Discipline & My Children, Part 1

I was fortunate to meet the wonderful and gracious Heidi Murkoff, author of the very well-known "What to Expect When Expecting" series of books.  I just happen to be working the booth for Miralax at the AAP show (American Academy of Pediatrics) in May 2011.  I got my lunch break and decided to shop the floor and see what vendors might be worth visiting.  I saw this teeny-tiny little woman, a lovely site who seemed very interesting to me-she had a entourage; I guess I was needing this woman's advice and she was willing to give it. 

Keep in mind, I do not know who this woman is but that she authored a book of some sort.  I just walked right up to her without any reservation and began to pour out my heart about the current state of my parenting: my year and a half year old twins were hitting, biting, and we'll you name it, they were doing it.  It appalled some of the other parents in the Mommy and Me classes I was involved in back in New York but don't worry I did the right thing, I quickly removed them from the situation and disciplined them later. 

On with the cool Heidi story: when she heard my plight she asked me for a hug and told me it would be alright (and to go to page 167-168 in her new book she was autographing).  No seriously, she told me it could be a call for attention (twins are famous for this), or sensory overload, and just a normal phase of their development.

I was somewhat relieved and then my consciousness kicked in and I was reminded that there were several fans behind me waiting for an autograph.  I quickly moved aside and thanked her for the wisdom and hoped that their behavior would simply STOP.  BTW-I was floored that I received a free copy of her book "What to Expect The Second Year." (grateful)

Eventually the behavior did wane and now it's just an occasional bump or "love hit".   I can relate to that feeling, Patrick and I are like that when it counts the most.  Thanks Heidi for caring more and for sharing your generous wisdom with all of us.  Your book is on the kitchen table for quick reference!!

Review of "One Day" with Anne Hathaway

Has anyone seen this film?  It begins on July 15th (my birthday no less) and revisits that date with the two central characters in the piece, portrayed by Anne Hathaway who gets more gorgeous by the minute and Jim Sturgess, of whom I've never heard.

I convinced my husband to watch this film one uneventful weekday evening and to my surprise I was blown away by the ending (this does not happen often in movies).  My time is limited between my husband, my children, and my dogs, so when I watch a film it needs to be GOOD.  I've never been so inundated with this chase of a love-story in my life, as I was here.

To the actors involved in this film, you deserve an OSCAR just for starring in it.  Your acting was deserving and heart-felt.  What a love-story.  The hook, my birthday.

My 39th birthday at the Vineyards of Hudson Valley

If you haven't seen any of my blogs it's probably because the whole month of July I take off to explore, shop, and visit NYC as much as I can in the summer, partly because it's SUMMER and that's for obvious reasons and ALSO because my birthday falls right in the middle of the month.

I disappear and then I come back.  Sorry I've been out of the loop of things.  Their will be shops to report on, dishes I've created and tried on the grill and decadent surprises that I could not resist.  The New York Hudson Valley area has been good to me. 

Here I am at Palalia Vineyards in Highland Mills, NY.  I always have my closest camp take photos of me like this because I have to show I was there but more important that my children have something more of me-my memories-the happy ones.  It was a great time.

Here is also one of my big purchases from one of my adventures: Wedgwood china in their brown/white pattern.  All I know is that this patina attracts me and I think my Mom gets confused when I approach these pieces.  She grew up with it so she no longer wants the vintage look, the old; she just passed on the love-now it's my turn to appreciate it! I thank her for my birth, for my prize at the Cukoo's Nest and MORE!  I love you Mom!

Summertime Crafts

SUMMERTIME CRAFTS

Summertime is the time to get crazy with CRAFTS and your kids.  If you can't get outside and get messy......but you have a garage...........we'll put it to use instead of parking the cars in it (a novel concept I know).  So it's okay, let your kids go WILD with paint, food coloring and ice cube trays or any other art projects that are collecting dust in their playroom!  It's okay it cleans up with a hose.

My favorite project that is almost as easy as 1-2-3 is painting an old coffee table with chalkboard paint and letting the kids use it as a craft table.  Mine is the perfect height and my girls love using chalk (or crayons, don't worry this washes off too) and finger paint to explore with their hands.  Take an old poster piece of paper (24 x 36) that's in your basement, you know the one with the film JAWS on the front that you can no longer post in your movie room (yeah that one).  We'll turn that movie poster over and you have the perfect canvas for ART!  When my children were finished, I looked at the work of art they created and realized what a beautiful memory I created with them and in Daddy's playroom.  How funny and what a moment too!  They were so proud of themselves and I was too.

