Feel The Heat

It’s HOT. 

The high was 100 degrees today.  And yesterday.  I KNOW that I live in Florida, but the heat just sneaks up on me every summer.  I feel like Spring is five seconds long and then we just zoom into four months of sticky, uncomfortable heat and humidity.  I know all my family and friends up north are laughing at me because I don’t like the cold either.  But the EXTREME summer heat is what gets me. 

It’s also a challenge with the kiddies.  It’s now too hot for our morning park play dates. It’s two hot for long bike rides. It’s too hot for strolling around the outdoor town center.  And when we ARE outdoors, I just chase them around with big hats, SPF 50, and bottles of water.

Thank goodness for our neighborhood pool, cold smoothies, our backyard baby pool, and slip ‘n slides.

Artist

It’s funny how your child’s interests just slowly start to define themselves.  Daniel never was a big fan of crayons when he was a toddler.  I would put one in his hand to show him how to scribble back and forth. He would do that for a few seconds and then it was off to the next adventure.

But recently he has become obsessed with art projects.  He ASKS to color and paint.  Then I started to notice that he will sit and carefully think about the crayon color choice or what he wants to create.  I started to buy him different coloring books and giant art sheets.  

He also loves a blank sheet of white paper and his imagination.  He will watercolor an entire piece of paper.  I’ve never really seen a kid do that.  He likes to fill up all the white part and then will tell me what it is.  “This is the ocean, Mama.”  “This is a Fall day with leaves.”  It really blows my mind.

He will draw on his magnet board all the time too.  He will spend five minutes on something and then zap it all away to show me his next masterpiece.  He has drawn me, his Daddy, his sister, his dog, his cars, his trains, and even his stuffed animal friends.  This one is called “Hippo.”

It’s so fun to watch his creative mind at work.  He’s so GOOD at it.  He recently drew a picture for his GG and it had people and trains and pasta dishes and airplanes.  She could not believe her eyes.

Daniel’s other new creative outlet is his Daddy’s ukulele.  He thinks it’s his mini guitar and he will walk around singing songs that he makes up in his head.  He will sing in long sentences about what he did that day.  He asks to wake up his little sister in the morning by singing her a “sweet, sweet song.”  It’s the cutest thing ever.  He sings to his Daddy about how much he loves all the food he cooks.  (At least he sings to me about my banana bread.)

All of these talents are not too surprising because his Daddy is very creative.   He has his Daddy’s creative gene and it’s exciting to help nurture it.  I’ve already started researching art desks for his birthday.

Just remember to save your Mama a VIP  ticket to the art gallery opening or the sold out concert at the Garden, Bean.

Thank you, Glee

It was so awesome to see the talented Glee kids reprise Journey’s ”Don’t Stop Believin’,” from the pilot, for their season finale last night.  What an amazing episode.  I especially loved when Finn pulled a Cutting Edge and said “I love you” to Rachel seconds before their Regionals performance began.

So, thanks guys.  Thanks for a great finale.  Thanks for a great season.  Thanks for being a GREAT show.

See you in the Fall.

Kate Plus 8

I have mixed feelings about the new TLC show Kate Plus 8.  I was a huge fan of Jon & Kate Plus 8.  I watched it from the very beginning and I was excited to check-in with the family each week.  I really liked Kate.  Well, MOST of the time.  She was a hard working stay-at-home Mama.  She was creative and funny.  She was doing her best.  She did not dress up for the cameras.  She showed us how her life worked from the inside out.  It was fascinating.  Then things began to turn.  It could have been the pressure of the show.  It could have been Kate’s  ”true colors” finally showing through.  Either way, I still took her side when the marriage dissolved because Jon just seemed like the big jerk in the whole mess.

I was hoping Kate would just go off and do her own parenting talk show.  Dancing with the Stars was actually a good idea for her.  I liked that her kids were no longer in the spotlight for her new day job. 

But now she’s back with Kate Plus 8.  I watched the two back-to-back episodes last night.  She definitely wants our sympathy.  She is still a hard working mom.  But I feel a bit uncomfortable watching the twins and sextuplets back on television again.  Especially when Kate keeps emphasizing how much they missed the cameras and production staff. Really? I actually feel a little guilty enjoying the show.  But there is no denying those kids are so darn cute.

I’m sure I will be checking in all season long.  I just can’t look away.  And I do love her new hair.

(I also just love the kids’ Gymboree wardrobes.  But I bet KATE doesn’t have to wait for HER “Gymbucks” to shop there.  Hee.)

Tom Cruise is COOL Again (MTV Movie Awards)

John Mayer “Half of My Heart” Official Music Video

It’s no secret that I’m a fan of John Mayer.

Here’s his latest single and the official music video for “Half of My Heart” featuring Taylor Swift.

