It’s really getting dirty..

October 30, 2008 | Leave a Comment


While I watch Rachel Maddow every night and than flip back to CNN I think to myself, this election process has become completely out of control…

• terrorists accusations,
• Palin spending $150,000 on outfits
• robocalling.

I will tell you right now who I am voting for Barack(I am not writing this to convince readers to vote on one specific candidate or another either ).. and I will also tell you that out of all of the Republicans I used to think John McCaine was at least worth listening to because he really was a maverick of sorts.

NOW I no longer feel that way for many reasons but the ones I think its worth talking about here have to do with the future of my children. My two daughters, ages 5 and 2 years actually know who Barack is and also wear his button on their knapsacks.

They have been following the election and have their own little Barack chant. I do not expect that all five year olds and especially two year olds are interested in politics, but in our family it happens to be regular banter. So I was horrified and frightened the other day when My 5 year old had a play date with one of her classmates and we were on the bus going back to our house. Her friend pointed to my daughter’s Barack Obama Button and said, “ I am going to vote for McCain because he has white skin and Brack has brown skin”. I wanted to jump out of the bus, I was so embarrassed and mortified.

Once the playdate had concluded, I simply took my daughter aside and mentionned the scenario on the bus to her and she looked a bit confused. I said to my daughter,” in our family we make our decisions about who is most qualified for a job not by what a person looks like, but by how well they are trained , what they stand for, how they have been educated.

Did she truly understand what I was really saying? I don’t know but what I do know is that she knew in the depths of her little 5 year old body that her little friend was wrong not on her political choice but on her reasoning.

I write this article not because I am a registered Democrat and not because my choice of candidate happens to be Barack, I write it because it just shows in this day in age, prejudice still exists and parents continue to pass their own prejudices down to their children, consciously or unconsciously.

I hope with all my heart that our children one day canreally BELIEVE without pretense that anyone
is eligible to do any job they are qualified for, regardless of race, color or creed- as the saying goes….

The Dish’s to do list:
Pick up An Absolute Scandal by British best selling author ,Penny Vincenzi. I can’t put this book down, The characters are flawed, fascinating and sexy! It is a perfect book for today’s economic climate.(located at Barnes and Noble)
Stay warm Missoni Scarfs,- chic and bohemian. You can get them at Searle or if you are lucky head to Filene’s Basement where they have some for cheaper.
Check out a friend’s new site (environmentally friendly) let’s all help to save our planet!
showthelove.com

Posted by Deana | Filed Under Deana's Dish 

a sneak peek of “Somos Familia” video

October 29, 2008 | Leave a Comment

Deana has just finished directing her friends from Hot Peas N’ Butter brand new video: “Somos Familia”. Mums and kids check out a sneak peek of “Somos Familia” which will be sure to make you dance.You can also check out HPN’B daily on NOGGIN too. ENJOY!

Posted by Deana | Filed Under Deana's Dish 

The City Mum TRIES TO Go Country

September 12, 2008 | Leave a Comment

I hope everyone had relaxing and/or inspiring summer. Now that Labor Day has passed I have had a second to reflect upon my summer. Country living is clearly not my forte. I was in Connecticut for most of it trying to find myself in more ways than one. First let me just tell you for one moment about driving through the country roads: driving is NOT my thing. I got lost for 45 minutes trying to find my way home with my children from my in-laws house. I had to turn off their The Naked Brothers CD while cold sweat was dripping down my brow in fear while my kids just kept asking “where is our music”. I replied by saying, “Mommy has to concentrate” oh and two days later I was 45 minutes late picking up my husband from the train station because I took Route 202 instead of 22.

Other country adventures included my husband getting Lime Disease, my eldest daughter getting stung by two wasps hiding out in a tire swing at camp, me spraining my knee by trying to pull a dead plant out of our garden, cooking dinner which I managed to set off our fire alarm 3 times in one week. In Connecticut, the fire department really does show up when an alarm goes off. A snake in our basement(this is when I wished I could jump on a “subway” back to the city), and finally a family adventure to Steep Rock which included some minor hiking, wading in the river where my husband and daughter lost their flip-flops in the strong current. After coming back from our hike I took stock of our summer , What was learned, how was our family outside of new york city? We all LOVED having the space and yard and I even found myself not caring if I had not showered all day and a went with out a manicure and pedicure for 6 weeks. But most of all we really did spend quality time together and rejuvenate our senses.I hope everyone found a bit of peace and tranquility this summer.. I feel like we all need it.

