PopKids Report

When I started PopMommy in 2009, I really hoped that I would stick with it. The goal was to write about my life and my kids’ lives and all the crazy pop culture stuff that I love.  It would be my on-line diary.  My memory book.

I did it.  It was hard.  There were days when I could not think of anything to say.  Or I was tired.  There are still days like that, but I’m in it for the long haul.  I thank you for reading and commenting.

My passion for my kids and my love of pop culture has now lead me to the birth of my brand new baby, PopKids Report.  (No more real babies for me.  This new website will keep me plenty busy, thank you very much.)

PopKids Report dishes up all the breaking news on kids movies, DVDs, television shows, music, books, fashion, tech, games, toys, and hot spots.  We’ll tell you all about Justin Bieber’s new album, Disney’s new holiday flick, that new children’s book app, the cool new holiday toy, and much more.

If you have kids, or you are a kid at heart, then please visit me at PopKids Report.  You can also follow us on twitter and “like” us on facebook.  I’m super excited!  I hope to see you there.

Sesame Street: A New Season of Stars!

Check out who will be visiting PBS’s Sesame Street this Fall when it returns for its 42nd (!) season on Monday, September 26th.  First, there’s my boyfriend Mark Ruffalo.

Did I ever tell you I had the chance to be alone in the backseat of a car with Mark Ruffalo for about 20 minutes? That was many years ago when I was movie publicist in DC and he was promoting his new film, You Can Count On Me. He wasn’t that well known at the time so nobody recognized him when I picked him up at the airport. We had a short conversation during the car ride to his fancy hotel. The funniest thing was his suit for the movie premiere was stuffed in a really small duffel bag. I almost thought he forgot he was attending a red carpet event when I saw him step off the plane with one small army green carry on. I even asked him if we had to run to baggage claim. Nope, he said, that was it. But could I have someone in the hotel steam his suit and tie before the premiere? OF COURSE, I said. We chatted about how amazing the film was and he was just a generally nice and down-to-earth person. And, when that happens, the cuteness factor goes up. Talented and nice so, yes, VERY CUTE too.

Some of the other super cool celebrities visiting Elmo, Cookie Monster, and the rest of the Sesame Street crew this Fall include:
* Movie Actors Nicole Kidman, Robin Williams, Amy Adams, Naomi Watts, Mila Kunis, and Emma Stone
* TV Actors Sofia Vergara, John Krasinski, and Joel McHale
* Late Night Hosts Conan O’Brien, Craig Ferguson, Jimmy Kimmel, and George Lopez
* Musicians Bruno Mars, Elvis Costello, and Jay Sean

And I’m STILL crossing my fingers that they will finally air this banned Katy Perry performance from last season.  It’s still one of my favorite celebrity guest segments even thought it never aired on PBS.  (But over 25 million people have watched it on YouTube. Amazing.)

Princess Kate’s Great Style

The Duchess of Cambridge, Catherine (Kate) Middleton, looked absolutely amazing during her North American tour last week.  She went from Canada to California and every fashion choice she made was stunning.  She is the epitome of a princess.

Here are my favorite outfits that she wore during her week long visit:

And these are my two favorites. (How awesome is that green color??)

NKOTB(SB) in DC

I flew to Washington,DC this past weekend to meet my sister, Marsha, and our childhood BFF, Melissa, for one fun, EPIC night. It was the New Kids on the Block and Backstreet Boys concert.  We were there for the New Kids.

I’ve mentioned here before that I’m a big New Kids on the Block fan.  A Blockhead.   I’m on the older end of the fan spectrum.  My sister is four years younger than me and Melissa is two.  They were in junior high school and I was in high school when the New Kids were at their peek of boy band stardom.  The boys were on every weekly cover of Teen Beat and Bop Magazine.  We were so obsessed that we had the magazine subscriptions. We would jump up and down when the new issues arrived in the mail.  Oh, look!  There’s Jordan with his rat tail getting longer shooting some baskets.  Or, there’s Donnie at a diner! What’s he ordering? Hash browns with ketchup?  He loves ketchup too??!!  Ahhhh!!!

OK, it wasn’t THAT bad, but we did have our scrapbooks.  I was a Jordan girl.  Marsha was Donnie.  Melissa was Joey.  It was perfect because we never fought over our future “boyfriends.”  We saw them in concert at the gigantic Washington, DC stadium. We had amazing seats close to the stage.  We had the time of our lives.  We came early to stalk the tour buses but never met them.

We took a family trip to Boston that summer and OF COURSE Melissa had to come along too.  The New Kids on the Block are from Boston!!  We did the standard family tour of the city, but we just HAD to look for their homes.  The only one we managed to find was Joey’s (score for Melissa!), but he wasn’t home.  Boo.  Melissa did meet Joey’s dad which was seriously the highlight of the trip.  Melissa has that photo.  I have the city tour photos.  (Please note the awesomely long hair, fanny packs, Boston baseball caps and friendship bracelets.  Oh, and the old school Budweiser Superfest T-shirt that I think I gave my sister. And, no, I don’t know why I thought it was cool to pose like that.)

When I left for college, the New Kid love started to dissipate.  They broke up.  The came back as NKOTB.  I graduated from college and started my first radio job in New York City.  I now had access to great tickets.  The three of us went to an NKOTB club show and sat in the front row. They sang brand new songs.  It wasn’t the same.

Then, Jordan and Joey had solo records.  I was living in North Carolina and still working in radio.  I was able to meet them backstage at two different festival concerts.  (My sister came down for the weekend to meet Joey. Melissa is still bitter. Ha.) It was really weird to be in the same space as my teen idol.  It was a thirty second “Hello and “I’m a big fan” and then they were gone.  It was still so very cool.  (Please note my short hair phase.)

