Vanilla Moon Bakery – 872 Laurel St, San Carlos/650-593-3015

Who needs a bowl of cheerios for breakfast when cupcakes and coffee are suweet!

Popular Drink: If you’re in a hurry grab their traditional latte made with Caffe del Doge Italian coffee. It’s a classic.

Unique Drink: Calling all chocoholics. The café mocha is made with fresh ground chocolate shavings and Italian espresso. The rich and creamy flavors from this cup of joe would make even Willy Wonka lick his lips.

Food: Pastries, cupcakes, cookies, scones are all available.

Seating: Indoor/outdoor seating.

Ambience/Clientele: A great place to catch up with friends over a latte and pastry or take your little one for a special treat. The warmth from the rich purple walls, bursting hydrangeas on counter tops and soft Italian music make this a delish environment.

Extra/Notes: The cupcake menu may vary depending on the season and the whims of the pastry chefs. You never know what new creation she will unveil. If you’re in downtown San Carlos on a Thursday, be sure to drop by this family-owned café and enjoy a chocolate-covered hi hat with an espresso. The hi hat is an old-fashioned bakery specialty. You’ll understand why once you take a bite. Free Wi-Fi available.

My seven-year-old informed me that it’s not cool for me to read books or play games with him. My youngest is more interested in shadowing his brother than hanging with me. My life is no longer consumed with diapers, crying babies or sleepless nights. The time has come to “on-ramp,” aka go back to work. I stumbled across an ad for freelance writers to review their favorite “drinkeries.” Thirsty? SF, published by Hungry City Guides, is a dining and drinking guide. It will make its debut later this year . Here’s a taste of what I’ve been up to.

TOWN – 716 Laurel Street, San Carlos/650-595-3003

This local hot spot gives its sleepy suburb a jolt.

Popular Drink: Get ready to pucker for a mouth-watering Lemon Drop. Fresh ingredients mixed with hand-squeezed Meyer lemons makes this drink ripe for drinking.

Unique Drink: Looking for romance? The Passion Fruit Martini is a mixture of fresh squeezed juices and fresh fruit puree that drives the natives wild.

Food: Chops, steak and seafood

Seating: indoor/outdoor seating. Traditional steak house with sophisticated leather booths, chef’s-counter seating and circular bar.

Ambience/Clientele: Sophisticated diners mixed with the local hipsters make for a high-energy and fun social scene. The place is loud, but no one seems to mind. The energy, décor, smiles and cheers from happy employees make it worthwhile.

Extra/Notes: This is the only restaurant in sleepy San Carlos that will be hoppin’ past 10:30pm. Oh and men, watch out! You might get cougared.

LISA’S TEA TREASURES – 1175 Merrill Street, MPK/650-322-5544

Pirates beware. Lisa’s Tea Treasures is a girly girl’s fantasy.

Popular Drink: The traditionalist will want to try a cup of Royal Wedding tea. Marry it with a lemon-buttered tea biscuit and you have a perfect romance.

Unique Drink: On a diet? Enjoy a backlash with the Butter Truffle tea. The locals say it’s like eating a box of cookies.

Food: Scones, tea sandwiches, petite fours are all available.

Seating: Do I hear tinker bell? Guests are seated in elegant armchairs at linen-clothed tables dressed with china, silverware and a small silver bell to ring for service.

Ambience/Clientele: Soft glow of vintage lamps along with warm and friendly smiles make this a magical place. You’ll find guests both young and old at this quaint and cozy tea salon.

Extra/Notes: For a special treat, consider taking your favorite little one for their first tea. The menu will peak their interests. The cherished friend may find a trip to Lisa’s the perfect gift as she enjoys teas from far corners of the world and meanders through their gift parlour.

TOKIE’S – 1058 Shell Blvd, Foster City/650-570-6609

This Japanese restaurant has a face behind its name that dates back to 1955.

