Welcome to Monday on The Daily Stir! Emily has a show you won't want to miss ... because, really, she's got the perfect cast of characters today. Kris Humphries wants Kim's engagement ring back, Robert Pattinson rumors are swirling, Beyonce and Jay-Z are in the news again, Glee is being put down by Bristol Palin (*wink*wink), and Mark Ruffalo is steaming mad ... or maybe we just want him to be. Enjoy!
See this video on The Stir by CafeMom.
For more info on the stories you just heard about, click on these links:
Beyonce's Second Pregnancy Is None of Your Business
Kim Kardashian Shouldn't Give Kris Humphries Her Engagement Ring
Bristol Palin's Views on Gay Marriage Are Full of 'Glee'
Robert Pattinson in 'Hunger Games' Sequel Is Exactly What 'Twilight' Fans Need
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Do you think Kim Kardashian should give back her ring? Would you LOVE to see Robert Pattinson in the next Hunger Games?
Ever think about the mundane things we do, as moms, every day -- day in and day out? The little things ... the things that we would most certainly miss if they were to stop tomorrow. I have been thinking a lot about what being a mom means to me -- and so with that -- I have made a promise to myself to start appreciating my kids, and the time we have together, more. To not just get through each day -- but really enjoy each day -- because before we turn around these adorable little kids of ours will be all grown up.
Below are 26 things that I truly love about being a mom every day ... the moments that I sometimes take for granted ... just because they are a part of the daily routine.
1. Watching my kids when they sleep.
2. I love getting my kids off the bus. I only do this once a week, and their grandpa gets them the other four days. But on that one day a week I get the most amazing smiles and giant bear hugs.
3. Watching television with my kids because they constantly sneak a look over my way to see if I am really watching -- and when they realize I am, they smile and start talking to me about how silly Doofenshmirtz is.
4. I can't stand when my son insists on jumping back and forth from the front seat of my car to the back seat -- over and over again -- while I am trying to get him buckled in so we can get to wherever we have to go -- but it is so freaking hard to resist his smirk and giggle. How can I get mad at that?
5. I will miss doing my daughter's hair when she is too old to want/let me.
6. When my kids have nightmares I feel terrible for them, but I secretly love that they are crawling into bed for a cuddle.
7. I love that I can make them feel safe simply by being in the same room with them. If only I could make them feel that safe always ...
8. I love watching them charge full speed at my husband as he wrestles with them (even though I cringe, fearing someone will accidentally gets hurt.)
9. I get annoyed when I have to get up and get a third cup of milk in the middle of dinner -- but I would miss it if it went away.
10. I love watching them dance. They are so uninhibited and happy ... I can and will suffer through multiple boy bands to watch them.
11. I love watching (and listening to) them with their friends. They act like such big kids and they do and say the cutest things.
12. When they play kitchen and hand me a menu with every single item spelled wrong. Because -- well -- part of the fun is figuring out what the hell the menu says.
13. My son sleeping with his puppy blanket.
14. Having to bribe them to eat the damn broccoli on their plate.
15. Reading to my son every night. (This has already ended with my daughter -- she is reading Judy Blume and doesn't need me anymore.)
15. Setting up the bath for them -- which isn't that frequent any more because who has time for a bath every day!? Showers are so much faster. But they still love "swimming" in the bath every once in a while.
16. The way my daughter organizes her 17 (yes, I said 17) Beanie Boos on her bed every single morning. And she totally knows if we move them around.
17. The way my son still asks me to wipe his butt (okay -- you know what ... I am pretty certain I won't really miss this one)
18. Getting to pick out their clothes each night.
19. Checking their homework each day when I get home from work. I secretly love finding mistakes because it makes me feel like I have helped teach them something.
20. Both of my kids constantly stealing my iPhone and the cat and mouse chase that ensues.
21. Watching my kids play together for hours and hoping they stay best friends throughout their entire lives.
22. The fact my kids jumped for joy when they found out their grandparents were watching them the other night because "Grandpa always falls asleep and Grandma can't control us."
23. Playing tag with them at the park because they can't catch me. Oh yeah -- I can outrun a 5- and 7-year-old like nobodies business!
24. Their love for dessert and my having to field their constant request for some (fueled, no doubt, by my mother.)
25. The visible joy on their faces when they figure out how to do something on their own ... anything from riding a two-wheeler to completing a new level on a video game.
26. The random "It's a nice day out, can't we please have a picnic outside on the front lawn?"
What are some every day things your kids do that you love?
And hope you have a very Happy Mother's Day!
Sometimes you watch a video and it puts you in a good mood all day long. That happened to me with this video. The mom (my cousin) who shot the video sent it to me last week and I have watched it every day since. At least once. Sometimes twice. Why? Because it just makes me smile. There is something so adorable about seeing big sister Jada seriously crack up her baby sister. No one else can get her going like that. Now that is love!
See this video on The Stir by CafeMom.
Do you see what I mean? You have a very persistent big sister doing everything she can think of to make her baby sister, Chloe, laugh. But it's not just some little giggle, she is laughing so hard her whole tiny body is shaking ... she is kicking her feet and wiggling her body. Really, what is there not to love? And hearing her mom at the end say, "Chloe has never laughed this hard before" ... it tops it all off. You can just feel the happy energy. Precious!
In your house, does big sis or big bro know just how to make their little siblings crack up?
Image via Jodi Goldstein
If you are female with dark hair, then you know what a pain in the ass it is to have to deal with lip hair. Guys — avert your eyes now before you are forever thinking about your lady and her 'stache!
Are you gone? Good ... now I can open up. From the time I was in the fifth grade, I had to contend with the dreaded female mustache. The things we girls do.
