those kiddos entertained for hours.

So if you've got some little ones in your life who are always itching for something new to listen to, make sure to check out the Grinch's new podcast by Wondery. Trust me, they won't be disappointed!

Event Details

  • Location: Century City Mall (First Floor) near the train station

  • Date: November 1st - December 24, 2023

Written by Head Rascal (Ngoc Nguyen Lay), mother of two rascals, ages 8 and 10. Photos from mom’s iPhone and taken from our @hellorascalkids Instagram.

Family Trip to New Orleans

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The Lay family had an incredible Spring Break this year as they embarked on a memorable trip to New Orleans. Each family member had the opportunity to select an activity, ensuring that everyone's interests were catered to.

AJ, with a passion for history, chose the National World War 2 Museum. This visit not only provided an educational experience but also allowed the family to reflect on the sacrifices made by previous generations.

Ben, always eager to explore new places, took them on a visit to LSU (Louisiana State University). It was a chance for the family to immerse themselves in college life and appreciate the vibrant campus atmosphere.

Meanwhile, Mom and Dad decided to indulge in local cuisine and explore the enchanting swamps of Louisiana. They savored delicious dishes unique to New Orleans while also taking in the natural beauty of the surrounding marshlands.

This Spring Break adventure was not just about relaxation and fun; it was an opportunity for the Lay family to bond over shared experiences and create lasting memories together. By combining learning with leisure, they ensured that their trip was both enriching and enjoyable.

Written by Head Rascal (Ngoc Nguyen Lay), mother of two rascals, ages 8 (7 at the time of the trip) and 10. Photos from mom’s iPhone and taken from our @hellorascalkids Instagram.

Kids & Pizza

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My husband and I always jokingly say that our boys have a expensive taste when it comes to pizza. They are major foodies in this area. We’ve been watching Netflix Chef’s Table Pizza in hopes to find a new spot to take the kids.

After watching Pizzeria Bianco’s episode, I was dying to try it out. They were based in Arizona, but, luckily, they had recently opened a location in Los Angeles. I took my family on an adventure to check it out.

On the day we went, Chef Bianco happened to be there. I introduced him to the boys and they chatted with him for a bit and they got to learn more about each other.

The lunch was great and really a worthwhile experience for Ben and AJ. My kids were able to connect the story they saw on television with the pizza they were sitting there enjoying. Seeing the hard work put into the restaurant and the actual person behind the food made them see their meal as more than just a pizza that ended up on their plate.

I’m always looking for new ways to teach my boys to value the hard work and the people behind everything we do so they learn to appreciate things a little deeper. I’m happy this lesson basically landed on my tv screen and turned out to be a delicious meal, too.

Written by Head Rascal (Ngoc Nguyen Lay), mother of two rascals, ages 8 and 10. Photos by Adrienne Gunde Photography.

Recipe for Blueberry Muffins

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There is nothing more comforting than the smell of freshly baked goods drifting throughout my house in the morning. I wanted to share a simple blueberry muffin recipe that you can make with your rascals.

When the blueberries have gotten too soft to eat fresh but are still full of fruity flavor, they are perfect for baking.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup of blueberries

  • 1 ¾ cups of flour

  • ½ cup of milk

  • ¼ cup of vegetable oil

  • 1 egg

  • 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

  • ¼ cup of sugar

  • 2 teaspoon of baking powder

  • ½ teaspoon of salt

  • powered sugar

Instructions

  1. Preheat over to 375F. Grease or line muffin tins

  2. Lightly beat together milk, oil, egg and vanilla in a small bow.

  3. In a large bowl, mix together flour, sugar, the baking powder, and salt. Add blueberries.

  4. Mix together the wet & dry ingredients with a spatula, carefully folding the mixture together without mashing the blueberries.

  5. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the centers comes out clean, about 25 minutes.

  6. Cool 10 minutes in pan then transfer muffins to a wire rack to cool completely. Dust with powered sugar if desired.

The unmistakable scent of a freshly baked muffin will bring your rascals out of bed. These fast, simple, and not too sweet muffins are perfect for weekend mornings.

Written by Head Rascal (Ngoc Nguyen Lay), mother of two rascals, ages 8 and 10.

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Pool Floaties

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As the temperatures begin to rise, I am waiting for the moment my rascals ask to go to the pool or the beach. This moment is how I truly know summer has arrived! My family loves swimming during the summer, so I rounded up a few of our favorite pool floaties that I make sure to pack for a day in the water.

Shop Our Favorite Pool Floaties

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Shop Our Favorite Pool Floaties ✨

Written by Head Rascal (Ngoc Nguyen Lay), mother of two rascals, ages 8 and 10.

Bonjour Fete

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I’m a devoted lover of celebrations: birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, and anything that gives me an excuse to restock my desk drawer with decorations, cards, and other trinkets. I am also all about clean, cohesive aesthetics, so when I walked through Bonjour Fête’s signature pink door, it was love at first sight. From the color-coordinated shelves to the tables full of gifts and décor, Bonjour Fête is the party planning boutique of my dreams.

I spoke with Rachel Huntington, owner and Chief Creative Officer of Bonjour Fête, to learn more about this business and the mother of two behind it all.

