gurumommy – for in the know moms

cafe gratitude

by gurumommy on June 11, 2013

A friend finally got me to try Cafe Gratitude (recently opened in Venice), also have locations in Hollywood & near San Fran. This packed location on Rose in Venice stands up to its ‘culty’ status for vegan, ‘feel-good’ food. All the dishes have names to make you thankful you can eat here or be alive to eat (or some sort of ‘gratitude’ for life!) Being brand new to their menu I tried the ‘I am pure salad’, and ‘I am terrific’ kale chips. Not sure I felt either after but the food was good, and the space in Venice is really cool. Everything is made from fresh fruits, vegetables, seeds, nuts and whole grains.

Next step is trying to get my kids to like it, baby steps!

Cafe Gratitude/Venice
512 Rose Ave
Venice, CA 90291
Phone: 424.231.8000

Cafe Gratitude/Larchmont
639 N. Larchmont Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90004
Phone 323.580.6383

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lena wald giveaway

June 4, 2013

My favorite jeweler (and local mom), Lena Wald (she single-handedly created the diamond initial earrings!) is having a cool Spring Bling Pinterest Contest To enter the “Lena Wald Spring Bling” Contest: 1) Follow Lena Wald’s account on Pinterest by clicking on FOLLOW ALL. Entrant must follow all boards. 2) Pin 3 of your favorite items from [...]

Fresh Dish Home-your affordable personal chef

May 21, 2013

Family friends came over for dinner this past Friday night, which normally, following a full day of work and shuttling the kids (in traffic!) to and from activities, would have sent me into a panic. But I was lucky enough to have found an amazing new service FRESH DISH – kind of an “Uber for [...]

anne sisteron jewelry

May 7, 2013

Mothers Day is fast approaching and if your family is anything like mine you haven’t bought your gifts yet (even if you are forced to buy for yourself!) I recently discovered this great jewelry designer, Anne Sisteron, a local LA mom of 2 kids with great taste (and price points!) and can’t get enough [...]

Meant 2 Be

April 23, 2013

A friend told me about this amazing new kids store in Tarzana that is worth a visit, Meant 2 Be carries all the latest and greatest for kids (infant infant up to age 16). The owner, Nicole, is amazing, she knows everything about kids fashion. She will be carrying all the latest [...]

FEED Body & Soul

April 9, 2013

A friend told me about FEED Body & Soul, the recently opened Venice all-organic restaurant, she couldn’t stop raving! FEED bills itself as a lifestyle restaurant inspired by their belief that eating well can be a daily indulgence. Open from 7am-11pm, their California-style menu is one with integrity and menu offerings are comprised of the [...]

tacos punta cabras

March 12, 2013

This taco place is not to be missed!! Tacos Punta Cabras a micro cantina in Santa Monica has the most amazing tacos, tostadas, and cocteles. Made-to-order corn hybrid tortillas with fresh fish battered in tempura and topped with citrus cabbage slaw. Tostadas (scallop, shrimp, or cauliflower) with creamy cashew salsa or fluffy pineapple habanero, [...]

baked by melissa mini of the month club

March 5, 2013

Baked by Melissa has taken over NY by storm (9 locations!), their mini cupcakes (the size of a quarter, in the most amazing flavors) are literally THE best I have ever had! Assume it’s just a matter of time until they open up around the nation, but until then, you can join mini of the [...]

The Care & Keeping of You 2

February 26, 2013

The Care & Keeping of You 2 from American Girl has finally been revised! I am so proud to say by our very own ‘local’ mom, pediatrician (and friend of gurumommy!) Cara Natterson. Best yet she has written an edition for older girls. This book is a must for ALL girls and now separates them [...]

Doxie

February 5, 2013

It seems all I do these days is scan documents from my printer to my computer so that I can email them and use them on my computer (the days of faxes coming to an end it seems). Doxie takes your computer and printer completely out of the picture. It is so cool, Doxie is [...]

homemade valentines day cards for school

January 22, 2013

I don’t know about you, but every year I wonder isn’t there an easier way to do this school Valentines thing (or maybe just ban them?) Ok, so short of the ‘banning’ thing (which my kids would be very upset to hear I mentioned), how can this be simplified and/or not so “comercialized”? I found [...]

Trivet

January 20, 2013

I have found probably the best mommy helper ever! It’s Trivet.me, ‘the everyday home chef’. Basically it is a kitchen helper service, the photo is their sublime lemon chicken and roasted greenbeans they cooked for my family last week! You pick the day, time, and meal, and a chef comes to your house with all [...]

the little host

January 15, 2013

The Little Host is your single source for elegant yet simple ways for celebrating your child’s milestones. From invitations to favor bags, coordinating décor elements, how-to tutorials, plus the perfect party set-up guide, they’ve done it all for you without the party planner price. They provide perfected tools to create memorable celebrations with ease so [...]

Vent Care

January 8, 2013

Once the weather turns cold and the heat kicks on, your home starts to get dry and static electricity arrives once again. Recently my neighbor’s house caught on fire and could have burned down because their ductwork hadn’t been cleaned out! Who knew?! According to The Consumer Product Safety Commission, ( CPSC ), annually there are [...]

new years resolutioins

January 1, 2013

Top New Years Resolutions Sit down to dinner together Stop overscheduling Unplug once a week Go hiking, biking or swimming. Create a special arts and crafts project. Cook a meal together as a family. Set aside a couple of hours for reading time. Visit the home of family or friends. Do some spring cleaning. Draw, [...]

happy holidays

December 25, 2012

From my family to yours, here’s wishing you a happy & healthy holidays and new year!! Thank you for all your loyal support!

poppies & peonies

December 19, 2012

Poppies & Peonies is a new and exciting flower deliver and design venture in Los Angeles that brings beautiful flowers to your home and for your special occasions. They will make your party unique with alluring tablescapes, and creative party decor. Whether you’re having an intimate dinner party, baby shower, bar/bat mitzvah or a holiday [...]

