Did you think Nadya "OctoMom" Suleman was out of our lives for good? Oh, ye of little faith.

So what is it now? More plastic surgery? Another (gulp) pregnancy?

Nope. Just that she used to be an exotic dancer. Oh, and the name she used? Angelina.

To quote my grandmother: "Oy vey."

EntertainmentWise.com says that a stripper -- sorry, exotic dancer -- going by the name of "Sage" has blabbed to InTouch magazine that she "met [Nadya] at an amateur contest, and we wound up doing parties together." The alleged debauchery occurred between 1999 and 2000.

Sage's tale is backed up by Luis Ceballos, a limo driver who claims that Nadya "always said she wanted to be really famous." Gee, ya think? The driver also claims that Nadya was not shy about shaking her groove thing, and that she was "overly flirty with the guys" while performing. C'mon, dude. She's working for tips. Give her a break.

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On Friday, Malawian Judge Esmie Chondo denied Madonna's bid to adopt 4-year-old Mercy James.

But Malawian authorities didn't get the memo -- you don't mess with the Material Mom.

Almost as soon as the Judge delivered her ruling, Madonna's attorney Alan Chinula informed the press that an appeal had been filed.

In an unusual move, Guy Ritchie issued a statement in support of his ex-wife, calling her a "fantastic and loving mother," who "is motivated only by being a caring parent who seeks to share some of the advantages and opportunities that her life has given her." Ritchie also said that he "fully supported...her decision to apply for this adoption, and I am saddened that her application has been rejected." Pretty nice words for a woman who he decided he couldn't live with.

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It's Friday and time to think about weekend activities. Here are some considerations as adapted from reviews and ratings by Common Sense Media.

At the Movies
Like the book on which it is based, The Velveteen Rabbit examines complicated family relationships with a childlike innocence. A 10-year-old boy deals with a neglectful father and a distant grandmother by disappearing into an imaginary world of forgotten toys. While the film's message is mature, it is delivered in a gentle way that makes it suitable for young children. Rated G, OK for Kids 5+

On DVD
Changeling is a truly frightening movie made more so by the fact that it is based on a true story. The disappearance and likely murder of a young boy sets off a chain of events that lead a mother to the brink of insanity. Along the way, there are graphic scenes of violence involving children, abuse against women and a realization that authority figures can't always to be trusted. A well-acted but disturbing film that packs an emotional punch. Rated R, OK for Kids 16+

TV
Dark Days in Monkey City is an apt title for this look at the violence and power struggles of toque macaque monkeys in the Sri Lankan jungle. The little guys are mean and their natural tendency toward conflict is played up in this highly stylized, comic book-style docuseries. Lots of monkey-on-monkey violence highlighted with animated blood splatters result in a show that is a little too intense for younger and less mature children. Rated TV-14, OK for Kids 13+

Books
A war against the world of Faerie has left the human world tainted with magic in Bones of Faerie by Janni Lee Simner. Plants and trees are hostile and children born with otherworldly powers are promptly executed. After her magical baby sister is left to die, a young girl seeks to hide her own powers by fleeing into the forest. Drawing parallels between magic and nuclear radiation, it is a dark and somewhat violent tale. OK for Kids 10+

Music
With All I Ever Wanted, the talented Kelly Clarkson ditches the rough-edged sound of her second CD and returns to the catchy pop tunes that served her so well in the past. Teens will relate to the boy-girl drama and parents will appreciate the clean lyrics and strong-girl persona Clarkson presents. OK for Kids 12+

Web
Tree-hugging children (and their parents) will delight in Green, an ecology-minded virtual world. Kids create an avatar and explore eight worlds in which they can play games, learn about the environment and watch videos. Of course, there is a shopping element -- activities pay off in greenbacks which players use to purchase items for their virtual rooms. The site is free and features both pre-scripted and filtered chat, both of which are monitored. OK for Kids 8+



We'd love to hear what you're doing, seeing, reading and playing over the weekend. Share your ideas and we'll feature the best of them.

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Angelina Jolie was spotted enjoying a girls' day out in New York City this week with daughters Zahara, four, and Shiloh, two. The super-hot mom of six was wearing a long black trench coat, knee-high boots, and oversize sunglasses; her girls were sporting leggings and sensible shoes and security blankets.

Honestly, they looked like any other suburban family out running errands. You know, if all suburban moms were as stunning as Angelina.