Bonjour Fête (“Hello Party” in English) has two stores in Los Angeles, but the French-inspired name and branding pay homage to the idea’s true birthplace: Rachel’s Montreal home. In 2014, while planning her own daughter’s birthday, she realized there was no single place to go to for party supplies. As any mother knows, there’s hardly enough time as it is to get everything ready for a kid’s special day, whether that be a first birthday or a get-together with all their classmates. Tacking on multiple trips to several stores didn’t make being a parent any easier, so Rachel created a solution: a one-stop-shop for any parents’ party planning needs. Rachel sourced products from all over and created a curated collection of party supplies in the basement of her own home.

What started as a solution to her own party planning needs grew into a business idea when she noticed how excited her friends were to see such a diverse assortment all in one place. They moved to LA in 2016 and, within just three months, Bonjour Fête’s first brick-and-mortar store in Studio City opened its doors. Transitioning from the “de-facto” party planner for her kids to creating a business around it was no easy feat, but Rachel’s endless passion coupled with the long hours she put in made it work.

By taking a big risk of starting out with a storefront, Rachel opened herself up to the possibility of big rewards, which is exactly what happened! Face-to-face interactions became one of the things her business thrived on and her favorite part of it all. Seeing the look on customers’ faces when they walk through the door for the first time never gets old, and they often leave overjoyed that Bonjour Fête’s passionate team helped them find their inspiration.

With any new business venture comes unexpected challenges, and, much like the rest of the world, Rachel and her team didn’t foresee the pandemic and the impact it would have on businesses everywhere, small and large. With canceled events, smaller get-togethers, and stay-at-home orders, Bonjour Fête’s business came to a standstill when the pandemic hit. Thankfully, her business is back in full force. Many people are still erring on the side of caution and hosting smaller celebrations at home, which is exactly what her business caters to.

Through Bonjour Fête, Rachel hopes that anyone can come in and feel inspired to create something special. She loves being a part of people’s milestones and holding this small, unique role in people’s lives. Whether that means being the first to know the sex of a baby, knowing about an upcoming engagement, or being honored to help with celebration of life parties, Rachel and her team value the moments that her store allows them to be a part of.

This year, Bonjour Fête is launching their long-awaited own line of products. And that’s not all for this small business - Rachel sees her Bonjour Fête continuing to grow, and hopes to expand to stores in cities around the country.

For your next DIY party, you can find Bonjour Fête at their Studio City and Pacific Palisades locations, and online here.

Written by Head Rascal (Ngoc Nguyen Lay), mother of two rascals, ages 8 and 10. Photos by Adrienne Gunde Photography.

Father's Day Gift Ideas

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I feel like dads are universally impossible to shop for. They’re either too practical or they have it all, and they rarely – if ever – talk about things they want. A few years ago, my husband picked up a brewery kit and brewed his own beer. He went off on some tangent about how he was going to open up his own brewery, but the thing that stuck with me was how much he genuinely enjoyed the experience. For Father’s Day this year, I’m thinking of gifting the Dads in my life an experience, so I wanted to share some ideas I’ve been brainstorming.

● For the dad who loves beer

Albert loved brewing his own beer so much that I’m thinking of picking up another brewery kit and giving him another go at it. For a kid-friendly option, I’m thinking of picking up a kombucha brewing kit so my boys can brew their own kombucha alongside their dad.

● For the athletic dad

If your dad is an exercise fanatic, register yourselves in an upcoming run near you! You and your dad can not only enjoy the run itself, but also all the time you’ll spend together training in the days or weeks leading up to it. You can find a list of different runs near you here.

● For the outdoorsy dad

If your dad is an outdoorsy guy, plan a hike with him that neither of you have ever been on! Be sure to pack plenty of water and wear comfortable shoes. SoCal has no shortage of beautiful hikes, and there are even some with gorgeous waterfalls as a reward for all the walking. Here is a list of the ten most beautiful hikes in SoCal.

● For the dad who loves to read

If your dad is more of a bookworm, set a reading goal for the year together. You can revisit it next Father’s Day and share your favorite books, or talk about the ones you absolutely hated.

● For the movie critic dad

If your dad loves to watch movies, plan a movie night! It can be as simple as choosing something new on Netflix that you know he’ll love and grabbing all your favorite snacks to watch on the couch at home.

With any of these ideas, the most important part is that you plan something special and it comes from the heart.

Written by Head Rascal (Ngoc Nguyen Lay), mother of two rascals, ages 8 and 10.

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Favorite Ice Cream Shops in LA

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My boys love their ice cream. Little treats and mid-day outings are what brings us the most joy. With summer right around the corner, I can’t wait to start going out for ice cream and other treats to beat the heat. I wanted to share LA’s Top Ice Cream shops, via MomsLA. Check out their list for the best sweet treats and great spots to cool down.

Recommendations are from Moms LA:

Afters Ice Cream
Multiple locations around SoCal

Afters Ice Cream is known as the home of the Milky Bun — a singular creation involving ice cream and a glazed bun (something like a donut but without the hole) that’s apparently not to be missed. The brand is also super popular on Instagram, and they’ve got a ton of very creative flavors.

