Commentary
The Stone Roses Mark Time
July/16/2012 01:53 PM
Today a song popped into my head that I haven’t even thought of for over a decade, but I remember it like I last sang it yesterday and I had to find it right away. Not on iTunes, (although it is there), but on the disc I knew I had bought in 1989 and was buried somewhere in a box in my garage. Read More...
Rock Star Votes for Romney
June/30/2012 10:49 PM
Musicians tend to sway towards the Democratic candidates, but Life of a Rock Star is keeping track of which musicians are swayed by the Republican agenda this 2012 presidential election.
Who is voting for Mitt Romney? Read More...
Rock Star Votes for Obama
June/30/2012 09:26 PM
With the election drawing near and things heating up in the presidential race, Life of a Rock Star is keeping an eye on your favorite rock stars to see which candidate they are supporting in the 2012 election.
Who is voting to re-elect President Obama? Read More...
Happy Father's Day Rock Star Dads!
June/17/2012 07:03 PM
Pitbull @PitbullSe que siempre estas con migo... Happy Fathers Day daleeeee!!!
Read More...
Green Day vs Angry Mom
June/09/2012 09:12 AM
There old news but notable and a good re-read always makes us
Read More...Price of One Direction Tickets is going one way: UP
May/18/2012 11:52 AM
The Voice: semi-finals results
May/06/2012 08:39 PM
The Voice Semi-Finals Results
By Life of a Rock Star teen contributor BMG
In the season two semi-final elimination of The Voice, the painstaking results of each teams’ previous performances were revealed. Read More...
By Life of a Rock Star teen contributor BMG
In the season two semi-final elimination of The Voice, the painstaking results of each teams’ previous performances were revealed. Read More...
A teen's eye view of Coachella 2012
April/26/2012 09:22 AM
Our trip to Coachella: the inside scoop
Photo credit Natalie Klein
by Life of a Rock Star™ teen contributor Natalie Klein
April 25, 2012
Two weekends ago, a few of my friends and I packed up the car and headed out to Indio, California for the three day long concert that takes place at the gigantic polo fields. “That was one of the most fun weekends of my life!” says my friend Rachel Gray as she reflects upon Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. Read More...
Photo credit Natalie Klein
by Life of a Rock Star™ teen contributor Natalie Klein
April 25, 2012
Two weekends ago, a few of my friends and I packed up the car and headed out to Indio, California for the three day long concert that takes place at the gigantic polo fields. “That was one of the most fun weekends of my life!” says my friend Rachel Gray as she reflects upon Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. Read More...
New York Fashion Week
February/03/2012 10:41 AM
(Left: Clifford Lilley & Nicole Hanratty at GUiSHEM Spring / Summer 2012 Presentation New York Fashion week 9/11/11.)
New York Fashion Week Spring 2012
by Nicole Hanratty
In my red Betsey Johnson dress that screamed Sex in the City, I ran out the door of my hotel suite silently praising myself for having perfected the art of running in five inch stiletto heels.
As per usual, I was greeted by the W's friendly doormen who had taken me under their wing--eyeing with suspicion any man who dared look my way. Those sweet observational boys kept tabs on all my comings and goings, knew approximately how long I was gone--down to the minutes--and had cars and taxis waiting to whisk me away as if they could read my mind.
Firefighters Always Remembering, Always Serving
September/11/2011 05:35 AM
California Firefighters Take a Stand to Defend New York, America
by Nicole Hanratty
While it may look like we were having a good time--okay we were--these Oakland, California firefighters, (Tony the Tiger Tarek, Joe, and Big Mike from Station 8 pictured above), spent time talking to me about honor, service and dedication to their own.
They packed up their courage, kissed their beautiful children goodbye and boarded a plane to New York City. In the face of increased terror alerts, these brave firefighters prepared themselves for anything--paying their own way--to be ready for any call to service.
They define "above and beyond."
Tarek, Joe and Mike--heroes in my book--will wake up this morning on the ten year anniversary of 9/11, dress in their Class A uniforms and attend a special memorial service for their fallen in a show of powerful devotion to their lost comrades.
Read More...
A Funny Thing Happened On My Way to New York Fashion Week
September/10/2011 09:15 AM
New York Fashion Week, Part One
by Nicole Hanratty
It was the ultimate Life of a Rock Star™ experience. Sponsored by Prestige Tickets, this LA mom got to put the laundry aside for one weekend of high fashion and adventure. Strap on your seat belts, it's going to be a wild ride.
Dear Virgin America at Los Angeles International Airport,
First off, I speak for all of your loyal travelers when I ask, "Where is the lounge?" Second, and this is an important one, no one wants to hear this song while waiting to board your flight: "Bye-bye Miss American Pie...singing this will be the day that I die." New playlist, please.
Dear Flight Seat Mate,
Fair warning, this safety obsessed mother is not a good flier. One bump of turbulence and I will grab you--it really doesn't matter that we've never met--and scream, "We're all gonna die!" (I've done it before and I'll do it again.) If you see me heading towards your aisle, I advise you to move, or spike my drink. It's your choice.
Dear Man Traveling with Wife and Baby,
I realize your wife may not appreciate you standing in the aisle with your baby staring at me while turning your back to her. However I equally do not appreciate my aisle seat being claustrophobotized* by your cargo bearing rear end smashed up against the side of my face the entire flight. I do love babies but if yours can't sit still for the flight, please feel free to move about the cabin.
*New but appropriate made up word for a very uncomfortable situation.
Dear Town Car Driver,
Your placard with my name on it is calling me back into my natural habitat of luxury and city life. God bless you. Bye-bye carpool mom. I'm calling the shots from the backseat now baby.
Dear Manhattan,
I heart you, even with the bad smell that emanates from your streets and alerts my olfactory system I have returned. It's midnight and you're still OPEN! Such a lovely change from my small town where the sidewalks evaporate when the street lights illuminate. Plus, I've already been recognized on the street by a fellow Virgin American traveler. My dress seems to have made an impression on him... I love a town that is fashion focussed. And no, I am not worried that I am here on the weekend that overlaps the ten year anniversary of 9/11. With the NYPD stationed at every corner, I am feeling quite safe with a side of patriotic.
Read More...
Life of a Rock Star Experience New York Fashion Week
September/05/2011 01:09 PM
Pack up your suitcases fashionistas--leave the Malibu shores behind--and grab the next flight out to New York City. Mercedes Benz Fashion Week is descending upon the world's hottest destination. Where will you be when Spring's trendiest 2012 looks are sauntering down the runway?
