Archives for June 2011

Annabel’s First Bike

June 30, 2011 by Leave a Comment

We got Miss Independent her very first bicycle this week.  She loves it.  This is the first time she is peddling by herself.  She never liked the tricycle she had and that was a bummer.  She would just sit there and want us to do all the work for her.  Daniel, on the other hand, loves to ride his bike every day after dinner.  Hubbie and I really want to get some bikes again too.   I have visions of our little bike riding family cruising around the neighborhood. (And maybe even the beach!)  So I was really excited when Annabel jumped on this pink princess bike and pedaled away.

Our after dinner bike rides are so much more fun now.


Filed Under: Mommy Life

Kingston and Zuma

June 29, 2011 by Leave a Comment

I love Gwen Stefani.  I think she’s a super cool chick.  I love that she’s my age and she’s a mom.  She also has an amazing sense of style that she apparently handed down to her two fashionable little boys.

I love this photo of her sons Kingston (age 5) and Zuma (age 2). Poor little Zuma just broke his arm by falling off a counter top at home.  I can completely relate to the sick feeling you get when one of your kids gets hurt.  Gavin Rossdale, Gwen’s husband, said “It was one of the worst nights of our lives.”

Well, it looks like Zuma is doing just fine.  And his big brother is taking good care of him.  How sweet.

Photo Credit: X17Online


Filed Under: Pop Culture

Queen

June 28, 2011 by Leave a Comment

I first met Ms. Earline Heath King when I was dating my husband back in 1998.  She was the best friend and life companion of my husband’s father.  So when we married in 2001, she was at the wedding.  And I know she was never technically my mother-in-law, but she always felt like one.  She passed away in her sleep yesterday.  She was 98 years old.

Earline, or “Queen” as we called her, was an extraordinary woman.  I was able to learn more about her life adventures during each family visit.  And she had such a big life.  She met a president.  She lived in Europe.  She earned an honorary doctorate degree.  She began to sculpt for the first time when she was 40 years old. But not only was sculpting her hobby, it became her life’s work and passion.  She had over 300 pieces commissioned including several popular public sculptures.  She was an icon in her small hometown of Winston-Salem, NC, a place she lived her entire life.

She was also a fun and glamorous lady.  She dressed impeccably and matched everything with beautiful costume jewelry.  She told funny stories and she loved a good martini.

My kids loved calling her Queen.  She was the sweetest lady and the name suited her well.

We will miss you, Queen.

 

Filed Under: Mommy Life

Bentley, Bentley, Bentley: The Bachelorette

June 28, 2011 by Leave a Comment

I almost wanted to count the number of times that Ashley from The Bachelorette said the word “Bentley” on last night’s episode.  If I was playing a drinking game, I would have been passed out in my bed.

“I’m having a really hard time completely forgetting about BENTLEY…”

“I need the closure from BENTLEY to really move on…”

“I cannot believe that I wasted so much time on BENTLEY…”

NEITHER CAN WE!

I’m not trying to be heartless, but COME ON, ASHLEY!  I’m a girl.  I know how guys can make their moves on you.  I know that sometimes it’s hard to let go even when you know, deep down inside, that the guy is completely wrong for you.  You analyze everything he says to twist it to the positive.  We have all been there.

But here’s the difference.  You are on The Bachelorette!  You have tons of cute guys there waiting to date you!  (Hi, JP!) It’s not fair to them, or to you, to pine over this one guy.  Also, if you think he is playing you, he probably is!  This is REALITY TELEVISION. It’s also the gazillionth season of The Bachelor/Bachelorette franchise so you have to be smart.  We are all watching you.  Don’t forget that.

“He’s such a player. He disrespected me to the core. BENTLEY, if you’re watching this, [bleep] you; I’m done with you.”

I just hope you mean it, girl.


Filed Under: Pop Culture

Miss Independent

June 27, 2011 by Leave a Comment

I enrolled Annabel in an art class this summer.  It was every day for one week from 1:45 PM to 3:00 PM.  The class was called “Clay for Tiny Hands” and I just kept thinking about that “tiny” part.

Annabel is my baby and I’m already freaked out about her starting preschool in the Fall.  She just seems too, well, tiny.  She’s only three years old.  To ease my fears about her starting school where she will be dropped off and left for the first time EVER, I decided the art class would be a good warm up. (Also because my son had a bit of separation anxiety when I first dropped him off alone.  I didn’t know whether that was personality driven or the fact that I’m a stay-at-home mom and they are with me all the time.)

Well, Annabel LOVED her clay class.  She also had no problem with me leaving her there for the full 75 minutes. She’s a thinker, like her brother, so I could see the thoughts whirling around in her head when she entered the studio for the first time.  She looked excited and overwhelmed and observant all at the same time.  But mostly, she looked confident.

It’s just so cool to learn something new about your kid.  It happens a lot at this age.  Every new opportunity is another opportunity for me to uncover another piece of the puzzle that makes up my daughter.

