Remember when you had to go to the theater for a movie screening? I was extremely privileged to have the chance to take part in an online movie screening and simultaneous chat that also included a post-screening conversation with two of the actors from the movie. How cool is that?! Even though the system had some glitches, it was a very cool experience.

That said, I really wanted to like this movie more than I did. Set in the 1970′s, “MightyFine” is the story of Joe Fine (Chazz Palminteri) who moves his family–his Holocaust surviver wife Stella (Andie MacDowell), and two daughters Natalie (Jodelle Ferland) and Maddie (Rainey Qualley)–from Brooklyn to New Orleans. Joe adores his family, spends lots of money on them that they may or may not have and has some serious anger-management problems which result in some terrifying outbursts.

The film has powerful moments, to be sure, and touches on the very important issues of emotional abuse. Unfortunately for me, even though there was some powerful acting, particularly on the part of the actresses who play the daughters, it seemed to me that Andie MacDowell wasn’t a fabulous fit for her roll. Her accent appeared forced and her demeanor better suited to the lighter rolls in which I am accustomed to seeing her. Because of that, the film seemed more to be like a supremely powerful PSA than a full-fledged work of art.

That said, director writer and director Debbie Goldstein, who drew from her own experiences to create the movie, does have a very distinct voice and evokes some powerful emotions during the course of the hour or so that the movie lasts. This movie would be a great tool for group therapy sessions or to teach teenagers how to handle unsafe family situations because it can clearly be a great springboard for discussion. As an enjoyable movie-going experience, it’s more mighty okay than mighty fine.

*Disclaimer: I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Mighty Fine and the distributor. I received access to an online showing of the film and a promotional item to thank me for participating*

What many people don’t know, is that Cynthia has had to do it all while dealing with the symptoms of Rosacea, a vascular skin condition that effects over 16 million Americans with symptoms that include facial redness, pimples and irritation?

Even though so many people are affected, particularly women 30+ years old, only 10% of sufferers are being treated!

While it can’t be cured, it sure can be treated…so let’s spread awareness and end some of the suffering. To learn more about Rosacea go to the Rosacea Facts Site or the RosaceaFacts Facebook Page . There will also be a Face to Face Rosacea Twitter party on Tuesday May 15 9-10 pm, EST.

*Disclosure: This post enters me into the running to be a RosaceaFacts Ambassador, sponsored by Galderma Laboratories, L.P.**

Mattel, along with Rosie Pope, maternity designer and love her or hate her star of Bravo’s Pregnant in Heels and alice+olivia designer Stacey Bendet, hosted a special “Little Mommy Day” in anticipation of Mother’s Day and in celebration of Rosie’s partnership with the Little Mommy Brand.

We walked into Dylan’s Candy Bar, itself an exciting destination, and my daughter was immediately given the chance to adopt a new baby doll.

Amid brightly colored treats (along with some healthier brunch options), little girls were given the chance to bathe, feed and put to sleep their new babies and to try out many of the accessories in the Little Mommy line.

Chris Byrne, aka the Toy Guy, was also there to take in the fun. Along with Gossip Girl’s Kelly Rutherford (who I chatted with for some time and only recognized from my pictures at home, lol)

    Not surprisingly, this doll potty was a huge favorite.  I think we’re going to have to get one of these!

We took the “Little Mommy Pledge”:

My daughter even got to choose flowers to make her own fresh flower bouquet to take home!

Once we got home, we realized that the special bottle that had come with the new baby had disappeared somewhere along the way which made my little girl very sad.  Without a bottle, the new baby opted to have a tea party instead.

**I received a Little Mommy gift bag for attending.**

I was so excited to be able to combine a small birthday gathering for my daughter’s 3rd birthday with a FreshDirect House Party. How could anyone resist the urge of a bunch of free groceries, great FreshDirect swag for my guests AND the opportunity to do a food project  bunch of three year olds.

Yup. Most people would happily take the first two and skip the third

My plan was to have most of the food ready, but to give every child the chance to decorate their own cookie.

I made Macaroni and Cheese in individual cupcake tins and cut up a bunch of veggies for dipping in Hummus. And grapes, because they are my daughter’s absolute favorite.

We had music and dancing, while my poor husband sat in the corner and applied glitter tattoos to all of the kids (and most of the adults too!)

We spread out a large plastic table cloth on the floor and handed out spatulas, small containers of white buttercream icing and an array of sprinkles, candies and other decorations.  Then everybody got one of the sugar cookies that my daughter and I had baked a couple of days before and stashed in the freezer.

Then it was time for cake! I made a huge strawberry shortcake with pink whipped cream, as per the birthday girl’s orders.  One caveat: If you buy a big fancy candle, don’t light it directly under a smoke alarm!

My father had so much fun, he didn’t want to take his FreshDirect apron off.

All, in all, a successful House Party and a happy birthday girl!

