mommy tales

Los Angeles, CA

A friend of mine recently turned vegan and she’s been insisting on baking together since she and I have both been brownie lovers ever since we grew up together! This recipe is hands down the best recipe I have tried, and honestly I didn’t even realize that these were vegan!

Vegan Brownies - The best recipe find ever! 

This place is the best vegan restaurant in town! We had the Pad See Ew and the Impossible Burger, and both were delicious. The burger does get messy so beware, Obviously not as great as a classic meat patty, but it seriously comes close to the real thing. The fries are so crispy although you may need to sprinkle some salt on them! The Pad See Ew tastes as you would expect. Generous portion of tofu which I very much appreciated. The interior was my favorite part of my experience here. It's adorable! So cute and they have little plants on the walls and a great backdrop. The service was also pretty spot on. I thought it was like a go-up-and-order stich, but the waitress ended up giving us full service. The parking is fairly easy in the lots but there is also a lot of street parking nearby.

My Vegan Gold – We try having vegan once a week!

I absolutely love this restaurants and the service here. The food here has an excellent flavor and spice level. Their soups are fantastic and are must have. The food is mouth watering. Literally every bite was delicious. Super flavorful, fresh, the perfect spice level. The portions were generous and the price point was great. The ambiance is lovely with brick walls and high ceilings. They also have outdoor patio seating. The service was amazing and our waitresses were very kind and attentive! Pork ka prao was really tasty, the ground pork meat was tender, went perfectly with rice. Pad see ew is my all time favorite Thai noodle, I always get pad see ew with duck. The pad see ew today was really good, the duck meat they used was lean and all in big pieces, the rice noodle was soft, the dish was flavorful.The mango sticky rice was definitely one of the best ones I've had. Mango was sweet although I wish the pieces were bigger. We will definitely be back soon!

Hoy-Ka Thai Restaurant – Thai food has always been the family’s go-to!

I happened upon this cool little boutique with my 4 year old son during a sale. They have a great collection of home decor items, and they always have the latest trendy gear. They have the cutest gear for babies and toddlers; I would buy everything there if I could. The store is pricey but some of the things are so cute you just can't pass them up. We bought these amazing bibs with elephants and flowers on them and an awesome yellow/grey flower onesie. Our kids are going to be the best dressed babies around!! Can't wait to come back.

Eggy – Shopping for kids is easy when everything they like is at hands reach!

This is literally one of my favorite places too eat at! My family has always brought me here since I was younger. It's the kind of place where the social classes come together to eat good, fresh, delicious seafood, in peace and harmony. The staff here are very friendly and welcoming. The atmosphere is beautifully divey with a spectacular view of the Pacific Ocean. The clam chowder is not the best I've had, but it's very good, with an interesting herbal blend of flavor. The fried sampler platter had shrimp, scallops, clam strips, calamari, crab cake, and white fish fillets, with French fries. It was perfectly fried, not greasy, absolutely delicious and very filling. The fish taco's were fresh and flavorful as was the king crab. I look forward to becoming a regular. I highly recommend Neptune's Net whenever you're cruising down PCH.

Neptune's Net – Felt nostalgic as soon as I stepped in!

The Broad is my go to place to take family/friends that are visiting from out of town, it's fun for everyone of all ages and general admission is free but I strongly suggest reserving your tickets online beforehand, it'll make things a lot easier. I would recommend you arrive early if you want to see the famous Infinite Mirrored Room exhibit by Yayoi Kusama. I'm not huge into art so look at the sculpture/painting and read a fraction of the signs. Make sure you stop by Yayoi Kusama's Longing for Eternity exhibit on the third floor. It's tucked away in the back corner, and I would recommend asking the staff to point you in the right direction. It was only a short line when we arrived, and you have a limited amount of time to take photos at the exhibit. I would definitely come back just to see the mirror room, and will make sure to reserve my tickets in advance!

The Broad – Art museum that I should have visited earlier!

