The Best of the Best of the Best (2007)

Everyone, everywhere is busy accumulating "best of" lists and the "top ten" or twenty, or... You name it, there's a list associated with it. Google "Top Ten of 2007"...I dare you. I've made my own list that I'd like to share.

Here it is, my list of The Top Best Lists of the Year:

1. Time's 50 Top 10 Lists of 2007
2. About.com's Top Searches of 2007
3. The New York Times Ten Best Books of 2007
4. Top Ten Gadgets of the Year
5. PGA's Top Ten Finishes of 2007
6. BookFinder.com's Top Ten Out of Print Books
7. WashingtonPost.com's Most Popular Opinions of the Year
8. 2007's Top 10 Weirdest USB Drives
9. AFI's Top Ten Movies of 2007
10. Top Ten Astronomy Pictures of 2007
11. Bore Me's Top Ten Viral Videos of 2007
12. Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines of 2007
13. National Geographic's Top Ten News Stories of 2007
14. MSNBC's Top 10 Films of 2007
15. BBC News: Top 10 Artists of 2007
16. Foreign Policy: The Top 10 Stories You Missed in 2007
17. NPR Music: Best Children's CDs of 2007
18. New York City Search: Top 10 Restaurants of 2007
19. Fox News: Top Ten Celebrity Meltdowns
20. Top Ten Celebrity Mug Shots of 2007
21. Money Magazine's Best Places to Live in 2007
22. Top Ten Funniest Quotes by Politicians in 2007
    
23. American Institute of Architect's Top Ten Green Projects
24. Top Ten Music Videos of 2007
25. Glamour's Top Ten College Women 2007
26. CNN Money: Best Cars of 2007
27. PC World: The 100 Best Products of 2007
28. US News: Best Children's Hospitals of 2007
29. New York Post: Top 5 Trips
30. People Magazine's Best of 2007
31. Travel & Leisure: 2007 World's Best Awards
32. Business Week: Best Product Design of 2007
33. Rolling Stone's Best of 2007
34. NPR: Best CDs of 2007
35. Esquire Magazine's Best and Brightest of 2007
36. Best of 2007: Surfing the Net with Kids
37. TreeHugger's Best of 2007
38. Library Journal's Best Books of 2007
39. Working Mother's 100 Best Companies of 2007
40. SPIN.com: The 40 Best Albums of 2007
41. Real Estate: The Best and Worst of 2007
42. 2007 America's Best Restrooms
43. Rotten Tomatoes: Top Movies of 2007
44. National Geographic: Best Parks 2007
45. ESPN's Horse Racing's Best of 2007
46. Parents Magazine: Best Toys of 2007
47. Best Books of 2007: Parent & Child's Top Picks
48. AAA: Parents 2007 Best Cars for Families
49. New York Magazine's Best Parent / Kid Activities
50. The New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Books 2007

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

by Pamela McHenry, "StarGoddess" hat's in the stars for you in 2008? Astrology.com has details on everything from your career prospects to your amorous adventures to the general trends of your life! Find out when you should ask for that promotion, embrace sweet passion or start planning a trip to exotic, faraway lands. Click on your Sun sign below to get started with your 2008 Overview Horoscope -- from there, you'll also find helpful insight into Your Career in 2008 and Your Love Life in 2008. Here's to a happy and successful New Year!

Resolutions for Raising a Reader

Elizabeth Kennedy of About.com: Children's Books reminds us how important it is for us as parents to set a good example in order to help our children to become lifelong learners and lovers of literature.

Her resolutions can be found in full detail in her latest posting, but here is a quick outline of what she recommends for ways to get ready for a New Year of reading with our young ones:

1. Read aloud to your children every day.
2. Get a library card.
3. Take your children to the library once a week.
4. Discuss children's books with your children.
5. Take your children to story times, author visits, and other public programs.
6. Buy books that you know will interest your child.
7. Create a comfortable reading space for your child.
8. Visit the websites of favorite authors and illustrators.
9. Once a week, cook together using a children's cookbook.
10. Buy your children a good dictionary and use it regularly.

These are all fabulous ideas and ones that I plan to incorporate in our weekly routine. Spending time reading together is a great way to bond. My son once told me that he liked it when I read to him because I kiss the top of his head.

Today's his birthday. I have two new books to read with him and I can't wait for our trip to the library later this week so he can bring home his own discoveries from the library.

Thanks to Elizabeth for this wonderful reminder.

Four Years Young

My son turns four today. Everyone tells you - when your baby is first born - how quickly he or she will grow up, but it's not until you experience it for yourself do you truly understand how precious these early years really are.

He fell asleep on my lap on the airplane the other day. He was completely curled up in a ball and he fit quite nicely in the space between my hips and knees. I couldn't help but think of how difficult it will be in just a few years to get him to sit still long enough for me to hold him that closely.