Two years ago the New Kids on the Block came back together for their very first concert tour in years.  The three of us went to the DC concert together and had the time of our lives.  My sister was pregnant.  The entire place was filled with Moms.  It was hilarious.  It was just so fun to relive those concert memories from 20 years ago.

Then, this year came the formation of NKOTBSB.  Hey, I like the Backstreet Boys too (they have one of the Best Pop Songs. Ever.), but they are not the New Kids.  We went to the concert for the New Kids.  My sister was the super loyal one and wore her NKOTB T-shirt she bought at the last concert.

My sister wanted to stalk the tour buses again, but no sign of NKOTB at the venue loading dock. So we had dinner and drinks and headed to the show.  It was just as fun as 20 years ago.  We had great seats.  The boys, um MEN, looked fantastic.  They are all in terrific shape and their dance moves were sharp.  Jordan’s voice still has that amazing falsetto and Donnie can still make any girl scream.  Joey just had a baby and he was smiling from ear to ear the entire show.  They sang all their hit songs.  Melissa was the one taking the concert photos and it was no coincidence that every photo was of Joe.

OK, there was one of all their butts.

My husband asked if I would be embarrassed to write this blog post.  To admit that I loved, and still love, the New Kids on the Block.  I think that’s so funny.  Like if I went to a Cure reunion concert I would be perceived as cool?  Who knows.  I’m not ashamed of loving pop music.  The New Kids on the Block were the first boy band sensation.  All the other boy bands (Backstreet Boys, NSync, 98 Degrees, etc.) just followed their lead.  And I know it’s not nerdy to say you love Justin Timberlake.   He’s cool.

Well, so are Jordan, Jon, Joey, Danny, and Donnie.  Keep hangin’ tough, guys.  We’ll be loving you forever.  (Sorry, couldn’t resist.)

 

The Final Oprah Winfrey Show

I just ugly cried through the entire final episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show.  It was perfect.  No guests.  No fanfare. No “Favorite Things” to hand out.  Just Oprah talking about the lessons she has learned and the wisdom she wants to pass along to us, her faithful viewers.  (And she looked so pretty in a beautiful pink dress with ruffles down the front.)

My awesome hubbie took the kiddies to the library and out for smoothie treats so I could watch the final Oprah alone, in my family room, on the coach with my Starbucks and a box of tissues.  And I definitely needed those tissues.  Not because the show was particularly sad, but because she spent the hour reminding me, once again,  to keep life in perspective.  To live with passion and love.  To help others.  To trust my gut.  To listen to my inner voice.  To find my calling.  I’ve struggled a lot lately with the thought of what I’m going to do when both my kiddies go to school full time.  Will I get a regular job?  What is God’s plan for me?  What is my purpose?

Oprah always reminded me that everyone carries the same desires: to be seen, to be heard, to know that they matter.  Oprah always said that we matter because we were born.  That is the strongest message I want to pass along to my children.  That they MATTER.  That they serve a purpose.  They just need to figure out what that is and they need to follow their hearts.  I need to remember this lesson too.

I’m excited that Oprah has her OWN Network.  I’ve already been watching a lot of that programming.  But it won’t be the same without The Oprah Winfrey Show. I’ll miss you, Oprah.  But I’ll always remember to live my best life.

“Until we meet again, to God be the glory” – Oprah’s final words on her show.

Oprah’s Big Farewell

It’s official.  I will never see a live taping of The Oprah Winfrey Show.  Boo.  I did try to get some last minute tickets for her final season but everything is a lottery and it was basically impossible.  I had a plan that if I did manage to win one single ticket, I would fly by myself to Chicago so I wouldn’t miss that opportunity of a lifetime.

But Oprah taped her final two shows last night in Chicago.  It was called Surprise Oprah! A Farewell Spectacular and it was held at the United Center with 13,000 audience members. (And I still could not get a ticket!) Below are some photos of the surprise guests.  These celebrity filled shows will air on Monday, May 23rd and Tuesday, May 24th. The final episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show will air on Wednesday, May 25th after 25 years. (The content of that show is still under wraps.) I’m getting my tissues ready now.

Today was a Fairytale

I watched the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton with the kiddies.  We ate breakfast in front of the television set. They both were fascinated.  Annabel ran to put on her princess dress.  Daniel loved the car they rode in through the sea of admirers. I felt my heart flutter when they kissed (twice!) on the balcony.  It was magical.  I will be rewinding and watching the event over and over this weekend.  Prince William was so very handsome.  Kate’s dress was gorgeous.  A perfect, fairytale day.

William and Kate

Tomorrow is the big day!  The royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton.  I will be awake and watching the event unfold at 6 AM EST.  I can not wait to see Kate’s wedding dress.  And how cool that my daughter will be watching a real life Cinderella moment.  Truly epic.  I love this just released photo of the happy couple.  The countdown is on…

 

 

One of the BEST Pop Songs. Ever.

I’ve heard this song so much lately.  It’s on the radio every time I’m driving somewhere without my kiddies, which is AWESOME because I can crank it up REALLY LOUD and groove along.  Seriously, try to sit still while listening to this one.

 

I will also take a moment to dedicate this song to Charlie Sheen.  I’m not sure yet if he is crazy SMART or just a crazy LUNATIC. Either way, he is definitely CRAZY.

Jennifer Aniston: Brand New Bob

And since it’s all about celebrity HAIR lately, here’s a pic of Jennifer Aniston’s brand new bob haircut.  It looks light she lightened the color too.  I really like it.   I might talk to my stylist about trying this look too.  Well, once my hair grows a bit longer.

Let’s see if it becomes as popular as the “Rachel.”

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