Jcrew Fenton-Fallon Necklace

Remember that lovely bow bracelet I wrote about the other day, well JCrew has a very similar necklace by Fenton-Fallon. And it only costs $295, so I don't understand why the less amazing bracelet is $198. But the necklace is so pretty. Too bad it too big for my petite frame. So I will continue to wait for the bracelet to go on sale.

Video of Chance Combs

Diddy's secret baby isn't so secret anymore. The little cutie has made her YouTube debut singing a Christmas carol. She looks so much like her little sisters, if you can call a few months younger "little sisters". But that isn't their fault. I hope the three of them don't become the Hilton sisters in fifteen years or so.

First Photos Of Poor Little Mason Dash

Thank God, that Kourtney Kardashian didn't name her newborn store after her son. Dash was her father's nickname. It is short for Kardashian. I know this because she is on the cover of this week's Life & Style magazine with little Mason Dash. At least she waited a whole week to have his photos taken, unlike Kendra Wilkinson who whored her baby out the moment they got him home from the hospital.

Anthropologie Toasted Meringue Cuff

I'm waiting for this bracelet to go on sale. I love it...but not quite enough to spend a $198.

Curio Avventura Stroller

Here is another stroller that will probably never see America's shores. Designed for a densely populated urban country, the Curio Avventura is narrow enough to fit through a Japanese subway ticket gate. And it is a stroller designed for parents who aren't driving huge SUVs, it can fit in the back of a small car.

There is a normal version of the stroller, the A and a sports version, the R. By replacing the front wheels the Avventura R can be used off road, as a jogger, or as a bicycle trailer.

 

The stroller comes in four different frame colors: black, yellow, orange, and olive green with a choice of a black or grey seat. Sooner or later you will be able to purchase the seats in additional covers. It is rather unusual that a stroller has more color options for the frame than the seat, but the yellow and black reminds me of Bumblebee from Transformers.

 

I think the stroller is perfect, but others may find a few problems with it. The seat doesn't seem to recline, so it can only be used after the baby can sit well on its own. Curio is recommending it for kids 6months to 3 years. And the handle seems fixed at 940mm (about 37inches). Not so great if you are tall. And there is no cupholder. But the tubing is a lightweight 22mm alluminum bicycle pipe, so you can use bicycle accessories. So add your own cupholder, lights, or even one of those cute bicycle bells.

The stroller will cost 69,000 yen ($755) for the type A and 78,000 yen ($854)for the type R.  The Curio Avventura will be available in Japan in early 2010.

Happy Christmas

Alma

This a cute little short film about a naughty little girl's adventure in a doll shop. It's a little creepy, but not in a scary way.

Alma from Rodrigo Blaas on Vimeo.

Tonight's Teen Mom Preview

MTV has a bit of a double standard. They wouldn't show Snooki from Jersey Shore getting hit (Even though everybody had already seen it.), but we get to watch Amber slap Gary up side his head.


Amber is ten times more mature than Gary, and he she has every right to be upset with him. But if MTV showed him hitting Amber everyone would be screaming about domestic violence. Gary needs to clean up his act or Amber will grow tired of his butt and leave. But Amber shouldn't be hitting him especially in front of their daughter.

And another thing I have wondered about. Why are these girls' parents so accepting of them having sex with guys 4 or 5 years older than their daughters? If your 15 year-old is dating a twenty year old don't be surprised if she turns up pregnant.

Pretty Boxes

I never knew that the Twelve Days of Christmas came after Christmas (26 Dec-6 Jan). The Twelve Days of Christmas Kit was inspired by a San Francisco family's tradition of hanging little boxes filled with gifts on the Christmas tree. The kit comes with everything needed to hang 12 heirloom quality boxes, a booklet describing the history of the 12 Days of Christmas, a gift givers guide, and a handy card to carry with you to see if a gift will fit in the box.

If the $70 kit isn't in your budget, you can always do the same thing with almost any tiny gift box or bag.

And don't you just love the little boxes hung over the fireplace.

Candied Orange Slices

This is the project that just wouldn't end. It took four hours to cook three large oranges in a large oval skillet. I think i would have given up in a normal skillet.