I count my blessings each and every day. We're happy, healthy and growing to be a more hip family as the days go by. My son's pretty lucky. In fact, I tell him that every day. "Yeah, it's my lucky day," he repeats back to me and smiles.

Those who know him - and love him - are truly the lucky ones.

Hopeless Romantic

I discovered this quiz on the Psychology Today website. Here is my result:

According to your score, you are a bit of a hopeless romantic. Rose petals, poignant poetry, tall glasses of wine, touching moments, and sweet words are all loving gestures that you enjoy receiving as well as offering. Romance is fairly important to you, and likely an aspect that you consider fundamental in relationships. Keep in mind however, that problems may arise if you are with someone who really isn’t the romantic type. If you look forward to Valentine's Day to express your love and your partner doesn't even acknowledge it as a special day, you might end up feeling neglected or your efforts unappreciated. Nevertheless, even if your partner isn't as romantically inclined as you are, try to be appreciative of his/her efforts when she/he does try to woo you. Some people aren’t comfortable displaying their affection in screamingly obvious ways, but this doesn’t mean that they don’t care – they simply prefer to be more subtle.

" You will find as you look back upon your life that the moments when you have truly lived are the moments when you have done things in the spirit of love. " - Henry Drummond

" Romance is about the little things. " - Gregory J. Godeck

" Romance, like the rabbit at the dog track, is the elusive, fake, and never attained reward which, for the benefit and amusement of our masters, keeps us running and thinking in safe circles. " - Beverly Jones

" When one is in love, one always begins by deceiving oneself, and one always ends by deceiving others. That is what the world calls a romance. " - Oscar Wilde

New Clothes for New Year's Day

Shop 'Til You Drop!

Posh Peacock

Stationery, Gift Tags, Cool Cut Cards

Baby:

Celebrations:




Nature:



Style. Color. Happiness.

Kid TV

Did I Forget to Mention...?

The December issue of Glamour magazine includes the article, "15 Things No One Ever Told You About Being Married." It's good to be prepared...

1. Getting married is not about the wedding.
2. You'll give up some independence.
3. Husbands can't read minds anymore than boyfriends can.
4. You won't be single anymore.
5. You never get to use the "I can't make it, I'm busy" excuse again.
6. Your husband will never take care of you the way your mom did - and vice versa.
7. The "for worse" may come sooner than you expect.
8. You get to share your strengths.
9. The honeymoon phase isn't always sweet.
10. Be prepared to fight for his support.
11. In-laws will show you a side of your husband you would never see on your own.
12. When he does the dishes, you will get turned on.
13. The silliest things will make you fall in love with him all over again.
14. Married men are sexier than single men - when they're married to you!
15. He'll love being married too.

Getting married will either be magical for you or not. Your life will change, for better or worse. Remembering and honoring the fact that you're going to be with the same person for the rest of your life is one of the major ingredients to a successful marriage. And yes, having someone holding your hand along the way, literally and physically, doesn't hurt either.

Soundtracks That Rock

1. Purple Rain
(1984)
2. Sleepless in Seattle
(1994)
3. Forrest Gump (1994)
4. Pulp Fiction (1994)
5. The Graduate (1967)
6. Dead Presidents (1995)
7. Trainspotting (1996)
8. Saturday Night Fever (1977)
9. The Crow (1994)
10. The Big Chill (1983)
11. Rushmore (1998)
12. Natural Born Killers
(1994)
13. Cruel Intentions
(1999)
14. Easy Rider
(1969)
15. The Break Up (2006)
16. Mermaids
(1990)
17. Boogie Nights (1997)
18. Dazed and Confused (1993)
19. Almost Famous (2000)
20. The Wedding Singer (1998)
21. Top Gun (1986)
22. Magnolia
(1999)
23. Reservoir Dogs
(1992)
24. City of Angels
(1998)
25. Twin Peaks (1992)
26. Memento
(2001)
27. The Virgin Suicides
(2000)
28. The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)
29. Tommy
(1975)
30. Goodfellas (1990)
31. Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery
(1997)
32. Pretty in Pink (1986)
33. 8 Mile (Rental)
(2002)
34. Dirty Dancing
(1987)
35. Ray (2004)
36. American Gigolo (1980)
37. West Side Story (1961)
38. Riding in Cars With Boys
(2001)
39. Friday (1996)
40. Walk The Line

(2005)
41. Laurel Canyon
(2002)
42. Grease (1978)
43. Garden State
(2004)
44. High Fidelity
(2000)
45. Lost Highway (1997)
46. American Beauty
(1999)
47. Singles (1992)
48. Meet Joe Black (1998)
49. My Life
(1993)
50. Curious George
(2006)