Jack’s Wholesale Candy & Toy Company

December 11, 2012

I finally found the BEST candy store in all of L.A., Jack’s Wholesale Candy & Toy Company sells American and Mexican candies, chocolates, chips, snacks, novelty candy and toys, sodas, vending supplies, pinatas and bulk candy buffet supplies at the best wholesale prices in Los Angeles! It’s not glamorous shopping, so beware, but you can do an entire [...]

tiny prints – let them do all the work

December 4, 2012

Holiday Cards Reminder! Order from Tiny Prints now, it seems like every day they have a discount offer that expires in 24 hours. The BEST feature has to be their address book, you upload all your addresses and not only do they address the cards but they also mail them so it is literally one-stop [...]

Trapeze School New York

November 27, 2012

Looking for something fun to do with your kids over the holidays? Trapeze School New York on the Santa Monica Pier is about as much fun as it looked on that Sex & the City episode! They have 2 hour classes ($47.00) offered every day but they fill up quick so call now to book [...]

trina turk sample sale

November 6, 2012

If you are up for a road trip, Trina Turk is having a MAJOR sample sale in Alhambra this Friday & Saturday (November 9th and 10th). It’s literally a warehouse sale of the most major proportions, everything from Trina Turk, from women’s clothing to home accessories, they even have mens! Trina Turk Sample Sale, 3025 [...]

Ringya smartphone app

October 30, 2012

This Iphone App, Ringya, (also available for Android) is really cool and super helpful. It literally takes all your ‘hard-copy’ contact lists (class lists, baby groups, work contacts, sport teams, etc.) and transforms them into into organized, sharable, digital lists. Just snap a picture of a paper list or email the app a digital version [...]

MILK Ice Cream Gift Bags

October 23, 2012

‘Tis the season, of Dinner parties?! I feel like October is the start of parties! School parties, dinner parties and holiday parties all start this time of year. Gurumommy is always on the lookout for great hostess gifts, I recently found MILK’s Limited Edition Ice Cream Gift Bag, that can be reused on the soccer [...]

Tint Haircolor

October 18, 2012

If you are anything like me, you never seem to have time to make hair color appointments?! If I hadn’t tried it myself I too would be suspicious but my own colorist couldn’t tell the difference between her root cover-up and that at TINT, ‘the only no appointment necessary hair color only studio’. Just like [...]

dylan’s candy bar

August 28, 2012

Dylan’s Candy Bar is finally open in L.A. at the Original Farmers Market on the corner of Third and Fairfax. The design of the 2,500-square-foot store incorporates candy including candy topiaries at the store’s entrance, larger-than-life peppermint columns and candy button tables transporting customers to a modern day Candy Land. Like the New York City [...]

LockerLookz – cool

August 21, 2012

Totally on the hunt for cool back-to-school stuff, I stumbled on these locker decorating kits from LockerLookz.com(sold together or individually). They make even the smallest locker cool & different! Especially the locker chandelier that turns on by motion sensor. Totally pinterest & instagram-worthy pictures of the coolest lockers out there!

bouchon bistro sunday suppers

August 14, 2012

Don’t miss Dinner and a Movie Screening in Beverly Hills featuring Bouchon Bistro Sunday Night Suppers(5:30-9:30pm) through the end of August. Next up, August 19th, Fish & Chips inspired dinner; August 26th features Bouchon’s famous Buttermilk Fried Chicken served with coleslaw, creamy mac & cheese, cornbread & honey butter (reservations recommended). Plus, at 8pm the [...]

gurumommy on vacation

August 7, 2012

Happy end of summer! Gurumommy is taking a much-needed vacation before the kids come home and school starts again! enjoy the end of summer, it’ll be over in a blink of an eye!

CityTarget opens in Westwood

July 31, 2012

The day has finally arrived, the first Westside Target (and first City Target, urban city, smaller Target Stores) is opening! Taking the place of the former Home Depot Expo in Westwood, the 98,000 square-foot store will be in the same shopping center as Best Buy and Ralphs. Woohoo! CityTarget 10861 Weyburn, LA 90024

diddy riese cookies – westwood

July 24, 2012

For those of us who didn’t grow up in LA the ‘myth’ of Diddy Riese Cookies remains a mystery. Ok, so they are really inexpensive cookies (3 for $1.00) some brave mom always brings to a school event (brave because she’s willing to stand in those lines!) But what’s up? The lines are unbelieveable for [...]

Duff’s Cakemix open in West Hollywood – They bake, you create

July 17, 2012

OMG, can’t wait for my kids to get home from camp to try out Cakemix in West Hollywood. Food Networks, Ace of Cakes’ star Duff Goldman bakes his world famous cakes and gives you everything to decorate them under the guidance of his talented team at Cakemix. You get to: 1. Pick your canvas (buttercream [...]

Lorna Jean workout wear

July 10, 2012

I must admit I was quite skeptical about this new workout wear,Lorna Jean, from Australia. I mean, who needs anything besides Lululemon? I do! Lorna Jean is different enough from Lululemon that you don’t look like everyone else, but with the same quality. I started with the 7/8 Tight and the Twister Crop top, love [...]

zipper bracelets

July 3, 2012

Summer is always the time that I seem to find all the fun, new cool trendy stuff my kids bring back from overnight camp. This year I know these zipper bracelets are going to be the hottest things, can’t find them anywhere but at Beebee Designs in New Jersey right now, so get them while [...]

bricoLA

June 26, 2012

BricoLA, a colorful new pizza joint has been open for about 2 months on Montana Ave. in Santa Monica. Every time we order from there it is ready fast & yummy! My kids especially love the pasta bolognese. Only one thing could make this place better, comfortable seating so we don’t always have to takeout! [...]