Carmela Ice Cream
2495 East Washington Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91104

Established in 2007, Carmela offers artisan ice cream and sorbets with seasonally inspired flavors such as basil and lavender honey from locally grown and organic herbs, spices, and flowers. Everyday flavors include Brown Sugar Vanilla Bean, Lemon Basil Sorbet, and Strawberry Buttermilk, while seasonal flavors can include Brown Butter Sage and Pear Champagne Sorbet.

Coolhaus
8588 Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232

Coolhaus began as a food truck and became so popular that they opened shops in Culver City and Pasadena (the Pasadena site has since been closed). Their ice cream parlors are known for selling gourmet, handmade, and unique flavors such as Guinness Chip, Chicken and Waffles, and Lucky Charms.

Creamistry
6150 Laurel Canyon Rd., Ste. 135, North Hollywood, CA 91606

Creamistry serves made-to-order Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream, which means it’s about as fresh as possible! Choose your base, flavors, and toppings — it’s all customizable there! They have multiple locations around SoCal.

Fosselman’s
1824 West Main Street, Alhambra, CA 91801
(626) 282-6533

A family-owned and operated business, Fosselman’s has been scooping the most delicious ice cream to customers for over 100 years. Completely family-friendly, the kids will love the candy selection and you’ll love the 48 ice cream flavors to choose from.

Ginger’s Divine Ice Cream and Pops
Two locations:
12550 W. Washington Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90066
8430 W. 3rd St., Los Angeles, CA 90048

Ginger is the person behind Ginger’s Divine Ice Cream and Pops. She shops at local farmers’ markets for fresh ingredients and makes all of the ice cream, cookies, and brownies the stores sell. The company is known for its amazing flavor combinations, vegan ice cream, and seasonal flavors.

Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream
Multiple locations around SoCal including:
8850 Corbin Ave., Los Angeles, CA 91324

Launched in 1945 in Youngstown, Ohio by Alice Handel, Handel’s has grown to now include locations all across the U.S. All of the ice cream flavors are made fresh daily in each location. Look for more stores opening in SoCal soon.

HONEYMEE
3377 Wilshire Blvd., Ste. 116, Los Angeles, CA 90010

HONEYMEE has a select menu offering, but don’t let the small menu fool you: It offers sweet, smooth, all-natural ice cream. The subtle floral honey and not-at-all-icy soft serve is sure to be the subject of your summer food fantasies.

Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream
Multiple locations in Los Angeles including:
4751 Commons Way, Ste. A, Calabasas, CA 91302
540 Rose Ave., Venice, CA 90291

Jeni’s makes ice cream with a uniquely smooth texture and buttercream body, with flavors like Gooey Butter Cake, Caramel Pecan Sticky Buns, and Brambleberry Crisp, among many others. Jeni’s is also a Certified B Corporation, which means they meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. 

McConnell’s Fine Ice Cream
Grand Central Market, 317 S. Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90013

For almost 70 years, McConnell’s has been making their impeccable ice cream the same way — from scratch and in small batches. Ingredients include Central Coast grass-grazed milk and cream, pasteurized at their creamery at The Old Dairy, and the finest local, sustainable, and organic raw ingredients sourced from partner farms, artisans, and purveyors.

Dear Bella Creamery
1253 Vine St. #12, Los Angeles, CA 90038

What if you crave ice cream but are staying away from dairy products? Head over to Dear Bella to get a couple of scoops of vegan ice cream right away! They’ve got flavors like Taiwanese Pineapple Cake, Mango Chamoy, Rocky Road, Birthday Cake, and so many more. They also have treats to go with their ice cream, like cakes, cookies, and even gluten-free waffle cones. It all looks so good!

Magpie’s Softserve
Three locations:
Silver Lake — 2660 Griffith Park Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90039
Tarzana — 18971 Ventura Blvd., Tarzana, CA 91356
Highland Park — 5049 York Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90042

We were reluctant to add soft serve to a list of scoop shops, but this is not ordinary soft serve ice cream. Made from scratch by avowed ice cream lovers, Magpie’s boasts flavors like Malted Milk Chocolate, Corn Almond, Hazelnut Coffee, Fresh Banana, and more. Vegan options and daily flavors are listed on their website. Bonus: Soft Serve Pies.

Mateo’s Ice Cream & Fruit Bars
Four locations including:
1250 S. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90006

Mateo’s opened in 1982 and now has more than 25 different flavors of ice cream and 26 different kinds of ice pops. They also have paletas made with 100 percent real fruit. Everyone in the family will find something they love at Mateo’s.

Rori’s Artisinal Ice Cream
Multiple locations including:
910 Montana Ave., Santa Monica, CA 90403

Rori’s Artisinal Ice Cream is made in small batches using local California Central Coast milk products and local herbs and ingredients. Rori Trovato makes all of the delicious ice cream and cookie recipes for locations from Santa Monica to Carpenteria. Flavors include Malted Milk Ball, Lemon Curd, and Cinnamon Toast Cereal Crunch.

Salt & Straw
Multiple locations including:
Silver Lake — 3823 Sunset Blvd.
Larchmont — 240 N. Larchmont Blvd. 90004
Culver City — 9300 Culver Blvd. at the Culver Steps
Venice — 1357 Abbot Kinney Blvd.