Malibu, CA

This gem was delightful to visit! First time at this location which I had no idea existed! The outdoor greenery and decor is very photo-worthy, and they let you bring in your own food! I ordered door dash and it worked out perfectly. Large seating area, great bar, and good options for drinks. They have servers bring you your drinks instead of going up to the bar to order which is nice! Parking was easy and located directly in front of the building. Everything was priced fairly, and if you're a member there's a steep discount and deals. My only disappointment is that they weren't serving food. But, the fact you can do delivery and bring your own totally made up for it. At night they turn the lights on and the area feels more magical. Perfect spot for a girls night. I can't wait to come back!

Malibu Wines & Beer Garden – Wine never disappoints and so does beautiful wineries!

This is a rehabilitation center for Seals & Sea Lions, which facilitates rescue, rehabilitate, and release. An additional purpose of this location is to educate the population, while they nurse these animals back to health. It is not a Zoo, though you can enjoy watching the seals & Sea Lions playing from time to time at a safe and healthy distance. It's a great learning trip for your kids with a small bit of interactive tools, and the well informed Docents. The sea lions and seals who will be given the chance to return to their home environment if they are able to do so are constantly under the loving and watchful care of incredible people who are their bridge to a healthy and longer life. There is no greater miracle of life than to be saved! Very interesting place that seems to be doing good work.

Pacific Marine Mammal Center – We need more rescue centres like these!

I'm so happy I was recommended to Three Dog bakery. This place is super cute, and has many different options for your pup. Prices are reasonable and have treats starting at $2.50 which is great for those skeptical about purchasing for the first time.The customer service here is kind, friendly and they also suggested the birthday cookie for my pups first birthday and gave me space while trying to choose what I wanted. I will say that my pup enjoyed everything besides the birthday treats. He was really into the woopie pie specially the cream filling, he loved every bit of it. He also loved the lickety split ice cream, which I will save the rest for the weekend! Overall great experience. I will recommend to all the dog moms I know, and will definitely be back for more special treats.

Three Dog Bakery Encino – Somedays I treat my pup for some extra love and attention!

After seeing my friend's beautiful newborn photos taken of their baby girl by Matt Cramer Photography, my husband and I decided we too needed to capture those precious early weeks of our newborn baby as well. On the day of the photography session, we were welcomed with big smiles into the lovely studio area. They took great care of our son and allowed my husband and I a very nice area to rest and catch up with each other. Choosing Matt Cramer Photography for our baby's newborn photos was one of the best decisions we made. Words can't express how grateful we are to have them as our son's newborn photographer. We had such a great experience with them that I would not regret a thing about choosing them! They were so kind and easy going that we would just chat about many other things like a long lost friend! Matt is so talented and I would definitely recommend them to my friends and family! Thank you for capturing one of our son's most important and precious moment!

Matt Cramer Photography – Making memories for my new born!

An amazing experience! Walking down the stairs toward the beach feels very tropical because of the greenery providing the shade while you walk the stairs. Definitely not for someone who has health conditions and won’t be able to walk back up. Once you get down to the sand the water is amazing. You can choose between the areas where the waves are huge and small lagoons where the rocks protect the water from being wild and you can actually swim. We walked in both directions as far as possible and to the right we were able to go under the rocks to a small privet beach. The cave was amazing and such a beautiful creation of nature. The beach wasn’t too crowded also the advice I have go between 7-10 am making sure the tide isn’t too bad on your day during those times because that can be when tide is releasing from a high tide or rising to a high tide. It was quite enchanting, will definitely be going back soon!

1,000 Steps Beach – Did a brief cardio to witness a beautiful view!

This festival, which runs for 2.5 months, is a unique event that really wowed us. We took the trolley from the satellite parking lot and arrived at the grounds. The art exhibit in the grounds is impressive and it's fun to talk to the artists about their work, as well as visit the gift shop. As to the actual Pageant show, over the years it has added more technology to enhance the experience, and the special effects are very well done. Before one sees any actual tableaux vivants, however, there is an entertaining lead-up that seems to take too long. We were there to see the tableaux and patiently waited for the pre-tableaux part to be over. Due to the unique nature of the show, the Pageant was just as awe-inspiring in the days of the simpler production when it didn't cater so much to the trend for special effects which seems to be for the purpose of attracting a younger audience. We come to see the traditional experience and to introduce the younger generation to the skills and artistic appreciation of a simpler time. Loved the tableaux and appreciate all the work and care that went into this year's production.