Life of a Rock Star's Nicole Hanratty will be on a whirlwind trip experiencing the high fashion Manhattan hot spots up close and personal. Can't come along? Then follow her live tweets @LifeofaRockStar.
Brought to you by PrestigeTickets.com, this sponsored rock star vacation is a dream experience. Editor Nicole Hanratty will travel the elevated skies with Virgin America from Los Angeles to New York where she will enter the elite world of high fashion.
Read More...
Words With Friends
June/26/2011 07:32 PM
Words with Friends
by Nicole Hanratty
WWF user name: TheWiner
Words with Friends can be anything but friendly.
Warning: It will keep you up at night and be the first thing you think about in the morning. If you have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, this could be a landmine for you.
Words with Friends is a Scrabble-like word game that is as addicting as crack cocaine, maybe more. Download with caution. Kids, teens, and adults can't get enough of this online game that allows you to play your move when you want without anyone looking over your shoulder. (Hint: integrity seems to be optional.) Throw down any letter combination you can think of and Words With Friends (WWF) will let you know if it counts as an acceptable word. Trying crazy combinations, or knowing words like "nomoi," can be the difference between victory and defeat. The added bonus--you get to trash talk your opponent or whine about your awful letter rack via a chat bubble screen that is attached to every game. It doesn't get better than that.
WWF is currently trending as the number one online game download. It is a sweeping frenzy that has families and friends battling it out and my family is no exception. "You're totally cheating!" Accusations rip across the room at formerly peaceful family gatherings that have now become showcases for high scoring games whose outcomes are always photographed and texted with bragging rights. Read More...
Celebrity Life
June/08/2010 09:20 AM
Celebrity Life
by Nicole Hanratty
Sometimes life's funniest moments are served with brown rice and fried tofu. Last night I was mid-bite savoring the spicy tang of PF Chang's Ma Po Tofu, when my mother-in-law announced that she had heard--and by the way she was waving her pointed finger back and forth at me and my husband seemed to think was accurate and true about us--that our generation's big problem is that we all want to live a celebrity life. I was speechless. Not because I had a mouthful of food, but because our lives couldn't be further from celebrity or wanna be celebrity status if we tried. No, you won't find us pulling a Salahi stunt any time soon.
For starters, we rarely leave the house. We avoid social gatherings like they're the plague and we can count the number of people interested in our lives on one hand. Okay, maybe two if you count our family members.
Yes, we tend to wear our sunglasses everywhere we go but that's simply because we're concerned with UV rays affecting our long term vision, not because we're worried about being spotted by the paparazzi. (And, sometimes it's to avoid frightening innocent bystanders when I've left home without makeup.)
How can I be certain we aren't trying to live like celebrities? Hmm... Tricky question since my answer is bound to be biassed. But, we do live in a celebrity studded community so I will compare our lives to theirs and let you be the judge.
In full disclosure, real celebrities do engage in mundane everyday tasks just like we do and deal with difficult medical/social/family issues that come with well, being human. They can be seen dropping off at carpool or waiting for their child to finish a high-school placement test, but that is where I see the similarities ending.
Celebrities are sent things for free while we, on the other hand, purchase everything we own at full price. Their names get them in the door while we wait like maroons* at the back of a line arguing about whether or not my less than suave hubby should make another awkward attempt at slipping the host some cash to get us in before our ten o'clock bedtime arrives. They are invited to galas while we are headed off to Home Depot to purchase more plants for the garden where you are likely to find us "oooing and awwing" over our very first apples blooming on our recently planted tree. (See photo above.) They are headed off to fabulous places on a whim via their private jets while we are depositing change at the local Coinstar machine getting our thrills from the digital display as it counts up our cash as if we've won a jackpot. Read More...
Say Cheese
February/23/2010 10:58 AM
Honest Food Identification
by Nicole Hanratty
Sometimes things catch my eye when I am out shopping and prompt me to stop and ask, "What is this?"
While recently browsing the refrigerator section of Smart and Final--one of my favorite supply stores--I came across this imitation pasteurized process american cheese. (Try saying that three times fast.)
Call me crazy for questioning how closely aligned to cheese this food product really is, but with four other descriptive words, (including the word "imitation"), before the word cheese, I'm wondering what exactly is in those 120 slices. At least it requires refrigeration, that seems like a start. And maybe this cheese gets a second point for honesty in labeling--we could use more of that these days.
After re-reading the label multiple times I emailed a picture of it to my husband with the question, "Do you know what this is?"
Read More...
Vancouver Olympics
February/16/2010 10:37 AM
Medal Count • The United States in the lead with eight medals while Germany is close behind with five.
The athletes are hitting the slopes and my family is glued to NBC watching every competition and race. It is rare for us all to be interested in the same broadcast--we usually battle between Disney, Discovery, History, Fox and CNN--but the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics have us all captivated.
Olympic mania is usually a family phenomenon and the Vancouver Games are no exception. They are gender neutral, age equalizing and conversation sparking. (My hubby and I are still debating the Apolo Ohno silver medal win where the two Koreans knocked each other out of second and third place allowing Apolo Ohno to come from fourth place to take silver and tie Bonnie Blaire's record as the most decorated Winter Olympic champion. I say he won fair and square, my husband says he should be embarrassed to accept that medal and should hand it to the Korean who was knocked out by his own teammate.) We curl up in bed at night and holler at the television as if the athletes can hear us cheering for their wins. We backseat ski and critique their styles as if any of us had the talent, drive or dedication to have a real opinion. We gasp when they fall and cringe when they are injured. We were mournful when Nodar Kumaritashvili lost his life on the Luge at the tender age of 21. We let out sympathetic groans when world class athletes see their Olympic dreams vanish in one split second with one bad fall or a missed shot.
Most importantly, when we are watching the Vancouver Olympics as a family we talk to each other about fun exciting things that have nothing to do with school, work, finances or chores and that is a beautiful thing for family time. Even if it is just for a few weeks, we can all use a break from the usual bickering and enjoy rooting for the same team. Read More...
