Archive for April, 2009
Melissa Joan Hart Going for the Girl: Third Time’s a Charm?
Written by Vicki Salemi on April 29, 2009 – 2:35 pm -
Melissa Joan Hart starred in Sabrina the Teenage Witch on the small screen but in real life the actress is channeling Mommyhood. The 33-year-old actress is mama to a three year-old son, Mason and a 13 month-old son, Braydon.
Although a recent magazine interview sounds like she’s loving the challenges of motherhood, she’s also yearning for a little girl. Or two. She dishes to OK!, “I want to try for a girl and if we don’t have a girl, I’ll try again for a girl but if we do have a girl, I’ll try again for a sister.”
You gotta admit, as adorable and lovable as little boys are, there’s nothing like the sweet pigtails and pink of a little girl. It makes you wonder when you see a family of three or four boys if their mother was vying and trying to give birth to a little girl. In some instances, more than once.
Melissa also admits to having her hands full. “I would say being a mom is the hardest job there is,” she ‘fesses. After all, Melissa Joan Hart has pretty much done it all. She’s been in show biz since the age of four, worked tirelessly on set, and now seems to be working tirelessly at home. Might we add in a very rewarding role indeed.
Do you think parents should stop having kids if they’re already content with their brood or continue to try their cards to give birth to a baby girl or boy?
Tags: Melissa Joan Hart, Sabrina the Teenage Witch
Posted in Back to Basics..., The Politics of Parenting | No Comments »
Slumdog Shame
Written by Vicki Salemi on April 20, 2009 – 10:22 pm -I used to make time to watch the news on tv. Now I surf CNN.com instead. Nevertheless, there used to be a segment on one of the NYC-based news programs called, “Shame On You!” Yes, it had a jingle and it went something like this: “Shame, shame, shame. Shame on you!” In fact, it may still exist today I just wouldn’t know.
While you can’t hear me humming it aloud as I type this (this is probably a good thing, haha), you can appreciate this story and why I’m associating it with shame. In the I-hope-this-isn’t-true file, unfortunately it is indeed vrai. (That’s the translation in French for the word ‘true’ just for kicks.)
Slumdog, say it ain’t so! Rafiq Qureshi, the father of the Slumdog Millionaire star, Rubina Ali tried selling her. That’s right — selling her for $300,000. Well, he’s been arrested. Her mother heard about the “adoption” with a pricetag and filed a complaint with the cops. Rubina’s parents split back in ‘01 and the rumor mills say that her papa wanted to sell her to a Dubai sheikh. O.M.G.
Apparently the sheikh contacted Rubina’s dad after the Academy Awards. Since his wife was no longer able to have children, he expressed interest in adopting the actress. Reports continue to say that her dad politely declined by saying they’re happy together, yada yada.
All we know is there were undercover reports (and by that we mean a video) whereby reporters met with Qureshi and communicated about illegally adopting his adorable daughter. This entire story just doesn’t sit well with us. It’s quite disturbing all around. The father of course denies the claims but it still ranks right up there in the shame files!
Do you think he tried selling Rubina or do you think his denial is true?
Tags: Rafiq Qureshi, Rubina Ali, Slumdog Millionaire
Posted in For Real?! | No Comments »
Miley Cyrus’ A+ Parents
Written by Vicki Salemi on April 20, 2009 – 11:47 am -She’s 16, and despite being a wildly popular sensation with the ‘tween and ‘teen crowds, she also seems incredibly grounded. Enter Miley Cyrus, better known to fans as “Hannah Montana.”
She doesn’t seem grounded by accident. Rather, it seems her parents have been very involved with her upbringing on purpose. It’s by design, not by chance that she’s a stable young woman.
The successful singer and actress in the new film “Hannah Montana: The Movie” credits filming in Tennessee which brought her back to her roots. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that her papa, country music star Billy Ray Cyrus, was in the movie. And by that we mean on set.
As Hannah determines which she prefers in the flick (notoriety v. normality), the torn character helped Miley’s ability to remember where she came from according to recent published interviews. (Insert Bon Jovi’s “Who Says You Can’t Go Home” here! Love the Bon man!)
