Funniest Parenting Tweets of the Week

by Jacqui BolandDecember 18, 2017

It’s that time of year, time to overindulge in eggnog and vent about our Holiday parenting frustrations on Twitter! Here are some of our favorite funny parenting tweets of the week. Enjoy!

Just sayin’….

My daughter just asked me how to spell bourbon so she's either asking Santa to hook up her old man or writing a letter to child services.

— Simon Holland (@simoncholland) December 18, 2017

2. Spreading joy this holiday season.

https://twitter.com/2questionable/status/942212466485923840

3. Your secret’s safe with us.

https://twitter.com/CelebrityChez/status/941787052751941632

4. As long as you can afford the therapy they’ll need as teens.

Does telling your kids that their Elf on the Shelf went out for a pack of smokes and never came back make you a bad mom?

Asking for a friend.

— TheMotherOctopus (@MotherOctopusKJ) December 16, 2017

5. Every. Year.

*watches children joyfully decorate tree*

*twitches*

*joyfully redecorates tree so ornaments are evenly spaced*

— cathryn 💚🇨🇦 (@AngryRaccoon2) December 16, 2017

6. Tomato, to-mah-to.

I call it "creating a winter wonderland." The store manager says I "unzipped all the bean bag chairs." Either way, he's escorting me out

— Mave (@MavenofHonor) December 17, 2017

7. Nothing like tradition.

One Christmas tradition we have is when a roll of tape runs out we keep the empty with all of the wrapping paper so it frustrates everyone.

— Simon Holland (@simoncholland) December 12, 2017

8. If only it worked.

I'm at the point where just putting on workout clothes feels like cardio

— Gloria Fallon (@GloriaFallon123) December 15, 2017

9. The horror!

https://twitter.com/ValeeGrrl/status/940737463101874178

10. We call it a conspiracy.

I’m not saying it’s a conspiracy, but I’m pretty sure our parents downplayed how hard parenting is just so we’d give them grandchildren.

— Mommy Owl (@Mommy__Owl) December 17, 2017

The Best Holiday Treats You Can Only Get In LA

by Shannon GuytonNovember 10, 2014

‘Tis the season for holiday sweets! It’s the time of the year where you can—where you must, really—indulge yourself and your kids with seasonal goodies. January is for turning over a new leaf. December is for eating the whole yule log. Therefore, we’ve rounded up the best treats you can only find in L.A. that will satisfy your winter sweet tooth.

photo credit: Mimi P. via yelp

La Mousse Desserts, Sawtelle
You may have indulged in Le Mousse’s delectable pastries and cakes in coffee shops around L.A. or at the Nordstrom Cafe. But you can also get your goodies directly from the source in their bakery warehouse. For the holidays, dig into fan faves like their Christmas log cakes, pumpkin cupcakes and cheesecakes.

11162 La Grange Ave, West LA
Phone: 310-478-6051
Online: lamoussedesserts.com

photo credit: bigsugarbakeshop.com

Big Sugar Bake Shop
Home of the first doughnut muffin and rated #19 on Food and Wine’s list of best cupcakes in all of America, Big Sugar has an extensive holiday menu including molasses cookie sandwiches, gingerbread people, dogs and cats, Hanukkah decorated cupcakes and peppermint brownies. All those individual portions are perfect for school (or home) holiday parties.

12182 Ventura Blvd., Studio City (there’s also a location in Downtown LA)
Phone: 818-508-5855
Online: bigsugarbakeshop.com

photo credit: Porto’s Bakery via twitter

Porto’s
No L.A. treats list would be legit without Porto’s, ranked #5 on Yelp’s list of best restaurants in the country. People drive from everywhere to taste the deliciousness served here, and for the holidays Porto’s doesn’t disappoint with Christmas logs, and our favorite, the Christmas Tiramisu.

