Back by Popular Demand ...

By Rachel H

We have had a few requests lately for people looking for my "Is It Just Me?" blogs. So, back by popular demand, here are the two blogs I wrote that I hope our loyal readers will enjoy reading again and that our new readers can add their own questions on at the end!

Is It Just Me? - Part I
Random ramblings, thoughts and concerns from an everyday mom. So today I am asking the question, “Is it just me?”

Is it just me who…

· Always gets mean looks from older ladies in the grocery store when I take my kids with me?
· Actually enjoys watching reruns of “Full House”?
· Is absolutely enamored by the muscles on the guy from the “Lazy Town” cartoon?
· Can drink two diet cokes and still fall right to sleep?
· Does not have my ears pierced?
· Is flattered when I get stares from construction workers in my mini-van?

· Misses the smell of a baby’s room?
· Consistently promises myself that tomorrow I will not just sit on the bench at the playground and will instead run around with my kids?
· Really wants to educate the country on the correct usage of “your” and “you’re”?
· Enjoyed wearing a bathing suit while I was pregnant because I was “large and in charge” and was not embarrassed about it?
· Now refers to people by their first, maiden and last name since that is how it is posted on Facebook?
· Literally hurts my kids when I hug them because they are so darn cute and I want to SQUEEZE them?
· Thinks Atari was better than Wii?
· Can watch the Evolution of Dance video a thousand times and still think it is funny every time?
· Enjoys embarrassing my kids?
· Kisses my kids literally 100 times a day or more?
· Would lie in bed pretending to be sound asleep when the kids would wake up in the middle of the night and hope my husband would get up to check on them?
· Doesn’t really understand the purpose of a rice cake?
· Never ever thought I would actually pick someone else’s nose until I became a mom?
· Majorly stresses over whether or not to send the kids to school when you can’t decide if they are getting sick?
· Wishes the “Land of the Lost” with Chaka and Sleestack was still on TV so my children could love it as much as I did?
· Thinks Chutes and Ladders can be the longest game on the face of the earth?
· Wishes the over-sized Forenza sweater would come back in style?
· Has kids that each have the potential to turn into a complete spaz by 7pm?
· Has dreams about PF Chang’s?
· Has been reprimanded by a complete stranger for making my son “walk too fast” in Target?
· Still uses the word Dude entirely too much?
· Is always talking to myself? Even in public?
· Laughed instead of reprimanded my toddler when he said, “oh sh*t!”?
· Does not understand how we are all still catching colds when everything we use kills 99.9% of germs?
· Always hopes my kids won’t finish their dessert so I can have it?
· Is scared to death of the teenage years?
· Thinks it is OK to eat most food that falls on the ground?
· Is still hoping to take piano lessons one day?
· Absolutely cannot stand the sound of someone’s teeth on a fork?
· Loves watching The Hills because it’s reality TV that is nothing like my reality?
· Loves the smell of rafts and inner tubes for the pool?
· Gets so excited when a Michael McDonald song comes on the radio?
· Gets teary-eyed when I watch my kids playing together and actually getting along?
· Has kids who know every ice cream and bagel shop within a 10 mile radius of my house?
· Is very leery of people who whistle?
· Has absolutely no patience for waiting in line anymore?
· Had a Nana that always smelled like Sen-Sens and really misses that smell?
· Catches myself singing along to kids’ music even when there are no kids in the car?
· Will admit that I love to play Word Whomp?
· Never wants my kids to grow any older than they are at this very minute?
· Thinks nothing’s better than lying in the grass and looking up at the sky on an 80-degree day?
· Can’t stand when people talk to their children really loud on purpose so that people around will hear them and comment?
· Tells my kids they can’t have a quarter for the gumball machine but then turns around and gets an ice cream sundae for myself for $4.00?
· Thinks that Ruby on the “Max and Ruby” cartoon is really bossy?
· Is still pulling for Britney Spears?
· Really thinks we need a drive-thru post office?
· Thinks we have way too many options for schooling these days?
· Can’t stand when teenagers called me “ma’am”? Am I really that old?
· Still does not have DVR?
· Is still praying that they will find Kyle Fleishmann?
· Heard my daughter’s four-year-old friend ask, “Why is your mom so grouchy”?


Is It Just Me? - Part II
More random ramblings, thoughts and concerns from an everyday mom.
Is it just me who …

• Has a son and daughter who have figured out how to tinkle on the potty together at the same time?
• Was accused of stealing a $5 toothbrush attachment at the dentist’s office?
• Does not understand why so many people do not like coconut?
• Cannot read the word cupboard without saying cup-board?
• Has never seen “Jon and Kate Plus Eight”, but feels a little sorry for that mom with all the negative publicity, because if I had that many kids I think I’d be a little grouchy as well?
• Gets nauseous on the Merry-Go-Round?
• Thinks there is a HUGE difference between Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and Reese’s Peanut Butter Eggs? The eggs win – hands down.
• Thinks that the things that get on your nerves the most about people are the same things we miss the most when they are gone?
• Likes how Goofy does the “Hot Dog Hot Dog Hot Diggety Dog dance on Playhouse Disney?
• Doesn’t understand why every kid’s toy does not come with a bag or box for all the million pieces?
• Wishes I could work at Dundler Mifflin for a day?
• Thinks nothing is more beautiful than a child’s face while he is sleeping?
• Knows that my daily attitude is directly related to the weather outside and the cleanliness of my house?
• Thinks that many movies on the Family Channel are not very family-friendly?
• Has no idea what to do with a Pokemon card?
• Wishes everyone knew that “definitely” is not spelled “definately”?
• Saw a squirrel in my daughter’s bedroom and ran out screaming while I left her standing there?
• Thinks I probably should not have admitted the above statement?
• Cannot believe my parents let me watch Three’s Company when I was young?
• Loves to listen to my kids when they talk to themselves while playing alone?
• Knows what SYTYCD stands for and is not ashamed to admit that I went to see the live show?
• Had a 3-month-old who always chose the quietest moment at church to make loud grunting noises while he pooped in his diaper? Every week, people, every week!
• Does not understand the purpose of all the attachments, ties, and rubber wrappy-things that securely hook a toy to the box?
• Secretly likes when my children are feeling sick because I know they will cuddle with me?
• Cannot say, “You’re the best” to anyone without singing this song from Karate Kid?
• Likes to watch The Suite Life of Zack and Cody?
• Spends more money on my kids’ clothes than on my own?
• Finally understands why my mom did not want me going to Myrtle Beach with my girlfriends in high school?
• Thinks that it is so much easier to pop in an old VCR tape than have to skip all the previews and get to the main menu when we want to watch a DVD?
• Must have watched Savannah Smiles a thousand times when I was a child … and cried every time?
• Knows there are many times when I am talking to my husband that I realize he is not listening to one word I am saying?
• Backed my mini-van into a mailbox 5 years ago and still has not fixed the dent?
• Thought this was the best Sonic commercial of them all?
• Wants to stand on the side of the road with a sign that says, “My family wants to go to Disney” and see who gives me money?
• Thinks the smell of honeysuckle takes me right back to my childhood?
• Thinks that every mosquito in NC decides to come to my backyard when we have a cookout?
• Can’t help but get all teary-eyed when I hear a group of children singing?
• Has finally accepted the fact that my daughter will never eat a vegetable unless it is hidden in V8 V-Fusion?
• Wishes the birds could wait just one more hour before chirping outside my window in the mornings?
• Never realized that “Twinkle Twinkle”, “Baa Baa Black Sheep” and the ABC song were all the exact same tune until I had kids?
• Loves people who laugh really loud?
• Thinks they should name One-A-Day vitamins “One-A-Week”, because that is how often I actually remember to take them?
• Cannot pull myself away from shows like Brett Michael’s Rock of Love, Bad Girls’ Club and The Real Housewives of anywhere?
• Wears my Greek Week t-shirts to the Y and has no problem with the fact that they say 1992?
• Really likes that Rock Star song by Miley Cyrus?
• Is mortified when another adult has to ride in my mini-van and witness the trash and mess that we ride around in?
• Thinks that Mama Mia, Mean Girls, Shag, and Mystic Pizza are essential movies for a girls’ trip?
• Would be more than willing to pay someone to come to my house each morning in the summer and put sunscreen on my children for me?