While Miley’s birth name is Destiny Hope, one thing’s for certain: although she goes by her new legal name now (Miley was due to her baby name of “Smiley” since she was always smiling), we give her parents props for their involvement.
Do you think stage parents are too involved or, in this case, do Billy Ray and Tish Cyrus get an A+ for hands on efforts?
Tags: Billy Ray Cyrus, Hannah Montana, Miley Cyrus, Tish Cyrus
Posted in Back to Basics... | 1 Comment »
TMI from Trista
Written by Vicki Salemi on April 16, 2009 – 1:23 am -I stopped watching “The Bachelor” several seasons ago. Something didn’t sit right with all the women vying for the attention, the rose, and ah yes – love – from a bachelor they barely know. But, when it came to “The Bachelorette,” let’s face it: I didn’t have any problems watching a woman calling the shots and the men getting competitive (unlike the cattiness from the women). Go girl!
It’s always fun to hear about the one couple who survived a real relationship beyond the show. After giving birth to their second child, a girl, Trista and Ryan have boldly announced that she is going to have a permanent birth control procedure done. Enter Essure.
It’s irreversible, apparently painless, and oh yes, none of our business! Do we really need to know that they’re calling it quits in the reproductive area after giving birth to two gorgeous healthy babies? Not so much.
While it seems these two reality stars keep extending their 15 minutes of fame again and again and again, perhaps they are spokespeople for the product and getting paid a nice wad of cash. Trista mentions she doesn’t even need general anesthesia in her local doctor’s office and recovery time is very quick.
Regardless, no matter how much money a company is paying you to promote a product, or no matter how it’s helping your life or adding value to it, there are some things that seem kind of classless. This would be one of them.
Do you think Trista and Ryan are dishing too much dirt or is it just par for the course in the land of celebrityville?
Tags: The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, TMI, Trist and Ryan
Posted in For Real?! | 1 Comment »
Equal-Opportunity Pregnancies? Jennifer Aniston’s Preggo Spotlight
Written by Vicki Salemi on April 13, 2009 – 1:14 pm -She’s the girl next door. The “it” girl. The A-list actress who always snags top box office hits no matter how bland the plot line. (Sorry, but I call ‘em like I see ‘em!) There’s nothing wrong with sayin’ it either – Jennifer Aniston’s career has never been hotter. Go girl!
In the aftermath of the Brad Pitt saga, how could you not be with Team Aniston? Which makes it kind of annoying when she’s constantly in the news about baby rumors. One day she’ll be on the cover of a glossy weekly mag with a simple quote like: “I’ll be a Single Mom,” and another day it’s about her break-up with John and how she wants to have babies in her 40s.
You know what? We rarely hear about the handsome bachelor George Clooney and how he’s childless and if he ever wants to be a dad. Sure, the whole reproductive/time clock thing aside for women, there seems to be such a focus on the stork for Jen.
But not for men in her same league. What about my fave, the classy John Cusack? Or how about her Friends‘ co-star, Matthew Perry? I’m just sayin’. While Jennifer would probably be an amazing mom, her love life and egg-bearing ways always seem to snag headlines.
It would be nice when a paparazzi parenting slant would be equal. As in, let’s leave her alone and allow her to simply focus on her life without prying into when it’s time to give birth. We let the guys do whatever they want without wondering when or what if. Let’s focus on more important things with Jen.
Like her awesome hair. (Kidding!)
Do you think there’s much ado about nothing or should people and the press continuously focus on her baby plans?
(Photo: Getty Images)
Tags: biological clock, Brad Pitt, Jennifer Aniston, stork, Team Aniston
Posted in Back to Basics... | No Comments »
Adoption No-no for Material Girl
Written by Vicki Salemi on April 8, 2009 – 10:38 pm -
We totally dig the concept of adoption. Loving family wants to nurture a child who longs for a mom and dad, shelter, and good old-fashioned hugs and kisses. And, if they’re lucky, the orphan would likely enter a family with at least one sibling. What’s not to love about this equation?
