Guess Who's Coming to Visit?

OMG, you guys. I'm so excited. You'll never guess who's coming for a visit next month!

The Hubs and I plan to show them what Philly has to offer and fill them up with lots of cheesesteaks and soft pretzels. MMMMM

Don't worry, I'll get a nice interview in for y'all. Any questions you'd like me to ask? Remember he'll answer them in french for you heehee! And thanks Pierre and Anne-Marie for letting me parade (brag about) you to all my American Housewives. I have no shame!

Cant wait!

Music I'm Embarrassed to Love

I'm not sure why I should be embarrassed about this song because....this song rocks! I love it. Always have. It makes me wanna go get my keytar from 1986 and play along!

On a side note, this song brought on one of the funniest movie lines of all time from The 40 Year Old Virgin:

"If I have to hear 'Yamo Be There' one more time, I'm going to 'Yamo' burn this place to the ground".

Yessss! What's a "Ya Mo", anyway? Enjoy, bitches, and happy Friday!

Yamo B There by James Ingram
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What Day is it?

I've been trying to keep up regular blogs but this week I have been slammed at work.

Slammed how, you ask?

Slammed like I sit down at my computer, log in, start concentrating on the dramz, realize my eyes are starting to cross...and it's four hours later.

Wait! What? What just happened? What time is it? What DAY is it? Monday? No. Shit. Do I have kids? Where are they? Oh yea, wait...they're at school. Was I supposed to pick them up? Did I feed them today? Homework. Dinner. Brush teeth. Oh...it's time for bed now? Oh, ok. Good night.

Yep. That's about how my days have gone this week. Ugh.

And next week is Thanksgiving. I've been freaking out that it's already here already but hey, I'm also looking forward to it. I've got some fun plans in store. More on that later -- you'll love it. Trust me.

So here's what else is coming up on The Housewife Diaries if you're patient enough to wait for it (and I wouldn't blame you if you'r not lol):

-The cruise update. Remember that cruise I went on in September? It was only two months ago...not that long ago, shah!

-Jack's learning how to 'do' his hair now that he's become aware of his appearance. So cute! I told him he could start using the gel in my bathroom. He went and got it himself...only what he thought was gel was actually something else -- and used it. I wont tell you what he put in his hair just yet, though. You'll have to wait for that.

-Last but not least, I think I'm going to put up some of my opinions on trying to find a pediatrician in Philly. I typically don't like to post anything too serious or personal about myself, partly because I don't need the judgement, and partly because I like this blog to be light-hearted and fun! But I think it's time, and I want to show other parents out there what I've been dealing with. Because when I find that I'm not alone from other blogs I've read who have put themselves *out* there, I'm ever so grateful for that. I think it's time that I pay it forward. So watch for that (and have your popcorn ready).

Conversations With Ava

Ava: "Mom, can I have one of those burrito crackers?"

Me: "What?"

Ava: "Moooommmmm! You know? Those crackers....the burrito crackers."

Me: "Ummmm...." But in my head I'm thinking what the hell are you talking about, child? What the hell is a burrito cracker? I'm quickly scanning my thoughts, trying to come up with what she means

Ava: "Will it have a letter in it, too?"

Me: "Show me what you mean. Do you know where the (snicker) burrito crackers are?"

Ava nods and walks me to the kitchen. She goes to the pantry and ....

Me: "Ohhhhh, a fortune cookie?"

Ava nods in agreement. "That's what I said, mom! A burrito cracker with a letter in it."

Gotcha. Of course. A burrito cracker. How could I have missed that one?

Things That You Only See in Philly

Is that George Washington? Hope he doesn't lose his wig!

World's largest clothespin -- and yes, it actually works. Just in case Paul Bunyan needs to hang his wash out to dry.

Ok, this isn't limited to Philly, but before I moved here, I had never even heard of Tastykake. Like tomato pie, I don't get it. But Tastykake is very popular among the Philly folk.

Random Act of Culture - Flash Mobs

I came across a video by accident and I was so moved by its purpose, I had to share it! I'm just sorry I missed the event...it must have been absolutely incredible.

