Scout Mom Celebrates

Posted on May 24, 2013 by Cynthia Baseman

Do A Good Turn Daily

Hurrah!

The Boy Scouts of America will allow gay Scouts as members. This is good news for straight boys, too. It sends the message to them and to their parents that what matters as a Scout – to be “helpful” “courteous” “brave” and “morally straight” – has nothing to do with your sexual orientation.

Unfortunately, gay Scout leaders are still not allowed to serve.

A confusing and misguided policy, but my Scout mom heart still celebrates because national has taken a step in the right direction. I will allow myself cautious optimism that soon, gay leaders will be allowed to serve in the BSA.

Of course gay Merit Badge counselors, Scoutmasters and Assistant Scoutmasters have served and currently serve. What I’ve admired about these men and women – their ability to teach the bowline knot or advise a boy on how to be a good leader – are the same things I admire in any scout leader.

Doesn’t any law-abiding, good-charactered adult volunteer willing to take yearly training classes, schlep tents and devote weekends to camp so that boys will grow into good citizens deserve to be celebrated?

My Dad Larry Kaplan, Troop 13. Circa 1972

At the very least, they should be accepted. Scouting is a special program unlike any other. It allows an infinite range of boys to find their strengths, to have opportunities to enjoy the outdoors and to develop lifelong friendships.

While I always say the scout motto “Be Prepared” along with Beverly Hills Troop 33, I will never be prepared for end of the scouting program, which is an inevitable outcome of intolerance.

As Joel Ordesky of Troop 33 advised his scouts, “Be proud of this step forward and never forget that you as leaders must always be willing to lead for change and not turn your back when the going gets tough or the vote goes the other way.”

Saturdays with Gavin

Posted on May 18, 2013 by Cynthia Baseman

Taking Five In between Takes

Saturday mornings Gavin Polone and I walk our dogs. Though we’ve known each other since high school, I credit the dogs with renewing our friendship, which, at first glance, does not suggest much mutual ground.

Gavin is not married and has no children. He’s a prolific Hollywood producer of Feature and TV projects including “Zombieland,” rated R for gratuitous violence and exploding zombies. He’s also an up-and-coming director (“Jane by Design” and “Twisted”).

While Gavin can pack his bags at a moment’s notice at the words Green Light, I’m hard-pressed to drive 10 miles to Malibu for a Girls’ Night Out Sleepover. Every mom knows how tricky it is to count on someone else to take care of your kids. So how is it that this single guy with no kids can offer any useful advice on parenting?

“I am my own child,” Gavin laughs. “And I take very good care of me.”

Gavin is a 6’1″ vegetarian who works out 365 days a year. He researches supplements and reads everything he can about health issues. He strives to improve his running times and his body fat percentages. He doesn’t drink or smoke or tolerate democrats. In short, he plans to live forever.

Despite the differences in our work and personal lives, Gavin has become my trusted Go-To Guy on parenting matters.

Take protein powder.

My High School Kid complained of being tired all the time. When he began to fall asleep in class, develop dark under-eye circles and a dark mood to match, I worried aloud to Gavin.

“Is he getting enough protein?” he asked.

I thought he’d be impressed with my bountiful breakfasts and luscious lunches, replete with organic vegetables and turkey on multigrain rolls. I even thought I’d get a little pat on the back for cutting out red meat.

“With the intensity of his workouts, I don’t think he’s getting enough protein,” Gavin surmised.

At his suggestion, I added more eggs to my kid’s diet and double-checked the protein powder I was using in our smoothies. Within minutes, he told me the product I’d been using for years had too much sugar and not enough protein. I bought another product with less sugar and more protein and texted the supplement facts to Gavin to see if it met with his approval.

During dinner with Mr. UnHollywood, Gavin texted me back: Yes. Give him two servings a day.

Mr. UnHollywood’s eyebrows arched, “So now Gavin’s telling you what to feed our kid?”

Whatever works. Since adding more protein to our High School Kid’s diet, he has put on a few pounds and has a noticeable increase in energy and smiles. That makes me smile, too.

Hal Lifson: Living the Beverly Hills Lifestyle One Story at a Time

Posted on May 16, 2013 by Cynthia Baseman

Beverly Hills natives use verbal shorthand as distinctive as a New York accent or a Texas drawl. If you rode a 10-speed along Elevado, ate Swensen’s Bubble Gum ice cream or scaled the enormous Moreton Bay Fig tree at the corner of Park Way and Beverly Drive, the code is: you’re from Beverly Hills.

That’s what made meeting publicist Hal Lifson at the BHHS track so weird. Hal gushed over the quality of a BHUSD education and touted the merits of a BeverLiz Café turkey burger. Even his knowledge of 1960′s Beverly Hills fooled me into thinking Hal was a native. Hal Lifson is, in fact, an Encino Valley boy.

