Congratulaions to Celine Dion and her family. 

At 42 years old, and 6 IVF attempts, Celine is expecting twin boys.

She currently has a 9 year old son, Rene Charles.

I hope she does another motherhood album. Her album, Miracle, is definitely a must have for all parents, especially those with boys. 

So, I live in LA, and yes, I love fashion, but I'm not a slave to it.

I haves tons of friends that are crazy for Louboutins. You know, the shoes with the red soles that all the celebs wear out and about.

Sorry....I just don't get it. 

Maybe bc I'm not your typical shoe girl. I have a few pairs of shoes in basic colors. I don't need 30 pairs of black heels, 10 animal prints, and 20 adorned with rhinestones, glitter, and other annoying sparkly crap that just fall off and pose a choking hazard for my 2 year old.

Just a couple black, gold, and a few neutrals and I'm good. 

I know many of you are probably up in arms ready to gauge my eyeballs out with your Manolo heel, but I really don't see the big deal with Louboutins. Girls in LA are crazy for them. JLo even made a song about them (it was a flop, but still, they have a song). And yes, Oprah wears them ALL THE TIME.

Now, I love Oprah, just like any other person with a vagina, but really, do I wanna be wearing the same shoes as Oprah? Diamonds, YES! Shoes? Ummmm.....not so much.

Louboutins either look like something that need to be worn on Wall Street or to a strip club. 

Now, perhaps I am waaay off base here and Louboutins are really the bomb. I'm not saying I'd turn down a pair that might mysteriously arrive on my doorstep for more "research". I'm just saying for $1,000, I can find something waaaay cuter for a fraction of the price.

Here is my evidence hot off the Fall 2010 Louboutin line at Neiman Marcus:

Tassled platform bootie $1,495

Are you serious? This reminds me of my high school graduation cap.

Spiked boot $1,795

Who would spend money on this crap? It looks like an art project Mo and B decorated.

Toundra booty fur $2,095

Yes! These shoes are $2000. At least they named them right. They look like they have the booty of a poodle or something else crawling on them. These shoes are SOOOOO ugly. YUCK! I'd feel like someone's dog was humping my foot all night.

Jem Velours Pump $1,195

They should call this the Laura Engle Stripper Shoe

The moral of the the story is this: Yes, Louboutin has some fabulous shoes, but use your brain people, don't just buy something because of the name or else you will have people like me talking about ya!

Independence Day honors the birthday of the United States of America and the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.

It's a day of picnics and patriotic parades, a night of concerts and fireworks, a great reason to fly the American flag and sing the Star Spangled Banner.

Here are 2 of my favorite renditions of our National Anthem.

Morris at 22 months old, and Whitney Houston.

Both of them give me chills.

Which one is your favorite?

Alicia Keys is preggers by her fiance, Swizz Beatz.

She looks beautiful pregnant. I think this is the prettiest I've ever seen her. Her skin is flawless and she looks so happy.

I'm just wondering how she's gonna keep her highlights up. I remember everyone chewing me out about hair dye when I was pregnant with Mo (Not that I followed all the rules, just an observation). Maybe it's an entertainment industry secret or some "natural" dye. Do tell!!!!

I predict and will anxiously anticipate an album about motherhood in her future. Motherhood changes you, Alicia. Welcome to the club!!!!

Check her out 5 months pregnant (and glowing) performing on Good Morning America. Cute lil baby bump. Go Alicia!

i am not a makeup junkie. A little lipgloss, a little mascara, a good moisturizer and viola'. So, this allows me to really focus on my staples. I finally found a great lipgloss that I am in love with. The YSL gloss pur line is my favorite!

*it smells like mango

*it isn't sticky and chunky

*there are amazing colors

I really hate when I wear my hair down and a few strands grace my lips then my hair is just glued to my mouth. Yuck. So disgusting. And my hair is usually dirty since I only wash it a few times a month. Anyway, Yves Saint Laurent (YSL) makes the best lipgloss. It's a little pricey at $30 but well worth it. 

And for you flashier moms, there are a few colors that have real 24K gold flakes in it for that extra shine. 

ENJOY!

I have been really busy lately. You probably can tell since I haven't written a blog entry in a couple weeks. Don't take it personally. I really did miss you.

A video was shot at Mo's elementary school to raise awareness about the insane budget cuts in public schools in California. They used 5th grade students, the principal, and parents from our school community.