I can't wait to serve the candied oranges with chocolate ice cream. But I don't think I will be making them again. It just took too long.

Susan Powell's Husband May Be Arrested Soon

Family members say they wouldn't be surprised if Joshua Powell gets arrested in the disappearance of his wife, missing Utah mom Susan Powell.

Relatives of Joshua Powell spoke out as police in West Valley City said they now believe foul play is a "likely possibility" in her disappearance. Police say they now consider Powell a person of interest in the case.

"I wouldn't be surprised if he gets arrested in the next seven days," Joshua Powell's brother-in-law Kirk Graves told ABC News. "Even if he's innocent, there's more than he's telling us."

West Valley City Assistant Chief Craig Black told "Good Morning America" today that it was a "likely possibility" that Susan Powell's disappearance involved foul play.

"Josh's reasons for not wanting to approach the police department or come and work with us in a little more forthcoming manner have kind of generated some controversy among the officers," Black said. '"And it's something that's been questioned by the community members who have been following the case."

Powell has refused to answer direct questions and, police said, he would not take investigators to the remote camp site where he told police he tooks his two young sons in the middle of the night of Dec. 7, the last day Susan Powell was seen alive.

During the interview Tuesday with his lawyer present, Powell responded to basic questions about the clothes his wife was wearing and what her jewelry looked like, Black said, but even after being reminded that this was in the best interest of his wife, Joshua Powell refued to answer "hard, direct questions."

He declined to elaborate on exactly what questions Powell would not answer.

Black said the case is still considered a search for a missing person, but are preparing for a criminal investigation.

"All the leads at this point indicate that this is where it will end up going," he said.

Graves told ABC News that he has known Powell for 15 years and that while he's never seen him get violent with his wife, he can be controlling. The family's commitment lays more with Susan than Joshua right now, he said, but they will continue to support him and hold out hope for Susan's safety.

"For Susan's sake he needs to really open up and talk to everybody," Graves said. "People will listen to him."

Powell's attorney, noted Salt Lake City criminal defense lawyer Scott C. Williams, has denied that his client has been uncooperative and that the only reason Powell is the focus is because of intense pressure on police to solve the case.

Powell failed to show up for a scheduled interview with investigators on Monday, and on Tuesday answered only a handful of detectives' questions, West Valley City Police Capt. Tom McLachlan said.

The captain said that Powell's attorney has made statements that would lead the public to think he's served up his client to police "on a silver platter," but McLachlan said Powell would only answer a few of the investigators' questions.

Powell, he said, "is not fully cooperating, and while he's cooperating at some level it is certainly not the level we would like."

Black noted that at this point, the Powells' neighbors have been more helpful in answering questions than Joshua Powell has.
source

Christmas Decorating Ideas

Here are more Christmas decorating ideas that I have clipped.

You don't have to have a huge tree to make an impact.

 

I think this a project I will do with my boys during Winter break.

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I love the candy canes.

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Mama &Papas Mylo

You can now preorder the Mamas & Papas Mylo for a March delivery. The base price for the stroller and carrycot is £695. And the website has this fun interface where you build the exact color combination that you want.
Update: It seems the company has given Gwen Stefani one early. I think it was a big mistake. Because she has been seen pushing her oldest son in it, and he looks all cramped in it. Not the look you are going for with a luxury stroller.

New Alice In Wonderland Trailer

Alice in Wonderland Trailer #2 in HD

Trailer Park | MySpace Video

David Goldman Will Have Son Returned From Brazil

A Brazilian court ordered Wednesday that 9-year-old Sean Goldman be returned to the custody of his father, David, in the United States, but his Brazilian relatives were expected to try to block the order, a Brazilian official said.
Outside his home in New Jersey, David Goldman told reporters he was heartened by the news, but would not consider his efforts successful until he and his son are reunited. He departed Wednesday night on a flight from John F. Kennedy International Airport for Rio de Janeiro.
"I'm hopeful," he said. "I can't be optimistic because I've gone down there so many times, always under the guise that the rule of law will be followed and Sean will come home to me and his family, and that doesn't happen."
The 3-0 ruling by the Federal Regional Tribunal in Rio de Janeiro upheld a June decision by the 16th Federal Court in Rio, which ordered Sean returned to his home in New Jersey in accordance with the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of Child Abductions.