It may have been “Clay for Tiny Hands” but she really isn’t tiny anymore.  She is my big girl. My big girl who makes friends and asks a millions questions and walks into art class all by herself.  I’m a little sad and my heart is bursting.  But mostly, I’m just so proud.


Filed Under: Mommy Life

Daniel’s First Movie: “Cars 2”

June 25, 2011 by Leave a Comment

We took Daniel to his very first movie yesterday, Cars 2.  We waited until he was 4 years old because we wanted it to be a memorable first experience.  Something we ALL would remember.  Daniel LOVES the Disney movie Cars, so it worked out perfectly that his first movie in the theatre was Cars 2!

Okay, TECHNICALLY Daniel was at a movie theatre once before.  When he was 3 months old, I took him to see some really bad PG-13 movie and I don’t even remember the title.  It was part of a “Moms Morning Out” event.  They kept the theatre lights up the entire time so you could feed or play with your baby while you watched the movie.  But I was a first time Mama and I stressed out every time he cried.  So we left.  But I did manage to snap a photo of his first time at the movies.

This time went MUCH better.  There was no crying involved.  Just my cute little boy in his brand new Cars T-shirt with an excited smile on his face.  Daniel was in awe of the “ginormous” theatre.  We got our tickets from the Fandango machine and he walked right up and handed his ticket to the ticket taker. He loved all the movie posters and he loved that it had an arcade.  We let him play a racing game and then it was off to buy popcorn, candy, and lemonade.  Daniel got some kind of kiddie fruity Twizzler thingy, but then he snagged my Junior Mints after trying just one.  He now LOVES Junior Mints.  He has good concession stand taste.

I laugh at that photo of me with my purse and my big black tote bag.  I always bring a bag of sweaters and pashmina scarves with me to the movies so I can save seats. Plus, I’m always cold.  Bean actually wore his sweater and half way through he used my pashmina as a mini blanket.  It was a long movie. (It was just under two hours.) He enjoyed watching the cars on the big screen, but the movie left a lot to be desired.  We spent most of the time whispering to Daniel about what was going on because there was a complicated spy plot weaved in with oil companies versus environmentalists or something like that.  There was also a lot of shooting and killing (!) cars.  It was a let down. My husband explains it all much better and you can read his review of the movie here.

Daniel said his favorite parts of the movie were the boats, planes, and the London double-decker buses.  He didn’t mention any of the cars, which is so funny.  But we had a great time.  We had a new memory and a Junior Mint-stained little boy to take home.

First movie! Yay!


Filed Under: Kid Stuff, Mommy Life

Justin Bieber: Late Show “Top Ten” List

June 23, 2011 by Leave a Comment

There is SO MUCH Justin Bieber in the pop world that I just tune it out most of the time.  Not that I don’t like him.  He’s cute! He’s talented! Honestly, he could be my kid.  That’s how I see him.  But I’m glad I clicked on the link for his Top Ten list last night on the Late Show with David Letterman.  He’s funny too!  Check it out.

Filed Under: Pop Culture

Million Dollar Decorators

June 21, 2011 by Leave a Comment

One of my absolute favorite cable channels, Bravo TV, has done it again.  They’ve created another addicting reality series.  This one is called Million Dollar Decorators and it airs Tuesday nights at 10 PM EST.  Not only are the five featured decorators so funny and fabulous, but the entire show is eye candy for anyone who loves decorating and interior design.  Like me.

Courtesy of Bravo TV

I can’t decide who I love more, the hippy, down-to-earth Kathryn Ireland or the charming name-dropper Martyn Lawrence Bullard. (The series opened with him decorating Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne’s downtown LA apartment.  It was so amazing to watch him buy a $20,000 rug and stacks of pricey art in 15 minutes.)

They are all entertaining and super talented.  Plus, the homes will make you drool.  Here’s a special sneak peek of the season.

Filed Under: Pop Culture

Pop Sponge

June 20, 2011 by Leave a Comment

I go to Target every other week to get all my cleaning supplies.  (I try to avoid all the cute clothes and the stuff in the dollar bins…but that never happens.)

Well, two weeks ago I needed sponges and I threw these in my cart:

I love the O-Cel-O brand and I use them all the time.  But then I opened up the package at home and saw this:

I gave it a second, and a third, look.  These were DIFFERENT.  These were COOL.  I felt a little hipper washing my dishes and my toilets with some funky model faces and a little leopard print.  I was wondering about the new design.

Later that night I was watching a “Reality Rules” special on ABC’s 20/20. (Of course I was.)  Christian Siriano, winner of Bravo’s Project Runway, was featured.  He was being interviewed about his fashion fame and then, all of a sudden, they mentioned that he designed…SPONGES!

Yes.  I have Christian Siriano sponges.  How much more Pop Mommy can I get?  SO fierce.

Here is Christian with his sponges "Muse" and "Leopard." Photo courtesy of O-Cel-O.


Filed Under: Pop Culture

Happy Father’s Day ’11

June 19, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Happy Father’s Day to the most awesome Daddy in the whole wide world.

Love,

Bean and Annabelly


Filed Under: Celebrations
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