lifestyle, beauty and fashionThe City Wife

AMAZON PRIME DEAL is here!!!

Scarlett’s dress is too darling. She adores this dress because it’s so lightweight and looks so pretty on her.

DETAILS | Arianne’s BLACK AND WHITE DRESS | Scarlett’s JUMPSUIT WITH BLUE SHIRT | Clodagh’s STRIPES SHORT SLEEVES TOP WITH DENIM SHORTS |

It’s unbelievable the crazy good deals you will find today on Amazon Prime Deal Day till tomorrow the 17th of August. They will not last long so hurry up grab your faves! I picked this black and white dress which is comfortable to wear anywhere I go. This dress is so perfect for hot Summer days. Scarlett’s jumpsuit is too cute. The color blue compliments her skin color. We went to Malibu today to look for perfect places to take pictures and found this adorable place called Paradise Cove. This area is wonderful for families with little kids. You don’t have to do any dangerous hiking to get to the beach. We tried going to Point Dume state park, but it was too risky for kids.

How about this adorable outfit of Clodagh? The denim shorts are too cute not to wear all Summer long. She was so excited to wear this outfit today. What are your favorite places to take pictures at?

Happy Shopping! 😉

SHOP AMAZON PRIME DEALS

Surviving Disneyland with Kids

My sweet birthday girl – Clodagh Davis 🙂 She is now 4 years old.

How adorable are Clodagh’s black boots?

Paul unexpectedly enjoyed Disneyland more than any of us. How crazy is that?

Disneyland lines suck big time! Make sure to download the Disney App for wait times info.

We finally made it to Disneyland! Disneyland traumatized me few years ago. Scarlett was 18 months old when I took her there and it was awful. I had to chase her everywhere, she can’t wait in line and threw tantrums every 2 minutes. What’s worse was she doesn’t even remember going there at all. So, I promised myself that I will not go to Disneyland unless my kids are old enough to have the patience to wait in lines, done with tantrums, and old enough to remember the experience.

Today is Clodagh’s 4th birthday and she’s been wanting to go to Disneyland for a long time. This time we come prepared! Her outfit is so adorable — she has been wearing them for days! How about her black boots? She truly looks like a “badass” Minnie Mouse today.

I certainly learned some lessons from the past on how to survive Disneyland with kids. Here are my tips and tricks to make your trip to the happiest place on Earth truly joyful and easy.

wait till your kids turn 3 years old and up

I know having a kid is so exciting and wonderful. All you want is to make your kid happy. One thing that comes to mind as a new parent is, “I have got to take my kid to Disneyland.” Trust me, I’ve been there.

The age of your kid will matter how much you will enjoy the theme park or not. Yes, this place is mainly for children to play, but it is also for parents and kids to enjoy their time together. Scarlett was 2 years old when I first took her to Disney. It was the peak of her tantrum days. She did not like waiting in lines and sure enough, she can’t stay put in one place. The result was crazy tantrums, which was not an enjoyable experience for me. Although Scarlett was not an easy kid, there were some kids her age patient enough to wait in lines. If you have that type of kid, then age wouldn’t be a problem for you.

Now that Scarlett is 6 years old and Clodagh is 4 years old our experience in Disneyland was a lot different. They were so easy-going to wait in lines and didn’t throw tantrums at all. It was wonderful!

book a hotel

Our original plan was to drive from home (Los Angeles) to Disneyland early in the morning. I’m glad we didn’t because it’s much more relaxing to wake up and get ready to go to Disneyland and not to worry about commute time, traffic and packing everybody in the car. Less commute means more time in Disneyland. We booked two nights at the Marriott Hotel nearby Disneyland. We woke up in the morning, had a wonderful breakfast then took a shuttle to Disneyland. How easy breezy was that?

download the Disney app

The Disney app is amazing; it tracks your location, shows all the rides close to you, and tells you the exact wait times. It’s so convenient to know how long the wait time for example is, “Winnie the Pooh” ride compare to the “Pirates of the Caribbean” ride. By which you can plan your day accordingly. Let’s face it, you only have how many hours in a day. You don’t want to waste them in lines, right?

