Woman Gets Letter and Purple Heart of Father She Never Met 70 Years Later (VIDEO)

zaterdag 21 september 2013

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AppId is over the quota
by Maressa Brown 20 hours ago

After seven decades, a letter from a World War II veteran to his daughter will finally end up in its rightful owner's hands this weekend! Pfc. John Eddington was about to be deployed to Europe in World War II when he learned that his wife had given birth to a daughter named Peggy. He wrote a letter, telling the little girl how much he loved her and wanted to see her. But sadly, he never made it back from the war, and Peggy never met her father ... But his letter and Purple Heart medal both ended up in a box thousands of miles away from Peggy, much like a message in a bottle or a time capsule.

Thankfully, a Missouri woman named Donna Gregory found the box and made it her mission to find Peggy, too, reports the AP ...

Fourteen years ago, Donna was helping her then-husband clean out his grandparents' home in Arnold, Missouri when she stumbled upon a cardboard box filled with WWII memorabilia related to Eddington. No one can really explain what the box was doing there, as Eddington lived in a completely different "neck of the woods" 75 miles southwest of St. Louis. Still, somehow, this box had made its way to that home, and Donna discovered the War Department's message to Eddington's mother about his death in Italy in June 1944, four months after his daughter's birth, the Purple Heart, and the letter Eddington wrote to his daughter while stationed in Texas, just before he was sent overseas. Wow!

Over the course of the next almost decade and a half, Donna did everything she could to track down Peggy. But it wasn't until earlier this year when she started to reach out via Facebook -- oh, the miracle of Facebook! -- that she actually managed to touch base with Peggy Smith, living in Nevada now and of the belief her mother had lost the medal or given it away ... until Donna called.

"It was an unforgettable moment," Donna says, while Peggy could only describe her reaction as "stunned." Aww!

And instead of delivering it herself to Peggy, Donna decided to write a letter to the Patriot Guard Riders, the volunteer organization perhaps best known for patrolling funerals of soldiers to shield relatives from protesters. She said she thought it would be more special if perhaps veterans were to present the Purple Heart to Peggy.

So earlier this week, Donna, her sister, and a friend left St. Louis in an SUV, accompanied by about a dozen motorcyclists from the Patriot Guard. Along the route, different groups of riders are taking turns accompanying Donna. Tomorrow, a parade will begin in Carson City, Nevada and make the 15-mile trek to Dayton, where Peggy will be presented the medal and letter in a ceremony at the high school. Smith's children and most of her 11 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren will be there. Amazing!!

Though Peggy claims she's "not a big shindig person," she notes she'll be "crying the whole time." As will Donna who says:

I've cherished all of this for a very long time. I've waited for the finale of this journey for over a decade.

Simply incredible. When these two women meet for the first time face to face and Peggy is finally able to read that letter from her father and receive his Purple Heart, it will be such an emotional moment. Here's hoping a local news crew or two capture that moment, because it will be one that is sure to have us all wiping tears from our eyes.

In the meantime, here's a news report documenting Donna and Co. embarking on their journey to Peggy only a few days ago ...

What's your reaction to this amazing story?

Click "Like" if you love someone in the military! ABOUT THE AUTHOR Maressa Brown

has enjoyed reporting and writing for a variety of entertainment and women's magazines and websites. More often than not, you'll find her blogging, hitting the gym, reading, researching something on her iPhone, laughing, chatting at an above-"normal" volume, or getting her caffeine fix.

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Greedy Congressmen Who Cut Food Stamps Program Got a Lesson They Will Never Forget (VIDEO)

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AppId is over the quota
by Rebecca Stokes 20 hours ago

Cuts to SNAP (the food stamps program in the U.S.) have been in the news lately. This is horrible for the people who rely on the less than $5 a day the program provides to buy even basic groceries. Congresswoman Jackie Speier of California is appalled by the cuts, and she recently spoke up in Congress against them.

She chose to make her point in a very unique way. As is customary, Speier had a speech prepared to present to the floor. That's where what's customary ended. She accompanied her speech with props to hit her point home. Those props and what she had to say about them made an impression no one who saw her speak will soon forget.

Speier called out the members of Congress who pride themselves on being responsible for the SNAP cuts. She points out that these same members have taken "business trips" where their per diems were hundreds of dollars. She held up a cooked steak, a bottle of vodka, and even caviar to demonstrate all of the things the Congressmen were able to buy in one day. 

It's depressing that Speier had to go to such drastic lengths to gain the attention of her colleagues. But, if such demonstrations are going to promote a dialogue that makes for real change, bring on the props! If it takes visuals to get things done, maybe we should make them mandatory in Congress. 

Do you think we should have more props used in Congressional speeches?

Image via David Leo Veksler/Flickr

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Rebecca Stokes

Rebecca is a writer who lives in Brooklyn with her cats. She is probably even at this moment spilling food on herself.

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Creepy Clown Terrorizes Small Town and Now There’s a New Place We’ll Never Visit

dinsdag 17 september 2013

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AppId is over the quota
by Jenny Erikson 2 hours ago

Now in totally creepy news that makes me glad not to live in the small U.K. town of Northampton, there’s a loitering clown that likes to stand on street corners and stare at random passersby. The unidentified bozo first appeared on Friday the 13th and looks like he just walked off the set of Stephen King’s It.

