ok, so every once in a while, something sets me off and i dust off my soap box and let my voice be heard.  recently a ‘parents magazine’ set up shop right here in my hometown and started sending complimentary subscriptions to whomever fell on their demographic list, myself being included.  after receiving the first issue, i knew it would be nothing to waste my precious time or money on since it offered absolutely no differentiators that would set it self apart from other more well-established national magazines.  but what DID catch my eye was the fact that after receiving my third complimentary issue, i realized that this magazine was almost COMPLETELY DEVOID OF ANY SIGNS OF DIVERSITY.  not even a murmur.  just page after page of blond-haired white models.  now don’t get me wrong, i have no problem with white people, or models – or blond hair! – what i do have a problem with is the MAGAZINE and its publisher who actually thinks this is acceptable in this day and age.  so out came my soapbox, and with it i fired off the below email to the publisher: read more

yes, it is true. i don’t cook.  not only do i not cook, but i also do not like to cook.  i can attribute this mostly due to the fact that i have absolutely no patience when it comes to cooking (or anything else).  for instance, “bake at 250 degrees on low for 30 minutes” equals “450 degrees for 10 minutes” in my cookbook!  i am the only one i know who messed up rice krispy treats since i didn’t have enough patience to slowly melt the marshmallows!

so what’s a modern mama to do when it comes to her kids eating healthy each night.  ok, let’s scratch that – so what’s a modern mama to do when it comes to her kids just EATING every night?!  in addtion to fast food (i know, shame-shame), i try to ‘prepare and present’ (translation open box and microwave) a decent meal.  and, occasionally, i just might channel my inner emeril and boil some water and actually use that square thing with the circles on top to make some pasta with my good friend, ragu. read more

since october is breast cancer awareness month, I wanted to mention this cool website - if you haven’t been to www.designhergals.com then immediately STOP reading this post and go go go!

…now that you’re back some two hours later - it really is THAT addicting, then read on… a fellow modern mama of mine called this site ‘paper dolls for adults’ and it truly is. not to mention, you have an unlimited outfits and shoe combinations to choose from. in fact, the image on my ‘about’ section was designed by the wonderful and creative women who founded designhergals.com, and i don’t think i’ve ever looked more fabulous! anyways, besides being given the keys to carrie bradshaw’s closet (aka SJP), the main goal of this site, through their Gal to Gal Foundation, is to raise awareness and money for breast cancer research and ultimately a cure for this tragic disease that affects millions of women each year.

almost everyone has been somehow affected by breast cancer. my mom and my aunt both were diagnosed with breast cancer, and thankfully, due to funding, research, modern day medicine (and the man upstairs) - i am happy to say that after early detection and treatment, they are both living happily and haphazardly as fabulous and fun grandmas to a bunch of loving grandkids!

finally, visit often and spend often - purchase gifts for showers, birthdays, or just because…and if you don’t leave each time feeling like you were the full-time employee who works INSIDE kimora lee simmon’s clothing closet (yes, it’s true, he caterogorizes her purses, denims, shoes…you get the over the top picture!), then you need to go back for more! now, if i can only look as fabulous and my design-her gal everyday…but then again, bags under the eyes wasn’t one of their options for accessories!

be sure to sign up for their second annual virtual walk to raise money for stage iv breast cancer patients and walk with team: ‘modern mama‘!

before my second son was born, i was the oh so naïve mom trying to satisfy my firstborn’s ever whim, which much to my dismay included listening to a collection of children’s nursery songs everyday, stuck in traffic, to and from work…did i mention EVERYDAY?!  now the thing about infants and nursery rhymes is – you not only have to SING along to entertain your wee one, but you also need to engage in the quirky gyrations that accompany each song.  and don’t forget, all of this while driving.  now i don’t condone road rage – but after a few rounds of nursery rhymes in the car, i can empathize…

one song in particular that always seemed to hit the cd changer was ‘where is thumpkin?’ personally, i knew exactly where thumpkin was – he was in HELL with me and all the other darn nursery rhyme songs!  anyways, here i am singing along and going through the motions when all of a sudden – someone cuts me off in rush hour traffic right when I am on ‘tall man’!  at that moment, i had an epiphany – i could just drive in rush hour every day and satisfy my hatred for nursery rhymes AND rush hour traffic by innocently displaying tall man at every turn!  …you cut me off?!  tall man this!  who you honkin’ at?!  I’ll tell you – it’s tall man!  say hello to my little friend – tall man! …i was killing two birds with one tall man – and loving it!

okay, by now i am sure you are wondering if i have a point – and yes i do – it’s a tall point, called tall man! …sorry. flashbacks.  seriously, here is my modern mama advice:

there are two crucial tips for any modern mama who has to endure long car rides stuck in traffic day after day with their precious offspring:

1. get them to start listening to and enjoying ‘clean’ versions of your favorite genre of music.  by the time dylan was born, jalen was already two, and after developing arthritis in both middle fingers from too much ‘tall man’, i needed to make a change.  here is what i learned.  kids like repetition.  they also like upbeat songs.  after pre-screening all of my CDs, I made a car ride CD full of clean (or radio) versions of songs from artists i enjoy. and you know what?!  the results were amazing!  jalen loved it!  fast forward two years and now, this mama has her sanity back AND her kids can both spell ‘bananas’ thanks to gwen stefani’s hollaback girl – not to mention they are even learning directions, thanks to beyonce’s irreplaceable!  …there is something endearing about a four-year old signing ‘to the left, to the left – everything you owns in a box to the left”!
2. my second tip is, purchase or download current disney soundtracks for you and your kids to enjoy in the car.  i actually enjoy listening to the Cars soundtrack as well as songs by rob thomas from Meet the Robinsons.  the boys now even visit disney.com and have grown fond of the jonas brothers all on their own - and you know what?!  now days ‘life (and the car ride!) is a highway and i wanna ride it all night long’, thanks to rascal flatts and the Cars soundtrack!

i hope you found this advice helpful…and if you didn’t i would like to invite you to please join me in a round of ‘where is thumpkin’…we’ll skip to the verse right after ‘where is pointer’!