*Disclaimer: I received a FreshDirect Houseparty gift box to facilitate this post. All opinions and photos are my own*

This Mother’s Day, I’m working with Clever Girls in support of Macy’s Heart of Haiti to shine a light on the “trade, not aid” program, which provides sustainable income to Haitian artisans struggling to rebuild their lives and support their families after the 2010 earthquake.

When I was invited to share an important mothering moment, I racked my brain for quite a while…until I realized that all I had to do was go back to the very, very beginning of my parenting journey.

June 2006.

I went to a regularly scheduled doctor’s appointment and discovered that, due to sudden onset severe preeclampsia, I was to be induced that evening…at 37 weeks.

Fast forward through an induction and a long hard labor with a magnesium drip to prevent preeclamptic seizures (though I did stick to my original decision to avoid all pain medication!)

After my son was born, I was still way too sick to be moved out of the birthing room…so I hung out there for a couple of days with my magnesium drip. When I was finally transferred to a regular hospital room, I still wasn’t in great shape and my baby was a couple floors below in the NICU for breathing troubles brought on by the magnesium that had gotten into his body during labor.

I woke up in the middle of the night during my first night on the maternity ward, having had a terrifying nightmare about all kinds of machinery surrounding my baby.  Barely able to walk, I tiptoed out of the room (making sure not to wake up my husband, who was asleep on the pullout chair in the room) and took the elevator down to the NICU.

When I got there, the nurses told me that they had just ordered an x-ray machine to do another chest x-ray of my son because he had had another breathing episode.

No kidding.

Because of my dream, I got to the NICU in time to be with my baby while he got his x-ray.

Mother’s intuition starts from the very beginning.

What is Macy’s Heart of Haiti? It is a “trade, not aid” initiative launched by Willa Shalit, The Clinton Bush Haiti Fund and Macy’s, which provides sustainable income to Haitian artisans struggling to rebuild their lives and support their families after the 2010 earthquake. The initiative has already led to the employment of 750 artists in Haiti, which translates into financial benefits for about 8.500 people.  Serious social change is taking place here, people!

The Collection which features more than 40 home decor items, is crafted by Haitian master artisans from almost entirely recycled and sustainable items….which makes them socially and environmentally responsible. Pretty cool, huh?

Get your fingers clicking to  Macy’s.com, where you can find all of the Heart of Haiti products.

Thank you to Macy’s Heart of Haiti for sponsoring my participation in this “Share Your Heart” promotion. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective. All opinions expressed here are my own.

I must admit, I have never had a problem getting my kids to eat a variety of fruits and vegetables.  I know, though, that I am in the minority (don’t call it luck–it’s at least 95% training!) and that parents sometimes resort to all sorts of subterfuge to get their children to eat healthy. Ick. Please don’t hide spinach in your children’s brownies–it’s doesn’t pack that much of a nutritional punch and definitely doesn’t teach them to eat healthy.

Clare Crespo, along with Country Crock, has come up with a whole bunch of really fun recipes (kind of like food crafts) which could probably coax even the pickiest eater to take at least a tiny bite.

At the New York Launch event for the A Very Veggie World Cookbook , my almost 6 year old son had a great time making an American flag pizza, an ratatouille filled eggplant race car and checking out the food sculptures.

Pizza Flag

8 servings
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 22 minutes
6 ounces part skim mozzarella
cheese slices
1 Tbsp. Country Crock® Spread
2 cups fresh spinach leaves, rinsed
and patted dry
1 frozen pizza dough, thawed (if you’re feeling more ambitious, try my homemade pizza dough)
1 cup Ragu® Pizza Quick Sauce
2 plum tomatoes, sliced in half
lengthwise and cut into slices or 1
sliced red bell pepper or a mixture
of the two
Crushed red pepper flakes (optional)

Take two slices of mozzarella cheese and stack together.
Use kitchen scissors or small knife to cut a few star shapes
out of the cheese. Slice remaining cheese slices into
1-inch strips.
Preheat oven to 450°. Melt Country Crock® Spread in a
large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add spinach
and cook until wilted, about 2 minutes. Remove from
heat and set aside.
Stretch pizza dough to fit a rectangular pan. Spread
Ragu® Pizza Quick Sauce evenly over dough. Sprinkle
spinach over top left corner of dough. Place stars on the
spinach. Lay tomatoes (or peppers) and cheese strips in
alternating strips on rest of the pizza.
Bake 10 to 20 minutes until cheese is melted and starting
to turn golden and crust is starting to brown. Remove
from oven and serve with crushed red pepper flakes (if
using).

“A Very Veggie World” is available for a free download at www.averyveggieworld.com.

**Disclaimer: I was a guest of Country Crock at the launch event and received a variety of goodies**

Oh, and yes, it turns out that I make bizarre faces when I cook, lol