Have you missed me? :)

As do most things in Los Angeles, my blog is currently getting a facelift.

I should be up and posting in a week, fresh faced and all.

Hope you enjoy the new look.

One of my favorite sayings is "Game recognizes game".

When I came across Kickette, I knew I had found my blog bestie!

This site is dedicated to fashion and HAWT SOCCER PLAYERS!!!! Umm....hello! This is the best combo since peanut butter and jelly, Mork and Mindy, Ashford and Simpson.

Their logline is:

"For those who love the players as much as they love the game."

And they post pics like this:

And i thought Mariah was my only soul sister....these girls at Kickette definitely know their ahem...soccer.

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?

It's official: this guy loves me!

Who is he?

• Full Name: Fernando Torres
• Squad No: 9
• Position: Forward
• Age: 26
• Birth Date: Mar 20, 1984
• Birth Place: Fuenlabrada, Madrid
• Height: 6' 1'' (1.85m)
• Weight: 174 lbs (78.7 kg)

What better way to profess your love for someone than tatting their name on your body?

He has "nora" tatted on his right forearm.

After shielding numerous calls from espn and tmz inquiring about my connection with Torres (not really, I'm totally lying), I did some research and discovered that Nora is the name of his daughter. He has his wife's name, Olalla on his opposite arm.

Still gotta love it. 

He's on the far left...note the "NORA" tatt on his right arm

Fernando, his wife, and the "other" Nora

Alright you big ballers, the Treasury Department is unveiling a new $100 bill.

It is the first remake of the denomination since 1996.

There are a few noted changes. They include watermarks and an embedded security thread. I'm excited about the color shifting ink. It changes hue while viewing. It starts out this really pretty coral color (my favorite).

Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner says will be more difficult for criminals to copy.

"As with previous US currency redesigns, this note incorporates the best technology available to ensure we're staying ahead of counterfeiters," Mr. Geithner says in a statement. So what's so great about the new $100 bill, anyway? In a word: state-of-the-art science. The new $100 bill gets an array of security features, including an image of the Liberty Bell which reportedly changes color from copper to green when the note is tilted.

But the biggest upgrade is a blue "3D Security Ribbon." That's right: the same 3D craze that swept throughmovie theaters, television screens, and video game systems, is now coming to the pocket of a well-heeled American near you. US Treasury says the 3D ribbon would appear on the front of new $100 notes, which are set to enter circulation in February 2011.

The strip contains a series of images of bells and digits; tip the note, and the images come into 3D relief. And you don't even need a pair of those dorky 3D glasses to make sure you're looking at a genuine Benjamin. "It only takes a few seconds to check the new $100 note and know it's real," says Larry R. Felix, Director of the Treasury's Bureau of Engraving and Printing.

But....other than that, it's pretty much the same Ben Franklin with that stale smile and played out perm. 

Taxes are due Thursday, April 15, there are a few places trying to help ease the stress.

-- FREE COFFEE AND TREATS

CINNABON: Get two free bite-sized cupcakes from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at participating mall locations as part of "Tax Day Bites!" Flavors include Chocolate Passion, 24-Carrot Cake, Vanilla Bliss and Cinnacake Classic.

MAGGIEMOO'S: Get one free slice of ice cream pizza -- ice cream with red frosting to look like sauce and white chocolate to look like cheese -- at participating locations from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday.

STARBUCKS: Get free brewed coffee all day Thursday if you bring your own mug, a promotion the cafe chain says is friendly to the environment as well as taxpayers.

-- DISCOUNTED MEALS

BOSTON MARKET: For a "last-minute tax break" -- one free meal for each one you buy Thursday through Sunday -- show this coupon: http://bit.ly/d1YlRO

IHOP: Expanding on the tax deduction parents get for kids, the restaurant chain is offering free dinner for one child age 12 or younger with each adult meal purchased 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. all month long.

MCCORMICK & SCHMICK'S: The seafood restaurant is offering $10.40 dinner and drink specials in the bar on Thursday -- a nod to the 1040 tax form. Bar guests who come in April 15 also receive a $10.40 gift certificate for a later visit. And professional tax preparers, who may have to work right until the midnight deadline Thursday, get their freebie Friday: dessert on the house plus a $10.40 certificate if they show a business card.

P.F. CHANG'S: Get 15 percent off food purchases for dine-in or take-out, excluding alcohol and happy hour food and beverages.

-- STRESS RELIEF

HYDROMASSAGE: Get a free massage Thursday through Sunday at participating locations. The mall-based massage chain suggests calling ahead to book an appointment. Find a location athttp://www.hydromassage.com/taxday.

What do me, Danica Patrick, Juvenile, Elton John, and Sarah Jessica Parker have in common?  Well, in addition to great hair and expensive taste in clothes, we all share the same birthday.  You can see what celebrities were born on the same day as you here.

