Anyone who has kids knows that the refrigerator can get pretty loaded down with various leftovers and other items which never again see the light of day. You know—that leftover meatloaf from last week that your hubby was planning to take to work, or even the Power Ranger that somehow made his way to the freezer…

It’s time to clean out that fridge and make room for all that turkey, so why not celebrate “Clean Out Your Fridge Day.” Yep, it’s become such a problem they made a holiday out of it. Sure, there are no cards or presents, but you should probably slip your garbage man a little extra next garbage day.

Open up your fridge and take a look at what’s in there. If you have more plastic containers than a Tupperware party, then its time to take them out and throw away what’s inside. Heck, throw the whole container away and buy a new one.

My kids have a tendency to place random items into the icebox, and it’s always a fun surprise to see the hand lotion from the bathroom or the television remote. When I can’t find the remote, one of the first places I look is in the crisper. It’s generally a good idea to clean out your fridge weekly, especially if you have children.

Kids are picky eaters, and they may gobble up their spaghetti one day and completely avoid it the next. You stick it in a container with the idea of having it for lunch, but life gets in the way. Who has time for lunch these days?

There’s no need to bake a cake in celebration for this momentous day; odds are it would just end up back in the fridge anyway. So just take a half hour of your day to make some room in for the more yummy food.

I admit that most of the times I clean out the fridge follow a grocery trip. I can’t fit all the food, so I am forced to clean it out to make room. Why not take the initiative and pull out that 4-day old lasagna and toss it in the trash. Sure, it was amazing on Saturday, but today it’s an emergency room trip waiting to happen.

Happy Clean Our Your Refrigerator Day, everyone. And remember, if you open a container and what’s inside winks at you…set it free. If it loves you, it will come back. If not, it was never meant to be.

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When I was going through complications during my first pregnancy, I was prescribed bed rest. The first day or so, I spent laying on my side watching TV. There’s only so much daytime programming a gal can take, so I often found myself looking out the window of our third story bedroom and watching the neighborhood squirrels at play.

Watching the squirrels jumping from trees to rooftops and chasing each other around turned out to be one of my favorite bed rest pastimes. After observing them for a while, I started to notice different personalities in some of the squirrels, where they preferred to live and even the roles they played in their little critter communities. I know I probably sound like a crazy squirrel lady, but let me tell ya, every minute on bed rest seems like an hour. It’s long, and lonely when you’re the only one home. Watching the squirrels and their carefree lifestyles was a dose of cheer during a hard time.

I just found out that October is Squirrel Awareness Month, so I’d like to share some fun squirrel facts that you can tell your kids about. You’ll look like a squirrel expert and your kids will appreciate your neighborhood wildlife a little more.

• Squirrels have four toes on their front paws and five on their back paws.
• They can leap up to 20 feet at a time because their back legs are so muscular.
• Squirrel is Greek for “shadow tail”.
• Squirrels use their tails to help them balance and, if they fall, as a built-in parachute.
• When they bury nuts and acorns in the ground, their stashes are called “caches”.
• Squirrels are pregnant for about 44 days and usually the litters range from 2-4 babies at a time.
• Because of the locations of their eyes, squirrels can actually see behind them. That’s why sneaking up on them is so hard.
• Squirrels have sharp teeth and claws, and will bite and scratch if they’re scared.

These spunky little creatures are full of personality and fun to watch. If you spot a squirrel in your yard, point it out to your children and throw out a couple fun facts. You’ll wow them with your squirrel savvy.

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A couple of weeks ago, outrage swept the Internet after a photo spread from French fashion label Jours Apres Lunes caught the public eye. Why the negative attention and looks of disgust? The pictures under scrutiny are for the line’s latest “contribution” to children’s fashion: lingerie for girls between the ages of 4 and 12. We’re not talking Strawberry Shortcake briefs here. We’re talking lingerie, complete with pearl encrusting and satiny bows.