My Back To School List for MUMS:
Since a little girl I have always loved his time of the year- it marks a time for change , new “school” clothes and the smell of the fall leaves.

Clean out your closets- if you did not wear it last season, trust me you are not going to wear it this season. Get new hangers, boxes even if you are not going to buy much this year, it will make you feel more organized and DONATE your unwanted duds. Go to the www.thecontainerstore.com

Get your junk draw in your kitchen organized for the new school year, make each child a folder for their class lists, handbooks,etc.

CPW 495 Amsterdam corner of 84th Street 212-579-3737 for kids and MUMS. I know everyone is cutting back but every mum needs a few new staples for their fall /winter wardrobes. Pick up a vintage piece and layer it with a chunky sweater with a pair of new jeans wide leg or straight leg. They carry every style and shape. Great kid’s selection too. Names from Splendid, Goldrush, Junk Food .

Please call DEANA(917-862-2471) or e-mail tuckerprods@nyc.rr.com- I am now styling from vintage Chanel Pieces to J. Crew. I can help you get dressed, go through your closet and feel good.I am styling for men too.

Posted by Deana | Filed Under Deana's Dish 

Finding Myself

July 29, 2008 | Leave a Comment

The other evening I got very frustrated with my husband because of his travel schedule for work. I said to him, “I feel like I have no life and the entire family’s schedule revolves around yours.” After I said this to him, I realized I was the only one that had the major issue with his absence. What was really bothering me was a lack of control.

I look at all of these well-toned, volunteering, career achieving mums and I think, are the pressures of raising a family today just too much at times? We worry about if our kids our taking their vitamins at camp, doing the right activities. I know mums also worry in their own heads at times, what about ME? If they are working, what is the next career step? If they have taken time off from their careers, when do they go back and how do they fit back into the working world? Some mums have decided they are done with the “corporate world”, but this poses a decision as well. When their child begin to go to school full-time, what do we do with the free hours and still feel productive?

I think raising a family is always in transition, I just wonder if we can have a bit more tranquility in our own minds while we are running to get the next birthday gift or trying to catch a cab for an 8:00 a.m. breakfast meeting; maybe if we can stay in the moment and applaud ourselves for doing a good job we would be a bit more at peace for our families. I know that lately I need to adhere to this advice as well.

Posted by Dr. Natalie Geary MD | Filed Under Deana's Dish 

This Week’s Must-Haves

July 29, 2008 | Leave a Comment

Here are my must haves and must do’s for the week:

Looking to spruce up some bedrooms this summer…

Check out: Sweet Charity- at this shop you will find Indian-inspired crib quilts and amazing bright colored rugs. A portion of the store’s proceeds goes to the Best Friends Animal Society and Farm Sanctuary. 411 Seventh Ave between 13th and 14th Street. Park Slope Brooklyn (718-965-9200, sweetcharitynyc.com)

CB2 At Crate and Barrels’s lower-priced store you can find frames made out of recycled soda cans, pagodastyle wood stools($100.00) are the perfect height for tots, but the best buy is the Sleepy Hollow bed($300.00-$700.00) a platform bunk. 451 Broadway between Canal and Grand Streets (212-219-1454, cb2.com)

In August Deana’s Dish will be bringing you my favorite home décor styling along with fashion advice from Marni and Prada to vintage and the must have t-shirts.

Posted by Deana | Filed Under Deana's Dish 

car seat safety

July 10, 2008 | Leave a Comment

I usually do not write about life or death issues, but this story that I am about to tell will hopefully make every parent and caregiver extraordinarily diligent about car seat installation .

Last Saturday, I received an e-mail from my friend; the subject was her daughters name (for sake of privacy we will call her “baby C”). It started off saying she was sorry to write this in an e-mail, but she needed to reach everyone as quickly as possible. She and her daughter had been in a “serious” car accident on the LIE. She is fine, but Baby C is not. She has been intubated, because of major head injuries. She was asking all of us for our prayers. I could not even finish reading the rest of her e-mail; I just handed my husband my blackberry and went into the bathroom shaking. I was in complete shock- they were both just at our house three days ago for a play-date.
I e-mailed my friend immediately, not asking any questions about “what happened”, but telling her we are praying for baby C and we were here if they needed anything. I really prayed. I am sort of a lapsed Catholic, but honestly I prayed and cried the entire weekend. I also hovered over both of my girls, especially my two year old. For a week now my friend and I have been in constant contact entitling our e-mails something like this: “Monday 4:45 p.m. Up-date on C”. The last update we got was that C’s feeding tube was being removed and she was singing her favorite songs.
My friend and I believe that honestly by a MIRACLE (and I mean a sheer MIRACLE,) her baby is alive and is going to be okay after a long stint of in-patient rehab.