Ending Childhood Obesity
February/10/2010 10:35 AM
The Skinny on Childhood Obesity
By Nicole Hanratty
Is it really any surprise that one in three kids today are considered obese? First Lady Michelle Obama is intent on helping all moms who face the daunting task of fighting this seemingly impossible battle and her crusade will not be an easy one. Frequent birthday celebrations and holiday parties at schools bring cupcakes and donuts to snack time weekly. Parties on the weekends customarily offer pizza and cake to kids. Hot lunch menus at school offer fast food from Popeye's Chicken, Domino's and Taco Bell. Long commutes to and from work for parents--in addition to kid's after school activities--make drive-thrus convenient for dinner. French fries have become the standard accompaniment with every kid’s meal at restaurants of all sorts. Sodium, sugar, hydrogenated oils and fat are the primary ingredients in pre-packaged snack foods that get consumed by our children daily. Sodas and juice boxes have replaced water and milk as a main source of hydration. Worse yet, virtual play has replaced bike riding, baseball and running around with friends at the park.
ACCESS: A recent visit to the downtown area of Hartford, Connecticut illustrated to me that there are entire neighborhoods--where people lack their own vehicles--without fresh produce or proper grocery stores to shop for healthy nutritious food. We drove blocks around a lower income neighborhood lined with apartments without coming across one proper grocery store.
Only a minimal amount of fruit and vegetables were offered in the local convenience/liquor stores that we saw within walking distance for those residents. What did line the shelves looked dirty, old and unappealing. Admittedly, I too walked past the overripe fruit to find a bag of Ruffles that looked safe and clean to eat. Sodas and juices were enticingly placed en masse throughout the store and sold for a fraction of the cost of bottled water. For residents in areas like these, access to healthy alternatives stands as a huge barrier.
BUDGET: The cost of healthy eating can be an especially burdensome financial challenge for the lower and middle class in this economy. With everyone needing to cut back and downsize, groceries need to last and perishable items that go wasted are undesirable.
In times like these, it can seem more sensible to spend your grocery money on a box of fruit roll ups that boast being a, "Good source of Vitamin C, Fat Free and Gluten Free," and won't spoil than on a basket of strawberries that will likely last no more than three days. And while you can't compare the two products nutritionally, most parents don't realize this or haven't been educated enough on the negative health effects of replacing fresh fruits with manufactured fruit flavoring.
Read More...
Women and Super Bowl Sunday
February/08/2010 09:02 AM
Women and Super Bowl Sunday
by Nicole Hanratty
For women, Super Bowl Sunday is never just about the game. Of course there is the food and the friends--don't forget the commercials and silly betting pools--but aside from what is happening on the field there is off the field drama as well. I'm not talking about the tear jerking mini-dramas that are played throughout the day about players beating the odds to make it to the Super Bowl or the personal challenges they endure that glue you to the couch in anticipation of seeing these individuals be rewarded for their endurance and perseverance. I'm talking about the drama that is unfolding in the living room.
No- the myths that Super Bowl Sunday see a spike in domestic violence are not the drama I'm referring to either... FYI, these have seem to be rebuked for the most part. [See Super Bowl Sunday, Domestic Violence & Your Health By John M Grohol PSYD]
It's the relationships and bonding, the rivalry and fun, the conversations that happen in the dining room far away from where the game is even being aired. Women have an amazing ability to ease through a testosterone filled room with a smile--showing interest in the game when appropriate--but otherwise huddling together to share their stories, heartache and laughter.
Read More...
by Nicole Hanratty
For women, Super Bowl Sunday is never just about the game. Of course there is the food and the friends--don't forget the commercials and silly betting pools--but aside from what is happening on the field there is off the field drama as well. I'm not talking about the tear jerking mini-dramas that are played throughout the day about players beating the odds to make it to the Super Bowl or the personal challenges they endure that glue you to the couch in anticipation of seeing these individuals be rewarded for their endurance and perseverance. I'm talking about the drama that is unfolding in the living room.
No- the myths that Super Bowl Sunday see a spike in domestic violence are not the drama I'm referring to either... FYI, these have seem to be rebuked for the most part. [See Super Bowl Sunday, Domestic Violence & Your Health By John M Grohol PSYD]
It's the relationships and bonding, the rivalry and fun, the conversations that happen in the dining room far away from where the game is even being aired. Women have an amazing ability to ease through a testosterone filled room with a smile--showing interest in the game when appropriate--but otherwise huddling together to share their stories, heartache and laughter.
Read More...
Date Night
February/04/2010 10:23 AM
Date Night
By Nicole Hanratty
When it comes to date night, I feel just like the kid in Sixteen Candles whose parents are pushing him into the high school dance as he’s resisting, “I wanna go home. I wanna be with you guys!” Only in our scenario, it’s the kids pushing us out the front door because the babysitter is way more fun, as is our house without Mom and Dad. But it is the one night of the week when my husband and I know we get to walk away from the house, leave our concerns behind—hypothetically—and enjoy an adult dinner at a nice restaurant (sans the overpriced penne pasta with butter).
Ironically, dining alone seems to produce record speed service in even the finest of dining establishments. The beverages, bread and appetizer seem to appear within minutes of us being seated and the waiter stands eager by our tableside to take our entrée order. If we bring children to the same restaurant, it could be twenty minutes before we see a morsel of bread or a sip of water, which produces grumpy, hungry and restless kids. Likely the entire ordeal will take a full two hours—I have always postured that they must have to run to the market and buy the mac n’ cheese to make for the kiddies—with us paying $25.00 per bowl of cheesy noodles and wishing we had just gone to CPK which the kids were begging for in the first place. However when the hubby and I show up alone ready to relax and enjoy a fully pampered three-course two-hour meal, we are in and out in fifty-five minutes flat. Read More...
By Nicole Hanratty
When it comes to date night, I feel just like the kid in Sixteen Candles whose parents are pushing him into the high school dance as he’s resisting, “I wanna go home. I wanna be with you guys!” Only in our scenario, it’s the kids pushing us out the front door because the babysitter is way more fun, as is our house without Mom and Dad. But it is the one night of the week when my husband and I know we get to walk away from the house, leave our concerns behind—hypothetically—and enjoy an adult dinner at a nice restaurant (sans the overpriced penne pasta with butter).
