It seems that everyone is really excited to put 2009 behind us. But, don't we say that every year? Is there ever a time someone says "Oh, I'm not looking forward to the new year? Let's stay in this year?" I don't think so.

But, I do think many people actually mean it this time. 2009 was a tough year for the economy which had a huge residual effect on many people's lives.

2009 was an interesting year for me. I'm the type of person that doesn't like to mope around and dwell on the negative. I try and learn something from all experiences, no matter how much they test my sanity or patience. So, after the roller coaster ride I was on in '09 I should be smarter than a Harvard grad.

Here's what I learned:

1.  Trust myself

2.  Go with my gut

3.  Don't try and change people

4.  My kids don't see the imperfections I see in myself

5.  My kids inspire me and give me strength to inspire them

6.  Don't wait too long to go to the dentist if one of your crowns crack

7.  I will never remember to take the reusable shopping bags to the grocery store

8.  Mariah Carey is the greatest female singer of all time

9.  Brett Favre wants me

10. You can't make someone happy who isn't happy with themselves

11. Be my true self, those that really love me and matter will accept me no matter what

12.  Do what makes you happy and everything else will fall into place

HAPPY NEW YEAR

MAY ALL YOUR DREAMS COME TRUE IN 2010

The other night, I was watching The Soul Train Music Awards and was captivated by Toni Braxton's performance with Trey Songz. Being from Atlanta, I have always been a huge Toni fan.

Once, I even contemplated (for 5 minutes) her short cropped "do" she sported in, "Love Shoulda Brought You Home". Phew....glad that was one idea I put on the backburner. She made that haircut work. I would have just looked like a boy.

She's had a successful singing career selling over 40 million records worldwide and 6 Grammy's under her belt. After recording 5 albums, Toni replaced Wayne Newton as the headlining act at the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas. Toni has also dabbled in acting being the first African American woman to play a Disney character leading role as Belle on Broadway in Beauty and the Beast.

It wasn't an easy road for Toni though. Early in her career she filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy. She's also had a couple medical scares with a benign tumor removed from her breast and a microvascular angina. She is currently going through a divorce with her husband of 8 years.

She has 2 sons, Denim, 8 years old and Diezel, 6 years old. Her younger son was diagnosed as Autistic. Toni is currently a spokesperson for Autism Speaks as well as the American Heart Association.

I admire her strength and resilience. I'm so glad she is back on the music scene. I look forward to her new album, "Pulse", which will be released in early 2010.

Keep bringing "The Heat" Toni! :-) You're beautiful, amazing, and such an inspiration.

Although Mariah Carey is my favorite singer of all time, Janet Jackson is probably a close second. She doesn't have the singing chops Mimi has, but she's a great performer and much better dancer (sorry Mimi...hugs).

Janet does not get enough respect in the music industry. She has set the video standard for many musical artists that followed. Without the inspiration of Janet Jackson, would we have Britney, Ciara, and The Cheetah Girls? LOL. Seriously, you know it's true. Janet Jackson raised the bar for female entertainers/performers.

Janet has a new album out called "Number Ones". It's a double disc with some of her greatest tracks plus her new single, "Make Me". It's on sale at amazon for $13.99.

So, I will anxiously await her opening 8 minute performance on the upcoming American Music Awards this Sunday. Tune in at 8PM on ABC. I'm sure Janet's performance will be "NASTY"!!!!!!

It should come as no surprise that I went to see "Precious" opening weekend.

Come on, it has 2 of my favorite people in Hollywood attached to it: Mariah and Oprah.

However, I got waaaaay more than I bargained for from the film.

Let's start off by saying I saw this movie in Hollywood, CA. Not sure if it's the theater location or the fact that the best selling female artist of all time, Mariah Carey, was in the movie, but I was totally surrounded by gay men. Very handsome and funny gay men. I had a blast in the theater while we were waiting for the movie to start dishing about all the hot guys in Hollywood. During the movie, the guy next to me even patted my shoulder when I got a little weepy (or maybe he was just tapping me to tell me to be quiet...IDK).

Anyway, the movie is the tale about a young girl that grows up in a home filled with abuse: sexual, physical, verbal, and emotional. It tells her story of survival, heartbreak, and strength. It's an amazing movie that is sure to grasp anyone in the audience in some way. The performances are extremely powerful, and definitely Oscar worthy.

Without giving too much of the movie away, as a mom and a female, I must say that the biggest message I took away with me is the strength we find when we have children. It's amazing how much crap we will endure for ourselves or how we will stay in toxic and miserable situations, but there is something to be said about the power, wisdom, and strength women find when they become a mother. Motherhood is such an amazing and beautiful journey. For me, it's my obligation and pleasure to stand up for my kids and protect them. Seeing Precious reminded me of this.