I am begging all of my friends, readers that EVERYONE look on-line (go to the www.aap.org) with regards to your particular car seat and make sure you not only install your infant, toddler, or school aged kids car seat properly in the back seat, but make sure it is “tethered” securely to the back of the seat as well. While my friend’s baby’s Britax Car Seat was installed properly (honestly, this car seat ended up saving her life,) the tethered option was not used. If it had been ,Baby C ’s head injuries may not have been so severe.

My List of my must have’s must do’s for the week:
go onto www.aap.org to learn about total proper installation of your child(s) car seats

Hug and kiss your children and realize how lucky and blessed most of us are.

Posted by Deana | Filed Under Deana's Dish 

Infidelity

June 26, 2008 | Leave a Comment

A few weeks ago NY Magazine wrote an article about couples that cheat on one another. It felt like a stab in the heart to read, but I know full well how often it does happen. How would it make you feel if he did it to you or if you did it to him? Why does it happen? The pressures of everyday life?, Or do we just get bored? Or does our self-esteem need a boost? Are we just eager for more sex? I am sure it is a combination of all four, plus plain old “human nature’. I heard of a story the other day about a woman cheating on her husband. They have one child together and my friend said to me, I think it is a game for this particular women. She is bored going to the play ground every day and her “lover” makes her feel sexy again. The older and hopefully wiser I get, I have learned to not pass judgement on people’s behavior or decisions they make within the confines of their personal lives. However, the decision to build a family together is a big one- and suddenly there is a hell of a lot more to loose in the name of entertainment or ego gratification. If either partner strays and gets caught or decides to come clean ,ultimately the ones that get hurt the most are the ones we love the most, our children. Send me your thoughts- some people say the opposite- that affairs can help the individual recharge, or need less from their spouse, or simply feel better, and thus be better able to parent- though that seems hard for me to swallow.

Nourish yourself well this week.

Let’s try to be mindful of our environment this week. Here are my must haves and must dos for this week:

Help save our environment when you clean. Pick up all of Mrs. Myers Clean Day products(I am in love with these products, they smell amazing)Aromatherapeutic Household Cleaners that are green,cruelty-free, and not tested on animals.

“Growing Up Green!” volume two. This book is chock full of research and advice. This book makes it easy for you to introduce your child to the “living green” way of life. Available at most book stores or go to: www.simonsays.com

Finn Creations(Freedom is Natural Nirvana). Log onto www.finncreations.com for your hubby or boys for amazing artful designed t-shirts and hoodies. These designs are in search of freedom. There is a very powerful narration that accompanies each design. “Open yourself to an emotional and spiritual movement to find freedom”.I love not only the designs, but the messages too.

Posted by Deana | Filed Under Deana's Dish 

A Recession in Morals

May 29, 2008 | Leave a Comment

I know I am about to sound like my grandmother here, but I am sure I am NOT the only MUM that worries about their children’s ethics and sense of what is right and what is wrong these days. And I am not talking just about manners either. When a 5 year old doesn’t say “thank-you” when they are given a snack, that irks me, but it does not scare me. What scares me is what is happening to our “tweens” and teenagers whose bodies look like young adults but whose decision-making skills are still naive and foolish. Their sophisticate little bodies are the source of a lot of destructive experiments. For example, had you ever gone to a “lipstick” party when you were 13 years old? I am not talking about a party where a Mary Kay Representative comes to your home and sells their new summer shades to your friends either. Apparently at some Barmitzvahs, girls each wear a distinctly different color lipstick when they perform oral sex on a single boy, so that each boy ends up with different colored rings on their genitals, like a rainbow badge of honor. This “activity” is apparently a “highlight of their evening.
This is an age when both boys and girls are already so socially vulnerable. How does this type of behavior affect their self esteem and behaviors in years to come? I would love to hear from you IF you think your kids are growing up faster than you did and HOW you are dealing with these social challenges?

Here are my must haves and must do for this week:

The Liya Kebede Foundation dedicated to Mothers and Children. The mission of The Liya Kebede Foundation is to reduce Maternal Newborn and Child Mortality and to improve the health and well being of mothers and children around the world.For more information or to donate,please visit their website at www.theliyakebedefoundation.org

Check out unique,must-see green,luxury products for new parents at maternitique.com.Babies spend so much time sleeping give them a non-toxic environment in which to sleep and breathe in. My favorites are the organic crib sets .The texture and softness are amazing ! www.maternitique.com

Luxurious fresh scents designed exclusively for little boys and girls at www.lovechicbaby.com. These scents are designed for ages 6 months to pre-teens. I love the adorable packaging of these scents too. Makes a wonderful gift.