Ironically, dining alone seems to produce record speed service in even the finest of dining establishments. The beverages, bread and appetizer seem to appear within minutes of us being seated and the waiter stands eager by our tableside to take our entrée order. If we bring children to the same restaurant, it could be twenty minutes before we see a morsel of bread or a sip of water, which produces grumpy, hungry and restless kids. Likely the entire ordeal will take a full two hours—I have always postured that they must have to run to the market and buy the mac n’ cheese to make for the kiddies—with us paying $25.00 per bowl of cheesy noodles and wishing we had just gone to CPK which the kids were begging for in the first place. However when the hubby and I show up alone ready to relax and enjoy a fully pampered three-course two-hour meal, we are in and out in fifty-five minutes flat. Read More...
2010 Hot Topics
February/03/2010 09:41 AM
2010 Observations (So far...)
By Nicole Hanratty
1. It's now easier for a women over the age of 40 to find a husband than it is to find a job.
2. The "Good Life" has been sent a notice of abandonment, (even by those who can still afford it).
3. Dear Mr. President, Vegas is on our "Not Giving Up No Matter What" list, along with our hairdressers and home shopping network habit. Sincerely, The USA
4. Celebrity glamour is what it used to be.
5. Everything everyone says can be you-tubed, tweeted, facebooked, and blogged for all eternity to remember, unfortunately. (Our poor kids.) Read More...
By Nicole Hanratty
1. It's now easier for a women over the age of 40 to find a husband than it is to find a job.
2. The "Good Life" has been sent a notice of abandonment, (even by those who can still afford it).
3. Dear Mr. President, Vegas is on our "Not Giving Up No Matter What" list, along with our hairdressers and home shopping network habit. Sincerely, The USA
4. Celebrity glamour is what it used to be.
5. Everything everyone says can be you-tubed, tweeted, facebooked, and blogged for all eternity to remember, unfortunately. (Our poor kids.) Read More...
Garage Tells All
February/01/2010 11:35 AM
Garage Tells All
By Nicole Hanratty
The vast majority of us all start out in the same place post college--renting an apartment and dreaming of the day we will sign our life away to a mortgage and have shelter we can call our own that includes our very own garage. In these youthful and optimistic days, we see a white sparkling clean well-organized space that perfectly fits our car, bicycle, washer and dryer, along with a cabinet that can be used to store a few mementos.
Within days of having the coveted keys to the new front door, we surrender and designate the garage for all of the boxes of things we have accumulated over the years and have no idea what to do with, yet we begged our parents to save. The tennis racket circa 1980s, soccer trophies, the art work from first grade, the notes we passed back and forth to our best friends in junior high school--back when they still called it junior high--fill boxes that we forgot even existed until the day Mom and Dad showed up with them in lieu of a house warming present. They muttered something sweet like, "Here's all your crap," then pulled away faster than Mario Andretti. Read More...
By Nicole Hanratty
The vast majority of us all start out in the same place post college--renting an apartment and dreaming of the day we will sign our life away to a mortgage and have shelter we can call our own that includes our very own garage. In these youthful and optimistic days, we see a white sparkling clean well-organized space that perfectly fits our car, bicycle, washer and dryer, along with a cabinet that can be used to store a few mementos.
Within days of having the coveted keys to the new front door, we surrender and designate the garage for all of the boxes of things we have accumulated over the years and have no idea what to do with, yet we begged our parents to save. The tennis racket circa 1980s, soccer trophies, the art work from first grade, the notes we passed back and forth to our best friends in junior high school--back when they still called it junior high--fill boxes that we forgot even existed until the day Mom and Dad showed up with them in lieu of a house warming present. They muttered something sweet like, "Here's all your crap," then pulled away faster than Mario Andretti. Read More...
H1N1 Vaccine
November/02/2009 10:16 AM
by Nicole Hanratty
As a world community, we are up in arms over H1N1. We don't know if we should brush it off as an over-hyped media blitz reminiscent of the Richard Heene story, a government hyped political story to get health care reform passed (as Rush Limbaugh would argue), or whether we should just follow along and line up for the vaccination. Either way you slice it, the mounting number of young people from H1N1 this fall flu season is--without question--alarming.
Throwing paranoia to the wind, I admit I found myself in line. The benefits seemed to outweigh the risk with my family full of underlying conditions. (Everyone will handle this crises differently and opinions seem to get heated when you bring up the topic for discussion, so I am not in any way suggesting that any one should get this vaccine. Consult your doctor, your priest, your personal guru or your mother but do not interpret this as advice in way, shape or formation.)
For three hours I was entertained by the countless number of cameras, photographers, reporters, news vans, satellite dishes, radio djs, and personalities, including the man in front of us who listened to me quiz my child for a history test then explained a little more that we should know and told us about the book he wrote that he was promoting while in line. (Here's another plug for his book: Jacob's Rescue by Michael Halperin.) Hundreds of people, mothers with toddlers, pregnant women, health care professionals, teachers and critically ill patients were all brought together for one common cause: to fight the flu (or to report on fighting it).
Read More...
Histerectomy
October/27/2009 09:03 PM
Written by Diane Bittiker
Edited by Nicole Hanratty
Hysterectomy: removal of part or all of the uterus. Derived from the Greek word hystera (womb) with the former notion being that hysterical women were suffering from disturbances of the womb. (Hence removing the uterus was believed to relieve a woman's hysterical behavior.)
The ancient Greeks may have been masters at throwing the javelin, but when it comes to trying to pinpoint the cause of a woman's hysteria they were way off the mark.
Having just had a hysterectomy--I can tell you first hand--my hysteria is still going strong drumming right along side the Duracell bunny. If hysteria was supposed to be removed with my womb then my doctor didn't get the memo.
My hysterical condition was diagnosed a few months back. My physician said my uterus had seen its' days and I would be better off without the old plumbing.
Telling my darling husband (here on referred to as DH*) went well, (I suppose), if you consider "Isn't that an ol' lady surgery" a positive response. He is very funny that sweet man, maybe even hysterical. Read More...
Closet Catharsis
September/14/2009 08:49 PM
Closet Catharsis
by Diane Bittiker
I have to thank you for telling me your theory on clothes. I usually go through my closet at least once a year but today was the most thorough I have ever been.
I have to admit that at first, I was hesitant about the idea of casting my dearly beloved articles of clothing into the newly designated empty donation "bag." Yet when I started to look closer at what I had hanging in my overflowing closet--keeping the "when did I wear it last" question in mind--I realized it was time to get down to business.
For starters, did I need three identical pink polo shirts? NO! Out with two of them.
How about the shirt with only a "small" hole in it? Gone. The shirt missing a button? Nope. The 1980s blouse with the wide lapels? The too small blazer that hasn't been worn for at least a decade? Out! Out! Out! Read More...