Add your own “Is it just me’s” below and please help me to feel better that it really is not just me!

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OMG – He is Talking about ME!

By Rachel H

So the other week I was watching Big Brother (yes, Big Brother – don’t hate, don’t judge) and one of my favorite players was talking to the camera in the Diary Room. Ragan is his name and he is hilarious! Anyway, he was talking about an event that happened in the Big Brother House and exclaimed, “I was crying like a 40-year-old woman watching Oprah!” I started laughing and then suddenly stopped. Silence. Holy cow. He is talking about ME! I am the 40-year-old woman who cries watching Oprah!

Granted, I am a few years shy of being forty, and I may not be crying over Oprah, but I will admit to many a tear over a lame commercial, Lifetime Movie, Extreme Home Makeover, or even Nanny McPhee. When did this happen? When did I turn into this woman? Wasn’t it just yesterday when I was 21 and dancing on the bar at “Have A Nice Day Café” in Charlotte without a care in the world? Now I cry when I see my children holding hands as they walk out of school. I cry when I see someone help an old man who they don’t know.

But, as I thought about this and the fact that I have seemed to race through the past fifteen years of my life, I realized, I am pretty proud to be the mom and woman that I am. I like my life when I get to put on my pajamas at 8pm and not think twice about it. I like the fact that snuggling in bed with my family can be a highlight of my day. And I like that I am certainly in touch with my emotions. So after initially hearing Ragan’s comment and feeling like a washed up old hag, I can now say to myself, “Yes, I AM that almost forty-year-old woman who cries watching Oprah! And I am damn proud of it, too!”

Reminder: Don't forget to register for our September giveaway. You could be one of FIVE lucky readers to win a $20 gift card from Invitations Only. Just click here to register. Contest will end at noon on Friday, September 10. Good luck!

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Going, Going, Gone...Check These Items off Your Smarty Summer "To-Do" List !

By Krista W, Charlotte Smarty Pants

What are you doing with the last scraps of summer? If you’re out of ideas, we’ve got a few! Here are great ways to capture your “Indian Summer” and create fabulous family memories before the school bell rings.

1. Throw a slip-n-slide play date! Don’t have one? Hit Target for some insane “end of the season” sales and snag one at a bargain.

2. Get crafty! Try some of these season inspired projects from our friends at Kaboose. The paper plate “port hole” was a huge hit at our house!

3. Invite the neighbors over for one last BBQ and celebrate summer with local goodies found at a Farmers Market. Nothing says summertime like fresh corn on the cob and brightly flavored strawberries.

4. Make a splash. Take advantage of pool season (which will only lasts a few more weeks). Most pools close Labor Day, so jump in!

5. Make these yummy homemade orange popsicles! Family time never tasted so good.

6. Encourage your child to write a summertime journal. If your child hasn’t mastered letters yet, help them pen one. Be sure to leave blank pages for picture drawing! Create a memorable timeline of all your seasonal fun AND a perfect “show and tell” piece for the start of school.

7. Celebrate the season by going on a “lightening bug chase”. Let the little ones stay up late and watch the fireflies come out and spark up the night. S’mores optional!

8. Host a Lemonade Stand. This classic summer activity is sure to drum-up some sweet memories. Even better, donate all proceeds to charity - teach our Smarties young to give back to the community!

9. Visit Wet & Wild or Carowinds. Wake them up one morning and don’t tell them where you are heading. Upon arrival, bask in the glory of being “super mom” for the day!

10. Host a “teddy bear” picnic! Take your little ones to a park and bring along their favorite stuffed friend (and real friends if you have the energy). Pack a picnic and nibble on goodies with the special guests. Pictures are a must!

11. Decorate the night with sparklers. It may be past The Fourth, but sparklers are always a blast. Listen to your children squeal as they create shapes in the night with these popular summer treats.

12. Find shapes in the clouds. Enjoy the laziness of summer and kick-back while finding creatures in the clouds. Make up a story using your new character friends and enjoy listening to your child’s imagination run wild.

13. Have a water balloon fight. Nuf said.

14. Plant some flowers in preparation for Fall. August is a hot month for planting but you can nurse along your bargain-basement annuals, getting them ready for fall planting. When temperatures cool later in the month or in September, transplant your annuals out of their containers and into the ground for an eye-catching display of fall flowers.

15. Still at the beach or near the sand? Create “Sand Dough” by following the below steps.

Sand Dough
1 cup cornstarch
1/2 Tbsp cream of tartar
2 cups sand
1 1/2 cups of water

Stir together is an old pan (avoid no-stick surfaces) over medium heat until thick (5-10 minutes). Cool and store in a sealed container until ready to use!

16. Take a last minute “day trip” by hitting up one or more of our recommended destinations - the majority of which were smarty-tested and approved by Triad moms! Find all the options here by perusing our “Smarty Day Trip Series."

17. Just relax. Enjoy the final days of less stressful mornings and fewer packed lunch boxes. Soak up the ease that comes along with summer. Play with your children and remember summer for them is a whimsical time they will recall with fondness for the rest of their lives.

Happy “Indian Summer” Smarties!

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What's In Your Car?

By Krista W, Charlotte Smarty Pants

You know those catchy Capital One commercials that ask, “What’s in your wallet?”. Well, this got me thinking. These days, a wallet isn’t a moms catch-all. A wallet? Please, too small, come on. Even purses aren’t big enough to hold a mom’s unsorted stuff. Yes, even those huge Jessica Simpson duffle bags don’t cut it! What then is our catch-all?!! As I was pulling out part of a raincoat, one sandal, two Silly Bandz, and a juice box from my SUV, it hit me. Cars are a mother’s catch-all! We pick up, we drive, we eat on the go, we run errands, and even take road trips . . . so isn’t it inevitable that our cars end up with random goodies just about everywhere you can shove something? And so, Smarties, I ask, “What’s in your Car?”. Seriously, I’m taking a random audit of what we are storing in our “offices on the go”. Make me laugh, make me question your sanity, make me jealous that you are organized! I’m just dying to know, what is in there?!

