Category: Current Events

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Current Events Eco-Friendly Living Health

Mercury in CFL’s- Danger if they break

Here is an informative article from the Boston Globe, warning of mercury leaks in broken in Compact Fluorescent Lightbulbs (CFL’s). I had no idea these bulbs had mercury in them, and when broken can pose a risk of mercury poisoning especially to infants, small children, and pregnant women. Mercury is a neurotoxin, which can damage the nervous system in adults, children, infants, and unborn babies.   

There were two reports done and in one of the studies, “researchers shattered 65 compact fluorescents to test air quality and cleanup methods. They found that, in many cases, immediately after the bulb was broken – and sometimes even after a cleanup was attempted – levels of mercury vapor exceeded federal guidelines for chronic exposure by as much as 100 times.”

“The study recommended that if a compact fluorescent breaks, get children and pets out of the room. Ventilate the room. Never use a vacuum, even on a rug, to clean up a broken compact fluorescent lamps. Instead, use stiff paper such as index cards and tape to pick up pieces, and then wipe the area with a wet wipe or damp paper towel. If there are young children or pregnant woman in the house, consider cutting out the piece of carpet where the lamp broke as a precaution. Place the shards and cleanup debris in a glass jar with a screw top and remove the jar from the house.”

Hopefully we will never have a broken CFL, but I think the fact that CFL’s have mercury in them, and they can pose health risk if broken, should be publicized more.  I don’t think anyone wants to put their child (or unborn child), or themselves at risk for exposure to mercury by accidentally handling a broken CFL or by leaving the area where it broke un-treated.

As the story says, hopefully they will develop a mercury free CFL in the future so we can reduce greenhouse emissions, and keep our children safe from possible mercury exposure. 

Categories
Current Events Fun Stuff

Second Annual Academy Awards Fashion Review

 I was expecting great things this year in terms of fashion at the Academy Awards, due to most of the red carpet events being canceled this year because of the writer’s strike.  I was hoping for Old Hollywood glamour, classic beauty, new trends done well, and just that good old “WOW” factor. 

I was not disappointed.  I think most of the fashions were just gorgeous.  I had a lot of fun watching the show this year.  I knew immediately who my Worst Dressed was, and struggled with Best Dressed.  I also loved the pregnant mommy’s-to-be looks, and have added two new categories this year- Best & Worst Dressed Couples.  Last year I provided links where you could look at the fashions themselves, but I have deicded to go all out, and post the actual pictures right here. 

So without further delay, here is A Mama’s Blog Academy Award Fashion Review for 2008:

BEST DRESSED

I really went back and forth on this one.  After seeing my final two walk across the stage in their beautiful gowns, and reviewing several pictures of them at different angles, I still can’t make up my mind.  How great is that, when there are just two simply gorgeous and radiant actresses (one is a new mom) in their gowns, one just can’t pick an overall favorite.   I enjoyed both of these dresses so much and both of their presentations, and I can’t seem to find a single flaw with either of them.  So, I have decided not to have to decide- it is a tie- both of these are my best dressed this year.

  • Kerri Russel – She had that WOW factor and then some!  When she walked out to present, she just glowed.  She looked stunning in her champagne organza dress.  Not to mention her stunning 46-carat diamond necklace, accessorised with her gown perfectly.  Top that off with the fact that she gave birth to her first child last June- 8 months ago.  Oh, if only the rest of us mommy’s could look this fabulous less than a year giving birth.  Kerri Russel hit it out of the ball park this year.

  kerri_russell.jpgCredit: Frazer Harrison/Getty        actresske_steve_15550657_502.jpg Steve Granitz/WireImage

  • Hillary Swank– She always looks great, but she too, had that WOW factor.  Her Versace black gown was breathtaking.  It highlighted her body the way a dress should, and I loved how it was a classic but elegant dress, with some fun playful features too.  I just adored the shoulder strap.  It looked like a little butterfly or a flower on her shoulder, tastefully done of course.  I don’t think she could have radiated Old Hollywood glamour any more than she did tonight.  It was great!

  hilary_swank.jpg                          hillary-2.jpg Credit: Steve Granitz/WireImage (both pictures)

HONORABLE MENTION-BEST DRESSED

1.  My number one honorable mention pick goes to Rene Zillwegger.  Her Carolina Herrera silver gown, is stunning.  I love the pretty flower on it, and the slit in the front.  It is classic, sexy, and elegant all at the same time.  It is the perfect dress for Rene.  What more can I say?