The strange stranger has appeared in several areas of town, always with the same red wig, white face makeup, all-in-one jumpsuit, and oversized bowtie. Occasionally he carries a clown teddy. 

He doesn’t do any of the fun clown things like ride a tiny bicycle or juggle or make balloon sculptures. He just ... stares. One woman reported that he knocked on her door and offered to paint her windowsills, even though he had no paint or brushes. She reported the suspicious behavior to the police.

Although he first appeared less than a week ago, the Northampton Clown has over 77,000 ‘likes’ on his Facebook page, where he tries to dispel the rumors that he’s carrying a knife.

Word to the wise: If you have to dispel rumors that you’re a knife wielding maniac because of how you’re dressed ... you might want to change clothes.

Ok, so it’s probably not illegal to look like a sociopath about to go on a murdering rampage while laughing maniacally in a scary clown costume, but what kind of person gets off on making people uncomfortable at best, and frightening them at worst?

Heck, a random guy standing on street corners staring at people is creepy enough. Put him in a clown suit? Unbearable.

Are you creeped out by the Northampton Clown, or is it all in good fun?

Image via Spot Northampton's Clown/Facebook

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Jenny Erikson

is a conservative chick living in Southern California with her two daughters. She loves politics and hates laundry.

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Never Miss a Package with FedEx Delivery Manager!

zaterdag 7 september 2013

Never Miss a Package with FedEx Delivery Manager!

Avoid holiday delivery disasters with FedEx Delivery Manager. Absolutely free, this program has many great features:

Leave special instructions for delivery.Receive phone, text and email delivery alerts.Electronically authorize package drop-offs and rerouting.

Click the FedEx banner above to join in under 5 minutes. Just submit shipping information, email and a password—easy!

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Vicki Gunvalson Will Never Leave 'RHOC' No Matter What She Says

zondag 25 augustus 2013

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AppId is over the quota
by Julie Ryan Evans 6 hours ago

Monday is part three of The Real Housewives of Orange County reunion, and previews indicate that it's going to be an explosive one (which, of course, they always do). The thing that has everyone buzzing about this one, however, is a peek at a scene in which Vicki Gunvalson gets up and storms off stage saying, "Guess what, Vicki's done with the show!" 

So is that it for Vicki? Could the O.G. of the O.C. really be throwing in the towel for good?

That would be a big HELL NO. There's no way Vicki will ever leave RHOC of her own free will. And Andy Cohen loves her, so I think she'll go down with the ship ... if it ever goes down. 

Sure, it's been a dramatic season for her (Of course, when has a season not been dramatic for her?), with all of the Brooks Ayers nastiness, the issues with her son-in-law, Ryan Culberson, and, of course, the rumors Lauri Peterson came back to throw in her face. It would definitely be enough to send most people running from the show, never to look back.

Vicki, however, isn't most people. She thrives in this kind of drama. While the actual events may be painful for her, I think she finds some kind of comfort in being able to work through them in the public light. She recently told OK magazine as much:

That teeter totter really gets pushed sometimes, but I like it.  I like the drama. I like the craziness. I like to juggle a lot of things at once. I was told if you want a big life you’ll have big problems and if you want a small life, you’ll have small problems. I’m a big life kind of girl.

Also, she likes to win. If she walked now, it would be letting Lauri and all of the others who (justifiably) went after her relationship with Brooks win, and there's no way she would do that. It's just not in her to give up like that.

Finally, Vicki is a businesswoman first and foremost, and she knows how lucrative this show can be in many ways. From vodka to wine, she's letting the RHOC light shine on her business endeavors, and there's no way she's going to dim it.

So no, Vicki isn't going anywhere. I suppose we'll have to wait and see to really know for sure, but I would be shocked if she did. And I hope not, because, really,  what would RHOC be without her?

Do you think Vicki will leave RHOC? Do you think she should?

Image via Bravo

Click the "Like" button below if you're a fan of Real Housewives. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Julie Ryan Evans

can be found writing from coffee houses wherever she may be. The quality of her days is largely influenced by the seat she nabs and whether a protein plate is available.

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Why You Should Never Nearly Crash Your Car Into a Mom Driving With Her Kids

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AppId is over the quota
by Michele Zipp 7 hours ago

A couple of weeks ago while in the middle of packing up what I thought was my dream house in the country to move back to the city a very changed woman, a small white car nearly crashed into my compact SUV as it pulled out of the shopping complex without seeing me directly in the lane she was driving into. My twins were in the backseat -- they are 3 1/2. It wasn't just any near miss to me. It was an almost accident where I envisioned far too much blood and destruction in the 3.5 seconds in which it nearly happened. She would have hit me on the driver's side -- head on to my door and the passenger door right where my daughter was strapped in and rear-facing. I have Radian car seats and know their side impact car seat safety was excellent, but it's not something I ever wanted to truly put to the test.

And the girl who almost hit me was me ... 17 years ago me.