My daughters were so excited to see Ariel of Little Mermaid, but she said she has to move to a different location before we were able to take a picture with her. This happened with Minnie Mouse, Mickey Mouse and even Donald Duck. You can imagine the frustration of my children when they can’t even come close to their favorite characters. You can avoid this dilemma by using the Disney app. It lets you know the exact time and place where the characters of Disney will be. You can be first in line, if you want.

stroller is a must

The amount of walking and standing you will do throughout the day is worst, if you have a kid who complains about being tired and wanting to be carried every two seconds. Stroller big enough to fit 2 kids is advisable. I use Britax B-agile with lots of storage room for toys and food. Also make sure to bring a stroller easy enough to fold for easy access to shuttles or buses on your way in and out of Disneyland.

pack snacks, water bottles and lunch bags

Yes, snacks, water bottles and lunch bags would be useful once you find out the prices of food in Disney are absolutely ridiculous. A bundle of lollipop cost $8 and a tiny bag of chips cost $5? I mean, really? The ticket is already sky-rocket high, the place is insanely crowded, and the food is also 10 times more expensive? So, buy everything before stepping in the world of Disney to avoid over spending.

bring a camera with a strap

There are more obvious advises I can give you, but this one is about a camera with a strap is a must! Capturing a precious moment using your phone or camera is already challenging enough. It takes few seconds to grab your camera from your purse or pocket. By the time your camera is ready to take the shot, the moment is already gone. Be sure your camera has a strap to hang on your neck. So you can shoot as easy as turning on your camera and snapping the photo.

Overall our Disneyland experience was unexpectedly easy and enjoyable this time around due to well planning. The nice Spring weather, wearing backpacks and going there on a weekday also helped a lot. It was unfortunate that everything happened so fast. My sweet Clodagh had a blast though on her birthday. She said it was her best birthday ever!

xoxo, Arianne

Rabbit Ears and Flowers

Scarlett demanded her hair to be braided today. I must say her look is so “spot-on” for today’s festivities. She’s a true warrior princess!

Clodagh “Piepie” is so delicious. She is more delicious than a sweet cookie!

Jackie boy loves stretching his legs. He is such a stunner when he wears a jumper suit.

Happy Easter to you all! Nothing is better than welcoming Spring with floral and colorful outfits. My kids have grown so much, I still can’t believe it! Scarlett is so adorable wearing her kitty-cat dress and floral leggings. Her braided hair make her look like princess Elsa who she loves. And how about Clodagh Piepie’s outfit? I am obsessed with her blue polka dot dress. She specifically requested her flower headband to be yellow so it will match the flowers on her dress. Of course my baby boy’s overalls are so cute too!

These awesome outfits are from aunt Vicky, aunt Rose and the grandparents. They have such good fashion taste — it’s incredible! We’re very grateful to have them all in our lives. Not just because they shower us with gifts, but also for the love and support they’ve given us. The Easter season is about loving your family and appreciating one another. 🙂

xoxo, Arianne

*in collaboration with Amazon

Humidifiers – My Top 3 Picks for the Cold Season

It has been a brutal winter for all of us. Everyone has the flu or cold and it’s pretty alarming. Moreover, my kids are sick every week. It’s unfortunate we can’t prevent catching viruses from one another. However, we can recover from common cold and flu faster than the usual by eating healthy and having a humidifier around. Humidifier adds moisture to the air, which helps with congestion and cough. I have had my share of buying different humidifiers that do not work at all. Below are my top picks that worked for me.

TOP 3

URPOWER 2nd Version Essential Oil Diffuser

· Urpower New Version: The Urpower Ultrasonic Aroma Essential Oil Diffuser is an upgraded version. The 2nd generation produces more mist than old version. An ideal way to add moist, comfortable air to small bedrooms, hotel rooms, tabletops and even workplace cubicles

· Ultrasonic aroma essential oil diffuse is safe and does not harm the essential oil of any ingredients

· Fight back against dry air. This stylish cool mist humidifier adds moisture to your air to eliminate dryness and help with your dry chapped skin, chapped lips and dry sinuses. Add a drop of your favorite essential oil to give your room a fresh, clean scent

· Features include 7 color changing lamps for your choice, nightlight, programmable on/off cycles and auto shut-off. Once the water runs out, it will be auto shut-off to protect the device.