Okay, so a few of you are probably wondering what I’m talking about. You have pristine cars and everything is organized perfectly. I’m sure the thought of food in your car straight-up frightens you. I’m jealous. I wish my “office” was as clean as yours. It isn’t though, and I don’t think it is in my nature to keep a clean car. While my closet is practically color coordinated, my car is far from it. I’m constantly running from place to place, and my daughter is a mini hoarder who loves to bring her treasures for a ride. So, if your car is clean, can you share with me how it’s done?! Give me some tips or at least tell me the best place to score a killer car wash!

I feel like I’m doing my civic duty here! I imagine women heading to their car in search for something strange. Hey, maybe I’ve inspired you to get it together and clean out your Minivan? Who knows? I’m just curious. So I charge you all to get out there and tell me what the heck is riding along with you!

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Lil' Smarty Ear Piercing

By Jen P, Charlotte Smarty Pants

When to get your daughter's ears pierced can be a big decision for many parents. For some cultures, piercing a baby's ears is as natural as birth. For others, parents set a specific age, often times in the double digits. It's a personal choice. Since I'm not really that into body piercing (didn't get my ears pierced until my big sis and boyfriend dragged me into the piercing pagoda at age 16!), my only rule is that my daughter needs to be old enough to take care of it herself.

So Ansley is now 8 1/2 and has been nagging for a good year and a half. I decided to tie it around an incentive program for her to improve her grades. I'll do anything to get her math scores up! You can bet she delivered and then some! The very day her report card came out, conveniently on a Friday, she had already arranged for her entire entourage to accompany her to the mall that night for the big event. I have to say, I was quite impressed with her strategery. She naturally invited her b/f/f's but she made sure the one who had already gotten her ears pierced was top of the list. Brillz at such a young age!

Surprisingly, I hadn't done a lot of research on this. In fact, I had done none. Everyone I know who has gotten their ears pierced has gone to a Claire's Boutique. So we packed up the girls and decided to make it a pizza outing as well. SouthPark is the closest location to me and I just assumed you could walk on in. Normally you can, however this night, the ear piercing gun was broken. Are you kidding me? Isn't that their main source of revenue? My disappointed crew hopped back in the car and headed down to Carolina Place. Note to self: next time, call ahead! By this time, it was getting pretty late and the 'lil miss party planner herself was getting cold feet. We arrived at the 2nd Claire's location and I think this was a blessing in disguise. We were greeted by the store manager and assistant store manager, which made me feel like we were in expert hands, not just the evening high school help. The staff at Claire's was extremely professional about the entire process including liability waivers, parental consent, gloves, the whole shabang. They also dotted her ears with marker first to make sure the holes were even. Now it was time to rock and roll. And Ansley was definitely nervous and got out of the chair.

I certainly didn't want her to feel like she HAD to do this. This was 100% her doing. I stood back and watched the power of girlfriends kick in. The only thing I said to Ansley was "Sweetie, don't feel like you have to do this. Remember, this was your idea. The only thing I'll tell you that may help you make your decision is this. I'm not coming back ANY time soon for a do-over." That said, she reached for her friends' hands and squeezed tight. This is the coolest part. Her friend who already had pierced-ears coached her the rest of the way, while her other friend contemplating doing this sometime soon herself just listened in awe. Her friend gave her an example of the pressure by pinching the skin between her thumb and pointer finger. She told her it would hurt for a second and then it would stop. Right then I nodded to the managers and they simultaneously did both ears. That was another thing I did not even think about but was thankful for the expertise at Claire's. The managers sensed Ansley's apprehension and without even asking, stood by both ears at the same time. That was key in my opinion. My best friend's daughter in Florida was inspired by Ansley but her ear-piercing place did her ears one at a time. Well, sweet little Karlyn is walking around with only one daisy earring and feeling completely defeated. So make sure you request both ears at the same time.

I would highly recommend Claire's (found usually at malls). For a complete list of Claire's locations, click here. Our outing turned into a sleepover too since we didn't roll out of the pizza place until 9:30p. But it was a success. And Ansley couldn't be more proud. I did ask her if we had done one ear at a time, would she have agreed to the 2nd ear. Her answer: "no-way, hurt way too much!"

So Smarties, how did you decide whether or not to pierce your daughter's ears? What age do you think is appropriate? Where did you go - Claire's can't be the only place? We'd love to hear from you!

Don't forget to register for our August Giveaway! You could be one of five lucky readers who will win a $20 gift card to Boutique of Couture in Winston-Salem. Think new fall clothes!!! Just click here to take a short survey. You must be a TSP newsletter subscriber to win. This giveaway promotion will run through Noon on Friday, August 13. Winners will be immediately notified and announced on TSP a few days later. Good luck, Smarties!

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Memories, Sweet Memories

By Rachel H

I consider myself a pretty nostalgic person. When we visit my parents, I can spend hours looking through old photos, reading old report cards, and browsing through my old sticker collections. Some of you may remember my The Amazing Sense of Smell blog when I recalled all the memories that a specific scent can capture. I want my children to also enjoy reminiscing on their childhood. I want them to ask questions about their heritage and their relatives who passed on before they got to know them.

I have many ways that I try to create and save memories, but am always looking for more. Here are a few ideas I wanted to share today, and I would love for you to include comments at the end of this blog to give all of us more ideas on how to preserve memories for our children!


When both of my children were born, I never had an official baby book, but instead used many ideas from Creative Memories products to create a “First Year Scrapbook.” I included photos, stories, and other memorabilia in this scrapbook. I also kept a calendar during their first year of life, and then used this calendar to write about specific milestones in the scrapbook. As we got busier, my daughter’s scrapbook has remained stagnant at month eight, but I promise to complete it soon!


I have kept a diary since I was in the third grade! My first Hello Kitty diary looked very similar to the one above and had many entries about playing in the creek and making our girls only club. My entries transformed as I got older and were then about boys, crushes, jobs, colleges, weddings, and all of life’s difficult decisions. I think I am now on my fifth or sixth journal. The others are hidden away, and I am sure I would die of embarrassment if anyone read them now, but I smile when I think of the day I am gone and my kids can read the journals and know that the events and emotions they encounter in their lives have been experienced by their mom before. I hope they enjoy reading about how I handled difficult situations and decisions. It saddens me that I have not made time to write entries like I used to though. I bet I only crack open my journal once every four months now, as a life with children is much busier than it was when I was alone in my apartment and had all day to write! I hope to get back in the swing of things and write more so that my children can read about how much joy they brought to my life!