First it was bleaching — inexpensive and perfect for an embarrassed tween in an age where you couldn't yet get a wax at every nail salon in town. I actually managed to take bleaching right into my early 20s but was told repeatedly by friends, relatives, and strangers at makeup counters that I was too old for the bleach. Ugh ... waxing. Please ladies, can I get a collective "we feel your pain!"
After succumbing to peer pressure and coming close to permanently scarring my upper lip because of an overzealous waxer and some overly sensitive skin, I called it quits on the hot wax. I chose to tweeze. It worked on my eyebrows — why not my lip?
But then that wasn't good enough. Apparently tweezing was also terrible for me. I moved on to threading ... where some lady would get so uncomfortably close to me that I could feel her breath on my face, and then she would rip hair follicle after hair follicle out of my upper lip with a string. The nice salon atmosphere did nothing to make me feel better. It hurt like hell ... and my lip NEVER got used to the pain.
I couldn't even bring my kids with me because I didn't want them to see me in tears over a 2-minute beauty treatment! It was all so lame. How did I somehow manage to birth two kids without shedding a tear — but at my bi-monthly threading appointments, I was a wreck?
I did think about laser for a fleeting moment but thought it seemed like something only people who went for Botox did. Not that there is anything wrong with Botox, I just wasn't there yet. Clearly I know very little about all of this "beauty stuff." I just don't have the patience for any of it.
But recently my good friend Carrie (we most definitely Jolened together while talking about boys in middle school) began working as a physician's assistant at a dermatology practice that does laser treatments. Once she explained to me how easy it was ... I signed on.
The thing is ... before I can start my laser treatments, I first have to shave for six weeks. You see, the hair on my lip needs to be coarse and dark and the only way to make that happen is to start shaving. And ladies, let me tell you, shaving is the most liberating thing I have ever done. No pain. No appointments. No money exchanging hands. Just me and a razor. And I can do it at my makeup table! LIBERATING.
Of course, I won't have to shave for too much longer because the laser treatments will start and I will be lip-hair-free — but in the meantime — this shaving thing is awesome. And I'm clearly not the first to have thought about shaving my lip! Hmmm ... maybe I don't really need those laser treatments after all.
How do you contend with your lip-hair? Bleaching, waxing, threading, or something else?
Image via feelthesoleil.com
The Daytona 500 is just under two hours away and the world is waiting. The anticipation is normally high around this race but today most everyone is talking about Danica Patrick ... for a whole variety of reasons. The most important, I think, is that she is breaking ground in her sport. She is only the third woman to ever compete in the Daytona 500 and it's awesome that she's representing.
Here's what you need to know to get your drive on ...
The race will be on FOX and, although their programming starts at noon, the race doesn't begin until 1pm EST.The Daytona 500 is, quite impressively, a 500 mile long race ... that's 200 laps! This is the 54th time this race is taking place and there are 49 cars and drivers. Lenny Kravitz is performing in a pre-race concert. Pat Monahan, the lead singer of the group Train, will sing the National Anthem.
And yes, everyone and their mother is talking about Danica, for all sorts of reasons.
Will you be watching?
Kombucha tea is all the rage. In organic health circles it is revered as something that does everything from detoxify the body to help with digestion. The problem is you won't find most (if any) of these drinks in your local supermarket. You will have to go to specialty health food markets or places like Whole Foods. Or ... oh wait ... there is this thing called online shopping!
Just last week April Peveteaux wrote about Kombucha on The Stir, mentioning some of the supposed pros and cons of Kombucha tea -- but there is one thing for sure ... this drink is here to stay. Everything in moderation, right?
Here are four popular Kombucha tea products ... and where you can find them.
The Product: Celestial Seasonings Kombucha Energy Shot. Just 2 oz worth of drink, this "shot" comes in three different flavors.
The Sell: "...naturally revitalizing effects of live, raw Kombucha and the energizing boost of caffeine from guarana, plus B-vitamins and ginseng, you just shake and shoot – then feel the energy!"
Where to Buy: You can find this one at Whole Foods and other markets; and at celestialshots.com they have a zip code store finder, making it really easy to find this tea.
The Product: Yogi Green Tea Kombucha. Unlike the other teas listed here, this one is a hot tea, and they sell a decaf version as well.
The Sell: "Aids immune and digestive function"
Where to Buy: Here is one brand you should be able to find at your local Target. And of course, online!
The Product: Synergy drinks are probably the most main stream of the brands you can buy. They have a variety of different products and flavors.
The Sell: "100% raw and organic, Kombucha nourishes the body, delights your taste buds, bolsters your immunity, and makes your spirits fly."
Where to Buy: Whole Foods and a variety of places online.
The Product: Kombucha Wonder Drink. It is available in three different flavors.
The Sell: "...good health, great longevity, inner serenity and incisive mental clarity."
Where to Buy: This one is available at Soap.com ... remember what I said about just buying stuff online.
Do you drink Kombucha tea? What's your favorite brand?
Images via celestialshots.com, swansonvitamins.com, synergydrinks.com, soap.com
Tonight is the big night! Billy is back hosting the Oscars and all of the Best Picture nominees are killer. But yesterday we saw, what many are calling, an early predictor to the Academy Awards ... the Independent Spirit Awards.
This awards ceremony, that aired on IFC, goes pretty far under the radar because the films are, well, independent low budget and "artsy." Most of the nominations go to lesser known films and actors, actors that likely won't even be walking the red carpet tonight -- and films that most of us will never see. However, the Descendants and The Artist went head to head for Best Feature Film and Best Male Lead yesterday -- and it seems completely possible that the winner from last night will take the prize tonight! Can you guess who won?
The Artist -- in both categories. And not only did it take home Best Feature Film and Best Male Lead, but it walked away with two other Spirit Awards as well!
