Jon & Kate Plus 8: The Next Chapter

I just saw this promo for the new August episode of Jon & Kate Plus 8.  Which is worse: that they are continuing with this reality show or that I will continue to watch this reality show?  Hmmmm….

A Suburban Life

When did living in a nice house in the suburbs with two kids, a dog, and a minivan (and MAYBE a white picket fence) become something people DIDN’T want?

The hubbie and I rented Revolutionary Road on Netflix last weekend.  Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet’s performances were really amazing and heart-wrenching.  Kate Winslet is one of my favorite actors. I definitely give the movie an “A” for being a very well done dramatic film.  But what was up with the message?  Since when did living in suburbia equal a death sentence?  By moving to the suburbs and starting a family, you are essentially giving up all your dreams of adventure and success and now must resign yourself to the fact that you will live a dull and ordinary life and never be “special.” Seriously?

My husband, who is a morning radio host, was talking to his co-workers this week about a fun topic to discuss on his radio show: Should we buy a minivan. We have been talking about it more and more lately, especially after all our long family road trips. I’ve always wanted a top of the line decked out minivan. But, maybe we should stick with a large SUV?  Well, the singletons in his office just GASPED at the mere thought of us purchasing a minivan. 

 ”A minivan?”  “NOOOO!  Don’t do it!!”  Their reaction made me think that buying a minivan would automatically make us “uncool.” Really?

Well, let me just say that I LIKE living in the suburbs.  It really is a dream come true, not something I felt resigned to do.  I was excited to get married, have kids, and live in an amazing suburban neighborhood.  I want the sidewalks and the green grass and the trees and the playground down the street.  I want to wave to my neighbors while they mow their lawn.  Or invite the mom next door over for coffee.  I want to help carpool.  I WANT a minivan. 

Hi, my name is Pam and I want to be a soccer mom. And I’m proud of it.

One Dollar Fun

When Daniel was a little over a year old, I bought him some items from the Dollar Store to create a “busy box.”  I got this idea from his Gymboree class. The teachers always had a “busy box” time toward the end of class when all the babies would grab small little items out of a plastic box.  There were musical shakers and small books and little toys.  Bean loved it.   I decided to recreate this “busy box” idea at home.

So I got a plastic box and filled it with “Dollar Store items” like measuring cups and small boxes and the same musical shakers, books and toys.  Then I saw a string of colorful ”Mardi Gras” beads.  I grabbed those too.

Well, TWO YEARS LATER, the most popular item from that busy box are still those beads:

These beads have provided Daniel, and now Annabel, with so many hours (and days!) of playtime fun.  They wear the beads and play dress up. They twirl the beads around in circles and sing.  Daniel uses the beads as gas to fill up his play car.  Annabel places the beads in and out of stacking cups.  They both use the beads as pretend food ingredients and mix them and cook them in pots and pans.  These beads allow them to be creative and use their imagination.  

(I think there used to be some red beads and gold beads too, but there is always one that breaks in a moment of chaos.)

So I learned with my kids, a dollar still does go a LONG WAY.

 My husband says, “These better be the ONLY Mardi Gras beads she ever gets.”

Where’s my “Team Kate” T-shirt?

I wrote about the deterioration of Jon & Kate (Plus Eight) Gosselin’s marriage here.  I wished, back then, that they would have worked on their marriage a little more before calling it quits.  But I think I may have spoken too soon. 

Here is a list of headlines from the popular entertainment and tabloid magazines that feature “Jon Gosselin.” 

(And these are JUST from the month of JULY):

Jon Gosselin Gets an N.Y.C. Bachelor Pad

Jon Gosselin Holds Hands With New Girlfriend in France!

EXCLUSIVE: See Mugshot of Jon Gosselin’s New Girlfriend

Pal: Hailey Glassman Dating Jon Gosselin “to Get Famous”

Jon Gosselin Brags He’s Bringing Back “Good Ol’ High School Days!”

Jon Gosselin and 22-Year-Old Girlfriend Enjoy PDA-Filled Day in the Park

Jon Gosselin Hits the Hamptons – with Lindsay Lohan’s Dad

Jon Gosselin’s New Girlfriend Shocked He’s Out with Another Woman

Jon Gosselin’s Double Date with a New Kate – and Real Housewive’sJill Zarin!

Tabloid Reporter Resigns Over New Boyfriend Jon Gosselin

Need I say more??

Favorite Things

Things that I am LOVING this week:

1. Jordin Spark’s “Battlefield” song.  I know it’s really similar to Pat Benatar’s 1984 “Love is a Battlefield” hit (and I so LOVE and respect 80′s pop), but I always pump up this version when I hear it on the radio.  Plus, I have a super soft spot for GOOD teen girl role models and I think Jordin is up there with Taylor Swift.

2. Bravo TV’s Top Chef Masters.  I know my man Tom Colicchio is not a part of this “Masters” series, but I still love to watch every episode.  It’s so much fun to see these serious chefs participate in crazy challenges.  And I am just in awe of those who cook (since I cannot).