Festival of Arts and Pageant of the Masters

Heisler park is a beautiful beach-side park in Laguna Beach. It's an easy drive from Los Angeles along Pacific Coast highway. The park is a block right off the highway on Myrtle Street. Parking is not too bad as there are many metered parking spaces along the park. We parked right across from the veteran memorial monument. I understand the park was donated by Howard G. Heisler, thus the park was named after him. It's a pleasant place to have a picnic and watch the ocean and sunset. The park offers many amenities including picnic benches, picnic tables, large green lawns, paved walkways and public restrooms. We walked along the paved path today and had a fantastic time enjoying the fresh air and watching people diving and snorkeling. The park also has lot of artsy scenes, that's what Laguna Beach is famous for. Unfortunately, there was no sun toady and we were not able to see the sunset. That gives us an excuse to come back to watch the beautiful sunsets. I would definitely recommend this place for a beautiful sunset!

Heisler Park – Sunsets are beautiful paths to get away in life!

Why you should come here? There are few places in LA that are closed to cars where you can walk, run, and bike and have great views of the city and the Hollywood sign. I come here with my daughter and push her stroller around as many others do. There are tons of little kids learning to ride their bikes safely. When my daughter is not with me I like to run around the loop. It is roughly a 3.5 mile loop that is completely flat. About 3 miles of it are completely closed to cars.The highlight of the ride is the bridge which gives you views of the reservoir and the Hollywood sign.The reservoir has three entrances actually. 1 - the Lake Hollywood gate which has free parking on the super steep hill. 2 - The gate with the "Hollywood gate" close to the Lake Hollywood Park. This is in a residential neighborhood and the least popular opening. 3 - The Weid lake Drive gate. This is the 2nd most popular parking spot. It has quite a bit of free parking but you will drive narrow streets to get there. The reservoir is a great launching point for bike rides up to the Hollywood sign. This is an absolute gem in the city.

Lake Hollywood Reservoir – Get your kids and take a break from your routine!

Such a fun place! Came for the pop yourself pops. Stood in line for about 30 mins or so, only to be the next family up to find out they sold out of the pop yourself for the day. Sad at first, but we stood in line for too long. Went in the store and my sadness went away! So cool! You walk in and instant fun happens! You're surrounded by so many pops , small and large. If you love Funko's adorable characters, this is like a dream. They also do special releases of Funkos here with people lining up for the special little guys.There are so many mega-sized photo ops here, it's just so enjoyable. Jurassic Park, Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, Flintstones, Marvel characters, Disney galore, spooky horror villains and much more! Overall recommend it but you must arrive early before arrival and then return hours later.

Funko Hollywood – Kids day out turned out to be Mama’s dream come true!

This was a really cool trail with a touch of history! It’s not the most adventurous hike but it’s a great workout and really well maintained. Not the most outlandish but you’ll see LA’s beautiful rolling hills. The main path is a wide paved road that’s mostly leveled and an easy trek. We took the steeper side trails on the way up to add an extra challenge. At the top we were surprised to find an abandoned military sentry tower that was formerly used to spot Soviet planes. A bit crowded, but most were in masks and respected distancing. Lots of bikers, but all were careful around hikers. There were many dogs, almost none on a leash but all well behaved and/or very friendly.

Mandeville Canyon Trail 

Well, usually it’ll start with thinking about the shower, just water and things, right?. Then I’ll move on to thinking about my day, and usually about the things I felt could have gone better during my day. What I could have done better, what the consequences of doing that thing would have been, and what the consequences of the decision I made are. I’ll question every detail that went into my day, like a specific word that someone said, and why they said that word, and not a different one. Does that mean they dislike me? Did they ever like me? Are they just pretending to be my friend??

What do I think about in the shower?

I was a beginner not so long ago. It can be a little overwhelming, to say the least! It definitely took me a while to learn the basics, but giving up was not an option for me! The day I started off, I felt good, genuinely good, light and relaxing! These are the basics that a beginner should know, try these each for 15 minutes using a timer, and you will have the exact same feeling like I do everytime I am done with a session. Here are 6 poses that are great when you’re just starting out:

Starting off Yoga and it feels great!