More from The Stir: Sacha Baron Cohen Ashes Ryan Seacrest in Lame Oscars Stunt (VIDEO)
And if yesterday was an accurate indicator of winners for the Oscars then you will see Michelle Williams and Christopher Plummer on stage tonight. And not to worry, The Descendants didn't walk away empty handed, but you know, everyone wants to win the biggest prize ... and those went to The Artist.
Have you seen The Artist? Is it worth all of the hype?
Check out the video below to hear more about the winners at the Independent Spirit Awards and see Michelle William's acceptance speech ...
Image via Pacific Coast News
Nelson Mandela was hospitalized earlier today to undergo a hernia operation. He is 93 years old and is expected to be fine. In fact, he should be able to head home in just two days.
Still, even though hernia surgery is a pretty common thing, and it appears this was a scheduled procedure, anytime someone that old goes under a knife, you worry about their making it through.
As the beloved Mandela recovers, I began to think about some of the genius things he has said throughout his storied life. His quotes are particularly meaningful as lessons in parenting; this is what we should be teaching our children.
Here are 7 quotes by him that keep us inspired ...
"It's always impossible until it's done." “For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.” “No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.” “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” "I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear." "If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with your enemy. Then he becomes your partner." "It is better to lead from behind and to put others in front, especially when you celebrate victory when nice things occur. You take the front line when there is danger. Then people will appreciate your leadership."
Do any of these quotes really resonate with you?
Image via Abode of Chaos/Flickr
Is Jeb Bush, the former Florida governor, considering a run at the 2012 elections? Is that even possible this late in the game? And the bigger question ... Hasn't that family had enough White House time?
Though, I can't help but think about how nice it would be to have another choice for Republican candidate. The debates have gotten so painful to watch I've just about stopped watching them. Well, aside from the clips I see on The Daily Show and Colbert. But it seems good 'ol Jeb and I have something in common. Who would have thunk it!
Jeb Bush said just the other day:
“I used to be a conservative and I watch these debates and I’m wondering, I don’t think I’ve changed, but it’s a little troubling sometimes when people are appealing to people’s fears and emotion rather than trying to get them to look over the horizon for a broader perspective and that’s kind of where we are.”
Argh ... I couldn't agree more. So if he really does become a contender -- here are some things you should know about him:
Jeb was the governor of Florida from 1999 to 2007, and only left office because Florida law limits governors to two terms in office. He's been to the White House a few times. Jeb has a couple of relatives that have been President of the United States. Jeb is a family guy. He's been married since 1974 and has three kids, George, 36, Noelle, 35, and John Ellis, Jr., 28. He just celebrated another birthday. On February 11 he turned 59. He is pro-life but agrees that abortions should be allowed if the pregnancy resulted from incest, rape, or when the life of the woman is endangered.Jeb has said in the past that he won't join the race but people can change their minds. And if not now, maybe in 2016.
Would you like to see Jeb Bush get in and mix things up?
Image via DonkeyHotey/Flickr
Yesterday Brooke Mueller was formally charged with felony possession of Cocaine stemming from her arrest back in December. As you may remember, she got a little too wild at a Colorado nightclub, possibly got into a girl fight, and then the cops found some white powdery stuff ... to make matters worse she apparently had a little too much of the white stuff. So Brooke was also charged with the intent to distribute. Intent to distribute! Really? Can we get a collective: Oh, come on.
Charlie Sheen defended his ex immediately after her arrest. Admit it, you expected no less, right? Charlie is nothing, if not an stand up guy and eloquent speaker. And how could you argue with his reasoning when he told TMZ:
With the child support I give her ... she's gonna deal drugs? Never gonna happen."
Ha! What a guy.
This distribution charge could have been avoided if Brooke had just measured better ... that extra gram of cocaine she was allegedly caught with seriously changes her potential jail time. If convicted she is now looking at a max of six years, instead of a max of 18 months for mere possession.
It's kind of like getting a speeding ticket in a 25 mile zone. If you get caught going 49 miles an hour it is only three points on your license and you aren't considered a reckless driver ... but get caught going 50 in that 25 and all of a sudden you are trying to kill someone.
Okay, maybe I shouldn't compare a mom with a bag of cocaine to speeding (though they can both be dangerous.) My point is, the extra charge of distribution is ridiculous.
Besides, why the charges matter at all is beyond me since she will likely just get probabtion anyhow.
Reports say she is going to rehab for nine months. Hopefully she gets her act together because the whole situation just makes me sad ... for her kids. They are the ones that end up suffering the most.
Do you think the distribution charge is ridiculous?
I have no idea who I am anymore. On Valentine's Day I wanted to watch basketball. Not just any team ... I wanted to watch Lin's team. Jeremy Lin. What is it about this guy? I actually enjoy watching him play.
Holy crap ... I see what's happened here. I have been lin-fected. And apparently so has a nation, because this is no longer just a New York story. In fact, half of New York can't even watch him play — thanks to a Time Warner cable dispute.
So what is it about this guy? Why does everyone care? Sports Illustrated had him on the cover last week, #Linsanity trends on Twitter every single time he plays, and my Facebook feed explodes with commentary daily about this guy.
Oh ... this is so much bigger than just rooting for the home team.
Lin is — well — Linfectious. Sorry. I couldn't help myself.
More from The Stir: Jeremy Lin: 15 Funniest 'Linsanity' Tweets on the Knicks' New Hotshot
This is a guy that was basically five days from losing his job and being cut from the team. Five days. But if you watch him play, you can see why people love him so much. He is a leader. He is aggressive. He drives to the hole, gets knocked down, and then picks himself right back up again. He is the freaking Little Engine That Could. Okay, so he loses the ball too much. But that hasn't stopped him from helping his team win, over and over again.
