She's a mom gone Diva.

So last night while flipping TV channels, I came across the show Kate Plus 8 on TLC.  It's been a while since I've followed the whole Gosselin drama.  Yes, I admit it.  I was an avid follower of Jon & Kate Plus 8 back in the day.  The wonder of watching this couple raise a set of twins and sextuplets was very entertaining, to say the least.  And since the airing of the first couple of seasons was about the time when I was dealing with being a new mom and going through postpartum depression, watching the show actually helped me alot.  Watching Kate deal with her day-to-day adventures with her 8 kids made me feel thankful I only had to deal with one.  Yea, I know...I'm a loser with a capital "L". 

Anyways, back to Kate.  So watching an episode last night, I was amazed at how diva-fied Kate has become.  Let me tell you, she is no longer the frumpy, tired-looking mom she once was.  She is now Ms. Diva with a capital "D".  And I don't mean that as a compliment.  Sure, she looks good.  But it just goes to show you what fame and fortune can do to a person.  Yes, she's still as controlling and slightly obnoxious as she was before (maybe a tad bit more now) but now she's got the overly made up looks to go with it.  Her hair is blonder, straighter, longer and more stylish than before.  Her face is always made up.  Her nails are always done.  She's wearing more cleavage-revealing clothes and shorter, tighter skirts.  And don't get me started on her cleavage.  Either she's gotten her hands on some really good padded uplifting bras or someone has paid a visit to a plastic surgeon.  She's definitely lost some weight.  She's more toned and she's into running and working out.  Now from experience, I know that when you lose weight, one of the first body parts to lose that weight is usually your boobs.  Sure you can tone your chest, but for your boobs to look fuller and bigger....hello?  Boob job.  Just my opinion.  And get this.  She was rocking stilettos on an outing with her twins.  Stilettos?  Really?

Yeah okay, deep down I'm a bit jealous.  I wanna get diva-fied too.   Well maybe just look like one and not act like one...haha.

I guess fame and fortune does change a person.  I just find it sad that she's using her kids to popularize herself.  And to say that she needs to continue doing the show and the public appearances and the book deals because she needs the money to support these kids...that's really sad.  The twins are now 11 and the sextuplets are now 7.  And you can see from the show, they've grown to be kinda bratty.  I guess it's what you would come to expect.  I just feel for those kids.  Let's hope they don't appear in one of those future "Child Stars Gone Bad" shows.

So yea, it was quite a shock for me to see the new Kate last night.  And yes, I was ranting and raving all night about how much she's changed.  And just watching her divalicious self was more entertaining than the storyline itself.  But I gotta say...kudos to her.  Let's just hope for her and her kids sake, it's worth it.

Raspberry Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

What do you get when you add some fresh raspberries with some over-ripe bananas and a handful of chocolate chips?

A slightly tart, chocolatey-sweet, slice of deliciousness! 

The best way to use up those overly ripe bananas that have been sitting too long on the kitchen counter is to make banana bread.  And everything always tastes better with chocolate (at least in my book), right?  And since I also had some freshly picked raspberries, it just seemed like a good combo.  And indeed it was.  Even Lil T enjoyed it.  Hope you enjoy it too!

Raspberry Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

- 3 very ripe bananas

- 1/2 cup of fresh or frozen raspberries

- 1 large egg

-  1/3 cup skim milk

-  1/2 cup granulated sugar

-  1/2 cup brown sugar

-  1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

-  1 teaspoon baking soda

-  1 teaspoon salt

-  1/4 cup mini chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Grease a 9 x 5 x 3 inch loaf pan.

In a large bowl, mash bananas with a fork.  Whisk in egg, milk, and sugars. 

In a separate bowl, mix together flour, baking soda, and salt.  Slowly add the dry mixture to the wet mixture.  Mix until combined, until the flour disappears.  Do not over mix.

Gently fold in chocolate chips and raspberries.

Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 45 - 50 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.  Set aside to cool on a rack for 15 minutes.  Remove bread from pan, invert onto a rack, and cool completely before slicing.

Note:  Can also be made into 12 muffins using a muffin tin.  Bake for 25 - 30 minutes.

It's the little things that matter

What's the secret to a happy marriage?  That must be one of the hottest topics for TV daytime talk shows and self-help books. 

But in reality, there is no secret.  It's actually quite simple.

The answer?

Empty out the dishwasher.

Steve Carrell once said on an episode of Ellen when she asked him what his secret for his marriage of 16 years to his wife was, "I empty out the dishwasher".  Bravo, Steve!

He said it is the little things you do in a marriage that make a difference.  Sure, giving your wife diamonds would be nice.  Uh huh, very nice.  But it's the simple things you offer to do that really shows her you love her.  For him, it's helping to empty out the dishwasher.  He goes on to say that his wife makes him coffee in the morning.  She gets the coffeemaker ready the night before and sets the timer.  And because he gets up and out of the house early before she does, his coffee is made and ready when he wakes up.  Something simple like that shows him that she loves him and is thinking about him.

You know what?  Steve is right.  He hit it right on the nail.

It's not the materialistic things that make a marriage (or any relationship) work.  It's the thought you put into doing a simple act that shows your significant other that "Hey, I'm thinking of you.  I'm going to do this for you so you won't have to."  Women are constantly complaining that their husbands don't take out the trash, don't help with the housework, don't put the toilet seat down...blah, blah, blah.  And guess what?  Most of them don't.  I know mine doesn't.  But it would mean alot if they did.  Men reading this right now are probably thinking....yea right, like my taking out the trash is gonna stop her from nagging at me all the time.  Uhhhh, you're right...it won't.  Well okay, it will for about 5 seconds.  But at least it's one less thing she'll have on her list to nag to you about.  And who knows, it may lead to some sex tonight.

And don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that all men are guilty.  There are wonderful boyfriends and husbands out there, like Steve, that take the time out to do that extra something.  And no, they're not gay.  Simple acts like...taking out the trash, emptying out the dishwasher, or emptying out the dryer.  Believe me, it means alot to us! 

Mind you, women are guilty as well.  Instead of nagging at your man all the time, realize that he works hard to bring home the bacon and it's okay if he forgets to take out the trash once in awhile, or doesn't offer to help with the housework, or forgets to put down the toilet seat.  Cook him a nice meal or give him a nice back rub.  Heck, go all out and offer him SEX! 

You get the point.

Sometimes it really is the little things you do that can make the difference. 

Thank you, Steve.