Life parenting a teen
September/01/2009 10:29 AM
Life Parenting a Teen
By Shawn Klein
Hello my name is Shawn Klein and I am a Marriage, Family Therapist who has worked with teenagers and their parents in therapy for many years. I would like to also share that I am the proud mother of one of those unpredictable and complex entities, The Teenager. I have had many parents ask me through the years for help in understanding their teenager. I thought it may be helpful to share some of my insights and a few of the most commonly asked questions that I have learned counseling teens
TEEN DEVELOPMENT
First, I always remember what a professor of mine once said while we where studying the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. She shared that while you are working with teens they can actually exhibit some of the symptoms of a mental disorder at many different times during their development. She then stressed that you need to be careful to really get a full picture when you are working with a teenager and don’t judge them by just one episode of difficulty. Right there, I have probably made a few parents nervous but I know that many of you have or will at some point look at your teenager with frustration and say, “I don’t understand you, what were you thinking and how did you ever think that THAT was okay.”
It is important when working with a teenager to understand that scientists have found that teenage brain chemistry is different than the brain chemistry of adults. According to Dr. Giedd and reported by Physorg.com in a study from the National Institute of Mental Health, an adolescent’s brain is not fully developed as scientists had believed in the past. The part of the brain that is not fully developed is in the grey matter which is responsible for the “brain’s executive functions.” This part of the brain includes, “the regulation of emotion, response inhibition, organization, long-range planning, and the ability to pay attention.” Giedd also stressed that these changes may cause teenagers “to take risks and seek new sensation and experiences.” So with this information and the fact that we know hormones affect our teenager’s emotionality, mood and physicality, what we need to understand is that our adolescents are still learning how to process, organize, feel and prioritize decisions while at the same time trying to understand how they can fit in with their peer group and feed their hunger for new experiences.
Now I would like to share some of the questions parents have asked concerning communicating with their teen or teenagers.
QUESTION: “How can I communicate with my teenager when she or he doesn’t seem to be listening to me or doesn’t seem to care what I have to say?” Read More...
By Shawn Klein
Hello my name is Shawn Klein and I am a Marriage, Family Therapist who has worked with teenagers and their parents in therapy for many years. I would like to also share that I am the proud mother of one of those unpredictable and complex entities, The Teenager. I have had many parents ask me through the years for help in understanding their teenager. I thought it may be helpful to share some of my insights and a few of the most commonly asked questions that I have learned counseling teens
TEEN DEVELOPMENT
First, I always remember what a professor of mine once said while we where studying the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. She shared that while you are working with teens they can actually exhibit some of the symptoms of a mental disorder at many different times during their development. She then stressed that you need to be careful to really get a full picture when you are working with a teenager and don’t judge them by just one episode of difficulty. Right there, I have probably made a few parents nervous but I know that many of you have or will at some point look at your teenager with frustration and say, “I don’t understand you, what were you thinking and how did you ever think that THAT was okay.”
It is important when working with a teenager to understand that scientists have found that teenage brain chemistry is different than the brain chemistry of adults. According to Dr. Giedd and reported by Physorg.com in a study from the National Institute of Mental Health, an adolescent’s brain is not fully developed as scientists had believed in the past. The part of the brain that is not fully developed is in the grey matter which is responsible for the “brain’s executive functions.” This part of the brain includes, “the regulation of emotion, response inhibition, organization, long-range planning, and the ability to pay attention.” Giedd also stressed that these changes may cause teenagers “to take risks and seek new sensation and experiences.” So with this information and the fact that we know hormones affect our teenager’s emotionality, mood and physicality, what we need to understand is that our adolescents are still learning how to process, organize, feel and prioritize decisions while at the same time trying to understand how they can fit in with their peer group and feed their hunger for new experiences.
Now I would like to share some of the questions parents have asked concerning communicating with their teen or teenagers.
QUESTION: “How can I communicate with my teenager when she or he doesn’t seem to be listening to me or doesn’t seem to care what I have to say?” Read More...
You're Only As Old As Your Slang
May/13/2009 05:49 PM
Ridin Dirty
It’s funny how age creeps up on you. While watching Q Wreck in a YouTube video the other night it became glaringly obvious that my youth vanished long ago with Milli Vanilli.
The moment Q Wreck pronounced, “I ain’t getting caught riding dirty,” my age began to rival that of a Roman statue.
What does riding dirty mean? I made this inquiry the first order of business on my morning walk with my girlfriends, but let’s face it...they’re as old as me. Poor things. They had good close guesses, but no one knew for certain. And none of them could say they had ever used the phrase nor heard it in play.
My last resort was the link to all things young and hip, the Urban Dictionary.
Read More...
It’s funny how age creeps up on you. While watching Q Wreck in a YouTube video the other night it became glaringly obvious that my youth vanished long ago with Milli Vanilli.
The moment Q Wreck pronounced, “I ain’t getting caught riding dirty,” my age began to rival that of a Roman statue.
What does riding dirty mean? I made this inquiry the first order of business on my morning walk with my girlfriends, but let’s face it...they’re as old as me. Poor things. They had good close guesses, but no one knew for certain. And none of them could say they had ever used the phrase nor heard it in play.
My last resort was the link to all things young and hip, the Urban Dictionary.
Read More...
Even My Dog's On Twitter
April/25/2009 03:11 PM
When certain friends and family members in my life ask me, “What is Twitter?” I wonder how I know and they don’t. These people are not grannies in nursing rooms, they are young, hip and technologically advanced. (More advanced than me anyhow.) How can they not know what Twitter is? Even my dog is on Twitter.
Nope, I’m not kidding.
What doe she tweet about? Typically she likes to post information about her favorite treats, toys and napping locations. However, her mommy insists that she must also be philanthropic in her tweeting, so she posts tweets (and re-tweets) with information about doggies less fortunate than herself that need new homes. Sometimes she even tweets about outbreaks of illnesses in the news, such as Parvo, to remind pet owners that we need to keep our pets vaccinated and safe. Check out one of her recent tweets:
@SpoiledDog “RT @BigLapDogParvo outbreak at Pomona animal shelter; 50 puppies & dogs euthanized http://bit.ly/s87Bp”10:09 AM Apr 23rd from web
When @SpoiledDog opened her Twitter account she was worried she’d be the only dog in town, but to her surprise there are tons of canine friends to tweet with online! Check out some of her them: Read More...
