Sophie and Doran have each been participating in their own after school activity, for about a year. Already, Sophie is going to be my Olympic gold medalist in gymnastics. And, Doran is well on his way to being the next Chuck Norris. As if karate and gymnastics didn’t keep them busy enough, last week, they started playing t-ball. Of course, I use the word “playing” lightly. So far it’s been a lot of running the bases, throwing the ball and hitting off of the tee. But, I think this will be a good thing for them, learning how to support each other on a team.

While the age of the players is supposed to be 4-6 years old, it skews younger with more 3- and 4-year-olds. So, Sophie and Doran are the oldest kids on the team. As a whole, the team is not the most coordinated bunch yet, but it’s a lot of fun to watch. And, I’m very proud of my daughter because she’s the only girl on the team. Bet you can’t tell which one she is in the picture. Thanks to Brian, she has the cutest pink helmet and Doran has a blue one. But, the helmets are so big, they make the kids look like bobbleheads.  Brian bought all of the appropriate gear: helmets, gloves and a bat. I had nothing to do with this purchase because I wouldn’t even know where to begin. …CONTINUE READING »

In June, I bought a (faux) leather jacket and I’ve been aching to wear it for the past few months. After spending a weekend in humid Shreveport, La. at a wedding, I was delighted to return to a crisp and chilly Atlanta last night. Let the autumn dressing begin!

There is something about getting wrapped up in layers of warm clothing that makes me so happy. Gloves, scarves, hoodies, tights, leggings…I love it all! And, since I despise feeling cold, I recently purchased a Snuggie. Yes, in fact it’s one of those “designer” Snuggies — zebra print! In case any of you don’t know what a Snuggie is (you must be living under a rock or don’t own a TV!), it’s a blanket with sleeves that leaves you arms-free and delightfully warm, wrapped up in a bundle of fleece. Yes! You can finally knit and stay warm at the same time! …CONTINUE READING »

I got a text message from Jesus last Wednesday which said, “C U tomorrow @ 5:30.” Now most people might be a little shocked to receive a text from Jesus and pretty nervous about that big meeting with him coming the next day, but I was excited. Why, you ask? Because the Jesus I refer to is Jesus Quijano, my fantastic hairdresser!

I have been going to Jesus for about three years, ever since the lady who did my hair before suddenly left town without telling me and I didn’t know until I called the salon with 2 inch brown roots and major split ends hoping for an appointment that week.  What a terrible shock to hear she had moved away and failed to even inform me, her faithful client of two years!  Sadness ensued.  I thought we got along so well.  I thought we were friends.  I needed to get rid of those roots ASAP.

So, I found Jesus through my mother-in-law and sister-in-law who went to the same salon.  Jesus always does a fantastic job and I am so thrilled I found him!  I tend to be pretty loyal to hairdressers until they leave town abruptly, possibly due to some sketchy run-in with the law (ahem, LEANNE, are you reading this?).  So, even though each time I go it is a marathon 2.5 hour session for simple highlights, cut and blow dry (the man is…let’s say, meticulous), I will continue to see him because he is a nice guy, does a good job on my hair and I like telling people I get phone calls and text messages from “Jesus”.    Ok, mostly it’s those first two things. …CONTINUE READING »

Sure, I like shopping and pedicures just as much as the next girl, but every year, I get excited for Fall, because to me, Fall means Football! I know that the so-called “Football Widows” have shared their perspective about this time of year already, so I thought it only made sense to talk about the other side of the story, the story of the female football fan.

I grew up with two younger brothers who always played some sort of sport. My dad always either coached or helped out with whatever team they were on, further cementing the bond between father and son. Not to be left out, I took an interest in football, the sport my dad loved the most, and fondly remember watching his favorite teams play and asking him questions to learn about the game. That’s how I became a football fan, and to this day, I still cheer for the teams my dad cheered for when I was growing up.

Because of those Sunday afternoons watching football with my dad, I can hold my own in a conversation about professional and college football (not to mention most other major sports). My fall weekends are spent watching college games on Saturday and NFL games on Sunday. I am the commissioner for a girls only fantasy football league – The Gridiron Girls. We are an uber-competitive group of girls who don’t make picks and trades based on how a player looks, but just like the guys do, on how many points that player will get us each week.

My husband shares my love of football. He looks forward to watching the games with me each week. In my family, football is a rite of passage. Learning the sport, cheering for your favorite team, and then talking about the weekend’s best games on Monday morning is a ritual in our house, and one day, if I am lucky enough to have a daughter, I will raise her in hopes that she grows up enjoying football weekends as much as I do.