Summer Weddings are here!

My wedding is coming up and after countless hours of research I finally found several photos of what I found to be my "perfect wedding."  Burlap runners, floral centerpieces, and mint julep drinks in vintage glasses.  There of course is MORE, more exciting details: my J Crew gown in wispy white and my twin daughters in floral linen dresses; the groom in linen as well with flip flops to top off the casual, laid-back vibe.  The overall look I'm going for here is VINTAGE-Shabby Chic. Last note: our wedding will be held here in August, outside at our home here in New York.  Beautiful,  Serene and Small.

New York weddings, especially in upstate NY are always beautiful and since I'm a native of Maryland, I can have my wedding in New York and get to brag about it-without all the travel involved, at least not on my end anyway.  Cheers!

Children and Manners

Children and manners.  Let me say just this one thing: be their role model.  These little people are sponges and they really are soaking up every word you say.  Recently, my oldest twin (she's only 2.5 years old) murmured "What the heck Mom?" in response to something my husband or I was doing at the time.  I was blown over by this just-in-passing comment.  I thought where did she hear that?  Who did she hear that from?  Where?  When?

At some point, someone in our five person household said it.  It's over now and we are working on the simple things: saying please and thank you to each other, in front of each other and using our "side window".  The side window is that window of opportunity (this takes skill now so be prepared) where you can actually take advantage of your child's imagination and spirit, in a good way of course.  This is what you do: you find another adult close to you or a neighbor or a Mummy friend at a playgroup you go to and YOU, the mother use the words please and thank you with these folks.  This simple act works miracles in your child's mind.  They think Mommy is doing it and I probably should too.  (side window reference: Harvey Karp's Bestseller, The Happiest Toddler on the Block)

Another residual check from this film for ME.  It's unbelievable that after almost seven years I'm still making money off of one teeny tiny part in a movie.  Can you imagine what these HUGE actors make, you know the actors that keep making movie after movie?  People like Tom Cruise, Jennifer Aniston, I don't need to go on.  They are bazillionaires!!! 

In the mail on Friday the check came to like twenty-six dollars and thirty-seven cents!  I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude at that moment because for our family every dollar helps; I also finally felt proud that I did that movie; made it through the treacherous filming and survived my anxiety.  When I look at my family, my girls sleeping peacefully or swimming the doggie-paddle for the first time, I'm GRATEFUL that I did that movie. 

Being an actor was so important to me all those years ago, but now, my greatest performance is within me every day-to touch the lives of my children-to be here for them, to make them smile and  cook them mildy horrible food.  No kidding aside.  I got a chance to be in a movie and to John Strawbridge and Pat Moran and Pat Moran Casting, I am FOREVER GRATEFUL.  Grateful that they coached me through that audition, had patience with me, liked my choices.  I'm also grateful to David Dobkin the Director of the film.  But mostly to David DeBoy, my acting coach who helped me win the role.  I know I sound schmaltzy but had it not been for him, I wouldn't be receiving those residual checks!  

This is me in the make-up trailer with Francisco Perez (left), the hair stylist (right) and Isla Fisher's stand-in (middle) right before we shot the scene.  I remember thinking should I ask to have this photo taken or just make sure I have my lines down.  We'll you know what choice I made.  This photo and the one I took in front of my little trailer were the only ones taken from the Crashers set.  I was very NERVOUS to be in this monumental budget of a movie and just didn't want to mess up-ANYTHING.  But I had to have this photo taken.  They had to work so hard on me-my skin, my hair, not the easiest to make shine and of course, my nose had to be powdered incessantly because I was sweating profusely BECAUSE I WAS NERVOUS!!  It was a viscous cycle.  I just wanted it to all be over with.  I honestly don't know how actors do it.  If your a BIG famous person, then yes I sort of get it, but jeez I was this little woman playing a big actors secretary.  I didn't even know at that time I would playing opposite Vince Vaughn, as a matter of fact, I didn't even know really, who this Mr. Vaughn was!!  Can you believe that?  Hadn't everyone except for me seen the film "Swingers"?  So,  I thought my character was playing opposite Owen Wilson and believe you me, I was okay with that.  (reference: pool party at the Easton Hotel)

There's more to tell about this once-in-a-lifetime experience....later.  In the meantime, thank you for reading and be blessed always.