Another idea I have is to purchase an “All About My Grandmother” book like the one shown above. Both of my parents have their own book that has endless prompts for them to write a response. Questions can vary from, “Who was your first best friend?” to “Tell us about the house you grew up in.” My parents are graciously taking the time, little by little, to fill out these books and pass them on to my kids one day!


Recently, we had a photo session with one of TSP’s Favorite Photographers, Zoe Zen. Zoe captured the photo above of my immediate family and it is now on a canvas in my family room. We had never had a professional photographer take a family photo before, and I could not have been more pleased with the results. We also got shots of just the children, or just my parents, sister and I, or just the girls, etc. We got many combinations and many unique photos. I am excited to pass these prints down to my children one day. My mom has battled ovarian cancer for the past eleven years, and we were elated to get this family photo during a time when everyone was healthy and mom had a break from chemo. We’ll always cherish these photos!


Lastly, I bought a “Memory Box” for each of my children at Home Goods when they were born. We keep these boxes under their beds. I throw everything into these boxes! Report cards, ticket stubs, artwork, teacher notes, articles from the newspaper, first teeth, baby hair swatches, autograph books from Disney, photos, etc. One day I will organize them, but for now, it is perfect to keep everything in one place and I think my kids will have a blast going through these when they are older.

I hope I have given you some inspiration to start preserving some memories for your children. Please share your ideas below!

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Smarty Sponsor: The Beanstalk

By Amie Blanks, The Beanstalk

By far, the worst part of watching your little babies grow older is knowing that, at some point, you simply won’t be able to find clothes for them at consignment sales. Am I right? It’s enough to make any mom run into her room, slam the door and scream to your family that you are NEVER … COMING … OUT!

Well, like John Cusack holding up his boom box in “Say Anything,” The Beanstalk on Hawthorne Road is shouting about its sale specifically for children (child’s size 6 through juniors and young men’s). No longer will you have to push your way through aisles of strollers, high chairs and bouncy-springy-swingy seats and toys – only to be disappointed upon arrival at the clothing racks.

Sale dates are Friday, August 27, and Saturday, August 28 (perfect for back-to-school). Pre-Sale opens Thursday evening to Consignors and Volunteers.

I should know: as the mother of three rapidly growing girls, I’ve too often left my favorite sales feeling like my next stop should be the mall – where I’ll pay a lot more for a lot less.


Those same great deals you loved when they were babies and toddlers can now be found at The Beanstalk, 1315 S. Hawthorne Road. Winston-Salem, NC 27103. (Intersection of Hawthorne and Knollwood).

In addition to incredible deals on clothing, accessories and décor for big kids, tweens and teens, some exciting mompreneurs will be joining us at the sale. Be sure to say hello to Monkey Hooper, PB and J Photography and Litldesi9s.

So you know, consignors earn 70% of their items sold, must consign at least 15 items and pay a $10 fee for facility rental and advertising. Consigning Volunteers earn 75%. For more info and to register, please visit www.TheBeanStalkSale.com.


Register early as a Consignor or Volunteer and The Beanstalk will enter your name for the chance to win 100% Of your Items Sold or a 50% Off coupon for your purchases! Plus, for every person you refer, you’ll receive an additional entry into the contest.

Stop by The Beanstalk August 27th and 28th and, whether you come as a Consignor, Volunteer, Shopper or combination of all three, we’ll look forward to seeing you there!

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It's Movie Night!

By Rachel H

Ever since Redbox came along, movie nights have gotten to be a big deal around our house. Who can resist when it only costs $1.00, right? We have yet to give Netflix a try, but I would like to do so since there are so many older movies that we love, too!

Today I thought it would be fun for us to share recommendations with each other for some of our favorite movies of all time! I have divided my lists into three categories. The first list contains movies that are great for the family. Some are fit for all ages, while others may contain some parts that make them more appropriate for families with older children. It is tough to find films that amuse parents as well as the kids, but below are the ones that I actually enjoy watching, too! My second list contains movies that I would probably not torture my husband by making him watch, so I watch these on the evenings he is out-of-town or has another commitment. They are also great flicks to take along on a girls’ weekend! Then the third list has movies that I think are perfect for couples to watch together, or even a group of adults if you are on a beach or mountain trip. An advance warning … don’t make fun of me for my cheesiness on some of these!

I know as soon as I run this I will think of additional movies that I should have added, so that is where you come in! Add your favorites by commenting below. Then make tonight a movie night and try a new one!

My personal favorites include …

Family Movies
(Remember that some are not appropriate for little kids, and would be more for families with tweens and teens. I have put an asterisk next to ones that I know have a few curse words or inappropriate scenes for smaller kids.)

Shrek
A Christmas Story*
Adventures in Babysitting*
The Little Mermaid
Kung Fu Panda
Aladdin
Christmas Vacation*
The Princess and the Frog
The Karate Kid (new and old versions)*
Mrs. Doubtfire*
The Muppets Take Manhattan
How to Train Your Dragon
Charlie& the Chocolate Factory (new and old)
Elf*
Now and Then*
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off*
Finding Nemo
The Wizard of Oz
Up
The Parent Trap (new and old)
Annie
Raiders of the Lost Ark*
Big*
Little Miss Sunshine*
Toy Story
Star Wars*
The Incredibles
The Lion King
Men in Black*
Singin in the Rain
Monsters, Inc.
E.T.*
Home Alone*
The Sandlot*
Enchanted
Mary Poppins
The Sound of Music
Bye Bye Birdie
Poltergeist (kidding, kidding … just wanted to make sure you were paying attention)

Chick Flicks
Dirty Dancing
Mystic Pizza
Sleepless in Seattle
Mean Girls
When Harry Met Sally
Pretty In Pink
Twilight Series
Charlie’s Angels
Bridget Jones’ Diary
Clueless
Stepmom
Legally Blonde
How Stella Got Her Groove Back
Mama Mia
Moulin Rouge
Hairspray
Dear John
Steel Magnolias
White Oleander
Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood

Date Night or Group movies
(Mix of adventure drama, and comedy … some are big time tear-jerkers!)

Big Fish
What Dreams May Come
Knocked Up
The Story of Us
Chicago
Swingers
Shutter Island
My Big Fat Greek Wedding
The Notebook
Happy Gilmore
The Shawshank Redemption
Taken
Silence of the Lambs
The Hangover
It’s Complicated
Wedding Crashers
The Usual Suspects
A Few Good Men
Pulp Fiction
Antoine Fisher
Slumdog Millionaire
Saving Private Ryan
Tommy Boy
40 Year Old Virgin
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Casablanca
Dumb and Dumber
An Affair to Remember

OK, your turn! List your faves below!

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Plan Some Family Fun!