However, the public outcry wasn’t even so much over the questionably age-inappropriate frilly undergarments as it was the sexy up-dos, casually adult poses and abundance of skin being shown. After checking out the pictures myself, it was easy to see why so many adults, especially parents, would be uncomfortable with the images. The combination of soft lighting, bouffant hair and skimpy undergarments is indeed unsettling. It’s easy to imagine similar images taken with adult models, and know that they were clearly meant to be sexy. In my opinion, these photographs have crossed the line between adorable innocence and too much, too soon.

In the news this week, JC Penney is under fire after a t-shirt they were marketing caught parents’ attention. Meant to be “cute and sassy,” the text of the shirt says:

“I’m too pretty to do homework so my brother has to do it for me.”

Wow. What an awesomely bad message to send to little girls and the boys they interact with every day. I understand that the message is supposed to sound confident and funny, but when you take into account how hard women continue to work to be recognized for their minds and contributions, rather than their looks and style, it’s self-deprecating and lacks humor.

When I was little, my dad told me I could do anything I wanted to as long as I put my mind to it and tried my hardest. I believed him then, and I still do now. Not once did either of my parents say, “Take care of your looks, and they’ll take care of you. Leave the thinkin’ and doin’ to the men-folk.” Would you put that on a t-shirt? Probably not.

JC Penney has apologized for the bad call and pulled the t-shirt from their online catalog, however Jours Apres Lunes’ disturbing spread is still available for public consumption. While these two stories seem to be controversial for different reasons, the bottom line is all the same: A girl’s value lies in her looks and confidence comes with outward beauty.

For little girls, sorting out personal significance is hard enough without worrying that their Underoos aren’t sexy enough or they’re too attractive to be smart. As a society, we need to back off of the focus on appearance and sexuality, and focus on teaching girls how to love themselves without an airbrushed appearance or feeling like they have to grow up too quickly.

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I loved watching The Muppet Show while I was growing up, and there’s no doubt that my kids share my appreciation for Jim Henson’s legacy. We’ve got a whole collection of Muppet movies, and as more become available, we’ll certainly add them, too.

I once read that Jim Henson didn’t dream that his puppets would become as huge as they have been for over five decades. He was just trying to break into TV. Whoever gave him that first break, introduced the world to an entertainment genius. His family-friendly characters and storytelling remain unparalleled, as evidenced by my children’s sparkling eyes when they hear the familiar Sesame Street tune or beg to watch Muppet Treasure Island…again. And, truth be told, as a lifelong fan of the Muppets and other Jim Henson creations (“I’ll get you, Fraggles!”), I can’t help but get sucked in every time…and I don’t mind one bit.

So, as you can imagine, I’m pretty stoked about Disney’s newest addition to the Muppet library, The Muppets, hitting theaters in November. The film follows Jason Segal, Amy Adams and, of course, the whole Muppet gang as they reunite to raise $10 million to save the Muppet Theater from being demolished by an oil tycoon. It’s sure to be as hilarious as all the other Muppet films before it. My family has yet to be disappointed.

As the months draw nearer to the release of the film, Muppet mania is starting to grow. In celebration, they’ve released an album of classic Muppets diddies sung by some of today’s best indie, rock and alternative acts. Some of the artists your family can sing along with are The Fray, Weezer & Hayley Williams, and Alkaline Trio. You can check out Muppets: The Green Album on iTunes, but to whet your appetite, enjoy this video for the Muppet Show Theme Song performed by OK Go and the Muppets.

Photo and Video: Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios

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The website has nothing on it, but a “coming soon” announcement and some owls. Clicking on the owls will take you to a YouTube video that is a countdown for an announcement by Rowling. As I am writing this, Potter fans have 19 hours to go.

So what is Pottermore.com? No one knows, but there has been plenty of speculation. The hopes for a new book have been dashed by publisher, Scholastic, which was a major disappointment for people hoping for further adventures of Ron, Hermione and Harry.

It’s not likely to be another movie, because the mythos is concluded with Deathly Hallows Part 2 and there isn’t anything new to really build on. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter already exists, so it’s probably not a theme park.