Last Day of School

 

Daniel’s last day of preschool was one week ago today.  He’s now on “summer break” as we like to tell him.  I’m walking that fine line of letting him be totally relaxed and excited that he doesn’t have to go to school and reminding him that this is just a 3 month break before he has to go back.

You see school has been a little…um…rough.  Like all things with kids, the excitement of preschool took a little U-turn.  After his very first day of preschool, he was thrilled!  That continued for about two months. He LOVED his teacher and the teaching assistant.  He started making friends.  He loved to show me his drawings and glue projects.  He loved music class.  He loved using the school potty (one of my biggest early fears.)

Daniel’s 3 year old preschool program was only two days a week, but after about two months he started to get upset when I dropped him off in the morning.  I had to park and walk him into the small classroom. I liked that.  It gave me the opportunity to see his teacher and watch Bean put his backpack on the wall and sit down.  I felt comfort in leaving him when I knew he was settled.  But it became harder to leave when he would cling to me or cry.

It wasn’t sadness. It was more like a small anxiety attack.  He would ask for water or a tissue and get really upset.  God bless his teacher because she was great at bear hugging him into the classroom and shooing me away.  Then she would always tell me that he was “just fine” five minutes after I left. But STILL. It was HARD.

Bean is my guinea pig.  He’s my first baby.  He’s my first attempt at “crying it out.” My first one to eat the scary solids.  My first one to walk, to talk, to make a friend, to venture out into the big, bad world.  I had no idea what it would be like to send him off to preschool.  It’s been equally rewarding and stressful.

I would always feel better when I picked him up.  He would run to me and hug me and have a huge smile on his face.  It was part glad to see me and part excited to show me a project he did in school that day.   He was doing well.  He was learning new things.  He was happy.

But the morning part never changed.  It would vary in range from small sniffles to those crazy anxiety attacks.  He would worry about the littlest things like if music class was going to be in the BIG room that day or if one of his friends was upset the last time he was in class.  “I hope Madison is not upset today, Mama,” he would tell me.  “Don’t worry about her. She’s fine,” I’d say.  It was a lot of little questions and worry.  But he always went in the room.  He was ALWAYS brave.  “Mama, I was brave today,” he would say when I buckled him into his car seat at the end of the school day. “Yes, Daniel, you are my super brave boy.”

I think I looked forward to the last day of school more than he did.  I was happy to get relief from the anxiety of it all.  The thing is, Daniel is just like me.  I’m a worrier.  I stress.  I over think EVERYTHING. Even as a little girl I would be nervous about the smallest things; especially school things.  Sometimes I feel guilty because I gave Daniel this gene.  But at least I can relate.  Plus, he helps ME.  One example is his first airplane ride.  I was the one who was filled with stress, but I could not let that show so I calmed down.  It’s the same with preschool.  I feel anxiety every time I drop him off, but I learned to smile and sing happy songs all the way to the classroom.   It made ME feel better. (Of course having happy go-lucky little Annabel with us always helped too.  The cute lucky duck got that trait from her Daddy.)

Now, don’t get me wrong.  Daniel made friends.  Daniel did AMAZING in school.  The teacher told me he would speak up and answer questions.  His end of the year “evaluation” was awesome.  He knows his numbers, letters, shapes.  He can write his name.  He can use scissors.  I really have nothing to worry about.  It’s just that he’s my sensitive little boy.  He’s my baby.  He IS a baby.  He was the youngest 3 year old in the class because of his August 30th birthday.  (The cut off for school here is September 1.) His teacher and the Preschool director both think he will do even better next year in the the 4 year old program because of the consistency.

Because it’s EVERY SINGLE DAY.

Okay, I don’t even want to think about THAT right now.  Because school’s out for the summer. YA-HOO.

Summer Reality

Happy June 1st!  It’s officially summertime! (Well, at least in my little Pop Mommy world.)  And summer equals a brand new crop of reality television shows!

Thank you Andy Dehnart at Reality Blurred for this awesome list.

Ladies and Gentleman, start your TIVOs!

