S’mores.  Who HASN’T had them?

There are rite of passage.  As American as apple pie.  A huge part of any childhood memory.

Everybody loves S’mores, right? Who DOESN’T?  I’ll tell  you who.  My husband, that is who.  My husband isn’t fond of S’mores because they contain one vital ingredient – chocolate. Yes, my man hates chocolate.  Which is another blog post entirely, my friends. He is lucky that we are still married.

So we had a problem to solve this weekend because the boys and I love S’mores snacking and hubby snubs it. The challenge? Find a recipe that the hubby will like.

Let me just pause here to ask you a question: Am I the only one in the world who didn’t know that you could make  S’mores with bananas? And mint? And, hello? Strawberries!  Well, you can my friend. (more…)

Nice title, right?

Subtle, that is my middle name.

This is one subject that I just can’t be subtle about.  I can’t beat around the bush. I can’t dance around the subject.  Basically, I NEED YOU!

You see, I’ve found myself somehow up for a nomination by Nickelodeon for “Best Parenting Blog.”  I know, I am as shocked as you are.

I was just all minding my business one day when I came across the notification in my in-box.  I thought that surely it was a mistake.  But then I saw my picture on the same page as this description:

“We know you love Dooce, Amalah and about six million other awesome blogs. But which of these up-and-comers make you laugh, cry and LOVE being a parent?”

Besides the fact that I have NO IDEA WHY I am included in the same company with those ladies (who are awesome BTW), I am beyond thrilled.  I feel like someone nominated me for HOMECOMING QUEEN’.

And I am totally okay with begging asking for votes.

So if you are a friend, or a relative, a stranger or a stalker (no matter!) please head over to Nickelodeon’s Parent’s Picks 2010 to vote to nominate me for the BEST PARENTING BLOG.

I totally appreciate it!

Is Teri Hatcher becoming a mommy blogger?

Possibly.

Teri Hatcher, known to the masses as one of the stars of Desperate Housewives, will soon be launching her very own lifestyle site called Get Hatched. (Cute name!) She isn’t fooling around either, it is being produced by DisneyFamily.com.

According to the Hollywood Reporter:

Teri Hatcher has teamed with Disney to launch a Web site for chicks. The “Desperate Housewives” star has a tease of her GetHatched.com site set to begin Monday, but it launches in earnest in the spring. Nicknamed “a chick’s guide to life,” the site is produced by Disney Family.com, with creative and editorial insight from Hatcher and a small team of contributors.

“I have a compelling passion to be a woman with other women,” Hatcher said. “We’re the caregivers, the teachers, the lovers.”

“I’m just open and talk about anything, usually with humor, because that’s what gets me through the day,” she added. “I don’t self-edit.”

Celebrity guests are expected to weigh in as well, though she said her “Housewives” colleagues don’t even know about the project.

“This isn’t the Teri Hatcher reality series,” she said. “I’m not afraid to talk about what worked for me and what hasn’t.” Like the time she rushed out of the house, her hair looking a wreck, to pick up a few groceries and was met by paparazzi. An unflattering photo in magazines and on the Internet was the result. “I should have taken an extra 30 seconds to show I have style,” she said.

Will she be the next Dooce? I doubt it.  Because, well, who is? But I am certainly intrigued!  Looking forward to reading Get Hatched and hoping that she will be tapping into some real life moms as contributors, not just those involved in the world of celebrities and celebrity-making.  BTW – Terri, if you want a normal (read: plane old middle class) working mom’s perspective on life, give me a call!

If I know one thing in this life besides my love for coffee, books and chocolate, I know that Tots2Tweens (masterminded by the fabulous Dani Gurrie) can put on a slammin’ event! So that is why I want you all to know about this Saturday’s event at Crumland Farms.

Tots2Tweens is putting on a FREE Easter Egg Hunt for parents and children (ages 12 and under) this Saturday, March 27th in Frederick County, MD. There will be separate times with “age appropriate” hunting as well as moon bounces, face painting, goody bags, strolling performers and event a special hunt for MOM!

Of course there will also be plenty of photo opportunities with the Easter Bunny himself!

Click here for more info!

Hope to see ya there!

DO YOU WANT TO WIN A SPONSORSHIP TO BLOGHER 2010?

Well, then it is time to speak up and start talking about SEED!