Is it me or has there been a drastic increase in the number of commercials for prescription drugs? Every time I turn on the TV, there’s Sally Field hawking Boniva or people talking about some med they take for disorders that I never even knew existed (Fibromyalgia?) I’m not knocking Sally Field (apparently Boniva also contains some kind of youth serum because have you seen that woman?) and I’m not knocking possible relief for chronic health conditions.

What I have a problem with is that these medications are being advertised. I think it’s kind of underhanded for pharmaceutical companies to attempt further profit by planting seeds in the minds of patients by marketing their wares on television. Why not let the doctors decide what they should prescribe for their patients?

But television has always vacillated on what drug they allow to be marketed via that medium. For 50 years, there has been a self-imposed ban on television ads for hard liquor. Yet commercials for beer are all over the place (and some of the highest budgeted). In April 1970, Congress passed the Public Health Cigarette Smoking Act banning the advertising of cigarettes on television and radio starting on January 2, 1971. Yet coffee commercials are rampant.

I know, I know, pharmaceutical drugs shouldn’t be considered in the same class as booze and cigarettes because they have health benefits, while the latter just serve to alter one’s reality. But there are an awful lot of impressionable people out there who will truly believe they have a disease based on one or two symptoms mentioned by a paid actor in an ad.

“Fibromyalgia? I’m sometimes stiff and sore and I get depressed. I’m going to ask my doctor for this med.” And you know what? This probably works more often than not. How many doctors have caved into patient pressure to prescribe antibiotics for viral infections? Enough that antibiotic resistance has become a real concern.

I think pharmaceutical commercials also distort reality. I will go out on a limb here and say that almost everyone either is taking or knows someone who takes an antidepressant. These people may not even be chemically depressed but they feel down sometimes, just like that woman in the commercial who doesn’t want to get up and have breakfast with her kids.

All of the seemingly helpful suggestions of “Ask your doctor is xyz is right for you” imply that the pharms have your best interest at heart. The reality is that they figure your doctor might not have heard of the medication yet or may have a tendency to use another brand instead and you can educate him or her which may result in a sale.

Manipulation by marketers is nothing new. But when it comes to health, this seems a little unethical to me.

Atlanta is turning quite apocalyptic. Last year it was the gas shortage, turning the city into a bad Mad Max movie. Now it’s the flooding, haunting us with memories of Katrina, washing out roads and bridges and turning 20 minute commutes into day long excursions to find an open road.

These experiences have changed the way I view my world, the infrastructure of my life.  I take much less for granted and try to be more prepared.  Since we in America, and particularly here in Atlanta, spend so much time in our cars (and I always seem to be in my car when something goes wrong) here are a few things I’ve learned about being prepared for an emergency.

Keep the gas tank full.  Nothing is worse than sitting in a traffic jam caused by flooding or some other catastrophe worrying if you can get to the next exit and get gas – if there is any gas!

Maintain your tires.  Keep them inflated properly and check wear and alignment on a regular basis.  You do not want a flat at a time like this.  Or ever!

Keep water in your car. It’s easy to toss a gallon jug in the truck. Just be sure to update it regularly. Ugh, no-one wants to drink funky water.  And that water jug comes in handy for more than emergencies – such as after a long hike or soccer game.  Trust me, I know. …CONTINUE READING »

I’ve got a first-grader this year, and that means two things –– more homework and more arguing! By the time I get off work, pick her up, drive home, take the dog out, get the mail and start supper, I’m beat. Bella usually is as well. There’s a small window between the time we get home and dinner where we both just want to chill. Homework has to happen after dinner.

There are a myriad of reasons why she doesn’t want to do her worksheets, ranging from her favorite show on television to other kids playing outside. Hey, at six, she’s a busy girl, right? Too busy for homework, apparently, as we most often get “Awww, Mom! Can’t I do it AFTER I play outside?” You mean during the five minutes before a shower and bed? I don’t think so! …CONTINUE READING »

One of my niece’s boys, 8-year-old Jakob, has a self-esteem issue. He has too much of it.

Now, we’re a fairly modest crowd, my family. Many of us were painfully shy growing up and were self-conscious to a fault. So we’re not sure from where this upbeat, rose-colored-glasses-wearing creature has spawned.

Let me explain. There have been many instances in which this child insists he’s right about something beyond all indications otherwise. But we just put that down to his having a Y chromosome. But lately, things seem to be going to a whole other level. …CONTINUE READING »