When most kids blow out their birthday candles, they ask for extra toys. All Riley Higa wished for was to see her mother, Melissa Higa, who has been deployed in South Korea for the past nine months. Riley, however, didn't want to leave their reunion up to chance. To assure her mother would be home, Riley wrote to President Barack Obama and asked him to let her mom come home for one day. We don't know if the letter ever made it to the White House, but the Higa ladies were able to reunite for Riley's special day.
They are teachers, chefs, doctors, and so much more. They are stay-at-home moms, and they rarely get the recognition they deserve. That is, until Matt Bieler dedicated a film to this one-of-a-kind parent. Titled 3 Queens, Bieler's film tells the story of three stay-at-home moms through the eyes of their grateful children.
This year, why not be the best guest in the history of the universe and arrive bearing one of these amazing gifts? Each one is bound to make even the most discerning host or hostess say "thank you" and really mean it. Watch the video to find out why each one of these gifts is better than the last.
D.L & Co. Honey Candle ($48): Not only do these candles smell delicious, they come in a fantastic porcelain container. Long after the candle has burned away, this jar can be used to store pencils or display flowers.
Soap Rocks ($20): The only problem with these soap rocks is that you aren't going to want to use them, making them the ideal thing to give away.
Drinks Are on Me Coasters ($23 for four): A cheeky set of coasters is just the thing to bring to a wine and cheese soiree or your holiday book club meeting.
Diamond Box ($15): Full of design cred but very reasonably priced, this diamond box is perfect for the hostess who has everything.
Clare Vivier Leather Catchall ($74): We are crazy about all things Clare Vivier, and this leather catchall is no exception. Monogramming it takes it to the next level for the hostess with the very mostess.
While some parents handed out candy this Halloween, one father had an extra-special treat up his sleeve for his daughter. Sgt. First Class Dave Wirtz, who had been deployed in Afghanistan, showed up to his daughter's class wearing a Spider-Man costume complete with a mask to disguise his true identity. Make sure to have the tissues nearby before watching this reunion — it's one even comic books couldn't do better.
The decorations and costumes have been put away, but Halloween isn't over until the candy's gone. For the victims of Jimmy Kimmel's annual Halloween candy prank, that came sooner than expected. Once again, the late night TV host asked parents to tell their children that they ate all of their treats and film it for millions to see. From screams to a few sarcastic remarks (and even a few unexpected swear words?!), the reactions will have you laughing till next Halloween.
Moms may not approve of Miley Cyrus and her use of foam fingers, but even they can't turn away from Joyce Jimenez's cover of "Wrecking Ball." The blind 11-year-old from the Philippines recently posted a video of herself belting away the chart-topping ballad. While her voice is enough to grab attention, the most impressive part of Jimenez's performance is her ability to keep up while following the braille lyrics. The video has received over 500,000 views and is sure to reach many more viewers.
Fifteen-year-old orphan Davion Only made headlines after he went to a Florida church service last month looking for a family to adopt him, and during an appearance on The View on Monday, he confirmed that he's received more than 10,000 responses so far.
Fifteen-year-old orphan Davion Only made headlines after he went to a Florida church service last month looking for a family to adopt him, and during an appearance on The View on Monday, he confirmed that he's received more than 10,000 responses so far. Connie Going, his caseworker, has known him since age 5, and sitting beside him on The View, she said she's confident that he'll find a family. "Out of those 10,000, some of them already have their adoptive home studies," she said, referring to the initial steps of adoptions. "Then everybody has their screenings, and they go through their process."
Davion first made it into the national spotlight in September when he addressed the congregation at a Florida church, saying, "My name is Davion and I've been in foster care since I was born . . . I know God hasn't given up on me. So I'm not giving up either." He explained that he was looking for a family. "I'll take anyone. Old or young, dad or mom, black, white, purple. I don't care. And I would be really appreciative. The best I could be."
His story tugged at heartstrings. Davion was born while his mom was in jail, and he's spent his entire life in foster care. This past June, he searched for his mom's name only to find that she'd died weeks earlier. "I was hurt and I was sad," Davion said on The View, adding that his mom's death motivated him to start studying more and applying himself. Over the Summer, he lost 40 pounds, and so far he's earned almost all A's in his sophomore year of high school.
Asked how he'd feel to have a family, Davion said, "It would make me feel really good. I think I'd be more successful and have more opportunities if I had a family. And I hope so, I hope that I do have one." His idea of the perfect family? "Anybody who will love me." But he also has a plan B: make his way to college on his own.
Do you ever irrationally worry snakes are going to come out of your bathroom sink? Well, you might not want to watch this. Guy Whitall, the director of a safari lodge in Zimbabwe, slept a peaceful eight hours with no idea he was sharing the room with an eight-foot crocodile hiding under the bed. "The really disconcerting thing about the whole episode," Guy admitted, "is the fact that I was sitting on the edge of the bed that morning, barefoot and just centimeters away from the croc." In fact, Guy didn't know about the croc until he heard the maid scream! Check out Good Morning America's coverage of this story right out of your nightmares.
In light of New York Fashion Week and all those long legs, we're showing you how to get the bod of your favorite top models. Whether you're looking to tighten and tone your abs like Miranda Kerr or get Heidi Klum's shapely gams, these workouts are just what you need to rock the latest fashions. With help from celebrity trainers like Andrea Orbeck and Valerie Waters, you can get runway ready at home with these seven videos. Pick a favorite or do them all, but get ready to sweat like a supermodel!
If what they say is true and the journey really is the destination, then you are going to need some stylish travel accessories! In this week's POPSUGAR Home segment on POPSUGAR live, I showed off four travel tools that will appeal to design-philes. Watch the video then shop the products below.
These leather passport covers make it easy to find your passport in the bottom of your bag. Plus, I love the gold debossed "passport" stamp on the front. It's like you are saying, "Hello," in lots of different languages, even if you are just going to Canada.
A great way to make anyplace feel like home. These clean-burning soy candles from Catbird in NYC come in six really delicious scents. My favorites are the fig leaf and campfire, but you really can't go wrong.
Sure, you can use the paper one at the check-in counter, but why not get a good-looking luggage tag that is going to last for years? I love these because they come in primary colors and are round, as opposed to boring old rectangle. Bonus: these tags make it easy to spot your bag on the carousel.
I love Dopp Kits! They are the perfect way to corral all of your toiletries while traveling, and this one from The Good Flock is made from waxed canvas, which helps protect the rest of your bag from any spills that might occur. Plus, these are wonderfully unisex and make great gifts!
![Quick Ab Workout [VIDEO]](files/2012/04/14/2/192/1922729/f5b2361a440e89d3_TN.xxxlarge_2/i/Quick-Ab-Workout-VIDEO.jpg "Quick Ab Workout [VIDEO]")
