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August 26, 2008
Vusion Ointment
As moms, we’ve all been there. We change the baby, we keep on top of the diapers, and yet, still, we deal with diaper rash. Moms certainly don’t need any help with feeling the "mom guilt," but anytime diaper rash shows up on our babies’ butts, bam! There it is…more mom guilt. What worse is that sometimes this diaper rash can also have a yeast infection with it. No fun for baby, and no fun for mom.
The people at www.MomCentral.com hooked me up with some information on a new diaper rash ointment that treats diaper rash with an associated yeast infection-it’s called Vusion. Vusion ointment is a prescription ointment to rid mom’s of that good old mom guilt. Well, actually it’s for your baby’s butt. No one likes to see their little one uncomfortable, and Vusion can help that.
You can get a coupon right now for some money off of the prescription fee…it’s a great deal and a great way to help your baby feel better! Check it out.
For the great information on their website, the coupon, and to rid mom’s of some extra mom guilt, Vusion gets a
August 25, 2008
Mama PhD
When I started graduate school for a Masters in Literature, I was working my first career in retail management. I was working 60+ hours a week managing a high-end shoe store. I was on my feet all day in very cool shoes, dealing with spoiled, rich women and making not much more than minimum wage. While this job was, in fact, quite rewarding and a great foundation for all jobs I have had since, I looked forward to doing what I loved most-reading, studying, and discussing literature. I was proud of myself for working so many hours a day while taking two literature classes. (One semester, I had both the Victorian Novel and The Rise of the Novel (18th Century)-we read one novel per week and if you’ve read any Victorian or 18th novels, you know that this was an insane amount of reading to do!) While I couldn’t spend the time on campus I would have liked, I worked hard at my studies. But to my classmates, this wasn’t enough. They were all full-time students living off of their student loan money. They spent every day on campus, in the library, at the coffee shop, at the little dive bar down the street. I joined them when I could, but these times were rare. So, I was snubbed. I wasn’t "dedicated enough." Because I chose to live and study in the real world instead of the utopic and untouched world of the scholar, I was deemed not good enough, not smart enough, and not committed enough. While I dealt with this by feeling angry, in reality I was hurt and jealous.
What did I do? I finished my Masters and instead of moving onto the doctoral program, I began work on Masters in Secondary Education. Here I studied with others who worked full-time, were parents, and were still committed to being lifelong learners. Here I was accepted. Here is where I belonged. I have never regretted that decision, but at times, I am still infuriated that I was edged out because I supported myself outside of academia.
My story is not unusual. In Mama PhD: Women Write about Motherhood and Academic Life, I read essay after essay of similar experiences and feelings toward the wonderful world of higher education. In this collection of essays, women explore their role in educational institutions and their role as mothers. Overwhelmingly, the two don’t seem to mix. Many of these writers have made it work, but it hasn’t been easy. Others put their career first and got tenure, but have to give up the dream of having children. Most comment that the way colleges and universities are set up, as patriarchies, there is no room for women pursuing children, just women pursuing tenure. Scholarship. publications, and teaching duties are the only measurement for success.
At times, these essays enraged me… women who are mothers, the world’s best multi-taskers, are made to feel like failures because they choose to procreate. At times these essays inspired me…hearing the tales of those who have done it, who have laughed in the face of these archaic institutions and said, "screw you!" At times, it just made me sad that there even has to be this discussion.
This was a great collection of essays. Heartfelt and poignant personal tales of women, mothers and scholars. Some have chosen one role over the other and some manage both despite the opposition. All of these women inspire me for their candor. Over the past year I have often thought about going back to get that PhD. Mama PhD has proved that I can do this…and I’m thinking I just might.
Mama PhD: Women Write about Motherhood and Academic Life edited by Elrena Evans and Caroline Grant deserves a:
August 20, 2008
The Dangerous Days of Daniel X
I am not generally a reader of young adult literature. It takes a very good book for me to get interested and involved. When I agreed to review "The Dangerous Days of Daniel X" by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge, I was skeptical about how much I would like it.
The book was written with the intent to interest boys in reading. Patterson has a 10-year old son and set out to excite him with his writing.
I’m be honest. I finished reading the first chapter or two wondering how much I could possibly get into this book. I like Daniel X,
the main character, immensely. He’s a sassy character who doesn’t take any nonsense. He’s likable from the start, but the story involved crazy alien things. I didn’t know how into crazy alien things I could get.
