Solid advice from Mama Obama.

There will be a teenager in The White House next month. That’s when Malia Obama turns 13.  But, according to her mother, she’s already entered her teen years mentally.

In an interview with Diane Sawyer on ABC News this week, the first lady offered up some advice for her girls – and all young girls – about falling in love. Continue reading »

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Tom Hanks spoke at Yale's graduation this spring

With the official kickoff to summer underway, it means your kids will be doing their best to forget about homework, books and learning while they trade their school hats for vacation.

But before they put their school days behind them for days of the hotter and lazier variety, take a few minutes to watch some of this spring’s best college commencement speeches from such notables as Amy Poehler (“Be open to collaboration; be open to people who inspire you…no one is here today because they did it on their own. You’re all here today because someone gave you strength”), Michelle Obama (“Commitment to family. These are the keys to success in any field”), and Denzel Washington (“Do you have the guts to fail? If you don’t fail, you’re not even trying”), and see if you can’t sneak in some inspiration before heading off to the beach:

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Michelle Obama gets down for the Move Your Body campaign

When it comes to her “Move Your Body” message, First Lady Michelle Obama isn’t just talking the talk. She’s dancing the dance, too.  First, she enlisted Beyoncé to do a “Move Your Body” song and video, specifically designed to get kids’ hearts pumping. Then,  at a middle school in Washington DC, Mrs. Obama demonstrated her mastery of the moves therein.

Think back on the First Ladies of our past…could you ever imagine Laura Bush or Hillary getting down like this in public (or for that matter, even in private?). I love that Michelle Obama is a  real person and not just a cardboard cutout. Take this comment from a site that posted the video: “Seeing all those little girls on the field dancing along makes me so happy. How wonderful it must be to be a little girl right now, with First Lady Michelle as a role model. Heck, it’s pretty wonderful for us not-so-little girls.”

She even does the Dougie. Continue reading »

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Michelle Obama Style Icon

One thing about Michelle Obama? She is one damn stylish lady. Whether it’s boarding Air Force One to accompany her husband somewhere, hosting an Easter Party on the front lawn or attending a glamorous ball, there is one thing that is not in doubt. She will look fabulous. One could argue that there hasn’t been a style icon in the White House since the days of Jackie Kennedy, and the person taking that side of the debate would probably win. Continue reading »

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While I'm sure it's fun being the First Daughters and all, how much fun would it be for your mom to discuss your weight issues in an interview?

I’m sure all politicians would say that the decision to seek public office was agreed upon by their family — their spouses had to offer consent, and if their kids were old enough, they had some buy-in, too. But the reality is that the kids of politicians aren’t the ones meant to be making news unless they get pregnant, arrested, or make it to age 18 without having done either.

Which is why I can only imagine how little Malia and Sasha Obama feel every time their mom brings up the subject of their weight in public. I mean, these kids have enough on their plate with being 12 and 10 years old respectively, and living at the most famous address in the country. Do they really need their mom, First Lady Michelle, discussing their Body Mass Index (BMI) in an interview? I mean, really?

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My daughter, Violet.

Today is the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day. A worldwide celebration of the achievements of women. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will host the 2011 International Women of Courage Awards Ceremony with First Lady Michelle Obama where they’ll recognize women who have excelled at advocating for women’s rights and empowerment. This year’s recipients include women whose occupations range from blogger to head of state.

Sure, certain women will be publicly lauded for their achievements. For hundreds of years millions of courageous women have battled – each in their own way – for equal rights, but it’s the women who toil in anonymity every single day that I want to acknowledge. Women whose families couldn’t make it without them. Women who work their backsides off to create cozy homes and happy children… women like you and me. We’re amazing, right? Continue reading »

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Not everyone in the GOP thinks anti-obesity campaigns are lefty nanny state stuff.

Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” campaign to lower the rate of childhood obesity in the U.S. has met much derision since it was launched. Often the criticism came from politicians, who thought encouraging kids to jump rope and asking manufacturers to quit making such unhealthy stuff for kids was somehow government encroaching on our freedom to eat Pop-Tarts.

Recently, Sarah Palin and Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann attacked the First Lady for the health initiatives, the former expressing concerned about a government ban on desserts, the latter pitching a fit over making breast pumps accessible to more nursing moms.

But a couple of high-profile members of the GOP have recently come out in support of the anti-obesity initiatives — two men who, themselves, have waged a lifelong battle with their weight. Continue reading »

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