Cousins Kim and Tyler Malek’s Portland-based creamery, Salt & Straw, has gained fast popularity with their handmade fresh small-batch seasonal scoops here in Los Angeles. When they launched in LA, they crafted a new flavor just for us: a Meyer Lemon Buttermilk Custard with ribbons of blueberry jam served alongside some of their classics like Sea Salt with Caramel Ribbon and Cinnamon Snickerdoodle. There’s a new set of flavors each month!

Sweet Rose Creamery
225 26th St. #51, Santa Monica, CA 90402

Sweet Rose is a small-batch ice cream shop that focuses on local, organic ingredients and farmer’s market fruits and produce — mainly from the Santa Monica Farmer’s Market. Sweet Rose pasteurizes on-site and makes all ice cream, sorbets, and dairy-free ice creams and cones on the premises from scratch. They feature at least 5 classic flavors daily and 10+ seasonal flavors daily.

Van Leeuwen
Multiple locations around SoCal, including:
The Point at El Segundo, 850 S. PCH, Store #1-F, El Segundo, CA 90245
Silver Lake, 2925 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90026

This company started as a food truck in New York City in 2008. Since then, it has grown to include locations spread all across the country. Van Leeuwen’s dairy ice cream uses extra egg yolks for extra goodness, which means it needs to be called, “French Ice Cream,” according to some authorities. But we think it’s fine for you to call it anything you want. Van Leeuwen is known for changing its flavors from season to season, so be on the lookout often for new products to try!

Satisfy your sweet cravings and indulge in any of these ice cream shops—you won't be disappointed.

Shared by Head Rascal (Ngoc Nguyen Lay), mother of two rascals, ages 8 and 10. Content written by MomsLA.

Mother's Day Flowers

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Mother’s Day is a special day to show your mom how much she means to you. While there are many gifts that you can buy for her, nothing says “I love you” more than something made with love and care.

Creating flower arrangements for mom using store bought flowers is a thoughtful and easy way to show your appreciation this Mother’s Day. With just a few supplies and some creativity, you can create beautiful bouquets that are sure to make your mom feel loved and appreciated. With this guide from Better Home & Gardens, you will learn how to make the perfect flower arrangement for Mom that she will cherish forever!

Step 1: Decide on a flower arrangement design.

One way to guide your arrangement is to decide on a color scheme before shopping for flowers. Then, when you go to buy flowers, you know you're picking up colors that work well together. Monochromatic schemes, which show off the variety of different hues of the same color, can be striking. For another high-impact floral design, try complementary colors that will pop against each other.

Step 2: Cut and prepare flowers.

After arriving home with your flowers, you might be tempted to begin arranging right away. However, there are some important steps to take to prepare flowers and make them last longer. First, remove extra leaves and damaged petals from stems. If there are unwanted buds on the same stem as a full flower, cut those off as well. Once the stems are cleaned up, make a fresh diagonal cut to the bottom of the stems. Put the trimmed stems into a vase or bucket of water (this doesn't have to be your final vessel) with cut flower food.

Step 3: Choose a vessel.

When selecting a vase or other container for your arrangement, consider the type of flowers you're using. Tulips typically require the support of a straight-sided vase, for example, while tall branches or top-heavy flowers might need a weighted vessel. Apart from traditional vases, we likes to house flower arrangements in woven baskets for added natural texture. To hold water and keep the flowers in place, line the basket with a plastic container (shop your kitchen cabinets or repurpose plastic water bottles and other packaging). If necessary, fill in with moss around the container to disguise the plastic inside the basket.

Step 4: Prepare your flower vase.

The most important flower arrangement technique doesn't actually involve the flowers—it's all about the vessel you put them in. If the flowers don't have a sturdy foundation, they won't stay in place and your arrangement will end up falling apart. To make sure flowers stay in place, create a grid of floral tape over the mouth of the vase. Stick the stems through the holes of the grid to keep them in place. You can also purchase a floral frog, which is a vessel insert with pins for stems to be stuck into. You can even DIY a floral frog with a small section of chicken wire bent into a ball.

Step 5: Create a base with greenery.

The best way to arrange flowers is to start with greenery as a base. Eucalyptus, ivy, and fern fronds are good greenery go-tos. Use the stems of the greenery to create an inverted triangular shape. This guarantees your arrangement will have both a horizontal and a vertical presence. Also, be sure to recut stems before adding them to the vase.

Step 6: Add focal flowers.

Focal flowers are usually the largest blooms or those with an unusual color or texture. Make sure to add in odd numbers for a more natural (not symmetrical) look. Don't place the focal flowers so they are sticking straight out on the sides: they will look droopy and heavy, rather than strong and perky.

Step 7: Add filler flowers.

Add smaller flowers and textural elements in the arrangement to fill around the focal flowers. Again, don't place all of the supporting flowers straight up or to the sides. You can think of the shape of the arrangement as a dome, and you need to fill in all angles of that dome for it to look complete. Combine smaller flowers in groups of three or five to create clustering, similar to what happens in nature.

Step 8: Finish your flower arrangement.

