Parenting I don't understand: Suri Cruise Still Takes a Pacifier

Cutie Suri Cruise, 4, and mom Katie Holmes enjoyed a hamburger outing this past weekend in Vancouver, Canada where dad Tom Cruise is busy filming scenes for the upcoming Mission: Impossible- Ghost Protocol.

After eating it seems Suri needed her pacifier. We have seen Suri drinking from a bottle way after pediatricians suggest doing but a four year old with a pacifier?

Say it isn't so!

Whitney Houston's Parental Nightmare: Daughter is caught doing drugs!

It is quite funny when you become a parent because all the proclamations you yelled at your parents on how you would never do that to your kid creep into your life. Like when you tell your parents your kids will not have a bedtime. How quickly you eat those words. How about when you say your kid will never have to make their bed? It creeps up slowly but soon an unmade bed become one of the ugliest sights you lay your eyes on.

Somethings your parents did to you, you promise you will never do to your child. My mother would drag me into bars every now and then when I was in my teens. This wasn't a late night thing where she was partying down and I became the designated driver but it was something I hated. While her friends and her gossiped over cocktails and a band raged in my ear, I swore I would never be that mom. When she looks back on what she did, she apologizes. A friend of mine says her parents would smoke around her as a kid. She vowed she would never do that to her child and never picked up the habit. As parents we all make mistakes but some more detrimental than others.

Whitney Houston is probably smacking herself right now as pictures of her only child, Bobbi Kristina, have surfaced showing her snorting a white powder substance. While Whitney Houston has supposedly been clean and sober since she checked herself into rehab in 2009, her child was raised around a world of drugs. As many remember, Houston and her ex-husband, singer Bobby Brown, had a tumultuous relationship that included multiple run-ins with the law to include drug use and abuse.

We can only hope Whitney Houston and Bobbi Kristina's father will step in and save their daughter before it is too late. Good Luck!

Things my preteen doesn't know: Don't Share Lip Gloss

If you have one, you know they think they know everything. The attitude of "all knowledge" begins abruptly. So quickly in fact, you don't realize it has struck. But then the eye rolls start and the "What the heck?" questions begin, soon to be followed by doors slammed in disgust. All the while, you as a parent ask yourself, "Where did my sweet child go?"

They may think they know everything but you know they don't. Isn't it funny how quickly you think you know how the world works and at some point later after your world has been turned upside down multiple times throughout the college years and then into your mid to late twenties, you thank God you don't know everything?

The other night, my daughter was having a friend spend the night. As I passed the room the girls where gossiping in, I noticed they were passing lip gloss to each other. I stopped in my tracks. They have no idea this is a way herpes can be passed, I thought. No idea that a simple sharing of a tube of lip gloss can change their lives forever. Instead of these beautiful lips they want to share with the world, sores and blisters could rear their ugly head and they will be crying in their beds. Forever they will have to worry about break outs happening at the most inopportune time. As a parent, I had to tell them something they didn't know and I wondered how I would be received.

When I mentioned this news to them, they looked in horror at me and then to each other. This was a great time to explain to them how sharing, though nice, can have consequences. After our discussion they both thanked me.

Sometimes things you don't know will hurt you. I'm pretty sure, they will remember not to share lip gloss and lipstick with others . Its kind of nice to know more than my preteen even though she still thinks I'm an idiot.

There will come a time...

Picking Out Your Engagement Ring Before You are Engaged? Jennifer Love Hewitt Has!

She may not be engaged yet, but Jennifer Love Hewitt is making it easy for her lucky guy when he does ask her. She has picked out three rings, just in case.

"I actually have three because I feel like I am doing the guy a favor." She explains to Ellen on her Tuesday appearance on the Ellen DeGeneres show. "Women are very confusing. We never know what we want and we're not very good at nailing it down for them. I feel like I don't want to be upset if he picks a bad ring." [UsMagazine]

Hewitt hasn't been married yet. Her engagement to Ross McCall was called off in 2008. With public love affairs with bad boy John Mayer, MTV host Carson Daly and Scream actor Jamie Kennedy, it seems Jennifer Love Hewitt is never far from her next love. Hopefully her dreams of becoming some one's wife happens soon. If not for her, for us.