She was young and look sweet and innocent and was probably a college student who had just went into the grocery store to stock up on noodles and butter -- my staples when I was a college student in the very same town this all happened in. And I know exactly what she looked like because I got out of my car to yell at her. She had really pretty long blonde hair that shined in the noontime sun.

It's a moment I am not particularly proud of. But certainly not the worst thing I've done in this town. It was my college town, after all.

However, my stress was at an all time high. I was (and am) going through a lot of personal stuff that no amount of online self-help or professional therapy could cure quickly enough. So my reaction wasn't the best, nor do I recommend it to anyone. Yes, she was in the wrong for bolting out of the parking lot she was in right into my lane, but I was wrong for being a raging lunatic screaming at her right there at the intersection while the light was still red. Yes, I had to swerve crazy hard to the right to avoid smashed glass and dented doors and heaven forbid hurt children. And thank goodness there was no one in that right lane. But I was wrong. Embarrassingly wrong. My son asked, "Mommy why did you yell at that lady?" after it all went down. I think he knew I was wrong, too. And here's how it went down.

The near miss. Me yelling at her with my window down as she was in front of me at the stop light. Me beeping my horn at her wanting her to wave or something to acknowledge that she almost hit me and scared the bettlejuice out of me because MY KIDS WERE IN THE CAR. And because she did nothing, I did something. I got out of my car (I know it was wrong, you don't have to remind me though I know you will) and went to her. She was alone and her window was down but she wouldn't look at me. The other cars around us all began rolling down their windows to see what this insane woman was yelling. The insane woman was me. I was yelling loud, no doubt the Queens, Nu Yawk, accent coming out that you only hear when I'm yelling this intensely, telling her that "I have kids in the car!" as my arms waved frantically pointing back at my car behind hers, driver's side door open, kids in the back no doubt wondering where their crazy mother had gone. "YOU NEED TO PAY ATTENTION!! YOU NEED TO BE MORE CAREFUL!!"

Okay, crazy lady, she probably thought. I don't blame her. I was her. I was once a not so careful driver who probably once worried more about what music I was listening to as I sped around town over making sure I didn't crash into anything. I was a young person once with no real fear of terrible consequences. But that person is long gone. I am a mother now and part of my existence is to protect my kids from harm. This girl was the "enemy", putting their lives in danger and the full roar of my mama bear was out, claws and all, right there in the intersection with an audience.

I scared her. She muttered she was sorry, barely looking directly at me. It was only a few seconds of berating. I marched back to my car and as I mentioned, my son asked "Mommy why did you yell at that lady?" Putting on a calm voice, I told him she wasn't a very good driver and she almost hit our car and I got worried we would get hurt. I may have scared her for that moment, but I was scared. Motherhood is terrifying -- you have your heart existing outside your body and you have to protect it.

"We're not hurt, Mommy," my daughter reminded me.

And we weren't. But I was. I was hurt and wounded and going through a whole lot. It was one of those moments that if it happened in a happier time perhaps I wouldn't have reacted so strongly. But no one should ever get in the way of a mother going through some stuff and feeling as if the safety of her kids was in danger. The adrenaline started taking over and I began shaking and crying. The light turned green and I pulled into the grocery store parking lot to calm down. We're not hurt, Mommy rang in my head. We were okay. We will be okay. 

To the pretty blonde girl in the little white car: I am sorry, too.

Have you ever experienced something like this where something or someone nearly hurt your kids (accidentally) and you flew into a rage?

Image via Cameron Parkins/Flickr

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Michele Zipp

loves vintage and will defend skinny jeans to the death though she is highly superstitious and "death" is probably a bad word choice. She has a touch of the hoarding disease and enjoys sleuthing, the worst reality shows, and wearing high heels, even at the playground. She's an AP mom of twins, slightly crunchy but with a pedicure.

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Parents Outraged Over Ke$ha Concert Never Should've Brought Their Kids in the First Place

woensdag 14 augustus 2013

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AppId is over the quota
by Mary Fischer 5 hours ago

A group of parents who took their kids to a Ke$ha concert last Friday are all bent out of shape -- no, make that horrified and appalled at the lewd behavior the singer engaged in on stage throughout the show.

Complaints from parents range from being disgusted that she "made reference to her genitalia and sex acts" to being shocked that she gave the crowd the middle finger and "dropped f-bombs" during her performance.

And all I can say is, how in the heck did these parents not realize that they were attending a Ke$ha concert -- not a One Direction, Taylor Swift, or some other squeaky-clean perfectly kid-appropriate act? Don't they have the slightest idea who Ke$ha is?!?

The woman claims to have had sex with a ghost, for crying out loud -- so it's not like anyone should expect any of her concerts to be on the tame side. Did I mention she also has a line of jewelry shaped like penises? (Um, hello?)

I know these parents were probably only trying to do something fun and special for their kids, but I'm sorry -- they're just plain irresponsible if you ask me. Many of them are upset because the concert was open to all ages, and they feel like that served as some sort of indication that Ke$ha's performance would be like some kind of Disney show. But duh, of course it was open to all ages -- because musicians tend to like to sell as many tickets as possible. Also, the concert was held at a casino and they wanted to make it clear that people under the legal gambling age could attend.

