Lazy

So we just got a fabulous high school intern (from Red Bank Catholic, my alma mater). She is wonderful and assisted me yesterday with some research tasks. I am not kidding when I tell you that I almost asked her to blog for me! Gosh! It must have been unconscious guilt that I haven't blogged in ages...

Alas, I am back.

Handsome and Prince Charming (my sons) are doing well. Last night was a bit of a travesty, however, as my older boy got up to go to the bathroom around 2ish and fell and hit his head on the marble bathroom floor! He was violently sick from and I took him to the emergency room and he had to have a CT scan on his head. My love is okay, thank God.

Have you finished Christmas shopping yet?

This year I am doing my customary three gifts (after all, that's what Baby Jesus got) for my boys with a twist: Mommy's Coupons. I am making them a little coupon book with coupons like Get Out of School Free, Cookies for Dinner, and Creme Brulee Bath in Mommy's Tub (I am absolutely addicted to Laura Mercier's Creme Brulee Bubble Bath...and so are my boys! They love to indulge in my jacuzzi bathtub which seats six). The latter is rather indulgent as the bubble bath is around $45 and they can easily go through half of it in a single bath.

Note: There is only one of each coupon (I am trying to think of two others - any ideas?) so the truant officer won't be pounding at my door.

I am still carrying on my Blackberry relationships with my friends...I really gotta stop. My thumbs hurt.

My new fave

Almost two weeks ago, I modeled fashions of famed India designer Meera Madahevia at the Newark Museum. Seriously, it was such fun. I donned an elaborate gold sari and some other amazing fashions and accessories. In order to create effect, a fabulous MAC makeup artist was hired. Her name is Sena and she got me hooked on...fake eyelashes. Really, they made me look so oh-la-la. I was hooked!

The other day, my grandmother was babysitting my son. Grammie is a wonderful lady - she brings over a great big bag of candy and leaves when she runs out. Anyway, I was wearing my fabulous Brigitte Bardot lashes and she loved them. "I'm going to get a pair" she said.

The next time I saw her, Grammie was wearing fake eyelashes! Now I have to get her into Brazillian bikini waxing...

Viva!

Viva Las Vegas!

I went to Vegas ten days ago (sorry it took me so long to report this). I attended the ABC Expo (serioulsy, I was there on business). There was so much going on: the VMAs, some kind of Wisconsin sporting event (there were so many people in Wisconsin sweat shirts) and, of course, the Expo.

For so many people, it is the ultimate party destination. I took the 7am flight from Newark, NJ and these crazy guys were drinking on the plane. I mean, so early? You're that desperate? They were almost passed out by the time we arrived. Where do you go from there?

Ok, Ok, I'm not a goody two shoes. I just thought it was interesting that they were so desperate to escape life.

On the plane, I was sitting next to this lovely English guy, Will, who was showing me what is now my new favorite book: Banksy, War and Piece. Bansky is this rogue British grafitti artist and no one knows who he is. His witty, antiestablishment art and rebellious perspective are truly genuis. I particually like his use of the Rat (note the capital R) as sort of a mockery against authority. He is, I guess, a reversed Pied Piper, bringing 'em back...

I love that book so much that I ordered 10 copies and gave them out to my friends and friends of friends that have a little rogue and rebellion in them. Enjoy the read, guys.

The Joker

I'm on the phone and have been placed on hold.

Joseph and Brendan are playing with their oh-so-groovy sitter, Jackie.

She is awesome.

Anyway, Joseph just reached the highest level on his Batman video game. The Joker is now in jail!

That's great, honey.

Cup O' Joe

Over the summer, I try very hard to keep my boys busy. That means one thing: sports.

My 6-year son, Joseph, just loved lacrosse camp this summer.

Each camper needed full, protective gear in order to play. I took him to the local athletic store, which was my first time there, too (Ya know that kid that no one wants on their team? That was me).

Anywhoo, we got the helmet, shoulder, knee and chest pads and special gloves. Just when I thought we were done, the guy handed me a funny looking white object with holes in it.

"What's that?" I asked.

"It's a cup" said the guy. "Trust me, he'll need it."

"But he's only SIX" I said.

Well, we bought it. What had I signed him up for?

"Ma, I can't run with this thing." said Joe.

I just didn't know what to say.

Guilty

I am guilty.

I didn't text message detox.

I still have Blackberry friendships. In fact, my good friend Jeanne, whom I used to speak to almost every day, called me out on this one. She lives in California now (how I miss meeting her in New York for lunch!) and I frequently send her a text just to say hi (I guess I blame it on the time change).

So I picked up the phone and called her. It was so good to hear her voice.

I guess I can't completely detox at this juncture. As the mother of two small boys - Joseph, 6 and Brendan, 4 and as the Publisher of www.thefamilygroove.com, the fastest-growing website in its niche, I have become the ultimate multi-tasker. Texting is just so easy. I can do three other things whilst typing on my Blackberry.

Oh! A new text just came through.

"I had sex for lunch today."

I better call the sender...

Text Messasge Detox

I was a text message junkie.

I carried on entire relationships within the confines of my Blackberry.

Why?

I think it was just easier than hearing the melodrama of life. Texting 'It'll be okay, sweetie...' to them was just so much less painful...

