***Congratulations, Kara! And to all our ticket winners, have a great time at the show!***

This is the last week of the special Rockettes giveaway!

E-mail me now to win our final family four-packs of tickets to The Radio City Christmas Spectacular, starring the world famous Rockettes!

The tickets are for the show at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 16, at the U.S. Cellular Arena at Fourth and Kilbourn.

If you're interested in seeing this fabulous, holiday-inspired show, be the first to e-mail me at jwieland@journalinteractive.com.

Good luck!

If you’ve ever paid a visit to the great green room, then you know what’s there: a telephone, a red balloon, a picture of a cow jumping over the moon.

“Goodnight Moon,” the children’s bedtime classic, was originally published in 1947, yet it hasn’t aged at all in terms of how today’s parents view it. It’s still a baby-shower staple and a book many moms and dads can recite by heart – years after their children have outgrown it.

Now, many decades later, some of the previously unreleased manuscripts of “Goodnight Moon” author Margaret Wise Brown are making their way to publishing houses, and Mequon illustrator and author Linda Bleck is one of the select few chosen to pair up with the famous writer, who died at age 42 in the 1950s.

Wise Brown, who described herself as a writer of songs and nonsense, left behind hundreds of pages of material that were stored for decades in a trunk in her sister’s attic.

One of those efforts was “The Moon Shines Down,” the Wise Brown book Bleck illustrated that will be released tomorrow, Nov. 4, by publisher Thomas Nelson Inc. She'll be reading the book and signing copies from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 6, at the Harry W. Schwartz Book Shop in Mequon, 10976 N. Port Washington Road. Proceeds from the sale of the book during her appearance will go to the junior auxiliary of Children's Hospital of Wisconsin.

“The Moon Shines Down” calls for blessings on all the world’s children as a glowing moon shines over each one. The story moves around the world, so Bleck chose her main character from one of the locations.

“I wanted kids to identify with a character who was traveling,” she said. “The book mentions Australia, so I went with a koala bear.”

Wise Brown always said that children’s stories should be told as children wanted to hear them, and she also encouraged the illustrators she chose to draw their pictures as if they were being seen through a child’s eyes.

Bleck worked with that concept in mind as she created her characters and scenes for “The Moon Shines Down.”

Being involved with bringing a Wise Brown book to life is a big honor for Bleck, whose 20-year career in the publishing industry includes many accolades – and missteps and failures, she’ll be the first to tell you. “It was a long process to get here. It didn’t just happen one day,” she said.

Bleck was formally trained as a graphic designer, and delved into the world of children’s books about seven years ago. She started working on an educational book about a little dog named Pepper while her own children – now 13-year-old David and 10-year-old Sarah – were very young. It took her five years to get to the point where she felt comfortable showing her Pepper pop-up book to a publisher, but when she did, and it was accepted, she decided to move fast.

“Before that first book was even done, I thought I better strike while the iron is hot and write more,” she said.

She ended up writing and illustrating four Pepper the Dog books, including “Pepper Picks a Pumpkin” and “Pepper’s Snow Day,” with the first ones published in 2006. The first book in the series, “Pepper Goes to School,” won a 2006 National Parenting Publication Award.

To maintain her workload, she does keep a schedule. When she’s working on a project, it’s 35 hours per week in her home office, “a designated room with a door,” she said with a laugh.

“My job is more of a passion,” she said. “I can make a living and work part time.”

And on this latest work, Bleck is hoping her passion for her work flows onto to the page and connects with Wise Brown’s words, all these decades after they were first written down on onion-skin paper.

“I hope she would be proud of what I did with the book,” Bleck said.

One of my very best friends is pregnant for the third time in less than four years. She got married in her late 30s, and she and her husband knew they wanted a family so they started right away.

They visited us about a month ago, and while we sat around the table having a perfectly nice lunch, this came out of my mouth: "How many kids are you guys going to have?"

Open mouth, insert foot. 