I've been in this Macy's a few times, and it holds The Wanamaker Grand Court Organ, which is the largest operational musical instrument in the world. Here's a picture I took of it when I first moved to Philly:

Have you ever heard of a flash mob (click to watch my favorite one!)? I love love love them! One of the biggest was done for Oprah by the Black Eyed Peas.

So here is the newest in flash mobs -- it's called "Random Acts of Culture" and Philadelphia was lucky enough to get one.

From the video's description:

On Saturday, October 30, 2010, the Opera Company of Philadelphia brought together over 650 choristers from 28 participating organizations to perform one of the Knight Foundation's "Random Acts of Culture" at Macy's in Center City Philadelphia. Accompanied by the Wanamaker Organ - the world's largest pipe organ - the OCP Chorus and throngs of singers from the community infiltrated the store as shoppers, and burst into a pop-up rendition of the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel's "Messiah" at 12 noon, to the delight of surprised shoppers. This event is one of 1,000 "Random Acts of Culture" to be funded by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation over the next three years. The initiative transports the classical arts out of the concert halls and opera houses and into our communities to enrich our everyday lives.

Imagine walking through Macy's, minding your own business, and then you start hearing this? Those people standing around aren't average shoppers - they're professional singers. And although it's not as exciting as a dancing flash mob, the acoustics and singing must have been incredible -- that's not a recording you'll hear -- it's 100% live and in person. Watch the video below to see (the end is the best part!).

I'm the Slave Driver!

Want to know what one of the best things about my kids getting older is?

CHORES.

Along with a few other things like being able to dress themselves and wipe their own butts, CHORES are one of the Best.Freakin.Parts. about being a parent right now.

Sure, chores sucked when I was a kid -- I had to dust the house, vacuum, clean the bathroom and do the dishes every night. I felt like a slave! Oh moooommmm, can't I just SKIP it this week? My mom would pretty much tell me to shut up and get to work.

But now...hehehe...it's MY turn to be the slave driver. Yessssss.

Ava is still learning - she thinks that throwing herself on the floor and screaming is going to get her out of it. She hasn't figured out that her mom is the slave drivahhh! Um yea, that Satan act ain't gonna work around here, girlfriend. I just tell her if she doesn't clean her room, she has to move out. That's worked so far, but I'm brainstorming notes on what I'll tell her when she figures that she doesn't have to pack up her room and live in the backyard.

Jack, on the other hand, is pretty good about chores. Oh god, did I just jinx myself? He (amazingly) doesn't mind cleaning. You should see his room -- it's perfectly organized, always picked up, and everything is in its place. He's been like that since birth. I don't know where it comes from -- he didn't get it from me, and The Hubs isn't OCD about cleanliness, either. I think it's just Jack. I'm not complaining. I tell him every Sunday when "it's time" and, if I'm lucky, he'll just say "ok" and go to it. I pay him a dollar a job.

What I enjoy the most about chores? That I don't have to clean the whole freakin house by myself anymore. Whooo! The Hubs helps out on Sundays, too, so sometimes I will just stand there and listen to the rest of the family...cleaning...dusting....vacumming....and oh my god....it's not me doing it? I have help?

Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus, for allowing my kids to grow up to the age where they can wipe their own asses and clean their rooms. God is great.

Amen.

Parp!

What is Parp, you ask?

I wanted to share with you what is possibly one of the funniest comic blogs I have ever read. It's called Hyperbole and a Half. A 20-something girl in Bend, Oregon writes it -- she portrays herself as a silly, stick-ish cartoon figure and has an amazing way of showing wide personalities and emotions like nobody's business through her stick-figure faces.

Parp! It's my new favorite word. Read The Party and you'll understand. One of the newest posts, The God of Cake, is also freakin hilarious. It's charming, silly and just plain fun. Enjoy it, and try not to pee your pants.

Willpower

I will not eat the candy. I will not eat the candy. I will not eat the candy. I will not eat the candy. I will not eat the candy. I will not eat the candy. I will not eat the candy!

Hymmmm, that Twix is looking awfully tasty...