renee_zellwegger.jpgCredit: Jeff Vespa/WireImage     reneezell_leste_15551121_502.jpg Steve Granitz/WireImage

2.  Nicole Kidman– The mommy-to-be- was exquisite in her Balenciaga black gown.  But the true show stopper for her, besides her baby bump (more on that later) was her 1,399 carat diamond necklace.  Oh my God!  What a stunning necklace, and Nicole pulls the look off magnificently.  Nicole made my Best Dressed list last year at number 4, so she has moved up two places this year.  At this rate, she’ll be number one next year!  Honestly, she is four or five months pregnant, and still can wear anything.  She would make a burlap sack glamorous.

nicole_kidman.jpg Credit: Kevork Djansezian/AP

3.  Laura Linney– If you looked up “Classic but Elegant” in the dictionary, you would see this picture of Laura Linney in her Oscar gown this year:

laura-linney-2.jpg Credit: Kevork Djansezian/AP

What isn’t there to like about this entire look?  Love her hair, LOVE her necklace, LOVE her Michael Kors silk bustle back gown, Love her bracelet, love her bag, and love her shoes.  This is a wonderful look for Laura.   Whomever her stylist was, she should give them a bonus!

4.  Andrienne Frantz– I admit until tonight, I had never heard of Andrienne.  Where has she been hiding?  Her gold dress is just lovely.  The train is to die for.  She looks like she is having fun, with her smile.  It seems like so many actress strike a pose, but Andrienne here looks like she is just being herself, and enjoying it.  I hope we see more of Andrienne in the future. 

actressad_steve_15550646_502.jpg Credit: Steve Granitz/WireImage  1043149822_1203901935.jpg Lester Cohen/Wireimage

5.  Katherine Heigl– I was debating this final spot between Heidi Klum and Katherine Heigl.  They both look red hot in their red dresses- Katherine in a silk crimson Escada gown, and Heidi in a Haute Couture red silk taffeta by John Galliano, (which will be auctioned off for charity.)  I didn’t really like Katherine’s make-up.  In most of the pictures it looks like she went to heavy on the bronzer and looks kind of orange.  On the other hand, I didn’t like the wrap on Heidi’s dress, and I hated her pink dangle earrings. They just didn’t go with the dress.  Both had awesome hair though.  In the end I liked Katherine’s overall Old Hollywood glamour look more, and I love to see what she wears.  I am just a bit disappointed in her dress selection though.  Katherine has been nothing short of perfection on all her red carpet appearances, and I was expecting that ultimate WOW factor from her.  She is still on the mark though, and you can’t hit it out of the park every time right?   

katherine-heigl-4.jpg Credit: Jeff Vespa/Wire Image

WORST DRESSED

  • I knew the moment I saw it-black, hideous, bat, Hefty garbage bag, curtain, awful.  These were just a few of the words that came to mind when I saw Best Supporting Actress winner, Tilda Swinton’s dress.  One side was bare off the shoulder, the other side was a full sleeve, that flapped like a bat’s wing.  The rest of the dress looked like an old stage curtain had been ripped down, and sewn loosely around her body.  It was shiny too, like a garbage bag.    It was the ugliest dress I have ever seen.  What makes it worse, is I think Tilda is gorgeous.  She clearly is a non-conformer and with those piercing green eyes, and red hair, (she’s Scottish), she could have done so, so, much better.  With Tilda’s red hair, green eyes- she has been blessed already with a wonderful gift from the gene pool, and she just blows it on her “bat dress.”  Was I the only one who thought it was ironic that she mentioned Batman to George Clooney (her co-star), in her acceptance speech?  Maybe she did have a bat theme in mind, when selecting this dress. Take this dress right to the bat cave, and don’t let it out Tilda!

tilda-swinton.jpg         tilda-swinton-1.jpg Credit: Steve Granitz/WireImage

HONORABLE MENTION- WORST DRESSED

1. Julie Christie– I hardly know where to start- I guess the dreadful burgundy dress is a start.  Again, the word “curtain” comes to mind.  Or it looks like her 150 pound dog slept on it, hence all the wrinkles.  Oh, are those supposed to be there?  Can someone explain what is up with the light pink gloves with the thumbs cut out of them?  Did she need the thumbs cut out so she could hitchhike to the Oscar’s?  Is there another explanation?  In a terrible attempt to “accessorize,” the light pink shoes, that match the light pink gloves just scream “tacky.”  This entire outfit is just horrid.  Please bury it when you get home, and bury it deep, so it never resurfaces. 

