All the negative reviews of this movie really make me wonder what people were expecting. Oscar-worthy? Nope. Watchable if you're over age 10 and didn't bring kids to the theater with you? No way. But if you take your young kids (I suspect boys will like it better than girls, but I don't have any girls so I can't say for sure) who love Star Wars, then you'll have a blast!

We took Henry (6.5), Eddie (5.75) and Charlie (3.75) and they all LOVED it. To tell you the truth, if Charlie were my only child there's no way I would have brought him at this age, but with two older brothers so close in age he's already been exposed to this kind of stuff — you should see him play Lego Star Wars on our Nintendo DS… He's better than I am.

So while I'm on the fence about letting the boys watch the first real Star Wars (I think that one is Episode IV) because of the live-action violence and real scary nature of the film, I had no problem with them seeing Clone wars. No one got scared, and they were entranced the entire movie. I can't remember the last time that happened.

In fact, in the middle of the movie, Charlie leaned over, gave me a big hug, and said "Mommy! This is a wonderful movie!" I think that's the best review you're going to get. We may go again later in the week!

Photos from here.

Holy crap, I just realized we're in the middle of a 'staycation' — I think that is possibly the worst word recently invented. But who has the money to go anywhere? My dream family vacation is renting a house in the middle of Switzerland with cows, trains, gondolas, cheese, sun, green and such, but really… Now is not the time!

So instead Craig and I have taken this week off from work and are taking the boys on local adventures. For example, today we finally saw Wall-E. (Very cute.) And we're planning on doing some things like visiting the Lego store, watching hours of Lympics on Tivo, going to see Clone Wars, hitting the beach if the weather warms up, and so on.

It's better than better than nothing :)

Photo credit: my mom.

My favorite part of this article is where the 1930s woman describes some comments she gets from strangers as "bitchy." I just love that 30s lingo.

I see that the 70s aren't taken yet. Maybe I'll make that the Erika Decade. Rock on.

Photo Credit: Daily Mail

In July 2009 I'm either going to be in St. Louis, Portland, or Philadelphia! Are you going to join me?

Remember the poll? Well the votes were tallied and these were the top three. Now they're going to investigate all three cities to see where they can get a good venue for the dates and so on.

Personally, I hope it's in St. Louis because I've never been to Missouri. Where do you hope they have it?

One of my favorite BlogHer memories is captured in this movie. Whymommy and I were at the Silicon Valley Moms Blog party and the venue had a unique way of entering the party. And she has great sense of humor. And adventure. Watch it — it's funny, you get to see us having fun, and Whymommy has a great smile :)

Where exactly is that hand going?

(And thanks Jill for working your ass off to organize such a great event!)

I've been teleported to a time when I lived in Los Angeles in the early 90s. I would drive downtown at night and watch the skyscrapers flit through the sunroof while listening to Brian Eno, John Cale, and David Byrne.

It was a distinctly disconnected yet serendipitous time in my life which… more.

After reading Maria's post I thought to myself, 'Hey, I was there too!' and of course started scanning the photo. And there it is! Or to be more precise, there I am!

Hot damn peeps, my freshly-colored hair is in the New York Times. Now that's what I'm talking about!

(And of course, this story was put into the Fashion and Style section because of my hair and not because it is a story about Women. Right?)

Hey, today is my second Blorthday. Huzzah!

Curious about my first post? It's a thrilling must-read. Or check out what I wrote last year on my blorthday. And there's a special place in my heart for my very first commenter.

Before I found blogging I spent so much time crafting the best way to tell a story or a joke in my head, and sometimes I didn't find someone to tell it to before it evaporated. I'm so grateful for blogging, I just wish I'd decided to take the plunge sooner.

Most importantly, thank you to everyone who takes the time to read what I write. Comments are always appreciated, but just the fact that you're here is more than enough :)

xoxoxo,
Erika

They see your eeevery moooove.

This is what happens when a photographer says "OK, I'm going to count to three and on three you're going to open your eyes wider." Sounds sexy, right?

Hawt

Plus my mouth is crooked. Did I have a stroke at BlogHer or was it just too much coffee? I guess excessive caffeine (or electrocution) would explain the hair.

Yikes. Oh, and in return for letting you see this terrifying picture of me, that admittedly isn't the worst photo of myself I've ever shown you, I'll leave you with this lovely little ear worm.

I'm braindead from being at BlogHer, so in lieu of a more interesting post about what may or may not have happened in San Francisco, I'm leaving you with me and Devra discussing whether or not mommyblogging is (still) a 'radical act.' Incentives to watch: I show you my chestal-regions, plus we talk about poop. And Bono. So enjoy!