Girly Girl by Author Kristin Billerbeck

First Trailer for Les Miserables

Thanks to Judy, who although is on vacation, still let us know the first trailer for the new movie version with Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe is out.

Happy Saturday!

 

It's not due out until December of 2014. : (

Another me!!

I'm so excited. I met my 32-year old twin today. I got a business call from her this afternoon and when you call me, my ringback tone is "In the Mood." Our connection wasn't very good and she said Glenn Miller, but deciding that was way too random, I didn't say anything back to her.

Then, after a minute, I said, "Did you say Glenn Miller?"

She said, "Yeah, your ringback tone. It's Glenn Miller."

"How do you know that?" I asked her.

"I'm all about the 40s. I always say I was born in the wrong era."

"No," I tell her. "I always say I was born in the wrong era!"

So, she's only 32. There's a younger version of me! Glenn Miller lives on...I know it's very strange to get so rambunctious about someone recognizing my ringback tone, but it's never happened before. It warms you up, so you'll be "In the Mood" to talk to me. : )

Kismet! I'm totally sending her my book, "A Billion Reasons Why." She'll get it.

Two-Year Old Hears Mommy for the First Time

If you can watch this and not cry, I have to wonder if you're human. So precious!!!

http://www.viddler.com/v/a5cbefc3

Set Fire to the Rain...

First, let me state that I am not good in a crisis. You do not want me sitting in an exit row or being first on the scene.

Secondly, I'm sickly practical. I've been wanting to buy a Dutch oven like this forever, but I don't have room and I can't justify the expense. Well, I COULDN'T justify the expense. Since I nearly burned my house down yesterday, I'm open to justification. However, buying one, means I have to buy a new pull-out drawer from Storables, and then, that means I have to install it. And I hate installing those things. It's hard to fit the drill in small places. Blah, blah, blah...

I decide to fry up some chicken. (Read: RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!) And I think, now that I have my new copper-bottom pan, this will be better. Why I think this, I have no idea. I mean, I am still playing with grease. This is never a good idea.

Long story short: I set the stovetop on fire. Not a cute, little lap of flame. Rather an inferno with continuous fuel because on the third go-round, it boiled over. Did you get that part? My OIL boiled over. So there is this GIANT flame coming off my stovetop and both my older sons have engineering personalities. They don't know what their mom is up to, they just come in and see a giant flame and me struggling with a box of baking soda.

"Jonah, open this!" I shout, but he's going to help first. Mom is not good in a crisis, so he rushes to the sink and grabs two handfuls of water and douses, I mean, FUELS the flame.

You've heard don't throw water on a grease fire? There's a reason for this. It's not a subject of Mythbusters. The stovetop suddenly looks like a scene out of A-team with this explosive fireball coming towards us.

Jonah, my calm engineer is freaking, "What did I do?"

By then, I have the box of baking soda open and throw it on my self-created, nuclear reactor. The flames immediately extinguish.

In his defense, Jonah didn't know I was cooking with oil. In my defense? I don't really have one. Other than the chicken was fabulous. But I think I haven't invested in the Creuset because I know better. I should not be trusted cooking with oil. Paula Deen I am not!

Hydrogenated oil be darned. Next time we're going to the Colonel.

My latest obsession...

Okay, so this is my new obsession. The subject matter is a little disconcerting (it's not a commercial for marriage) but I just love Kimbra's style. She's just her own person. And this dress reminds me of my favorite that Olivia Newton John wore for "Make a Move on Me."

The video is a little creepy, but if you can make it to the end, her dance moves are worth it all. She's just cool. (If she looks or sounds familiar, she's the woman in Gotye's "Somebody That I Used to Know") She's just got the passion and she's different. I adore different. It makes the world go 'round.

 

I could only find this tiny picture of the dress I'm talking about. I guess my love of the same style hasn't changed much.

Cleaning Nerd: Best Products

So I'm a cleaning nerd. And on "The Today Show" America's Test Kitchen listed its favorite products. I'm happy to report I have them all. However, they did not have the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser -- though it's not really a kitchen product I suppose.

I hoard Mr. Clean sponges, which was not on Today's list of best cleaning products. When really, the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser is epic. The best place to buy them in bulk is "Home Depot."

I can verify by independent study, they're the best products out there. I've put where I find them the cheapest usually.

