Archives for January 2012

Sing a Song

Annabel loves to sing.  She had such a blast in December because she would sing every single Christmas carol in the book. She loves to sing along to the radio or to the songs on her Hello Kitty keyboard.  Her favorite time with her GG is when they sing together from a songbook.  She will practice the songs from her preschool music class at home.

And now she has started singing conversations.  It’s the funniest thing.  I will ask her what she did in school and it turns into a song about playing with her friends.  She will draw a picture of a hippo and then walk around the room singing about it.  When she’s playing a board game with her brother, she will sing about every move she makes.  Every time she gets strapped into her car seat, she starts to sing about the last book she read or where we are going.  When we’re at Starbucks, she’ll sing about her love for chocolate milk and strawberry cake pops.

When we’re at home, these original songs will often be accompanied by a living room dance number.  But sometimes she’s just sitting on the couch and will get inspired by our search for a DVD.  She’s cute, that one.

“Glee”: Michael Jackson Episode

I grew up listening to Michael Jackson.  My first album was Thriller. (I still have it.) He left us way too soon, but his music lives on. And now I’m super excited for next week’s Glee!

It’s the much anticipated “Michael” tribute episode and it airs next Tuesday, January 31st at 8/7 c.  Here’s a special sneak peek – straight from the cast!


School Emergency Kit

Today was Pajama Day at Daniel’s school.

All the Pre-K’ers could wear their pajamas to class and there was a special story time with the Principal.  The morning snack was a special treat: Donut holes and juice boxes!  Daniel was on cloud nine!  When we walked into the classroom this morning, we admired some of the other pajama choices. As I gave Daniel a hug goodbye, I saw a little girl wander in behind him wearing her school uniform.

“Uh oh,” I thought.  “Someone’s parent forgot it was Pajama Day.”

Now, I’m not judging them.  It could happen to anyone.  It could happen to ME.  That is always my small fear. That I forget it’s Pajama Day and Daniel or Annabel give me that sad, disappointed face like I’m the worst Mama in the world.  Or I forget the snack. Or I forget that it’s show-and-tell! So that made me think, I need to create some sort of ‘School Emergency Kit” for the trunk of my car.  I drop my children off at private school every day so this could work well for me.   (I basically live in my car.)

My “School Emergency Kit” would contain:

–  A pair of pajamas (see above.)

– A set of “street clothes” in the school colors for “Non-Uniform” days.

– An extra school uniform (if I think Pajama Day/Non-Uniform Day is on the WRONG day. Whoops!)

– An extra snack.  This should be something that won’t spoil (ie: raisins, fruit chews, something with a long shelf life.) Gross? Maybe.  Smart? YES.

– Some item that has every letter of the alphabet for the show-and-tell days.  This can be an alphabet puzzle or a baggie of alphabet magnets so, if stuck in a pinch, my kid can AT LEAST show an “A” puzzle piece or an “A” magnet.  Again, not ideal, but fulfilling the need.  Note:  The alphabet items should also be a variety of colors so they can also be used for the “bring in something X color” days.

– Check book.  This should probably be in my purse, not a kit in the back of the car, but I can’t tell you how many times I needed a check  for some school photo order or fundraiser and I curse that darn check book sitting in the front drawer of my desk at home.

– Cash. Because then there are the days when the student government or the safety patrols sell sweet treats in the school lobby and I’ve had to say “No” to my kid because I didn’t have a dollar bill on me.

– 4×6 photos of every member of the family including grandparents.  You know what I’m talking about.

– A generic gift in a small gift bag.  Perhaps a picture frame or coffee mug.  This would be for when I forget it’s the teacher’s/teacher’s assistant’s/front desk receptionist’s/etc. birthday (Do people really have these dates on their calendar?)

– A couple of books for when I forget I’m the class “secret reader.”  Note: This could also work for show-and-tell and those “bring a book to share” days.