But there are people that are frustrated by the attention Lin is getting ... and no one puts things in perspective better than Jon Stewart and his crack team of correspondents. Let "black correspondent," Larry Wilmore, tell you about it ...
See this video on The Stir by CafeMom.
Seriously, "Wait for it ... Knickerbocker, please," ROFL ...
More from The Stir: Jeremy Lin Proves an Asian American From Harvard Can Be an NBA Star
So my Linfection will continue as long as Jeremy Lin continues to make watching the Knicks fun again! It's also been really good for my marriage.
Are you Linfected?
Video via The Daily Show
They may not look like much. Simple mittens. Adult mittens. They aren't fancy leather gloves. They aren't fur-lined. They can't work an iPhone because of special fingertip technology. In fact -- they can't work anything, well, because they are mittens! And, to top it all off, they were $75.
But do you know what they can do? They can keep my hands nice and warm. Not so warm that they start to sweat ... but warm enough so that my hands don't even feel like they are outside.
My husband thought I was nuts when I told him how much they cost. I, kind of, thought I was nuts too. Who pays $75 for mittens? But any doubt I had disappeared when I slipped my hands into their fleece-like warmth.
To justify my purchase (which, of course, I don't need to do, but still -- I feel like I need to do), I've listed out six reasons why my Grandoe mittens were worth every penny.
1. When I go skiing my fingers won't feel like they are going to fall off as I sit on the chairlift in ridiculously low temperatures (muttering under my breath the entire way up, "Why am I on this ski-lift again?").
2. They should last me for years. Hell, maybe even for the rest of my whole damn life. I am not digging in the dirt with these things ... I am wiping snot (usually not my own) and walking around town.
3. Did I mention they are warm. And that works for my every day as well as my once a year ski trip. They are warm as I wait for the bus to send my kids off to school. Warm as I wait for the train to send myself off to work. You get the idea. Warm. Warm. Warm.
4. I never buy myself stuff like this. I shop for my kids but I rarely shop for myself. And when I do shop for myself, I am always bargain hunting and checking price tags -- and you know what -- it felt great to click the "add to cart" button and treat myself to something.
5. These mittens will make some killer snowballs. The palm-side of these things are perfectly round and smooth.
6. My daughter tried them on and she said it felt like her hand was wrapped in a cozy blanket.
Yep, totally worth it!
Is there something you've splurged on that was totally worth the money?
Image via Amazon
The only time my kids had ever seen Beauty and the Beast was on an iPad. A tiny little screen with questionable audio. So I jumped at the chance to take them to a screening of the film, on a big screen with real surround sound, in 3D. I, personally, can care less about the 3D element Disney insists on inserting into old movies and I wish they would stop.
Produce new movies in 3D — if you must! — but leave the old movies as they were.
And, as it turned out, what I really loved about Beauty and the Beast 3D was not even in the movie at all ...
It was the adorable short, Tangled Ever After, that ran before the feature film. I mean, who didn't love Tangled when it came out in 2010? The Disney movie where Rapunzel, a seriously kick-ass princess, falls in love with Flynn Rider while being ransomed rescued — and that horse, Maximus ... funny, even for the adults! This new short brings the whole gang back together again for the cute couple's wedding. And of course, Maximus is none other than the most responsible ring bearer ... ever. The slapstick shtick that ensues (in 3D that makes sense) was laugh-out-loud funny. Here's a little clip to whet your appetite.
See this video on The Stir by CafeMom.
Once that ended I got to watch the smiles on my kids' faces as they watched Gaston try to convince Belle to marry him. Remember what an ass he makes of himself? And I couldn't help but sing along to so many of the songs. In fact, for days afterward, my 5-year-old son complained that he couldn't get one song, in particular, out of his head! Can you guess which one?
"Be Our Guest." It really is infectious. I bet you can't listen to it again without it getting stuck in your head. Go ahead ... give it a try.
See this video on The Stir by CafeMom.
Will you take the kids to go see Beauty and the Beast 3D?
Image via Disney
Yvette Prieto, 32, might just get the award for luckiest woman of the week. Why, you ask? Well, last weekend Michael Jordan, 48, proposed (think he was on bended knee?) to the absolutely stunning Cuban-American model. Hmmm, let me revise my beginning ... Michael Jordan is pretty damn lucky as well.
Listen, I know Michael Jordan, retired basketball superstar, can get tons of women, but -- a gazillionaire or not -- finding someone you want to be with for the rest of your life isn't an easy thing.
I am sure Jordan did some serious vetting when the couple first started dating three years ago! You don't become the giant (at 6'6'', no pun intended) he is today by jumping into things lightly. Jordan is very calculated with his public persona. He doesn't endorse political figures, he is smart about what he says to the press, and he has created brands within brands within brands. Oh yeah, and there is that little part about him owning the Charlotte Bobcats.
The man has got to have some skeletons in his closet, right? Well, if there are, his dirty laundry stays mostly out of sight. He has managed to play out his entire life close-to-the-vest. Sure, we all know he was married for 17 years to his first wife, Juanita Vanoy. And we know she made off with some big bucks in the end -- $168 million to be exact! However, Jordan, much like Derek Jeter -- and the polar opposite of, say ... Kris Kardashian Humphries -- does everything in his power to control public perception of his personal brand.
There is no disputing Michael Jordan is the best to have played the game. He has kicked ass and taken names. Whether it is his six NBA championship rings, the five times he's been chosen as NBA MVP, his two Olympic gold medals, or his 14 All-Star game appearances (two of which he won MVP) -- he is now stepping up for another big challenge. No matter how much money you have, no matter how many times your new kicks cause mass hysteria, that won't help you have a strong marriage. No amount of calculation can guarantee that.