· Content: 100 ml, Material: PP Hard plastic, working time: up to 6 hours, adjustable two mist settings: continuously and intermittently, whisper – quiet operation won’t interfere with your sleep

The Urpower humidifier is my third choice due to its simplicity and durability. This is as tall as my iPhone and can be placed anywhere in the house and office. You do not need a manual to know how to operate this humidifier. It’s as easy as adding water and pressing a button.

PROS

I love how small and light-weight this product. It doesn’t create water leakage on my table top and very low maintenance. Also, it doesn’t break easily like other humidifiers. Lastly, it’s quite affordable, which is nice.

CONS

You have to add water every few hours. The humidity it adds to the room is very little. This product is best for small rooms only. I use this product as an oil diffuser more than a humidifier.

TOP 2

Asom Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier Aroma Oil Diffuser

Description:

Premium Humidifier – moisturizes the air for up to 14 hours of continuous operation, Built-in 7 color LED night-light, (Yellow, orange, Red, Purple, Indigo, Blue, Green).

Diffuser – Humidifier for Home, Office, Bedroom, Spa and more.

Automatic shut-off turns humidifier off when water level is low or the water tank is removed.

Longer mist stream provides perfect coverage and leaves no condensation on the floor. Suitable for medium-sized to large rooms.

360-degree mist nozzle and Easily adjust the Vapor flow with the control knob

The Asom Humidifier is a bigger size than the Urpower Humidifier. It blows a lot more cool mist — Perfect inside the bedroom or any type of room. You can choose how much mist it blows, which is from low to high. The price of this product is in the mid-range.

PROS

It possesses high power of blowing cool mist while staying quiet. It would last all night blowing mist. You can turn the knob whichever way you want to direct the mist to. It shuts off automatically when water is gone.

CONS

This product is a little complicated. If you don’t clean and dry off the bottom part every time you use it, it will stop functioning easily. It’s a high maintenance humidifier.

TOP 1

Levoit Humidifiers, 6L Warm and Cool Mist Ultrasonic Humidifier with Remote and Humidity Monitor

ULTRASONIC WARM & COOL MIST: Features warm or cool mist at three different levels; Increase humidity levels 25% quicker than devices using only cool mist
TELL YOU THE ACTUAL HUMIDITY AROUND: Always reads the exact value of humidity level so that you can set a suitable and comfortable humidity level based on the surrounding environment
TOUCH CONTROL & REMOTE CONTROL: Sensitive touch control panel is easy to operate and the included remote also controls any settings for convenience.
HUGE CAPACITY: Large 6L capacity allows for 20 to 36 hours of continuous use; covers up to 280 ft² (20~30m²) in your bedroom, living room, or office
WHISPER-QUIET: Ultrasonic air diffusion produces less than 36 dB for a quiet humidification that you even cannot hear it is on
SMART AUTO MODE: Designed with Auto mode will automatically diffuse mist to adjust the humidity to the most suitable level
BUY WITH CONFIDENCE: Special leak proof design is different from other leaking problem humidifiers among the market. CE&ETL certified. 2-year warranty and lifetime support from Levoit

I am definitely loving the Levoit Humidifier! This is my favorite so far. It’s huge, quiet, automatically diffuses mist to the suitable level and its got warm mist as well. I even use this as a steamer for my face when I do facial at home.

PROS

The Levoit Humidifier water tank is big enough to provide all day and night mist for a large room. I don’t have to keep adding water in it, which is convenient. The Auto Mode lets me find out the percentage of humidity in the room. Lastly, you can purchase the insurance in case it breaks and it will be replaced with a brand new one right away. How cool is that?

CONS

This humidifier is expensive. I wish it’s less than $50. Sometimes I get lazy filling up the tank because it’s so big compare to the small containers that are easy to fill up. You will need to read the manual to understand how this product works. Maintenance is a must. You have to really clean it or else it will build minerals and bacteria, which you don’t want that.

CONCLUSION:

Overall, these three humidifiers work great for adding moisture to the air. You will need small or big humidifier depending on how small or big your place is. I have a huge living room space and small bedrooms. I like to add humidity to my room all day and all night. I feel like it cleans the air and helps ease my nasal congestion. My baby boy sleeps through the night more when the humidifier is on. Dry air is never good for you — it gives you dry throat, chapped lips and dry skin.