By Guest Blogger, Lisa Witherspoon

- “Family is the most important thing in the world.” - Princess Diana

- “The happiest moments of my life have been the few which I have passed at home in the bosom of my family.” - Thomas Jefferson

These quotes remind us of the importance of family. However, in today’s busy world, it seems the only time families spend together is in the car traveling between work, school, extracurricular activities, errands, playdates, and birthday parties. Unfortunately, QUALITY family time doesn’t just happen. It takes work, so go get your overcrowded calendar. Pick a night. Write it down – “FAMILY NIGHT.” Better yet, chisel it in so that nothing can change it. Once you have done that, here are some suggestions to help you on your way.

1. Game Night - Get out the board games and play together. You can team up to help younger ones, if needed. Monopoly, LIFE, Uno, Scrabble, & Pictionary are some classics! (Check out more game night ideas here.)

2. Wii Night – Do you have a Wii?? Why not have a family bowling tournament or a Guitar Hero showdown??

3. Movie Night – Simple. Rent a movie, pop some popcorn, sit on the couch together, and enjoy!

4. Pizza Night – Don’t just order delivery; make your own. You can make one large pizza or several small, personal pizzas. Finish it off by making ice cream sundaes, too!!

5. Culture Night – Pick a country and make that your theme for the night. For example, choose Mexico and make tacos; or choose Italy and have spaghetti and Italian ice. You can also watch a movie about the country. Older kids (and younger kids with help) can Google ten fun facts about the country to share at the dinner table.

6. Do a Project Together - Gather everyone to help complete a jigsaw puzzle, build and paint a birdhouse, or plant a flower box.
7. Service Project – Use your family time to help others together. Make cards and deliver them to a nursing home. Go to the Dollar Store and purchase toiletry items to take to a homeless shelter. Go to a pet store and purchase food and toys for the animal shelter. (You can check out more local ideas for service projects here.)

8. Fun Night Out – Take the family out for some fun. Go bowling, ice skating, roller skating, or to play putt-putt.

9. Go Camping in the Backyard – Start with a backyard picnic. Then, pitch a tent. Make s’mores, tell jokes or ghost stories, and watch the stars come out. (You can do this even if you don’t sleep outside overnight!)

10. Home Project – Work on a project around the house together. Have everyone pitch in to help rearrange the furniture or organize the garage. The work will go faster and it will be more fun together!

11. Go to the Park – It is Daylight Savings time, so it is light outside until 8:00 or so. Take advantage of that and go play at a local park! (Find TSP's top ten from each Triad City here. Scroll down until you see Favorite Park listings.)

12. Charades – You can write words on index cards, divide into teams, and play this classic game for hours!

You can also come up with something completely different and special to your family. Whatever you choose, have fun. After all, “The most precious gift you can give your children is your time.” (Anonymous)

What is your favorite thing to do as a family? We want to know! Share your comment below ...

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I'd Rather Stick Pins in my Eyeballs

By Rachel H
One day when I asked my daughter to do something that she wasn’t too crazy about doing, she looked at me and replied with a bit of sass, “I’d Rather Stick Pins in My Eyeballs.” You might be thinking. “Oh, she is going through the teenager attitude phase right?” No, the girl is FOUR! I couldn’t believe when that came out of her mouth! Initially, it struck me as funny and I could not help but laugh. Then I asked her where she had heard that and she replied, “High School Musical.” I know what you are thinking – “It is HIGH SCHOOL musical, Rachel, not PRESCHOOL musical, of course she is going to hear things like that and mimic what they do.”

I guess I have just always tried to be laid back and consider that I ran around the house singing, “Push It” and “Like a Virgin” when I was a kid having no idea what they meant and I think I turned out OK! (Enter zinger comments from my friends here!) I watched Three’s Company, Grease, and other things that had “suggestive” plots , but never really caught on.

But then other times I wonder if I am totally warping their minds when I let my kids watch shows or movies like this. My son’s new response when I ask him to clean his room or pick up his things is, “Got it, girl!” Far cry from the “Yes, ma’am” that many parents would expect, huh?

Personally, I think most of these sayings and actions are harmless and more than likely they are catching on to my own personality and common sayings more than anything from TV! As long as my children are respectful to others and to themselves, I think that is the number one priority, but it still brings me to the topic that I wanted to discuss today – which TV shows and movies do you think are inappropriate for your kids?

I personally love Noggin – good, clean, fun, but needless to say, my son who is almost seven is absolutely over that channel, which means my daughter only watches it when he is not around. I also like Boomerang because it brings back memories of my childhood when we watched the Flintstones and the Jetsons. I am not crazy about Cartoon Network, and even Disney sometimes has shows that I am not too happy about letting my kids watch. Don’t even get me started on Nickelodeon.

I may need to throw in here that we do not have DVR, so there is no advance planning for shows. If we are home on a weekday, my children get about an hour of TV, so it totally depends on what time homework is done, if we have any other activities, etc. What they watch just depends on what happens to be on television at the time that we have a free hour.

And what is up with the dark and dreary movies for kids lately? Have you seen Corraline? What about the remakes of Alice in Wonderland, A Christmas Carol, and Where the Wild Things Are? Why do they have to be so creepy, dark, and dismal?

Realistically, most parents do not have the time to sit with their children and monitor every TV show, or prescreen every movie before we allow them to watch it, so let’s help each other out here – what shows and movies are appropriate for what ages?

Again, my top recommendations for children ages 4-7 are the Noggin shows and Boomerang Channel. I also think the PBS shows are great for younger kids. For movies, we recently saw How to Train Your Dragon. It was so cute. A great DVD ... I thought Kung Fu Panda was so cute for adults and kids without being too scary or sad. And the classics ... I love The Parent Trap (old and new versions).

You can also check out our past blog on TV ratings for kids here. Tell us what you think!

Got a kid who loves soccer? Register here to win a $100 gift certificate to Triad Elite Soccer Club or Camp! Giveaway ends on Friday, May 21st.

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Should We Teach Our Children Black and White?

By Guest Blogger, Kelly Sipe, Kindergarten Teacher at Greensboro Day School

One of the first things we teach our young children is to name colors. There is a great sense of parental pride as we showcase our toddler's acquisition of color knowledge. We ask them to name colors for everyone and everywhere ... at the playground, in the tub, in Target, etc. However, if a child names the color of a person's skin in the grocery store we move quickly to silence them or to divert the conversation, and then proceed to offer apologizes to those around us who may have heard your child's observation.

It is in those moments that we inadvertently pass along a bias to our children. I believe that we react in this way with good intentions. We don't want to embarrass, draw attention to, or hurt anyone's feelings. Although, what we actually do is carry on what our parents passed along to us ... the fear of drawing attention to someone's race and the belief that if we don't talk about it, then our children won't "see" color. We send the message that there is something wrong with noticing a person's skin color.

As a mother, I want my daughter to grow up with a sense of pride in herself. I want her to see and appreciate not only the beauty in her own uniqueness but also in that of others. I grew up in a small city in central Connecticut in the 1970s. In my hometown, neighborhoods had long been established based upon European descent. Each ethnic neighborhood was centered around a church and a grocery. The largest neighborhoods consisted of Polish, Italian and French families. They were a working class of people who worked and played together as a very strong family community.

