Emma Watson on Feminism

By now you’ve all probably seen this clip a hundred times on Facebook and Twitter, but, Emma Watson’s impassioned speech to the UN General Assembly this week on feminism is too cool not to share again here with you guys.

I won’t bore you with the details as nothing I could possibly write here would even begin to compare with the awesomeness espoused by Watson in her speech. Poised, heartfelt, powerful and deeply moving, Watson nails the heart of the issue in one bold stroke. To paraphrase another trailblazing UN Goodwill Ambassador, Geri “Ginger Spice” Halliwell: “Girl Power 4eva!”

Rock on, Hermione!

 

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Moms Demand Action’s cool new “Groceries not Guns” ad campaign

Like most people I know I tend to save my overtly political musings for Facebook (suck it Hobby Lobby!), but, the latest ad campaign from the Michael Bloomberg-backed gun control group Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America was just too good not to share with you.

Highlighting the fact that the Krogers grocery store chain bans shirtless people, outside food and drink and skateboards from their stores but allows their patrons to carry loaded firearms while shopping, the bold, striking images in these ads say it all. This is one completely ass-backward policy, amigos! Crazy town! I only wish there was a Krogers near me that I could boycott or ride my skateboard in. And I don't even own a skateboard! Grrrr!

And while some might argue that the ads (which began running in newspapers today) are preaching to the choir, the fact that similar campaigns by the group have been effective in reversing the gun policy at national retail and restaurant chains like Chipotle, Sonic, Target and Starbucks gives me hope. So, rock on, Moms Demand Action. Dads demand it too!

To learn more about the group's “groceries not guns” campaign check out this super cool piece on today's Huffington Post.

 

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Kindergarten Week One: The New World Order

Yesterday marked the end of the first full week of kindergarten and let me tell ya, whoever said I’d have more time on my hands once Greta started school is full of shit. I haven’t felt this frazzled and out-of-my-element since those first few days after we brought Greta home from the hospital. Seriously, it’s been non-stop since Monday morning.

One of my new mom friends equated this week with starting a new job, and she’s not far off. I was anxious, way too concerned with my hair and what I was wearing, tired as fuck (sorry, but my usual F-word substitute, “fudge,” just didn’t seem to express how truly exhausting this week has been) and completely overwhelmed with paperwork. Insanity!

And though there have been definite highlights and I’ve made fast friends with several very chill moms and dads of students in Greta’s class, I think all three of us are a little overwhelmed by the sweeping sea change washing over us right now.

So far, Greta has been loving school but it’s the getting up in the morning and going there that kills her. However, aside from Wednesday morning, which was just horrific — at one point I was literally dragging her to class! — she really loves her teacher and each new day was better than the last. So, that’s progress in my book.

Personally, I found myself finally getting into the groove around Thursday, which is great because it ended up being one of the longest days of my life. I got up at 7:15 (which, believe it or not, has been my start time all week!), got Greta ready, dropped her off at school at 8:25 and then headed to my first PTA meeting at 8:30. Luckily for me, I managed to squeeze in some breakfast, because it turned out to be a three hour meeting! Yikes…who knew?

Fortunately, the meeting got out a little early (at around 11:00) so I had time to run to Costco and Trader Joe’s before heading back to school to pick up Greta at 1:30. We then headed to the park for a mini reunion with some of our old friends from Greta’s pre-school days, and then headed from there straight to ballet class, where we shared an emotional goodbye with Greta’s beloved ballet teacher who started her maternity leave today.

After ballet, we ran home to change and pick up Mrs. Yeti and then hurried back to Greta’s school for a massive “Back-to-School” picnic. They had food trucks, music, a farmer’s market selling produce grown at the school’s onsite garden (!) and again, many chances to meet new parent friends. Simply put, it was awesome. If all the parents at Stevenson are as hip, artsy and totally diverse as the ones we met this week, this new world order might not be so bad after all!

Now, if we could just get a handle on the constant flow of paperwork coming our way, I think we might be ready to face week two. Wish us luck!

 

 

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P&G’s London Olympic Mom Clip

As any long-time reader knows, we are huge fans of the Oympics in these parts. I had a friend who once joked that the only sport Mrs. Yeti and I watch is “Olympics”, and he wasn’t far off. We might not watch football or baseball, but every couple of years we burn the hell out of our Tivo taping every event we can during the Olympics.

And with the Opening Ceremonies set to take place this Friday in London, well, we’ve been fools for anything Olympic-related for weeks now. So, when I caught an airing of the American-Mom only version of this new ad from Proctor & Gamble, I cried my ass off and thought it was brilliant.

But, then I found this International-Mom clip and, well, I haven’t stopped crying yet. It really is advertising gold. So beautiful! The only thing that would make it better was if they had one for Dad’s too. Enjoy and see you at the games!