Linkin logs

As the leftovers wind down, I once again find myself wondering why we have to wait another year for stuffing, turkey and cranberry sauce.  I mean, why can't we eat this delicious combo of food more often?  I know, I know, it's just the way it is, but even if the food is purely annual, there are some other things about Thanksgiving worth keeping.

Though I never grew up with the tradition of holding hands before a meal and taking a moment to say thanks (and probably would have thought it was totally lame as a teenager), my two year old has latched onto it and I've got to admit that I'm lovin' it.  Sometimes she says "thanks for the dark" or "thanks for animals" and each time it reminds me of how amazing it is to be a parent; which in turn brings up another thanksgiving tradition worth keeping, being thankful.

But enough of the sappy holiday stuff, posts this week include more sappy holiday stuff, like interfaith couples figuring out what to do about the tree, new news on peanut allergies, all you ever wanted to know about gestational surogacy and more. Read more »

The UK's Guardian ran a story this week titled "NYC fears return to dark days of the Seventies as financial crisis bites".   Having grown up here in the 1970's, an article like this does little to scare me, lets also remember that the 70's were fun!  The idea of the city I love becoming cheap, edgy and filled with bell bottoms and flower patterns sounds really exciting.  Sure sure, the crime (and polyester) were bad things and I really don't want to see them return but I can't help but see the silver lining of this economy - cutting down on useless consumerism (btw, Nov. 28 is Buy Nothing Day), conserving energy, relying on creativity like swapping and community to fill in the gaps.  Just like I am constantly amazed at how flexible and resilient my two year old can be when I put her to the challenge (like this past weekend when I had her up till 11PM doing karaoke), NYers are way too crafty and spirited to let a dip in the Dow turn us into fearful whiners.  So to all those across the pond who are worried about us slipping back into Serpico territory, fuhgetaboutit, we are fine!  Keep reading for that article plus posts on which strollers can be emotionally impovershing, tips on how to avoid bottle mouth, why teens online is a good thing, which gift cards to avoid this holiday season, the very sad fate of Project Runway and more. Read more »

It seemed like it would never end but the frenzied election and even the high of victory seems to be winding down.  Hopefully, hope and optimism will remain a bit longer and judging by the number of people who are trying to get tickets to the inauguration this year it appears to still be in tact.  I admit that I am glad to rescue my television from CNN and return it to less important things like the new season of Top Chef, though if you are suffering from detox, keep reading for some advice.  As for the news, posts this week ponder over parenting and the new forms it takes (editing your college kids essays via email), some resolution to the confusing process of getting into public kindergarten, private school's economic woes, the 12 germiest places you encounter in daily life and more.
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The thing that has surprised me the most this week (aside from the fact that my candidate actually won), is the sheer volume of tears I have shed.  I see Malia and Sasha walk out on stage, cue tears.  People dancing and celebrating in the streets of Kenya, tears.  A video of a woman voting in Selma, tears.  Even the talk about what type of puppy to get and the answer of needing to balance their desire to get a shelter dog with getting a hypo-allergenic dog and more tears.  In fact, several times my daughter has looked at me confused and asked 'why are you crying Mommy'.  To which I answer - 'because I'm happy about Obama.' 

I am sure this makes absolutely no sense to her.  I myself am somwhat confused about my seemingly endless emotional response to this election.   I'm assuming that at some time in the next 4 years I will stop crying thru presidential press conferences but if not, so be it.  I'll take emotion over apathy any day.  Being that this was the first election I voted in as a mother I guess its all par for the course.  I also blubbered thru the Big Apple Circus last week because it was my daughters first cotton candy and introduction to clowns so maybe I need to partially chalk it up to George Costanza's famous line "it's not you, it's me".  And, in the end, isn't that what Obama keeps telling us, “All of this happened because of you, we just made history.”   And, here come the tears.

As for linkin blogs, keep reading for my top tear-jerk moments of the past week and even other stuff that happened in the news like the second recorded virgin shark birth, the not so virgin news about Sex and the City Movie Part Two and more... Read more »

The time change has always really bothered me, but now that I have a toddler, I have all new reasons to rage against it.  Getting to bed an hour earlier is good but as I sit here on Sunday night eating confiscated Halloween candy and watching CNN, I can only pray that the new 5AM wake up doesn't last long.  But, as long as you are waking up early this week, I have some advice - bring your kids to vote with you on Tuesday and go early.  Polls open at 6AM and word is that the lines are going to be really long this year so get there at 6AM and then head to your local Starbucks for a free coffee.  More on all that plus info on NYC gifted and talented programs, the cheapest local supermarkets, Palin's prank call and more Read more »

Has the recession come up in conversation with your kids yet or are you too busy talking politics with them these days?  Links this week include tips on how to broach the subject without freaking them out, good news about more gifted & talented public schools to open in the boroughs (cause not all smart kids live in Manhattan) and lots on baby naming including the city's report on the top baby names for 2007.  Plus, the crusader of crazy baby names, Sarah Palin, has one more wacky one up here sleeve... Read more »

Did you catch Sarah Palin on SNL?  Must admit she was pretty funny.  But, what was absolutely hysterical was the super pregnant Amy Pohler rapping, it's almost as if pregnancy has made her even more funny.  Hmm, I think it had the opposite effect on me.  In other news, there is a great article in the Times this week on anti-schoolers, Nobel Prize winner Paul Krugman explains the economy using the example of babysitting co-ops, reports advise more vitamin D for kids, Brangelina champions public breast feeding (sort of) and more. Read more »

I love three-day weekends, they should all be at least three days in my opinion.  This weeks line-up of news includes a lot of warnings and suggestions from the medical world that all parents should be aware of including a warning about Tylenol for kids.  Also, find out what forecasters are saying about the upcoming NYC winter (dust off your skis), musings on the greatest parenthood taboo of all time (liking one kid more than the other) and the latest Palin buzz (she's doing SNL). Read more »

Ahh, another week in news. The debates everyone was dying to watch turned out to be fairly dull, I suspect I wasn't the only working mom out there that couldn't even stay awake. And then there was the crazy karmic coincidence of OJ being convicted 13 years to the day of his last acquittal.

Keep reading to get the low down on how you can feel better about your finances, pick up some fashion tips and realize that your sex-starved partner is not alone (so tell him to stop complaining already). Read more »

This week saw endless more talk of politics and the economy which is nearly impossible not to follow to the exclusion of all else so once again, I present you with the lighter side of the news this week!

Happy 5769. Yup, that's why there is no public school or alternate parking on Tuesday or Wednesday this week. The Daily News waxes poetic about using honey in your Rosh Hashanah recipes and includes a recipe for the perfect matzoh ball soup. And, if you haven't already seen it Read more »