Buzzwords at Home
April/09/2009 02:31 PM
The Time report on the Top Ten Buzz Words for 2008 got me thinking about how these popularized words are impacting my life now in 2009.
10. Topless Meeting
While no one has asked me to turn my phone off in a brainstorming meeting, my husband has strict rules for date night. I am not allowed to text, email, google or twitter, much less take a call. And while I would like to bring my laptop along for quick access to movie times and reviews, restaurant suggestions, access to information that would settle our debate of the evening, and maybe sneak in a blog post while he is paying the bill, my computer is not allowed along either. Some might call this Topless Dating.
9. Tweet
Twitter is at my fingertips 24-7 with my favorite Tweetie iphone app. I can’t leave home or climb in bed without it. My favorite function of Tweetie is the Nearby feature. I love to see who is Tweeting in my neighborhood. Just one year ago, I wouldn’t have even known what the Tweet was going on. Read More...
Spring Break 2009: Staycationing
April/06/2009 10:01 AM
Staycationing
By Life of a Rock Star™ contributor “GG”
It is a glorious, yet rare spring day: 78º in Southern California. The kind of day that makes residents remember why we live here...the kind that makes tourists decide to move here...the kind of day with no sports or activities for my very active family. That is what makes it rare. So rare that it hasn't happened in our always on the go home since November 2008.
When it happened in last fall, we went away on vacation. But this spring, we’re taking the ever-popular “staycation” and today we all slept in--waking up to TV instead of alarm clocks. We marveled at the idea of freedom: there was no need to search for cleats and uniforms, no ice chest to pack, no presents to purchase or wrap. This freedom allowed time to make breakfast in bed for the kids, served on trays filled with French toast, strawberries, bacon and love. (Ok, really they were cookie sheets designed to avoid powdered sugar & syrup landing on their beds, but it was still done with love!) Read More...
"How To" Refill the Soap Dispenser
March/30/2009 06:36 PM
by Nicole Hanratty
It's tricky, I know. You actually have to pull the top off of the soap dispenser to squirt more liquid inside. It takes a bit of effort but the rewards are spectacular! Once you replace the lid--Voila!--one press produces enough soap to wash a sink full of dishes.
Just follow three easy steps: 1) Remove top. 2) Pour more soap inside the container--we keep the refill bottle under the kitchen sink--and leave an inch or so of space on top. 3) Slide the pump back inside. Read More...
Life of a Rock Star Birthday
March/19/2009 08:21 AM
My sister Gina's birthday was this week and she has been kind enough to share with our readers what a real Life of a Rock Star™ Mom's birthday is all about:
• Get served breakfast in bed. Well, why wouldn't she wake up to her kids and hubby bringing her steaming hot coffee, crunchy toast and not over-cooked-with-a-dash-of-cheese scrambled eggs while she slowly awakens to the beautiful day? Maybe because her sweet hubby doesn't know how to push the 'On' button for the coffee maker--even though she had gotten it all ready the night before--and needed our Life of a Rock Star™ Mom to head down the steps to get the java brewing. "Oh honey, while you're down there can you just get out your special bread, (she has Celiac Sprue), from the freezer 'cause we're not sure where it is?" Then climb back in bed to enjoy your prepared meal. Read More...
• Get served breakfast in bed. Well, why wouldn't she wake up to her kids and hubby bringing her steaming hot coffee, crunchy toast and not over-cooked-with-a-dash-of-cheese scrambled eggs while she slowly awakens to the beautiful day? Maybe because her sweet hubby doesn't know how to push the 'On' button for the coffee maker--even though she had gotten it all ready the night before--and needed our Life of a Rock Star™ Mom to head down the steps to get the java brewing. "Oh honey, while you're down there can you just get out your special bread, (she has Celiac Sprue), from the freezer 'cause we're not sure where it is?" Then climb back in bed to enjoy your prepared meal. Read More...
Funny Signs of the Times
March/10/2009 09:58 AM
by Nicole Hanratty
Seems as if the financial credit markets have finally loosened up. Fortunate Southern California residents can apply for financial aid for... their hair cuts*?
Yes, times are tough and no one can get a loan to purchase a house, car or help stock their small business shelves but this is an encouraging sign that some aid is still available. Read More...
Best Friends
March/02/2009 02:19 PM
by Nicole Hanratty
You know I love my coffee, it gets me through the day. The steaming hot cup of sanity navigates me as I attend to the Monday morning marketing, laundry, car wash, pet store and dry cleaners. It gives me clarity and makes me whole. Java is my best friend and without it I am lost.
But today, in a tragic turn of events my BFF was squandered. I added a splash of soy milk, replaced the lid and walked away from the coffee bar only to realize far too late that the reason I was not tasting any of my beloved beverage is because I was pouring it down the right side of my body. No, it was not coming out of the plastic hole on top of the lid for my perched lips to sip because the lid was ajar and the coffee was instead pouring through the crack between the top of the cup and the bottom of the lid. Read More...
'Slamdog Millionaire'
February/23/2009 11:54 AM
by Nicole Hanratty
It was late into the show when my child said to me, "That Slamdog movie is winning everything..." As a rule, I don't correct mispronounced words, they are too precious and such cherished innocent childhood moments, that I can't bring myself to eradicate them. For years, my frig was called a "refrigilator" and I was so angry the day my husband finally corrected the word. But as I sat on the couch pondering this title change, I realized there was genius involved. The movie had been predicted to sweep the Oscars as a slam-dunk winner, hence the revised title 'Slamdog Millionaire' could not be more appropriate.
I had heard earlier in the weekend that the mother of the little boys who appeared in the movie had to beg borrow and steal to scrape up enough money to buy the young actors a new pair of blue jeans to wear on the flight to America from India--their first time flying--and my heart melted for their story, their mother, and the real poverty that does exist in India. I was eager to see them on the red carpet because I knew their innocent eyes would be lit up with excitement as they took in the visceral experience. Read More...
Mammogram Fun
February/12/2009 01:01 PM
By Nicole Hanratty
Okay so no one really has fun getting a mammogram, but they are so important to have annually that I figure I may as well find the humor in them to encourage women everywhere to make that dreaded phone call, schedule an appointment and get their boobies squeezed.
Never had one? Check your modesty at the door.