Casemate ID credit card case for iPhone

June 19, 2012

A friend bought me this cool iPhone case that has a small slot for a credit card & ID on the back and I can’t believe I hadn’t seen it before. Since everyone is asking me where I got it, thought I would post it here, from CASEMATE. There are several types you can buy, [...]

J Brand Factory Outlet Sale

June 12, 2012

I know I have shared my love for the JBrand Factory Outlet in Los Angeles before but so many readers consistently ask me for the info again & again I just had to post their latest sale, especially because if you are lucky you can find this very seasons must have hot colors & patterns [...]

made with love and kisses fun camp stuff

June 5, 2012

My kids love these pillows I ordered from this fun site, madewithloveandkisses.com, they take the blankets, pj bottoms & now pillows practically everywhere with them (including camp!) This years fuzzy flurry pink movie time square pillow seems to be everyone’s new favorite. Be sure to order early so you get them in time for camp!For [...]

Tattly Designy Temporary Tattoos

May 29, 2012

I don’t know about you but I am so sick of the tattoos my kids insist on wearing up & down their arms that they get from parties and the dentist office. So when I saw Tattly Designy Temporary Tattoos I thought, why fight it? They are so darn cute! Check out their site & [...]

sprinkles ice cream opens this week

May 22, 2012

Sprinkles is opening their first ever ice cream shop right next door to their original Beverly Hills location! Their ice cream will be hand-crafted American ice cream using only the finest ingredients, staying in line with the Sprinkles philosophy. Scooped into crisp waffle cones, pressed between fluffy cupcake tops or piled high into sundaes topped [...]

Tracking your kids on Instagram

May 15, 2012

Are your kids instagramming (a very cool photo sharing app that has a cute little Polaroid camera for its icon)? You may not realize that they can instagram from any device with WiFi. Even if you set down the rules: don’t follow anyone you don’t know, don’t let anyone follow you that you don’t know, [...]

SPOIL MOM – Last chance for flowers!

May 11, 2012

Before it’s too late, Teleflora is offering a last-minute discount on flowers for mom! Just enter the code SPOILMOM at checkout and get 25% off now!

Kidville opens

May 8, 2012

Kidville, the #1 place for families with young children, has finally made its way to LA! Named ‘Best of’ by New York Magazine, the Kidville concept started when a NY mom found herself carrying her baby and stroller down a long flight of stairs for her child’s first music class. “There must be a better [...]

hotdeals giveaway LENA WALD earrings

May 1, 2012

In honor of mothers day, we are offering my favorite, favorite earrings from L.A. jeweler LENA WALD. Wald’s jewelry has been a staple gift I have been giving for years, especially the spike earrings (seen below). TODAY ONLY (May 1st, 2012), GURUMOMMY & LENA WALD are offering 1 lucky reader the chance to win a [...]

Tar & Roses new hot restaurant in Santa Monica

April 24, 2012

I’ve taken a little break from recommending new restaurants, felt like every week there was somewhere new opening and this isn’t a foodie blog! But then Tar & Roses opened and it’s all anyone can talk about! This new restaurant in Santa Monica located at the corner of 6th and Santa Monica Blvd., has only [...]

salvation malibu

April 10, 2012

Salvation in Malibu is a cool ‘multi-brand’ action sports store offering all the best products from NIKE, Hurley and Converse. They also feature the unique “Workshop,” an on-site customization station where you can create personalized footwear, clothes and accessories using artwork from artists across all the brands featured at the store. Kids will especially love [...]

draw something – best new mobile game

April 3, 2012

My entire family is obsessed with the mobile game, Draw Something by OMGPOP, it is a simple game based on ‘pictionary’ & ‘hangman’ with a twist. You play against other people (either those you know or random) and THE best part is there is no ‘chatting’ involved, just drawing and guessing. This totally simple game [...]

Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy for Teens

March 27, 2012

Mercedes-Benz has just introduced their Driving Academy for teen driver education, designed to produce better decision-making processes and develop superior on-road skill sets for teen drivers. Mercedes-Benz is the first automotive company making a commitment to driver education and safety in Southern California to combat the alarming statistics surrounding teen car crashes. For the month [...]

Tsujita LA Artistan Noodles on Sawtelle the next big thing

March 20, 2012

The first few times I tried to eat at Tsujita on Sawtelle, a branch of Nidaime Tsujita, considered one of the best in Tokyo they stopped serving ramen, by the time I arrived. They only serve ramen and tsukemen at lunch and what my kids want and love is this ramen! The revelation at Tsujita, [...]

converse customization store opens in santa monica

March 13, 2012

Converse has opened its first West Coast flagship store in Santa Monica a very welcome addition to Third Street Promenade. The 7,000-plus square foot space offers over 200 different styles of Converse footwear, apparel and accessories for men, women and children. Not only do they have a full selection of Chuck Taylor All Stars, One [...]

summer camps make kids resilient

March 13, 2012

I found this article on my kids camp website recently, it was published on February 5, 2012 by Michael Ungar, Ph.D. in Nurturing Resilience He writes: ‘I recently spoke to 300 camp directors about how to make children more resilient to life stress. Summer camps, we discovered, are perfect places to help children optimize their [...]

what is pinterest??

March 6, 2012

After ignoring several invites to join pinterest, I finally did and now I am officially obsessed. Not just with what stuff I like & I ‘pin’ but peeking at stylish people I know and some I don’t know so well and what they ‘pin’. The basic premise is a simple one, requiring little in the [...]

beso the coolest shopping site

February 28, 2012

I just discovered this super cool shopping site that lets you scour the entire internet shopping all at one site! No more getting overwhelmed visiting jcrew, target, mini boden and bloomingdales for days comparing and choosing clothes from my kids for vacation, Beso is one-stop shopping! I can even put together a ‘collection’ by adding [...]

minecraft

February 21, 2012

When my daughter came home talking about Minecraft and asking to play it, I have to admit I didn’t even know how to spell it to google it at first! That was a mere 2 weeks ago, and now I know that Minecraft is the latest computer game obsession for kids, it is simply about [...]