Celebrity kids often have a tendency to be little fashion plates -- Suri Cruise and her wardrobe of only dresses, for example. It's easy to see how famous parents might feel the urge to turn their tots into mini-fashionistas; designers are constantly sending celebs high-end baby and kid clothes, for starters, so why not let the kids wear it all? On top of that, celebrities -- particularly Hollywood moms -- make a living looking fabulous, and it can be hard to draw the line between your own style and your childrens' style. And when you know there will be photographers waiting each time you leave the house -- especially if you're out with the kids -- it only makes sense to make sure those kids look fabulous, too.

So it was nice to see the Jolie-Pitt girls hanging out with their mommy in what amounted to normal kid clothes, rather than scaled-down couture. Both girls were wearing basic black leggings, which are practical and comfortable; Zahara topped hers off with an oversized hooded cardigan, while Shiloh was bundled in a dark green pea coat. And no sparkly Dorothy shoes here; Zahara wore leather Mary Janes and Shiloh had on some old school sneakers. These two looked ready to play, rather than pose.

Both girls were also toting their loveys; Shiloh's was a wee pink slip of a thing, easily stuffed into her mother's hand bag if need be, but Zahara was hugging a much bigger knit blanket. I love a kid with a blankie, and I can see how facing a wall of paparrazi might be a little less frightening to a two or four-year-old if she had her special blanket with her, although I think I might have talked Zahara into something a little smaller, for convenience sake. It says a lot about Angelina's parenting, though, that she was willing to let Zahara bring that gigantic blankie on their outing; she seems to be prioritizing her children's comfort over her own appearance.

What I like most about Shiloh and Zahara's outfits, though, is that they look like kids -- Zahara has her hood up, because four-year-olds are like that, and Shiloh's wispy baby hair is falling out of her ponytail. They look like typical little girls -- comfortable and warm and ready to do fun kid stuff with their mom.

Are the Jolie-Pitt girls bringing back play clothes, or should Angelina have spiffed them up a little more before she left the house? What do your kids wear on a typical day?

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Got cabin fever? Kids driving you crazy? Try teaching them to juggle or bring spring inside with an indoor terrarium. -- AlphaMom

The division of labor in family life can feel more like tug-of-war than partnership. Here's how one couple finally learned how to work together. -- Babble

Whether you're escaping winter's snow or planning a spring break getaway, here's a list of must-have items to pack in your kids' activity bag. -- BabyCenter

Just six months old and already jet-setting, twins Knox Leon and Vivienne Marcheline arrived in the Chiba, Japan airport this week ... with parents Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie in tow, of course. -- Celebrity Baby Blog

This falls into category of why-didn't-I-think-of-that?: The Hippychick Hipseat wraps around your waist and gives baby a comfy place to sit and your back a break at the same time. -- LilSugar

Are you raising a mini-fashionista? Here are four great toys to peak her interest and get her creative juices flowing. Who knows, maybe she'll be Project Runway bound! -- MomFinds

This week, everyone's talking about octuplets. It's amazing, sure, but is it ethical? Find out what one OB/GYN thinks. -- MomLogic

Is it a crime to let kids eat the occasional bite of junk food? (Gah! I hope not). One mom, who does let her kids have the occasional treat, wonders if maybe the health food junkies are on the right track after all. What do you think? -- Work It, Mom!

The five-second rule definitely applies: Why a little dirt really is good for kids. -- The Motherhood

Gadget alert! If you or your kid are the tech-y type, PlaySavvy has eight cool new gadgets that might interest you. -- PlaySavvy

I love Kate Winslet. I hardly know her, of course, but I can't help myself. I've watched Kate in most of her movies as she's grown up right in front of me -- we are, in fact, the same age, and both have two kids. Kate, who won two Golden Globes and is nominated for two Oscars this year, has decided to take a year off from acting to be with her family. Recently she sat down with the UK's Mail to talk about why. Kate admits that being a working mom is tough, but says it's all about structure and balance. I couldn't agree more. Her children, Mia and Joe, are 8 and 5 respectively, both much older than my kids, but kids of any age seem to want the same thing -- a schedule they can rely on. Well, they need parents who love them, too, but sometimes the only way a busy family can be happy is with good structure.

