Blog Posts by MQ

Like most families, we had furry children before we had real children. We got our two kitties about nine years ago. One is huge & fluffy & not too bright, while the other one is just plain fat & grumpy & very intelligent. Over the years, we've had issues with Big Fluffy peeing outside of the litter box. I would see him doing it - squatting in the corner on the rug. Noooo! It turns out, he has had bladder infections. You'd think I'd know that by now...

A few months ago, I was cleaning the dining room and noticed a familiar foul odor. Cat pee!!! Ahhhhh! If you have ever had a cat that peed on the carpet, you know this is a horrible ordeal. You can never fully get rid of that gross smell and once a cat smells it on the rug, he will pee there forever.

I instantly blamed Big Fluffy for this pee fiasco and took him to the vet right away. It turns out he DIDN'T have an infection. What?! Tell me it isn't so! The vet uttered those scary words, "It means it's a behavioral problem." Oh

If you haven't heard all of the D-R-A-M-A surrounding Tiger Woods and his recent little car accident you must be living under a very large rock. With very large soundproof headphones. Whether you Google "Tiger Woods" as web results, news results or blog results, the stories are swirling. In addition to the gossipmongers like TMZ and Perez Hilton, major news networks are weighing in. He's wrong. He's right. He's entitled to his privacy. He should set the record straight. His "brand" is in jeopardy. The tree should press charges.

Is it our business? Of course not. What happened between him and his wife (and the tree) is totally NOT our business. Humans, being the flawed people we are by nature, want to know about it because we're just plain nosy. We like to think ultra-rich, ridiculously famous people have problems in their lives just like we do. It makes us feel better about ourselves. Yes, in some sick way maybe we're all looking for an interesting distraction that makes us go,

Well, nobody actually.

Tonight is The Finale Part I of Project Runway and I'm so excited. This has been an interesting season, but not due to the contestants. I actually think there isn't enough drama between them this season. Other than the tiny amount of tension between Irina and Althea because of an enormous sweater thingy, it's been pretty ho-hum. I think the most interesting element has been the harsh judging. And the fact that Lindsay Lohan was like the worst, most ironic guest-judge of all times. I believe she questioned a designer's "taste" and that is hilarious.

I'm a fan of Carol Hannah because I love her design aesthetic and her sweet personality. Not to mention she can sew a dress that fits like a glove - flawless execution! Tonight Rebecca Romijn will be the guest judge. I LOVE it when models are guests like last week when Cindy Crawford joined the panel. I am always amazed when someone's beauty can stand up to Heidi because she is just so gorgeous.

What do

fill-in-the-blank-notes

I just finished writing 14 thank you notes from my kids' birthday parties. As I sealed the last one, I had to ask myself, "Are fill-in-the-blank notes a cop out?"

In this fast-paced age of iPhones, Twitter, microblogs and microbrews, our lives are instant this and instant that. It seems the old-fashioned manners we learned as a child are slightly barbaric. I grew up writing thank you notes until my hands fell off. I didn't even get lined paper so many times I would rewrite one several times because it began to slant off the page.

I do believe in the value of thank you notes and try hard to keep up with them. I did take a two-year break when my first child was born. But after I figured out how to brush my teeth and shower, I started writing them again. (Yes, that's a bad joke about time.)

Anyway, I started buying the ultra-cute Fill-In Thank You Notes last year due to time constraints. They're cute and fun, but does that measure up as a hand written sentiment? I

Before I had children, I imagined the products I couldn't live without. A magnificent pram with gorgeous white fluffy linens, a Baby Bjorn that would be glued to my chest, a designer diaper bag with perfectly sized pockets and so on. Fast forward to five years later and the reality of that list is laughable. (Aside from A-list celebs living in New York, who buys prams anyway?)

My list is nothing shocking or brand new that will blow you away. It's not an "ah-ha" moment. "My goodness, how did I ever live without that?" But it's real and it's mine. (Now there are a few exceptions. I did not list my Blackberry because a cell phone is too obvious, nor did I list my iPod or digital camera for the same reason.) I welcome other moms to chime in and let me know what you can't live without.

#1 - CHI Flat Iron
If my CHI breaks, I buy a new one that day. I don't shop price or go without it. It MUST be replaced instantly. That is how much I love my CHI. This is the definition of brand

aix-les-bains

Hey moms! Want to add some glam to your life? MommyQ is pleased to announce a glamtastic giveaway, thanks to the fine folks at Gallery Direct. One lucky winner will receive a 36" x 48" piece of artwork, Aix Les Bains, by artist Leonetto Cappiello. Retail value is $200! The print will be a Canvas Gallery Wrap which means the image wraps all the way around the mounted canvas. No frame necessary for this retrolicious look. Add a splash of whimsy and color to any room in your home!

If you have not heard of Cappiello, he is famous for being a self-taught advertising genius. For example, this bright and brilliant piece is actually selling a wonderful little town in France, Aix les Bains. You see, Cappiello created bold figures popping out of black backgrounds, which was a startling contrast to the artwork being painted at that time. He is known as "the father of modern advertising" and produced more than 530 posters in his lifetime.

To participate in this giveaway, follow this

I'm not a big person on the act of being scared. I don't like the sudden rush of adrenaline or feeling my heart skip a beat. Last year, I did a blog post titled, Enough of The Motion-Activated Shrieking Decorations in Drug Stores and it was well-received. Lots of people responded and about 90% of them agreed with me. This year, my thoughts turn towards the actual trick-or-treating because this year I've got two youngsters. (Last year I had one youngster and one baby who couldn't walk.)

My neighborhood embraces Halloween like most neighborhoods embrace Christmas. We are fanatics about anything inflatable. I love to imagine the conversation that takes place when these items are purchased. I think it goes a little something like this,

You can drive

hoc

Let's say you're an elementary school teacher and your students' moms show up to a parent conference in low cut shirts, mini skirts or tight jeans. Would it be appropriate to write a note asking them to dress "discreetly" for conferences instead? A rather humorous letter was sent to advice columnist "Ask Amy" in The Los Angeles Times earlier this week…