Posts Tagged ‘TLC’

June 24th, 2011

My Husband Wants Me to Be The Crazy Coupon Lady!

I call it being the crazy coupon lady… he calls it being thrifty!  And congratulations to my husband for writing his first line on my blog, because he came up with that one!

On Monday when Will came home from work, he was telling me about a coupon clipping service, and website that one of the guys he works with uses. On average they save something like $300 a month on groceries, without cutting back on what they are buying. I have to admit I was interested because groceries are one of our big expenses, two toddlers, and a husband with a big appetite are pricey to feed!

But ever since I started watching that Extreme Couponing show on TLC I have been extremely intrigued to say the least!

I mean, if I could go to the store, and cut back another $50 or $100 a trip, I will happily search for the sales, coupons and pay someone to clip and find coupons for me.  A whole two cents to save $5 or even more, isn’t going to bother me one bit!

So last night we got the kids in bed, and Will busted out a little post it note from his wallet with a list of websites on it that his co-workers wife uses to find all the grocery deals.  One website shows what is on sale, and what is going to be on sale for the upcoming weeks, and another is a site you can actually order coupons from.  Maybe it is the thrifty mom in me, but how freaking cool is that?

But then I realized there are a ton of coupon blogs, and websites out there.  So now I am on a new money saving mission.  And the best part of it all?  Not only does my husband approve of the lengthy time I am going to have to put into this project to save money… he is actually willing to help!  You would have cracked up seeing him checking out the websites with me while we were laying in bed last night.

“Oh!! 70% savings… whats that?!?  Toothpaste… well we need that don’t we?  Its 70% off!”    Or even better “Oh look… DRUMSTICKS are on sale!”

Should I be worried now?

Either way, I am excited to try this out.   The worst that can happen is… we don’t become food hoarders like those crazy people on TV.   I mean, seriously we don’t need 52 boxes of cereal!

January 14th, 2011

Toddlers & Tiaras: How is this NOT Child Abuse?

That is a video of a young child getting her eyebrows waxed. Yes, exactly what every small child needs right… Not only was the little girl crying, and begging not to have the cloth strip ripped off, but then her mother commented that normally she would have held her down while the waxxer ripped it of… Uh… What?

They try and bribe her with a bag of candy, or some kind of treats, and while seeing it for a moment it makes her perk up, but then when she realizes what exactly is going to happen she changes her tune really quick. Screaming, crying, begging… how could someone sit by and watch their child beg not to be put through unnecessary pain like that and continue through with it the way that mother did. I simply cannot wrap my head around it…

Then there is the mom who dressed her daughter up as Madonna… Not the 2010 sweat pants wearing Madonna… or the Mom Madonna… the 1990′s cone boob flaunting, pushing the limit Madonna…

Yes… that right there… The famous cone boob outfit Madonna used to turn heads… And that little girl is three years old… only THREE.

And we wonder why little girls in our country are growing up with these image issues, and huge hang ups regarding breasts and what they are actually for.

I bet you in two years, or even ten years… you ask that little girl what breasts are actually for, and she won’t be able to give you an actual accurate answer… It won’t be anything to do with feeding babies… it will probably be along the lines of impressing judges or attracting men.

Which as a mother who is expecting a daughter really makes me sad. Not just for our society as a whole, but for the little girls who are actually going to be raised with this line of thinking.

I can see the pink clothes, tutu’s, and the girlie kind of things, but where do we draw the line between acceptable and grossly inappropriate.

Personally, I can’t say I have sat down and watched the show, granted I would probably throw something at my television or have a full blow heart attack… but just seeing these small little bits and pieces on the internet, I don’t understand how parents, and even the producers of this show… and child protective services don’t find actions like this a form of serious child abuse.

April 23rd, 2010

Home Births on A Baby Story

Next weeks there will be two episodes of TLC’s A Baby Story which include Home Births. One with the local midwife Amy Romano who is a good friend of mine. But what will be most touching to me is Karen Kilson, my late doula, and best friend will also be featured in the same episode. She passed away in October suddenly of a heart attack, and I think I am still in disbelief today. Watching the episode featuring her will probably make my disbelief even stronger as I will be able to see her alive and well, doing what she did best : supporting women in labor.

But the real point of this post today is my amazement that A Baby Story is FINALLY branching out into alternative types of birth. Not your typical mainstream hospital birth, scheduled cesareans, elective inductions and all of the births that make me scream my head off at the TV.

I think it is good for TLC to really start showing other types of birth, not just the typical drive through hospital service, because there are so many women out there who use shows like this as a form of education on birth, and become scared to death from the scary hospital births.  I know I certainly got my share of scares when I was pregnant with my oldest by watching that show. I am glad I know better now, and know that the majority of the problems in these births come from the mismanagement or over management of the births.

Another positive message of this show is, with trained medical professionals, home birth is a safe birth option, which many of us know, but it certainly is not mainstream knowledge.  By showing women that may not know any better that home birth is a safe option for birth, there may be more that make the educated choice for home birth.

The two families featured in the show are The Sheehan and Malak families.
The Malak family’s show is described as : ” Finding out they were expecting their fourth child was shocking to the Malak Family. The plan is to have this baby at home. But after 10 hours of labor and no relief in sight, will Maria find the strength to push through?”

Which kind of pisses me off. 10 hours of labor is nothing, especially natural labor. Try 26 hours like I went and then we will talk. This mentality regarding childbirth is what is creating and aiding the mentality of the women who say “OMG I would NEVER have a baby without an epidural” or the women who end up in the hospital, in labor and requesting an epidural at 2 or 3 centimeters which then sets them up for a longer labor, and possibly a cesarean section.

The Sheehan Family’s show is described as : “Glorvina and her husband, Jason, were ready to try something different. They did some research and found a midwife they trust, and are ready to have a water birth at home. When delivery day finally ensues, Glorvina realizes fast that she’s not in control.”

Dun Dun Dun!  They make it sound like a dramatic episode of Private Practice in which Addison Montgomery busts into the room screaming the mother needs a c-section or she is going to die.  Which was the farthest thing from the truth for Glorvina.

I guess I can’t be all that surprised that TLC had to throw in dramatic wording to get viewers on birth, after all, who wants to watch some crazy hippies birthing at home right? UGH!

March 1st, 2010

Kate Gosselin Joins Dancing with the Stars

Kate Gosselin is a name you can add onto the cast of Dancing with the Stars for this season!
I knew the names would start to leak out sometime today before the big announcement tonight!
So far, Pam Anderson and Kate Gosselin… diverse to say the least!

February 17th, 2010

TLC Settles with Jon Gosselin

I can’t say that I am surprised!
He will sell his children to get himself out of any hot water, which is exactly what he did.
TLC sued Jon for breech of contract, and essentially halted all his income from sleezing around clubs earlier in the year.

“TLC has reached a settlement with Jon Gosselin and will be undertaking procedural steps to conclude the litigation.   All terms of the settlement are confidential. The whole Gosselin family remain under contract with TLC,” TLC said in a statement released Wednesday.

I give it a week before TLC announces the continuation of their plans for Kate plus 8 or something that has to do with the Gosselin children.