By the time I finished the 4th or 5th chapter, I was hooked. I didn’t care if there were crazy alien people. Daniel X was a character that I wanted to get to know better. I finished the book in only two nights of reading. It was one of those books that made me sacrifice sleep. When I was finished with the book, I felt like emailing Patterson and Ledwidge and asking when the next Daniel X book was scheduled to be released (I found out Fall 2009 and frankly, that’s too far away).
Boys will like this book; girls will like this book (and so will their parents). The chapters are short and manageable, extremely kid friendly. The only problem with the book is that each chapter entices you so much to read the next one that you just can’t put the book down.
If you’re looking for a book that mixes action with an extremely likable and fun character, "The Dangerous Days of Daniel X" is a book that you should read. To purchase the book, go here.
BBM gives "The Dangerous Days of Daniel X". . .
August 15, 2008
The Banana Splits
I was at lunch the other day with my friend and my goddaughter. I mentioned that I was reviewing a new show for this site, casually mentioning the show’s name. "The Banana Splits?!" shrieked my friend. "I LOVE the Banana Splits." Uh, yeah, never heard of them myself.
I came home and asked the husband if he knew them…of course he did. Apparently, I was the only kid born in the early 70’s who did not see re-runs of this popular 60’s show. Do you know of them?
If you do know the 60’s show, you will be delighted to hear that The Banana Splits are coming back to television starting on September 2nd. The main characters are -Fleegle, a dog, Drooper, a lion, Bingo, a gorilla, and Snorky, an elephant. These costumed characters play catchy music and tell lots of jokes perfect for that preschooler through early elementary aged child.
Better yet, The Banana Splits have joined the technological world and have launched their own website www.bananasplits.com . Before I even had a chance to check it out, I busted my husband watching music videos and playing games with our four year old nowhere in sight. Of course, I made fun of him, but later, I spent some time on there myself. It’s pretty cute!
I think The Banana Splits are going to entertain this new generation for many years. With so many parents who already have heard of them (except of course me who was raised under a rock…), this show has a great chance of making it big. Do I smell a product line at toy stores?
For wholesome quality and a chance to reminisce your own childhood, I give The Banana Splits a:
August 15, 2008
The Banana Splits
Everything old is new again. The other day, I was watching a fall fashion show on TV and they said that bell bottoms are back. All I know is that some things that make a comeback are good, but others are most certainly not, stirrup pants for example.
Along with the trends in fashion, there’s another group of things seeing a resurgence. Any parent can walk through the toy stores now and see tons of toys that are similar to when we were growing up.
Now there’s a musical group to bring it all back as well. If you weren’t around in the 60’s, you won’t remember them. I wasn’t either so it’s all new to me and it will be to your kids too. "The Banana Splits" are a costumed rock band that sing catchy songs, tell silly jokes and have an all-around good time.
Starting September 1st, "The Banana Splits" will make their debut on The Cartoon Network with brand new comedy shorts featured Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. All of their songs and comedy shorts are kid friendly and parent approved.
My girls spent some time on the site and the music is the type that gets stuck in your head. Because it’s not super annoying kid music, but more reminiscent of a day gone by, it’s something that both parents and kids can enjoy. There are also games that can be played, such as the coaster game where you choose your character and maneuver through a roller coaster ride with help from some computer keys.
If your child is a jokester, they’ll enjoy phoning in their favorite jokes that could get picked for the site. There are also secret codes to decode and a fan mail section where kids can pose a question and see it answered in a Fan Mail Video. If your kids are super into the "Splits," they can join the free club with a printable membership certificate and no other requirements.
The only negative about the site is that it is very busy. While you’re listening to one song, the website music is playing in the background and that was a little too much overstimulation for me. I’m sure there’s probably a way to turn the website music off, but I couldn’t figure it out. The button on the top didn’t seem to work, at least not for me. While a little annoying to me, Big I didn’t seem to mind at all. She’s one who likes constant noise. But don’t take her word; go check it out for yourself.
Overall, "The Banana Splits" offer a friendly and fun kid alternative that will be a welcome addition to The Cartoon Network and to your home computer.
BBM gives "The Banana Splits". . .
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