But a Brazilian official with knowledge of the case predicted Wednesday's order would be appealed. So far, the boy's Brazilian family has filed 40 appeals, most of them procedural but one substantive.

The Brazilian high court is to take up any appeal on Thursday, said Rep. Chris Smith, R-New Jersey, who has been pressing the case for his constituent. "Frankly, every possible nuance has been appealed by the other side," he told CNN's "Situation Room." "Remember, this is an abducting family, they're kidnappers, but they have had a great deal of sway with the court."
The Supreme Court could still allow Sean Goldman to be returned to his father in the United States while it decides any appeal.
Goldman, a former model, said he had last spoken with his son in June, but they did not discuss the custody battle.
The case began in 2004, when his wife, Bruna Bianchi, took their 4-year-old son from their home in New Jersey to Rio de Janeiro for what was to have been a two-week vacation. She never returned, instead remarrying there and retaining custody of their son. She died last year in childbirth.
Goldman has argued that, as the sole surviving parent, he should be granted custody. But the boy's stepfather and his other Brazilian relatives have argued that it would be traumatizing to the boy to remove him from what has been his home for most of his life.
The case has drawn high-profile input, including pressure for the boy's return from Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who said Wednesday in a statement that she was pleased to hear about the decision.

"We appreciate the assistance and cooperation of the government of Brazil in upholding its obligations under the Hague Convention on International Child Abduction," she said. "And it is my hope that this long legal process is now complete and that the Goldman family will be reunited quickly."

source

Where Is Susan Powell?

Utah authorities say they suspect foul play may be involved in the disappearance of a 28-year-old mother.West Valley City Asst. Police Chief Craig Black says Susan Powell's disappearance is so out of character that it's now a criminal investigation.
Powell was reported missing Dec. 7 when she didn't show up to work and her two children were not dropped off at day care.
Her husband, Josh Powell, says he went camping with their boys, ages 2 and 4, in subfreezing temperatures about 12:30 a.m. that day and returned in the evening.
Black says Josh Powell has been uncooperative in providing any details that might explain what happened to his wife. Black says Josh Powell also hasn't specified where he went camping.
He has not been named a suspect.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The husband of a missing Utah woman has complied with a police request to submit a DNA sample, his attorney said Wednesday.
Josh Powell provided West Valley City police with DNA on Tuesday, which is routine in missing persons investigations, Scott Williams said.
"On the possibility that some DNA of some evidentiary value is ultimately obtained, the police need a DNA profile from as many people as possible," he said.
Police have said Josh Powell is not a suspect in the disappearance of his wife, Susan Powell, who was reported missing Dec. 7 when she didn't show up to work and her two children were not dropped off at day care.
Josh Powell has told police he went camping with their boys, ages 2 and 4, in subfreezing temperatures about 12:30 a.m. that day and returned in the evening.
Investigators said they haven't been able to verify the camping trip because snow has covered the site — Simpson Springs on the historic Pony Express Trail in Utah's west desert.
Police Chief Thayle Nielsen told KSTU-TV that authorities have a "strong interest" in Josh Powell but he did not elaborate. Asst. Police Chief Craig Black did not immediately return a message left Wednesday.
Authorities have provided few details on their investigation into Susan Powell's disappearance, although they have termed it "suspicious." The Powell home was locked when officers initially arrived and they broke in, fearing the family had suffered from carbon monoxide poisoning.
Susan Powell's father, Charles Cox, said police found a wet spot in the home being dried by two fans, but police have declined to comment on that.
Investigators said there were no signs of forced entry at the home and they found Susan Powell's purse and cell phone there.
Susan Powell was last seen by someone other than her husband on Dec. 6 — a family friend who ate dinner with her at the couple's home following church.
Friends and family said it would be out of character for Susan Powell to leave her two children and not contact anyone.

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Elin Nordegren Isn't Wearing Her Wedding Ring

Tiger Woods wife, Elin Nordegren was seen out and about with her children, without her wedding ring. Maybe she just forgot to put it on. But she did manage to remember to put on the rest of her jewelry.