actressju_leste_15551206_502.jpg Credit: Steve Granitz/WireImage

2.  Sissy Spacek– This outfit looks like Sissy is having an identity crisis.  Is she trying to be a high powered business woman, or go for a feminine look with a long skirt?  The combination of both results in a hideous ensemble.  Her hair is terrible too, with her bangs hiding her face, and making her look old enough and somewhat like Hillary Clinton’s grandmother.  At least she isn’t wearing gloves with the thumbs missing.

actresssi_steve_15551026_502.jpg Credit: Steve Granitz/WireImages

3.  Marion Cotillard– Did Marion mistake the Academy Awards, where she was nominated and won for Best Actress, with an opening at an aquarium? Perhaps she thought she was going to see Little Mermaid on Broadway.  Something is “fishy” in this custom-made Jean Paul Gaultier gown.  When you are nominated for Best Actress, I don’t understand why you would turn up wearing a dress that reminds everyone of fish.  Marion’s hair, make-up and jewelry is stunning, but unfortunately they aren’t enough to distract us from the fact that she looks like a mermaid at best, ready to dive into the water, and swim away- fish scales and all. 

marion_cotillard-1.jpg Credit: Kevork Djansezian/AP

4.  Cameron Diaz– Here is what I wrote last year about Cameron’s dress, when she was number 3 on my Worst list: “This dress screams, “80’s!”  I hate the angled flaps across her chest- it looks like a bad bride’s maid dress.”  I can revise that this year to: This dress  (by Dior) screams, “80’s!”  I hate the angled flaps across her hips– it looks like a bad bride’s maid dress.”  Cameron sweetie, lose the flaps on your dresses!  They are repulsive. Does she have a thing for bats too?  Seriously, flaps two years in a row is way too much!  It seems like the flaps are moving down though- last year they were across her chest, this year on her hips, maybe next year they will be around her legs, and then finally by the 2010 Academy Awards, her gown will be “flap free.” 

cameron-diaz.jpg Credit: Steve Granitz/Wire Images

5.  Jennifer Hudson– Again, we have a repeat offender from last year.  Last year she was number 2, so at least she is moving in the right direction.  Her white snake-skin trimmed dress just doesn’t pull it off.  I also hate the side bare skin that peeps through the snake-skin waist.  It looks like she got in a fight with a python and won.  Jennifer also looks like she is dire need of a bra that can support the girls properly, instead of letting the dead python skin waist band do the work.  Hopefully by next year, she will have worked out the kinks or gets a new stylist, and while I doubt she’ll be on the Best Dressed list, perhaps she will finally work her way off of the Worst Dressed one.

jennifer-hudson.jpg Credit: Steven Granitz/WireImages

BEST DRESSED COUPLE

  • Patrick Dempsey (McDreamy) & Jillian Fink– Without a doubt, this was the best dressed couple of the night.  I love his tuxedo- he just looks so handsome, and her dress is perfect.  Jillian is a new mommy too, having had twin boys, just over a year ago.   I love how her black evening bag accessorizes with his tux.  Hopefully we’ll see lots more of this elegant and stylish couple on the red carpet.

pd.jpg Credit: Steve Granitz/Wire Image

WORST DRESSED COUPLE

  • Daniel Day Lewis & Rebecca Miller– After seeing the striking fashion couple, of Patrick and Jillian, these two look horrendous, and frightening.  Daniel’s brown shoes just top off his unstylish tuxedo, and Rebecca’s dress- well I think the dress speaks for itself.  It is right up there with one of the all-time ugliest dresses. Those red bows look like they came off a Christmas tree.  Rebecca’s shoes are ghastly with her dress.  Has this couple ever heard of a wonderful place called Nordstrom’s shoe department?  When you are up for Best Actor, it is time to go all out.  These two need to find a stylist fast, or fire the one they have. 

actressda_jeff_15550867_502.jpg Credit: Steve Granitz/WireImage

BEST TUXEDO

  • The Rock.  In this case, I’ll let the picture speak a  thousand words.

dwayneth_leste_15550730_502.jpg Credit: Steve Granitz/WireImage

BABY BUMPS

Since this is A Mama’s Blog, I have to include the pictures of the actresses who are pregnant and showed off their baby bumps.  Since Nicole Kidman made my Best Dressed List, it goes without saying that I think her dress was the best.  I loved Jessica Alba’s too.  I didn’t like the accessories on Cate Blanchet’s dress, and thought her dress would have been great had she accessorised better.  But they all were glowing, and being pregnant is hard.  I couldn’t imagine trying to look glamorous too, especially for Cate, who was a double nominee.  These actresses did all of us mommies proud.