Finish the design with floaters or delicate blooms like baby's breath, sedum, or yarrow. Put these in last so they don't get squished or buried by heavier blooms. Before displaying, give your finished flower arrangement a light spritz of water to mimic the look of fresh dew. Refill the vase with water as needed to keep the flowers hydrated and fresh.

It’s easy to make your own flower arrangement and personalize it for the mother figure in your life. We hope you can use this idea to create something special this Mother’s Day.

Written by Head Rascal (Ngoc Nguyen Lay), mother of two rascals, ages 8 and 10. Shared from Better Homes & Garden.

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Paper Wreath

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I love the way my home looks during the wintertime. It’s always decorated for the holidays and gives guests a peek into my style and personality. My favorite holiday decorations are wreaths. They add so much color and life to our homes, even during the coldest months, so I figured, why not freshen up our home with a Spring wreath too? You can decorate your home no matter the season and express yourself in a really beautiful way throughout the year. I used Paper Source wreath kits to give a bit of Spring to our door. They have a full collection of wreaths for every season.

Written by Head Rascal (Ngoc Nguyen Lay), mother of two rascals, ages 8 and 10. Photos by Adrienne Gunde Photography. Sponsored by Paper Source.

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Bird Feeders

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During the springtime, all I want to do with my boys is spend time outside. However, it doesn’t take long before my rascals’ attention ends up elsewhere and they want to move on to the next thing. That’s why I try to help them feel a connection with nature wherever I can, and making DIY bird feeders is the perfect way to get them involved, do an earth-friendly activity together, and, hopefully, teach them a couple things along the way.

The best thing about this project is everything you need is either a staple or is easy to come by! It’s also pretty impossible to mess up and it’s fully natural, so you don’t have to worry about any harm coming to the earth or any animals.

Supplies Needed:

  • Pine cone(s)

  • Peanut butter (the thicker the better)

  • Twine

  • Bird seed (I like this wild bird seed)

Instructions:

  1. The first thing you’ll want to do is go for a walk with your rascal(s) to your favorite local park and collect pine cones! There are pine cones everywhere in the parks near my house, so it’s never hard for my rascals to find a few they like. The best ones for this bird feeder are ones that have dried out and are fully open, with lots of nooks and crannies, perfect for bird seed and peanut butter.

  2. Once you have your pine cones, start by tying twine to the tip of them. Make sure you leave enough leftover twine to be able to tie your DIY Bird Feeder to a tree branch.

  3. Next, cover the pine cone in peanut butter. Thicker peanut butter will hold onto bird seed better than thinner, creamier varieties. You can either smooth it on with a butter knife, or let your kids get messy and use their hands. Make sure it gets in all the hidden spaces so it can feed a ton of birds. 

  4. Once your pine cone is coated, pour some wild bird seed on a paper plate, then roll your peanut-butter coated pine cone around until it’s fully covered in seeds. 

  5. Now, have your rascal(s) find the perfect place to hang them. Good spots are high enough that cats can’t reach, and not too deep into a tree for a bird to easily get to. Hang them up, and enjoy all the new bird friends that will now be visiting. If your kids get really into bird watching after this project, consider getting them a guide local to your state so they can identify and learn about the different birds that come to visit. 

Written by Head Rascal (Ngoc Nguyen Lay), mother of two rascals, ages 7 and 10.

New York City Spring Break Trip

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Any parent knows that traveling with kids is never easy. We always find ourselves with a million back up plans, “just in case” supplies, and “what if” worries. Even with all this prepping, life is ultimately out of our control and things can still happen that have the potential to ruin a wonderful trip. It’s at these times, after you’ve exhausted all your backup plans and have no idea what the next step is, that having kids actually makes life easier. They remind you to see everything, even the unexpected bumps in the road, as an adventure.

Our trip home from New York took us thirty-six hours and, the entire time, our boys didn’t complain. Not once. We boarded our plane for almost four hours without taking off before the airline announced that we’d have to deplane and figure out another flight. Our flight was canceled while we were already on it and my boys stayed positive the entire time. Albert and I split up responsibilities, with him in charge of rebooking our flights and finding our luggage and me in charge of making sure we were fed and had a place to sleep. However, the most important role of all was the one Ben and AJ played.

I wanted to take this moment to brag about my kids because they handled the whole situation remarkably. They saw people yelling from all sides: at service workers, at airport staff, at each other. And they never lost it, and, in large part due to Ben and AJ, Albert and I held it together, too. We figured out our flight home. We had to fly into San Francisco rather than going straight home, but we made the best of the unexpected detour. We made it back to LA safely, and my boys were ready to take whatever our trip home threw at us.

I think, had it not been for Ben and AJ’s ability to see everything as an adventure, the whole trip would’ve registered as a bust for me in my memory. But, thanks to my amazing, sweet, endlessly positive little rascals, I am able to feel gratitude for every part of the trip, even the thirty-six hours it took to get home. When remembering the trip, I don’t think of how tired or stressed out we were. I think of my boys being all smiles throughout Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Midtown. I think of them taking their first subway ride and being determined to hail their first taxi. I think of how kind my cousin (Ann) was to watch the boys for an evening so Albert and I could have one night for just the two of us in the city. I think of how my boys were so excited when their dad pointed out a location where the Avengers fought.