I do wonder what Jordan's kids, Jeffrey Michael, 23, Marcus James, 21, and Jasmine, 19, think about their soon-to-be new step-mom.
Congratulations to the happy couple!
Do you think he is the best player to have ever played the game?
Image via SplashNews
Grandmas cook. It's what they do. Well, a lot of them anyway. Not my mother — my kids have a grandmother that could burn a pot of boiling water. But that's an entirely different story.
Usually grandmas cook, and though not all of them are amazing cooks, the love that goes into their preparation outweighs the terribly bad slightly "off" meal every now and again. And a lot of grandmas have their dish. You know the one ... the one the grandkids clamor for.
But as children and grandchildren get older, they figure out how to cook and may just try to move in on grandma's territory, especially around the holidays. This is exactly what happened with my husband, when he was 22. And it could have really been a disaster!
He told his grandmother he wanted her to take a year off from the turkey, that he really wanted to try to make it that year. Being the competitive family they are, she asked, "What, you think you can make the turkey better than me?"
Oy ... really? She had to go there?
Challenging my husband, even if you are his grandma, will always result in serious competition. And she LOVED every minute of it. She talked up their turkey battle for weeks before Thanksgiving. She even started the lighthearted trash-talking (which definitely scored her a few points with the judges).
They both worked furiously that Thanksgiving. The Boshnack blood ran strong that Turkey Day. My husband had soaked his turkey overnight in orange juice and pineapple and good ol' grandma watched as he basted that thing every 30 minutes — like clockwork. Grandma, on the other hand, looked like she had it all under control, acting cool, calm, and collected. After all, she was cooking the same turkey she'd been cooking for 60+ years. She laughed every time her grandson got up to baste, but after a little while, you could see her start to sweat. You see, grandma was just as competitive as her grandson and — oh boy — she did NOT want to lose.
Fast-forward a whole bunch of hours and the birds came out of the oven. Grandma still thought she had it in the bag, until ... they each began to carve. It was then that she realized she might have taken the competition too lightly. Her turkey was dry and bland while the competition was juicy and sweet. And she knew it right away.
The family lined up to taste and each person reserved their judgement until we sat down at the table. Grandma was the first to speak ... to a room completely silent ... and we were anticipating her every word. And then it happened: grandma lowered her head and said her grandson had won. She was passing the torch on to him ... and she was going to eat his turkey instead of the one she had made!
Later on she pulled him aside and told him he could cook for her any time. It was a good Thanksgiving.
And for this year, I hope you have a very happy, relaxing, and turkey-filled day.
Who's doing the cooking in your house today?
If you saw a child getting raped, what would you do? Mike McQueary had that very decision to make on March 1, 2002. He saw a 10-year-old boy getting raped in a locker room shower by, for all intents and purposes, his boss, Jerry Sandusky. Let me make this clear ... the boy was being sodomized. I hate to force the visual on you, but this is what went down. Mike, who was 28 at the time, walked into what he thought was an empty locker room and heard what he thought was people having sex in the shower. When he looked up, what he saw was very different.
What would you have done?
If you saw a man raping a boy, you would:
a) Leave the room and call your dad for advice.
b) Leave the room and go tell that man's boss.
c) Confront and physically stop what was going on; beat the crap out of the man; scoop the boy up and bring him to safety.
d) Call 911.
McQueary chose to go with choice A and then choice B.
That was the WRONG decision. The more I read about this story, the more infuriated (and nauseated) I become. Who does that? Who just walks away?
More on Penn State Scandal: Jerry Sandusky Abuse Case Makes Us Worry About His Own Kids
There are so many things coming to light about the Penn State sex abuse scandal that make you question what people were thinking. Was everyone just worried about themselves? Everyone worried about their own promotion within the institution? Everyone so worried about their own legacy (Paterno, in particular) that they just turned the other cheek?
I wonder if McQueary's choice would have been different if it were a football player raping a woman in that shower? What if it were Sandusky raping a woman and she was pleading for him to stop?
Was it because it was "The Great Sandusky" that he walked away?
More on Penn State Scandal: How Could Jerry Sandusky's Wife Not Have Known?
McQueary should be OUT. He was 28. He knew better. I am sure he has real regret over walking away that day. But regret won't help that boy and all of the subsequent boys that were possibly harmed. Let me be clear ... it would not have been okay for an 18-year-old McQueary, a freshman at Penn State, to choose to do nothing either, but maybe I would have had more empathy for the fact he ran and called his dad for advice.
Mike McQueary should not be on the sidelines of the Penn State football game this weekend. END. OF. STORY.
Do you think McQueary should be allowed to coach this weekend?
Image via Getty
My daughter has a stuffy nose. Every. Minute. Of. Every. Day. Sometimes she is even lucky enough to have some combination of stuffy and runny. And, last year, for a girl in the first grade, that meant she was up getting a tissue every 10 minutes. I kid you not. Her teacher even questioned me on it. Well, crap, of course I know about it! We are trying to figure out how to fix it. If she would only let me do a sinus rinse! I've been doing them on myself for years and have sold so many of my friends and family on it, I should make a commission. Alas, asking a little girl to squeeze water into one nostril in order to make "boogies" shoot out the other nostril was an exceptionally hard sell.
So we dealt with the recurring sinus infections, the red nose, the lack of smell, or the ability to chew with her mouth closed — because she literally couldn't breathe!
I took her to our pediatrician and our pediatric ENT and both suggested allergy medicine. Yep, I'd tried that ... doesn't seem to help. So the ENT put a scope up her nose (she got a nice toy after that visit) in order to get a good look at her tonsils and adenoids. Her tonsils were fine but her adenoids were enlarged, though only slightly. We tried a different allergy medicine and a nose spray. I hate nose sprays but took the mild one he gave us out of desperation.