The leading theory is Pottermore.com may be the launching point of a Harry Potter massive multiplayer online role playing game (MMORPG). There are many MMORPGs out there already, including the wildly popular World of Warcraft. There have been other games in the Harry Potter series, but nothing on the scale of an MMORPG.

For those unfamiliar with the gaming genre, it creates a massive world where hundreds, if not thousands, of players can play and interact in a single environment. The players take on the role of characters unique to the game and have interactions with non-playable characters from the book such as Hagrid, Snape, and of course, Harry.

An MMORPG was created several years ago for the Matrix movie series, and it lasted for several years before Sony pulled the plug. The gaming world hasn’t been a abuzz with rumors of a Harry Potter MMORPG, but it’s a natural progression for a series that has ended that has such a strong fan base. Rather than stretching out the characters with sub-par movies made for the sake of the bottom line, fans can become part of the Harry Potter world and create their own adventures.

We’ve got less than a day until the announcement, so we’ll be sitting on the edge of our seats until the master scribe herself brings us the news. Let’s hope it lives up to the fans’ expectations.

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The Huggies MomInspired Grant Program will award 12 moms with grants of up to $15,000 of seed money for your invention or fledgling business. Plus, you’ll be given access to other business resources to help you get started.

Can you imagine? $15,000 could go a long way towards changing your future. I think this is an exciting opportunity for moms to help other moms. We all have so many great ideas pop up while we’re in the midst of raising our families and moms contribute so much to the future of our global community, it’s fantastic to see a company really listen and give us the leg up on sharing our ideas and making our dreams come true.

The Huggies MomInspired Grant Program is currently taking submissions, so if you’re interested in applying, you better check it out now. Submissions close at 11:59 ET on June 30, 2011.

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She claims that her choice to attach the note to his shirt was based on suspicions that, in the past, the 7-year-old hadn’t been giving progress and disciplinary notes to his mom. For the full story, click here.

Now, I totally get that the boy might have intentionally “lost” a note here and there, but seriously? Stapling a note to his shirt was the ONLY way to get the message to his mom safely? That’s a real stretch.

First, this fail-proof staple method has some flaws. Why, for example, wouldn’t it be just as easily plucked from the kid’s shirt and discarded as a note in a book bag? The only advantage it has over a letter in an envelope is the telling damage it would do to the kid’s clothes. Now, if the boy’s mom is curious about how her son’s day at school went, she will know to check for holes in his shirt.

Second, modern technology has introduced some pretty neat alternative methods of communication, which are widely available to the public. I realize that my son’s school just might be on the cutting edge of parent-teacher communication, but they’ve found that e-mail and the telephone have proven to be quite effective when trying to share information with me. I can’t be sure, but I’m guessing that if these are options in northern Illinois, then they’re probably available in Miami, Fla. And even if they’re not, last I heard, the United States Postal Service still offers to deliver mail around those parts.

I admit that my tone may be laced with snark, but I couldn’t believe this happened in 2011. My heart goes out to this mother and child, because ridicule is so damaging to a child’s self-esteem. I can only guess the teacher’s motivations. I’m sure she was frustrated, and I even doubt that she was consciously trying to make a complete mockery of the little guy, but that’s exactly what she did. He became a laughingstock in his classroom, and when this blows over in the media, his classmates will continue to think it’s funny and his feelings and pride will still be hurt.

I don’t blame this mom for being irate. When I send my son to school, I expect him to treat his teacher with respect and vice versa. Kids can be cruel. Every adult knows this. A parent shouldn’t have to worry that her child’s teacher is adding fuel to the fire by humiliating students in class.

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After an amped up (and somewhat bizarre) speech from the President of the Inner Circle of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, Phil whispered his declaration in groundhogese.

And the verdict is in…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJefPy0kSqE

After careful observation, our friend, born meteorologist, Punxsutawney Phil says… We’re headed for an early spring!

And apparently, he’s a Steelers fan. Although, I think there may be a regional bias at play there.