Every experience is made brighter with my boys. Even though we teach our kids everything, they still find a way to teach us lessons right back. Ben and AJ taught me the strength in positivity and seeing everything as an adventure. In fact, when we finally got home, they turned to me and asked, “Where are we going next?”

Written by Head Rascal (Ngoc Nguyen Lay), mother of two rascals, ages 7 and 10. Photos from mom’s iPhone and taken from our @hellorascalkids Instagram.

80s Themed Books

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As I watch my kids develop new interests, I always get nostalgic about my own childhood. I found myself feeling disappointed that they wouldn’t get to enjoy the same characters I loved growing up, but then I realized I could introduce these things to my kids. My family and I started having movie nights where we each take turns picking a movie we love and watch it with the whole family. Once someone chooses, you’re not allowed to veto their choice or mope around about it. You watch and support each other’s choice, and maybe even surprise yourself with how much you enjoy it. Ben and AJ have definitely surprised me.

I thought they’d think my choices were too dated, but that wasn’t the case at all. We introduced the 80s to our kids through movies first, and Ben and AJ couldn’t get enough of Gremlins, ET, and Back to the Future. We went to the bookstore afterward to see if we could find any of my old favorite books for the boys, and we stumbled upon something even better. They had the cutest collection of 80s-themed books, and my kids were able to pick up an edition of ET and Back to the Future where the characters were “Funko POP!” illustrations. It was really rewarding to see the boys genuinely interested in reading these books because they reminded them of the movie night we shared.

This experience taught me that you can introduce your kids to anything as long as you give them the chance to decide for themselves if they enjoy it. Never hesitate to share your childhood with your rascals. Whether they share the same interests or not is up to them. My main goal is to give them the opportunity to connect with my childhood in their own way, and the 80s-themed books we found were something we were able to experience for the first time together.

Written by Head Rascal (Ngoc Nguyen Lay), mother of two rascals, ages 7 and 10.

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Furikake Chex Mix Recipe

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Furikake Chex Mix is my all time favorite snack and that is a FACT! My college roommate introduced this Furikake Chex Mix during our annual road trips to Las Vegas. I’ve loved this snack since my college days but have resisted the urge to make that for my boys because I knew the original recipe contains corn syrup and tons of butter. Recently, one of my friends brought me a homemade batch, and, when I finished it, I was sad to have it gone all over again. Then I figured, I’m always trying new recipes - why don’t I give this one a shot?

When I looked at the measurements each recipe called for, I realized that I had stopped myself from learning because I didn’t want my kids to eat that much sugar and butter. But my favorite part about making things yourself is that you can adjust any recipe to fit your needs. It took me a few tries, but I landed on something that I consider a healthy-ish version of Furikake Chex Mix for me and my family.

I do want to warn you that this isn’t a recipe that you throw in the oven and forget about. You need to watch it closely, which is also a big reason I held out for so long in making it myself. But now, I can confidently say, I’m a Chex Mix maker!

I was playing around with other options to create sweetness in this snack. I replaced the corn syrup with maple syrup and a hint of honey. The balance was better and also a healthier replacement. Once I made my perfect batch of Furikake Chex Mix and I got the seal of approval from my kids, I wanted to share my recipe with you. Feel free to adjust any of the measurements to fit your family’s preferences.

INGREDIENTS

  • 6 heaping cups Chex cereal (you could choose from the corn or rice chex options)

  • 2 cups mini pretzels

  • 1/2 cup of pumpkin seeds

  • 1/4 cup butter, melted

  • 1/3 cup pure maple syrup

  • 1 tablespoon of honey

  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce

  • 1/4 teaspoon of salt

  • 1/3 cup furikake

INSTRUCTIONS

  • Preheat oven to 250 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with a silicone mat or parchment paper.

  • In a very large bowl, add the Chex, pretzels, and pumpkin seeds. Stir until well combined.

  • In a small bowl, add the melted butter, maple syrup, soy sauce, and salt. Stir until well combined. Pour over Chex mixture. Stir with a spatula until everything is evenly coated.

  • Then sprinkle the furikake over the mixture. Drizzle the honey on top. Stir until well combined.

  • Spread Chex Mix over the lined pan. Bake for 70-75 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes. Let it cool on the pan completely. It will crisp up more as it cools. Enjoy! Store in an airtight container.

We have some suggestions to customize your Chex Mix. While this recipe is pretty basic, you can use any type of cereal, chips, crackers, or nuts that you’d like! Here are some suggestions:

  • Peanuts

  • Honeycombs

  • Kix

  • Goldfish

  • Bugles

  • Cheez-Its

  • Fritos

This healthier furikake chex mix is addicting, delicious, and the perfect combo of sweet and salty. It's easy to make and the best snack!

Written by Head Rascal (Ngoc Nguyen Lay), mother of two rascals, ages 7 and 10. Photos by Adrienne Gunde Photography.

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Valentine's Cards

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Beyond the excitement of carefully planned date nights, flower arrangements, and chocolate boxes, Valentine’s Day provides the opportunity to illustrate the depth of care to those we love the most. It’s easy for our kids to simply look at this holiday and see the world’s emphasis on money and materialism. For our family, Valentine’s Day’s has a deeper meaning that emphasize a special type of care and love for one another.