Back at the ENT two weeks later, her stuffy nose seemed to get worse and her adenoids got bigger.
We scheduled surgery. The adenoids came out. It was a simple procedure, but seeing your child in a hospital gown is never something you would elect to do if you felt like you had another option. Six full weeks after surgery, we went back to the ENT and my girl could breathe! And she could smell! "Holy cow," I thought. "Success!"
Nope. Not so fast. The next effing day. The next day ... her nose went right back to where it had been before the surgery.
So that day I gave my 7-year-old a choice. She's always been good when given two options, even if she doesn't particularly like either one, she just likes knowing she's the one deciding. Hmmm ... that doesn't sound like anyone I know.
Her choice was this: Try a new allergy medicine for a week or do the dreaded sinus rinse.
You see, even though I thought the sinus rinse might help her, I simply couldn't force her to put a squeeze bottle to her nostril. It isn't the kind of treatment I could (or would want to) force upon someone. They have to be a willing participant. And this time she bought what I was selling. It helped that there is nothing she despises more than taking medicine.
The nasal rinse won!
When I finally squeezed that bottle of water up her left nostril, what shot out of the right nostril could possibly have been entered in the Guinness Book of World Records, if they recorded such things. Seriously, the amount of "boogies" that fell into the sink were unreal and couldn't have possibly come out of her small head. She was grossed out. I was secretly grossed out (but ecstatic!). And then it happened ... she took a deep breath in ... through her nose. Since that day in April we have done the sinus rinse well over 100 times, using it whenever she starts to get stuffy — and amazingly, not one sinus infection!
In fact, she now tells me when she needs it! It is a fantastic feeling to go from being completely stuffed to being clear — all in a matter of 60 seconds.
Mommy guilt did set in: Why didn't I push her more to try the rinse? Maybe she didn't need the the surgery after all? Could we have avoided many of those bottles of medicine we needed over the years?
But I try not to think about it too much because I can't change the past, and it felt better to direct some disappointment at my doctors who, while being wonderful and supportive, never once pushed me to try the rinse. Which turned out to be an amazing natural alternative to everything they threw my way.
In the meantime, I found this video of an adorable 5-year-old girl using the same sinus rinse squeeze bottle my daughter uses. I wish I'd found this a year ago!
See this video on The Stir by CafeMom.
Have you ever tried a sinus rinse, on either you or your child?
Image via YouTube
I have high hopes for the Emmys tonight ... just under five hours away! I feel like television is on a comeback and we are all here to witness it. And I love that we kick off the Fall season of shows with all of our favorite television actors in one auditorium. The list of nominees was actually released back in July, but why pay attention to it back then if we don't need to buy a dress for a possible acceptance speech? So today I thought it might be fun to see, pre-ceremony, who is shaking in their boots ... awaiting their turn at a chance to walk up on stage and collect their very own personal Emmy.
What I am most curious about, as I look at this list, is how many of us actually watch more than two of the shows listed per category. It is kind of great how different the selection is; for instance, I am guessing the Games of Thrones viewer is going to be very different from the person sitting back to watch The Good Wife.
Below is the list of 10 of the most popular categories of awards that will be given out tonight. Do you have your favorites?
Best drama series: Boardwalk Empire, Friday Night Lights, Dexter, Game of Thrones, The Good Wife, Mad Men.
Best comedy series: Modern Family, 30 Rock, Glee, The Office, The Big Bang Theory, Parks and Recreation.
Drama actress: Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife; Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men; Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: SVU; Kathy Bates, Harry’s Law; Connie Britton, Friday Night Lights and Mireille Enos, The Killing.
Drama actor: Jon Hamm, Mad Men; Steve Buscemi, Boardwalk Empire; Kyle Chandler, Friday Night Lights; Michael C. Hall, Dexter; Hugh Laurie, House; Timothy Olyphant, Justified.
Comedy actress: Tina Fey, 30 Rock; Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie; Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation; Laura Linney, The Big C; Martha Plimpton, Raising Hope; Melissa McCarthy, Mike & Molly.
Comedy actor: Steve Carell, The Office; Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock; Jim Parsons, Big Bang Theory; Matt LeBlanc, Episodes, Louis C.K., Louie; Johnny Galecki, Big Bang Theory.
Supporting comedy actor: Ty Burrell, Modern Family; Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Modern Family; Ed O’Neill, Modern Family; Eric Stonestreet, Modern Family; Jon Cryer, Two and a Half Men; Chris Colfer, Glee.
Supporting comedy actress: Julie Bowen, Modern Family; Sofia Vergara, Modern Family; Jane Lynch, Glee; Betty White, Hot in Cleveland; Kristen Wiig, Saturday Night Live; Jane Krakowski, 30 Rock.
Supporting drama actor: Andre Braugher, Men of a Certain Age; John Slattery, Mad Men; Alan Cumming, The Good Wife; Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones; Josh Charles, The Good Wife; Walton Goggins, Justified.
Supporting drama actress: Archie Panjabi, The Good Wife; Kelly Macdonald, Boardwalk Empire; Christine Baranski, The Good Wife; Michelle Forbes, The Killing; Margo Martindale, Justified; Christina Hendricks, Mad Men.
Do you have a show you really want to see win tonight?
Image via Alan Light/Flickr
It is time to think about your Halloween Costumes for 2011, because the longer you delay the later it is going to get and then — before you know it — you will have three days to put together something great. So when shopping for your party-winning threads, how do you decide what to wear?
Have you been invited to an adult party with a theme? Are you sporting a costume because you want to trick or treat with your nephew? Are you hosting a Halloween party for your friends? It is very important to keep the destination (and the company) in mind when you pick out your costume. Seriously, seriously, important. And just in case you aren't sure what constitutes inappropriate for most party venues, I have pictured five costumes that are sold along side the kiddie Halloween costumes, but that should only be worn in the bedroom!