Unfortunately, I was so busy, I was unable to attend and support this great cause. I was however, thrilled that they chose Transformer actress Megan Fox to portray me. Awesome, right? (I was thinking more along the lines of Mariah Carey, Roselyn Sanchez, Brooke Burke, even Vanessa Hudgens, but hey....I'm not complaining).

Seriously, my 5 year old attends the public school this PSA was filmed at. California public schools, and schools across America are experiencing gigantic budget cuts which will greatly affect our kids and ultimately our future.

I attended public school from Kindergarten up to college. Aren't I shining example of what public education produces.

Please watch the video and sign the online petition to help support our children's education.

Growing up with a father from Wisconsin, you constantly hear about 3 things: snow, cheese, and the Green Bay Packers.

So, my whole life I thought I was a Packer fan. But in August 2008, Packer quarterback Brett Favre signed with the NY Jets (and later to the MN Vikings). I  realized I was actually a Brett Lorenzo Favre fan. Screw the Pack.

I am a huge fan for many reasons, but it has very little to do with football.

Of course he is one of the most amazing quarterbacks of all time, but come on guys, this isn’t ESPN, it’s a mom blog. I’m not here to rattle off sports statistics.

As a mom with 2 boys (and a woman with a heart), it goes much deeper than that. I already know Morris and Bronson like sports and it is inevitable that they will look up to an athlete. I hope as my boys get older they will respect and appreciate Brett Favre not only for his athletic greatness, but for at least one of the following:

He’s passionate about what he does. The average career in the NFL is 3.5 seasons according to the NFLPA. Brett just completed his 19th season in the League. He has even retired twice and came back to the game.

He’s a family man. His wife Deanna (his college sweetheart) is often seen at the games. He constantly mentions how she is such a driving force in his life. They have 2 daughters, Brittany (21) and Breleigh (10).

He’s honest. He always tells it like it is and is very candid. He commands his press conferences/interviews with his Southern humor and charm.

He’s humble. He’s a gracious winner….and loser. Credit is given to his teammates and opponents. I am amazed to see how much time he spends at the end of a game hugging the opposing team. You can even see him chatting up the other quarterback and coaches for extended periods of time. 

He has an amazing work ethic. I already see how young kids want instant gratification with little time or effort put in. He holds the record for most consecutive starts by a quarterback at 285 games!!! Who in the world plays 285 games straight? That’s more amazing than having perfect attendance all 12 years of school. Brett is known for triumphing amid adversity. Some of his best games were played while seriously injured or coping with personal tragedy (such as the passing of his father, his mother's home loss during Hurricane Katrina, and his wife's battle with breast cancer).

I have grown up with and gone to college with many guys that played in the NFL and they all have nothing but nice things to say about Brett Favre. In any profession, the opinion of your co-workers goes a long way.

But the other day, I had the opportunity to meet this great man and now I can voice my opinion.

My friend Gayle got tickets to see Brett (we’re on a 1st name basis now) on the Tonight Show and invited me to attend with her. After the show, we’re escorted to the Green Room. When Brett comes out, I feel a sense of calm. I forget he’s one of the greatest football players and feel like I’m back in high school. He’s so humble and down to earth, I’m taken back to my high school days after the game. It’s like he just came out of the locker room and I still have my cheer leading uniform on. I almost blurt out, “should we head to McDonald’s or Taco Bell?”

He's so gracious and charming. He was visiting LA to take his daughter to see Miley Ray Cyrus and is traveling with his mother-in-law and Priest, both of which we meet. I can easily relate to their humble down home attitude. They're from Mississippi and I'm from Georgia, instant connection! lol. 

After conversation and picture taking, his Priest orders me to turn my back to Brett (I thought the Priest was gonna do some kind of Catholic ritual since Brett had just taken a photo with me, to wash away all the bad sins or something...lol). But I feel something pressing on my shoulder, and it's Brett autographing my jersey!!!!!!!! I joked with the Priest that I thought he was about to bless me or something and he said, "I just did."

And he was right. It was such a blessing and a joy to meet Brett and see that he is everything and more that I thought he would be. And I hope our 15 minute interaction has inspired him to come back for his 20th season in the NFL and win Super Bowl 2011!!!

By now, we realize that tattoos are mainstream. They're not just for truckers and Hell's Angels.

Tats are cool.

Moms are letting the world know we are proud to be parents and getting inked up with our kid's names.

Moms with tats are waaaaaay cool.