To start the trail, you go where there’s a wooden sign that says “Griffith Park Camp”. The trail to Amir’s Garden is on the right. The trail is very easy to follow. It’s flat at first and then a decent incline the rest of the way until you get to the garden sign. I followed the loop down which was mostly dirt, but had many stairs built in. Easily done with my 9 and 10 year old. Lots of birds! I was not expecting that. There was even a precious family of quail that ran across our path - so cute!! Parked at the Mineral Wells picnic area which wasn’t crowded at the time though I can see parking being a potential issue in the summer. Restrooms in the picnic area were nice and clean. We will definitely be back!

Amir’s Garden Trail – Easiest hike you could take your toddlers!

So we all ordered the same, heard that their sausage egg sandwich is what dreams are made of. The biscuit is this fluffy, buttery, flakey madness that would be worthy of a pilgrimage on its own. Then there's the sausage patty which is obviously house made and just like, melts in your mouth, a slice of some sort of perfectly complementary melted white cheese, and then house made effing strawberry jam to just blow the whole dish out of the water. The service is amazing, the employees are super kind and tentative. For dessert, I highly recommend their cinnamon roll. It was topped with flakes of real vanilla bean and just puts you into an amazing food coma! Can’t wait to get back with the family and try out new stuff! Highly recommend getting these biscuit sandwiches!

All Day Baby – The family loves sandwich mornings!

I have found an easy banana bread recipe for toddlers that you will love. My toddlers always enjoy making this and I love that it is a healthy snack for them, and that I can enjoy it with a cup of coffee too! For this recipe you do not need a mixer, your toddler can do all of the steps themselves and the only reason I chose banana bread was because my toddlers love bananas and this just adds to it! Things to remember when your toddler bakes :

Kid approval Banana Bread

Seal Beach, CA

One of my favorite beaches in California. Well maintained pier to view the Seal Beach landscape, the Pacific Ocean and all that Mother Nature has to offer. This beach is really clean than expected! The main drag of shops is just across street for food and drink and shopping! For a relaxed time and amazing sunsets on a not so crowded or overhyped pier, come to Seal Beach. From the pier you'll be able to see surfers doing their thing. Just off the pier, the shops and eateries of Seal Beach await you in the midst of a hometown feel rather than the usual bustling! The bathrooms are clean, which is always nice when it's a public accommodation. The only iffy thing about this beach is that it tends to be windy which is fine if you're in the water but not so fine if you're laying on the beach. The sand tends to get everywhere, even more so than normal. Still when it comes to taking the kids, this is the place we go to!

Seal Beach – Kids love the sandcastles they make, and I the sunsets!

This is definitely a moderate hike but not that long and meandering trails split off in several directions. You’re never too far from the beginning to turn back. A very difficult concrete ramp on the east side will give you a workout - there's a bunch of offshoot trails that are easy to traverse if you don't have grippy shoes. Beautiful yellow flowers are enjoyable to see and close to downtown LA views make it a breathtaking experience. There are benches available in case you want to picnic. There's not many trees so wear a hat during the heat of summer. This is easy enough to bring pets and the whole family!

Ascott Hills Trail – Hiking away the weekend to get to Monday!

Skincare in the summer is so very important to me and probably to everyone out there! This is a time you should be paying extra attention to your skin and what it needs- to prevent breakouts and acne! You need to protect it and keep it in its best shape possible. This is a list of products to keep your skin healthy all summer!

My 3 Basic and most important Summer essentials!

 Know your hair type - Every person has different hair, and it often needs to be treated and taken care of in different ways. Learn what type of hair you have in order to create the best possible hair care regimen. Mine is oily hair. But you may find out your hair type here:

My day to day HAIR - CARE regimen 

My go to manicure – its less expensive, I don’t need a salon and I do this by myself!. • Cleansing – Make the first move by taking off the remaining of old nail polish. For this, use nail remover and cotton pads and gently sweep it across the nails till they’re no traces of nail polish.

How to do a Manicure at home –5 SUPER easy and fun method!