But regardless of that, it's not the job of the concert venue to decide what is and is not acceptable for children to see -- that's the parents' job.

And any mom or dad who is planning on bringing their child to a concert needs to a.) listen to the music first and know who they are dealing with, and b.) do a little research on the performer if they don't have time to sit down and listen to their music.

Sounds easy enough, right?

I know exactly what kind of music my son is a fan of, and while it's all pretty innocent at this point, I know his tastes will change as he gets older. And there's no way I'm letting him go to a concert without knowing exactly what types of songs and/or behavior he's likely to see at the show.

These parents have no business complaining about something that was completely in their control had they only made it a point to pay a little more attention. If nothing else, hopefully this will make them more aware of just how important it is to monitor the type of music their kids are listening to and choose concerts accordingly from here on out.

Would you ever taken your child to a Ke$ha concert?

Image via Splash

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mary Fischer

is the writer behind The Mommyologist, and the mom of a future famous comedian. Her current loves include cosmopolitans, reality TV, and shoes that don't pinch her feet.

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10 Things Never to Say to a Co-Sleeping Parent

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AppId is over the quota
by Adriana Velez 12 hours ago

I wasn't going to co-sleep with my baby. I thought it was weird and barbaric. But then my anthropologist friends talked me into it. (Yes, of course, it's always the anthropologists.) They went over all the reasons why it makes perfect sense, from the security it gives your infant to the way it bonds the whole family together. And then, when my son was born, I couldn't stand to be parted from him anyway. Co-sleeping just made sense to me.

I get that it's not for everyone. But man, people who don't get it really don't get it. Can you please spare us your judgment? Here are 10 annoying things you should never say to a co-sleeping parent.

1. Isn't that illegal? No, actually. It's not.

2. How do you not roll over your baby? Surprisingly, I don't go to bed drunk or on drugs. Also, you actually do have a physical sense of where your baby is, even when you're asleep.

3. I know someone who knows someone who knows someone whose baby died from co-sleeping. Okay.

4. How do you have sex? 1. Don't worry, sex happens. 2. You don't need to know the details. Do I ask about your sex life?

5. You'll never get that kid out of your bed. Yes, actually, I did. It's not easy, but when the time comes, you really can get your kid to sleep in their own bed.

6. That's kind of creepy and incestuous. Oh, and leaving your baby to sleep ALONE in a separate room is so humane?

7. I don't see how you can get any sleep that way. It's extremely cozy. In fact, I slept great because I never had to get up in the middle of the night. If my baby woke, I just nursed him quietly and quickly went back to sleep.

8. You'll spoil your kids. You can't spoil a baby. How many times do we have to say it?

9. Babies need to be sleep trained. Actually, they don't. You can not sleep train your baby and they'll still grow up to be a fully functional, independent adult.

10. That's just weird. I think you're weird! Okay, sorry, that was immature. I'll put it this way -- more people co-sleep either deliberately or accidentally than you'd think. It's pretty common.

Did I miss anything?

Image via Karen Sheets de Gracia/Flickr

Click the "Like" button below to get Natural Parenting stories on Facebook. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Adriana Velez

is a staff writer who dabbles in food, parenting, news, entertainment, molecular biology, and anything else that that pops into her head. She lives with her elementary school-aged son in Brooklyn, land of urban farms and artisan everything.  

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'Real Housewives' Star Alex McCord Breaks Down the 'RHOM' Premiere Like You’ve Never Seen Before (VIDEO)

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AppId is over the quota
by The Stir Bloggers 3 hours ago

Greetings, Stir-crazy friends! I’m thrilled to join the community and stir up some trouble in the world of reality TV.

Join me each week for a new exclusive video, where I break down what we saw, what we didn’t see, how these shows are put together behind the scenes, and what I think will be the major stories of this coming season.

Let’s get started with The Real Housewives of Miami, as its third season premiered last night on Bravo. Miami holds a special place in my heart; it’s unlike any other of the Real Housewives franchises in several ways. The biggest? It’s unapologetically superficial with all the ladies doggedly pursuing money and beauty ... which, in a strange way, is refreshing. I’ll have my bling without the guilt, please!!

We’ve got weddings and bridezillas, the heartbreaking medical condition of Alexia Echevarria’s son Frankie, plus the legal troubles of her other son Peter, both of which add up to a LOT for one mama to handle! Plus, is Adriana de Moura really married, and why is she pretending she’s not? Does Lea Black lie all the time or just part of the time? Or are her frenemies in fact lying about her? Will Marysol Patton’s Mama Elsa come back? 

More from The Stir: Lea Black Has It Out for Adriana De Moura

All of this comes with a fashion parade, sun, palm trees, plus a major helping of lies, backstabbing, and scheming. What could be better?? Take a look at my in-depth recap:

Do you think Adriana is really lying about being married? What was your favorite RHOM premiere moment?

Real Housewives of New York alum Alex McCord is TheStir.com's newest guest blogger. Each week, the NYC mom of two will dish about the catfights, feuds, and behind-the-scenes scoop on all your fave Real Housewives. Watch for more to come!