800 degrees

February 14, 2012

I should have posted this 2 weeks ago but been so bogged down in hotpicks, so many new places, so little time! Anyway, here it is, 800 Degrees Pizza, my family LOVES this place. Just opened in Westwood and already lines down the block. If owner, Adam Fleischman (of Umami burger fame), is trying to [...]

soul cycle- west hollywood opens

February 7, 2012

I have been waiting for this opening since I first discovered Soul Cycle in NY 2 years ago, Soul Cycle in West Hollywood is finally opening! This Friday, February 10th is their first official opening day of classes, go on their website now to sign up before opening day is sold out! Their full-body workout [...]

beautymint hotpick giveaway

January 31, 2012

I am totally obsessed with Beautymint Essential Cleanser, I have been using it for a week so far and face feels cleaner then ever. My 11 year old is using it too. TODAY ONLY, GURUMOMMY & BEAUTYMINT ARE GIVING AWAY THEIR PERSONALIZED SKINCARE SET to 1 lucky gurumomy reader. All you have to do [...]

microspikes – makes winter hiking a breeze

January 24, 2012

I am totally obsessed with Kahtoola’s MICROspikes for hiking this winter. No more snowshoes necessary, even those smaller size snow shoes have nothing on Kahtoola’s MICROspikes, they are a pocket-sized traction system that slip-on the bottom of your sneakers with spikes that dig into all types of terrain — ice, packed snow, wet rocks and [...]

Metropolis II at the LACMA

January 17, 2012

My kids loved, loved this brand new exhibit, Metropolis II at the LACMA. Chris Burden designed this intense and complex kinetic sculpture, modeled after a fast paced, frenetic modern city. Steel beams form an eclectic grid interwoven with an elaborate system of 18 roadways, including one 6 lane freeway, and HO scale train tracks. Miniature [...]

sky high sports – the trampoline place

January 10, 2012

Sky High Sports the ultimate indoor trampoline gymnasium has opened a location in woodland hills, just in time for the holiday weekend coming up! There are several areas, including the ‘foam pit’ and ‘dodgeball’ area, plus private party area. Their website asks ‘are you ready to bounce of the walls?, and let me tell you [...]

milo + olive pizza place & bakery opens!

January 3, 2012

milo + olive is finally open! The neighborhood bakery and pizzeria brought to you by the team behind Rustic Canyon, Huckleberry and Sweet Rose Creamery. Owned and operated by Josh Loeb and Zoe Nathan, with a kitchen helmed by Rustic Canyon Executive Chef Evan Funke, Milo and Olive serves a menu of fresh baked morning [...]

25% off daily threads kids clothes

December 27, 2011

Daily Threads a local kids clothing designer (and fellow mom) has just ‘gifted’ gurumommy with 25% off all orders through January ’12 (minimum $50 purchase and shipping is free) just use the code ff25off at checkout! All of their products are proudly designed and carefully manufactured in the USA and are of superior quality that [...]

happy holidays from gurumommy

December 20, 2011

From my family to yours, here’s wishing you a happy & healthy holidays and new year!! Thank you for all your loyal support!

25% off, 1 Day ONLY!! Marea at the Brentwood Country Mart

December 13, 2011

Happy Holidays from gurumommy!! I am so excited to introduce my readers to this awesome pop-up shop at the Brentwood Country Mart and offer an exclusive gurumommy discount of 25% off the entire store for 1 DAY ONLY (Wednesday, December 14th), just mention gurumommy for your discount. This shop is brought to you from the [...]

Chic Shop teacher gifts

December 6, 2011

Hillary Thomas a fabulous local interior designer has opened the cutest shop, aptly calling it ‘chic shop‘ on San Vincente in Brentwood. Hillary’s styles with an eye on the past and a vision for the future, she seeks to bring the unexpected joys to life through great, attainable design. Recently I shopped Chic Shop for [...]

lululemon launches kids wear

November 29, 2011

lululemon has launched ivivva athletica, making apparel for active girls – dancers, gymnasts, ice skaters and athletes (great as layering pieces for cold weather). ivivva was created by lululemon athletica, so you know they’re legit. Plus, everything they make is designed with input from girls ages 4-14 and the prices are about half of those [...]

maison giraud opens in the palisades

November 22, 2011

Maison Giraud, the long-awaited Pacific Palisades project from chef Alain Giraud, has FINALLY officially opened! Giraud, who has a long history in Southern California fine dining, dating back to his decade as executive chef at Citrus has opened Maison Giraud in the former Dante Palisades restaurant on Swarthmore Avenue in the Palisades. The bakery, open [...]

pitfire pizza

November 15, 2011

Best pizza spot for kids (and adults), Pitfire Pizza, with 4 locations and growing this is simply easiest and yummiest spot to take kids and still have a great meal for yourself (and a glass of wine!). The whole restaurant is built around a demonstration wood fire pizza oven. With four locations currently in L.A., [...]

Happy Feet Salon

November 8, 2011

Happy Feet Salon may not be a new spa but it was to me! This Chinese foot massage spa in Encino offers a $25 foot massage that stacks up against any spa in Beverly Hills. Not only can you walk-in and wait but you can call ahead too and make an appointment so you can [...]

orb factory mosaics for kids

November 1, 2011

These awesome mosaics from Orb Factory are my new favorite gift. My 6 year old got a bunch for her birthday, she can do this totally on her own, no help from me or her sisters who are just as obsessed with the kits. They come with mosaic squares that have sticky backings, just read [...]

cool, retro handset for iphones (and androids!)