It also means keeping kids and family life out of the spotlight. Both Winslet and her husband, director Sam Mendes, do everything in their power to keep their kids from knowing how famous their mother is (she's a lot more visible than Sam and I'd wager few folks would be able to spot him walking down the street), including turning off the TV when Kate's going to be on, not keeping magazines in the house and avoiding movie posters with Kate's face on them. Kate doesn't like that her profession, which is the family business, makes her so much more "publicly available" and does her best to keep her kids feeling normal -- whatever that is.

Kate's family's life is a far cry from that of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt. I can't think of a more famous couple whose personal life is so well on display. In fact, I'm on such Brangelina overload it seems they could have their own television channel devoted to every step they take. And the Jolie-Pitts don't seem to do much to avoid the spotlight they're kids are so very much apart of. Says Winslet, Angelina and Brad's lives are "like a walking soap opera, and the public wants to know what's going to happen next." Some would say that Ange and Brad don't want their kids to be a part of that either, but they don't stop the press from photographing them, etc. I don't even know what Kate Winslet's kids look like, but I could pick any of Brangie's six kids out of a line up. Well, maybe not the twins -- not yet.

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Ah, the lovely Cate Blanchett. Can she do no wrong? It would seem so. Not only is she one of the world's great beauties, but she is a very talented actor and Oscar-winner who, it seems, also has a wonderful marriage and three lovely sons. Cate recently made a bevy of statements regarding all of these things that simply had to be dished about.

First off, Cate says no to plastic surgery. She said she wasn't about campaigning for or against it, but that it wasn't right for her. In fact, the I'm Not There actor, who is also currently starring in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, says her husband Andrew of eleven years would leave her if she got any nip/tucking. Cate confirmed what I've said all along, and what other celebs like Angelina Jolie have stated -- motherhood changes the way you look. Like Jolie, Blanchett (and her hubby) appreciate how pregnancy and motherhood change the face and the body. Says Cate, "I like the evolution of that history." Well put, my friend.

Will Blanchett consider having any more children? She certainly didn't say no. Cate is mom to three fabulous boys and, while she isn't specifically planning on having any more kids, wouldn't rule out adding to her brood. Cate raved about her children, whom she says all look like dad, as reason to have another. Only time, and Cate's break in her many projects, will tell if she adds another baby to her family -- maybe they'll try for a girl??? -- but one thing is for certain: No matter what this woman does, she seems to do it with an ethereal glow!

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About once a year Brad Pitt sits down with the annoying Ann Curry of the Today Show for a grilling about both his professional and personal life. Papa Pitt is ready and eager to talk about the professional side of things--he's currently promoting his latest film, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, as well as his Make It Right project which builds houses for those devastated by the levees breaking during Hurricanes Rita and Katrina. When the questions turn to his personal life, however, Mr. Pitt is uncomfortable and less than enthused. This is most likely because his entire life is a spectacle, one that he helped build and which he and his partner Angelina Jolie continually seek to control. Still, while reluctant to discuss much about what goes on behind closed doors at the Jolie-Pitt house (which is back to New Orleans these days), Brad did have a few things on his mind.

For one, he hates the paparazzi. And yes, he used the word "hate." Contrary to popular belief, celebrities don't like it when they're followed every step they take, when they're hounded and their kids are hounded too. It's unsafe, it's unprofessional, it's creepy and, as Pitt strongly vocalized, it should be illegal. I couldn't agree with him more. I don't mind writing about what he and Ange do with the kids or how they're slowly saving the world one step at a time, but it really freaks me out that some jerk with a camera would just as easily shimmy up the side of their French Quarter apartment and inflict harm on the family if necessary in order to snap a picture.

On the positive side, though, Brad said that his family made him "rich." His children come from all over the world and bring so much with them in terms of culture, etc. They play together and have made a family together despite being from opposite ends of the earth. Brad said there were things he liked to keep private, in his heart, and those things are most assuredly his relationship with his partner and his kids. Brad could arguably have more money than most people in the world, but that kind of richness seems not to compare with what he gets from his ever-expanding family. Warms the cockles, doesn't it?

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Hot on the heels of bringing twins Knox Leon and Vivienne Marcheline into the world, rumors have been flying that Angelina Jolie is pregnant again. The twins joined Ange, partner Brad Pitt and four other children mere months ago, with Angelina sporting a post-baby figure few hope to achieve in the rest of their lifetimes, let alone less than a year post-pregnancy, so I'm confused why folks are seriously thinking she could be preggers again. Well, there is that thing where she sports a baby bump for months and refuses to comment on it or confirm the fact that she is pregnant. "Denial" certainly is more than a river in Egypt with the Brangelina camp.