June

• Hell’s Kitchen 7 [Fox, June 1, Tuesdays at 8]
• America’s Got Talent 5 [NBC, June 1, Tuesdays at 8, Wednesdays at 9]
• One Big Happy Family [TLC, June 1, Tuesdays at 9]
• Losing it with Jillian [NBC, June 1, Tuesdays at 10]
• The Little Couple [TLC, June 1, Tuesdays at 10]
• Jersey Couture [Oxygen, June 1, Tuesdays at 10]
• Ghost Hunters Academy[SyFy, June 2, Wednesdays at 9]
• Toddlers and Tiaras [TLC, June 2, Wednesdays at 10]
• Whale Wars [Fox, June 4, Fridays at 9]
• The Next Food Network Star 6 [Food Network, June 6, Sundays at 9]
• Kate Plus 8 [TLC, June 6, Sundays at 9]
• Ice Road Truckers [History, June 6, Sundays at 9]
• Bridezillas[WEtv, June 6, Sundays at 9]
• My Fair Wedding with David Tutera[WEtv, June 6, Sundays at 10]
• Last Comic Standing 7 [NBC, June 7 at 8, Mondays at 9]
• Last American Cowboy [Animal Planet, June 7, Mondays at 10]
• Pawn Stars [History, June 7, Mondays at 10]
• Dance Your Ass Off 2 [Oxygen, June 7 at 11, Mondays at 10]
• I Didn’t Know I Was Pregnant [TLC, June 9, Wednesdays at 9]
• You’re Cut Off! [VH1, June 9, Wednesdays at 9]
• Bridal Bootcamp [VH1, June 9, Wednesdays at 10]
• Work of Art: The Next Great Artist [Bravo, June 9 at 11, Wednesdays at 10]
• Bethenny Getting Married? [Bravo, June 10, Thursdays at 10]
• Design Star 5 [HGTV, June 13, Sundays at 10]
• Kourtney and Khloe Take Miami [E!, June 13, Sundays at 10]
• Holly’s World [E!, June 13, Sundays at 10:30]
• Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List [Bravo, June 15, Tuesdays at 9]
• Cupcake Wars [Food Network, June 15, Tuesdays at 9]
• Double Exposure [Bravo, June 15, Tuesdays at 10]
• The Fabulous Beekman Boys [Planet Green, June 16, Wednesdays at 9]
• Top Chef: Washington, D.C. [Bravo, June 16, Wednesdays at 9]
• Bert the Conqueror [Travel Channel, June 16, Wednesdays at 10]
• Battle of the Wedding Designers [TLC, June 18, Fridays at 10]
• Last Chance Highway [Animal Planet, June 19, Saturdays at 8]
• The Real L Word [Showtime, June 20, Sundays at 10]
• Inedible to Incredible [TLC, June 21, Mondays at 10]
• Wipeout [ABC, June 22, Tuesdays at 8]
• Boston Med [ABC, June 24, Thursdays at 10]
• Raising Sextuplets[WEtv, June 24, Thursdays at 10]
• Intervention [A&E, June 28, Mondays at 9]
• Obsessed [A&E, June 28, Mondays at 10]
• Man Shops Globe[Sundance Channel, June] 

July

• Carrier [PBS, July 6, Tuesdays at 9]
• The Choir [BBC America, July 7, Wednesdays at 10]
• Big Brother 12 [CBS, July 8, Thursdays, Sundays, and Wednesdays at 8]
• Ochocinco: The Ultimate Catch [VH1, July 11, Sundays at 9]
• The T.O. Show [VH1, July 11, Sundays at 10]
• Ghost Hunters International[SyFy, July 14, Wednesdays at 9]
• Mary Knows Best[SyFy, July 15, Thursdays at 9]
• Paranormal Investigators[SyFy, July 15, Thursdays at 10]
• Celebrity Ghost Stories [Bio, July 17, Saturdays at 9]
• Pit Boss [Animal Planet, July 17, Saturdays at 10]
• My Ghost Story [Bio, July 17, Saturdays at 10]
• I Survived [Bio, July 25, Sundays at 9]
• Masterchef [Fox, July 27, Tuesdays at 9]
• Jersey Shore [MTV, July 29, Thursdays at 10]
• Rock ‘N’ Roll Fantasy Camp [VH1, July]
• Snow Men [TLC, July]

August

• Shaq Vs. [ABC, August 3, Tuesdays at 9]
• Bachelor Pad [ABC, August 9, Mondays at 8]
• Dating in the Dark [ABC, August 9, Mondays at 10]
• Scream Queens [VH1, August 9, Mondays at 10]
• Hard Knocks: New York Jets [HBO, August 11, Wednesdays at 10]
• She’s Got the Look 2 [TV Land, August 25, Wednesdays at 10]
• Bad Girls Club: Miami [Oxygen]
• Hair Battle Spectacular [Oxygen]
• 16 Kids & Counting [TLC, August]
• BBQ Pitmasters [TLC, August]
• L.A. Ink [TLC, August]
• American Chopper: Father vs. Son [TLC, August]

Peppermint Mocha Intervention

I just saw this on John Mayer’s blog. He saw it on this website.

WAKE UP CALL.  THIS IS MY GO-TO DRINK!

Cinnamon Dolce Latte with Sugar-Free Syrup, anyone?

