Birthdays are amazing, but the guilt you feel the next day (after having eaten way too much cake, icing, and candy) isn’t quite as amazing. Luckily, the latest episode of the American Cancer Society’s podcast series “Powerful Choices” focuses on how to have a healthier birthday. It has all sorts of tips and tricks, from our very own healthier red velvet cake to gift ideas that keep health and wellness in mind. Check it out below, and here’s to many more healthy and happy birthdays.
Archive for September, 2009
Birthdays are amazing, but the guilt you feel the next day (after having eaten way too much cake, icing, and candy) isn’t quite as amazing. Luckily, the latest episode of the American Cancer Society’s podcast series “Powerful Choices” focuses on how to have a healthier birthday. It has all sorts of tips and tricks, from our very own healthier red velvet cake to gift ideas that keep health and wellness in mind. Check it out below, and here’s to many more healthy and happy birthdays.Theme Thursday: Wizard of Oz party
Posted by Josh on September 24, 2009 in Theme Thursday 
To keep the Wizard of Oz theme going (it only turns 70 once), we’re featuring Wizard of Oz party theme ideas. As usual, amazingmoms.com has some great suggestions:
WIZARD OF OZ PARTY DECORATIONS
It’s easy to be creative with a classic party theme like the Wizard of Oz.
Create the beautiful land of Oz, using plenty of rainbow colored balloons,
streamers, matching party supplies and a beautifully set table.
Place rainbow swirled lollipops at each place setting.
Cover your party table with a large sheet of yellow butcher paper.
With a marker, add lines to create yellow bricks. Scatter red and emerald green sequins or faux gems all around the table. Create a centerpiece using a basket with a stuffed “Toto” dog inside, or use a pair of ruby slippers you’ve created with red glitter.
We’ve received some wonderful decorating ideas from our readers …
- Use a roll of yellow butcher or mural paper to make a yellow brick road
- that leads from the street continuing through the party room.
- Cover a piece of mural paper with orange tissue poppies
- and mount it on the wall.
- Fashion Dorothy’s house from a large appliance box. Then, add
- witch’s legs with striped tights and place them under the house.
- Enlist an artistic friend or teen to paint “Munchkin’s” on
- poster board. Hide the munchkins in the yard and party room.
- Hang a giant banner by the front door that says
- “Welcome to the Land of Oz” — then by the doorbell
- a sign that says…”Bell out of Order, Please Knock.”
For many more Oz-themed party ideas, you can click here. Have a great party, keep an eye on the anniversary celebrations tonight, and here’s to many more years of movie magic!
'The Wizard of Oz' turns 70 with fanfare
Posted by Josh on September 24, 2009 in General 
It’s been 70 years since Dorothy first set foot on a yellow brick road, a house landed on a wicked witch, and a grand adventure reminded us that there’s no place like home. That’s right, the 1939 film ‘The Wizard of Oz’ turns 70 today. And to say there’s going to be a big party is an understatement, here’s what’s in store:
- Designers such as Christian Louboutin, Diane von Furstenberg, Manolo Blahnik and Betsey Johnson were asked to reimagine Dorothy’s slippers for the 21st century. Their creations will be auctioned off at www.rubyslipperauction.com
- A 71/2-story hot-air balloon that began touring the country since taking off May 13 from Kansas City, Kan., stops Thursday at New York’s Tavern on the Green. The gala features Judy Garland’s daughter Lorna Luft, surviving Munchkins and Ashanti, who plays Dorothy in New York City Center’s production of The Wiz. All this and a yellow brick carpet, too.
- Before the gala, Ashanti will light the Empire State Building — Emerald City-green, of course.
I know I’ll be off to a theater to see this classic on the big screen, it’s coming back with a one-shot theatrical run in nearly 400 cities! Here’s to many more years of Dorothy, Glinda, Toto… even the Wicked Witch.
Playbill turns 125
Posted by Birthday Cate on September 23, 2009 in Health Tips 
Playbill magazine, the booklet explaining to New York audiences who’s who in Broadway casts, celebrated its 125th birthday. As to be expected, the magazine celebrated in style, with a by-invitation-only to-do at the Bon Appétit Supper Clubin Manhattan with special performances by Golden Globe and two-time Tony Award winner Bernadette Peters and Allie Trimm, who plays Kim MacAfee in the current revival of Bye Bye Birdie.
Playbill.com has a good history of the magazine. Here’s a excerpt:
For 125 years the Playbill company, under different names and owners, has shared Broadway’s journey, surviving depressions, World Wars, and even Moose Murders. There have been many outward changes over the years, but the basic formula of free, ad-supported programs with lists of actors and creators has stayed remarkably similar to the earliest ones conceived and handcrafted by company founder Frank Vance Strauss. [read more]
Here’s to many more years of broadway shows and the Playbills that accompany them. See you at the theater!
Surprise Birthday Sleepover
Posted by csmoot on September 23, 2009 in Celebration Stories This weekend, my 12-year old daughter and her friends are hosting a surprise birthday sleepover for one of their friends whose mother lost her very short battle with lung cancer this past July. Each year, her Mom would have a huge sleepover birthday party for her which all the girls looked forward to. This will be the first birthday she will have without her Mom and it will probably be difficult for her and her Dad and brothers.
I am so touched by the extraordinary compassion and sensitivity displayed by my daughter and her friends. While they are just 12 years old, they instinctively knew what to do for their friend. So, Saturday evening, think about the 10 twelve year olds who understand the meaning of more birthdays!