*In collaboration with " target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ebay

xoxo, Arianne

References:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/common-cold/expert-answers/cool-mist-humidifiers/faq-20058199

Disclaimer: This article is not sponsored. Links provided in this page are affiliated, but my opinion are 100% my own. I purchased all these products. They are not gifted to me.

Best Kid’s Lunch Boxes

I am extremely excited for my first-born daughter, who is starting Kindergarten soon. Her school will offer breakfast, lunch and supper, but she will still need to bring some healthy snacks and bottled water with her. So ‘insulated lunch boxes’ are critical to keep snacks fresh and tasty all day. I think the best lunch boxes should have bottle compartments, shoulder straps, inside and outside pockets available, insulated, lightweight and waterproof. Here are some of my recommended lunch boxes for your little ones.

Rubbermaid – Insulated Lunch Box $13.99

description:

· Specifically designed to work with Rubbermaid Lunch Box food containers and Blue Ice packs; insulated to keep food fresher longer
· Lightweight lunch bag with zip closure is easy to carry with comfort-grip handle and removable shoulder strap
· Includes specific compartments for bottles and utensils
· lunchbox containers, water bottles, utensils, and blue ice packs sold separately
· Microwave, dishwasher and freezer safe, BPA-free

Waterproof Picnic Bag Insulated Thermal Lunch Box Cooler Storage Tote $14.99

100% Brand New.
Made of Polyester and PVC
Contains an insulation layer which helps keep the temperature of the items inside the bag
Can be folded to take much less space when not in use
Contains a detachable shoulder strap
Size (Approx.): 9.4” x 6.3” x 10.2” (24cm x 16cm x 26cm)

Bentgo Bag Insulated Lunch Box $10.29

description:

The Bentgo Bag makes carrying your lunch a breeze. The bag’s insulated design keeps food cool, while an interior mesh pocket and securing elastic strap accommodate ice packs, napkins, Bentgo Cup, Bentgo Lunch Box, Bentgo Sauce Containers, and more.

At 8.3″ x 8″ x 5″, the Bentgo Bag is spacious and convenient, and can be used for taking almost any kind of food on the go. It also boasts an adjustable strap for your carrying comfort. The Bentgo Bag is made using eco-friendly materials, and is BPA-free. It is covered by a 2 year warranty, ensuring your complete satisfaction with the product.

– A specially made insulated lunch bag designed to keep food warm or cold on the go
– Spacious design makes it easy to pack food and take it with you anywhere (8.3″ x 8″ x 5″)
– Resistant to staining & odor retention. Made using healthy, Eco-friendly materials – BPA-free (hand wash only to keep lifespan of bag)
– Includes interior mesh pocket (ideal for Ice Pack or Napkins) and elastic strap (ideal for securing Bentgo Cup)
– NOTE: Bentgo Bag is not for use with Bentgo Kids

Pottery Barn – Mackenzie Gray Rainbow Butterfly Lunch Bag $18

The Classic lunch bag features a molded interior so it’s easy to clean.
Classic lunch bag’s zippered mesh pocket inside holds napkin and utensils (not included).
Interior lining is made of PEVA, an environmentally friendly, food-safe vinyl that’s made without chlorine or plasticisers.
Designed to fit our Hot/Cold Food Storage Container and our Spencer Food Storage
Straps on the back of each lunch bag allow it to piggyback on our Mackenzie Small, Large and Rolling Backpacks (sold separately).

Planet Box – Stainless Bento Lunch Box

The Rover is designed for those who prefer to sample a wide variety of foods with smaller serving sizes.

Holds about 5 cups of food, which happily satisfies most children and adults
Great for variety and versatility
Designated place for a little treat
Each Rover includes 1 Big Dipper and 1 Little Dipper

Ultimately, we need as parents to offer lunch boxes that are functional, convenient and fun for our children to bring to school. My daughter likes cute things. So I like to keep everything interesting by purchasing products that I know she will like. It takes a lot of effort to do research on products that are great and affordable out there. However, at the end of day all my effort adds up because I know my kid’s new lunchbox will put a smile on her face.

*in collaboration with Ebay and Pottery Barn Kids

xoxo, Arianne

how to care for roses in pots

Product links:

Organic Rose Fertilizer

Potting Mix Soil

Plant Fungicide

Top Gifts for Father’s Day – Up to 25% Off at The Home Depot!