Popular Drink: What would fresh sushi be without a maverick sake? Ask for the Kurosawa, unfiltered cold sake.

Unique Drink: Try Hana Awaka for a unique twist on sake. It’s sweet, bursting with bubbles and tastes like sparkling champagne.

Food: Traditional Japanese cuisine, appetizers, fresh sushi and homemade desserts.

Seating: Indoor seating, sushi bar and Tatami room.

Ambience/Clientele: Authentic décor, warm smiles and a relaxed atmosphere make this restaurant a hidden gem. Don’t be surprised if you bump into local talent or diners who come from far and wide.

Extra/Notes: The mild-mannered owner, Tokie, has been perfecting her dream for more than 50 years. Her homemade desserts are mouthwatering. Her sushi chefs are friendly, conversational and can recommend the best sake. They’ll even make their own creative sushi dishes, if you ask!

I’m rushing to get dinner in the oven when my seven-year-old runs into the kitchen with a news flash.

“The water in the toilet bowl went high and then it went low, and stayed low.”

I promptly made a mental note which I promptly forgot and continued with my evening routine. About an hour later, I hear what sounds like a gentle trickling of water. I rush to the boys bathroom and find a sea of toilet water on the bathroom floor.

Note to self: always listen to your kids.

When I walked into her office I could hear the classical music playing. I couldn’t help notice the care and detail that went into the decor of her studio. It was calming. Then a sharp pain struck my body as a grim reminder of why I was there.

I needed help. I was suffering from two stress fractures and nerve damage in my foot. Lucky for me, I was in the right place.

I’m not alone. Whether they are professional athletes, weekend warriors or couch potatoes, millions of Americans experience injuries at some point in their lives. Many health-care professionals devote their careers to healing the injured. Erica Gould stands out among them.

Gould is a seasoned Physical Therapist and owner of Studio Physical Therapy located in downtown San Carlos. With more than 24 years of experience, Erica utilizes manual therapy, specially designed exercises and equipment to rehabilitate and to help patients regain or improve their physical abilities.

“I have suffered with back pain for over seven years,” said Cindy Gallagher, patient of Studio Physical Therapy. “After working with Erica, my back pain is gone. She has compassion, intelligence and a real love for her work. She is a true healer and extremely educated on spinal problems,” explains Cindy.

With a Master’s Degree in Physical Therapy from Stanford University, Erica’s formal training began at St. Mary’s Medical Center. During her 15-year-tenure at St. Marys she specialized in orthopedics with a primary emphasis in treating patients with complex spinal problems.

“My training as a spine therapist has made me more detailed oriented with how I approach my patients and their injuries,” says Gould.

Her rehabilitation program includes utilizing the reformer, a pilates-based exercise machine, as well as state-of-the- art exercise equipment: elliptical trainer, upright bike, arm bike, treadmill, free weights, bosu and exercise balls.

“The key elements to physical therapy are reducing inflammation, stretching and strengthening,” says Gould. “If all these are done correctly a patient can recover more quickly,” adds Gould.

An individualized approach to each patient, a depth of knowledge and an understanding of injuries make Erica Gould a star among physical therapy professionals.

Like millions of Americans we are all struggling to keep our heads afloat. No one wants to loose their job … well that is, except for me. I’ve been working at the same job for nearly eight years now. I was hired on with no experience and thrown into the deep end immediately. Fortunately I know how to swim and caught on quickly. Lately though, I’m ready for a job transfer. My days are full of angry employees shouting at me and at each other. There are two workers in particular who have become physically and verbally abusive toward one another. Often times I’ll find my employees crying.

Heck, I want to cry myself. I want to blow my stack! Fortunately, there are times when everyone gets along and the day zips by. What’s my job? A stay-at-home mom. My subordinates: two sons, ages seven and four.

Luckily nothing stays the same. Kids always push the limit, have high expectations and challenge their parents daily. That’s the way it should be. Hopefully, I’ll learn from my mistakes of today and do a better job tomorrow.