Every night I used to wish I could get better sleep but I was not sure how? I would toss and turn for hours before being able to fall asleep. Or maybe I would fall asleep but wake up multiple times throughout the night and then couldn’t get back to sleep. Well this was in the past!

How I got myself to get better sleep every night !



Small houseplants are a great idea since they can be positioned almost anywhere, will brighten even the tiniest corner, needs very less maintenance and low-lighting. I am crazy about indoor plants, love the fact that my house looks more natural and when I see around it gets easier for me to breathe with plants around me. Basically I love being a plant mama!

5 Small Indoor Plants that can Bring Beauty to your house!

• Pack for half of your trip : If you are going to be away for a week, ask yourself what you need for 3 or 4 days. Don’t be afraid to outfit-repeat. • Create packing lists : List out everything you bring with you. Check each thing off when you use it. Keep your list handy, you’ll know exactly what to pack.

How to Pack – Travel light and be minimalistic!

I like preparing meals in advance. Here are some ideas to put a plate together for your toddler, you could fancy it up your way as well!. a. Cheesy Tomato and spinach scramble, sliced strawberries and tortilla stars.

Simple and Healthy Toddler Meal Ideas 

There’s no telling when this baby is going to decide to make its way into the world, so I wanted to share this post sooner than later. The more organized I can be in times of uncertainty or chaos, the easier it gets! This post is as much for me as it is for those reading it—I’ll be using it as a checklist of sorts as we get our hospital bags packed up in the coming days.

What To Pack In Your Hospital Bag before you Pop!

I brought my 9.5month old son to the playground here. It is a great playground with lots of structures for kids even as young as my son. He loved pulling up on things and standing, loved crawling through the low-to-the-ground tunnels, and loved the swing. The only down side I noticed was that there aren't a ton of the infant swings. We can always find fun activities there. For adults, it has tennis court, basketball field, soccer field. For kids, it has swimming pool free for kids.It has playground. What I highly recommend is their affordable classes for kids, especially the sculpture and dance class, which really help kids be interested in these activities. Parking and the crowd can be tough on weekends, but there is street parking and most of the time, you can get on a toy with a minimal wait during these peak hours. Easy freeway access too if you are coming from afar.

Westwood Recreation Center -fun time for my kids!

BBC is officially my new favorite place for Brunch. We ordered the "Jordan Special". It was like having Chicken & Waffles but so much better! The toast dripping with ooeyy gooey syrup paired so well with the crispy chicken. You definitely have to make sure to get it all in one bite to get that flavor bomb effect. Their signature lattes were good, but not amazing. Not worth the hype. But if you happen to be here do drop down for some good food! Planning on trying the mimosas the next time I visit this place. This place gets crowded really soon during weekends, make sure you book a spot!

The Butcher, The Baker, The Cappuccino Maker – Kids favorite Chicken-waffles!

Like most kids, when my son gets home from school he is starving. Though I send him a well-rounded and plentiful lunch, it usually gets half eaten. The biggest hurdle for me and these playdates: Coming up with healthy but satisfying snack solutions that won’t require too much clean up or too much fuss. Smoothies made with milk are a great source of protein. There are 8 grams of protein in every 8 oz glass. With other essential nutrients like Calcium, Potassium, Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, Vitamin A, Riboflavin, and Niacin, I feel really good about serving smoothies to the boys. Here are some of my favorite after school smoothies ideas:

Simple after school smoothies for the kids!

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Lightly spray a metal 8″ or 9” round cake pan, or springform pan; or cut a piece of parchment to fit, lay it in the bottom of the pan and spray non-stick baking spray.

FLOURLESS CHOCOLATE CAKE - Family desert, easy!

Los Angeles County, CA

Great weather, fun get togethers and vacations. Thankfully, a consistent yoga practice can keep our bodies, our minds in check. And when we get off course, we can get back on track a bit more easily.

YOGA for the family  – HEALTH IS WEALTH

First and foremost we have mother nature who has literally programmed us to feel like we are horrible mothers if we leave our baby. We are abandoning them in a dangerous world. An instinct that was incredibly useful when we lived in caves and had to worry about a sabertooth. These days, it’s a bit overkill.