Egg Hunt

It’s that time of year again, when little kids hunt for Easter eggs. The Davis family decided to celebrate Easter at the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden. This place has always been one of my favorite gardens to visit. When there’s a special occasion, Moms have to plan for everything. What clothes are the kids going to wear? Where is the best place to celebrate the occasion? Most mothers are really good at planning ahead. Unfortunately, I am not one of them.

It was tough for my husband and I to get up this morning. I was not able to get a good night’s sleep because my baby was awake numerous times throughout the night. Paul was out networking as well and he wasn’t in good spirits either. When you have three kids, it takes time to get everybody ready and out the door. There is chaos everywhere, outfits are not ready and mommy has no time to shower. If only I planned ahead and packed everything the night before, then we wouldn’t have been so late for the hunt.

Finally we arrived at the event! It was a hot summer day in the Arboretum Garden. I must say, I’ve been to nicer Easter Egg Hunts with music, dancing and plenty of treats. There is nothing more disappointing to a kid than empty Easter eggs. But, over all they still had a great time.

What is it with nature that is so relaxing? Is it the feeling of being away from reality, people, noise, cars and pollution? Or simply, it’s just nice to be “away from chaos.” Arboretum garden or any garden is my way of finding peace, at least for a split second…

Scarlett Carmina Davis was born in the “year of the Dragon” and her name means red in French. Her emotional Red Dragon spirit is deep inside her core being — ready to blast everyone around her with fire and brimstone. I’ve always wondered how kids decide when to be difficult and when to be nice? Today Scarlett clearly wanted to be argumentative. Kids have this crazy need to demand everything immediately. If they don’t get their way, they will make your day miserable! Scarlett definitely creates drama but she is also alot of fun to be around. I learned some valuable lessons today; First – always be prepared or else disaster will strike. Second – if everyone is not having a good time, move on to the next place. A new location can sometimes lighten everyone’s mood. Lastly – keep calm! Kids follow their parent’s. If they see you handling things in a stressed out and bad manner, they will reciprocate.

It’s time now to leave paradise and I am looking forward to volunteering here soon to learn more about gardening at this marvelous place in the sun.

Forces of Nature

Spring-time in LA is truly amazing. Flowers are blooming, the beaches are so inviting, and spring dresses are everywhere. Paul decided to have an adventure day, and wanted to go to the beautiful Santa Monica beach. Despite the warning by our neighbor Sean, who mentioned that it will be windy and cold at the beach today, we still went for it.

The door of our car opened and immediately felt the gushing wind from outside. “Wow! Sean is not kidding around, when he meant it’s going to be windy.”

Destination Annenberg Beach House is a little gem in Santa Monica, we all love. It’s the perfect place for families to go to because of its amenities. They have a swimming pool, playground, super clean restrooms, tables and chairs, restaurant around etc. Parking can be difficult, so the early the better. Luckily, Paul has the parking karma!

Back on the Beach Cafe is a cute restaurant right next to Annenberg Beach House. Their fries and chicken tenders are good, but nothing special. The kids like them. Their food is a little bit on the pricey side for hotdogs and fries, but it’s because of its location. For the price of this cafe’s food, bringing your own food would be a smarter choice.

As we approached water, Clodagh kept pulling her pants down wanting to potty every 2 seconds. The stage of tantrums is still going for my 3-year-old daughter. Sometimes it makes me wonder, does she really needs to go potty or it’s her way to get attention from mommy and daddy?

While Clodagh is not having an enjoyable time, Jax ‘the baby’ is loving it. He feels finally out of his cage. For the very first time, Jax gets to experience being at the beach – sand, water, warm sunlight on his face and kids everywhere to play with. The same thing for Scarlett – the big beach girl!

When you stare at the ocean, do you ever get sunk in its beauty and power? Knowing underneath the dream is a deep risky water-world , and its capability of washing away a whole city. How can something so beautiful so dangerous?

The ultimate goal is to make our kids happy, even though we have to endure the exhausting tantrums and constant demands. My husband and I, have accomplished our duty today of seeing smiles, and tiring them out. In the end of the day, everybody will have a sense of contentment before they go to sleep, while mommy and daddy enjoy each other’s company — drinking wine and watching much needed television.