Not one to let a zip code get in his way, as a teenager Hal found many friends at BHHS. Years later when he and his wife Brigitte started a family, they decided once and for all to set down roots in Beverly Hills. “Option A,” Hal explained, “Live in the valley in a beautiful mid-century home and keep our fingers crossed on the charter school or Option B, have access to schools like El Rodeo and Beverly Hills High and live in an apartment.”

At first, Hal wondered if his family would be accepted. “We found out real fast there are so many families facing the same dilemma about moving to an apartment for a quality education.”

Hal is a work-at-home dad, which affords him time to spend with his daughters. A former marathoner, Hal frequently brings his girls to the Beverly Hills High School track to support Coach Jeff Fisher’s successful Cross Country and Track Team. He thinks athletes are good role models for the girls. He should know. He represents several Olympic medalists including Nick Symmonds.

Track Star Nick Symmonds, the “Brad Pitt” of Track
calls BH his “second home”
photo courtesy Victah Sailer

He also represents Beverly Hills Mom, Brenda Soleimani who is, against all stereotypes, pursuing modeling after age 40.

From BH Mom to Supermodel Mom

Hal loves a challenge; he represented Phil Spector in 2009 after his conviction, had Nancy Sinatra on the cover of Playboy at age 55 and breathed new life into 60’s folk singer Jackie de Shannon’s career. As Hal describes it, he has found “profound happiness” in his family’s decision to move to Beverly Hills. Hal writes about everything from celebrity sightings to moms in the carpool lane. When he promotes Beverly Hills, it’s from the heart.

Letter to Mom

Posted on May 10, 2013 by Cynthia Baseman

Dear Mom,

When I was a teenager and we’d argue, you’d shake your head and mutter, “I can’t wait until you have kids someday and they talk back to you like this.”

The waiting is over.

This week my teenager and I had it out. Snapping and snarling. Posturing and pouting. And that was just Round 1. Thankfully, we never made it to Round 2, but the emotional exhaustion had us in our respective corners nursing wounds for a long while.

This Mother’s Day I need to thank you, my mamacita, for teaching me about patience and reassuring me that love always softens the blow of words said in anger.

You and me? We know about words. We talk at least three times a day. Sometimes for a second, sometimes much longer. I love you, Mom. Sorry for the attitude I must’ve heaped on you when I was a teenager.

If it makes you feel any better, I don’t think I’ve seen the last of the ‘back talk’ from my kid. Maybe I ought to tell him I can’t wait until he has kids someday?

Love,

Mom’s Day Blooming at Huntington Gardens

Posted on May 6, 2013 by Cynthia Baseman

Can’t complain. On past Mother’s Days I’ve been treated to breakfast in bed, homemade cards and gourmet chocolate.

I’ve also been treated to flowers in a really, really big way at The Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens. For the past three years, we’ve been exploring the exquisite gardens.

We’ve also wandered through the library exhibits and gazed at my two favorite paintings.

Thomas Gainsborough’s Blue Boy

Sarah Barrett Mouton’s ‘Pinkie’

No matter how many times I visit The Huntington, I always see something new.

Is it just me or does everyone seem a lot happier when they’re outdoors?

Yo Mama Deserves the Best

Posted on May 4, 2013 by Cynthia Baseman

Do you dismiss Mother’s Day as a Hallmark Holiday?

Hallmark Founder J.C. Hall didn’t arrive on the greeting card scene until the 1920’s, centuries after the ancient Greek Mother’s Day celebrations in honor of Rhea, the Mother of the Gods.

In 1872, responding to the Civil War and the Franco-Prussian War, American social activist Julia Ward Howe championed Mother’s Day to become a day dedicated to peace. Amen.

By 1914, President Woodrow Wilson made the official announcement proclaiming Mother’s Day as a national holiday.

Make history this Mother’s Day. Take advantage of these one-of-a-kind gifts for your one-of-a-kind Mom:

For Glamour Mom:

Such a Deal

Diamond stud earrings $195 ($275 regular price) from Keith Feldman (BHHS grad) of KFK Jewelers or 10% off anything else in stock for BH Mom readers.

For Funky Mom:

Goes With Everything

Hand-made bags from Boulmiche. Shhh, Jasmine helped me pick one of these for my mama. 10% off for BH Mom readers.

For Eco-Mom:

Wear it with Pride

Minabea Jewelry hand-made from crashed, recycled Mercedes-Benz luxury models. Other collections include 18K gold plated Geo-Modern pieces. Owner/Jewelry designer Christi Schimpke is a former art historian. Choose from any collection and receive 25% off your entire purchase. Enter coupon code ‘90210 Mom’ and save. Valid through June 1, 2013

To all the mothers of all the nations, I wish you a wonderful Mother’s Day.