I think I cheated them. I need to hear them. And they need to hear me (you know who you are).

I loved thinking about every word. I loved the luxury of time to make my verbage count. My communication was so effective - or was it? The human touch was missing. My cadence, my energy, my tone...and theirs...

Now I'm over it.

No more Cyrano de Bergerac-esque antics. No more Liasons Dangereuse messages.

Amy's back. I'm ready to listen.

I'm sorry.

Call me.

The Best Week Ever

What a week. I had the pleasure of jetting off to Los Angeles last weekend (and, as you can imagine, it was some weekend considering it's Thursday and I'm just telling you about it). I attended the Baby Celebration LA - which is by far the best trade show I have ever been to. Each of the vendors had a lovely area and I felt as if they were little botiques. There was tremendous energy, fabulous finds and a beautiful crowd. I will definately be back next year (here I come, Erika!).

I got to hang with the oh-so-groovy publisher of Belly Magazine, Benell Grant. Seriously, girlfriend, thanks for the ride. I hadn't had that much fun in years...dinner at Spago and then off to...I'll never tell...In fact, Benell called me on Tuesday to return my text message of "call me when you get up". Love ya, Benell.

Saturday I got to see my cousin, Steve, his fabulous wife, Cindy, and their adorable son, Jack at their beautiful home in LA. I've declared you guys The Best Parents on the Planet. Thanks so much for the enlightenment and conversation (and the wine and the great time). I am so lucky you guys are on my side. I wish you lived closer.

Had to fly back early Sunday morning.

Tuesday was The Family Groove's Spring Fling debut event. It was just the best party ever. My partner, Jillian, and I brought the pages of our magazine to life. Thanks to our wonderful publicist, Stacey, and our super groovy team, we pulled it off. I was touched that so many of my friends came great distances to attend (so glad you found it, Janice). Sponsors are already reaching out to us to participate in the next one!

Back to reality on Wednesday.

Tonight is Thursday. Had so much work to do today.

My next big thing this week is the Gala for the Newark Museum. I am honored to be on the Benefit Committee this year. I think I am going to wear a vintage Yves Saint Laurent dress - one of the most fabulous pieces in my closet. It is just lovely: very Parisian and belle-epoque. The dress is knee length with 15 layers of black tulle. The bottom is has red roses all over, the top is a corset and adorning the back is a big black satin bow. Oh-la-la. I was going to wear a cognac Dolce dress but, since I am going solo, I decided that it was a little too much Liasons Dangereuse. Besides, Dolce dresses have to be worn perfectly (read: eat nothing but brown rice and vegetables the week before) or they look terrible. I'm glad I got to enjoy my week. Hopefully, I will wear it next year...

Baby Celebration LA Here I Come!

I haven't been this excited in a very long time: I am off to Los Angeles this weekend to attend the oh-so-hip Baby Celebration at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Mind you - this is the busiest week of my life as The Family Groove's debut event is next Tuesday, May 1. Alas, Baby Celebration is not to be missed.

There are going to be tons of exhibitors and totally awesome giveaways for moms and moms-to-be. In addition, there will be informative speakers, fashion shows, seminars and performances.

I hope all of my blog fans will join me there!

For more information, kindly visit www.seascapeproductions.com

Soccer Camp

My boys are on spring break this week. Joseph just loves to play soccer. Camp is three hours long in the morning. I just love watching him running so free and playing the game he loves. It's great to be six.

I thought about how I as a 32 year old could run free. I guess I do that by just being a mom.

The Birthday Bird

Today my little one, Brendan, turned four. I just can't believe it. I never believed it when people told me that my boys wouldn't be little for long. Brendan just loves birds. He reads about them (well, I read about them to him) and has many stuffed birds. He told me he wasn't the birthday boy but the birthday bird. As a mother, it is so beautiful to see my children get wings of their own.

Snow Day

Today was a tough one: there was an ice storm here in the Garden State and my boys and I were stranded indoors. Life just came to a halt. It felt so good to slow down and breathe. When I think of what a normal Wednesday is like between school, activities and, of course, running my business (today Jillian and I were supposed to attend the toy fair at the Javitz Center, NYC), I was grateful that we had 'off'. And today is Valentine's Day.

The best thing we did all day was bake a gooey chocolate cake. It was just fabulous: luscious and rich (and so was the batter). It was so lovely to share an indulgent moment with my two favorite sweethearts. A chocolate cake Valentine's dinner is now a tradition in my house. Good memories were made today.

Galloping Sausage

Forget the proverbial 'rotten egg'. The term du jour is now 'galloping sausage'.

My silly sons and I were racing to the front door after checking for mail yesterday. I yelled "last one to the door is a..."

"Galloping sausage," interjected Joseph.

I am always amused by the creative expressions that emerge from their blonde-and-blue-eyed lovlieness.

Alas! Because I was sporting my fabulous three-inch Choos, I was the last one to the door. Lucky me.

I need a rematch.

Joseph Spit at the Bus!

Omigosh...today when my almost-6-year-old son, Joseph, got off the bus, he spat at it as it drove off! The driver stopped and gave me a dirty look. I was so dumbfounded. I turned to Joseph and he just grinned and said, "Hi, mom, what do we have for snack today?"