Extreme Guide to Parenting: Will you be watching?

The trailer for this new show airing on Bravo has caught my attention. I am looking forward to seeing all these different "Extreme Parents". I'll be watching the episodes every week and sharing my thoughts here. I hope you'll join me to share some of your own!

Video Diary 8132013

A BIG HUGE Thank you to all the Chic Moms that submitted their funny stories for Part II of What Not to Say to Moms. I enjoyed reading all your stories. Have a happy Tuesday!

Video Diary 7312013

I wanted to share my plan for getting back into shape after the baby. I am going to attempt to use the same plan that I used after having Savannah. My goal is to be in great shape by the time I turn thirty in February. I don't have a goal weight or size. I just want to feel good and be as toned as possible without looking like a body builder. 

Ab Workouts

This app makes you watch a twenty minute video before you're able to do any of the work outs. That was kind of irritating but it might be helpful to you. 

Nike Training Club

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this app! There are several workouts to choose from within the different categories. Each workout is broken down into minutes. I like that feature because I can break down the work outs if I'm short on time. You can also try the workouts in the Get Focused category if you need a shorter workout. Those workout target a specific area for about 15 minutes. This app works. Trust me. I  used it after I had Sav and I had some really great results. 

What are some of your favorite ways to workout?

The Bachelorette Episode 5

Oh Emily. Did you really keep Doug and that other guy whose name I can not remember at the moment? I mean really. I haven't seen you with that one guy all season. Doug has always been a favorite of mine since he got the first impression rose. I still feel like he's getting a harder time than all the other bachelors. I'm not really sure why she kept both of them. She says it's because of what Ryan told her before she sent him home, but I'm willing to be ratings have more to do with it.

It does seem like she has a strong connection with everyone that's left. Which is kind of weird, gross and crazy all at the same time. One of the things that I hate about the show is seeing the Bachelor/ette kissing all the contestants. Ugh. I can not imagine how any of them could feel special or think their connection is any deeper than the next person's. Grosses. Me. Out.

On another note, I must say that I have enjoyed seeing all of Emily's gowns. The stylist is doing a great job with her wardrobe. Her rose ceremony dress could have easily been a reception dress for a bride. Or maybe a vow renewal gown? It was gorgeous. I have no idea where this season is headed but I'd be willing to bet that Arie and maybe Sean will be in the top three. They would have to mess up pretty bad to get sent home at this point. Prague is the next stop on their trip. I wonder if she'll be sending two bachelors home next week? We'll have to watch and see!

The Bachelorette Episode 4

What can I say? This week's episode was pretty good. We are getting to see more and more of Emily's personality and I love it. She's so funny and down to earth. It was great seeing her with Sean this week. I think their connection is pretty strong. He may be the new front runner.

Ryan, Jeff, Doug and Arie are my picks for the last five. I am very surprised at her chemistry with Jeff. Something about them seems so off, like she's forcing that connection. Hopefully his personality will come out more in the next epsiode. Ryan also seems like he's stepping up. I think she likes it that he's not all that impressed by her beauty. He treats her so differently than the other bachelors and it is refreshing to watch. Emily probably appreciates that about him too.

I am a litle bummed out that Doug did not get more credit for being the whistle blower on the Kalon situation. I mean, she kind of acted as if no one had her back when in fact Doug told her as soon as he found out. You could see that Emily was so disappointed in Arie. He should have spoken up. I think this situation exposed Arie's inner wimp. I am so glad Kalon is gone.

Is anyone else watching this season? Aren't you glad Kalon is out of there?



Sesame Street: Change the World

I love the message of this video! Sesame Street has been playing it a lot lately, great job!

The Bachelorette Episode 3

I really enjoyed this week's episode of The Bachelorette. Emily finally sent one of the guys who never had a chance home. She spent some time with Doug, whom you know is one of my fave Bachelors. What I didn't expect was for her and Arie (the race car driver) to hit it off so well! She had some great chemistry with Chris too, but I mean Arie really seems to be the new front runner.

Arie and Emily were serenaded by Dolly Parton. Dolly sang one of my favorite songs to them, her "To the Moon and Back" (this may not be the official name of the song, ha ha) is a classic. I can't wait to see what happens in Bermuda. Hopefully, she'll send Kalon home. Mainly, because his face doesn't move when he talks and he's a bit of a spoiled jerk.

