Archive for November, 2012

“Big Bang Theory” star Mayim Bialik announced last week that she and her husband of nine years were getting divorced and of course people began speculating about the split.

Bialik, who is famous for starring in “Blossom” when she was younger, is a huge proponent of attachment parenting and has written a book and has a blog about the parenting choice.

Attachment parenting promotes breastfeeding on demand, co-sleeping, and wearing babies in slings.

From The Huffington Post:

“Earlier this year, Bialik published a book on the subject called “Beyond the Sling: A Real-Life Guide to Raising Confident, Loving Children the Attachment Parenting Way.”

“But according to the former “Blossom” star, the nontraditional parenting style did not play a part in her divorce.”

” ‘The hands-on style of parenting we practice played no role in the changes that led to this decision; relationships are complicated no matter what style of parenting you choose,’ Bialik wrote in a post on her parenting …

Continue reading Mayim Bialik: Could parenting style differences cause a divorce? »

As Congress and the White House negotiate the first major tax rewrite in decades, it would appear that deductions for mortgage interest may be on the chopping block.

From The Washington Post:

“Members of both parties have largely steered clear of detailed proposals so far. But plans put forth in the past year by President Obama and Mitt Romney to place limits on annual total tax deductions would likely crimp the mortgage-interest deduction for certain taxpayers. Top congressional Republicans also have expressed openness to limiting total tax deductions as part of an overall budget deal. In addition, the presidentially appointed Simpson-Bowles fiscal commission suggested scaling back the mortgage-interest deduction as part of its own set of tax-related proposals. “

“Current law allows homeowners to deduct the interest paid on mortgage balances up to $1 million, including on second homes, as well as on $100,000 worth of home-equity loans. The deduction overwhelmingly benefits …

Continue reading Should deductions for mortgage interest be kept? Would losing them affect your family? »

Does yout tech support wear a froggy towel? Lilina came out of her bath to help Mimi on her new iPad. Lilina loves to make movies on Michael's iPad. They are quite funny but take up way too much memory.

My 60-something parents flew back to Atlanta yesterday after spending about two weeks with us and during that time we had some serious technology boot camp.

My mother wanted to buy an iPad to do Facetime with the grandkids and to look at photos but she hadn’t really played with one before. So during the first week of their visit, my 9-year-old and 5-year-old showed my mom how the iPad works.

My mom liked it so Michael helped her pick one out to buy. Michael got her all set up including a bunch of apps. He set up her address book for Facetime so she could “call” us.

She also has now joined the rest of the world on Facebook. Although she says she doesn’t want to talk on it. She just wants to look at photos of our kids, my brother’s kids and my cousins’ kids.

She did get excited …

Continue reading Have you taught your parents to be tech savvy? »

As of last night, reporters weren’t sure if it was real or not but it appears that a mom has named her baby Hashtag.

Here’s the story as of late last night from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution:

“She’s only 4 days old. But if the story is true, this little girl could be trending within the week.

Social media world, meet little Hashtag Jameson. Yes, you read that right. Hashtag, as in #.

And she was born Saturday night, according to the online news site, Mashable. Various other websites have picked up the story, which is creating quite a buzz on Twitter.

A proud relative of baby Hashtag posted the news of her arrival on — wait for it — Facebook, according to various sites.

“Hashtag Jameson was born at 10 oclock last nite. She weys 8pounds and I luv her so much!!!!!” the message reads, according to the online image.

But so far, there’s no proof of whether a little girl really will grow up with the name or if its all an Internet hoax.

There’s also no word on a middle name. Or on …

Continue reading Would you name a baby Hashtag? »

The American Academy of Pediatrics says that teens are more likely to use emergency contraception if it’s prescribed in advance and the group wants to encourage routine counseling and advance emergency-contraception prescriptions as one part of a public health strategy to reduce teen pregnancy.

From Pediatrics:

“Adolescents younger than 17 years must obtain a prescription from a physician to access emergency contraception in most states. In all states, females 17 years or older and males 18 years or older can obtain emergency contraception without a prescription. Adolescents are more likely to use emergency contraception if it has been prescribed in advance of need. The aim of this updated policy statement is to (1) educate pediatricians and other physicians on available emergency contraceptive methods; (2) provide current data on safety, efficacy, and use of emergency contraception in teenagers; and (3) encourage routine counseling and advance emergency-contraception …

Continue reading American Academy of Pediatrics recommending emergency contraception be prescribed in advance »

(Every now and then the Momania community gets to hear from my dear husband Michael Giarrusso. With Georgia heading to the SEC Championship game (and maybe the National Championship) he felt the need to address the spouses and children of UGA fans.)