Check out these celeb moms and their kiddie tats:

Heidi Klum has her husband, Seal's name and the first initial of her children on her forearm.

Julia Roberts has the name of her 3 children on her lower back.

Angelina Jolie has the geographical coordinates where her children were born or where she adopted them.

...and a host of others, all very meaningful to her. AJ rocks!

Victoria Beckham surprisingly has many tattoos with various meanings. She has hubby, David Beckham's initials on left wrist; five stars representing herself, her three sons, and her husband, on lower back; Hebrew text, from the Song of Songs, "I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine," on neck and upper back, and the date she and her husband first had sex on her wrist.

People love dogs.

People in LA LOOOOOVE dogs.

It's not just Paris Hilton or something you see in movies. LA people really love their dogs as if they were their first born child.

Jesse James and wife actress Sandra Bullock recently lost their 9 month old Pitbull, Cinnabun. The couple offered a $2,000 reward that was later incresed to $5,000 for her safe return. They also enlisted the help of a pet finders, Find Toto, to help. Think of this group as an Amber Alert for animals.

Jesse tweated about their missing dog and got over 17,000 responses.

After "Cinny" had been missing for a little over 3 weeks, she was returned by a stranger to his bike shop, West Coast Choppers. 

I only speak on this because when I first moved to LA 11 years ago, I couldn't believe the human attraction to dogs here. I thought it merely another one of those cliche Los Angeles things like men over 45 marrying a 20 something yoga instructor.

I would huff and puff each time I saw an Angeleno exchange saliva with their little Fe-Fe or tote little Snookum around the mall in a rhinestone sweater and 14K pooch collar via a designer carrier. It was quite funny.

Then...a few years later I got a dog.

I have never been a "dog person".

In fact I really don't like dogs. I only liked mine.

I actually get annoyed when people's dogs come up to me and sniff, lick, stare at me. BUT, I loved my sweet Buster. And as I bonded with my gentle giant, I quickly understood the magical connection between man and dog.When he died some years ago, I cried my eyes out. I even got a new watch to help ease the pain and take my mind off the loss of my buddy, but it only helped for a day or 2. The Cartier powers that be could not mask my devotion to dear Buster.

I couldn't believe how attached I was to my 4 legged friend.

Some people chastised Jesse and Sandra for offering a $5,000 reward and their massive efforts to retrieve their lost pup. I totally understand that you can't put a price on happiness. Congrats to Jesse and Sandra for the safe return of their  "baby".

Now, don't get me wrong. I still don't like dogs, if one of those annoying yappy pups comes up to me while I'm eating a salad at a cafe, I'll probably kick it or talk about the owner when they leave. But I really am happy for Jesse and Sandra.

Buster with 10 month old Mo

What a sweet face!!! I still miss my Buster.

Dear Mo and Bronson,

I know as you boys get older you will start to read mommy's blog. So let's just pretend we are in the future and approaching your 16th birthdays.

I'm guessing you'll be into cars and hip hop. That's cool. You might even watch the MTV hit, My Super Sweet Sixteen which showcases over the top birthday celebrations. That's fine also.

But even if mommy is rich and jet setting from Cali to Capri on a regular basis (oooh...the law of attraction), let me tell you in advance how your 16th birthday WON'T be going down:

*You won't be getting a $360,000 Maybach. You might get a Mazda (in which I'm gonna need to help for half as well as your car insurance).

*You won't have Fabolous, Jim Jones, or Lil Kim perform at your mega exclusive A-List birthday bash. You might have your high school gospel choir or Glee Club there to sing Happy Birthday. Or maybe one of my friends that had a record deal many years ago could possibly chime in a hook or 2.

*I will not hire a uniformed driver to accompany you home. I might dress up in a cute ensemble given that my boobs and butt are still decently in tact and drive you home to make sure you get there safely (and you better give me a goodnight kiss).

*I will not be handing you a check for $10,000 as a birthday gift. I might hand you the bill from the evening and offer to pay a portion of it.

Yes, Morris and Bronson, this might be the fabulous life of Sean "P. Diddy" Combs's son, Justin's life, but not yours.

You will be lucky if I let you stay out past midnight (given I have a GPS tracker on you somehow). And don't even think about brining any little girls home.

Forget about it!!!!

Well, it's probably getting late. Don't forget to brush your teeth. And put that toilet seat down!

Oh, and Happy 16th Birthday boys.

Love, Mommy