World's oldest man turns 113, shares secret to long life
Posted by Josh on September 23, 2009 in General 
Walter Breuning of Great Falls Montana celebrated his 113th birthday with some cake and a little wisdom:
“Remember that life’s length is not measured by its hours and days, but by that which we have done therein. A useless life is short if it lasts a century.”
Mr Breuning is considered the oldest man in the world, and he’s actually in such good shape that he still strolls the halls of his retirement home, wearing a suit and tie, and walks the ramps to his second-floor apartment. When asked about how he managed to live so long, he attributes the feat to eating well and keeping physically and mentally active (sound familiar?).
Here’s to more birthdays Mr Breuning — may we all reach such an age.
Tip Tuesday: Start a family tradition
Posted by Birthday Cate on September 22, 2009 in Tip Tuesday 
As I was looking around for some inspiration for this Tip Tuesday post, I happened across this blog post. Among a number of ways that this family created a wonderful party for their 3-year-old’s big day, one thing struck me:
Lily’s bedroom door the morning of her birthday. A fun tradition we started this year thanks to some great examples of friends letting us join in on their birthday celebrations. Jacob was determined that this be a part of his birthday and well when you do for one you do for all!!!
What an incredible idea! While I love the idea of decorating each family member’s bedroom door on their birthday, what I like even more is the fact that this family started a birthday tradition of their own, creating something unique and memorable that their kids will be looking forward to for years to come, and eventually look back on fondly.
So come up with something fun and start a family tradition of your own. Here’s to the many memories to be made. If you’ve got a family tradition or decide to start your own, post it in the comments, we’d love to hear about it!
What a night! The full scoop on the red carpet event with the cast of "Private Practice"
Posted by Birthday Cate on September 22, 2009 in General
What a night! Just got back from the American Cancer Society’s red carpet event with the cast and creators of ABC’s Private Practice to “Blow Out Cancer” and celebrate more birthdays. Such a great event — so much to tell you!
This was my first-ever red carpet event and it was thrilling! As the cast arrived, they were pros posing on the red carpet for the paparazzi. I couldn’t help but feel like paparazzi myself trying to get in my little camera phone shots for our Twitter updates! Each of the cast members stopped to talk to reporters about what ACS and the “More Birthdays” campaign meant to them. They each talked about how cancer has touched their lives. Several of them mentioned things we all can do to create more birthdays. Chris Lowell (aka “Dell”) talked about the need for young people to use sunscreen regularly. KaDee Strickland (aka “Charlotte”) talked about the importance taking care of yourself, getting regular exercise and cancer screenings. Kate Walsh (aka “Addison”) also talked about the importance of early detection.
After the red carpet activities, ACS California CEO David Veneziano offered a brief welcome. Then Private Practice creator Shonda Rimes, Executive Producer Betsy Beers and the cast had their “media moment” blowing out cancer – literally blowing out candles on a special ACS birthday cake.
But the real magic happened during dinner. The mood was set with the ACS’s more birthdays commercial. Then ACS volunteer National Board Chairman Terry Fontham impressed the group by talking about the progress we’ve made saving lives from cancer by helping people stay well, get well, by fighting back and finding cures. Survivor Robby Medina inspired the group when he told his cancer story. As a teen he was diagnosed with bone cancer. Many of his friends shied away due to the stigma and he felt very alone. Then the American Cancer Society pointed him to a camp for kids with cancer and Robby found his niche – and eventually his wife who worked at the camp! Robby now runs that camp for ACS. To quote Robby, “ACS gave me hope. If it weren’t for the ACS, I don’t know where I would be today.”
Wonderful conversation about the fight against cancer, more birthdays and life in general flowed from there. The Private Practice team couldn’t have been more gracious with their time, their interest and support of the cause. As Tim Daly (aka “Pete”) said at our table, “I don’t know anyone who hasn’t been affected by cancer.”
We hope this will be the beginning of a wonderful relationship with this lovely group and hope that they and other celebrities can help bring more awareness to the movement for more birthdays so we can create a world with less cancer and more birthdays for everyone.
LIVEBLOG: Live from the red carpet with cast of ABC's Private Practice TONIGHT 7pm PST/ 10pm EST
Posted by Birthday Cate on September 21, 2009 in General 
Tonight, the cast and creators of ABC’s hit show “Private Practice” will host a special dinner to “Blow Out Cancer” and celebrate a world with more birthdays with the American Cancer Society at Spago’s in Los Angeles. @morebirthdays will be there live-tweeting the star-studded event, so follow us on Twitter or drop by this post tonight to catch the live coverage. It all starts at 7pm PST / 10pm EST.
The liveblog starts right here tonight. Live updates after the break:
Read more »
Happy Birthday Bill Murray
Posted by Josh on September 21, 2009 in General 
We all remember him fondly from Saturday Night Live (way back when), as the star of the sci-fi comedy “Ghostbusters”, and as a weatherman who just couldn’t seem to move forward in the comedy “Groundhog Day”. Yep, it’s Bill Murray’s big day, and the venerable comedian turns 59. But while he may be best known for his comedy, my favorite movie of his has got to be the 2003 film “Lost in Translation” (and I guess the critics agreed… he was nominated for an Academy Award for that performance). Here’s what Yahoo movies has to say about Murray:
A droll, iconoclastic comedic actor who enjoyed existing outside of Hollywood while thriving in it, Bill Murray carved a unique career that moved successfully from slapstick comedy to subtly complex seriocomic roles that earned him several awards and untold critical praise.
You can read more about Murray’s career here. Happy Birthday Bill Murray, and here’s to many more years of taking the critics by storm.
