I took my four yr old son, Henry, to ride on Thomas the Train recently. This is us getting ready to ride!

Does your partner look like you? My husband and I are similar in coloring and height, but no one has ever mistaken us for blood relations. ____ Reflection connection: Finding your face mate By Georgia Garvey I RedEye Ever look into a mirror and say, "Hey there, good-looking. Come here often?" Some online dating services are banking on just that--an affection for your reflection--and matching clients based on similar facial features before lining them up on the other stuff (likes, dislikes, level of distaste for Coldplay). The sites use facial recognition software to match features and then pair couples who have the most in common. Among them are the New York-based findyourfacemate.com, which launched this year and claims to pair daters based on their faces, and an offering from Coca-Cola, which recently announced a face-matching app on Facebook. Some dating experts said the new focus puts too high a priority on looks and not enough on personality. "It makes no sense at all. ... How self-conceited do you have to be?" said Vilius Gavrilenka, an event director for Chicago-based Date & Dash, who did say he can see how some would want to date someone of a similar level of attractiveness. But, he added, "There are so many other variables in a relationship that are more important." The idea behind the sites is based on studies like one published in June 2010 by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign that examined people's sexual attraction for others who resembled them. In that study, people said those who looked like them or their parents were more attractive. R. Chris Fraley, who authored the U. of I. study, said he can see implications for dating. "If you were to set people up on the basis of similarity in their facial features, those people would find one another as more attractive than they would if they were paired in a less systematic fashion," Fraley said in an email, but added that "simply finding someone attractive doesn't guarantee that the relationship will work well in the long-term." Others said the computer-based scheme takes some of the mystery out of dating. "It sounds so scary," said Jim Sullivan, a New York-based dating coach. "It's an abomination of the whole dating process." But many acknowledge there's no harm to the approach. Ultimately, any excuse to chat someone up can be a good ice-breaker. "It's actually both goofy and it makes sense," said Kevin Chmura, a River North dating coach. He said that regardless of whether there's "legitimate" psychology behind the process, just having a seemingly scientific rationale for setting two people up "can give them that kind of [dating] confidence." Read the article: http://www.redeyechicago.com/news/redeye-reflection-connection-finding-your-face-mate-20110605,0,6484535.photogallery

How to make your own wreath Mother Nature Network - If you'd like to make your own wreath for Christmas, there’s a good chance you have an abundance of plant material growing just a few steps from your front door to make a unique sign of the season. Take a look around your yard or garden for the amazing number of plants that make colorful berries in late fall and early winter and for those with foliage in interesting shapes, colors and textures. Here’s an example of some plants to look for: Hollies, especially variegated ones Cypresses, junipers and similar evergreens (look for stems full of berries) Nandina Magnolia trees Pine trees Eucalyptus trees Japanese maples with red or yellow branches Winterberry Native and ornamental grasses Beech trees (the leaves stay brown through winter) Boxwoods And if you want to give your wreath a regional look, choose plants that are native to your part of the country. For example, if you live in the South, what could be more Southern than magnolia leaves? The easiest way to make your own wreath is to buy a wire frame from a garden center with the greenery already attached. If you want to make your own wreath from scratch, arts and crafts stores usually sell bare wire frames. Christmas tree branches, boxwood stems, magnolia leaves and vines are popular base materials. The only equipment you will need to get started is a pair of clippers, thin green florist wire and a little imagination! Continue: http://www.mnn.com/family/family-activities/stories/how-to-make-your-own-wreath?hpt=hp_bn12

Hi, I'm Momwich - I've been a mommy blogger since my gorgeous daughters were 6 and 2... fast forward a few years and several thousand dollars in girl scout fees, cheer uniforms and orthodontics and they're now 16 and 12 - and I'm still blogging about my parenting fails :) http://www.momwich.net

I'm half-way through The Kitchen House .... so far so good, but I have a feeling the book will be a sad tale in the end. What are you reading?

On one hand, it's so cruel to lie to your kids. On the other? The reactions are priceless. The two boys at the end? I just want to go and chat with them some more!

The White House's Big Earth Day Announcement by Josh Loposer http://www.greendaily.com/2010/04/22/the-white-houses-big-earth-day-announcement Want a a free home energy upgrade courtesy of the federal government? As part of the White House's official Earth Day festivities, Vice President Joe Biden unveiled the "Retrofit Ramp-Up," a plan to dole out $452M in energy retrofits to 25 communities across the country. Using funds set aside by the Recovery Act, contractors will literally be going door-to-door to offer Americans a chance at a free energy-saving upgrade. The only problem is that you have to live in one of these 25 privileged communities. Lucky for me, my town made the cut. Did yours? (mine didn't make the cut - bummer - but I think this is great! And I know we have lots of Michigan moms on here - the State of Michigan is listed so you'll have to let us know if you get to participate in this!)

1. That yesterday's meeting went better than I expected and the resolution is exactly what we had wanted 2. That common sense and critical thinking isn't entirely lost 3. A fresh new day to begin again

CNN.com - American photography icon Eastman Kodak has seen more than a 90% drop in shares over the past year, which has lead to speculation about a possible bankruptcy. The 131-year-old camera company, whose main focus was film, has suffered financially since the digital revolution. Over the years, the saying “Kodak Moment” has become a popular synonym for a priceless memory captured by a photo. Did you use or do you still use Kodak film? If so, share your most memorable analog Kodak Moment with iReport and tell us what made that moment so special. Your photo could be featured on CNN. http://ireport.cnn.com/topics/726798?hpt=hp_bn1

I'm SOOOOO tired of spam. I get it on my blog. I get it on twitter. I deal with it on facebook. And now here? Ugh. Why do people spam? I don't get it. It's so annoying. It is definitely not a good way to make friends and all it does is annoy people.

Miss Lori thinks we are all responsible for the sexualization of children like Isabella Barrett from Toddlers and Tiaras .... I think this is a must read for everyone. http://www.misslori.tv/2012/02/07/miss-lori-thinks-we-are-responsible-for-sexualization-of-children-like-isabella-from-toddlers-and-tiaras/

Worth it or not: A shopping Guide SmartMoney.com - We've all been there, standing in the aisle of a store, spending way too much time weighing the small differences between two similar products. Will the more expensive umbrella really perform better? When it comes to a laptop bag, is $120 too much, too little, or just right? Here's some help. Each month, SmartMoney Magazine looks at sets of two similar consumer products, and assesses the better buy. This year, we looked at a wide variety of goods, including blenders, deep fryers and Digital SLR cameras. To aid in your holiday shopping, here are seven suggestions: http://www.smartmoney.com/spend/family-money/worth-it-or-not-a-shopping-guide/

Hi Everyone, I am new to the Motherhood site and soon to be a SAHM. I have 2 girls age 7 and 2 and daughter number 3 is due at the end of March. I am finally going to be able to be a SAHM due to the fact that i found a way to make an income from home and not have to put my girls in daycare. Any tips? A lot of people i know say that staying at home isn't easy and that its a lot of work. I am looking forward to it and can't wait but can understand what people mean. I am sure there are times when you just need some mommy alone time but my kids are my world so I am sure I am going to love it! Counting the days down until i can be a SAHM