Most of these would make fantastic role-playing costumes for the bedroom, but really, I don't want to see any of my friends in costumes like these at whatever Halloween parties I might attend. Tell me if you agree ...
If the theme of the party is "Sexy, Skimpy, Naughty" then go for it — but if your brother is throwing a party for some friends — keep this one at home.
If you choose the cop costume below, please make sure the theme of the party is "Strippers" — otherwise find something else!
There is a reason there are so many pornos out there with women serving men! If you like that sort of thing ... it can be great for the bedroom. But I beg of you, please don't wear this to a Halloween party. Unless, of course, it is a sexy themed party.
Lots of people want to dress up like firefighters, and that can be a great costume if you are going trick or treating with your nephew — but please choose one that will be appropriate for the kids to see! In case you are wondering, this one is not.
Pirates are all the rage but this one goes a bit over the top. Here's the thing ... if I can see part of your ass cheeks peeking through the bottom of your shorts, I'd rather you wear something else to my party.
Have you been to Halloween parties with women in costumes that have made you want to hide your eyes?
Images via Amazon, Costume Supercenter, Wonder Costumes, Costume Kingdom, Party City
There is a ton of hoopla surrounding the release of tapes by Caroline Kennedy, of her mom, Jacqueline Kennedy, giving an interview to Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr., back in 1964. And, well, there should be a huge deal made of this! It is like opening a time capsule and getting a sneak peek into a world that seems totally foreign to so many of us. 1964 ... bwhaaa ... there were no personal computers (which means no Internet), there were still separate bathrooms for blacks and whites in many, many places in this country, there were *gasp* no mobile phones — or dare I say — answering machines (that is what we used to call the machines that recorded voice mail messages). And opinions on the sexes were pretty ass backwards.
So why is there so much shock and surprise at Jacqueline Kennedy verbally kowtowing to her man?
Talking about how, essentially, his political opinion was worth more than hers. Going so far as to say that women just weren't "suited" for politics. Why all of the surprise?
It was 1964. Hasn't anyone watched Mad Men? Pan Am will be on television soon too, and will offend many a forward thinking woman today. Women were different back then. Times were different. I am not saying that is how it should have been, but that is how it was! You know, back then, a lot more people were cigarette smokers too. Horrifying!
So while Caroline's daughters, both in their early 20's, may be horrified by what their grandma said, they need to realize that their grandmother lived in a very different time. If those same questions had been asked in 1984, or prior to her death in 1994, I am guessing her answers would have been very different.
I think it is fair to say that Jacqueline Kennedy, along with thousands of other woman in this country, would give the very opposite advice to their granddaughters today. Do you really think she would tell them to get all of their opinions from their men? Are you kidding me? That's so ... well ... so 1950's and 60's.
So to the grandkids I say this: Just understand that though those words sound horrifying today, it isn't the same interview you would have heard had it been conducted 20 or 30 years later. Times and opinions change and those words, from that time in history, shouldn't make you look at your grandma any different.
Are you interested in getting these tapes and hearing more than just the snippets?
Image via Amazon
There are so many reasons I am psyched for Dolphin Tale, the new movie about a tail-less dolphin named Winter, set to hit theaters this Friday, September 23. I have watched the trailer over and over again, and each time I can't help but get a little emotional. The thing is, I usually hate movies like this. They give away the entire movie in the trailer. They SHOW the dolphin jumping in the air with a prosthetic tail to cheers — in the trailer! It's not like I am giving away the goods here people. However, this movie to me is sort of like 127 Hours. You knew he was going to cut off his arm in that movie, but we still flocked to go see it, because it was about the journey. Movies like these are about how they survive their ordeals. Plus, really, who can resist Harry Connick Jr. and Morgan Freeman? Really? Who?
Also, I feel like this will be my kid's Free Willy. That perfect, inspirational, you-can-do-anything type of movie that I often crave for (but don't find) when searching the listings for a movie to go with with the family. I don't know any child that wouldn't want to be there, on the beach, rescuing this poor dolphin — and then, in return, have the dolphin fall in love with them.
Plus, Winter, the dolphin, stars as herself! She is still alive and well and living in the same aquarium in Clearwater, Florida where she was given her prosthetic tail. So, happy ending all around. Plus, Winter continues to help people, from war veterans to children, adjusting to prosthetic limbs. If you haven't already, you can check out the trailer below.
See this video on The Stir by CafeMom.
Will you go see Dolphin Tale when it hits theaters next week?
Image via YouTube
If you care about boxing at all ... or know anyone that does ... the odds are they've already paid their money to HBO's PPV and are planning their evening around making sure they are in front of a screen at 9pm tonight. If you don't care about boxing, well then, you seriously don't know what you are missing because this match up between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Victor Ortiz is as much about the characters in the ring as it is about what happens in the ring.
Still, if it was up to me, I would much rather watch Mayweather duke it out with Clubber Lang. Remember him? The mohawk and feather wearing character played my Mr. T in Rocky III.
Yes, Mayweather is a six time world champion, undefeated in 41 fights (25 of which were knockouts) but he also is very much the villain. And everyone knows a villain is way more fun to watch ... it gives us someone to root against.
Yesterday when Mayweather and Ortiz weighed in, Mayweather went right up to Ortiz and got in his face. Maybe he was trying to build up excitement for the fight or maybe he was trying to get his own adrenaline pumping, but whatever it was, Mayweather is definitely the Clubber Lang of the pair. See for yourself.
See this video on The Stir by CafeMom.
Now check out Clubber Lang, from Rocky III, set to the get-your-heart-pumping song, "Eye of the Tiger." Clubber Lang is as mean as they get — he is the one to root against. I can't help but compare him to Mayweather.