October 25, 2011

At first I thought these ‘retro’ handsets from NATIVE for the iphones (& androids, sorry blackberry users!) were just funny & cute, but once I tried it I was hooked. They literally take the ‘crink’ out of your neck from trying to hold your tiny phone between your shoulder & ear, plus it is so [...]

Just Dance – Wii

October 18, 2011

Ok, my entire family is now obsessed with Just Dance on the Wii (it is available for other video game systems) but all are the same idea, you dance until you sweat! It is fun for everyone, 5 year old’s to grandparents visiting, and it is serious exercise. You choose the song and then follow [...]

No Time to Cook? Amazing cooking app

October 11, 2011

We at gurumommy are always looking for cool, innovative ways to help with our daily life, and now we’ve found the ultimate kitchen assistant from Real Simple. Their No Time to Cook? app for the iPhone, iPad & Android make the weekday dinnertime rush easier. From the easy recipes (organized by main dish) to the [...]

Bru’s Wiffle – A Waffle Joint

October 4, 2011

Bru’s Wiffle – A Waffle Joint is unlike any other Waffle Eatery … menu items pique the curiosity of its patrons and the atmosphere is comfortable and inviting – a reflection of its warm and endearing creator and owner, Ebru Fidan. My kids are divided on their favorite between the chocolate waffle party – two [...]

tender greens explodes in santa monica

September 27, 2011

If I hadn’t seen it for myself I wouldn’t have believed the line forming at the brand new tender greens in santa monica! The trick is to order online for the time you want to pick it up and then just pop in, cut to the front of the line where pickups are and voila, [...]

J Brand Factory Outlet

September 20, 2011

This is one of those times that I struggled with whether to give up my local shopping secrets, part of me wants to keep it to myself so everything isn’t gone when I go shopping at the J BRAND OUTLET! But as usual, gurumommy wins out, there is a J Brand Outlet in downtown LA [...]

fonuts

September 13, 2011

Fonuts, the next big craze in ‘healthy-splurging’ have arrived! Their shop on 3rd Street in West Hollywood is serving a combination of steaming and convection heat to create the raised fōnuts (which are not vegan), resulting in a fluffy, light-textured baked doughnut that take two days to prepare. Choose from original, gluten-free, and yeast-raised varieties [...]

postcard on the run

September 6, 2011

Everyone must try this new iPhone app, Postcard On The Run. It’s a quick, easy, and relatively cheap way to send actual photos from the digital version that is your iPhone’s photo library and get them into the mailboxes of your friends and family. This is the easiest way to get back to actual photos, [...]

doublehappiness4.com – super cool back-to-school stuff

August 30, 2011

Doublehappiness4.com is a website carrying cool school & camp supply company founded by a graphic designer, a mom of 2 sets of twins (!) (hence the name, double happiness). They personalize everything from clipboards, to notebooks and everything in between to make back-to-school special and original. Check out their website & order your back-to-school stuff!

ifly – indoor skydiving

August 23, 2011

Looking for something to do the last days of summer? Look no further, ifly – indoor skydiving, vertical wind tunnel at Universal City Walk is fun for everyone! Kids as young as 3 years old can give it a try (although I can’t seem to get my 5 year old to do it yet!). Experience [...]

malibu sugar tank tops

August 16, 2011

These are the hottest tanks, 1/2 tanks & cami/bra tops we’ve seen! From Malibu Sugar they come in every color imaginable and are made our of the softest cotton! For pre-teens they are a must in every color, they even come in adult sizes and the matching boy shorts are great for under skirts and [...]

mixt greens opens in LA

August 9, 2011

Mixt Greens is expanding (finally!) The hugely popular salad spot in San Fran has been expanding to LA, first stops are downtown & mid-wilshire with a Malibu location on its way. Hopefully they will continue to expand all over the Westside for us salad-junkies looking for an easy & yummy spot for lunch! Favorites are [...]

storage bins

August 2, 2011

These adorable storage bins from 3 sprouts are just the thing I need in my daughters room to organize her ever-expanding stuffed animal collection. Priced at $39.99, they come in 10 different styles (zebra is my personal favorite) and will make your clutter look stylish in any room in the house!

stylemint

July 26, 2011

As a huge fan of both The Row & Elizabeth & James, fashion lines brought to stores by style mavens the Olsen sisters I was extremely psyched to get my first order from the Olsen’s newest venture StyleMint.com. This cool t-shirt “of-the-month” club in a collaboration with the team behind Kate Bosworth’s Jewelmint. My personal [...]

sunny blue – first omusubi shop in so cal!!

July 19, 2011

Sunny Blue is southern cali’s first Omusubi shop! Omusubi, Japanese rice balls with different fillings inside, are popular ‘grab and go’ snacks in Japan. Much like sushi, they are ‘rice’ wrapped around fillings (tuna, cod, veggies, etc) but here they are served in a ‘rice ball’ inside of warm seawood paper (like a taco!), made [...]

undrest by the sea

July 12, 2011

This totally cool beachy boutique on Abbot Kinney in Venice is definitely a hidden gem for anyone looking for something different in beachwear this summer! While other stores are starting to stock fall merchandise (seriously, in July!?) now is the time to hit undrest for totally unique bathing suits, coverups and loungewear (they are even [...]

true food kitchen

July 5, 2011

As much as I promised myself to stop writing about Santa Monica Place, I just can’t help it! True Food Kitchen is my newest favorite, for breakfast, lunch and dinner (takeout too!) Since they just recently opened, I will make this my last entry about the place for a while (or until they finally get [...]

Braced-lets arrive just in time for summer!

