If you're like me, you probably don't have time to plan and cook a traditional Thanksgiving family feast from scratch, but I know we'd all love to this for our families. From purchasing a frozen turkey, making sure it's completely thawed by cooking time, to home-made stuffing and pumpkin pie, it's all very overwhelming.    more »

Photo by Suzette Valle

The week-end before Thanksgiving, we drove to Venice, California to attend a private party and presentation of LOOT, Sharon Waxman's latest piece de resistance about stolen antiquities. The gathering was hosted by three of Sharon's good friends, Paula Silver (marketing exec. for the now classic movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding), Liz Ondaatje, a public policy researcher at the RAND Corporation (and mother of four), and journalist and Green Mom blogger Liz Benenson.

The group was enthralled by the stories Sharon uncovered while researching the provenance of many statues, obelisks and other famous art pieces we have grown accustomed to seeing displayed in museums around the world, except in the very country where they came from.

Sharon's fascinating journey and discovery of political maneuvering taking place in the world of antiquities -- from the Getty to the Louvre, to San Diego's Mingei Museum, all play a part in LOOT -- and the book is already garnering acclaim from both readers and critics.

Sharon and Suzette

So, how could parents connect some of these cultural aspects (which could seem too sophisticated or boring for some kids), with our current family routines? In doing a little research for this post, I came across a new website that does exactly this: KidsOffTheCouch.com. 

"By the time they finish watching "The Hideaways," about a brother and sister who run away from

home and spend a week hiding out in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, children just might be up

Two moms created the site, and it links cultural activities to a related movie so kids will be interested in what might be an otherwise unpalatable outing. Happy Travels!

Beginning to Look a lot like (a glum) Christmas?

GM, Ford and Chrysler chiefs criticized for taking jets to bail-out hearing

Loot: The Battle over the Stolen Treasures of the Ancient World by Sharon Waxman

Twilight's advanced ticket sales setting records Midnight Show pre-sale tickets

A few weeks ago, I had to borrow my daughter's cell phone to make a call because I'd left mine at home. I thought this was a simple request; she would be at softball practice while I went grocery shopping so she wouldn't need her phone anyway. After posing the question, I got a serious stare accompanied by the declaration, "My phone is personal, mom".    more »

It's incredible to see teen-age girls carrying around the 500 plus page Stephanie Meyer novels and consuming them in a matter of days; over 17 million copies of "Twilight" have sold over the last few years, and I would think teachers probably wish this were the reaction to some of the reading material middle school and high school students are forced to read.    more »

I've written quite a bit about the Jonas Brothers trying to stick to my blog's focus on how Hollywood and teen celebrities influence our youth. However, I have to let you know I ran across a promotion twist for the siblings' upcoming concert in San Diego, Ca. which I'm trying to evaluate whether it's a twist or if it's twisted.

Driving home after softball practice, my 13 year old daughter bolted for the volume knob on the car radio to take note of a website where you can register to win a grand prize consisting of tickets plus a highly-coveted meet and greet to the JoBros concert on November 15th.

Fortunately, I was working on the computer when she and my husband got home, ran up the stairs spelling out the web's address so I  could enter the contest for her (most contests require that entrants be at least 16 years old, so we are used to doing this together). I guess I didn't hide my reaction well because when the registration page popped up on the screen, I gasped and my eyes widened enough for her to ask me if something was wrong. Having been caught completely off guard, I scrambled to click on anything that would take us to another page pronto, but it was too late, she was able to instantly note the name of the site along with the silhouette of the trio on the top left hand corner.

This is the website: http://www.planned.org/jonasbrothers

Planned Parenthood of San Diego & Riverside Counties and Channel 93.3 are giving away two tickets to see the Jonas Brothers Live in Concert on Saturday, November 15 at the San Diego Sports Arena! Fill out the online form below to register--it's easy! The winner will be announced on Monday, November 10. Good luck.

Note: Before you can register, we ask that you read the Official Contest Rules.

Am I really out of touch here, or has something gone awry? I have written about the trio wearing 'purity rings' assuring everyone they'll hold off on sex until marriage, and how this embodies the wholesome values that come along with taking this vow of chastity. The brothers have weathered a barrage of very public criticism for this -- most notably from MTV's recent Video Music Award's host Russel Brand -- but the family has maintained a united and gracious stand on this issue.

On the (extreme) other hand, Planned Parenthood is an organization which supports teen abortion and provides all sorts of contraception to teens.

Who's harebrained marketing idea was this?

"This is a historical evening ... We are lucky to be sharing it with each other" Madonna exclaimed after announcing to her captive audience that Barrack Obama had been elected President of the United States. In the middle of an outstanding performance, the long awaited results of the presidential election came in, and while the 50 year old music icon tried to concentrate on playing the guitar and singing, the significance of the moment overcame her.    more »

Auf Wiedersehen! (goodbye in German) are the last words Heidi Klum declares to the losers on her Bravo show Project Runway, and apparently will be the same parting words she and husband Seal will use if John McCain wins the presidential election.   more »