One of my favorite smells is clean laundry right after it comes out of the dryer. Mmmmmmm...

As it turns out, my favorite smell might just inspire me to act more fair, charitable and generous than I would normally toward others. That's according to new research, which shows that clean smells promote moral behavior. Not sure if I buy it, but if it is true, I'm going to start wearing strong, "clean-smelling" perfume so that everyone around me acts ethically!

Photo From Sesame Street

Today is National Grouch Day! I hate National Grouch Day! (Just getting into the spirit.)

Supposedly, this "holiday" originated with Oscar the Grouch on Sesame Street. It's not clear how we are supposed to "celebrate," but the most important thing is not to have any fun whatsoever. Lots of complaining is also key. And bad attitudes must be tolerated all day long.

How will you embrace your grouchiness on National Grouch Day?

Hey Mamas. I know you've been slumping over that keyboard for hours and hours, reading CafeMom.

You know how I know?

Because I've been doing the same thing!

Well, ladies, it's time for us to stop with the bad posture, especially now after reading this article about how sitting up straight gives you more confidence in your own thoughts.

Photo by Tiera

Ever had one of those days where you just can't seem to snap out of your bad mood? It happens to all of us, but next time you do, check out these links I love to perk up:

I just wrote about my 4 year old daughter's addiction to back rubs in Toddler Buzz, and now I really need a massage. Maybe it's because of the cat gene, that I always have tensed-up typist shoulders, or just that I find massages one of life's greatest pleasures.

My mother-in-law took a class once and learned how to do something called Indian head massages. I don't know if she was doing it right, but basically she grabbed my hair between her fingers and shook away. It kinda hurt, but left a tingling feeling on my scalp. Okay, so I loved it. I'm sick, I know.

I've also done reflexology, which is supposed to have some kind of wholistic healing benefit and may even bring on labor, but for me it was just a way to get someone to rub my feet. Purrrr ....

Photo by 46186mommyof4

There are the girlfriends in life who are with you through it all. And then there are the ones who drift away. Sometimes we drift away from our girlfriends because of kids, family, moves, or just life on life's terms. Sometimes we outgrow one another and while it's sad, it's probably for the best.

But sometimes, we drift apart from a girlfriend and it aches. We don't know why it happened. Or sometimes we do, but we couldn't seem to stop it. We want to go back. We want to make it work. But it's impossible to go back. And so we miss that friendship forever.

My mom lost this particular friend of hers this week suddenly to cancer. Her best friend from another time and place. And as she put it, the news of her friend's death took her breath away.

Photo by mommy2step1

I always feel completely spoiled when it's just ME that I have to get ready in the morning, not me PLUS two additional little humans moving VEERRY SLLLOOOOWWWLY. On those rare days when my husband is home or goes in late, I can get myself showered, dressed, fed, make-uped, and out the door -- sometimes I even manage to empty the dishwasher -- in 30 minutes flat.

Otherwise, add another 40 minutes to the routine, helped by my son's dragging himself out of bed and lollygagging over his cereal. He takes about a bite a minute. It's not all his fault. He's not hungry the minute he gets up like I am. His pangs strike about 30 minutes later, usually on the ride to school. Cereal bars are great, just not everyday. I want him to eat a full-fledged, sit-down meal once in a while.

The October issue of Harper's Bazaar
hits newsstands September 22

Like a lot of us, Janet Jackson's weight has yo-yoed more than she'd like. The only difference is, she's had not-so-flattering photos of herself splashed across the tabloids. In the October issue of Harper's Bazaar magazine (on which she gorgeously graces the cover), Janet talks about her struggle with her weight, which she attributes to being an emotional eater, and her upcoming diet and self-esteem book True You.

Photo by damira

I wrote last week about Moms Who Like to Be Alone. I mean, it's funny... motherhood and being alone don't exactly go hand in hand. However, based overwhelmingly on your comments on that post, the desire to be alone is still a very real component of motherhood.

So this got me thinking about the many paradoxes of motherhood. Gosh, there are so many. This role we get to play is never one dimensional, that's for sure.

Photo by LelandsMommy

Some people don't like their birthday. I'm not one of them...and I'm over 30! I love birthdays -- my own and other people's -- and I enjoy celebrating in some way even if it's just sharing some cupcakes with family.

Not liking to celebrate your birthday is called bonanniversairaphobia.

I am totally joking on that -- I just made it up.