– A new toy.  This is for the “bring a toy to share” days.  But this can also work if there’s something I forgot that’s not in the kit and I can bribe my child to forgive me with the new toy.  Win-win!

What would be in YOUR kit?  I’m SURE I’m forgetting SOMETHING.

Taylor Swift in “Vogue”

Taylor Swift graces the cover of Vogue magazine’s February issue and here are some of the interview highlights.  Love her!

Mario Testino/VOGUE

“I look out at the stadiums full of people and see them all knowing the words to songs I wrote,” says Swift. “And curling their hair! I remember straightening my hair because I wanted to be like everybody else, and now the fact that anybody would emulate what I do? It’s just funny. And wonderful.”

Do you ever lose it and act bratty?  “Yeah, but if I do I usually spend the next four days apologizing,” she says. “I get post-conversation anxiety. ‘I am so sorry if I said something weird. Did I make that weird? I am sorry if I made that weird!’ ”

“…There’s no personal trainer. I love to go hiking because it’s an experience. If I need to gain stamina for a tour, I will run every single night on the treadmill, but I don’t necessarily like being at the gym.”

Swift is working on her fourth album: “There’s just been this earth-shattering, not recent, but absolute crash-and-burn heartbreak,” she says, “and that will turn out to be what the next album is about…”

Mario Testino/VOGUE

She looks so beautiful in all the 70s inspired photos.  And even though I’m partial to the curls, her hair looks amazing. February’s Vogue hits newsstands tomorrow, but you can read the entire Taylor article now by clicking HERE.

Phillip Phillips on “American Idol”

American Idol is back in action and my first favorite of the season is Phillip Phillips.

You can’t forget the name, right?  Well, take a listen to his audition below.  I love his voice and I love that he rocks out to a little MJ too.


Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus: VIP Access

I was so excited to be invited to attend an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus on opening night!  The theme this year is “Dragons” and we will be attending the show on Saturday when my hubbie is the guest ringmaster. But we could not pass up the opportunity to see some elephants very up close and personal.

Why, hello there!  They were very cute.  Daniel and Annabel were thrilled to be so close to the beautiful creatures.  Some of them are over 40 years old and there was also a 3-year-old baby elephant.  We also saw the horses and Annabel’s favorite, an adorable pony.

We walked through the backstage area where we saw some cool props and motorcycles.  We finished up center stage where the pre-show celebration had just begun!

I was so bummed that Annabel didn’t want to try on one of the sparkly ringmaster coats (there was even a pink one!).

But they both left with the best Circus accessory of all…

I couldn’t resist.

Special thanks to Feld Entertainment and their PR agency for the fun experience.  They also provided my sister site, PopKidsReport.com, with tickets for give-a-way.  We can’t wait to see all the “Dragon” action this Saturday afternoon!  (And I will be keeping my distance from those harmless little clowns.)

*Please note that the Feld Entertainment PR Agency provided me with complimentary tickets to a show as well as an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour.  All thoughts and opinions are always 100% my own and I was in no way compensated monetarily for the PopKidsReport contest or this overview.

Stuff Girls Say

Listen, listen, listen, listen…these videos are so funny.  I’m sure you’ve seen them already, but feel free to watch them again.

Because they are SO funny.  And (unfortunately?) SO true.

(Is that a coffee? I might get one.)

“Bethenny Ever After” Season 3: Sneak Peek!

I love, love, love Bethenny Frankel!  And her Bravo TV show, Bethenny Ever After, returns for its third (and final) season on Monday, February 20th.  I can’t wait!

Here’s a sneak peek of Season 3.  It’s filled with Bethenny’s famous sarcasm, a little marriage drama, that crazy “lost at sea” adventure, and one very adorable baby Bryn.

