Welcome! You’re in the right place—I’ve just got a new look. Thanks to Daria of Web Divas for helping me with the transformation.

P.S. I'm working on updating my blog links. Let me know if you're missing, because I know it's been a long time since I've done anything with the list.

This is obviously not going to be about Tom Cruise.

I just read the August issue of In Style magazine, in which actor Vince Vaughn is asked his favorites for various categories. They get to favorite “government leader” and this is his response: “I keep my politics to myself—I am just an actor making movies.” How refreshing.

While we’re talking about the stars of Mr. and Mrs. Smith, which I saw yesterday, here’s a similar quote I found—this time from Brad Pitt. “You shouldn't speak until you know what you're talking about. That's why I get uncomfortable with interviews. Reporters ask me what I feel China should do about Tibet. Who cares what I think China should do? They hand me a script. I'm a grown man who puts on makeup.” Sean Penn, are you listening?

Speaking of makeup (a very loose transition from the previous paragraph, yes) and getting more and more superficial as we go along here, I have to agree with Rebecca Romijn Stamos: “I'd have to say that, in general, models take themselves too seriously. Basically, they are genetic freaks who spend a couple of hours in hair and makeup.” Think about it; supermodels are people born with abnormal features like extreme height or big eyes and THEN they get worked on by professional artists. So none of us should feel bad about ourselves.

On the other hand, there’s no need to take such things so seriously. I like makeup and clothes and fashion magazines. Like Eva Mendes says, “It's fun to be a woman. It's fun to flirt and wear makeup and have boobs.” Yeah.

Finally, a boy topic. We had friends over for dinner this weekend and of course, the husbands were talking sports, which led to the subject of Boston Red Sox pitcher Bronson Arroyo—the latest pro athlete to moonlight as a musician. Isn’t being just one of those things—athlete or musician—enough to get you any woman/women you want, we all pondered? And here I find a quote from Kevin Bacon that’s right on point: “Any idiot can get laid when they're famous. That's easy. It's getting laid when you're not famous that takes some talent.” Unless you're a woman, of course.

Thank you for visiting us over the last few days, knocking us out one by one. You should really call first though, because we had reservations (and a babysitter) on Saturday night and the girls’ first soccer lessons on Monday afternoon—all which had to be missed because of you. The only good thing is that I may have lost a few pounds.

And now, you’ve overstayed your welcome. Since J. (age 6) got hit first and is the only one of us who’s mostly recovered, she’ll have to be the one to get off the couch and show you to the door. Please clean up the mess on your way out.

Sincerely,
M. Peterson

Did I need another apple wedger, particularly a very sharp stainless steel version that cut my finger the first time that I used it? Is it important for my skin to smell like Satsuma (a seedless mandarin orange)? Is it good to gather in the evening with a group of women under the pretense of attending a Pampered Chef or The Body Shop at Home product show? Now we’re getting somewhere.

It’s easy to blow off a product party invitation but sometimes there are reasons to say yes. Even if it seems slightly ridiculous when you look around and see eleven other women who are scrubbing their feet with a peppermint scrub in individual plastic dish tubs. Or if you really don’t care about the latest adjustable measuring spoons or barbecue tool bag. Because you’re hanging out with other women and drinking wine.

Do you want to know which second grade teacher at your daughter’s elementary school is pure evil? Would you like the chance to chat with other moms about how they got their husbands to fold the laundry? Do you want to get out of tonight’s put-the-kids-to-bed routine? Did I mention the wine?

Yes, I end up buying stuff. This mini muffin pan will come in handy if I would just stop getting the pre-made mini blueberry muffins at the grocery store, which always seems easier.




Also, this creative cutter set will help me make little decorative whatevers (little sandwiches? brownies?) as soon as I get around to inviting some of the girls’ friends for a play date this summer.




Of course, when my sesame body scrub and nut body butter comes,





I will use them religiously. Because the nurse who's a colleague of the party’s host has amazingly smooth, soft skin and she’s been regularly exfoliating and moisturizing for years.

So the products for sale can be a draw and you’ll probably wind up buying something. But it’s more about the socializing. And really, can you put a price on a little time away from home, some choice gossip or a new friendship?