"Sunshine on My Shoulders" by John Denver could have been blasting in the delivery room while my mom was pushing me out.  It was the #1 song on my birthday.  This site lets you see the #1 song for any particular date: your birthday, anniversary, etc.  On the day Morris was born, it was "Let it Burn" by Usher, and my MD was doing the tootsie roll to "Lollipop" by Lil Wayne as she pulled a breeched Bronson out.

If you want to know how old you are in dog years, your birth tree, or when you were concieved (TMI for me) then check out this site.  It will give you a gazillion tidbits regarding the day you were born.  I will sleep much bettr tonight knowing that the Mayan Calendar long count date of my birthday is 12.18.0.12.7 which is 12 baktun 18 katun 0 tun 12 uinal 7 ki.  

And last but not least, I just might grab some free grub at Black Angus, Captain D's, Daphne's Greek Cafe, or Souplantation then hop on over to Baskin Robbins for a free 2.5 scoop of ice cream.  This site shows you all kinds of freebies you can get in your neighborhood or online for your birthday.  The free swag doesn't stop there.  You can also check out the freebies for your kids and your pet. 

So, don't be a birthday scrooge on your special day.  These sites will hopefully make getting older (and wiser) just a little bit of fun.

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!!!

Ok, so I know I have been neglecting you guys. I have a good reason (excuse). I am in the process of moving.

We all know what a PITA moving is. On top of that, I didn't have internet service for SEVEN days (gasp). Now I know what it's like to be Amish. 

Anyway, I promise I'll be back up and running soon. And I will be a happier Nora (with a lot to say). 

Thanks for your patience. You don't have a choice.  :)

Living in California, makes me very conscious to earthquakes. I've been through a few minor ones, but none the magnitude of the 7.0 earthquake that shook Haiti on January 12, 2010.

I can only imagine the devastation to a country that is desperartely poor and politically unrest.

Without the help from other countries, it would be incredibly challenging to coordinate mass relief efforts from such a major natural disaster.

Haiti might be a small country, but it is mighty. The Haitian Revolution (1791-1804), the successful slave revolt against the French, established Haiti as the second independent country in the Western Hemisphere. There is no doubt the Haitian people are resilient, but international help is essential for a new beginning.

Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere, 80% of Haitians live below the poverty line. It also has the highest rates of infant, under-5 and maternal mortality. 

As a mother, seeing pictures of children alone and scared really resonates with me. That could easily be me or my kids. Perhaps one day me or someone in my family could be in a position that we could benefit from the kindness of strangers.

For those interested in helping, something known as "text donations" have been popular. You simply type a code in a text message to a number and the dollar amount is added on to your cell phone bill. I have done this and it is highly efficient and very easy.

You can do this with The Red Cross and Yele (an organization established by entertainer Wyclef Jean).

Text "Haiti" to the number 90999 to make a $10 donation to the Red Cross. 

Text "Yele" to the number 501501 to make a $5 donation to Yele.

Other organizations and sites to make donations or get information are:

American Red Cross

The American Red Cross, which is almost three-times bigger than the next-biggest charity listed here, is providing support to Haitians affected by the earthquake. 

Food for the Poor Haiti Earthquake Relief

Food for the Poor is providing emergency relief to earthquake victims.

World Vision Haiti Earthquake Relief

World Vision is distributing relief supplies – including food, clean water, blankets and tents to children and families impacted by the earthquake and aftershocks in Haiti.

Care Haiti Earthquake Relief

Care is sending helping to rescue people from the rubble, and providing food and water.

UNICEF Haiti Earthquake Relief

UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund, is providing immediate support, even though its own offices in Port-au-Prince were devastated by the earthquake. At this writing, the UNICEF USA donation page is down, though.

Samaritan's Purse Haiti Earthquake Relief

Samaritan's Purse dispatched a team just hours after the quake to help with water, shelter, medical care and other emergency needs. We will focus on medical help, shelter, clean water and hygiene supplies.

World Food Program Haiti Earthquake Relief

Friends of World Food Program works in the U.S. to support the U.N.'s World Food Programme, which is supplying food to Haitians during the crisis.

Global Giving Haiti Earthquake Relief

Global Giving has launched an emergency earthquake relief fund that will provide emergency assistance.

Fonkoze  is providing emergency relief to earthquake victims.

Fonkoze is Haiti’s alternative bank for the organized poor. It is a family of three institutions working together towards a single compelling mission: building the economic foundations for democracy in Haiti by providing the rural poor with the tools they need to lift themselves out of poverty. 

Partners In Progress

Partners in Progress help the organized poor of Haiti help themselves to increase human capacity for living with dignity by promoting and advancing a Fondwa community  model of (sustainable) rural development through educational outreach and resource networking.