 

actressni_steve_15551279_502.jpg Nicole Kidman Credit: Steve Granitz/Wire Image   5408879822_1203911407.jpg Jessica Alba Credit: Jeff Vespa/WireImage

8393240922_1203907385.jpg Cate Blanchet Credit: Steve Granitz/WireImage

That  concludes the review for 2008.  I hoped you enjoyed my review.  Let me know what you think- did I miss someone who you thought was best/worst dressed?  Once again, I can’t wait until next year.

Categories
Activities Cole Current Events Family & Friends Mothering Parenting Ryan Work

Take Your Sons to Work & Weekend Activities

We have had a pretty busy weekend around here.  On Friday morning we had our Music Together class.  After that I took the boys to my office, because Ryan has been asking where I work, and all kinds of questions about my office.  Plus, my boss has been wanting to meet the boys since started, and it has just never worked out before.

We got to my office about 11:15, and discovered my boss, “Jane” (not her real name) was the only person in the office.  One of the ladies had called in sick, and the other person was a client’s office.  So Ryan and Cole had the place to themselves.  Ryan walked right up to Jane, stuck his hand out to shaker her hand and said, “Hi, I’m Ryan.  Nice to meet you.”  He was so cute and not shy at all! 

Jane got stamps out for the boys and let them stamp their hearts out.  Cole progressed from paper, to stamping his shirt.  Of course, I dressed them up in nicer than normal clothes, so I have yet to see if the red ink will come out of the shirt. 

I finished up a tiny bit of work, while Ryan and Cole “worked” too.  They were very busy three-hole punching paper, highlighting accounts, and of course stamping.  Then Jane was trying to fax a really long document and Ryan was very interested in the fax machine.  I tried to move him away from the fax, while Jane was trying to use it, and Jane told me it was OK- he wasn’t in the way.  Then Ryan said, “Yea Mom, I’m working with Jane.”  He proceeded to follow her around the rest of the visit, and ask her about all of her pictures of her family on her desk in her office. 

The favorite part of the day was the shredder.  We have a closed and locked bin where all documents go, and then once a month a company comes and shreds the entire bag.  We can open it if we need to, but there is a slot where we slide the papers down.  Ryan and Cole were just enthralled with that.  I guess for little boys, that was just way too cool. 

Another funny thing was about half way through the visit Ryan told me he had to go pee.  I took him to the bathroom, and after he was done, he asked, “Is this where Jane goes poopie?”  I had to laugh at that one.

As we were leaving Jane told Ryan and Cole that they had both been very good boys, and they were welcome back anytime.  Ryan smiled at her and said, “OK, we’ll come back then and finish our work.”  Then he hugged her.  I would have to say that I think Ryan has a little crush on Jane, which is very sweet.

Then I treated the boys to lunch at our favorite noodle place, just up the street.  We had an awesome view of the mountains, and just had a fun lunch talking about the office.

On Saturday I took Ryan to his friends fourth birthday party, where he of course, had a ball.  He got to dress up as a fireman, make a train placemat, play grocery store, play with all kinds of trucks, trains, and toys, and play outside.  The party was in a city-operated preschool, where they have birthday parties on the weekends.  The best part for him was the birthday cake-of course. 

It was fun for me too, because Cole stayed home with Joe, so he could have his nap, so I got to visit with my friends more than I normally do at parties like this.  It was a nice afternoon.

Then the reason Cole needed his nap was we went to my dad’s house for dinner, to see my grandmother, Mimi, who is in town for a few weeks.  She comes to “the big city” to get away from the cold winters where she lives.  Mimi is the only great-grandmother that Ryan and Cole have, so it is very important they visit with her when they can.  Ryan gave her lots of hugs, and Cole did too, once he got used to her.  We had a yummy dinner, and got to visit.

Today Joe, Cole, and I made a Costco run, while Ryan was at Grandma and Grandpa’s house.  Then Joe took Cole out there, and I found myself alone- with no kids.  How often does that happen?  I went for a really, really, long walk and it was great, despite it being windy.  Now I am off to fold some laundry and get some dinner ready.