Method Cleaning Spray (Target!)
Seventh Generation Dishwashing Liquid (Whole Foods)
Barkeeper's Friend (Cost Plus)

Which brings me to another product not on their list that I also buy at Cost Plus: Sprayway Window Cleaner

But I was most excited to see my kitchen gloves there. I LOVE these kitchen gloves. They keep your hands from scalding, and they fit so well. Ahem. Like a glove. And they have these little cuffs so water won't seep in from your arms. This is me this morning and my daughter photo bombing me. Casabella gloves. I buy them at "Bed, Bath & Beyond" with my 20% off coupon.

When I came in here to blog, I noticed she was asleep (45 minutes after school had started.) So while I may be excellent at cleaning, my mothering skills could use a touch-up. In my defense, I was at the office last night, but there isn't really a defense when you forget a kid, is there?

Whitney Houston: There is no imitation. Why?

I just saw Jessica Sanchez on "The Today Show" -- she's the finalist from "American Idol" which I don't watch anymore. (Not a J. Lo fan, she SO annoys me -- I think it's the desperation.) Anyway, Jessica sang "I Will Always Love You" -- which was written by Dolly Parton, of course, but made more famous by Whitney Houston and "The Bodyguard."

Jessica's voice is incredible. Seriously incredible. She SOUNDS as good as Whitney, and she's the only person I've ever heard sing that song as well. But hearing Whitney sings that song makes you get goosebumps every time. What is that? It's something that can't be bottled. Or I'd chug some as I sing like a dying bovine. It's just such a loss and I'll never hear that song without thinking so.

The Union Jack

I'm a little obsessed with the Union Jack. It's my son's comforter. I have a Cashmere sweater with it on it. The fascination started with my son's love of British history then expanded with his love of the English Premier League soccer.

With the Queen's Jubilee coming up, the Union Jack is everywhere. I bought my son Union Jack Kleenex this weekend, and Elle a little Union Jack handbag with lipgloss inside.

But these. These are for mommy. And I SOOO covet them!

By Designer Aruna Seth (Seth is my son too, so it's a total sign, am I right? I was destined for these great shoes.) They're covered in Swarovski crystals and while they do have a non-blinged, more affordable version. Yeah, I'm not coveting those.

And I would seriously wear these to the grocery store. Just because I COULD. I'd click my heels together and who knows where I could end up???

Mark Zuckerberg's Low-Key Italian Honeymoon

I had to laugh at the headline about Mark Zuckerberg's "low-key" honeymoon. Did anyone actually expect he was going to get wild? Maybe do a couple shots in Vegas? This is Silicon Valley, exciting is stimulating conversation and good food. Throw in some historical significance and they're set!

I honestly wonder WHO they are going to get for this new show on "Bravo" about Silicon Valley. If you can find someone exciting enough to watch, I don't know that they'd be smart enough to work here. That's why I worry we're going to get a bunch of sales idiots. People work here. That's it. Not a lot more, so I fail to see how this is worthy of a Bravo show.

Although when they do have parties those are fun. They get real rock bands. There's a guy who built his own Hockey rink, but I doubt any of THOSE people will be on the show.

I thought Mrs. Zuckerberg's gown was gorgeous. I didn't think it was cut well though. Nor does it look worth $4k plus, but you know, she's beautiful and she could have spent anything. The fact that she didn't is exactly why I do not fit in with this crowd at all.

Airplane woes with Kids...

This three-year old refused to wear his seatbelt and somehow, the dad couldn't gain control over said child, so they were kicked off the flight.

How do you not tell a three-year old that he's wearing his seatbelt, then plug him in?? Listen, I had FOUR hard-headed children and never would that have been acceptable. I don't get how an entire flight crew and father couldn't handle this. There has to be more to the story.

We're taking Alaska Airlines to Hawaii, so I'll let my kids know now they have to wear their seatbelts.

Oh, I have the best airline story my Aspy son just told me last night. He said when I took him to Disneyland, I couldn't sit with him and he said, "The Aspergers' class must not have kicked in yet because I kept trying to talk to the guy next to me, and he kept trying to sleep, so I kept saying things like, 'I like dogs.' I had an attentive audience. He wasn't going anywhere."

How can you not love that kid? He cracks me up everyday. I used to take my kids to Disneyland all the time by myself because DH hates the happiest place on earth. I know, right?