It's that time of year: Christmas card time!

For moms, this is like our Fantasy Football, tailgating, and poker night all rolled into one. It's our mommy moment of glory.

It's the time of year we show off our kids to people that we never talk to. We dress our little ones up, make them sit still, and take goofy holiday photos. What happened to just buying the generic cards from Target? NO! Now, we all do the fancy online photo cards. We must show off our offspring, right?

Then we mail them off to many friends that we have lost touch with over time. Why does mailing a silly Christmas card give us a sense of redemption for neglecting family and friends over a year's time? 

It's so funny when they email you once they recieved it, "wow, the boys have grown up so much, and really changed." Ya think? It's been a whole year since you've last "seen" them. Remember? Last year's Christmas card? We haven't talked since then.

Oh well, I always have fun doing our family Christmas card. I look forward to it.

Last year, I sort of went a little overboard. It's was Bronson's first Christmas, so I wanted it to be really special. I tricked him and Mo out in coordinating Christmas outfits and went to a popular LA photographer.

This year, I was slack. Before I knew it, Thanksgiving was over and I hadn't even thought about the  Christmas card attire. There has been so much going on, I have really put this project on the back burner. That is until I got the first card of the season....it was from my cousin. It promptly arrived on Dec 1 with the entire family (mom, dad, and 3 kids) all spic and span in matching ensembles.

All the good photographers were booked, and I really didn't feel like buying another green and red button down set. So, I pulled out my trusty point and shoot camera and let the boys wear whatever they wanted. They were less than cooperative, but we sure had fun trying to snap a photo.

Bronson is 18 months old now and really into playing "chase" so he won't sit still for one second (unless you're giving him cheetos). And Mo is so into superhero and martial arts poses. To him, "nice smile" means one arm doing an uppercut and the other one strangling poor Bronson.

So, I got a little creative with the photo layout. If you're on my Christmas card mailing list, check your mailboxes soon. 

Here are a few that didn't quite make the Christmas card cut:

On a recent flight to San Jose, CA, a mother and her "unruly" 2 year old child son were kicked off of a Southwest Airlines flight.

The crew decided the passengers could not hear the preflight safety announcements due to her son screaming "Go! Plane! Go!" and "I Want My Daddy!"

Wow! I was amazed by this. Thank goodness I had a much more tolerant flight crew on my Southwest flight to Vegas. Just before takeoff Mo announced:

"If the plane crashes, we are all gonna die!"

It didn't go over too well with the lady in front of us flying for the first time, but no one else seemed to care.

The 38 year old mom booted with her kid was later refunded her money and given a $300 travel voucher.

I would have been happy with a carton of those Biscoff cookies. Man, those things are gooood.

When Mo first started Kindergarten, it was a chaotic mad dash out of the house to try and get him fed, dressed, out the door, and at school by 8:15 AM. Phew!

For the first month, I felt like a complete failure as a mom. It seemed unattainable.

How were all the other moms doing it?

What's wrong with me?

What's wrong with my kid?

I felt like such a militant mom because I was always barking orders in the morning, "brush your teeth, find your socks, don't forget your backpack, eat your breakfast..." Was I turning into my mom?!

Then, just the other day, it all clicked. Everything started to come together.

I woke up and Mo had already brushed his teeth and fixed his "hairstyle". (If you've ever seen my kid's hair, this is an enormous feat in itself, and knocks at least 15 minutes off of the morning prep time.)

I praised him extensively. He seemed pleased with his accomplishment.

Then a week later, in addition to his personal grooming, he started dressing himself. This was a double victory because he liked to "surprise" me before I got out of bed by being fully dressed, which meant I got to lounge for about 10 minutes longer as he tousseled with his pants and took off and on all his shirts until he figured out which one was the undershirt and which was the "top shirt". 

Now, I would love to take credit for this independence. 

Going from being in the bottom tier of timely attendance to one of the first kids to arrive should be enough bragging rights for me. But, I really had to get to the bottom of everything.

Finally, Mo confessed: "All the pretty girls get to school early."

Hey, whatever works!

Let's just hope Mo isn't hanging out under the bleachers before 1st period.

The other night, I was watching The Soul Train Music Awards and was captivated by Toni Braxton's performance with Trey Songz. Being from Atlanta, I have always been a huge Toni fan.

Once, I even contemplated (for 5 minutes) her short cropped "do" she sported in, "Love Shoulda Brought You Home". Phew....glad that was one idea I put on the backburner. She made that haircut work. I would have just looked like a boy.

She's had a successful singing career selling over 40 million records worldwide and 6 Grammy's under her belt. After recording 5 albums, Toni replaced Wayne Newton as the headlining act at the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas. Toni has also dabbled in acting being the first African American woman to play a Disney character leading role as Belle on Broadway in Beauty and the Beast.

It wasn't an easy road for Toni though. Early in her career she filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy. She's also had a couple medical scares with a benign tumor removed from her breast and a microvascular angina. She is currently going through a divorce with her husband of 8 years.

She has 2 sons, Denim, 8 years old and Diezel, 6 years old. Her younger son was diagnosed as Autistic. Toni is currently a spokesperson for Autism Speaks as well as the American Heart Association.

I admire her strength and resilience. I'm so glad she is back on the music scene. I look forward to her new album, "Pulse", which will be released in early 2010.

Keep bringing "The Heat" Toni! :-) You're beautiful, amazing, and such an inspiration.

I am so thankful Thanksgiving is over!

I had a lovely holiday, but if I never see turkey and dressing again for another year, I'll be fine.