June 28, 2011

Bracedlets, made by a NY orthodontist are a combo of last summers craze, silly bandz & braces! Just in time for camp, these cute bracelets are fun to collect and wear all the way up your daughters arms (sure they will prob be banned back at school but that’s months away!) Check them out at [...]

Rocket Fizz

June 21, 2011

This new location of Rocket Fizz, the ultimate candy store, is amazing!! The Sherman Oaks location is the first I’ve been to, but they have franchises all over the Valley. When I say it’s the ‘ultimate’ candy store, I’m not kidding! They have their own brand of sodas, all the ‘old school’ candy’s we grew [...]

new cooking school opens in santa monica place

June 14, 2011

I know I wrote about The Market opening in Santa Monica place just last month but now I’ve been to a party at this awesome cooking school, The Gourmandise School of Sweets & Savories, and had to tell gurumommy readers all about it! They have a schedule of classes on their website, all ‘hands-on ‘ [...]

books and cookies – new book store in santa monica

June 7, 2011

wow, everything seems to open in the summer! this fab new kids book store/party location/bakery just popped up on main street in santa monica seemingly out of nowhere! opened by a former preschool teacher, books and cookies is divided into an interactive reading room/bookstore, healthy kids’ cafe serving fresh-baked treats (cookies, muffins, granola), and an [...]

Lemonade Brentwood Opens!!

May 31, 2011

I have been a fan of Lemonade the mini ‘chain’ of amazing lunch/dinner spots all over LA since I discovered their location on Abbot Kinney in Venice a while back. Now they have finally come to Brentwood on Barrington (just South of Sunset) in the old Clay Pit location (for those of us that have [...]

The Market at Santa Monica Place Opens!!

May 24, 2011

The Market on the 3rd Floor of Santa Monica place has finally opened!! The space takes up almost 1/2 the top floor with a cool group of independently owned California-based businesses offering everything from locally grown fare and fanciful beverage offerings to designer gifts and floral arrangements. On the savory side of things, famed restaurateur, Piero [...]

preschool fair- Parents Education League

May 17, 2011

Don’t miss this great opportunity, the Parents Education League is hosting their first ever Preschool Fair on May 21st (9am-12pm) at Leo Baeck Temple. With over 40 preschools from all over LA & the Valley in attendance, get all your information in 1 place!! Even if your kids are too old for preschool, be sure [...]

All About the Bread

May 10, 2011

A friend raved about All About the Bread on Melrose as ‘Hollywood’s answer to Bay Cities in Santa Monica’. Even though I live practically next door to Bay Cities, I had to try it! She was right, their sandwiches, especially The Godfather, stands up to Bay Cities, but their breads (baked fresh every 30 minutes) [...]

XPhappy mothers day!!

May 4, 2011

EXPIRED

Tulaa7.com, yoga clothes with a purpose!

April 26, 2011

We all know about lululemon, it’s become so identifiable with moms in carpool line that I am always on the lookout for something new & different! I found Tulaa7 a cute yoga line made by 2 moms in Chicago (my hometown) and love it! Tulaa7 is inspired by the 7 major chakras, each of which [...]

clementine’s grilled cheese month!

April 19, 2011

April is Grilled Cheese Month at Clementine’s, one of gurumommy’s favorite restaurants in Century City (even after the construction on Santa Monica Blvd makes it virtually impossible to figure out how to get to Ensley Avenue)! They are offering 10 different grilled cheese sandwiches every day, handpicked from the favorites from the last 10 years! [...]

starbucks card mobile app

April 12, 2011

ok, call me crazy but I haven’t been so excited about something since I got my new iphone 4! The starbucks card mobile app is simply the COOLEST! As of January 19, 2011, in nearly 6,800 stores in the U.S. you too can experience mobile payment. The mobile payment feature allows users to pay for [...]

magna tiles

March 29, 2011

Magna Tiles have been my kids obsession lately, and everyone who comes to our house and sees what they are building asks about them, so I decided to post them for gurumommy readers! Kids of all ages will love, love these so much that they will keep asking for more sets! This 100 set is [...]

NOT a paper plate!

March 22, 2011

These are the coolest plates I’ve seen in a while, they only look like paper plates & plastic cups! Designed by one hundreds and 80 degrees, they are exact replicas of those iconic red plastic dixie cups & paper plates in melamine. My kids love them & so will you for cutting down on the [...]

birchbox

March 15, 2011

Birchbox.com is the most innovative & cool new beauty site we’ve found! Perfect for moms-on-the-go with no time to spend at the makeup counter. For $10 a month they deliver top product samples from brands like NARS, Korres and Cargo to your door for you to test drive (not small tester-sized but real sample size). [...]

la monarca santa monica

March 8, 2011

A big gurumommy welcome to La Monarca bakery to the Westside! Located on Wilshire and Euclid this is their third outpost of the Mexican bakery. Upon entering, grab a plastic tray and tongs and choose your own variety of croissants and sweet breads. Continue down toward the the refrigerated case stocked with all avenues of [...]

giggles n’ hugs century city

March 1, 2011

Before you judge me for posting this, go check out GIGGLES N’ HUGS in Westfield Century City, you won’t believe it hasn’t always been there! All I have to say is congrats to the owners on getting that LOCATION makes all the difference and there couldn’t be a better location then smack in the middle [...]

city baby LA 3rd edition

February 22, 2011

This is my one opportunity to ‘toot my own horn’ so I will make it quick – The 3rd edition of City Baby LA is available today! After 5 plus years Lisa Rocchio & I have updated our ‘go to’ guide for families in L.A. to include over 50 new entries & tons of activities [...]

bottega louie

February 15, 2011

Check out Bottega Louie the huge restaurant/gourmet market on the corner of 7th & Grand downtown LA. I know it’s quite a drive, but for brunch on a Saturday or Sunday morning it’s really about a 20 minute drive from Westside and well-worth it. If your are as sick of the local kid-friendly spots as [...]