Many people have said that Precious looks depressing and they don't want to leave feeling sad. That wasn't the case for me.

*I left feeling empowered that I am an advocate for my boys knowing I always put their happiness and well being above all else, even if it means my sacrificing.

*I left feeling blessed and thankful that I had such a great childhood and that I have a family that always loves and supports me unconditionally.

*And I left with a smile on my face knowing that Mariah has finally been redeemed from all the criticism surrounding her acting performance in Glitter (which really is a great movie, BTW).

And if none of that interests you to go see the movie...go to see the sexy/hot nurse!!!! That was an added bonus.

Enjoy!

If you've seen the movie, what did you think?

Wow! This is love.

Gotta love Nick for getting into the Halloween spirit.

What else would someone with an album titled "Memoirs of An Imperfect Angel" wear for a Halloween celebration? BTW, that is my all time favorite Mariah cd ever. It's amazing.

I'm a Tiger.

No, really, I'm a Tiger.

I went to 2 colleges with the Tiger as their mascot. Wait, my elementary school had the Tiger as a mascot too. So, it's settled. I'm a Tiger.

Recently, the mighty LSU Tigers football team played my hometown school, UGA (I went there too).

I made a friendly wager with a couple UGA alumni. I talked a tiny bit of trash before the big game.

My team won (of course). What did the losers wage in the bet? They donated their facebook status to me for the day. This is getting good right? Here's what they were lucky enough to post...

"Nora Strassburger Moore is a goddess. She has superior taste in football & music. I enjoyed getting spanked by the #4 ranked, 2-time BCS Champion, LSU Tigers. UGA sucks. We never had a chance. I will celebrate LSU's superiority by listening to the #1 selling female artist of all time, Mariah Carey. She is almost as perfect as Nora and LSU. GEAUX TIGERS!!!"

The moral of the story? Don't eff with me and my Tigers.

GEAUX LSU!!!!

My dad is turning 70 years old today.

Morris said "Grandpa Gus is so cool because he is the oldest person I know. 70 is so close to 100". But, don't let the age fool you. My dad still runs 3 miles a day, drinks at least a 6 pack of Bud Light every night, and swears like a gangsta rapper.

We'll be celebrating in Memphis, TN in the homeland of his favorite singer, Elvis Presley. I probably won't mention to my dad that Mariah Carey (my favorite singer) recently surpassed "The King" with more #1 singles.

As a child, there were many things my parents did that I didn't understand or like. However, as a mom,  I can now appreciate these actions and intend to pass them on in some form to my boys. 

1. The value of a dollar- Growing up, I seriously thought we were poor. We weren't, but I was never "given" anything that I wanted. When I wanted the cool pink Converse, I remember my dad taking me by the Footlocker for many weeks to admire them in the window. I went on a mission to earn money for a month doing extra chores around the house (I even mowed the lawn once, can you imagine?!). Sweet glory, the day I finally marched in that store and didn't come out empty handed.

2. Working hard- It was understood in our house that once you turned 15 years old you would be getting a job to earn money to buy the little luxuries you desired. But also, I was taught the value of saving money as well. So when I got my very first paycheck from Benetton, my dad drove me straight to Trust Company Bank to open my first Savings account. Thanks to the work ethic my parents instilled in me, I had a steady job from the time I was 15 until I was 30 and had Morris. 

3. The importance of education- Good grades were not rewarded in our house. They were expected. While all of my friends were given $5 per "A" earned on a report card, I got a big hug and a reward dinner at my favorite Chinese Restaurant. But when I graduated with honors from Clemson University, that was reward enough.

4. Unconditional love and positive reinforcement- I did some REALLY dumb things growing up. I know we all do, but man, I am too embarrassed to list them, but I will say no matter how much I ran the phone bill up, how many cavities I got from sneaking too much candy, or how many of my friends called collect from jail, I always knew my mom and dad loved, supported, and believed in me.

5. Committment to family-  My dad was present at every basketball and football game I cheered, no matter how bad the team sucked or if I was on "cheer probation" or not. I could always count on seeing him in the stands even when there was only a handful of fans. I never knew how "important" my dad was at his job because when an event was important to me, he was never tardy or absent. He was always involved in PTA, carpools, after school events, and even shuttled me back and forth to work, the mall, and movies.

My dad is the most intelligent, charitable, honorable, and humble man I know. I must credit him for many of my good traits including my keen appreciation for a potty words, love of farting and burping in public, and the ability to penny pinch. But most of all, I'm a great mom to Morris and Bronson because of the fine example he set as a father.

Many wishes to my dad for a joyous 70th Birthday.

And in honor of my wonderful dad, I will put my vanity aside for your viewing pleasure to enjoy these less than flattering photos. But you can definitely feel the love!