Hank Baskett IV

He isn't even a week old, but mom Kendra Wilkinson already has baby Hank pimped out to a magazine. Ok Magazine must have been waiting for the family when they came home from the hospital. He's still wearing his hospital bracelet.  At least he's really cute.
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Some Of My Favorite Christmas Decorating Ideas

Over the next few days I'm going to try and post some of the Christmas decorating ideas that I have clipped over the years. I will start with the photos that I don't have source information for. If anybody knows where these photos came from leave the information in the comment section so I can post it.

 

 

Celebrities Have Been Having Babies Left And Right This Week

Every pregnant celebrity seems to have given birth this week.

Update: Not one to be left out of a crowd Kourtney Kardashian has given birth.
14 Dec Kourtney Kardashian and her creep, Scott Disick: Mason Dash, 7lbs 6oz. They gave that poor child the name of her boutique. They will be pimping out photos any minute now.

13 Dec Barrett and Joey McIntyre (of New Kids On The Block): Rhys Edward, 7lbs 10oz.

11 Dec Kendra Wilkinson and Hank Baskett: A boy, Hank Randall Baskett IV. 9lbs 5oz


10 Dec Michelle Duggar:  Josie Brooklyn 1lb 6oz. Little Josie was a preemie. Maybe this is her body's way of saying 19 babies are too many. And hopefully the name isn't a sign that they are going Hollywood. They wouldn't want to turn into the Gosselins.


9Dec Gisele Bundchen and Tom Brady: A boy. No details on this one. They didn't have a baby to get free publicity, so they seem to be keeping the details private.


Expect Kourtney Kardashian to give birth any day now. She probably doesn't want to anybody else getting the publicity. But if she was really smart, she'll be crossing those legs tight.  She won't get much press if she gives birth right now. Not with Michelle's preemie and Gisele's mystery baby. But I will be glad to see her out of all that brightly colored spandex. Nobody expects her to wear a tent, but her look is not cute.

The Magic Clock

I don't know why know why someone hasn't thought of this before. The Magic Clock is a clock that uses Twitter to tell the location of family members. It's like Mrs.Weasley's clock from Harry Potter. Unfortunately this thing isn't for sale, because it's what I want for Christmas.

Christmas Gift Idea

I'm not one of those parents who refuses to let their kids play with brightly colored plastic toys that make noise. I could live without the noise, but I know that the world isn't going to end if a toy isn't wooden and educational. But I still don't understand why Hasbro's Transformer's Revenge of the Fallen Construction Devastator is so popular. Sure it's a huge Transformer made up of six smaller Transformers, but those Transformers don't have individual robot modes. And you know that it's going to be hard for the average kid to put together.It also costs like $100.

But did my kid ask for it? Yes. And did I buy it? Yes. And it wasn't easy to find. But I found it at the second Target I went to, it was sold out online. And it only was $80. Do I feel like I paid too much? Of course. I think that Hasbro should have marketed this thing more toward fanboy collectors and not to children, who are usually broke due to the fact that they are just children after all.

I will write a review after the wee tyrant plays with on Christmas morning.

Caylee Anthony Update 11 December

A Florida mother charged with killing her 2-year-old daughter sobbed in court Friday as a prosecutor speculated aloud that the toddler was methodically drugged and suffocated with tape.
Casey Anthony cried as prosecutor Jeff Ashton suggested that Caylee Anthony's killer restrained her arms, dosed her with something that knocked her unconscious and put duct tape over her mouth and nose.
Ashton offered the scenario when explaining why he believes the case would qualify for the death penalty.
"Her killer would prepare some substance in advance that would render her physically unable to resist," said Ashton during the pretrial hearing. "If the killer looked at her face, maybe the killer saw her eyes ... First one piece (of tape), then two, then three so that no breath was possible."
The cause of Caylee's death remains unknown, but duct tape was found on the body.
Ashton offered the scenario in response to a defense request to bar prosecutors from seeking the death penalty.
Circuit Judge Stan Strickland said he would rule later.
Because the cause of death is still unknown, prosecutors are unable to prove that she suffered a heinous, cruel or atrocious death, which is the standard under Florida law for seeking the death penalty, said Andrea Lyon, one of Anthony's attorneys.
"The real reason the state has asked for the death penalty is because they wish to get as biased a jury as they possibly can," Lyon said. "It has the effect of coercing pleas in cases where that may in fact not be appropriate."
Anthony's attorneys contend that jurors in death-penalty cases, who are screened to eliminate those with moral objections to capital punishment, are more likely to convict defendants. The defense also says the threat of the death penalty could be used to coerce Anthony into making a plea agreement.
Anthony has pleaded not guilty and her trial is expected to start next year.

