Do Tell, Anabel! Has Moved

Visit www.DoTellAnabel.com

"The Only Thing Constant in Life is Change"

Friends, François de la Rochefoucauld said it best with his quote (stated above). 

For several years now, I had been wanting to evolve my blog and it give it its own domain name. When I finally did, I decided to move Do Tell, Anabel! to a different platform.

As I work on transferring all the posts I've written throughout the years, this site will remain public.

I can't even begin to say how much I've loved Blogger. Here is where I shared my first post as an LA Mom Blogger in 2013. This blog also inspired me to eventually launch my mommy magazine, Mommy In Los Angeles® Magazine!

For all the latest adventures as a #boymom in Los Angeles, visit my new website, www.DoTellAnabel.com

As always, thanks for reading! 

www.DoTellAnabel.com

Paperless Post and Honey Toast!

A Toast Themed Day for my Honey Bear Husband

This is a sponsored post. I received a Paperless Post Credit in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.

I've always been one to encourage hand-written notes over emailed messages. I actually enjoy making an occasional trip to the US Post office to buy stamps and mail cards.
But on occasion, a product will come up that completely sweeps me off my feet, making me rethink my modus operandi. And that's what happened when I discovered Paperless Post, an e-commerce company that focuses on design-driven online AND printed stationery, including greetings, invitations, birth announcements and wedding suites that you can customize, e-mail or print if that's what you prefer.
The user-friendly service guides you through every step of the process, whether it's sending a design to print, uploading your logo for a company event or keeping track of your RSVP list online, Paperless Post has you covered. It's simple and there are tons of designs to choose from, in several categories.

Since I'm planning a few events this year (Toby's baptism, birthdays, a Christmas Party, etc.) and life seems to be getting busier, I figured I would give Paperless Post a try and rid myself of extra work.

The first Paperless Post greeting I sent was for my husband and I will share the story behind it.
Paul was having a bad week. I was having a busy week. Our communication was off and we barely had the energy to keep our evening routine with the boys. To make matters worse, Paul was asked to work an extra shift on his day off! He could have declined, but he owed his co-worker a favor.
Meanwhile, as I was getting ready to head home, I stumbled upon a painting of a bear-shaped honey bottle on a sidewalk in Downtown LA.

I got home and once the kids were asleep and Paul was preparing for his extra work day, I decided to login to my Paperless Post account and look for an e-card to send him before he took off the next morning. Looking through the designs (there are many, including some by well-known designers like Kate Spade), I paused for a moment and walked to the kitchen, where I found Paul squeezing some honey out of a bear-shaped bottle into a fruit bowl.

This was really funny considering I had just seen and photographed a honey bear bottle painting on the ground in Downtown LA. I shared the photo but he didn't seem to think much of it.
Then I returned to my computer and low and behold–– there was a Paperless Post greeting card with the a bear-shaped honey bottle design! Call me crazy but I saw this a sign!

The honey bear bottle gods were trying to tell me it was time to make Paul feel better about his bad week with a sweet honey message. I customized the card by adding my name since the message was on point. Then I simply added his email address in the recipient line and hit send.

By the time we woke up in the morning, before heading to work, he read his Paperless Post e-card. Then, to make things extra special, I fixed him a hot coffee mug and a few slices of honey toast to send him off right.
He seemed happy and grateful about the e-card gesture and even more so when he found the breakfast snack I had prepared for him– Honey toast!

How to use Paperless Post

If you're ever in a similar situation or if you simply want to send a greeting card, an invitation, a thank you note or create a flyer, the process is simple. Here's what you need to do:

1. Visit www.PaperlessPost.com

2. Create an account using your email address

3. Depending on the type of card you want to send, the service charges a few coins. While the honey bear greeting card was free, when I'm ready to send invitations for Toby's baptism, I will purchase coins. You can buy coin packages in a few easy steps and the pricing is really reasonable! Twenty coins for example, will cost you $6. Every time you customize or issue a card, the system will charge you the number of coins for that particular project.

4. Send your cards and make others smile!
I hope you consider Paperless Post for your next, well, anything! It's fun, easy and hassle-free.
Thanks for reading and have a great day, honey bears!

Xo,

This Week: George Balanchine's The Nutcracker Opens in Los Angeles!

Tickets on Sale Now for this Holiday Ballet Classic!

Selfie time in front of a promotional poster for George Balanchine's The Nutcracker in front of the Walt Disney Concert Hall!

True Story: The first time I ever watched The Nutcracker, I was sitting inside the "Gran Teatro de La Habana" in Havana, Cuba. The year was 2001 and the Ballet Nacional de Cuba performed El Cascanueces so flawlessly and beautifully that it pretty much satisfied any ballet watching inclinations I may have had for many years thereafter.

Fast forward to 2017 and this busy mom of two rough-and-tumble boys was waiting for an opportunity to dress up, take a comfortable seat inside a nice theater (preferably in my beloved Los Angeles, California) and let a live orchestra joyously calm my senses while a world-class ballet performs this one-of-a-kind classic holiday ballet.

Well, the opportunity has arrived! 

My sisters and I are headed to opening night for George Balanchine's The Nutcracker on December 7. That day is also Benny's birthday which means, my son will have his first taste of a fine stage performance (Miami City Ballet) and a fancy post-show dinner, as a birthday gift...

George Balanchine's The Nutcracker will be showing at the Music Center's Dorothy Chandler Pavilion from December 7 through December 10. 

But here's why this show is particularly special:

Performances will include, for the first time, student dancers from two L.A. arts academies — The Colburn School and The Gabriella Foundation’s everybody dance! — while the Los Angeles Children’s Chorus will provide live vocals... isn't that awesome!?

A live orchestra will play Peter Ilyitch Tchaikovsky’s timeless score. 

Plus, the show will feature all-new sets and costumes by Cuban-American artist/designer couple
Isabel and Ruben Toledo. 

Photo: Miami City Ballet

Photo: Miami City Ballet

Photo: Miami City Ballet

Friends, Michael Solomon, The Music Center's vice president of presentations and education said: "We wanted to give Los Angeles a Nutcracker beyond proportion."

That's reason enough to dress up, take a comfortable seat inside the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion and let Peter Ilyitch Tchaikovsky’s timeless score calm my senses while the Miami City Ballet and local dance school excite them! I can't wait to share more about our trip and let you know all about Benny's reaction!

Tickets for George Balanchine's The Nutcracker can be purchased here.

For more information, visit The Music Center.

I hope to see you there!