By Michael A. Giarrusso

Michael and the kids with Uga. (Not sure which one this is — probably 2004.)

An open letter to the spouses, children, parents and boyfriends/girlfriends of anxious Georgia fans:

Georgia fans are closer to a national championship than they have been in more than 30 years. The only things that stand in the way are the two most successful programs in college football. That’s going to make some fans nervous, especially after three decades of the Bulldogs disappointing them. Your loved ones may need some support as they try to focus on work and family while fantasizing about an unlikely win over Alabama and a trip to south Florida for the national title game against Notre Dame.

Here are some …

Continue reading Advice for handling anxious Georgia fan spouses this week: It’s not just a game! »

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I think that Thanksgiving Day is going to be a good day to visit Disneyland and here is why. My logic is that I think on Thanksgiving Day, unlike Christmas or New Years, people just want to sit at home, eat and watch football.

I know I could call the Disney PR people and ask them,  but I kind of don’t want to know now because our plans are set.

Michael and I went to Disneyland on Christmas Day in 1995 when we were both covering Penn State at the Rose Bowl. The park was downright empty. So I am hopeful. I can’t imagine it being more crowded on Thanksgiving than a regular summer day and I think it will be better.

One of the best Disney experiences we ever had was a fall break at …

Continue reading Good gamble or bad: Will Disneyland be crowded on Thanksgiving Day? »

I threatened last year not to cook for Thanksgiving but still ended up working all day on a giant meal for my little family that took all of 30 minutes to eat.

We didn’t have any visitors last year, which made it even sadder. Plus, Michael hates turkey so no matter how juicy or golden brown you manage to make your bird he would rather have pasta. And that doesn’t make you feel good after cooking all day.

So this year, I am just NOT doing it. We have family coming, and I proposed that instead of sitting around overeating and watching football that we take the kids to Disneyland as an early Christmas present.

Let me clarify, I feel like we are still celebrating Thanksgiving. I have many, many thing to be thankful for. I am just not cooking all day for a meal that takes 30 minutes to eat.

And I am thrilled with the Disneyland plan for several reasons.

No. 1 — I’m not having the stress of planning, shopping and making sure that turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, …

Continue reading I’m not cooking for Thanksgiving: We’re going to Disney! »

This was my grocery list for Thanksgiving and meals for our guests in 2010. The list covered the front and the back and if I am reading my notes correctly I went to three stores.

This is the back of my list from 2010.

This was my timing and platter planning sheet. I count backward from when I want to serve and write down when everything needs to be in the oven. I also plan out my serving platters.

I was looking for recipes to use with our guests and I ran across my Thanksgiving list and organization chart from 2010.

The list includes meals for the week for houseguests, as well as Thanksgiving. It was the back and front of a sheet and if I am reading my notes right, it looks like I went to three different stores to get everything I wanted.

The second list is a timing list counting back for when I needed to start cooking to serve at 5. It also planned out which serving platter or bowl I would use for each dish.

(This is why I don’t like to cook for Thanksgiving. It’s just …

Continue reading Thanksgiving Prep: What does your list look like? How much do you plan? »

We have family visiting for Thanksgiving so I spent all last week getting ready.

I love to plan menus and make special foods that I know they will love.  (More on the menu below. )

One of my guests is a reader who likes history and spy novels so I have picked up from the library several books for him to choose from.

I also bought a new super bright reading lamp for this same guest. There is never enough light!

We’re mapping out movies to see at the theater (Bond or “Lincoln” anyone?) and picked up several movies and TV series DVDs we think they will like.  (We want to introduce them to “Downton Abbey” and “Homeland.”)

Our guests will take over Rose’s room so I am laundering all my fluffiest bedding to make them an inviting bed.  And I picked up some new thick towels and bath mats and some lovely soaps too.

I’ve got a day trip planned to Sedona for them to see the Red Rocks. (The weather is finally lovely – chilly in the morning and at night but warm in the middle of the …

Continue reading Host Musts: Favorite ways to welcome visiting family? »