Did you pick out your engagement ring before you were engaged?

A Rule We Should Live By: Don't ask a woman if they are pregnant.

Nothing can ruin your day quicker than a fellow human being asking,"When are you DUE??!!" when you are not pregnant.

Before Christmas I am going to admit, I fell off the watching what I ate wagon. French fries for breakfast, sure! Ten cookies instead of two, okay! They sure do taste good. Why not just one more, no one will notice. This lead into a nibble here, a nibble there, a handful of candied pecans here, pudding before bed there.

I was awful, I admit it. The funny thing about overindulging is, it does catch up to you. I could tell my dresses were hiking up in the back a little too much from my tummy approaching my breast line but nothing could bring me to stop this munching. The end occurred when in one month, I had three separate people ask me if I was expecting. THREE!! After the third, I wrapped up my overindulgence and stepped away from the refrigerator. Wii Fit is my friend and I'm getting there. Hitting the over thirty market sure puts your weight into a whole new perspective. For some reason my old diet of eating what I want, drinking what I want and only exercising when I'm dancing at a club just don't cut it any more and that really stinks!

BUT:

It still gives you no right to ask a woman if they are pregnant unless they make it known. I mean make it known by wearing those cute but obnoxious shirts that say,"Baby on Bladder" or "Stand Back! Crazy Pregnant Lady Coming Through" or "His swimmers can swim."

Start a new rule in your life today. Don't ask a woman if she is pregnant.

Selena and Justin Dating: What's wrong with dating a younger guy?

When I was in the dating era of my life, I hooked up with guys that were younger than me. Age was never a deal breaker.

My best friend however, throughout high school loved to date older guys. It was something she was in to. I, on the other hand was in to dating whoever was hot. It didn't matter if they were younger or older; if they were good looking and had something intelligent to say, it was on.

Selena Gomez and Justin Beiber are reported to be dating and to signify his emotions towards her, Justin even gave her a diamond bracelet for Christmas. [Hollywoodlife.com] On many of the sites that are reporting their affair, in the comment section people are dogging her out for dating a younger guy. Granted she is 18 and he is only 16, I think they are cute together. As she receives death threats from outrageously ridiculous fans with "Beiber Fever," I ponder this hate she is receiving because she is older than him.

What's wrong with dating a younger guy? He is a successful cutie and so is she.

An Electric Toothbrush Under $6? Thanks Colgate!

Electric toothbrush prices have always been out of my reach. With three kids, a husband, a dog, two cats, a hamster and fish who keep reproducing, my budget hasn't allowed me to purchase an electric toothbrush. With prices that reach from $15 (Crest's Spinbrush) up into the hundred range (Philips' Sonicare), my teeth have only been met with the tried and true manual toothbrush usually bought in the family pack.

Colgate has a new Electric Toothbrush in cool colors like green, blue and pink with a price under $6! ActiFlex SonicPower is the first powered toothbrush with a flexible bridge. It glides along your teeth, cleaning away debris leaving your teeth feel smooth and your breath fresh!

When I received this toothbrush, I was excited! Like I said before, my budget hasn't allowed me to purchase an electric toothbrush. I ripped open the package and went right away to scrubbing. My husband saw what I was using and he was excited too. He said, "I'm stealing that!" Not a chance mister.

Colgate has made it's competitors a little nervous with this invention. I'm happy they have! I can afford the benefits allowed only to those who use an electric toothbrush. Regular toothbrushes only remove the food and plaque from the surface of the teeth and gums. An electric toothbrush can penetrate more of the teeth and gums resulting in better plaque removal. [articlebase]

Happy Brushing and Happy Holidays!!!

