The last three times we’ve met our son Todd for lunch we’ve eaten at Vallee d’Brume.

Vallée d’ Brume is a locally owned and operated world-class pastry shop in Temecula, California.

Vallee d’Brume offers a pleasent atmosphere where you can eat inside or on the outdoor patio, delightfully friendly servers and most importantly … delicious food.

I’m in love with the eclectic decor. From the tin ceiling …

… to the small library of extraordinary books …

… and the wide variety of delicious teas,

Valle d’Brume has become one of our favorite “go to” restuarants.

The menu is exquisite with healthy selections of crepes, sandwhiches, salads and more. The French Onion Soup is to die for!

And the desserts! Oh my … just look at them! Absolute heaven!

Vallee d’Brume is located (near the Temecula Promenade) in the Bell Villaggio European Village - 41413 Margarita Road, Temecula CA 92591, suite 101. Phone: (951) 491-0930

Our grandson and nephew on Toy Story Mania

Disney California Adventure Park – December 20, 2011

Nikon D90 with 18-55mm Nikkor Lens

For more WW visit 5 Minutes for Mom and the WW Hub.

It’s Favorite Photo Saturday!

We take a lot of photos every week. Sometimes hundreds! Seriously. (Love digital photography!) So we decided to choose one favorite each week and post it on Saturday. We hope you’ll join us!! Just leave your link in the comments so we can drop by and see your favorite photo of the week.

We spend a lot of time at Disneyland but this week was the first time we actually rode in the Lilly Belle. The delightful red car is the caboose on one of the several Disneyland Railroad trains. The mahogany walls and ceiling are accented with stained glass windows along the top. The red Victorian furniture has seated many a celebrity including Japan’s Emperor Hirohito. The smoking jacket that the Emperor gifted Walt Disney with is hanging in the front of the car. Ashley, our conductor shared the history of the Lilly Belle during our trip around Disneyland. We can’t wait to do it again with our grandchildren!

January 25, 2012

Nikon D90 with 18-55mm Nikkor Lens

Welcome to Favorite Photo Saturday.

This is where we share our favorite photo of the week from our camera. We take a lot of photos every week. Sometimes hundreds! (Love digital photography!) So we decided to choose one favorite each week and post it on Saturday. We hope you’ll join us!! Just leave your link in the comments so we can drop by and see your favorite photo of the week.

Meet Ruby. (Our nickname: Kanga-ruby!) She’s one of the many exotic animals you can meet up close and personal at the San Diego Safari Park’s “Animal Encounters.” We met Ruby this week when we spent a delightful day exploring the park with our dear friends Mike and Norma. Ruby was the first animal we encountered after the gorgeous parrots that greet everyone near the entrance. Ruby was friendly with her keepers but she kept her distance from the spectators. She didn’t perform tricks or anything that isn’t a natural behavior for a kangaroo. She did however hop along at her keeper’s direction and received treats continuously for doing so.

I asked about the harness she was wearing. We all know it’s not a natural piece of attire for a lady kangaroo, although it didn’t seem to bother Ruby one bit. Her keepers explained it took months to train Ruby to wear it. It was a slow process that started with her just sniffing the harness as she slowly became used to it being around. Eventually she tried it on … with help from her keepers of course. I suppose for Ruby, wearing the harness is special because she knows she gets to hop about AND get special treats!

We took almost 300 digital photos at the Safari Park this week. But these few photos of sweet Ruby just melt my heart. Perhaps it’s because she doesn’t seem to give a hoot about her little belly poking out in her profile. I wish I had her confidence!

Nikon D90 with 18-55mm Nikkor Lens

From Kailani at An Island Life: In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that we take it easy and look forward to the weekend. So on Fridays let’s take it easy on posting, too. Ask a simple question … nothing that requires a lengthy response. It’s a great way to make new blogging friends!