Once a year each neighborhood would have a festival wherein everyone from the city would come and enjoy "the best" of that culture, whether it be dancing, baked goods, kielbasa and pierogies or music. We had an awareness of what each culture represented and an appreciation of those things. My ancestors were Polish and French. I grew up hearing and learning pieces of both those languages. I took Polish dance lessons. We regularly ate ethnic foods and had very distinct traditions centered around each holiday. Yet, at the same time we all knew that my grandmother's Italian neighbor made the BEST bread on this side of the Atlantic!

When I moved from Connecticut and met my husband, who is from western North Carolina, he was unaware of his ancestry and his family referred to themselves as Southern. I remember feeling that they were missing so much color from their lives by not knowing their ancestry.

I share the story above to preface how important it is to know where you've come from. There is a new show on television entitled just that - "Do You Know Where You're From." Featured celebrities trace their ancestry line to see where they have come from.

In the first episode I watched, Emmit Smith's (retired Running Back for the Dallas Cowboys) journey was spotlighted. He traced his lineage from Florida to Alabama to Virginia (where his family had been sold as slaves) to the exact region in Africa. As Emmit traveled to each of these places he uncovered interesting, enlightening and sometimes difficult stories from his family's past. It was surreal to see just how much the stories of his past were woven into the fabric of who Emmit is as an individual; all without him having had any prior knowledge of that history. The history that Emmit uncovered will no doubt forever change the way he sees himself and others.

Not too long after this show, I had a conversation with my kindergarten students about family ancestry. The children in my class were referencing the fact that Tom had darker skin than the others. I asked all the children to put their fists in the middle of the circle. We examined and compared all of our skin tones. The variations were numerous.

I told the children that a person's skin color is one way to tell where a person's ancestors originated. My fair skin (and once naturally blonde hair) reminds me that my ancestors were from Poland. Tom's skin color reminds us that his ancestors are from Africa. The shape of Suzie's eyes tell us that her ancestor's are from China.

This conversation manifested itself into a discussion of what special traditions (foods, etc.) each child's family has that also remind them of where their ancestors are from. Tom spoke to the class about how the colorful clothing his family wears on special occasions reminds him that his family is from Africa. Our discussion quickly moved from a casual conversation to an "AHA" moment for some students. It seemed to finally make sense to them. Tom's skin color was no longer a thing that separated or defined him, but it was something that made him a little more interesting to know. Many children came back to school the following day, after they had asked their parents where their ancestors were from, ready to share more information about themselves with the class.

If children (and adults!) have a greater knowledge of and appreciation for their own personal history, a sense of pride is rooted. Once you experience that personally, you are open to feeling that for others. We are all "colorful" beings whose cultures and individualities are woven together, whether we chose to recognize it or not. Embrace the history, beauty and diversity all around us. And, next time your child notices the unique beauty in a stranger be open to it and start talking ...

Don't forget to register for our fabulous Mother's Day giveaway! Simply click here to read about our fabulous businesses participating and to register! This giveaway will continue until noon on Friday, May 14th. We will then choose our four lucky winners at random and will contact them to claim their prize. Good luck!

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Happy Mothers' Day!

By Rachel H

Happy Mothers' Day to all of you from our TSP Team. We hope your day is a wonderful one. I thought today was a great day to post this reminder from Mother Teresa. These versus were reportedly written on her wall for children in Calcutta, India. My mother-in-law has had this on her refrigerator for as long as I can remember, and a few years ago I printed this out and hung it on mine as well. I think the verses are wonderful words in which to live!

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered.
Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.
Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies.
Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you.
Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight.
Create anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous.
Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, will often be forgotten.
Do good anyway.

Give the best you have, and it will never be enough.
Give your best anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God.
It was never between you and them anyway.

Don't forget to register for our fabulous Mother's Day giveaway! Simply click here to read about our fabulous businesses participating and to register! This giveaway will continue until noon on Friday, May 14th. We will then choose our four lucky winners at random and will contact them to claim their prize. Good luck!

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Do You Deserve a Push Present?

By Rachel H

A few weeks ago, a group of my girlfriends got into a discussion about "push presents." If you have never heard this term before, it refers to a gift given to a mom (usually by the dad) after giving birth to a child. These presents are traditionally jewelry or a trip.

Well, the discussion got very heated with many different opinions and I could not believe how passionate some people were about this topic! Wow! We had one end of the spectrum with mothers who felt that the gift was well-deserved after nine months of carrying the baby and hours of delivery. They felt that the gift was not only deserved, but expected.

Then we had a group who thought the push present was the most ridiculous thing they had ever heard of and that the child should be present enough. This group also felt that the final "gift" of pregnancy was something that was deserved by both parents, and that a healthy child was a perfect gift.

But what about the people who tried umpteen times to have a baby and went through years and years of heartache? Another group of my girlfriends thought this group deserved a present.

Then there was my friend who said the husband was the one who deserved a gift for putting up with her crankiness for nine months!

Needless to say, I thought this would be a perfect hot topic for today. I would love to hear what you all think about a push present. Have you heard of this before? Or better yet, had your husband heard of this before? Did you get one? If so, what was it? It you didn't get one, were you disappointed?

Chime in below and if you are unsure of how to leave your comment, click here to find out how. And PLEASE remember to treat others' comments with respect! Remember ... to each his own!

Tomorrow is your last chance to register for our bonus giveaway with "Send Out Cards". Everyone wins, so why not sign up? You could save more than $50 in greeting cards. Click here for all the details.

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Family Game Night

By Tracy S, CSP

Last week, my husband had to work through dinner one evening. As the kids and I were just finishing up our own fancy dinner of Mama Fu’s take out, my son Jake asked me “Mommy, can we play UNO tonight after Ryanne goes to bed?”

“I don’t think you can play with just two people, sweetie.”

“Sure you can! I play with my friend at afterschool all the time. When you play a skip, you just get to go again … and same with a reverse because it comes back to you. And when you play a ‘plus 2’, the other person picks two and you go again!”

“Alright, we’ll give it a try” I say skeptically. After all, he only just learned to play UNO 2 short months ago and can barely even hold all the cards in his little hands. This should be a quick game, I thought to myself.

It was quick all right - two hands into it: Jake - 0, Mom - 180!!! Apparently the kid not only learned how to play UNO, but some strategy as well!

We played for about an hour and he ended up beating my little smarty pants right off me! I appeared to be upset for his benefit, but deep down inside, I was thrilled!

We are finally turning the corner of FUN family game nights! No more Candy Land or Chutes and Ladders (or just Ladders in my husband’s case). We have finally arrived at some REAL games. I remember so often growing up, clearing the dinner table and immediately launching into a heated game of Aggravation … or the marathon Monopoly games on a rainy Saturday afternoon. What a fun family bonding experience. And a great alternative to TV watching!!!