Posted by Deana | Filed Under Deana's Dish 

A MUMS’ SELF-RELECTIVE MOMMENT

May 16, 2008 | Leave a Comment

I had a bit of a well-deserved tantrum at the end of Mother’s Day- because basically mine was awful. It was not about ME at all. Although I am well aware that most people think of Mother’s day as just another one of those “Hallmark Holidays”, this is one of “those” holidays that does mean something to me. As “saccharine” as that sounds, I do take a huge amount of pride being a mother and most of the time I think I do a pretty good job.

But mine was awful and so I had a minor tantrum: We had dinner with my mother-in- law the night before to celebrate “her” Mother’s Day and it was suppose to be for me too, but somehow, big surprise, it did not feel that way. Sunday we drove even farther to have lunch with my own Mom, again this was not about me at all. The gift my husband gave me was beautiful, but there wasn’t even the hallmark card attached. So by late Sunday night, I actually teared up: I was angry that I let another holiday go by just appeasing everyone else. Even though I actually felt more like a child at this moment than a mother, it reminded me of how often we, as Mom’s, don’t really ask well for what we need.

Next year, my husband promised that we would have everyone at our house for a brunch (this way we would not have to travel). I thought to myself, what about if I don’t want to have to celebrate with “everyone”? All I really want are my two children and husband for this particular holiday… that would make it about ME, the MUM.

Nourish yourself well this week inside and out!

Here are my must have’s and must do’s for this week:

TRACY WATTS party and sample SALE this is a must! The hats are chic and hip and Tracy is a doll of a Milliner. Friday, May 16th 3pm-9pm
119 8th Street Studio 201, Brooklyn, NY email: tw@tracywatts.com

Pick up Five Star Iris ’s self-titled CD on amazon.com- I love the song “Luckiest Man”

Susan Ciminelli Spa- Algae Deep Cleanse- a daily face peel incorporates algae oils and the essential oils of lavender, eucalyptus and peppermint to gently remove dead cells. I use this product once a day from Susan! www.susanciminelli.com or 212-872-2650

Posted by Deana | Filed Under Deana's Dish 

It is our job to teach our children morals: NOT Hollywood’s.

May 2, 2008 | Leave a Comment

I am not one to usually react positively or negatively to the gossip surrounding the likes of Hollywood- not much surprises me. I can be a bit jaded probably because I have worked with many of these types in the music industry, but this story really has made me ponder a young celebrity’s responsibility to her “fans”. Here are my two cents for what it is worth.

The pop sensational singer, Disney Actress ,Miley Cyrus is getting a lot of flack for her recent Annie Liebowitz photo shoot in Vanity Fair Magazine, for being too racy. I saw the photos. In my opinion. they are beautiful artistic shots of her. Once again the incredibly talented Liebowitz shows “another” side of a young actress.But why were so many people outraged because an actress is draped in a sheet WITH NOTHING exposed except her shoulder for a photo shoot?

Yes, I know very well that she is a role model for young children, my own daughter watches her on Hannah Montana. YES, I understand that she is on The Disney Channel and there are certain “moral” responsibilities and standards that go along with that, but shouldn’t we be teaching our children our own moral standards and showing them HOW to be good people rather than sticking them in front of the television and expecting these actors to be our children’s role models? Holding any celebrity up to this task is only going to lead to disappointment and eventually disapproval.

I would love to hear your thoughts, please e-mail me.
Be kind to yourself this week.

Here are my must haves and must dos for the week:

Kimberly Sayer’s of London Slimming and Contouring Lotion- A natural and contouring body gel and moisturizer which utilizes highly active extracts to tighten and firm the skin instantly without harsh chemicals- great for post-pregnancy skin . Available at Whole Foods Markets or www.kimberlysayer.com

Metropolitian Museum of Art, New York City- check out a balloon dog, a chocolate heart wrapped in shiny red wrapper and a silhouette of Piglet from “Winnie The Pooh”- by the pop artist Jeff Koons-your kids will love it.

HAND CRAFTED in UGANDA-Get this very cool necklace made out of thin pieces of recycled magazine by the women in Uganda who have been forced from their homes by years of violence and conflict. You will be HELPING these women earn wages to sustain their families. At least $2.00 from each sale goes to CARE- go to : care.org/necklace

Posted by Deana | Filed Under Deana's Dish 

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