On New Year’s Day everyone makes New Year’s Resolutions. I’m going to loose weight. I’m going to start a business. I’m going to take my dream vacation. You can’t wait to share resolutions.

Don’t do it! Derek Sivers, founder of CD Baby, says it’s better to keep your goals a secret.

Research dated back to the 1920s suggests people who share the goals are less likely to achieve their desired outcome.

Here’s to keeping a secret and achieving your goals,

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The Good

Vampire Diaries star Nina Dobrev was stunning in this metallic gown. It’s simple, but gorgeous dress.

Glee star Lea Michele turned what would be a bad prom dress into a rockin’  ruffled Oscar de la Renta gown. The Lorraine Schwartz necklace is unforgettable.

The Bad

Poor Lauren Graham of Parenthood looks like she had to go to a local restaurant and have them quickly sew a couple of black and white table cloths together for her dress.

Madonna called, she wants her cone bra back. January Jones of Mad Men had the base of what could be a great dress that went terribly wrong with scale effect and sea shelled cone top.

The Ugly

Mindy Kaling of The Office, what were you thinking? This dress is awful. I guess if you nod off during the show, your dress will poke you in the eye and wake you up.

Ty and Holly Burrell of Modern Family, one word. Seriously?

What dress were you drooling over? Who did you feel sorry for?

Happy Stargazing,

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My mom is a never-ending song in my heart of comfort, happiness, and being.  I may sometimes forget the words but I always remember the tune.  ~Graycie Harmon

Read this. It’s too long. Give me a synopsis.

That’s what the email in my inbox read. So I read it. I knew why I was sent this email. First, my reaction. Second, see if it’s true.

I never take anything at face value. I question everything. I guess that’s why I went to school for journalism. I love to investigate and find the truth.

The email was about a granddaughter wondering what her grandmother would like to be called. She definitely would not be called Grandma. She would have had a Grandmother nickname.

But, this Grandmother would not allow her own daughter to call her Mom. Why? Because of a book written in 1942 by Phillip Wylie called Generation of Vipers. In this book, Wylie came out swinging against Moms. In a chapter called Common Women, he coined the term Momism.

This Grandmother was perplexed Moms accepted the name and did not wage war against the name Mom. Mom was a dirty word to her after Generation of Vipers. Mom was label she would never acknowledge and believed the nickname Mom was not used until the 1940s.

First, I researched whether or not Mom became popular after Momism. I can’t find anything proving this statement. According to the Etymology Dictionary (2010), Mom is the informal name for Mother with its origins in Mama dating back to 1894. If anyone can prove Mom was created by Wylie, please do. I’ve looked everywhere.

Generation of Vipers is described as “perhaps the most vitriolic attack ever launched on the American way of living—from politicians to professors to businessmen to Mom to sexual mores to religion—Generation of Vipers ranks with the works of De Tocqueville and Emerson in defining the American character and malaise.”

Generation of Vipers was an attack on the American way of life. Nothing valued was left untouched, it was instead insulted. But, I’m going to do ask a question that needs to be asked regarding Momism. Could it be possible Wylie attacked Moms because he lost his Mother at the age of 5. Wylie grew-up without the love of a Mom. No hugs, no kisses, no wiping away the tears and being comforted by his Mom. She passed away when he needed her the most.

I’ve read a lot about Wylie lately. Curious character. In an interview with Mike Wallace, Wylie comes off as a guy who says something just for the reaction. Wylie attacked everything. Nothing was held sacred by Wylie.

I love being called Mom. Nothing warms my heart more than hearing, “Mom, I love you.” Or just hearing my baby say mama. Instead of having my children call me Cha-Chi or some other nickname to avoid being called Mom, I will prove Wylie wrong and be everything Wylie says Moms are not.

I’m competitive and know the best way to make a point is to prove something or someone wrong. It seems to be a little extreme to war against a name. I did not grow-up in a time when women did not have the same rights as a man. But I think being called Mom is in no way an insult or worth waging a war of words.

In his book, The Discovery of Spoken Language , Peter Juscyzk explores the questions about infant language acquisition and development. It is a field of psychological science that is only 30-years-old.

In their search for the origins of language development, he and his colleagues around the world are discovering that early speech recognition is the culmination of furious intellectual efforts that actually begin in the womb, where the rhythms of the mother’s voice and native language are communicated to the child through the reverberations of her very bones.

In that sense, naming "Mommy" and "Daddy" begins the revelation of human beings’ most extraordinary trove of riches.

Moms, give your kids all the hugs, kisses and love poor Mr. Wylie did not receive after the passing of his mother at the tender age of 5. Prove him and all other cynics wrong.

In the words of my Grandmother, “God Bless Mr. Wylie. He’s a poor soul who just needs love.”

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Today my little man started school. It’s only preschool, but it is still hard to grasp.

I have friends who are thrilled their kids are gone to school. I know older adults who couldn’t get their kids out the door fast enough when the new school year began. Growing-up I remember my mom telling me how back-to-school time was her least favorite time of year. I couldn’t figure out why. I thought it was just terrible for my sister and I.

Now I get it. My mom was right. I’ve cried for months at the thought of my little boy going to school. What would my days be like without him? We’ve never been apart.