For more 90210 mom material find me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/90210Mom

The Scoop on Bulk Bins

Posted on April 28, 2013 by Cynthia Baseman

Is there a statute of limitations on High School pranks? In 1982, Beverly Hills High classmate Danny H. placed his dead snake, a’ la rigor mortis, into the cafeteria’s community condiments. Ketchup anyone?

Danny’s snake came to mind this week when I missed my favorite snack, Whole Foods Organic dried mango.

“We’re out of stock on that, but you can find dried mango in the bulk items,” the clerk told me.

He might as well have said community ketchup. I eyed the bulk bins holding everything from grains to candy to mango slices. “Don’t people reach in there without the scoop?”

“You wouldn’t believe what people do,” he shook his head sadly.

I doubt I’d ever find a Diamondback in the granola bulk bin, but I’ve seen people helping themselves to plenty of “free samples” and that makes me wonder. Did they just sneeze? What bacteria lurks on their fingertips? How often do they clean those bins anyway?

The good news is, according to the FDA safety recall website, last year’s Whole Foods Market bulk bin items recall had nothing to do with contamination in the store.

Still, like the salad bar, soup bar and olive bar, the use of bulk bins relies on the honor system. Thou shalt not steal from Whole Foods. Or more importantly, thou shall not gross out BH Mom.

Bulk bins can help us avoid waste and achieve my dream of going plastic free. In some markets, customers even bring their own cloth bags or glass containers to fill them with bulk bin contents.

So what’s stopping me?

A few years ago I ate from the salad bar of another market and became sick. Can’t-be-more-than-three-feet-from-the-bathroom sick. Are my germaphobic tendencies getting the better of me?

Arcenio, who manages Whole Foods Beverly Hills Bulk Food reassured me, “I watch over the bins and if I see someone reach in, I stop them.”

“Don’t they get defensive?”

“I don’t care,” he said. “If customers see people putting their hands in the food, they won’t want to buy it.”

Chris, the Customer Relations Team Leader told me he caught a woman sampling an olive at the olive bar. “When I asked her to stop she told me it’s only one olive and started to give me a hard time. So I kicked her out.”

My new superheroes Arcenio and Chris believe shoppers should treat food at the Olive Bar and bulk bins like their own refrigerator. They wouldn’t want someone randomly sticking their hands in it.

Blame it on that bout of sickness I had apres salad bar. In my opinion, markets need to take one more step. Hand Sanitizer stations. Most markets have Sanitizing wipes for carts, but what about for your hands? If customers were more diligent about clean hands, I’d be more confident about buying dried mango out of the bulk bins.

Huck’s New Digs

Posted on April 21, 2013 by Cynthia Baseman

Good Friends, Good Times

For days I’ve been coming up with excuses to not write about retiring my Quarter Horse Huckleberry.

A month ago I decided it was time he went to pasture. Wednesday the hauler pulled into the Los Angeles Equestrian Center early and there went my plans for a long goodbye. Huck stepped into the trailer and, as instructed, I closed the door behind him so he wouldn’t back out. The trailer echoed the whinnies and kicks of impatient racehorses also destined for Northern California. “Thank you for looking after my boy,” I managed.

“You’re welcome,” the hauler shook my hand. “I’d better get going.” I caught a fleeting glimpse of Huck’s face through the trailer window before the truck rumbled out the long driveway and I broke down in the parking lot.

Eight years earlier, I’d stood in the same spot as my dear friend Mike Chipko trailered in my sorrel trail buddy. On account of his good nature and penchant for laziness, I called him Huck. People frequented his stall to offer him carrots or a pat. He liked the company.

In fact, Huck insisted on it. If anyone ambled behind us on the trail, no matter how much I egged him on, he’d show me who was boss by slowing to a crawl until those riders caught up and he could flick his ears back and forth at their horses.

Always Making Friends

In this way I met a fellow USC alumna riding her Thoroughbred. We talked about college days and soon I received an invitation to join the Friends of the USC Libraries Board. Because of Huck, I reconnected to USC in a fun and meaningful way.

Another riding buddy became Huck’s “Aunt.” Whenever he saw her, he nickered for her attention. I brag he took Blue Ribbon for Talkiest Horse. When I loaned him to a high school student taking lessons at Bennett Farms, Huck made me proud and won a real Blue Ribbon.

He also brought me into a circle of wonderful horse people at Bennett Farms like trainer Jim Bennett, trail buddies Patty and Kellian Ladd and groom/problem-solver Leo.