It seems like celebrating holidays is becoming more complicated. Keep it simple! We plan on sharing ready-made Valentine’s Day cards with the kids’ classmates. They don’t need to be big and fancy; it is the time and thought behind them that counts. These easy valentines make it fun for our boys to share their love with their friends.

It is also an opportunity to get some extra writing practice in with your rascals. Make it fun and work on them together!

Written by Head Rascal (Ngoc Nguyen Lay), mother of two rascals, ages 7 and 10. Photos by Adrienne Gunde Photography.

Eggs Three Easy Way

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As a mom, I love when my boys develop a taste for foods that are easy, versatile, and can be made ahead of time. Right now, our kids are really into eggs, so I wanted to share our family’s top three ways to make them. These egg dishes are easy, quick, and delicious, so they’re perfect for any parent to try out with their kids.

Soft Boiled Eggs

For us, 6 minutes creates the perfect soft boiled eggs.

  • 5 minutes: liquid yolk with soft, whites not fully set

  • 6 minutes: liquid yolk with fully set whites

  • 7 minutes: jammy yolk with outer edges set

  • 8 minutes: half set yolk

I love soft boiled eggs because you can prepare a big batch over the weekend and have them as a quick breakfast throughout the week.

Muffin Tin Baked Eggs

My favorite recipes are the ones that don’t require me to stand over the stove the entire time. I can just pop these into the oven and wait for them to be ready. Add bread, crack over an egg, then bake for 10-15 minutes at 350°F, until set.

Skillet Egg Casserole

This is definitely one of my favorites because it can be switched up depending on what you’re craving that day or what you have on hand. Feel free to utilize your own go-to ingredients in this one. I like using any leftover deli meat or veggies from the week. Mix all your favorite ingredients and put into a cast-iron skillet. Depending on items you add to your casserole, bake at 350°F for about 25-30 minutes. Make sure your eggs are not runny in the center before removing your skillet from the oven. Let your casserole sit for 10 minutes and then enjoy with your favorite piece of toast or side salad.

If you try any of these recipes with your rascals, we’d love to see it! Tag us on Instagram at @hellorascalkids or #hellorascalkids

Written by Head Rascal (Ngoc Nguyen Lay), mother of two rascals, ages 7 and 10.

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A Cat in Paris

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I’m a sucker for a well-executed theme and the Harmony Tree Venue team did an amazing job with their “A Cat in Paris” design. This concept was such a fun idea, and the design team was able to create such a cute, whimsical set-up for this shoot that would be perfect for any party.

To showcase their event coordination & design services, Grace Eaplin and team decided to put together this style shoots in collaboration with Fleuretica (stylist), Oh Shiny Co. (balloon garlands), LaserdrewLA (backdrops), Becky Yang (backdrop artist), Robbie Lynn Bakes (cakes), Melinda Creates (desserts), and LV Floral Events (florals) and of course, the uber-talented, Herman Au (photography). The Cat in Paris theme, was inspired by their love of cats (and their French attitude), desserts, bread, cheese, and flowers!

Nothing beats a bike ride in Paris with the wind in your hair, the aroma of freshly baked baguettes wafting in the air, an array of colorful bouquets gracing the countless flower shops, and adorable cafes lining the streets with fashionably dressed patrons savoring their morning coffee. Cats, with their usual laissez-faire attitude, complete the scene. To incorporate the cat details without making the theme overly cartoonish, they created little details such as cat logos on the sparkling cider bottles and butter cans for the bread (made to look like cat food), as well as adding cat silhouette coffee cups filled with pink carnations and roses. Then, of course, there were baguettes, croissants, macarons, and our favorite dessert cart, accompanied by the quintessential bicycle with the flourishing florals in the basket. The color palette of blush, black, and a hint of gold is pretty, fresh, and chic, reflecting the scene for a lovely springtime Cat in Paris party!

HARMONY TREE VENUE INFO

Our venue offers a flexible space that includes an indoor playground and can comfortably accommodate up to 60 guests. In addition, the following are available for guests (some have a service charge/add-on fee*): a ping pong table, an air hockey table that can convert to a pool table, an indoor nerf basketball area, an indoor handball area, a Nintendo switch gaming area, projector and screen for movies, Infinity game table which accommodates four players, META Virtual Reality gaming set for four*, and toys as well as board games. Medical grade and high-quality air purifiers are placed in each room and common area.

Private rooms are available for smaller activities and gatherings, as well a studio equipped with a full-length mirror and ballet barre. A kitchen is available for light food prep (no cooking or baking). Our restrooms are handicap accessible and come with low toilets, low urinals, and low sinks for the younger guests. Security cameras are located throughout our facility for safety purposes. Our private parking lot has more than 21 parking spaces, and guests can also access street parking.

Our event coordination & design team can help create the perfect party or gathering and coordinate catering services from surrounding restaurants.

Vendors

Written by Head Rascal (Ngoc Nguyen Lay), mother of two rascals, ages 7 and 9. Sponsor post for Harmony Tree Learning Center.