The Yogurt Shoppe

February 8, 2011

Gurumommy is excited to welcome The Yogurt Shoppe to the Pacific Palisades!! Now the Palisades has it’s own ‘place to mix’ self-serve yogurt & toppings shop located in the heart of the Village, owned & operated by a local Palisades family. Stop by and have a taste, it’s sure to become your kids (and your [...]

crewcuts opens in santa monica

February 1, 2011

Introducing crewcuts Santa Monica!! Everyone’s favorite kids clothing from crewcuts is now available in-store on third street promenade. No more online shopping and guessing sizes, you can now shop in-person for sizes 2-14 at the new crewcuts location. Everything from bathing suits to shoes, they carry it all! We especially love the borrowed from my [...]

sugarfish santa monica!!!

January 25, 2011

Sugarfish by Sushi Nozawa is opening its forth location in Santa Monica, 1345 2nd Street Santa Monica, 310-393-3338 ( just West of Third Street Promenade). The ‘official’ opening date is February 14th, so be sure to get your tastebuds ready for the most extraordinary sushi Santa Monica will now be able to call its own! [...]

Shop Worth Now and Save!!

January 18, 2011

What is Worth ? A fashion “Ready to Wear” Company that offers modern, luxurious clothing at affordable prices. The company is famous for client service and attention to detail. At Worth, they believe that dressing fashionably should be easy and shopping should be fun. Great clothes should last as long as you love them, and [...]

Hostaria del Piccolo-pizza in Santa Monica

January 11, 2011

Hostaria del Piccolo, the latest venture from Vittorio Viotti and chef Bobo of Venice’s famed Piccolo in Venice (arguably Venice’s best Italian restaurant). This cool-looking spot with no sign on the corner of 6th & Broadway (606 Broadway, Santa Monica) has some of the best pizza around (sorry Mozza!). The modern-rustic restaurant has a bar [...]

veggie grill comes to santa monica!

January 4, 2011

Veggie Grill, a vegan mini-chain has finally made its way to the Westside! Located on Wilshire just east of 20th Street (next to Union Bank), it’s tasty and healthy. The menu includes veggie burgers, wraps and salads that are yummy & vegan. Try the sweet potato fries and flavored iced teas that you won’t be [...]

kinetic cycling

December 28, 2010

“Change your mind, Change your body, Change your life.” That’s the mantra at Brentwood’s cycling studio, Kinetic located at 11740 San Vincente Blvd., L.A. (310) 820-0777, www.kineticcyclic.com. Most of you all know about my obsession with Soul Cycle in New York, and until we get our West Coast outpost, we have Kinetic! Where they will [...]

Happy Everything-from gurumommy!!

December 21, 2010

From my family to yours, here’s wishing you a happy & healthy holidays and new year!! Thank you for all your loyal support!

plywerk – 20% off for 1 week only

December 14, 2010

plywerk has perfected an easy and elegant way to exhibit prints of artwork and photos without the frame or its expense. They began selling their modern artisanal and earth friendly wares at local art walks where people went crazy for their photo mounting process that enhance your pictures and avoid the headache of framing. They [...]

FarmShop Opens at Brentwood Country Mart

December 6, 2010

Finally! The day has come (almost) that the Country Mart on San Vincente in Brentwood gets a new restaurant to replace City Bakery! The wait was definitely worth it, with FarmShop (Jeff Cerciello’s, formerly Thomas Keller’s Culinary Director) we have a new casual restaurant and market-slash-larder, complete with local produce, a butcher shop, a fifteen-foot-long [...]

pressed juicery

November 30, 2010

PRESSED JUICERY (located below Maha Yoga in Brentwood, 13050 San Vicente Blvd, LA 310.451-1010) was born out of the idea that in order to find fulfillment and balance each day, modern people need to be armed with a fresh set of tools that are simple, convenient, and tailored to their hectic schedules. While the benefits [...]

pelican hill – special gurumommy offer!

November 23, 2010

I recently had a chance to visit the AMAZING resort in Newport, Pelican Hill, during the week with 2 girlfriends, what a treat! So great to getaway and with this crazy weather in SoCal, you can sit by the pool, walk on the beach and dine outside in November! The Spa was undoubtedly the best [...]

jewelmint

November 13, 2010

I’ve just discovered JewelMint.com, a jewelry line designed by Kate Bosworth and her stylist, Cher Coulter! I get style emails, styling tips, and each piece of chic jewelry is only $29.99. The styles are cool & fun, perfect for my life on the go. I’ve stopped wearing my good jewelry because I tend to lose [...]

bobble water bottle

November 9, 2010

Bobble, a cool reusable, patented water bottle that filters as you drink, now comes in a smaller size, perfect for school, fits inside a lunchbox! The Bobble is perfect for taking to school, it can be used and reused all day long, simply by filling up at any sink or water fountain. Every time [...]

which wich

November 2, 2010

A friend of mine recently opened a Which Wich on Sawtelle & Olympic and kept raving about the sandwiches, he was right!! These are soooo much better then Subway! Great for lunch for kids & adults, Which Wich Superior Sandwiches is committed to creating the best sandwiches available. They offer more than 50 varieties of [...]

sugarlips tank tops

October 26, 2010

This is the best tank top! Made by LA-based, Sugarlips, my daughter’s love the soft stretchy material and best yet they are 1-size fits all! Great for layering in the colder weather, they come in just about every color of the rainbow & tie-dye. Order now and get 10% off your order (plus order 3 [...]

Greens Up!!

October 19, 2010

Greens Up! is finally open on montana & 7th in santa monica, it is simply put THE lunchtime spot we’ve been waiting for! owner Robert Yamarone started as a food stylist in NYC and he has opened something simple but perfect, a quick and healthy salad spot. Greens Up! does offer that whole mix and [...]