First, you will be handed a stylish blue paper top that is the size of Texas. Somehow the "one size fits all" has been recently translated into "supersize." This leaves those of us who are not the size of Big Foot swimming in the fashionable garment with most of our chest and ribcage hanging out the armholes. Read More...
Kettle One is for the Dogs
January/13/2009 12:42 PM
Kettle One is for the Dogs
by Nicole Hanratty
I’m so done. The holidays are over, I can leave my house without worrying about whether or not I need a gift for anyone I’m about to see and I’ve jumped off of the Fall Holiday Wheel of Events that belongs in my nephews’ hamster cage purchased for their birthdays which they promptly returned after realizing hamsters poop.
January brings sanity, a return to my favorite routines and normalcy. We reclaim our weekends from family commitments and holiday cheer; they are once again free for us to use them as we choose. Read More...
Unfriendly Signs: Crunch Zone
December/04/2008 05:41 PM
Crunch Zone
by Nicole Hanratty
Just a little holiday cheer for all of you who need a smile while you’re meeting the demands of your over-committed calendar this month... Read More...
Thanksgiving Disasters
November/11/2008 05:25 PM
by Nicole Hanratty
Thanksgiving is coming and so are the relatives, all of which brings up memories of Thanksgiving Disasters Past.
We’ve had knock down drag outs in Mammoth, flues that cleared tables, been lost on roads that seemed to go in circles on our way to Big Bear, and had arguments that made moving to Syberia seem like a completely plausible solution. Read More...
Multi-Tasking Or Attention Deficit Disorder
November/06/2008 05:19 PM
by Nicole Hanratty
On my way to sit down at my desk to write this article, I heard the dryer ending its cycle. I ventured into my other office--the laundry room--to pull out my husband’s white tee shirts and get them folded while they were still warm and wrinkle-free.
I knew I needed to get my bottom in my desk chair and avoid further distractions, but as I was putting away the fresh laundry I noticed my child’s closet was in desperate need of organization. There were multiple jackets on the floor that needed hangers and shoes that weren’t on shelves. Read More...
On Tour
September/23/2008 02:45 PM
by Nicole Hanratty
It’s been a year full of travel and this Rock Star is ready to unpack her suitcases for the remainder of the year.
There have been some bumpy flights, cancelled plans, airport dramas, annoying inconveniences and general travel mayhem along the way, but there were only a few things this Diva (to my husband’s dismay) and our offspring couldn’t handle. The best of the complaints are compiled here in a list for your enjoyment (hopefully) and sympathy (unlikely). Read More...
One Good Compliment
September/08/2008 02:38 PM
by Nicole Hanratty
Monday mornings are rarely, if ever, jump out of bed with a smile on your face days. Most of us struggle just to get our feet on the floor and find our way to the coffee pot.
Once we fill our mugs and start to wake up we face the reality of the emails chores and to do lists that must be dealt with for the day. We take a glance at the week at large and instantly begin to long for Friday already.
This morning was no different for me until I logged on to my computer and received the sweetest random compliment (Thank you L!) My negative mood took a turn for the positive side and my errands suddenly didn’t seem so humdrum anymore. Read More...
Sensor Wife
September/05/2008 02:31 PM
by Nicole Hanratty
Welcome to my morning.
As my husband and I stand in line one after the other waiting to fill our own coffee cups with fresh pressed coffee from my favorite appliance in the house, (our Miele cup by cup coffee maker that turns out six different flavors--decaf and regular--cappuccinos and espressos), I turned the dial to make my own personally programmed favorite cup of coffee.
My husband stands behind me, empty mug in hand, and asks, “Is the coffee maker actually still programmed for all of the different types of coffee capsules that are in it?”
“Of course,” Miss Organized informs. Read More...
Cereal Diet
August/28/2008 02:25 PM
by Nicole Hanratty
I know my mother in law is panicking right now thinking that I’m about to announce that I have served my husband nothing but cereal for the past week. I can see her and her sister-in-law, (thanks for being one of my most loyal readers Aunt Carol), on the phone right now trying to determine if they should call Husband Protective Services on me. But hold on to those casseroles you’re about to rush over, your son has been eating just fine.
(For all of my serial dieting friends, this one’s for you.)
Rise and shine it’s six a.m.; time to disrobe, hit the scale, and decide whether this an “Egg’s benedict with pancakes on the side, I can eat whatever I want” day or an “I’ll just have fruit” kind of a morning. Will you be shoveling down cheese dip with Tostitos for lunch, (thanks for sharing with me T), or licking the wrapper of your Fi-Bar for extra morsels? Read More...
Absence Makes the Heart Grow More Appreciative
July/28/2008 01:57 PM
by Nicole Hanratty
There is one sure way to make your husband appreciate you ladies... Leave the house for a month and clear out your refrigerator before you say au revoir!
Yes, I did do that and yes it did prove my point.
I would like to send a special thanks to my mom and my mother-in-law for offering to do my husband’s laundry for him and prepare him meals. (Aren’t we girls supposed to stick together?) Read More...
Dog Flight
June/30/2008 01:48 PM
by Nicole Hanratty
Family vacations are always fun but tend to put even the best marriages to the test. Find me a couple traveling with kids and I’ll show you a husband and wife who are bickering over the responsibilities that go along for the ride. Throw a dog into the traveling mix and I’ll show you an all out battle.
(Special note: Were it not against all laws of matrimony, the picture above would be of my loving husband asleep across the aisle from me with his mouth hanging wide open sitting on the plane totally oblivious to the world around him. And yes, there may have been drool.) Which brings me to the nice man who was, unfortunately for him, seated next to me and left to fill my hubby’s snoring shoes.
From moment one, my spoiled first time traveling Jack Russell Terrier was not a happy camper trapped inside of her fancy rolling travel bed.* Why was she being deprived of mommy's nice warm lap? Who would pet her for the next six hours? The sweet little canine whined as if she were stuck back in coach.
The man next to me introduced himself as "Ajay" and was unbelievably tolerant. He told me all about his two Golden Retrievers at home that he adores. I thanked my lucky stars that I was sitting next to a dog lover. Anyone else would have been trying to jump out of the aircraft window as the whining intensified.
Ajay tried every trick he knew to help me quiet my indignant pup. I am certain he was motivated to help by the front row view of the panic induced sweat rolling down my forehead, not to mention a personal interest in enjoying a flight free of incessant crying. My uber-intelligent JRT scoffed at his attempts to use the Dog Whisperer quieting techniques, so he gave in and reached down to pet her. Instant success!