So, if you’re fortunate enough to be unexpectedly off work with your family today, then your kids and you can start planning some fun spring activities… after you shovel the driveway.

Happy Groundhog’s Day!

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After watching news about an abducted 8-year-old girl, Perez was personally moved by the situation, because he has two children of his own.

While he was standing outside of his Fresno home, chatting with his cousin, he saw a truck that matched the description he’d heard on the news. Perez hopped into his truck and started following the suspect.

After several attempts to get the suspect to pull over, Perez pulled ahead of him and cut him off. The little girl immediately exited the truck and Perez asked neighborhood residents to get her a blanket.

As the truck pulled away, Perez got a partial license plate number and reported it to the police. Less than an hour later, local police arrested 24-year-old Gregorio Gonzalez. He is being charged with false imprisonment, kidnapping, and sexual assault.

What would have happened if Perez hadn’t been there? A little girl’s life may have been lost and a family left to forever suffer the sorrow of unspeakable tragedy.

What would you have done in the same situation? Perez took a huge gamble when he decided to pursue the suspect on his own. He didn’t know if the man was armed, or if it was even the right individual in the the first place.

I don’t think I’d have the same courage. Of course I’d contact the police immediately, but I wouldn’t put myself in a situation where my children could end up motherless. As I sit here and think of my honest reaction to being put in Perez’s shoes, I’m ashamed of myself, but am pretty sure I wouldn’t have taken the risk he did, unless it was for my own child.

That may sound selfish or cowardly, but it’s what makes Victor Perez’s heroic act all the more incredible. He wanted not only to get the little girl out of harm’s way, but to stop a dangerous criminal from committing the crime again. He, after all, has children, nieces and nephews in the area that may have been in danger if the perpetrator wasn’t stopped.

What would you do?

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/jayneandd/4077180297/

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Without the knowledge or consent of their parents Bridget Brown, her younger brother Kodie and her friend, Bobby Nolan III, decided to beat summer boredom by taking a little trip. They grabbed Bridget’s $700 in babysitting money, took a taxi to the airport, purchased three tickets to Nashville from Southwest Airlines and hopped on the plane.

When they arrived at the airport in Nashville, they realized that their remaining $40 wasn’t going to get them all the way to Dollywood, which was their intended destination, and (thankfully) called their parents.

How does something like this happen? In an America where you can’t carry Play-Doh onto a plane, how do three minors, still too young to drive, book flights and get the heck out of dodge without being questioned by anyone along the way?

When I read this story, I couldn’t even wrap my head around the number of “fails” associated with this debacle. I still can’t.

Who’s to blame?

The Parents: They didn’t even know their kids were gone until they received the “Help! We’re stranded in Tennessee” phone call. Until I left for college, my parents new exactly where I was and who I was with at all times. Heck, I still call them if I’m going to be spending the night elsewhere, and I’ve been married for nearly 11 years and have three kids of my own.

The Airline: Southwest Airlines stated their policy on minors covers unaccompanied children between the ages of 5 and 11. And since the 11-year-old in this situation was traveling with two older passengers, the rules didn’t apply. What???? Do we really live in a world where policy overpowers common sense? They didn’t ask the kids any questions at all. Zilch. Am I the only one who takes issue with that? I’m not even talking about detaining the children until confirmation of parental consent was obtained. They didn’t ask the kids anything. You know those kids had to be all kinds of nervous. If someone would have taken the time to ask, “Will your parents be traveling with you?” the little one would have folded like a deck of cards. Come on.

The Kids: Is 15 old enough to know better? When I was 15, I was scared spitless of doing something I knew was wrong. I wouldn’t have had the guts to pull off a stunt anywhere near this caliber. And she took her little pre-teen brother along for the trip. She paid for the getaway with babysitting money. Which means someone felt she was responsible enough to care for his or her children. Sorry, lass. I don’t see any care-giving gigs in your immediate future.

So, folks, what do you think? Would you have ever done something like this when you were a teenager? Who’s at fault for this caper?

You can read more about this story at “The Seattle Times.”

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/foxtongue/136637941

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