SEED Power (a line of all natural body care) is providing some lucky ladies with the chance to attend BlogHer 21010 in NYC with their fabulous SEEDS OF INSPIRATION contest.  Not only will the winner receive a $250 CASH sponsorship, but they will also be VIP guests at an exclusive, swanky NYC PAR-TAY the Friday night of the convention.  (And let me tell you – from what I hear it will be FAB-U-LOUS!)

HERE IS HOW ENTER THE SEEDS OF INSPIRATION BLOGHER 2010 SPONSORSHIP CONTEST:

Visit the Seed Website and read about the products and the founder’s story.

Write a blog post about how the products, philosophy or owner’s story INSPIRE YOU to nurture your own entrepreneurial spirit, live a more organic lifestyle OR make a more positive environmental impact! The post must include a link to the SEED website within it and a mention and link back to this contest to be considered. Then come back to Hip As I Wanna Be and link up!

A COUPLE OF OTHER RULES, BABY:

All contestants must ALSO complete the following steps for their entry to be considered:

• Visit the SEED website and join their community via email
• Follow @SeedPower on Twitter
• Tweet the following “I’m inspired by @SEEDpower & the SEEDs of Inspiration #blogher10 #sponsorship contest http://bit.ly/b2oQDM #pickmeseed”
• Become a fan of SEED on FaceBook

{And don’t forget to leave a comment letting the contest host (ME!) know you completed these steps}

Submit your entry via Mr. Linky below and then you are done!

BUT THERE IS ONE MORE THING, LADIES... The fact that you can enter to win once a week until the contest closes. Just create a new post, link up again and tweet!  The coolness, never ends does it?  And if you want extra chances to win in a different way, you can enter each week over at Chicken Nuggets of Wisdom (Whrrl contest) and Makeover Momma (Vlog contest) as well.

Each entry must be unique and not simply the submission of the previous week’s entry.

Winners who have followed the submission rules will then have their entries judged by SEED on the following criteria: creativity, originality, interpretation of the theme.

SEED Power Body Care will choose the winner of the contest as well as several other winners who will get invitations to the swank-tastic invite only party being hosted on Saturday August 5th, 2010 by SEED.  BTW – Hip As I Wanna Be, though partially sponsored to BlogHer 2010 by SEED, will have no part in the selection process and is simply hosting this contest.

Contest ends March 31, 2010 at 11:00 p.m. PST. Winners will be announced on the SEED website on or about April 9, 2010.  (But it might be a good idea to follow “me” on Twitter and fan Hip As I Wanna Be on Facebook to make sure you are up to date on the contest 411.)

AND…. because they are a truly fabulous company, Seed is also offering the readers of Hip As I Wanna Be a discount on their products.  To order some fabulous products using your special discount code, click here.

NOTE: I AM A TECHNO MORON! For some reason the comments are closed. Just email me at jlgerlock@comcast.net and I will make sure SEED gets them!

Yesterday my family and I were invited to experience a brand new exhibit called “Curious George: Let’s Get Curious” at the Port Discovery Children’s Museum in Baltimore.   What a blast!

My childhood hero!

Now, we had been to Port Discovery years ago with the kids and, of course, we loved it. But this trip was entirely different.  They were completely engaged and were begging for us not to leave. It was three stories of kid nirvana. (THIS kid included!) My personal favorite has always been the Egyptian exhibit.  Last time we visited it, the boys were too young to appreciate it.  This time?  They were running around like maniacs trying to find codes and checking out the mummies. I think we were in that exhibit for a good 30 minutes.

The newest addition to the museum, and the reason for all of the celebration,  is the Curious George area.  This exhibit, which was developed in partnership with PBS KIDS, is an interactive dream for little ones weaving in  math, science, engineering into a colorful fun adventure-land.  Even my oldest son was captivated by it.  Two words: mini – golf!

I highly recommend bringing your kids out to Baltimore for a day of family fun.  Port Discovery is a gem for the kiddos! For more information on Port Discovery and all the exhibits they offer, click here. FTC Disclosure: My family and I were invited guests to the opening celebration of the Curious George exhibit. All opinions are mine alone.

New review post is up!  Please check out my review spot for two new Twilight-esque books.  Don’t forget to enter the giveaway while you are there!