3614 West Magnolia Boulevard, Burbank (plus locations in Glendale and Downey)
Phone: 818-846-9100
Online: portosbakery.com

photo credit: Myrna Litt via flickr

Disneyland/California Adventure
What do you get when you combine the happiest place on earth with the happiest time of year? Tons of adorably happy sweets, is what. From caramel apple snowmen to homemade candy canes to hot cocoa served in Santa-themed Mickey cups, it might take a week at Disney to try them all (good luck!).

1313 S. Disneyland Drive, Anaheim
Phone: 714-520-5060
Online: disneyparks.disney.go.com

photo credit: Sweet Rose Creamery via facebook

Sweet Rose Creamery
Who loves eggnog, raise their hands! How about eggnog ice cream? Then up the ante with an eggnog ice cream pie with a spiced ginger cookie crust with a dash of nutmeg! Other Sweet Rose holiday hits are the malted chocolate hazelnut pie made with chocolate malt ice cream and caramel sauce, and the peppermint sundaes made with brownie bits, hot fudge, and homemade peppermint crunch candy. Only in LA is ice cream actually a seasonally appropriate holiday treat, so take advantage of tasty cool treats. In fact, celebrate with an extra scoop.

826 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica (plus locations in Brentwood and Mid-City)
Phone: 310-260-2663
Online: sweetrosecreamery.com

photo credit: Semi Sweet Bakery via instagram

Semi Sweet Bakery
Known for their “ding-a-lings” (basically a grown-up version of the Hostess ding-dong), and the originators of the “crullant” (a French culler combined with a croissant), during the holidays Seme Sweet knocks both out of the park when they transform them into holiday themed sweets. They also offer lemon sugar cookies you can have customized with a name. Come early in the day for the biggest selection.

105 E. 6th St., Los Angeles
Phone: 213-228-9975
Online: semisweetbakery.com

photo credit: Sweetesbakeshop.com

Sweet E’s Bake Shop
Sign up to decorate a gingerbread house at Sweet E’s Bake Shop and have an interactive treat that involves the whole family. Bonus, keep the gummy candy and frosting off your floor at home. But if you can’t make one of their class times, you can order a gingerbread house or gingerbread man decorating kit that includes everything you need to decorate the most adorable abode or people you’ve ever seen. Too busy for that? They also make them all decorated for you to bring home for your holiday party and just enjoy and then eat! (Comes in house or mansion, because this is LA.)

1417 S. Robertson Blvd., Los Angeles
Phone: 323-422-8885
Online: sweetesbakeshop.com

-Shannon Guyton

And we didn’t even mention that yearly addiction, the Eggnog Latte! What’s your holiday-themed sweet fix?

10 Adorable English Bulldogs That Will Love You Forever

by Tinybeans TeamDecember 7, 2013

What’s not to love about these unfortunate-looking creatures? Yes, English Bulldogs will snore, drool, and stink up every room in your house, but that’s just a small price to pay for the their unconditional love. So this holiday season, give one of these chubby cuddle-monsters a chance (and maybe a forever home). Here are 10 adorable bullies to help convince you.

10) Georgia Bulldog

Weather it’s swimming, rock climbing, or slogging through the snow, there’s nothing too daunting for this adventurous pup.

Twitter: twitter.com/GeorgiaLynneBC

9) Giggsy

Giggsy is a gentle giant, who loves kids, especially his new baby brother.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/giggsypop

8) Ser Harry Winston of Barkingham

Ser Harry Winston of Barkingham loves to cuddle. Check out some of his more active videos on his youtube channel.

7) Rocky

Speaking of cuddling, it doesn’t get much cozier than this melty, pillow-dog.

6) Eggnog AKA Noggin’

Don’t forget to enjoy some sweet Eggnog this holiday season (the drink or the Instagram sensation).

Instagram: instagram.com/eggnogthebulldog

5) Sergeant

Every day is an adventure for Sergeant, the outdoor-loving Instagram celeb.

Instagram: instagram.com/sgt_bulldog

4) Jack

Just look at the rolls on this little lump!