 source

Seed Pli Stroller

The Seed Pli kind of reminds me of strollers from the early 80s. But made with lightweight materials. The Pli is sleek and minimalist in a way that is very Danish. The pushchair converts from a carrycot to a seat. There is a collapsible frame, the wheels fold, and the handle adjusts for parent comfort.  And you have a choice of fixed or swivel wheels.

It also comes with the usual range of accessories. But if you live in a snowy area take heart. One of the Pli's accessories is a set of skis that attach to the wheels.


£799-839

Rose In Winter

This photo of a frost covered rose from my garden. Tuesday morning everything was covered in ice. The frost covered edges of the rose remind me of frayed silk.

Farrah From MTVs Teen Mom

Sometimes it is easy to forget that MTV covers serious subjects, especially since they are also currently promoting Shore House. But the show Teen Moms is exactly that, a hip look at a serious subject. After years of declines the teen birth rate is once again on the rise. (I wonder if it has to do with the downturn in the economy. Does it have anything to do with less funding for teen pregnancy prevention programs.) I was able to interview Farrah. She came across as a smart, well spoken girl. Which shows you that teen pregnancy can happen to anyone. She was a nice cheerleader from a good Christian family with two parents. If it can happen to her, it can happen to anyone.


How are you managing to balancing parenthood and being a teenager?
For me, I think I am balancing being a teenager and a mother great. And I am glad that you asked that because that's a big topic.

How is your relationship with your mother? Do you find that she is more overprotective since Sophia's birth?
I think my mom is more wanting to help since Sophia's birth. She's not as overprotective in the way of like, everyday life. But with the whole dating thing, yeah, she got a little out of control.

Farrah's mom deserves a show all her own. But saying that she got a little out of control is one of life's great understatements. She is involved in a way that you don't see the other mother's involved. Maybe it's because Farrah is still at home. But you know that she will do her best to make sure that her granddaughter's needs are put first. 

How is the dating going?
I would say it's on a downhill.
I've been there.
Yes, I think every woman's been there. And being a mom doesn't make it easier.

The boy, Cole that she is dating on the show a hottie. He has movie star good looks. Have a look at the clip below.


What were you thinking when your mother told Cole, "We would love you to go to heaven with all of us"?
What was I thinking? Oh my, I was thinking...I don't know. I don't even know what I was thinking at that moment. What would your mom say? Like, you know, if you were there and your mom said that to a guy you were dating or possibly or getting married to.

This may be one of the most entertaining moments I saw on television all year. It's kind of like closing the barn door after all the horses are out, but funny. Of course, if it were happening to me I would die of shame.

I think I would die of embarrassment. 
That's what I was.
The look on your face, it was just a look of shock.
It was, because I was in very big shock. And I had to talk to Cole about God and everything. Oh my. I still wonder what is going through his mind, you know.


Has Sophia's father tried to be involved?
Um, that's not something I am going to comment on.

I wouldn't have asked this question if I had read the rumors first. It seems that Sophia's rumored father died in an car accident before her birth.

What was your experience on the show?
I would like to just say that I had a great experience. And I hope everyone likes the show because I know everyone is excited. And I hope they learn from me.

So you haven't had people acting negatively to you since the show?
You know everyone has there own opinion. But for the most part, you know, I've been hearing positive things, and you know...educating things. So it's been great.

I found your episode of the show to be more realistic than some of the others.
Well, thank you. I hope... It is real. So I hope people really take that into account and learn from it so that they don't make wrong choices for their own lives. 

What would you do if Sophia came to you at sixteen and told you she was pregnant?
I would say, "Did you not learn anything from me?"