Click the "Like" button below if you're a fan of Real Housewives.
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10 Real-Life Text Messages That Should Have Never Been Sent

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AppId is over the quota

Text messages. They can be crazy, I tell you. One minute you're sitting there, watching a Real Housewives reunion, the next you're getting an anonymous text that reads: "What the f*ck is your problem? Why did you take that Starbucks mug?" True story. But a random text on a random drunken night doesn't hold a candle to some other text messages that have been received or, worse, sent.

I conducted a little poll, asking people what the weirdest text message they sent or received was, and, naturally, I got some really strange (really funny) answers. Here are 10 super odd text messages. Enjoy.

1. My neighbor told me the other day that her husband’s best friend "broke up" with him on text. It literally said, "I don’t think we should be friends anymore." Weird.

2. I once wrote, "Sorry for all of the John drama" to my uncle, whom I had just spoken to for about three hours about this toxic guy I was dating, John. Only I sent it to John. He replied, "Oh that John. Better hang on to that rascal!"

3. After a night of imbibing, I received this from a friend: "Oh, baby. At leant you're ib produced so u can't even are dreqm are rempt ribalreo."

4. My mother-in-law replied to a text of mine with a "." No quotes, just a period.

5. My husband asked for a divorce over text. Does that count??

6. "Why can't I find a freakin' David Bowie listening party?!?" This was from a guy I didn't even know had my phone number.

7. I asked my 16-year-old female babysitter how her doctor appointment went. I typed, "How was your doc appointment?" Autocorrect changed "doc" to "dick."

8. While wedding planning, I'd get 20 texts in a row from my mother about something as minute and ridiculous as making an entree vegan or vegetarian or banquets vs. rounds. :(

9. 4:34 a.m. "Hi I know this is really random and I’d be surprised if you knew who I was, but I was wondering if you would be interested in grabbing a drink." ... No clue who it was. No previous text message history.

10. When I got a new iPhone, I gave my 8-year-old daughter my old one to use as an iTouch, but she could still text through my email. One day I discovered she had sent our teenaged boy babysitter this icon a hundred times in a row:

 

... under MY text name! I had some serious 'splaining to do!

What's the weirdest text you've ever received or sent?

Image via Nate Steiner/Flickr

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Kristen Stewart Makes a Major 'Career' Move We Never Saw Coming

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AppId is over the quota
by Mary Fischer 2 hours ago

Get. Outta. Town! She must be experiencing a lull in her movie career, because Kristen Stewart reportedly enrolled at UCLA and plans on studying English Literature. Yep -- KStew's going back to school to get her degree and become intellectual and all that shiz.

Supposedly she still plans on taking film roles here and there and weaving her studies into her routine -- which may prove to be a bit of a challenge given how rigorous some college programs are these days. (But you know she'll get all sorts of extensions and special treatment from her professors. Lucky.)

Want to know the reason why she's interested in hitting the books again?

Supposedly she's "considering a life after film" and figures getting a degree from a prestigious university will pretty much set her up to do anything she wants in the future.

Life after film? What life after film? Doesn't she realize who she is? I mean, it's all well and good that she's making her education a priority -- but does she really think she'll have to worry about landing a job at any point down the road? I think not. She's Bella Swan/Cullen, for crying out loud, and she always will be. There's a certain degree of job security that comes along with her name.

And that's why I think going back to school probably has more to do with Kristen having a bit more time on her hands now than she did while filming the Twilight Saga -- and while dating Robert Pattinson. She needs something to do on all those lonely nights instead of gluing herself to the TV or reading about Rob's latest mystery blonde in the tabloids, so burying her nose in various text books will likely help fill the void, don't you think?

All jokes aside, however, I guess we have to give her credit for setting a good example by making the decision to continue her education even though she's financially set and all. Most young women in her shoes wouldn't even dream of committing to something as grueling as an English Lit degree, so maybe Kristen really is even more mature and grounded than anyone gives her credit for.

What are your thoughts on KStew going to UCLA?

Image via Splash

Click the "Like" button below if you're a fan of Robert Pattinson. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mary Fischer

is the writer behind The Mommyologist, and the mom of a future famous comedian. Her current loves include cosmopolitans, reality TV, and shoes that don't pinch her feet.

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'Sister Wives' Preview: Robyn Is Jealous Again -- But You'll Never Guess Why (VIDEO)

zondag 11 augustus 2013

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AppId is over the quota
by Jacqueline Burt 7 hours ago

It's funny how the whole jealousy thing plays out on Sister Wives, isn't it? I mean, I think it's safe to say that the main reason any of us tunes into the show is an unshakeable sense of morbid curiosity: Will one of the wives have an envy-driven freakout this week?! Most of the time, sadly, the answer to this question is NO. But it looks like tonight's episode might be the exception ...

So we're all more than aware of the big tense raincloud that's been looming over the Brown bunch: Will the new houses be ready in time for Christmas?! Well, tonight Robyn finds out that her house is finally finished. YAY!! Robyn is SO happy. Things are PERFECT. Until that real estate agent lady informs the family that Christine's house is ready, too. 