Baby, It’s Cold Outside

I grew up in Maryland so you would think I’d be used to a little cold weather.  You would think I MISSED cold weather since I now live in Jacksonville, Florida.  I did miss it a tiny little bit when we first moved down here five years ago.  But now I’m so used to living in a warm climate that the cold weather completely throws me for a loop.  Sure, even in Florida, we should expect a small stretch of cold days in December and January, but usually it’s never terribly cold here.  But the past couple of days (and nights!) have been really cold.  Well, really cold meaning low 30’s. And really cold meaning fleece jackets and (gasp!) hats and mittens.

The kids have been having fun with it.  They don’t mind it that much.  I just wish it was accompanied by snow. It’s hard knowing my kids will never experience a true snowfall. (Aside from the fun soapy one at the local Winter Wonderland.) They will never run out to build a snowman or zoom down a hill on a sled.  I know I can take them on a fancy vacation to a ski resort, but it’s not the same.  It’s not how I remember it.  I remember putting bread bags over my socks before I slid on my boots.  I remember making dozens of snow angels all in a row on our front lawn.  I remember catching snowflakes on my tongue.  I remember the sweet moment when the guy on the radio said school was canceled and I could turn over and go back to sleep.

But, then again, I also remember waiting at the bus stop in zero degree weather with tears running down my cheeks from the wind chill.  I remember slumber parties or basketball games getting canceled because the roads were too icy.  I remember shoveling the driveway only to do it all again the next day because more snow fell while we slept.  I remember the METRO being delayed while I stood on the platform jogging in place willing my body to warm up.  So, no, I don’t miss the cold northern weather anymore.  And I can always take the kids up north in the winter to experience it all for themselves.  In the meantime, we’ll be here complaining about today’s high of 60 and making plans to hit the beach NEXT week.

 

 

Golden Globes ’12: My Favorite Moments

Ricky Gervais was back to host the 69th annual Golden Globe Awards in Los Angeles and these are my top five favorite moments of the night:

1. Christopher Plummer’s acceptance speech.

Christopher Plummer won the first Golden Globe of the night for “Best Supporting Actor” for his role in Beginners and, yes, I admit I was rolling my eyes when the legend was going on and on during his acceptance speech.  But then he ended by talking about his wife of 43 years.  “Her bravery and beauty haunts me still.”  Wow.  Just Wow.

2. Michelle Williams and Busy Philipps.

I watched these two actresses on Dawson’s Creek MANY years ago.  They are still best friends today.  They show up together to many of these award shows and I think it’s cool.  Plus, they both always look super glam. Michelle won for portraying Marilyn Monroe in My Week with Marilyn. I loved when she thanked her 6-year-old Matilda Rose (her daughter with the late Heath Ledger) for “suffering through six months of bedtime stories, where all the princesses were read aloud in a Marilyn Monroe-[sounding] voice.”

3. Kate Winslet’s dress.

Not only is Kate Winslet an amazing actress, but she has amazing style.  And you can’t go wrong with a simple black and white gown.  Sophisticated and elegant.  I want this dress!

4. Morgan Freeman awarded the Cecil B. DeMille Award for Lifetime Achievement.

I had the amazing opportunity to meet Morgan Freeman in a hotel lobby in Washington, DC about 6 years ago.  He was in town for a press tour and my friend was his press day “handler.”  He was having the time of his life working with Morgan and he would constantly tell everyone in our PR office what a great and humble guy he was.  When I went to the hotel to help with an event that evening, I saw my friend walking down the stairs with Morgan.  I was introduced to the actor and he stopped to look me in the eye and chat for a second.  Then, he sat on the banister and slid the rest of the way down.  He was just as laid back and cool as you would imagine, which is sometimes rare in the business.  I was so happy to see him FINALLY win this lifetime achievement award and Shawshank Redemption is still one of my favorite movies of all time.

5. Felicity Huffman and William H. Macy Sing Their Lines.

It’s SO NICE to see a Hollywood couple with a successful marriage and these two could not be cuter. Especially when they present like this.

Congrats to all the Golden Globe winners.  You can see the complete winners list HERE.