In one of my favorite scenes a sportscaster asks Clubber Lang what his prediction is for the outcome of a fight, to which Lang replies, "Prediction? Pain." Gotta love Mr. T!
See this video on The Stir by CafeMom.
Who do you think would win in a match up between Clubber Lang and Floyd Mayweather Jr.?
Images via YouTube
Air shows are a really big deal. Apparently more than 12 million people go to them every year. I see the allure. Old planes from a different era ... the kind I played with when I was a kid or built as model airplanes ... doing tricks in the air that seem unimaginable. But man it must be tricky as hell for a pilot to command a small plane twisting and turning, or in the case of Jimmy Leeward and his "Galloping Ghost," to race at more than 500 miles an hour as spectators watch from below, in Nevada.
Yesterday Leeward, a veteran pilot, lost control of his cool vintage plane and did a nose dive into the crowd that came out to watch The Reno Air Races. A nose dive. Onlookers who witnessed the crash said it looked like he tried to pull up, but it was immediately clear he would end up in the crowd. The video is shocking to watch, but for some reason (which I hate to admit), I couldn't resist watching it. I think part of me was hoping it would look less tragic?
After seeing it though, I am shocked (and happy to hear) that only three people died (as of my writing this), the pilot, and a man and woman on the ground; however, at least 57 others were taken to the hospital, many in critical condition. My heart goes out to not only the victims, but I can't help but think about ALL of the children that must have been there ... so excited to see the air show in person.
Below is the full report on the tragedy that occurred yesterday, complete with witness accounts and the actual crash.
See this video on The Stir by CafeMom.
This air show accident got me thinking, how many other similar scenes could I find online? Is this something that happens often? Wikipedia lists eight separate air show incidents, so far this year, and five that occurred in 2010.
And just last month we reported on three air show tragedies — all over one weekend in August. Below is an ABC News report from that weekend, with video of the different crashes. Be forewarned that it may be difficult to watch.
See this video on The Stir by CafeMom.
Barbara Pinto, the reporter in the clip above, says that it has been more than 60 years since a spectator fatality occurred at an American air show. Yesterday, near Reno, Nevada, that all changed.
Are you one of the 12 million people each year to head out for an air show?
Image via YouTube
Are you tired of hearing about school lunches yet? I hope not, because in a lot of cities, school hasn't even started yet — so it's way too early to be sick of hearing about them!
Below is the third in a series of videos we shot with Cris Comerford, the White House Executive Chef and mom to a 10-year-old girl. Cris knows a thing or two about how to make your kid want to eat their lunch (her daughter makes her own lunch every night, while Cris supervises), and here she shares another healthy (quick to prepare) school lunch option that meets all of the MyPlate guidelines.
And note, if this seems like a lot of food for one kid at lunch, most parents also need to pack a snack for earlier in the day ... so why not take the fruit and yogurt part of this meal and make it their snack?
See this video on The Stir by CafeMom.
Add the lunch we prepared above to the other two school lunch options posted earlier (one of which is perfect for sandwich haters), and you will be set for the week!
Cris even suggests prepping everything on Sunday night for the five days ahead and reminds us to cook a little extra for dinner so we can use the leftovers for lunch.
Turkey Wrap
Turkey (or any kind of lunch meat will do)
Low-fat Monterey Jack cheese (or any kind of cheese)
Tomatoes
Lettuce
Whole wheat wrap
Combine all ingredients as shown.
Bean Relish
Chickpeas
Kidney beans (or any kind of beans you like)
Red peppers
Tomatoes
Cilantro, salt, pepper
Lime
Combine all ingredients as shown.
Summer Fruit Salad With Honey Yogurt Sauce and Granola
Any leftover fruit you have in your fridge
Plain yogurt with some honey and a teaspoon of vanilla
Granola
Combine all ingredients as shown.
Drink
Apple juice
Do you make lunch for your child or do they buy it at school?
I seriously love the image to the right ... I really do. I have actually printed it out and put it up on my fridge. I know there is no way that every single meal in my house will match these new MyPlate guidelines — but just seeing the fruits and veggies in their bright red and green colors reminds me to try harder than I have been. And having it somewhere my kids can see it too gets them involved ... pretty soon they will be checking to make sure I am matching the plate in the picture!
Which brings me to school snacks and lunches. Ugh ... I know I said it just yesterday — but they intimidate me. So here is another easy to prepare suggested lunch from Cris Comerford, the White House Executive Chef.
Plus, if you are like a lot of my friends complaining that your kids refuse to eat sandwiches, you will LOVE this option. Veggie and Chicken Pasta!
See this video on The Stir by CafeMom.
Most kids like pasta, so all you need to do is take other foods you know they will eat, combine them, and serve. And as Cris said, kids eat half of their daily caloric intake while at school, so what we give them is super important.
To save time, you can prep on Sunday night and make enough for two days of the week!
Whole Wheat Pasta Primavera (With Grilled Chicken)
Whole wheat penne pasta, cut in half
Blanched broccoli, carrots, and tomatoes cut into bite-size pieces
Chicken cut into bite-size chunks
Combine all ingredients as shown.
Apple Dippers With Honey
Peel and slice apples, dip them in water with powdered vitamin C for a few seconds, and like magic, the apple doesn't turn brown (I LOVE this tip)
Honey to dip (or you can substitute peanut butter or almond butter!)
2% Milk
This will satisfy their dairy for the meal
And if you missed Cris Comerford's Chef in a Pocket lunch, go back and check it out. Even if you switch things up a bit to accommodate your little one's taste buds, there are some great ideas here!
Would your kid eat this? Any suggestions for picky eaters?
Image via ChooseMyPlate.org