I am also excited about the Academy Awards tonight.  I LOVE to see all the fashions, and will write my “Mama’s Blog Second Annual Academy Awards Fashion Reveiew” tonight, hopefully.  So check in later to see who made my best dressed, and worst dressed list, as well as the overall winner in my book for best and worst dressed.  Enjoy the show dah’lings.  🙂

Categories
Current Events Mothering Parenting

Is It Just Me?

I have been looking around for some cute baby clothes as a birthday present for my niece who will be one in April.  A few nights ago, I was looking on Old Navy’s website, and got to the section where they have swimwear.  I couldn’t believe my eyes when there was an itsy, bitsy, teenie, weenie (striped) bikini for a baby girl,  starting at age 6 -12 MONTHS!  The bikini top was tiny, and so were the bottoms.  I know babies this age can get by without a swimsuit- lots of parents just put them in a diaper and that is it.  That isn’t what bothered me.  What bothered me was that they actually make bikinis like this for babies.  It looked liked they were trying to make the bikini overly sexy, and alluring.

Having two boys, I have never run into this.  Swimming suits for boys are trunks. I don’t know if they make Speedos for baby boys, but I have never seen a swimming suit / pair of swimming trunks for a baby boy that looked like they were trying to be sexy.  This just seems so wrong.  It seems like our society pushes kids to grow up so fast anyway, but making overly revealing bikinis for baby girls just seems like it is crossing a major line.

I wanted to post a picture of the bikini in question, but I was pleasantly surprised to see it was not on Old Navy’s website as of today.  I can only hope they got complaints and decided to remove it.  The other option is that they sold out of it.  That would be scary.  However, there were still bikinis for babies that I thought were questionable. 

I wondered if it was only Old Navy who is trying to sell these.  I looked at Gap (same parent company as Old Navy) and saw their bikinis were better than Old Navy, but the tops still bothered me, AND their sizes started at 0-3 months.   Children’s Place was better, and they had one bikini which covered way more than the previous two stores, and one which looks like a tankini, which I don’t have a problem with.  Then I looked at Target- they have bikinis starting at size extra small, which I would assume would be about age 4 or 5.  They were much more age appropriate in my opinion.  There was one toddler Dora bikini starting at age two, which seemed age appropriate.  I wonder why Old Navy and Gap are trying to push  skimpy bikinis off on baby girls and newborns? 

It is times like this, when I am glad that I don’t have a daughter.  Who wants to think about having to deal with these types of swimming suits when she isn’t even one yet?  If stores are marketing swimming suits like this for babies, it makes me cringe to think what is down the road for girls in our society.  Let them be babies for pete’s sakes!  You be the judge: here are some pictures of the bikinis I mentioned- what do you think?  Is it just me, or would you let your baby daughter wear these?

From Old Navy

                            

 

From Gap

                                 

          

From Children’s Place  

pool-086604gloss-086638

 

From Target

                  Girls' Xhilaration® Preppy Stripe 2-pc. Swimsuit                     Toddler Girls' Dora the Explorer 2-pc. Swimsuit - Pink

The suits from Chidren’s Place and Target, I thought were ones I might let an older daughter wear, but still not a baby who wasn’t even one yet!

Categories
c-sections Current Events Pregnancy & Birth

It’s About Time- Celebrity & Normal Birth

I just came across this article from PEOPLE, and all I can say is it is about time!  PEOPLE usually drives me crazy when reporting on celebrity births, because they always seem to have to say and publicize when the birth was by C-section.  Yet, they hardly ever say when a celebrity has a baby by normal vaginal birth.

But maybe the tide is changing? They reported that John C. McGinley (from Scrubs) and his wife Nichole, welcomed an 8 lb. baby daughter (Billie) on Saturday.  They also reported, “She was delivered at 1:36 a.m. in a birthing tub at the couple’s home in Malibu, with a midwife in attendance.

“Nichole was a mountain lion, a warrior in the birthing process,” McGinley tells PEOPLE. “The birth was astonishing! Mom and baby girl are 100 percent. Billie is a ‘mini Nichole’! Thank God.”

New mom Nichole, an Ashtanga yoga teacher and birthing doula, adds, “We are all happy and healthy at home and enjoying these precious first moments of life together.”

I think it is great this couple chose to have their baby at home with a midwife, and bring attention to the fact, that it is perfectly safe to have a baby at home.  I hope PEOPLE will continue to report on more births like this.  After all, it is the NORMAL way to have a baby.