3) Indiana

This little guy is always getting into mischief. He hates baths and loud noises but loves to snuggle.

Twitter: twitter.com/IndianaBulldog

2) Lord Roscoe

Lord Roscoe Stanley Cuppington is always ready for an adventure, after nap time of course.

Twitter: twitter.com/lord_roscoe

1) jelly_pp

jelly_pp is arguably the most adorable, hilarious, share-worthy bulldog channel on the Internet. We can’t get enough of these 4 chubby bullies and we bet you won’t be able to either.

Instagram: instagram.com/jelly_pp

Explore: Solano Ave, Part Two

by Jacqui BolandSeptember 24, 2009

Explore

Solano Ave, Part Two
The perfect antidote to the mall–the Albany end of Solano Avenue, bordered on the west by San Pablo Avenue, is known as the Kids’ Block and is packed with child-friendly (not to mention wallet-friendly) stores. Gently worn, super-stylish secondhand goods can be picked up at Hannah’s Children’s Resale and Solano Kids Resale, and new togs (some at ridiculously low sample prices) fill the racks at Sweet Potatoes. The crave-worthy toys and gifts at Five Little Monkeys will be finding their way onto many a holiday wish list. But our favorite idea is putting together a private yoga class for your little one and some friends at Yoga for Life; classes start at $45 for up to four kids, $10 a child after that. Any good retail stretch worth its salt has tea houses, coffee shops, and places to grab a bite lining its sidewalks. Solano’s no exception–we like to steer our broods into the family-run Walker’s Pie Shop where all the baked goodies are made fresh in-house each day. The seasonal flavor to try this month is eggnog pie, of course! If you’re in the neighborhood this weekend, don’t miss the holiday park lighting at 4 p.m. on Saturday at the corner of Solano and Key Route. And next month, Dec. 6-7 and 13-14, Santa will be visiting the Albany Chamber of Commerce. Stop by for a free photo with Santa, plus popcorn and treats! www.solanoavenueassn.org

P.S. Fallen in love with the neighborhood and want to spread the word? There are Solano Ave. gift certificates available at Five Little Monkeys-perfect stocking stuffers for friends and family.

More to Explore (with kiddies in tow):

Solano, Part 1

Hyde Street Pier and Aquatic Park

the Presidio and Crissy Field

Farmer’s Market & China Camp State Park

Marin Organic, U-Pick

Elmwood

Presidio Heights

Lakeshore

Larkspur’s Magnolia Street

Mt Tam and the West Point Inn

San Francisco’s Bernal Heights

Berkeley’s Fourth Street

Seattle’s Waterfront

by Jacqui BolandSeptember 23, 2009

Explore: Seattle’s WaterfrontSeattle kids, things to do with kids in Seattle, Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond

Once again, you overdid it with the fruitcake and eggnog, and the kids have set an all-time record on how quickly they’ve tired of their gifts. Sounds like everyone needs an outing. Destination? Pier-hopping on Seattle’s Waterfront. Friday is the kickoff for The Winter Fishtival at the Seattle Aquarium, Pier 59, where kids can do crafts, hear stories and learn about the aquarium’s various sea animals in a special program. Afterward, hit the Carousel at Seattle Waterfront Arcade, on Pier 57, where you can also play a game of Ice Ball and get a family pic in one of the vintage photo machines. Feed the entire nest at Red Robin on Pier 55, where can also visit Frankly Sweets for a take-home goody bag of saltwater taffy. Or, head to Pier 54 for a steamin’ bowl of chowder from the historic Ivar’s Original Acres of Clams. A final gift this holiday weekend: waterfront parking is free on Saturday and Sunday at Watermark Garage (1108 Western Ave.) and Hillclimb Court Garage (1422 Alaskan Way).

More to Explore:

Downtown Redmond

Downtown Bellevue/ Bellevue Magic

34th Street in Madrona

Downtown Woodinville

Downtown Magnolia

Downtown Ballard

Wallingford’s 45th St.

Bainbridge Island/Downtown Winslow