One reason the rumor wheels are spinning could be recent comments Papa Pitt made to Oprah, as well as those made by Angelina in the past. The celebrity couple don't plan on limiting their number of kids to six, biological or adopted. Pitt's attitude is sort of "why stop now?" As for Ange, she has commented that she'd like to act less and be a mom more, a statement she naturally backed away from moments after uttering it.

Another reason is that she refused a drink at a restaurant in London recently. Well, I can tell you from experience, even though I am not pregnant (and in Ange's case, she is no longer nursing) that even if you can drink, when you have kids you don't always want to--even when you really feel like you might need a shot of something. Drinking, even one drink, can make you feel tired. Plus, Angie didn't get back down to her pre-baby size by knocking back useless calories! Part of me also likes to think the couple start these rumors themselves--hey, it assures they're always in the spotlight, hit movie on the horizon or not!

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We like to think that all the nice things we read about celebrities are true. We also, whether we admit it or not, like to read about the not-so-nice parts of their lives--such gossip, whether factual or not, makes us feel a little bit better about our own lives: money can't buy love, etc. Anyone entering the lustrous world of Hollywood knows their personal life will remain so for little longer, and everything they do will become fodder for the masses.

But that's not so for Angelina Jolie. Although she and her publicist would say otherwise, it seems pretty obvious that the star of The Changeling tries--often successfully--to manipulate the press. It has been said that Jolie and her partner Brad Pitt chose People Magazine to share the first pictures of newborn twins Knox Leon and Vivienne Marcheline because the publication agreed not to print anything negative about the family in that issue or in the future. Rumor further has it People also agreed to no longer refer to the Jolie-Pitts as "Brangelina," a moniker the couple understandably hates.

People says the rumors aren't true and that they were not told they could only get the pics by agreeing to make nice with mama Jolie and her brood. People paid out $14 million for the pics, which supposedly went to charity. It was the highest amount of money paid by a publication for pics of a celebrity baby.

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Does Angelina Jolie look any different to you? She does to me. To the untrained (i.e., non-parental) eye, Jolie may look simply a little older than she used to--and, well, she is. But, my husband has suggested in the past, and I agree with him completely -- as does Angie herself in an interview with Britain's You magazine -- that motherhood changes the way you look.

It certainly changed me. Many might not see it, but I swear to you I look totally different than I did before I was pregnant. OK, you say, well, that could be from the weight you gained that you didn't lose, or the weight you gained that you did lose that stretched out your face...or something. And that may be so. But, Angelina (and I) both propose that both a combo of age and becoming moms has indeed changed our features over time. Ange is still as beautiful as ever, but, frankly, when I look at her, she looks like a mom.

And it ain't just the endless over-exposure from the tabloids influencing me, either. The mother of six simply looks different, and I think she is truly a different person. Sure, the woman who used to french-kiss her brother and wear a vial of blood around her neck is still locked away in there somewhere, but having kids--being a parent and accepting the joy, love and responsibility of that--changes you inside, and you can see it on the outside.

Angelina goes on to say that she looks more like her mom as she ages. This makes total sense to me, too. Aside from the old adage that all women are destined to become their mothers, I think the way we look changes periodically over our lives and that we naturally resemble one or the other of our parents more and more as time goes on. After all, we ARE related to them. Ange still clearly is not over her mother's passing--Marcheline Betrand died last year from cancer--and is estranged from her dad, Jon Voight, so I doubt she'd be so free to admit it if she looked like her famous father.

Do you look different now that you have kids? I mean particularly in the face-not the bod! We all know that changes when you have a baby!

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At first I wasn't 100% sure Angelina Jolie breastfed any of her children. With her hectic lifestyle and, frankly, the continued awesomeness of her breasts, it seems hard to fathom that the international, goodwilling, globetrotting, A-list celebrity would have the time or gumption to breastfeed. Yet, I believe she did Why? Because Ange admits that it's not necessarily as easy as it looks. I've breastfed both my kids and I've got to be frank when I say it is a real lifestyle adjustment for some people. Getting up throughout the night can be really hard on you, as can the timing and the wear and tear on your nipples from doing it correctly or incorrectly--thank goodness there's balm for that! Positioning the babies in a secure manner that is comfortable for both you and the baby can be difficult and time consuming, but is well beyond worth it.