My boss makes me text for business purposes on my own dime.

Awhile back, my boss could see people using their phone to text others while at work. Sometimes, I would text my installer (I'm in construction) information that would be better served as a text such as dimensions for a cabinet or appliance or an address for a job. Texting makes sure the information is written down and not lost through talking about it. It's right there even when your brain may not be.

Soon he was interested in texting too and saw how it could help in our field. Shortly after this he began to ask me and fellow employees to text each other instead of calling from the office phone. For me, this wasn't such a problem because I have unlimited text and other capabilities on my phone that allow me to share pictures and video. The problem began when I noticed he began to ask everyone to start texting data and photos to each other. I asked a couple of employees who paid for their phones and they told me they did.

Do you think its right in asking employees to use their phones to send text and photos that are business related while using their own money? Personally, I do not believe this is fair.

Are you using your phone to call, text or send media to fellow employees on your own dime?

Taylor Swift and Jake Gyllenhaal Hooking Up: She must need new material.

Rumor mill states Taylor Swift is hooking up with Jake Gyllenhaal. She brought him to a Saturday Night Live taping over the past weekend. While she sat with her bodyguard when the lights in the studio were up, as soon as they were down, it seems so were the two lovebirds. While no kissing or hand holding was evident, it seems a meeting of the minds was at hand.

After the string of bad relationships she loves writing about in her music, it's no wonder she hasn't decided to take a break on dating: She needs new material!

She has said, "Every person I have fallen for, they've all been in a song," she tells UsWeekly.

In her new album, "Speak Now" she sings about the cradle robbing John Mayer in "Dear John" and hottie Taylor Lautner in "Back to December." Wonder what she'll be singing about in a couple of months? She reminds me of Harriet the Spy, writing in her journal all the thoughts on the people she surrounds herself with. Unlike Harriet, Taylor likes people to read her rants.

In a world where girls have always seemed to like the boys who don't kiss and tell, it seems this chick wants to turn the tables. Not sure if it's going to help in the long run or not because usually people don't want to hear about what they did wrong in a relationship and especially not broadcast it to the world.

The Best Beauty Advice I Ever Heard

A lot of people will say their best beauty advice came from their mother but not I. I love my mother to death but some of the things she has worn and makeup choices she has made were never my cup of tea.

In the early nineties, while I was experimenting with my 'hippie look of natural makeup choices, she was still hanging onto the the 80's thought of more is more. I can still see her pictures in that day wearing eyeshadow in which her eyes looked as if they had been pummelled in a fight where she was not the winner. When I was wearing lip gloss, she was heavily lining her lips with dark liner and filling in her lips with nude color.

I love her dearly, I do but as I said, she just didn't understand the notion of allowing her 'real face' to shine. In truth, I think I taught her more about makeup than anyone.

The beast beauty advice I ever heard didn't come by anyone but by trial and error on my own. After trying unsuccessfully at keeping my makeup to look soft but staying on my face, I finally broke down and purchased base. At first I tried the liquid coverage but it never looked even and always seemed to break my skin out. Later I switched over to a potted foundation and how my life has changed, for the better!

So in summary, foundation should be thick enough to hold onto your skin but thin enough not make you look like you are wearing a mask. Cover Girl Simply Ageless is my favorite!

Happy Primping!

Fall Trend Alert

Yesterday while I was out shopping, I noticed that many of the fall trends are in the brown color family. From rich browns to camel colors, these trends pose one slight problem to my wardrobe and maybe to yours also.

What shoe color goes well with brown?

The Nude Pump!

Celebrities have been known to rock the nude pumps because it elongates the leg and creates the illusion of an endless leg.

Poll: What does your monthly grocery bill look like?

As a parent of three growing girls, they eat a lot. With a grocery bill that hovers around $400 a month, I'm fortunate that we can afford it! Heading to Costco today to stock up on the essentials and by essentials I mean milk, bread, and eggs!