3. The Merona brand V-neck T-shirts from Target.  I have two black and two white ones right now and I want to run out and buy more tomorrow.  They fit so great and I can wear them everyday.  (I mean, I DO wear them every day.)

4. Barefoot Sauvignon Blanc. Ahh…

5.  THIS:

 I know it might be weird to love a can of Lysol Disinfectant Spray, but believe me, it’s important to my life.  I’m a semi-germaphobe.  I’ve always disliked the smell of the various Lysol Spray varieties and I’ve tried them ALL.  But then I saw this lovely orange color on the shelf of Target this week.  It is Citrus Meadows scent and it smells really nice.  Yahoo!  (It doesn’t take much with me anymore, does it?)

6. Oh, and THIS PHOTO:

Life’s A Beach

I just got back from an awesome week long summer vacation with the family.  We all survived another long road trip.  The kiddies were great in the car.  I really think they are little pros at this point.  They completely get it.  Bean even shouts out “Cracker Barrel!” when he needs a break.  He knows that is where we stop to change the diapers and stretch our legs (and rock on those old fashioned rocking chairs for a few minutes).  The car DVD player is still very important to our sanity, as are all the books and the giant tote bag of snacks.

Our first stop was Maryland for my niece Kate’s 3^rd Birthday Princess Party Extravaganza.  My sister and brother-in-law really did it up right.  There was a sandbox scavenger hunt, water balloons, pool fun, and a piñata.  Plus lots of juice boxes and a big gorgeous, yummy cake. Oh, and the key ingredient: beer for the adults. 

Daniel and Annabel were in heaven.  They love their cousins and we don’t see them very often.  It was a blast to watch them all run around and play.  The following day was Baby Luke’s Baptism.  My husband and I are his Godparents.  Annabel spent most of the ceremony outside with Grandpa, but Bean was just amazing.  He stood on the church pew kneeler and watched, completely mesmerized with the entire thing.

Then we were off to Myrtle Beach for FOUR WHOLE NIGHTS.  I say that really LOUDLY because it was SO NICE to just stay in one place and not have to pack up everything up and move it into a car again for FOUR WHOLE NIGHTS.

Our days were spent at the beach and the resort’s “indoor water park” which was a lazy river pool that had some water slides.  It also had a really cool baby pool with sprinklers.  Daniel LOVED the beach and the sand.  He played in the waves with his Daddy and built sandcastles.  Annabel would hang out with me and lounge in the chair.   She really is a “Mini Mama.”  

We would try a new restaurant each night.  Annabel is still in the “picky eater” stage mixed with the “sudden urge to scream at the top of her lungs for no apparent reason” stage.  So going out to dinner is sometimes a little…challenging.  But we found the perfect place: Joe’s Crab Shack.  My kiddies love crab, and corn on the cob is their favorite vegetable.  We ordered sides of corn on the cob as appetizers for the two of them. Plus with the crabs and some Mac & Cheese and the waiters singing and dancing around, both kiddies were happy…and quiet.  That meant Mama and Daddy could enjoy our meal and have a conversation too!  (So we went there two nights in a row, of course.)

The final night we strolled around Broadway at the Beach and bought some souvenirs.  We also took Daniel and Annabel on their very first Carousel ride.  Bean also went on this really (kinda) scary looking car ride, but he loved it. 

I was also able to enjoy some quiet moments with a book on the beach when the kiddies were napping and Daddy was relaxing with them in the room. As a mom, I completely understand the rejuvenation power of just an HOUR of alone time.  Add in the smell of the ocean and the sound of the waves and it was perfect. 

Hats and Comfy Blankies

It was a ”hat”-themed day on Sesame Street this morning.  My kiddies really got into it.  They love hats. And we have a lot of hats in our house:

I always say you can never have too many hats or comfy blankies.  We are a very fair and pale family, so I love to have tons of hats ready to shield us from the sun.  And since we leave tomorrow morning for our beach vacation, I have just finished stuffing one of my cute straw beach bags with nothing but sun hats.

I am excited for a week away with my family.  We have done this road trip many times before.  We are driving north to visit my sister’s family and my parents.  Then we are off to the beach for FOUR WHOLE NIGHTS.  I really hope it feels like a vacation with two kiddies under the age of three in tow.  I’m sure we will have a blast because we are leaving the house (and the laundry and the bills and the cleaning and the “to do” lists) behind.  Woohoo!

Goodbye MJ

Today was Michael Jackson’s Memorial Service.  It was broadcast on all the major TV networks.  A billion people watched the service from their television sets around the world. Thousands of people attended the service at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.  The broadcasters said that Michael Jackson’s Memorial Service will now be the biggest one in history. 

It’s so surreal because I’m sitting here watching it all unfold while my kiddies are napping.  Will I always remember this day?  Will I always remember eating this turkey and cheese on rye and drinking this Coke Zero while my dog laid at my feet?  I definitely feel mixed emotions.  I have not thought about Michael Jackson at all over the past several years.  He really was out of the limelight for awhile.  I now CHOOSE to remember only the good things, my fondest memories of Michael Jackson.  Those memories that make me smile and reminisce about my childhood.  The memories that make me realize how fast time flies and how weird it is to have such an important icon in your life pass on.