Yesterday we went to the San Diego Safari Park with some of our good friends. We had an excellent time exploring the new exhibits and also remembering the way things had been in years gone by. The weather was perfect and bees were everywhere gathering pollen as they flew from flower to flower.

(San Diego Safari Park – January 19, 2012 - Nikon D90 with 18-55mm Nikkor Lens)

I’m in tune to the buzzing bees and most often know where they are before others around me. Why? Because I’m allergic to bees. Severely. I have an anaphylactic reaction. I carry an EpiPen with me at all times. It’s a hassle but it would keep me alive if ever the need to use it arose.

How about you? Do you have any allergies?

Our boys have loved trucks since they were crawling about on the floor saying “vroom…vroom”. I’ll never forget the little “Grave Digger” trucks I’d step on with my bare feet! Our boys are bigger now and they actually drive trucks that go “vroom…vroom”.

And I’ve learned that the bigger the truck, the bigger the “vroom”. Bigger as in Monster BIG!

Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam is full of engine roaring, car crushing, monster truck action and thrills.

And get ready because Monster Jam is coming to Los Angeles and Orange County.

Angel Stadium – 2000 Gene Autry Way, Anaheim, CA 92806

Saturday, January 14 at 7:00pm

Saturday, January 28 at 7:00pm

Saturday, February 11 at 7:00pm

Dodger Stadium – 1000 Elysian Park Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012

Saturday, February 18 at 7:00pm

Those little boys of mine that played with the mini Grave Digger trucks? They’re ready to go ”vroom…vroom” again!

I can’t wait to see their faces at the Grave Digger 30th Anniversary Experience which is part of the 3:00-5:30pm pit party. Early access for Total Access Pass holders is at 2:00pm.

So, how about you? Do you have your Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam tickets yet?

Tickets are on sale now. Online at Ticketmaster or by ringing 800.745.3000.

Orange County – Anaheim Stadium: $22, $32 and $45 for adults. Kids (age 2 – 12) tickets are only $10 each in select price levels. Total Access Passes are $75.

Los Angeles – Dodger Stadium: $20 and $40 for adults. Kids (age 2 – 12) tickets are only $10 each in select price levels. Total Access Passes are $75.

No compensation was received for this post. We did however receive complimentary tickets for Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam.

From Kailani at An Island Life: In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that we take it easy and look forward to the weekend. So on Fridays let’s take it easy on posting, too. Ask a simple question … nothing that requires a lengthy response. It’s a great way to make new blogging friends!

This week we took a day trip into Los Angeles. We rode the Metrolink train for the very first time. We boarded the train in San Bernadino and the entire experience was an absolute kick!

We rode to Union Station in downtown Los Angeles before catching the Metro Train Red Line to various famous sights including the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Hollywood Hard Rock Cafe, and Angels Flight Railway. It was a fabulously fun day of relaxation.

Our question today is: Do you enjoy day trips?

When I was a child I took ice skating lessons. (I bet that’s something that even my closest friends don’t know.) I had dreams of dancing on ice with one of the famous ice skating shows that toured the country. Shortly after I earned my ice skating badge in Girl Scouts, I lost interest in skating and moved on to dreaming of being an archaeologist. But … I still occasionally dream about my lost career on the ice.

Last night our grandchildren saw their favorite Toy Story 3 characters spinning and dancing about on the ice. They loved every single minute of it! And you know what? So did their mom Mindi, their 16-year old cousin Ashlyn and Nana Julie, who was visiting from back east.

They all attended opening night of Disney on Ice – Toy Story 3 at The Citizen’s Bank Arena in Ontario, CA. Mindi said the arena was wonderful and parking was great. (Good parking is always a good thing!) Picking up their tickets for assigned seats and finding those seats was easy and uncomplicated. Of course the kids had treats before and during the performance which added to the excitement of the night.

Sixteen year old Ashlyn got a kick out of Barbie and Ken. Mindi loved the fact that even on ice skates Barbie was sporting her famous stilletto heeled shoes!