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Definition of Family

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AJ and Ben always say, “We have so many aunties and uncles!” This is because, when I become close with someone, I introduce them to my rascals as an aunt or uncle. Sometimes, AJ and Ben will ask, “Which aunties and uncles are our real ones?” My husband and I always tell them that they all are. Thinking of our own definition of family and how it may be different from other people’s definition made me want to share what exactly family means to us with our Hello Rascal Kids community.

I know the common saying is, “You can’t choose your family,” but, in my family, we do. For us, family is not defined by biological relatives. We like to think of our family as chosen, and we can add whomever we want. To me, family are the people who are always there for you. Family are the people who show up when someone is having a tough time. They’re the ones who you know you can always count on, no matter the distance or time between seeing each other.

I share this definition of family with my rascals often, and I hope that they keep this meaning of family alive and pass it on for generations to come. Right now, their family is made up of mom and dad’s circle of loved ones, but, as they grow older, they’ll create their own circle of family. As they get older, some of their friends will become family, too.

I choose to share this now because AJ is growing up faster than I could ever imagine. He’s 9 years old, and, while he’s always had his little quirks and characteristics, he’s developing his own personality and turning into his own person. Someday, he’ll be a whole new AJ. I wanted to remind my community and remind myself that our kids will turn into their own human beings and their own people, but a lot of how they turn out is what we as parents have laid in our foundation.

I’m really proud to have laid the foundation of a chosen family for my rascals, and I hope that, one day, I get to reflect and see how much my family has grown with the addition of people that AJ and Ben have chosen to add to our circle.

While this definition of family may not make sense to everyone, it’s what makes sense to us, and I’m happy to have a big, loving, ever-growing chosen family.

Written by Head Rascal (Ngoc Nguyen Lay), mother of two rascals, ages 7 and 9.

Charleston, South Carolina

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Last year we decided on a winter trip before the craziness of the holidays. The boys treated me to an early birthday trip to Charleston, South Carolina. I was torn when it came to writing about it. On the one hand, I love visiting the South. The South is beautiful and easy to fall in love with, and I really wanted to put a guide together for families seeking to visit Charleston. My family and I had a wonderful trip, and I wanted to be able to share that experience with my Hello Rascal Kids community. On the other hand, however, the South is more than a cute, touristy location. It’s easy to be fooled by the cobblestone paths and charm, but, beneath it all, there is a sordid history of enslavement that still impacts the lives of Black Americans today. Charleston was built on the labor of enslaved people, and flourished at the height of Jim Crow laws and KKK violence. It was actually the first place that started the slave trade, and was the slave trade capital when enslavement was legal. Because of this history, I struggled with my family visiting there at all, because I know what it represents. The recognition that we were somewhere different than our diverse SoCal life was almost tangible. We were one of the few Asian families in the city, and I can’t think of a time that has ever happened at home. The history is impossible to ignore, even – no, especially – today. 

However, the way that I valued our visit was by educating myself and my children, and by not shying away from the history as I now share the experience of our visit with my Hello Rascal Kids family. I struggled with this decision, too, because it’s difficult to talk about these things. However, failing to dive into its history and tiptoeing around it is unrealistic, and erases the real experiences of all the people who were immeasurably harmed.

When having these conversations with your children, it can be extremely difficult to know where to start. The truth is, our kids often know more than we give them credit for. I started by simplifying the history lessons that I already knew in my head. I started to talk to them about what the Civil War was, why the Civil War started, and what it means today. To my surprise, AJ had already read things in history books about Charleston, and had talked about these things in class. AJ even had places he wanted to see because of what he read or learned in class. There were so many things I had no idea they knew, and so much more they wanted to know. My boys had questions, and I let them ask those questions. We chose not to visit plantations because that is an aspect that I personally did not want to glamorize for my own family, but, of course, it is up to each family how they decide to take on their visit. 

How you choose to educate your children, yourself, and your family is fully up to you. At the end of the day, we enjoyed our visit to the South, and I’m glad that it served as an outlet to talk with my kids about important and difficult topics in history.

Our family time in Charleston:

Day 1

  • Charleston Waterfront Park

  • Rainbow Row

  • Rodney Scott’s

  • Fort Sumter and Aquarium Landing

  • Charleston City Market

Day 2

  • Drive to Beach town

  • Kings Street for shopping

  • Charles Towne Landing

Day 3

  • Husk for Brunch

  • Stroll down the Shem Creek Boardwalk

  • Cooper River Bridge

  • Sunday stroll on Kings Street

Written by Head Rascal (Ngoc Nguyen Lay), mother of two rascals, ages 7 and 9. (Age during trip 6 and 8). Photos by mom on iphone.

Easy Halloween Decorations for Kids

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How are you decorating for Halloween? I have never been one to be excited about this spooky season, but my kids have changed my tune. I try to make it easy on myself and picked a few items to set the tone without scaring me with the amount of work they require. Below are a few creations we made this season.

Hat Tricks for your Pumpkin

Silly Spooky Door Decoration

Felt Goodies are a Treat not a Trick

If you and your kiddos would like to get into the full decorating spirit, visit Roger’s Garden. We wrote a review of our experience at their Halloween Boutique earlier this month. Shop this post below!

Written by Head Rascal (Ngoc Nguyen Lay), mother of two rascals, ages 7 and 9. Photos by Adrienne Gunde Photography.

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