My favorite highlights from today’s King of Pop Memorial Service include:

* Mariah Carey singing “I’ll Be There.”  I remember when she first performed this on MTV Unplugged.

*Stevie Wonder’s whole performance.  I just cried.

*Jennifer Hudson singing “Will You Be There.”  She is eight months pregnant and looked gorgeous in a white dress.  I keep forgetting what an INCREDIBLE SINGER she is.

*John Mayer playing “Human Nature” on the guitar.  SWOON.

*Brooke Shields was really touching and shared some fun memories when she was friends with, and dated, Michael.

*Michael Jackson’s backup singers performing “We Are The World.”  I sometimes forget what a powerful, iconic song that was and still is today.

*Finally, when MJ’s daughter Paris spoke at the end and said “Daddy has been the best father you could ever imagine.”  Heartbreaking.

Goodbye Michael Jackson.  Rest in peace.

Happy Fourth of July!

The Real World

I was watching MTV’s The Real World: Cancun last night.  And, oh my goodness, it’s the 22nd Real World!

I have been really loyal to this series.  I think I have watched every single Real World season.  I really enjoyed some of the cities and fell in love with some of the characters, uh, I mean actual people. Then, with other cities, I skipped a few episodes here-and-there because it was either a) really boring or b) too much to handle. 

At the very beginning, I watched with the hope that one day I would apply and actually live in one of those amazing houses with all those cool people!  Now I watch, as a parent, in utter fear and dismay. 

Here is my quick and dirty personal take on each Real World season (As I remember it…)

New York: Eric was hot.  Julie was cute. There were some race issues. They all went roller skating.  Ah, when The Real World was innocent.

Los Angeles: OMG this was one of the best seasons! It had the first cast member to get kicked out: that comedian who pulled the blanket off the girl who had an abortion.  And Jon, the virgin country singer, was trying to make it big in LA but just sat around and did nothing.

San Francisco: Epic.  Pedro openly discussed having AIDS.  Oh, and PUCK and that peanut butter finger incident that caused him to get kicked out.   He was so gross.

London: I don’t remember anything except that girl Jacinda, who is now an actress. ( I worked with her on Ladder 49 and I can say she is a BIT conceited).

Miami:  Threesome.  The Real World is now turning into a ”who can have the craziest hook up?” show.

Boston: Hmm..I remember that cute guy got a big red disgusting rash and that girl..hmmm..I don’t remember.

Seattle:  One of my favorite seasons EVER! One of the guys had one blue eye and one brown eye. He was dating one of the Real World producers.  He totally cried over her and then she actually came on the show. She broke the fourth wall! Then one chick had Lyme disease and when she left the show the African-American guy slapped her because she called him gay!  (It turns out, he WAS gay).

Hawaii: Teck Money jumped in the pool naked! (I think this was the first blurred out butt shot?)  And Ruthie was always wasted.

New Orleans:  There was Julie the Mormon.  It was all about her and this really cute gay guy.

Back to New York:  Ugh, why did they go back to New York?

Chicago: This was all about crazy Tonya and how she was always on the phone with her boyfriend and how she had kidney stones and how she always cried.  She was so annoying.

Las Vegas:  This was when the show became all about hot tubs and hook ups. Trishelle led the pack on this season.  Everyone just slept with everyone.  Well, it was Vegas.

Paris:  The worst seasons were always out of the country.  I vaguely remember innocent Mallory and C.T. who was always getting into fights.

San Diego:  Brad was the cute party guy who landed in jail.  One of the girls had cystic fibrosis and she was always smoking.

Philadelphia:  Landon and M.J. were the two cute party guys.  I remember Jon Bon Jovi made an appearance because the kids worked for their charity.

Austin: Great season.  Danny got in a huge bar fight and had to have surgery to fix his eye.  He fell in love with Melinda.  It was actually really sweet.  Another girl fought in Iraq so that was interesting.  I liked this season.

Key West:  They had to work at a Mystic Tan. WORST JOB AWARD.

Denver:  Brooke was the most unbelievable southern belle.  She was so hilarious.  I remember she cried because she couldn’t find a nail salon to get a pedicure. This season was also over the top with hot tubs and hook ups.

Sydney:  Shauvon left the show early because her boyfriend missed her (OY).   Kelly Anne hooked up with the cowboy.  Dunbar was a big jerk.

Hollywood: Everyone on this season wanted to work in the entertainment industry.  Come on, Real World.

Brooklyn: Ryan (the Iraqi vet and John Mayer wannabe) ROCKED.

Cancun:  So far no one really stands out except this pretty girl who has a boyfriend at home but is about to hook up with a roommate and wait, that is pretty much every season.

And The Real World is FINALLY coming to my hometown of DC next year.  I can’t wait to watch!

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