We’ve slowing been expanding our game library - here are a few of our favorites thus far:

Blokus
UNO
Go Fish
Sorry
Sorry Sliders (kind of like curling for any of you fellow olympic junkies)
Connect Four (I actually can hear the sweet sounds of Matt and Jake playing as I type)
Rush Hour (this is actually a one-person game, but is GREAT for developing thinking skills and its fun to pass back and forth, challenging one another with various set ups)
Othello
Bulls-eye Ball (similar to a miniature Skee Ball game)
Zingo (this is a game for smaller kids, but wanted to include it because its such a great one)

Help us build out our game cabinet. What are some of your family faves? Share some of your fun family game night stories too. Happy game night!

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A Tale of a Tantrum

By Guest Blogger Kelly Gunzenhauser


So I thought I was getting off easy when my younger son came along and we were blessed with a child who had the sunniest disposition I have ever seen. He was a content, easy baby. Now, as a two-year-old, he kisses his preschool teachers after they change his diapers and tells everyone who will listen that he loves them. He can get a little feisty with his friends, but he’s usually a piece of cake at home.

By now you are all laughing at me and waiting for the other shoe to drop, and of course it has. My son has hit the tantrum stage. He is not a small kid and he’s strong as an ox, so tantrums are not minor events. Here is a list of some of the things that have set him off: socks too “waggy,” socks at all, shoes at all, getting dressed, wearing a coat, not getting his fingers in the right glove holes, wearing mittens instead, changing his diaper, going to the grocery store, going home from anywhere, getting strapped into his car seat, going to preschool, going to bed, reading only one book at bedtime, getting a bath, getting lotion on his eczema, brushing his teeth, having his fingernails cut, leaving a friend’s house, waking up from a nap, getting too many kisses, being asked what he wants for breakfast, getting the wrong color of cup, and when his brother looks at him.

The “best” tantrum by far was at the grocery store. He wasn’t in the mood for the store. I was of two minds. His tantrum was more whining than anything else—should I risk it? Maybe a cookie once we got inside would help. And, I don’t really like giving in to tantrums. And, I REALLY needed to go to the store! So off we went.

While we were there, he screamed at the absolute top of his lungs the whole time, “Put your stuff back!” He ran from one side of the store to the other and hid. He kicked and screamed every time I picked him up to move him to a new part of the store. He ran away from me and tried to escape out of the door into the parking lot; I only stopped him by grabbing the hood of his jacket. So many people offered help: “Can I get him a balloon? Can I get him a cookie? Can I hold him while you tie him to the cart?” (OK, just kidding about that last one.)

And just as many people came up to me and said, “I have 2 (3, 5, 10) kids and I have been there. It gets better.” (Yes, I know it does. The five-year-old evidence of that is calmly riding in the spaceship grocery cart.) And a few people looked at me like I was the world’s worst mother, you know, shaking their heads in that, “Wow, why can’t you control your child?” sort of way.

As I look back over the list of things that have set him off, I see that many of them are transitions and “have-to-dos.” Kids don’t like to change course until they are ready. The reality is, though, that sometimes we have to do what needs to be done, and I can’t accommodate his timetable. Like right now, while I am trying to finish this up quickly, and he is hanging on me and whining and lying in the floor and kicking. Now he’s telling me, “I don’t like you Mama,” even though the reason he’s mad is because he wants to play a game - with me. He must like me a little bit. Sometimes. But I know that soon, this stage will be over. And with it will go some of the “I love you’s!” and the constant smooching and the crawling in bed with me in the morning when he wakes up at 5:00am. He’ll be more reasonable, but a little more grown up, too.

So what are your favorite tantrum stories? And what are your tips for dealing with them?

* We thought you would enjoy a "post-tantrum" picture of the star of this post, shown at the top of the blog!

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Let's Get Ready to Rumble!

By Rachel H

“Get Offa Me!”
“Stoooooooop it!”
“She’s touching me!”
“He’s bothering me!”
“That’s mine!”

If you are familiar with these phrases, thank goodness because that means I am not alone. If you are not familiar with these phrases, then it means your kids don’t fight and I need you to please offer me some suggestions today!

My children fight like cats and dogs. I have one boy, almost seven, and one girl, almost five. They have fought like this from the moment my daughter could reach out and take things from my son. It is pretty much all day, every day when they are together. Spring Break gave me a reminder of what the summer would entail – long hot days with sweaty, whiny kids, who are hanging on me and fighting with each other. Doesn’t that sound like fun?

I don’t want my summer to be like that! I want us to enjoy each other and have fun-filled days at the beach and swimming pool where my children actually get along. I would love to ride in the car without hearing arguments about why someone is looking at someone else. I would love to sit down to dinner without kids kicking each other under the table. I would love to play a game of Sorry without my children arguing over whether they really moved two spaces or three. Is that too much to ask?

So I am admitting that I have tried and I have failed in the “children not fighting” department. I have tried to intervene. I have tried to ignore. I have tried to stay in the same room in which they are playing in hopes of the fighting not happening as much. I have tried to go in a different room and ignore it. I have tried structured games. I have tried free play and letting them work it out alone. No light at the end of the tunnel quite yet.

The good news is that my children really do love each other so much. They are sad when the other is not around. They stand up for each other around other kids. They give each other hugs and kisses every night. Sometimes I will find my son reading books to his sister as she sits in his lap. They cheer for each other when playing games. So it is definitely not a hatred type of fighting. It is a normal sibling thing where they bicker and taunt daily. I actually think it is Karma for the way my sister and I fought as we were growing up.

I discussed this problem with a friend of mine who also has a boy and a girl, two years apart, who are now 26 and 28. Guess what she told me? They still fight. She told me they just took a family trip to the beach and the two of them taunted each other in the car the whole way, even with their spouses along on the ride!

So do I have any hope? Please say yes. I am so blessed to have these children and I want to do the best I can in raising them to get along. I know there is someone out there who has done a marvelous job of this and I would love to hear suggestions! And of course if your kids are like mine, I’d love to hear about that, too!

Smarties, don't forget TOMORROW is your last day to register for this month's give-away with Whitebox Photography. Just be sure you are a Triad Smarty Pants newsletter subscriber, then click here to enter your name in the giveaway! We will choose a winner through Random.org on April 9, 2010 and will contact you that day!

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Rachel’s Random Show and Tell

By Rachel H

When I try to come up with blog ideas, I always have so many random things that I want to share! (like this, or this) So today I took my latest sporadic list of ideas and put them all into one blog I am calling this my “show and tell.” These are just things that I like and thought other moms should know about!

My first show and tell is the one, the only … Airborne! I don’t know how I made it through life without it. I am telling you all – this stuff is incredible! When you start feeling like you might have a cold coming on, drop one of these bad boys into a glass of water, let it do its thing, and drink. Then about four hours later you do it again. I keep taking this for a day or so until the sickness that was supposed to come never comes. Moms, we can’t afford to be sick, and this is the way to sidestep any colds that come our way. There have been many evenings when my throat has started getting sore, body started to ache and I just KNEW I’d be out of commission the next day lying in bed with a cold. But, I drank my Airborne and woke up the next day feeling like a million bucks. I am no doctor, so I have no idea of long term affects from this stuff or whether or not it is good for the environment of your body. All I know is that it works! AND you can also buy it in generic brands at places like Walgreens.