We had a quiet holiday at home. We made all the usual suspects (cornbread dressing, sweet potato souffle, broccoli casserole, gravy, mac n cheese). I always get a turkey breast from Honey Baked Ham. It's the only turkey I like to eat.

There are some meats I can eat every day: chicken, lobster, shrimp, crab. But to me, eating turkey is like being at a friend's house for dinner, and they cook something you really don't like. You eat it to be in the spirit of the meal (or to be polite), but there is no long lasting craving for another helping.

For some reason, I just don't like the regular turkey. It takes a lot of work and time to prepare one of those big suckers, and I just don't care for it. Being from the South, fried turkey is a favorite. It's ok, but honestly, I could do without the turkey and have fried chicken instead. What did the Pilgrims know?!

Mo had fun being my "assistant" in the kitchen. And Bronson chimed in by throwing mixing bowls and measuring spoons.

But, after 1 day of leftovers, I was already ordering pizza (heavy sauce and extra cheese). 

However, the pecan pie, I can eat year round.

Hope you all enjoyed your Thanksgiving. I'm eternally grateful for the unconditional love my boys give me, and the fact that I have finally found the true meaning of "Happy" Thanksgiving.

When it was Mo's turn to be "Scientist of the Week" at school, he knew exactly what he wanted to demonstrate for his classmates.

I was a little nervous about being able to create an erupting volcano, but it turned out to be pretty easy.

The kids enjoyed it, and Mo thought he was hot shit.

Here's the steps:

Materials:

playdough/clay

empty film canister

tablespoon baking soda

tablespoon vinegar

food coloring

1. Use play dough or clay to form the shape of a volcano.

2. Make a hole in the top big enough to tit an empty film canister inside.

3. Insert empty film canister into hole.

4. Now add the ingredients to form "molten lava". Put the baking soda and food coloring in the film canister first (this way the color will surprise the audience) then pour the vinegar into the canister.

ERUPTION!!!!!!

I hate working out.

I REALLY hate working out.

I don't know why, I just do. I have never really been a fan of physical fitness. I use to fake menstrual cramps, an upset stomach, and headaches just to get out of P.E in elementary and high school.

BUT, after having 2 kids and turning 35 years old, I realized some sort of physical exertion was necessary to avoid going up 2 sizes in pants every month.

Everyone has their own inspiration for getting their butts to the gym. Mine is workout gear. I realized that when I wore clothes  that inspired me to "sweat", then I had an urge to be more active and get to the gym.

This came from the discovery of an affordable and chic workout line, BZ Bella. It was designed by women to flatter the female body in all the right places. They are currently having a 30% off sale off the ENTIRE SITE!. Their prices are already very reasonable for their high quality gear, now this is just an added perk.

Get over to BZ Bella and get some of the cutest, most comfy workout gear at a great price. 

Although Mariah Carey is my favorite singer of all time, Janet Jackson is probably a close second. She doesn't have the singing chops Mimi has, but she's a great performer and much better dancer (sorry Mimi...hugs).

Janet does not get enough respect in the music industry. She has set the video standard for many musical artists that followed. Without the inspiration of Janet Jackson, would we have Britney, Ciara, and The Cheetah Girls? LOL. Seriously, you know it's true. Janet Jackson raised the bar for female entertainers/performers.

Janet has a new album out called "Number Ones". It's a double disc with some of her greatest tracks plus her new single, "Make Me". It's on sale at amazon for $13.99.

So, I will anxiously await her opening 8 minute performance on the upcoming American Music Awards this Sunday. Tune in at 8PM on ABC. I'm sure Janet's performance will be "NASTY"!!!!!!

The household is still feeling the backlash of Mo watching Rush Hour. He seems to have picked up the word and meaning of "SHIT".

Although I am amazed at his proper diction in using the word in proper context (ex: he dropped a lego creation and screamed: SHIIIIIIT!), it is highly inapporpriate for a 5 year old to be screaming obscenities. So, I had to go into action.

Mo was playing outside and and his paper airplanes kept flying into the street. Every time it happened he replied "shit" because he knew he would have to ask me to help retrieve it. I felt it was time for a conversation:

Me: Mo, saying "shit" is really inappropriate.

Mo: It is? Well, Chris Tucker says it all the time.

Me: Well, Chris Tucker is a grown up, you're 5.

Mo: Well, Chris Tucker says "never touch a black man's radio." Can I say that?

Me:That was a joke honey. It's not something you need to continue telling your friends and teachers at school.

Mo: Oh. ok.

Me: Can you think of an alternative word you could say when you get frustrated, besides saying "shit"?

Mo: hmmmm.......(thinking)

Me: Think of a more appropriate word that could express your frustration and anger.

Mo: I know! (so proud of himself)....Can I say "dammit"?

Dammit is better than shit, right?

Is it me or is Demi Moore looking HOT lately?!

She's 47 years old, and has 3 kids (ages 21, 18, and 15) from her first marriage to Bruce Willis.

She's on the cover of the December "W" magazine and discusses her relationship with husband of 4 years, Ashton Kutcher. She's 16 years older than he is.

"The most overwhelming part of meeting someone that you already felt you had such a deep and old connection with is that your feelings are greater than the time you've had to actually be with one another. Now we've had the physical time together. The love he has for me makes me a better person by giving me the courage to take risks. I can fail and have someone who loves me just the same. I never knew it was quite possible."

I remember when Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher started dating. Everyone thought it was a promo stunt for his show "Punk'd." I'm so glad they're still together and seem extremely happy. Good luck to her. Not sure what Ashton is doing, but whatever it is, she definitely has a glow! 

Looking good D!!!!