Race to Nowhere

September 28, 2010

‘Race to Nowhere: the Darkside of America’s Achievement Culture’ is a movie that every parent MUST SEE. I have had no less then 25 gurumommy readers contact me about seeing this movie, I finally HAD to see it. I haven’t been able to think of anything else since I saw it, it is a disturbing [...]

the secret society of the pink crystal ball

September 14, 2010

Risa Green, author of several great ‘chick lit’ books has made the jump to YA with this fab new book, The Secret Society of the Pink Crystal Ball. My 10 year old daughter read it at camp this summer and loved it! Best yet, Risa is launching a “What Would You Wish For?” Video Book [...]

circuit works brentwood opens!!

September 7, 2010

Just opened in Brentwood, the popular Circuit Works from Venice is a high intensity, interval training workout routine that combines Aerobic (cardiovascular training) and Anaerobic exercises (resistance movement training) that rotate through a series of stations. Suffice it to say, it kicked my behind! Each Anaerobic station uses a combination of exercise machines, free weights [...]

jac vanek bracelets

August 31, 2010

my kids came home from summer camp in maine with these bracelets from jacvanek.com, they are ‘all the rage’ on the eastcoast! you can either design your own or buy them with already-made cool sayings, like ‘GLEEK’ for you GLEE fans. Best yet, they’re only $10, making them great present toppers!

bento stainless steel lunch jar

August 25, 2010

I have been looking for something reusable for my kids lunches forever! Zojirushi’s Mr. Bento Stainless Lunch Jar is the answer, simply the food won’t get crushed inside! It is totally versatile, with four different containers that allow you to pack a multi-course lunch of both hot and cold items easily and securely. Get [...]

made with love bracelets

August 17, 2010

These bracelets are all over and so fun & cute for the summer and buying them raises funds for homeless children in Senegal. You can buy them from madewithloveinbrazil.com, they are made from recycled rubber by women in Djenné, Mali providing them with a viable means of support and are sold to raise funds for [...]

santa monica place opens!!

August 9, 2010

I can’t be more excited about the opening of santa monica place! It’s so much more then just a mall, with it’s open air decks and restaurants it is surely going to become everyone’s favorite new hangout! I am especially excited about bloomingdales, nordstroms & barneys (co-op) coming to santa monica, now i no longer [...]

levain bakery

July 27, 2010

omg! quite possibly the most amazing cookie I have ever tasted is from this Levain bakery out in Wainscott on Long Island. Why am I writing about it since most of my readers have never been or do not plan to go to Long Island, NY? Because they have a website, itsallaboutthecookie.com, and they ship [...]

Ronald Reagan Presidential Library

July 20, 2010

A friend recently took their 8 year old daughter to visit the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library (and museum) and could NOT stop raving. No matter what your politics it is an amazing experience, and only 45 minutes away from the Westside. Besides the amazing story of the President himself the museum houses the actual Air [...]

wooden tree swing

July 13, 2010

Whenever my kids head off to Maine for camp for the summer I get nostalgic for ‘homegrown’ fun to bring back home to LA. This Tree Swing from craftsburykids.com is so simple I can’t believe how much my kids are fighting over it! Each unique Tree Swing is handmade from ash, elm, or maple. The seat [...]

Matt Bernson Love Stud Sandal

July 6, 2010

This perfect sandal for the summer is still available and is the cutest I’ve seen around. It’s another one of those that I had to chase someone down wearing them and then look all over for a pair in my size (I found mine at Post 26 in the Brentwood Country Mart). They also carry [...]

cats cradle

June 28, 2010

Bring back memories of childhood with cats cradle! My kids came home from camp wanting to master the old string games and Klutz has a book that explains every step, so easy I could even use it! There’s even the harder Jacob’s Ladder and Eiffel Tower that I was never able to do way back [...]

mini kick scooter

June 7, 2010

hands-down the mini kick scooter is my kids all time favorite scooter in our garage! even though the smaller size is made for 3-5 year olds, my 10 year old fights with my 4 year old to play with it. The rubber wheels allow them to scoot all over my wood floors without leaving a [...]

tegu magnetic wooden blocks

May 24, 2010

these blocks from tegu are awesome, they are wooden with hidden magnets inside that make them easy to build with for endless hours. not only are they cool & fun, but they are also socially responsible. the founders of tegu, came up with the idea to start a company that created eco-friendly toys and help [...]

worst end of shcool year mom ever!

June 11, 2013

Haha! This is the funniest Jen Hatmaker writes about being the ‘worst end of school year mom ever’! Hysterical and makes me feel better about letting stuff slip through cracks this time of year. She writes: You know the Beginning of School Enthusiasm? When the pencils are fresh and the notebooks are new and the [...]

finding their passion….really?

June 4, 2013

Love this article, love the author too:) Betsey Brown Braun recently wrote for HuffPost this funny article about kids ‘finding their passion’, read it and have a laugh! She writes: ‘I just may lose my cookies if I hear another comment about a child needing to “find his passion.” The latest one came from the [...]

Can I Bring My Kids?

May 21, 2013

I read this article recently in the NY Times Motherlode blog, ‘Can I Bring My Kids?’ Interesting, as we are all trained early on to separate work & kids and that we should do everything BUT ask this question. Charlotte Crane and Ruchi Gupta discuss how the world has changed for working parents who sometimes [...]

mattie luxe end-of-the-year teacher gifts

May 15, 2013

With the school year winding down, it’s the perfect time to start thinking about end-of-the-year teacher gifts. I absolutely love, love MattieLuxe a super cool accessories website from a local mom and talented designer. MattieLuxe was born out of the idea that ‘everyone needs a little table candy!’, with place mats, lucite trays, melanine plates [...]

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