I made sure I would be a stay-at-home mom. Nothing was more important to me than being at home and a great mother to my children. Growing-up I witnessed the difference between my friends who had moms-at-home and those who came home to an empty house. I could tell the difference between my friend who rode to school on a bus and others who chatted with her mom on the way to school.

As I cried in the shower, I knew I had to bite my lip and put on a smile. It was his big day to make new friends. I made his lunch and got him dressed in his first day of school outfit. He looked so handsome. We all piled in the car and took to him school. I made it without any tears in front of him.

Half-a-day later, school was over. His baby sister and I were so excited to see him. He made new friends, colored with markers and played instruments. All-in-all, a great day. My little man is grown-up now. I will make sure he gets the best education possible. And that begins at home.

My morning was pretty great too! I had tea parties with my baby girl, Belle and Eeyore.

I am so blessed to have two healthy, happy, beautiful children. I’ve kept baby books, scrapbooks and photo albums of my babies but I wish I would have kept a handwritten journal. There is nothing like reading the words someone took the time to write with a pen and paper. It is so much more personal and real. So I’ve started one to pass on to my children. I hope they will appreciate it as much as I have enjoyed writing it.

My husband realized how fast his little boy grew-up. He said, “they don’t stay little long.” How true. One of my favorite songs is Never Gonna Feel Like That Way Again by Kenny Chesney. The ending is my favorite part:

It’s my life and it’s sure fun
Another season of my life has begun
Another race I’m glad I get to run
Another chapter of my life I’m writin
No I’m never gonna feel like this again
Times rushin by me like the wind
Gotta grab each moment that I can
Cuz I’m never gonna feel like this again

My conclusion of my son’s first day of school. Grab each moment, you will never feel like that again.

SecureOnCampus.com First Annual “Back to the Dorm Special” Get 15% OFF your purchase of dorm safes, pepper sprays, personal alarms and more.

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It’s the end of summer, but it’s still hot outside. For a quick, on-the-go look try this tousled braid.

I think my hair may be too long. But, I think I will give it a try.

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My simple update for my favorite summer dress.

The brooch can be used to make your hair extra feisty or spice up your cardigan.

Welcome Autumn and please bring the cooler weather!

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I woke up this morning to find a deep tissue massage gift certificate from my husband. Why? While I was driving home last night, he went to rub my shoulders and was disgusted by the knots in my shoulders.

I’ve been complaining for quite a while about my shoulders and upper back bothering me, and now he believed me. I think it’s a combination of increased workouts at the gym and not finding a good pillow to sleep with.

As you may know, I love the King of Queens. My husband is always running around claiming wife credit. I  picked-up my clothes. Wife Credit. I washed my dishes. Wife Credit. Changed the baby. You guessed it, wife credit.

I don’t think my massage was a case of gaining wife credit. I think it was a gift out of love and pure disgust at my knotty shoulders.

If it is a case of wife credit, what for?

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After a torturous morning of mowing my gigantic yard, I decided to try my sample of Dove Intense Damage Therapy Conditioner. My long hair was full of grass, bugs, sunscreen and sweat.  A great combination of destroying elements to test the conditioner.

Usually, I use shampoo and conditioners for color-treated hair. But with all the fun of summer, comes the dryness of the sun, pool and beach. My ends tend to get a little dry, but luckily I do not suffer from too much frizz.

After scrubbing my hair clean from the yard debris, I opened my little sample with my teeth. I don’t suggest you do that, it tastes awful.

The conditioner smells wonderful from the moment you open it. It is a pleasant scent, not overly sweet.

My hair was easy to comb out after my shower. After letting it air dry, my hair is soft and the ends appear to be smooth. And it still smells great!

I would use Dove Intense Damage Therapy Conditioner once or twice-a-week. I will continue to use shampoo for color-treated hair, because my red hair tends to fade fast.

If you want a conditioner that smells great, eliminates frizzy ends and leaves your hair touchable, I would recommend Dove Intense Damage Therapy Conditioner.

This is my own review, I was not paid or asked to review this product.

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It’s hot and humid here in Florida, but it’s no excuse to not dress-up for date night. Mabel’s Magic Dress can be found at French Connection for $198. Its a Sunnie Day with these adorable peek-a-boo pumps at Piperlime for $69. What girl doesn’t love a coach wristlet – Julia $98. Who says black and white is all they have to offer? Eye-catching pink shines brightly at White House Black Market in this silk flower cocktail ring, $28 and long pink pearl and rhinestone necklace, $88.

Ready. Set. Go. Date night, here I come!

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Dancer’s are the athletes of God – Albert Einstein

My 1-year-old daughter is girl after my own heart. I was a ballerina for over 20 years.

She hears music and the dancing begins. The huge smile and pure happiness in her movements spark my soul.

My four-year-old son can’t help but join in. They twirl round and round until one falls to the ground.

Rides in the family car are filled with giggles. The two car seats are bouncing to their lively dancing. I can’t help but smile as I listen to their laughter and singing to the songs on the radio.

Little Miss Diva is a natural. Today she was sleeping in her car seat when Usher’s OMG came on. Her little legs were bouncing along to the beat. Gotta love it!

I wake-up everyday looking forward to the joy my Little Dancing Diva brings to my life.

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