The woman sitting one row back and across the aisle from me looked at her flying neighbor and loudly stated, “I hate dogs. Thank God I brought my headphones.”
Oh boy, it was gonna be a long flight... Read More...
Promotion At Work
June/23/2008 01:42 PM
by Nicole Hanratty
Dear all of my Rock Star friends,
I have such exciting news and I want to share it with all of my readers first! Rest assured that you are the first to read it, hear it and know it...
Yours truly has received a promotion! I am now and here forward the President of Household Operations of the Hanratty Residence! Read More...
Summertime Fun
June/20/2008 01:30 PM
by Nicole Hanratty
How many days, hours or minutes were your kids released from school and let out into the wild before you hammered them down with “The Lecture?” You know the one... “If this is how you’re going to act then I’m signing you up for ____(insert torturous activity, e.g. summer school, macrame, volunteer work)___ and shipping you off to ____(insert undesirable location, e.g. Great Grandma’s house, sleep away camp in Yuma, Arizona)___.
I like to keep a scratch count of how many times during the summer I actually reiterate that lecture. When my scratch count begins to resemble a never-ending picket fence on a long drive in the country, I usually decide it is time for one. I strap on my seatbelt and don’t look back... Read More...
Midlife Crisis
June/15/2008 01:12 PM
by Nicole Hanratty
Okay, so I am a little behind, but I recently downloaded I Heart Huckabees from iTunes to my iPhone. If only I had watched this movie before I went through my first midlife crises... Darn it! Now, I have to go through it all over again!
What is so troubling about this existential comedy that has me all wound up? In a word, me! I think it is a problem when someone relates more to a movie than real life and in this film, I found myself wanting to jump in and embrace the characters as if they were my personal spiritual gurus. They made me think more about my own religious beliefs, (which, to be fair, is a cocktail concoction of some version of Judaism, Christianity and Yoga “Lite&rdquo
, than five years of Catholic school ever did. Confused? Don’t worry, so is my family. Read More...I Always Wanted To
May/27/2008 01:03 PM
by Nicole Hanratty
Every morning I wake up, run to the mirror and check to see if it is finally visible and obvious! But each day, I walk away confused and wondering why there is nothing noticeably different about me.
It has to be a mistake. Or, maybe, other people can see it and I just can’t. There absolutely must be some type of sign on my forehead that reads, “Hey Strangers! Please tell me everything you have always wanted to do, but never have!” Read More...
Idol Gives Back Bake Sale
May/21/2008 12:54 PM
by Nicole Hanratty
Today’s school fundraiser is a bake sale for Idol Gives Back. It is a great cause and I am more than happy to tie on my apron and put my over-priced kitchen appliances to work! When I put on my Baker Extraordinaire Chef’s Hat there is no limit to what I can create but the number one request was for home made cupcakes. Read More...
Bedtime Routines
May/15/2008 12:43 PM
by Nicole Hanratty
Ah, bedtime routines. They're not just for newborns...we all have them. In fact, through adulthood, many of us rely upon them to fall asleep and some of us simply can't operate without them.
In my house, I believe that our bedtime routines are so vital that they actually directly affect the cosmic pull of the earth's rotation. I am so superstitious about all of these Ground Hog Day things happening over and over again that I wait for them, watch for them and then, BAM! When they happen, I check them off my list one by one and am slowly reassured that all is right with the world... Read More...
Blending Fun
May/12/2008 12:20 PM
by Nicole Hanratty
To watch the video clip on Fox 11 at Melange
Apothecary:
Click Here
Some friends are worth a 5 a.m. wake up call and a lot of extra primping. I can’t think of very many people that could make me set my alarm clock for one minute earlier than my normal daily routine already requires, but Denise Estrada is definitely one of them.
Last Friday morning was an exercise in “How to feed the dependents, make the lunches, get through the carpool line, walk the dog, pluck your eyebrows, apply camera-ready make-up, work the hair into an acceptable style and slip into an outfit that doesn’t scream, ‘I’m dressed all wrong!’” Read More...
Spray On Tan
May/08/2008 12:14 PM
by Nicole Hanratty
With summer around the corner, a tan is vital to pulling off shorts, sundresses and tank tops without anyone being scared off by your ghostly white existence! The pressure is on to show up bronzed, but this wrinkle-a-phoebe doesn’t want to appear 80 before her time, so I booked the next available appointment at a swanky salon for a hand painted Spray-On Tan.
Never had one? I hadn’t either... and my guess is, I never will again. Read More...
Charity Function Mayhem
May/05/2008 09:18 PM
by Nicole Hanratty
What could be more fun at a charity function than observing the “haves” put it all on the line for the “have-nots”? It’s certainly amusing to watch how the grown-ups behave when they get a night out to play...
What might you notice? Here’s my top ten checklist that hits the mark every time: Read More...
A Dog's Life Isn't So Bad
April/29/2008 09:05 PM
by Nicole Hanratty
Dog is such a complicated word. There are multiple expressions that utilize it with a variety of meanings. For example: being “a dog’s age” makes you ancient; “dogging it” is a cop out; “a dog’s life” is not an enviable one; “every dog has his day” gives us all hope that we may one day win the lottery; “letting sleeping dogs lie” is usually a wise decision; “going to the dogs” is a degenerative existence; “putting on the dog” shows off your wealth; while “teaching an old dog new tricks” forces us to break our old bad habits. Read More...
Bookshelf Personalities
April/28/2008 08:59 PM
by Nicole Hanratty
What’s on your bookshelf? Dare to divulge? It might just give us an insight on your personality and let us know a little more about you than you may be willing to share.
Here’s how your personality might come through... Read More...
Lunch at Geoffreys
April/18/2008 08:23 PM
by Nicole Hanratty
See and be seen at Geoffreys in Malibu. That’s where I was spotted this week escaping reality on a perfect afternoon. My two favorite friends swooped me down to the beach to a surprise destination that I couldn’t have enjoyed more. (Thank you Richel and Stacey!)
For starters, the view is amazing! If you order up the right day, you will be enjoying a beautiful afternoon and I guarantee you will not want to leave this haven. One hour lunches are simply not acceptable. A two hour minimum is required for full enjoyment, but really even those are just for newbies. Put on your sunglasses and stay awhile. Read More...
Bag Quest 2008
April/07/2008 07:56 PM