The art of air hockey, by Dylan and Jack.

The game begins.

Dylan takes position.

Jack protects his goal, "D" shoots ...

Jack strikes back ...

The puck goes flying, shoots off the kitchen wall and ... well after that it's mayhem.

Good old fashion fun!

Elves have wrapped 1,600 presents
Christmas is full of fun
I love presents I really want them
Santa is arriving in 10 days
Santa is a nice man so I want to thank him
We love to decorate and put ornaments on the treee
I love getting Christmas trees
Santa’s reindeers have to rest for three weeks after Christmas

Christmas 2009

1980s classic.

I was your typical San Fernando “valley girl.” I lived for the sun, the beach, the boys, and “like OMG” to party. When I was 20 I moved into my dad’s house after a falling out with my mom. As a second year student in college, my life revolved around which night club my friends and I were going to rave at for the weekend.

Then my world changed, forever.

I was sitting at our kitchen table one sunny afternoon when my dad walked in and said those defining words. He said, “Nancy, what do you want to do with your life?” When silence filled the room, my father spoke again. “You have a choice, you can either join the U.S. Coast Guard or find an internship.” My mouth fell open.

Space Shuttle Main Engine

Somehow I landed a writing internship at Rocketdyne, an aerospace company located in Canoga Park, CA. At the time, Rocketdyne built the Space Shuttle Main Engines (SSME). I wrote stories about their employees from machinists to corporate executives to an engineer who was trying out for the U.S. Olympic diving team. Not only were the employees interesting, but I found the product fascinating. It was a critical time for the Space Exploration Program. In 1986 everyone watched in horror as the Shuttle Challenger exploded 73 seconds into its flight.

During the two years that followed Rocketdyne prepared for the Space Shuttle Discovery, known as the “Return To Flight” mission. The media swarmed the test site each time Rocketdyne would ignite the SSME. I was eager to join when my boss asked me to tag along . It was like watching a volcano erupt. For me, it was an epic experience.

Since then, I’ve been writing off and on for the past 20 years. I’ve veered off course a few times, but always seem to come back.

So here I am. After another long break, I’m back again. I guess it’s either this or making that phone call to the U.S. Coast Guard.

It’s that time of year when my mailbox begins to fill with holiday cards. First a trickle, then a flood as Christmas Day approaches.

I enjoy the glimpse into my friends lives. However, I find it interesting that I see more of my physical therapist than those that I love. Hmmm.

Regardless, I’m eager to open up each card and see how kids have grown, what long-lost friends have been up to and how they have chosen to display a snap shot of their lives.

The pressure mounts for our family holiday card. I don’t have the “perfect” shot of the kids nor have I come up with clever words to showcase our lives on a creative and stylish card. What to do? I may be forced to send out a traditional holiday card with a hand-written personal note. Gasp!

Maybe next year my little “stable elf” will whip up some Christmas magic and come up with a fantabulous  photo ahead of time.

As the economic crisis continues my husband and I have joined the millions in our country who are cutting household costs and reducing spending. We’ve slashed extras like: dinning out, babysitting, lavish holiday gifts, vacations and so on. 

Call me crazy, but humor gets me through times like these. Are these money saving tips too extreme?

1. Feed your children once a day. It reduces cost and the struggle to get them to eat.

2. Tell little Joey that Santa has accepted early retirement.

3. Don’t fight the shoe battle. Let them go to school without shoes.

4. To celebrate your child’s birthday invite the neighborhood animals instead of their friends. Tell your son or daughter it will be much more fun than renting a bounce house.

5. For Christmas this year, wrap fruits and vegetables as unique and charming gifts for your little ones.

6. Skip the designer hair cut and ask your four-year-old to play “hair stylist”.

All joking aside my wish for this holiday season is that the new year brings us hope and a new beginning to our financial woes.