Jodi's blog

While my son's lunchboxes are getting more and more uh...personality (?) with each day, I've found a man that actually does give some character to his children's lunch bags.  He decorates a new one every day, with input from the kids.  They are awesome and I'm betting those kids are the ones everyone else wants to sit next to.  Also, today - speaking of food - how about finding a site devoted to the most delicious and disgusting food combinations entitled “This is Why You're Fat”.  It's at least good for 5 seconds of laughter/disgust.  And to stimulate you cerebrally and creatively, I submit Fiona Carswell.  She's awesome, and that's all I'm telling you about her.  If you don't take the time to check out her thought provoking and incredibly creative projects, it is truly your loss.  These links and more brought to you today by ME!  So go check them out, yo!

If you think you are the only "worst parent ever," take heart. I think we all get verbally abused by our little dictators. One dad has decided to document his tiny tyrant's critiques on his art work on a blog. It's hilarious...and reassuring. Also, bad product ideas, what's making Mormons mad, the scent of Brooklyn, toxic baby shampoos, and the virtues of living in a studio with kids.

It’s almost Spring and hope is in the air!  Right now there are so many fun birthday parties happening and we’re all emerging from our houses to go to them.  If you’re one of the parents planning them, we’ve found 31 awesome cake designs you may be able to put together (ok, I wouldn’t be able to make them, but I have a friend or two who may).  Also: tips on learning to talk to your child about race, the newest (very extreme) way to loose weight, Chris Brown trying to get the kids behind him and the best idea of the week.  Go!

Oh man I cannot believe I even have time to sit down at a computer to write.  With the weekend weather as beautiful as it was, and my son's decided efforts to expend each piece of energy he stored up over the winter, the computer has been the last place for me to land.  Somehow, though there are great writers still writing out there in the WWW, and I've done my best to lasso them up.   Today:  NY Mag has released their "Best of New York" issue, why women feel dissatisfied (hint: stop comparing yourself to the lady next to you), help with transitioning your child during a move, and one Brooklyn mom's hilarious hi-jinx.  Read them.... then go outside!

Well, now even the cave dwellers are feeling the recession.  That has to be proof positive that we’re in tough times.  In Missouri, a Cave Home is facing foreclosure, so they’ve naturally put it up for sale on Ebay.  It even has a stage that Ted Nugent played on once.  Really? Wow.  In happier news links, take a look at the portfolio of a ten-year-old graffiti artist some are calling the new Banksy, excerpts from the latest Michelle Obama interview (love her more and more…), 15 graceful ways to say no (but go ahead and say yes to reading them), and the NY Times coverage of Brooklyn’s newest top foodies.  Checkit!

So did you watch the Oscars?  No?  While you’ve probably heard more than enough about the winners, the fashion, and the movies, here are the two picks from the broadcast worth watching, from the Mamacita Poppins herself.  Click through to also check out an atheists take on Dan Zanes new religious album, the weirdest and possibly cutest candle holder, “Twin Town”, and finally – a bra dryer.  That’s right, you heard me….

Ok ladies let’s talk.  Let’s all just admit that when it comes to using public toilets or when we’re camping that we wish - even just a little bit- that we were built like the boys.  One inventive entrepreneur has come up with a solution, so they claim.  Speaking of boy parts and girl parts, how do you speak of them?  Do your children know the clinical names or nicknames?  This compelling matter along with a few more links including the disturbing trend for young girls to blame victims for domestic violence, some ideas for paying off credit card debt and find out which neighborhood is becoming the hottest place for new families.  This is the good stuff, right here!

Julia Roberts is out on the stump promoting her new movie and talking about her kids, motherhood and marriage to husband, Danny Moder. The full-time mom (except for when she's working) has said that it should be illegal to take pictures of celebrity children, but I guess it's OK to sell your own pictures as she did in 2005 or to trot them out to promote your current film entitled, um, Duplicity. In other shocking news...the NY Post publishes a cartoon that critics claim represents Obama as a chimp, Little Miss Perfect is a new show about child beauty pageant contestants, girls and boys really do marry their parents (or people who resemble them), the preschooler essentials before you leave the house, and a fashion-garden mash up that benefits everyone.  Find out now!

Before we get to the links, I want to announce the winner of our Valentine's Day Giveaway. Alysia and her family will be enjoying a sweet dinner four four delivered to their home thanks to Susie's Supper Club. Congrats!

Any family with more than one child will hear the cry “You love him/her more!” often enough to switch our parent guilt into overdrive.  Turns out, you don’t have to worry so much.  The information on that good news, as well as Google's new tool to reduce your energy bill, Macy’s Valentine’s Day snafu, the Holy Grail of giveaways, and sharing breast milk...after the clickity click click.

Over the weekend a few things crossed my mind.  Primarily, at nine years late, should I completely abandon the idea of getting my wedding gift thank-you cards written?  The answer I’ve come to is yes.  Yes I am a shmuck, and yes I should give up the guilt.  But then I ran into this website that has the very coolest stationary and back story (which I’m guessing is fiction?  I hope?) And I really love the cards.  Maybe I’m digging these enough to send out the nine-year late cards?  Naaaaah.  But I will pick some up for future use, for I am older and wiser and more socially apt.   

After finding this treasure, I also found out that the way my husband parents our child is not completely wrong, I found out how to deal with my son being bullied, I found out some simple tricks I can use to pretend I’m awesome in the kitchen, and I continued to mourn Lux Interior.  Wanna see?