And then somehow Robyn is all bummed and put out. Huh?! See, this is what I mean about the jealousy thing playing out in a funny way. Robyn's not jealous about her husband sleeping with 3 other women, but she IS jealous that one of those women's homes is complete on the same day as her own? I don't get it. Is attention more important to Robyn than anything else? Of course in the end Robyn realizes that supporting her Sister Wives is the whole point of, um, her life I guess, but still.

Are you surprised that Robyn was jealous about Christine's house?

Image via TLC

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Jacqueline Burt

has written for numerous magazines, newspapers, and websites. She is easily bored and often tired, so she requires constant entertainment to keep her awake. Dance, Monkey! Dance! 

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New Bride Killed in Venice Beach Boardwalk Rampage Never Got to Say Goodbye to Her Husband (VIDEO)

maandag 5 augustus 2013

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AppId is over the quota
by Kiri Blakeley 1 hour ago

People are still in shock over what happened in Venice Beach, California over the weekend. A man drove up onto the famed Los Angeles boardwalk and began plowing down people with his car. And it doesn't look like an accident. Witnesses say it appeared the man was aiming directly for people and was intent on killing them. One woman was killed; 11 others were injured. The man, Nathan Campbell, has been arrested and charged with murder.

Newlywed Alice Gruppioni, 32, should have been having one of the best days of her life. And until Campbell entered it, she was. Alice and her husband, Christian Casadei, were on their honeymoon. The pair live in Italy. One minute, the pair were strolling on the promenade, enjoying the beautiful, sunny day, and the next, Alice was dead.

This is so heartbreaking. Christian is still in disbelief that his new wife is gone. He reportedly said:

We were walking, we were happy, we were on our honeymoon and everything, and suddenly everything changed. I still can't believe it, and I don't even remember exactly what happened. It's all very confusing.

Imagine beginning your new life with your new husband, and then, in a flash, it's over. For no reason. The couple were only married two weeks ago and sunny Los Angeles was their dream honeymoon destination.

Christian reportedly told an Italian news agency:

It's a tragedy. There's nothing more to say.

Pictures of the attractive pair on Facebook show them smiling and happy at their wedding. No doubt they were planning many more years of love, travel, and togetherness. Maybe children.

And now Christian will plan a funeral instead.

A reason for the driver's carnage hasn't yet been released -- if there is one. But it's pretty telling that he ran from the scene despite absolutely seeing the death and mayhem he had just caused. It's inconceivable that someone would want to do this on purpose. But as we know from Sandy Hook Elementary and many other tragedies, the inconceivable does happen.

You just don't expect it to happen on your honeymoon.

What do you think happened?

Image via Sweet California Photography/Flickr

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An Open Letter to My Brother Who Never Believed I Could Run a Mile

zaterdag 3 augustus 2013

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota
by Emily Abbate 18 hours ago

To my brother,

We haven't spoken in a while. Since we've never been the closest of siblings, it doesn't surprise me. I miss you. It's weird when people ask how you're doing and I haven't the slightest idea. I've been thinking of you a lot lately, for one reason in particular. I don't know if you know, but I'm training for a marathon. A full marathon, 26.2 miles. Who am I kidding? You know how far it is.

To some, it's no big deal. I want to tell you because I remember the countless days growing up when you used to tell me to "go run a mile." You know, that comeback you'd always sling at your younger, overweight sister when she did something to get under your skin?

In retrospect, it was a solid insult. I couldn't run a mile to save my life back then. You knew that. I remember the distinct high-pitched tone in Mom's voice when she'd reprimand you for saying that to me. Every. Single. Time.

This morning I ran 15 of them. Fifteen miles. That's why I'm checking in, to say thank you.

Thank you for inspiring me to become a better person. After ending up at the same college as you and spending a year there together, you made me realize that as I got older, I needed to take better care of myself. Taking better care of myself involved actually lugging myself to that dingy overcrowded gym, turning down French fries at the dining hall in exchange for some low-cal soup of the day, and skipping that occasional kegger at your fraternity house. (I heard it got condemned, by the way. Something about termites.) It's OK. You had no clue when you were ragging on me for being "lame" and "staying in" that I was just trying to get on track with my health. To me back then, it was sorta funny.

You want the truth? Every single time I run, I think about that phrase "go run a mile." I think about how damn far I've come since a much pudgier me accidentally bit you at age 5 because you stole the Nintendo controller from me and you retaliated with "get your fat butt away from me!" (Didn't think I remembered that, did you?) I think about the first time I ever did run a full mile next to you on a treadmill at our local gym, and how you had and still have absolutely NO CLUE how much that moment meant to me. And still does.

I want to cry after every long run. It's not your fault. It really isn't. I'm just so thankful, that's all. I'm thankful that I can run. I'm thankful that I'm 70 pounds less. I'm thankful that I have such supportive family and friends to join me in this new journey.

I guess this letter is my own way of letting you know that you really are a huge part of why I started this journey in the first place. Please come in October. Be at the finish line. I know Dad can be embarrassing with that big sign and his bazillion Facebook race updates, but if you could even remotely make me feel like you were actually proud of me for once, I'd be forever grateful.

I guess, though, I already am. Thanks, bro. For that first mile, and for every mile since.

All my love,
Em

P.S. I know the homecoming game is that same afternoon. If you promise to carry me or push me in the old Radio Flyer in Dad's basement, I'll buy the first round.