The entire gang of toys made it onto the ice one way or another. Just look at Woody as he flies through the air!

The cast of characters included some of my favorites: slinky dog, the little (or not so little) green army men, Mr. & Mrs. Potato Head and of course Bulls Eye. Everyone was jumping about bringing Toy Story 3 to life on the ice.

Kennedy was worried that Lasso wasn’t going to make an appearance and was thrilled when he did. The entire family had a fabulous time from start to finish. And you know what Cody’s favorite part of the whole evening was? Spending it with his family. That boy melts my heart. Melts my heart I tell you!

Tickets are priced from $16, $21, $26, $45 (VIP) and $70 (Front Row)

Opening Night tickets are available for only $12 each (not valid for premium seating)

All seats are reserved and available at the venue Box Office, online at Ticketmaster or by ringing 800.745.3000

Save on tickets with the code MOM!

Inland Empire – Citizen’s Business Bank Arena

• Friday, December 30 – 3:30pm, 7:30pm
• Saturday, December 31 – 11:30am, 3:30pm
• Sunday, January 1 – 2:30pm

Long Beach – Long Beach Arena

• Wednesday, January 4 – 7:30pm
• Thursday, January 5 – 7:30pm
• Friday, January 6 – 1:00pm, 7:30pm
• Saturday, January 7 – 12:00pm, 3:30pm, 7:30pm
• Sunday, January 8 – 12:00am, 3:30pm, 7:30pm

No compensation was recieved for this post. We did however recieve complimentary tickets for “Disney on Ice – Toy Story 3″ to facilitate our review.

 Have you seen Disney on Ice – Toy Story 3?

There’s still time to make Disney memories with Woody and the gang! Gather your family and friends for an afternoon or evening of music, ice skating and all the toys from Toy Story 3.

Disney on Ice – Toy Story 3 is coming to the Los Angeles area this holiday season. Everyone’s favorite toy characters are taking to the ice and we’re over the top excited about it. We can’t wait to take our grandchildren to see Woody, Jesse, Buzz and the rest of the gang in this all-new, high-energy ice skating spectacular.

Tickets are on sale now!

Los Angeles – Staples Center

• Wednesday, December 14 – 7:30pm
• Thursday, December 15 – 7:30pm
• Friday, December 16 – 11:00 am, 7:30pm
• Saturday, December 17 – 11:30am, 3:30pm, 7:30pm
• Sunday, December 15 – 11:30am, 3:30pm, 7:30pm

Orange County – Honda Center

• Tuesday, December 20 – 7:30pm
• Wednesday, December 21 – 1:00pm, 7:30pm
• Thursday, December 22 – 11:30am, 3:30pm, 7:30pm
• Friday, December 23 – 1:00pm, 7:30pm
• Saturday, December 24 – 1:00pm, 4:30pm
• Sunday, December 25 – 4:30pm

Inland Empire – Citizen’s Business Bank Arena

• Wednesday, December 28 – 7:30pm
• Thursday, December 29 – 12:00pm, 7:30pm
• Friday, December 30 – 11:30am, 3:30pm, 7:30pm
• Saturday, December 31 – 11:30am, 3:30pm
• Sunday, January 1 – 2:30pm

Long Beach – Long Beach Arena

• Wednesday, January 4 – 7:30pm
• Thursday, January 5 – 7:30pm
• Friday, January 6 – 1:00pm, 7:30pm
• Saturday, January 7 – 12:00pm, 3:30pm, 7:30pm
• Sunday, January 8 – 12:00am, 3:30pm, 7:30pm

 Tickets are priced from $16, $21, $26, $45 (VIP) and $70 (Front Row)

Opening Night tickets are available for only $12 each (not valid for premium seating)

All seats are reserved and available at the venue Box Office, online at Ticketmaster or by ringing 800.745.3000.

Save on tickets with the code MOM!!!

Be sure and visit Disney On Ice online and Disney on Ice on Facebook.