Another thing I loved about this week is you got to see more Emily's personality. She's actually really funny. Maybe I am biased because we are both Charlotte girls. She reminds me so much of the girls I went to high school with. I'm pretty sure she'll get asked to do some other things when this show is done. I don't watch Dancing with The Stars but I could totally see her doing that show too. Is anyone else watching The Bachelorette? 

The Bachelorette Episode 2

On last night's episode Emily went out on a solo date with Ryan. She took him to run errands and bake cookies. Then they went out to dinner where they were swarmed by some of the local residents. After dinner they dance while listening to one of Emily's favorite bands. It seemed so awkward because the crowd was watching and people had their cell phones out taking video. Weird. But Ryan and Emily seemed to have some really nice chemistry.

On the group date, she took about 12 of the bachelors to meet Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy. They were separated into groups and performed a show for charity. It was really cute. Chris and Emily seemed to be having a great connection during their one on one time. So I was really shocked when she gave the date rose to Jeff. They had a little time together after the group date but I didn't notice anything special between them.

Joe got the last solo date. He got to go on a traditional over the top date. She seemed to be really smitten by Joe before the date. They took a private jet to West Virgina, Emily's home state. Their date took place at The Greenbier. A historical hotel that's over 100 years old. While they were in West Virgina trouble was brewing at the mansion with guys. Kalon accused single dad Doug of putting being a father on hold to come do the show. Doug quickly put him in his place, I enjoyed that bit of drama.

Back at The Greenbrier Emily and Joe have left the pool and changed into formal attire. Emily is a tough interrogator and her questions seemed to be throwing Joe off. I don't really see a strong connection between them. She ended up sending him home. She actually cried about it. Weird. Her reasoning was that she didn't know where she fit into his life. How could you know that? It's the first date. The real reason she sent him home was because there was absolutely no chemistry. I'm pretty bummed that Doug didn't get a solo date this week. I would have liked to see them together more.

Has anyone else been following the show? Who do you think are the front runners so far?

The Bachelorette Episode 1

Okay. So here's the thing. I like reality tv. It doesn't matter if they're competing, fighting, or trying to become the next big 15 minute star. I will watch it. I'll watch makeovers, make unders and make ups to break ups. The Bachelorette is sure to deliver all of these. Since I find myself to be somewhat of a reality tv expert I decided that it would be fun to blog about this season.

Why this season you ask? Well, for starters the beloved Emily from the Brad Womack season of The Bachelor is our Bachelorette. C'mon you know you were secretly pulling for her! Like most fairytales her prince suddenly turned into a douche bag once the magic of the cameras was over. Disney tends to leave that part out of the movies, so this may be the first you've ever heard of an unhappily ever after. Luckily for Emily some genius over at ABC knew she'd be tv gold and asked her to come back to be the next Bachelorette. And with a wave of a wand Emily was a princess yet again.

Another reason this season holds a special place in my heart is because it was filmed in Charlotte, NC. The Queen City. Home of the Carolina Panthers and the Charlotte Bobcats. And now The Bachelorette. I grew up in Charlotte and I must admit I'm pretty excited to see the city as a back drop this season. Anyways, I digress...

So, if you watched the show last night you saw Emily's daughter and their home. Cute girl, cute house. If you remember from BW's season he visited Emily in that house so I was glad to see that she didn't upgrade for the cameras. Not that she needs to, her house is quite lovely. As I was watching her I thought to myself "Why is this beautiful girl on tv looking for love?" She seems to really "have it all" already. I'm sure with time Emily would have found love the ole fashioned way. Then again, from what I hear from my single girl friends in Charlotte, the pickins there are pretty slim. So...maybe not.

The guys this season seem to be like the the bachelors from all the other seasons. There is the obvious sweet guy, Doug, who is a single Dad. A few funny guys. Randy dressed up as a grandma to catch Emily's attention. It didn't work. Randy did not receive a rose at the end of the night. Sometimes less really is more. The jerk of the season appears to be Kalon, who arrived via helicopter. The other guys hated that. Emily passed out the coveted first impression rose to Doug (he deserved it). If Doug doesn't blow it, he may win this whole thing. Only time will tell. A preview of the season shows lots of drama. I can't remember excatly but I'm pretty sure our sweet Emily even drops the "F-bomb" while kicking someone out of the house. So yes, I am excited to follow these crazy people as they travel to beautiful places in hopes of becoming Mr.Emily Maynard and the winner of The Bachelorette.