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10 Mortifying Songs You Never Want Your Kids to Sing (VIDEOS)

vrijdag 26 juli 2013

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

An earworm. You know what that is, right? One of those songs you could curse repeatedly because it gets stuck in your head for hours, days, maybe even weeks at a time? What's even worse than an earworm? An earworm with horrible lyrics that your kids love to sing at the top of their lungs. 

I'm not just talking swear words, either. The scene: you're driving in the car, and all of a sudden, you hear a chorus of "Thong Song" coming from the backseat. You're mortified. At that moment it doesn't matter where they heard it or how the hell they absorbed those catastrophic lyrics into their adorable little minds. What matters: these are YOUR kids. GOD PLEASE don't let anyone ever hear them.

Sure, I'll guarantee you they have NO clue the significance of what they're singing. Sure, seeing an 8-year-old belt out inappropriate lyrics can be cute, a la Sophia Grace.

But man, does it still feel wrong. Check out our list of 10 songs your kids should NEVER ever sing:

1. "Whistle" by Flo Rida

Most offensive lyrics: "Can you blow my whistle baby, whistle baby / Let me know / Girl I'm gonna show you how to do it / And we start real slow / You just put your lips together / And you come real close ..."

2. "S&M" by Rihanna

Most offensive lyrics: "Sex in the air I don't care / I love the smell of it / Sticks and stones may break my bones / But chains and whips excite me."

3. "Rehab" by Amy Winehouse

Most offensive lyrics: "I'm gonna, I'm gonna lose my baby / So I always keep a bottle near."

4. "Baby Got Back" by Sir Mix-A-Lot

Most offensive lyrics: "I wanna get you home / And ugh, double-up, ugh, ugh / I ain't talkin' bout Playboy / 'Cause silicone parts are made for toys."

5. "Ignition" by R. Kelly

Most offensive lyrics: "I'm bout to take my key and stick it in the ignition."

6. "If U Seek Amy" by Britney Spears

Most offensive lyrics: "All of the boys and all of the girls are begging to if you seek Amy." (Translation: F-U-C-K me)

7. "Wasn't Me" by Shaggy

Most offensive lyrics: "Honey came in and she caught me red-handed creeping with the girl next door / Picture this, we were both butt naked banging on the bathroom floor."

8. "Like a Virgin" by Madonna

Most offensive lyrics: "Like a virgin, ooh, ooh / Like a virgin / Feels so good inside / When you hold me, and your heart beats, and you love me."

9. "Milkshake" by Kelis

Most offensive lyrics: "My milkshake brings all the boys to the yard/ And they're like, 'It's better than yours' / Damn right it's better than yours / I can teach you but I have to charge."

10. Anything by Ke$ha

Exhibit A: "Before I leave brush ma teeth with a bottle of Jack / 'Cuz when I leave for the night I ain't comin' back." -- "Tik Tok"

Exhibit B: "I don't care what people say / The rush is worth the price I pay / I get so high when you're with me / But crash and crave you when you leave." -- "Your Love Is My Drug"

Have you ever been horrified by a song you heard your child sing?

Image via ReneS/Flickr

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5 Things '80s Kids Did Growing Up That Our Children Will Never Understand

donderdag 18 juli 2013

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota
by Jenny Isenman 3 hours ago in Big Kid

I recently made a list of crazy things Gen Xers used growing up that are completely antiquated now. It reminded me of conversations I had with my relatives, when I was a child, where they told these fantastical tales about things my generation would never experience. Like, walking 20 miles to school ... in the snow ... uphill ... shoeless. Or running into gypsy bandits that lived in the woods near their house or even sitting around the radio to listen to your favorite shows.

As crazy as all of that sounded (exaggeration and all), I'm pretty sure the things I grew up doing as a Gen Xer wouldn't sound much less abnormal to my own offspring. And so, I imagine these are the yarns I will spin as my kids grow up.

"Well, youngin's, you think you've got it tough with your Facebook and your Google and your iParaphernalia? Why, in my day, we had to ..."

1.) Work a car with our own two hands. Sure, people in the old old days didn't have automatic transitions, or steering for that matter, but do you know what my generation had to do? We had to pull up the locks with our fingers!!! And that's not all, if you wanted a breeze or to let out an odor or some cigarette smoke (oh, everyone smoked in my day, even the kids), you had to turn a crank around and around and around to simply open the window a crack. And don't get me started on positioning the seat!

Also, there was no guarantee you would make it out alive as seat belts were merely suggested and you were allowed to sleep along the back ledge or sit in the front seat by the time you were talking. Not that you had a proper car seat leading up to that point anyway. No, the only thing between you and a windshield was your mom's outstretched arm. Thanks mom.

2.) Turn the channel. Oh kids ... you think rolling down the window seemed exhausting? Try lumbering over to the television. EVERY TIME you want to change the channel. I kid you not, the channels were located on the set ... and there were only 13 of them! And only like four of them had programs! And sometimes you had to walk to the TV across shag carpets that shocked you as you shuffled! And you HAD to watch all the commercials! And if the show you were watching didn't get good reception, you may have to adjust the bunny ears! Or just stand there and hold them for the duration of the show, because the TV inevitably worked better when you were touching (or near) the bunny ears to ensure you never got to sit back down. No, I am not referring to the stupid V you make behind people with your fingers when you photo bomb them!!! Sheesh, forget it. Why don't you just go watch the Disney Channel on your phone or something?