You can find Farrah's Twitter Page here. I'm not positive it is the real one, but I will contact the show's publicist to find out. And watch the show. Everyone I showed the first episode to loved it. And I didn't just show it to teenagers. I showed it to my mother and grandmother.  I showed it to my sons, 16 and 10. Anything to make sure they don't get some girl pregnant. It's not a preachy program at all, but it isn't making teen motherhood look glamorous either. Watch Tuesday at 9PM on MTV.

Another Christmas Card

Blue Note Press' Very Merry Christmas cards. $15 for a set of 8.

Lil Wayne A Father Again

I know stories of Lil Wayne welcoming a new baby are getting old, but Nivea gave birth November 30th. The little boy was named Neal Carter. Kind of reminds me of Nell Carter, but at least they didn't give the poor boy some crazy Hollywood name. Wayne's other baby mama's tweeted their congratulations on the new arrival, because as crazy as the situation is they know to behave like adults (at least in public).

And speaking of Wayne's baby mamas, we finally get to see the mystery baby mama, Sarah and her son. They attended the birthday party of Lil Wayne's only daughter, Reginae.

Wayne, who is due to be sentenced 15 December on gun possession charges, will be in prison soon. So he will get a break from all that baby making. And maybe he has learned a lesson. He doesn't seem to have gotten any women pregnant in almost a year. At least any that the public know about.

Photo source, Freddy O

Christmas Gift Idea

If you haven't been completely turned off of Louboutins by Jennifer Lopez, you may find the Barbie by Christian Louboutin to be the perfect collectible gift. Christian dressed Barbie up as a cat burglar in a black catsuit. I'm so so about the Barbie, but am gaga over the accessories. Barbie comes with four pairs of red soled Christian Louboutins complete with tiny shoe boxes and storage bags. $150

Tiger Issues Apology and Basically Admits To Being A Cheat

Here is a statement that Tiger Woods issued via his official website. And he pretty much comes out and admits that the wholesome family man image was nothing more than an act. I wonder if it has anything with Jamie Grubb, cocktail waitress and VH1 Tool Academy contestant coming forward. She is claiming to have proof that they were doing "it." And claims they started having sex within days of Elin giving birth to her first child. But I'm rambling. Here is his apology.


I have let my family down and I regret those transgressions with all of my heart. I have not been true to my values and the behavior my family deserves. I am not without faults and I am far short of perfect. I am dealing with my behavior and personal failings behind closed doors with my family. Those feelings should be shared by us alone.
Although I am a well-known person and have made my career as a professional athlete, I have been dismayed to realize the full extent of what tabloid scrutiny really means. For the last week, my family and I have been hounded to expose intimate details of our personal lives. The stories in particular that physical violence played any role in the car accident were utterly false and malicious. Elin has always done more to support our family and shown more grace than anyone could possibly expect.
But no matter how intense curiosity about public figures can be, there is an important and deep principle at stake which is the right to some simple, human measure of privacy. I realize there are some who don't share my view on that. But for me, the virtue of privacy is one that must be protected in matters that are intimate and within one's own family. Personal sins should not require press releases and problems within a family shouldn't have to mean public confessions.
Whatever regrets I have about letting my family down have been shared with and felt by us alone. I have given this a lot of reflection and thought and I believe that there is a point at which I must stick to that principle even though it's difficult.
I will strive to be a better person and the husband and father that my family deserves. For all of those who have supported me over the years, I offer my profound apology.

MTV Teen Moms

MTV will be bringing back four of the mothers from their hit show, 16 and Pregnant. And trust me, the first episode shows how unglamorous it is to be a teen mother. We get to watch Farrah, Maci, Amber, and Catelynn juggle taking care of their babies with trying to build lives that hover somewhere between being a teenager and adulthood. The show is good enough that my 91year old grandmother watched and enjoyed it.



Teen Mom premieres on Tuesday, December 8 at 10:00pm ET/PT and will have eight one-hour episodes. And check here on Monday, because I will be interviewing Farrah. Farrah is my favorite, because she reminds me of myself almost two decades ago.

Spoiler: Catelynn and Tyler had unprotected sex after giving up their daughter for adoption!!! I was shocked. I assumed that they would be the one pair that wouldn't make that mistake again. You have to watch Teen Moms, and if you have teenagers make them watch it to. Until next week, you can watch full episodes here.