Harmful Drinks in America

11. Worst Espresso Drink
Starbucks Peppermint White Chocolate Mocha with Whipped Cream (venti, 20 fl oz)

660 calories
22 g fat (15 g saturated)
95 g sugars

Sugar Equivalent: 8½ scoops Edy’s Slow Churned Rich and Creamy Coffee Ice Cream

Hopefully this will dispel any lingering fragments of the “health halo” that still exists in coffee shops—that misguided belief that espresso-based beverages can’t do much damage. In this 20-ounce cup, Starbucks manages to pack in more calories and saturated fat than two slices of deep-dish sausage and pepperoni pizza from Domino’s. That makes it the equivalent of dinner and dessert disguised as a cup of coffee. If you want a treat, look to Starbucks’ supply of sugar-free syrups; if you want a caffeine buzz, stick to the regular joe, an Americano, or a cappuccino.

Drink This Instead!

Cinnamon Dolce Latte with Sugar-Free Syrup (grande, 16 fl oz)

260 calories
6 g fat (4 g saturated)
38 g sugars

Grand Finales

I was going to write all about LOST, but then I realized that I needed to acknowledge some of the other awesome show enders this season on television.  I may be in the minority on some of these, but I have been surprisingly satisfied with the following grand finales.

*NOTE: LOTS O’ SPOILERS AHEAD*

LOST

 Thank you, LOST.  I was able to love you all over again.  Because you really did LOSE me a little this final season.  But I love how you finally returned to your core and came full circle with all the characters. You brought many familiar faces back for the finale.  The show became about these people again and how they met, how they loved each other, how they needed each other, and how they moved on. 

This past season I was really checking out.  I was getting frustrated with that whole sideways world.  Now it all makes sense to me.  Well, as much as it CAN make sense.  I guess I choose to look at the series finale episode as a well-acted, beautifully shot, emotional fulfilling episode.  I choose NOT to look at it as a frustrating lot of loose strings. I understood it like this:  The characters had to go to their sideways world (purgatory) to meet up with their soul mates and then move on (to their after-life).  I especially loved the scene when Sawyer and Juliet remembered each other.

Jack’s death on the island in the final scene was perfect.  I loved how Jack made peace with his father, a literal “Christian Shepherd.”  Jack  joined all the souls who were most important to him and then he died - in the exact same spot where he awoke after the Oceanic plane crash.  The eye closing shot was brilliant.  It closed the show perfectly and, hopefully, gave fans a little of their own closure.  Well, at least, THIS fan.  I loved it. 

GREY’S ANATOMY

Holy Bloodbath, Batman!  The Grey’s season finale was incredibly heart wrenching and literally blood pumping.  Dr. Bailey’s scenes with the patient (guest star Mandy Moore) and the intern Charles were some of the best acting on TV all season.  When Dr. Bailey was hiding from the shooter and then she pretended to be a nurse, well that was Chandra Wilson winning the Emmy.  Speaking of winning an Emmy, Michael O’Neil (gunman Gary Clark) should also be accepting one.  He was breathtaking and terrorizing.

April the intern was a highlight when she told that story that saved her life.  She had her moment.  I also think Ellen Pompeo is underrated as an actress. She definitely knows how to navigate her character’s feelings with detail and emotion.  When Meredith and the intern were sitting on the floor while McDreamy was getting operated on by her BFF Cristina, that was perfection.  And then Meredith’s scene when she said she would sacrifice her life for Derek’s life and THEN she has a miscarriage before she can even tell Derek she was pregnant?  HEARTBREAKING.   Grey’s needed this season finale to keep us all on board.  It did not disappoint.  I knew they had nailed it when I was lying awake that night still thinking about it. 

GOSSIP GIRL

Chuck gets shot and lays bleeding in the street while trying to save the engagement ring that Blair refused?  What is going on??  There is a lot of violence on TV but this one was a shocker.  Usually I’m just shocked by the underage sex scenes on GG, but that ending just threw me.  And speaking of sex scenes, what is up with Jenny losing her virginity to Chuck?  I did NOT see that coming, which, I guess, was the point.  I don’t know if it’s a GOOD thing to say that was just, well, GROSS, but I was excited to see Jenny leave the city to spend some much needed time with her Mama.  Maybe she’ll be back next season but she definitely needs the time away to reinvent herself.   And please Gossip Girl, I love Chuck and Blair so hopefully next season you can also reinvent their relationship too, or this might be my last year watching.

AMERICAN IDOL

Yahoo!  Lee Dewyze wins!  He was in my fab four back at the beginning of the season.  I agree with Simon when he said THIS  is what the show is all about:  Finding a talented singer who needs a break. Lee is a talented singer and musician who was working in his hometown paint store when he auditioned for Idol.  And he made it all the way to the end. Sometimes nice guys do finish FIRST.  You go, Lee! Enjoy the ride.  

I loved seeing Paula Abdul and Bret Michaels on the Idol stage.  The rest of the finale was just okay.  But Lee getting the first place prize made the night very sweet and memorable for me.  I’m not sure what will happen next year with no Simon on Idol.  I might only be recapping the finale of The X Factor.

« Previous Page — Next Page »