Angelina Jolie is speaking out on feeding her brood of six. "We go through so much food." [UsMagazine] "They're still little. So can I imagine it's going to gets worse."

Yes, Angelina, it does. Just wait until they have friends over who raid your cupboard too!

What's your monthly grocery bill look like?

Kara DioGuardi Fired, Ellen Quit: Are you still watching Idol America?

Reports are coming out that Kara DioGuardi has been axed from American Idol. [UsMagazine] Among this report, Ellen DeGeneres has quit the show after one season stating, "It just didn't feel like the right fit for me."

With the firing of Kara, the show will go back to the originial 3 panel judge.

Jennifer Lopez has been hired to fill Paula's place and it is likely Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler is in to fill Simon Cowell's shoes.

With a new panel of judges arriving on the hit show, America: Are you still watching

Phot Credit: Michael Beckler/ Associated Press

When the heat gets going, the only thing I need is...

This month has been one of the hottest months on record her in the Mid Atlantic. As a Shine Beauty Guru, each month we are given an assignment to write on concerning beauty topics. This month is: What is your summer beauty secret?

Well.... when it's as hot as it's been lately and the only secret I can come up with concerning beauty is ICE!

When your face is melting off and your can barely breath from the humidity either take yourself inside an air conditioned room and sit or you can take a plastic baggie and fill it with ice. Wrap it in a thin towel and place at the nape of your kneck. When your body is cool, you can back to looking your best.

A couple of other secrets I do to keep cool:

• A Fan


• A Personal Mister


• A Parasol

Want to ever think about selling your home? Don't do this.

My family and I are in the process of searching for a new home to buy. As someone who sold their house before the market bombed, here are a couple of pointers to help sell in this market.

Want to Ever Sell Your House? Don't Do This:

1. Purchase plumbing products that are colorful: Who really wants a blue toilet or a yellow tub? Stick to the basics such as white or tan. (Preferably white.)

2. Not clean your window treatments: How gross are blinds that have dirt piled from the last seven years on them? Wash them or throw them away!

3. Keep so much furniture in the house you can't see the floor: Do you really need that 4th chair in the den? Do the kids need so many stuffed animals lying around. Clutter isn't good for your health or your pocketbook. Pack it up so you can move!

4. Keep that brass chandelier in the dining room your builder picked out: Just stop!! Get it out of there or spray paint it and put those little shades on the light bulbs! Please save the world from ugly chandeliers.

5. Paint every room tan: You have seen enough shows on how to quickly sell a house but tan everywhere is so blah! Sage green is a nice neutral color and it goes with everything! This is good for those moving in also.

6. Be afraid to paint your cabinets: Oak is ugly. Paint them with an oil-based paint and no one will ever know they used to be.

Do We Really Care about Jennifer Aniston's New Perfume?

As Jennifer Aniston gears up for her new fragrance, Jennifer Aniston, to hit the market, I wonder who really cares?

I think the last perfume I bought that had a celebrities name attached to it was Debbie Gibson in the 80's when I was a pre-teen. As a consumer, I just don't feel the need to purchase a product because some star stands behind it.

For years in the marketing industry, models were paid to look pretty and promote a product. In today's time, celebrities with their movies, books, hit singles and clothing lines are the rage.

What "Big Time" star doesn't have a perfume named after them? You have Brittany Spears, Beyonce, Mariah Carey, Avril Lavigne, Eva Longoria, Halle Berry, Reece Witherspoon, Queen Latifah, Kate Winslet.... Carlos Santana just to name a few.

Are you excited about Jennifer Aniston's new fragrance?

And Baby Makes Marriage: Bristol and Levi Engaged!

Growing up from a self absorbed teenager into a responsible young adult takes time. Add a baby to the mix and you are either forced to grow up fast or do as many do by running fast from the situation.