Enter celebs and the star treatment. Or, in this case, don’t. When celebs get treated royally, something seems off-kilter. When they don’t get treated like A-listers and get treated like citizens instead, well, that kinda makes us happy.
Here’s the scoop: Madonna adopted a son in ‘06, David Banda. She apparently recently fell in love with a little orphan girl, Mercy James, and much to her chagrin, was told a big fat NO. As in, no dice, no adoption, no nuthin’.
Here’s why: the judge who threw out the Material Girl’s application said she was encouraging child trafficking. The adoption laws in Malawi say that prospective parents must live in the country for an 18- to 24-month assessment period.
In this case, the London-based songstress would have swooped in, adopted her daughter, and left in a very short amount of time. It is sad in the sense that Madonna has the ability to love and care for this child (we won’t even venture to guess how many nannies she hires), but also has the prowess to create a life of abundance for Mercy. So, you know what? It’s a toss up.
On the other hand, I give the judge props for not bending the rules just because she’s Madonna. It’s so rare that celebs have to abide by rules that normal citizens must follow so in that realm, three cheers for the judge! Apparently Mo is appealing the verdict but it is sad in a way that it’s the little girl who suffers in the end. Let’s hope another loving parent is able to meet the residency requirements and provide a nurturing home for her.
What do you think? Should judges bend the rules when it comes to celebrity adoptions or is it okay to break ‘em in the name of providing shelter and love to an orphan?
Tags: Adoption, Madonna, Malawi, Material Girl, Mercy
Posted in Adoption 4-1-1 | 2 Comments »
Wanna Drop the Baby Weight? Channel “The Biggest Loser”
Written by Vicki Salemi on April 5, 2009 – 10:56 pm -What would you do if you were immersed in the over-the-top-skinny look of Hollywood and stood in the glaring light of the television spotlight? Better yet, imagine hosting a reality show about losing weight and yet you have just given birth!
Meet Alison Sweeney – The Days of Our Lives actress and host of The Biggest Loser. Sweeney gave birth to her second child, a daughter, Megan Hope on January 12, 2009.
So you can imagine what the star did next: exercise. Although she returned to the TBL set merely eight days after giving birth, and reprised her role on Days merely six days beyond that, she’s doing what her show’s contestants do best: work out.
Giving props to Nintendo Wii, Sweeney rocks out to its fitness program EA Active. As Sweeney gets accustomed to motherhood times two, it looks like her discipline and determination will get her back into her skinny jeans in no time flat. (I could totally dish here about being healthy instead of scary skinny, but hey, that would be a whole other blog.)
Even though it sounds like Sweeney is dropping the pounds the good old-fashioned way (i.e., hard work), do some celebrities take it too far to drop the baby weight pronto?
Tags: Alison Sweeney, baby weight, Days of Our Lives, The Biggest Loser
Posted in "Beautiful" Parents, Celebrity Baby Boom | No Comments »
The Surreal Life
Written by Vicki Salemi on April 1, 2009 – 5:47 pm -Didja ever wonder what it would be like to grow up with a famous mom or dad? In a world where “Take Your Kids to Work Day” would be a day on set, the little tykes would grow up surrounded by fame, fortune, and an unrealistic lifestyle by typical “Tar-zhay” standards.
Take, for instance, Heidi Klum. During a recent interview on The Bonnie Hunt Show, the supermodel mentioned that her daughter, Leni, has attended rehearsals for Victoria’s Secret fashion shows. Get this – little Leni thinks, “It’s 27 Barbies walking down the runway.”
Which got me thinking. What happens a few years later when they recognize their parents on the runway or on the big screen and yet they know them from backstage events, barbecues, and birthday parties? Hmmm. It certainly is a different life than the typical American family but I suppose as long as the kids grow up with values and ethics and most of all, unconditional love, these three building blocks are no different than a loving parent-child relationship in all corners of our country.
But enough pontification. What do you think? Do celeb kids grow up with a distorted view of the world being surrounded by glitz and glam or does it depend on the parenting prowess?
Tags: Heidi Klum, Supermodel, The Bonnie Hunt Show, Victoria's Secret
Posted in "Beautiful" Parents | No Comments »