Psssssst – that’s the name of my next show and tell! When one of my girlfriends first told me about this greasy hair remedy I thought, “Ew gross! If your hair is that greasy, just wash it!” But I have actually seen its benefits on mornings when I am headed to the Y, but of course do not want to wash my hair before I work out. My hair is not the kind that can be washed once every three days like some of you lucky ducks and it starts looking greasy fairly quickly. So, on those mornings where I am headed to the Y, but the hair is looking a little on the greasy side, I spray this Psssssst on it and viola – looks all pretty and new. You can find this at most drugstores.

I have a book for show and tell today, too. There are very few books that you remember for months and years after you read them, but this is one that really touched my heart and soul. Same Kind of Different As Me was incredible. I laughed out loud a few times and also had tears streaming down my face as I read in bed one night. This is the kind of book that makes you want to be a better person. I won’t give too much away, but you can read more about it here.

I haven’t had a child in a carseat carrier for over four years, so maybe I am just totally out of the loop, but when I saw these, I thought “ingenious”!!!!!!!! It is called the Padalily, and is a carseat handle pad that keeps your poor arms and hands from hurting while toting around your bundle of joy. They are so stylish, too! You can check them out on the website here. They are also sold all over the Triad in boutique shops like Hip Chics, Gazoodles, Polliwogs, Splurges, and Taji Baby. I think this is a fabulous baby shower gift idea as well!

I had to include these sweet, sweet gift ideas in my blog today. I have always loved to buy tea towels as gifts, and when I saw these I just fell in love! I saw them at Francesca’s. (There is one in Greensboro and one in Winston-Salem. You can read more about it on my Best Kept Secrets blog.) The first one (shown at the top of the blog) I spotted and told my friend how much I loved it. She snuck back in the store to buy it for me and surprised me with it at Christmas. The second one I thought would be a perfect Mothers’ Day gift for my mom, but I just couldn’t wait that long so I gave it to her for Valentine’s Day! They have a bunch of other cute towels as well, but these two were my favorites.

Last, but not least, I have to share my favorite video of 2009. Yes, I know it is 2010, but I thought this song was so fun and it never made it as big as I had hoped! I know you have all heard it, and now I wanted to show the fun little video that goes along with it. The longer you watch it, the more it makes you smile. The group is All Rebel Rockers, and the song is “Say Hey” or as some people call it “I love you.” This is one of those feel good songs that the whole family will love. We had many dance parties to this song over the past year. You can watch it on youtube here. Go download it today and give yourself a good dose of dance party fun!

Show and Tell is over for Rachel now, but if anyone else has some show and tell today, please comment below and tell us about your great finds!

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Spacebook, Myface, Facebook ...

By Rachel H

No matter what you call it, Facebook has seemed to take over the Internet the past two years with adults. What used to be a pastime for college kids has now turned into an addiction for many parents and even grandparents. The non-Facebookers out there will love today’s post as I poke fun at the many nuances of it. But alas, I must admit, I like it. I really do.

Facebook does have many pros, like how cool is it that you can look on someone’s FB page to remind you of the name of their husband and kids so that you don’t look like a fool when you see them at that cookout this weekend? Or that you can look up a friend’s birthday that you should know after being friends with her for ten years, but totally forgot to write it on your calendar this year!

Of course it has the obvious benefits such as reconnecting with friends with whom you had lost touch. I also love the fact that I can easily keep up with my relatives who live out of state and see photos of their proudest moments and updates of pregnancies, jobs, etc. I love that I can get in touch with just about anyone about anything without having to look up a phone number. I also love the fact that it is a good compliment to an already existing friendship. I don’t use it to take the place of hand-written cards, or catch-up phone calls, but it is nice to see and hear about things that you normally would not talk about in a day-to-day conversation.

Another plus was when I reconnected with my friend, Ellen, from college. Not only was I so psyched to have found her, but I found out she lived in Asheville and guess where we were going to attend a wedding that following month? You guessed it – Asheville! Ellen not only offered for us to bag our hotel and stay with her family, but watched our kids as well while we attended the wedding. So Facebook not only gave me one heck of a fun weekend with my old pal, but saved us a couple hundred in our hotel bill and babysitters! Now that’s what I call a win-win.

Now for the downside of Facebook – it can be SO annoying!!!! Why does it have to tell me every time my friends play Farmville or Mafia Wars? Why do my friends feel the need to tell others the most useless information? Why do people keep “friending” me when I have already said no? I don’t know you, Daniel Brookstone! Why does Facebook have to become the political sounding board during the election? Why do people post photos from your worst pubescent days and tag you?

More downfalls – you can’t have a party anymore and not invite someone because sure as heck somebody will tag you in a party photo on Facebook and then that friend will know they were not invited! You can’t lie and tell someone that you can’t volunteer for their function today because you have a haircut at 4pm. They get on your Facebook page and see you commenting on others’ photos at 4pm! Busted! You can’t ever put in your status that you are taking a trip to your hometown because anyone in that hometown that you choose not to call is going to be really peeved.

Then there are the status posts … oh, the status posts, how I love to make fun of thee! I will admit I have been known to post a status every so often and I will admit that many times they are somewhat “braggy” or self-fulfilling. Like when I had to announce that we had a blast at Disney and post 9 million pictures, but I was just too excited to hold it in. Or when my husband opened his restaurant and I had to tell everyone to check it out. And I will admit I have even used my status post to try and lure readers to this very website, but I promise it is only because we have totally awesome info that you need to know!

But some days I just cannot stand the “I am the greatest” posts on Facebook. One day I think I will just mock everyone and write, “I am the most awesome person ever and my husband is sweeter than any of yours and my kids are cuter and smarter and my house is bigger and no one can ever be as awesome as me.” You think?

And I always have the “mental” responses to friend’s status posts that I would never write, but always think in my head and laugh to myself. Like when someone writes, “Look out San Fran - the Jones Family is coming to town tomorrow!” My mental response, “Well thanks for the tip that your house will be empty. Don’t be surprised to come home to your flat screens stolen.”

Or this one – “What a great Saturday … ran four miles, spent time doing crafts with the kids, cooked a fabulous meal with my hubby and got the whole house clean!” My mental response, “I sat in my pajamas on the couch ‘til noon, watched my kids’ brain cells shrink as they played Wii for three hours and told my husband that if he was hungry he could order a pizza. And guess what – I kinda liked my day just fine.”

OK, one more – the status post says, “Having the best time ever with my girlfriends out on the town tonight!” My mental response, “Oh really? Cause if you were really having that much of a blast I am guessing you would not be surfing Facebook right now.”

Yes, I do love to make fun of Facebook, but am I ready to close my account and jump off for good? No way. I need to let everyone know that my son made the honor roll first. :)

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