During the last Presidential election, the world was made aware that vice presidential candidate, Sarah Palin, was hiding the fact her daughter Bristol was pregnant. With the conservative beliefs that exist in the Republican Party, this sent everyone into a tizzy when the news was exposed to the public. Someone was having premarital sex and her mother was running for the second most important position in the United States Government.

As we later saw through mass media outlets, the Palin household was not very happy about all of this and especially not very happy with the father of Bristol's child, Levi Johnston. Levi basked in his new found fame; he posed for the risque magazine Playgirl and played around like any 19 year old guy would do. (They do... I'm just saying...) Sarah Palin stated in an Oprah Winfrey interview his, "aspiring porn" career was "heartbreaking." All the while, Bristol was at home playing mommy to Tripp and continuing to finish school.

During their recent custody plan for their 18-month old, something changed. Instead of arguing it seems the two began to fall back in love with each other. Doting over their son, the two rekindled the high school romance.

"I really thought it was over," Levi tells UsWeekly. "So when I went I had no hope. I think we both just started talking -and then we took Tripp for a walk."

Bristol continues, "When he left that night we didn't hug or kiss, but I was thinking how different it was. He texted me: "I miss you. I love you. I want to be with you again'... I was in shock."

Aww.... young love. I really wish them the best. How often is love just like this? Crazy and awesome and then something breaks down but if it works... it comes back.

Don't Get Caught With Sweaty Pits: Secret Clinical Strength

Wanna know how you can tell if your antiperspirant is working? Well for me it meant traveling thirteen hours to my hometown, experiencing one of the hottest beginnings of summer the Mid South has seen. With temperatures hovering at the 100 degree mark and humidity that made the temperature feel like 120, Secret Clinical Strength Waterproof Antiperspirant/ Deodorant held strong all day. With the heat as high as it was, dousing yourself with water was a must. Even when swimming, it didn't swim away. It stayed put and keep me smelling my best.

Summertime means shaving the underarms more frequently. Usually, I am worried about deodorant causing pain and irritation to this delicate skin but Secret Clinical Strength didn't let me down. With skin soothing conditioners and odor absorbing capsules, the heat and humidity was no match for the toughness of this deodorant.

Don't be caught with sweaty armpits...

Viola! I have been Made-Over

For months I have romped around town with a new do. Sick and tired of being labeled as only a blonde made me wonder what it would be like to go back to my roots. Armed with brown hair dye and a hopeful wish, I took to my locks wishing it to come out looking decent. Well.... let's just say it wasn't the best look for me.


Brown dye over bleach blonde hair pretty much turns green. After years of being too scared to try anything new with my hair, here I was with green hair. Instead of a tragic look slapped upon my face, I just laughed. What should I have expected? Did I really think it would turn out looking wonderful? No, but I was hopeful and hope died that day.


The next day I returned back to the store to purchase more brown dye. Hey, I could try again. Maybe an extra couple of bottles would take to my hair better? It did, thankfully. Thanksgiving and Christmas came and went. A dividing line grew among of friends and family. They either loved it or they hated it.


"It looks so much more natural," said my neighbor.


"I think you look good," said my husband.


"You just don't even look like Leigh Ann," said my eighty something year old Aunt.


"You need to put a little more blonde in it," said my pap paw.


"Mom, is your hair green," asked my youngest.



I took their questions and statements with a grain of salt. Whatever, it's my hair and it's my life, I told myself. I'm the only one who has to walk around looking like this and if I want to be a brunette, it's my prerogative. I want to walk around with green hair, I can!


Well... slowly but surely as they snow melted away and the promise of spring awakened in my spirit, the dreams of blonde began to reemerge from hiding. Looking at pictures of myself from seasons past, sporting blonde locks began to call to me again. And so, I wound up in the hairstylist chair ready to reembark on my past.


Little by little my hair has changed. I did the dark hair thing and I'm almost back to where I was a year ago. A little shorter in length but that's alright.

It's hair! Feel free to play with it!