Leo could cure many horse ailments but he couldn’t solve my own dilemma: How to justify the cost of caring for a horse that I now barely rode once a week. Traffic snarls and constant canyon road closures on top of teaching, parenting and working made seeing Huck a push. The hurry-up-and-ride headache, just so I could rush to get back, seemed ridiculous.

Mike introduced me to Judy Adams and the answer became clear. She and husband Jack Adams own The Adams Ranch in Clements and they agreed to bring Huck into their family.

I think about Huck all the time but I don’t miss seeing him in a 12×12 stall. Judy sends me progress reports and photos. When she writes, “He acts like he’s been here his whole life” I believe her. He looks amazing. The freedom. The green grass. The new pasture pal. The mares in the next pasture…He must figure this is Horse Heaven. I just figure Judy Adams is an Angel.

Marriage and the Man Cave

Posted on April 14, 2013 by Cynthia Baseman

It’s safe to say that after 22 years of marriage, things have come full circle. Our new, deeper level of intimacy and love can be summed up in two words: Man Cave.

At first glance, the pros in Vegas would have called us a long shot. Picture my nightstand with a book tower from Smiley to Mosley and then picture Mr. UnHollywood’s nightstand with…the clicker. Books are like good friends I can’t wait to see and sports are like Mr. UnHollywood’s buddies who have stories of their own. Unfortunately, the two passions don’t always mesh.

“Can you turn it down a little, my love?” I ask after reading the same paragraph three times over Chris Berman’s annoying homerun call. Back, back, back, back…Gone!

Then there are nights when I can’t put my book down and suddenly I hear Mr. UnHollywood groan, “How much longer? I need to get to sleep.”

Marriage requires compromise and that’s how we came up with the Man Cave. Marni Belsome, our interior designer, achieved a ying-yang of a double-duty space to look oh-so-right.

The faded second-hand furniture that made perfect sense when the kids squeezed juice boxes and spilled Goldfish has been replaced with a sleek outdoor fabric-covered mega-sofa where Mr. UnHollywood’s pals can kick back. My books now rest on gorgeous bookshelves created by Rick and Josh Braun of Cabinets Unlimited. A double-sided fireplace connects my library to the Man Cave.

Bon Jour Cozy Study for Reading and Writing

This virtual stadium sports a 70” TV (yes, bigger is better according to every male who’s seen it) where Tiger Woods, Kobe Bryant and Matt Kemp swing, shoot and score so Mr. UnHollywood and his buddies can laugh, groan and high-five depending on who has what player on their fantasy league roster. The room is so inviting that I often visit ‘his’ side of the pool house to snuggle and commiserate over Kobe’s ruptured Achilles or celebrate the Yankees latest win.

Yesterday, Marni and I went on a hunt for a few final touches.

We bagged a trophy at Modern Rugs LA perfect for setting your feet on for the Big Game.

Mid-Century ottoman perfect for kicking back.

Wouldn’t you know it? Owner Sasha Masjedi is a fellow BHHS grad.

Eye for style on rugs and one-of-a-kind pieces.

Sometimes all it takes to work out a marital impasse is a pleasing change of scenery.

MARNI Interior Design Marni@MARNIInteriorDesign 310-666-9027

Modern Rugs, LA 310-855-1003

Kreiss 310-657-3990

What Your Handbag Says About You

Posted on April 9, 2013 by Cynthia Baseman

Have you noticed how your bag size expands and contracts depending on the age of your child?

Like many moms, I relegated my cute handbags to the back of the closet when I gave birth because having a newborn required I lug around a plastic-lined, baby blue, diaper bag behemoth. Within its endless pockets and pouches, I stashed toys, bottles, diapers and nursing bra pad liners.There go my male readers again.

As the babies grew into toddlers, I traded in the beast of a bag for a trendy backpack from an Outlet store. The trim design held water bottles and bandaids without screaming ‘Huggies.’ It also conveniently freed my hands to pull out my hair as the kids tested my sanity by swan-diving off playground slides and hot dogging on their bikes until one landed on his face.

Once the boys attended elementary school and could be dropped off in the carpool lane, I retired the backpack and ascended to handbag heaven. In short, I no longer needed a purse at all. I doubt Jack Kerouac felt any freer writing On the Road than I did skipping out of the house sans purse. The essentials – cell phone, keys and lipstick - slipped neatly into my jeans pocket.

Times have changed. This is the era of the Messenger Bag and I can’t blame my kids anymore. To begin with, I see my dermatologist more often than my bff and I’m getting tired of asking Mr. UnHollywood if there’s anything stuck in my teeth.

In my messenger bag you will find my new essentials:

Dental Floss

Cell Phone

Pen and paper

Day Planner

Lip gloss

Sunscreen

bandaids + Neosporin

Am I missing anything?

BHMom

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