Having twins can make the breastfeeding process even more so (thank goodness we have two breasts!). Angelina mentions trying the football hold with her twins Knox Leon and Vivienne Marcheline, and freely admits it didn't work out so well. I never had any luck with that position either, nor the one where you both lie on the bed facing each other--that one was toughest of all. Breastfeeding isn't hard, it's just a matter of getting the knack of the technique that works best for you and your little one--or ones, as the case may be. It also teaches us about practice, process and patience--three very important "P's" in parenting.

A lot of women try breastfeeding and give up when it doesn't work out right away, thinking they're not capable of it or that it's just not going to work for them. Several people have asked me how I got it to work. I told them up front that it doesn't always work for every woman or her lifestyle, but that for me it came about through trial and error as well as perseverance. Breastfeeding is not always instant or even intuitive--it can take work. It's a magical, miraculous, relatively inexpensive thing--and I am thankful every day that I've been able to do it with little more problem than lack of sleep--but I'm glad that at least one person out there agrees with me that it ain't always easy!

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Fast on the heels of birthing her first child, Nicole Kidman is rip, roaring, ready to have another baby. Earlier this year the Academy Award-winning actress and her husband, hottie Country singer Keith Urban (yeah, he's a hottie--don't try to deny it, you know he is, rehab aside) welcomed baby girl Sunday Rose into the world, and is now keen on adding to her brood.

It's easy to see why Kidman would want to add to her family. Babies, quite frankly, are addictive. All the non-stop baby acquiring of the likes of the Jolie-Pitts aside, most moms I know will readily admit they are addicted to babies. Having them, loving them, all of that. Part of it might very well be chemical--the hormones that remain within a new mom after birth can linger for...OK, well, to me it seems like FOREVER, but they can linger, which makes those feelings of love and adoration for a new tot translate into the desire for more of them. This is not to mention that procreation is a basic instinct in humans as it is with all life forms, except for George Clooney, who seems to have no interest in making babies, sadly.

Another reason Nic may want to once again be in the family way? Babies are awesome. I look at my new daughter with all her fingers and toes and beautiful hair and think to myself what a true miracle life is. And, there's nothing like being a parent. No other experience can really compare. Nicole is even mildly considering putting her acting work on hold to focus on getting pregnant again and giving Sunday Rose another sibling (she already has older sister and brother Isabella and Connor from Kidman's marriage to Tom Cruise). You'll recall Angelina Jolie recently made a similar statement but has since naturally retracted that. Let's just hope that if Nic does have another baby she avoids naming him or her after another day of the week!

Good luck, Nicole!

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Is Angelina Jolie planning on retiring from Hollywood? The actress, who plays the role of mom a lot more often these days than she does those on screen. Now the star of The Changeling says she's planning on "fading away" from movies and Hollywood in order to focus on her family. Jolie said something similar to this a ways back before she was pregnant with her twins. Hey-she likes being a mom! She said she'd be taking a break, but it was short-lived. Now, however, with six kids between her and partner Brad Pitt, Jolie says she may be taking the ultimate break. Jolie isn't planning on leaving the scene for good, however.

Jolie says that being a working mom is tough--juggling a career and kids is never easy, but that she would be enticed back to the film industry for a choice role. I'm assuming this does not mean another stab at the horrible Tomb Raider franchise. Being a celebrity is more of a pain in the butt than anything these days, and it sounds like she'd rather be free of that too. Well, I got news, honey--once a celeb, always a celeb, especially if you're one with six kids and looking to have or adopt even more. And if your baby daddy is BRAD PITT.

Some would say Ange should leave work all together and be only a mom. Others would say she shouldn't turn her back on the working world as it will look bad for women trying to make it in the workplace. Will Ange really fade away from the limelight? I doubt it. The appeal is too strong, and she's already used to that lifestyle. Still, I can appreciate her wanting to put her family first. It seems her father, John Voight, never did, hence their estrangement. Good luck to you, Ange! If anyone can identify with your struggle, it's the parents at ParentDish (and our readers!). Having kids is hard, but it's the best, even when trying to balance family with work.

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