3.) Put a needle on the record. Sooooo, they used to have these big round things called records. Maybe you've seen one in a YouTube video where someone is DJ'ing. They were like supersized CDs. I'm sorry, you don't know what that is, um, DVDs. Sure, we can say Blu-rays. Anyhoo, you had an arm with a needle that had to be placed on the record to play a song, but you had to be so careful when you put it on because the slightest pressure could scratch the whole thing. You know, like the way you have to use your Sonicare -- gently and let it do all the work? Now, if you were really adept at record playing, you could find the right groove for any song you wanted to hear. Oh, and you know how your speakers are the size of a pin head? Mine were the size of furniture. In fact, they took up most of my room. In fact, one speaker doubled as my bedside table and the other speaker doubled ... as my bed.

4.) Use a map. Maps were how we pretty much got anywhere far or got lost trying. You see, we didn't have those fancy shmancy GPS systems that feature maps, log traffic, and offer alternate routes. No, we had massive papers that seemed to keep unfolding and unfolding and unfolding with tons of tiny lines on them that remind me of the backs of my once sexy legs. We had to use our fingers to plot the lines that would get us there. You could lose your place in the blink of an eye. It was harrowing.

Yep you're right, it is kinda like Google Maps except no automated voice or pop-ups alert you when to turn and if you've gotten off-course. That's what people who worked in gas stations in the middle of nowhere were for!

5.) Look things up manually. See, we didn't have a massive database like the Internet at our fingertips. No, we read things that were made from trees. They called those things books and there was a whole section of them that were considered references. They included things like dictionaries, encyclopedias and thesauruses ... thesarii? Damnit, I'll have to Google the plural of thesaurus later, but you get the point. 

We found these reference sections in places called libraries where a man named Dewey Decimal was king. There we didn't buy books, we simply shared them with other people and got their book cooties. We even got information for reports and school papers from these books. In fact, I once got an encyclopedia set for a birthday present (yeah, we didn't get fun things back then because knowledge was expensive). Anyhoo, Nana (my mom) bought it in two installments -- the first half and second half of the alphabet. But we couldn't afford the second half, because like I said, encyclopedias were like a million dollars and do you know what happened? In sixth grade, I had to do a report on Switzerland and I failed because I only had A through M.

Damn you Jane Lewis for getting Madagascar!

So, don't come crying to me when you forget to charge your iPad or a lightning storm affects the satellite TV because, now you see how tough we had it growing up.

What things did you do growing up that would make your children laugh?

Image via Denej/Flickr

Filed Under: safety, internet, technology, your kid asked what, aging, trends, blogs, electronics, humor, mommy bloggers, my generation, cars, apple, cameras, cell phone, communication, computer, gadgets ABOUT THE AUTHOR Jenny Isenman

Jenny Isenman, AKA Jenny From the Blog, is an 80’s obsessed mom, who has no idea where all these wrinkles came from and why she can’t hand something to her kids in the car without pulling a muscle! FB her, Tweet her, Laugh at with her, Pin her (not in a voodoo kinda way)

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6 Things Moms Will NEVER Do While Their Kids Are Still Babies

dinsdag 16 juli 2013

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota
by Nicole Fabian-Weber 2 hours ago

While there really is nothing better than having a baby, let's get real here: It can be kind of restricting. You hear it a million times when you're pregnant, how different things are going to be after having a child, but you really can't grasp it until you actually, physically, have a baby. They're so, so cute, but life as you knew it is over.

Well, at least for a while.

Here are 6 things moms of babies can kiss goodbye. Don't worry, it won't always be this hard.

1. Sleep in. Obvious? Yes. But I can't write a list like this and not include it. You will never sleep in again! Okay, there will be times when your partner takes care of the babe while you catch up on sleep, but if you think you're in for a leisurely cup of coffee and the paper when you wake up, you're sorely mistaken, friend. Sowwy.

2. Relax on a vacation. I want you to get a nice picture in your head of the last childless vacation you took -- because that, for a long time, will be the last relaxing vacation you took.

3. Take a vacation. Hell, depending on who you are and your baby's temperament, you might not even be taking vacations. Again, sowwy.

4. Be able to spend time "getting ready". "Getting ready" now means throwing on whatever's clean and putting your hair in a bun. May I suggest showering and picking out clothes at night, for those of you who "care what you look like"?

5. Having an uninterrupted adult conversation (when baby's awake). When your baby is asleep, talk away! But when she's up, it isn't quite that simple. When you have a baby or a young toddler, you have to be ready for a fall or a spill at all times. You know the moms at the park who sit on the bench and chat while their kids play? Yeah, you're not quite there yet.

6. Care about any of the above. The sleep thing can be a bit unnerving, but you have a baby! What's better than that?!

What things do you no longer do now that you have a baby?

Image via Nicole Fabian-Weber

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