It took about five seconds for my brain to catch up with my big mouth and realize what a stupid thing that was to say. Who cares how many kids they have? Why is it any of my business? They should have 20 kids if they want to! She should still be having kids when she's 50 if she wants to!

Duh.

I offer that story to first admit that I am not immune to saying stupid things to pregnant women. As you see from above, I'm quite good at it.

So in that spirit, I'm collecting stories of stupid things people say to pregnant women. Share stories of things that were said to you that you're still steaming about or stories of things you've said to other people that you wish you could take back. I've already collected a few from friends and moms on our discussion boards, but I'll take as many as I can get.

I'm going to compile them into one blog post, and share some of the best stories on the "Morning Blend" Nov. 13. 

So c'mon -- who told you you looked great from the back but "wow!" in the front when you were seven months in? Who told you not to let your water break on their rug? And who could forget this classic: "Was it planned?"

Shoot me an e-mail at jwieland@journalinteractive.com or post a comment on my blog and let's dish!

I'm doing a "Morning Blend" segment on the shocking, horrible, rude and sometimes just plain laughable things people say to pregnant women tomorrow -- Wednesday, Nov. 12 at 9 a.m. (The day got moved up.)

If you shared a story with me via e-mail, comments, Facebook or our MilwaukeeMoms discussion boards, check out the show and see if your story made it.

Also, tomorrow I'm posting the compilation of comments right here on this blog, so check back for some cringe-worthy moments. See you tomorrow!

The subtitle for this blog is: "What NOT to say to a pregnant woman."

Last week I made a call-out to Milwaukee moms to find out what people have said to them when they're pregnant that made their blood boil. You know, those little off-hand comments that people make that leave you shaking your head. (And let's be honest, we've all made them.) Our local moms had lots of tales to tell, and many of the same comments kept coming up over and over again as the greatest offenders.

I offer them here as a lesson in what not to say (while admitting that I've done many, if not all, of these myself) and what not do.

Please.

Seriously.

Read and learn. 

1) Pregnant women know they are big. Trust us. When we're pregnant, we're painfully aware of it from the top of our heads to the tips of the toes on our swollen feet. Therefore, the following comments aren't appreciated:

You're huge!

Are you due next month? -- when your due date is still four months away

Are you having twins? Answer: No. Follow-up question: Are you sure?

Are you worried about how much weight you've gained?

It's so weird -- your legs run right into your feet! You don't have ankles anymore.

Should you be eating (or drinking) that? (Editorial comment: Ask a pregnant woman that at your own risk.)

Are you pregnant, or just fat?

I never gained much weight when I was pregnant. In fact, my doctor was worried because I was too thin! 

You're really starting to waddle when you walk. 

After the child is born, we really don't appreciate hearing:

Wow, you still look pregnant! 

Are you sure there isn't still another one in there? (Ha, ha. Ha! Duck to avoid the fist that's coming at you.)

The baby doesn't look like you at all. Are you sure you're the mother/father?

2) Getting personal probably isn't a good idea. The moms I heard from do not appreciate answering questions about their sex lives, especially from nosy co-workers or distant relatives or random people on an elevator. As a result, rule out the following:

I thought you were on birth control.

I didn't know you were trying. 

Did you plan this?

Who's the father?

Are you trying for a boy (or girl -- whatever it is you don't have yet)? Or, if you tell someone that you're having a girl or boy, and you already have a child of the other gender, that helpful person might let you know that's good news "because now you're done."

Did this happen the natural way? 

How many kids are you going to have? 

3) Odd comments or predictions of doom are definitely not appreciated. It might be a good idea to avoid saying:

Are you happy about being pregnant? Answer: Yes. Follow-up comment: Because at your age, the odds of miscarriage are really high or your child might have a birth defect.

I hope you aren't telling everyone that you're pregnant. What if something happens to the baby?

You are carrying so low that baby is going to just fall out.

You're pregnant? Is that a good thing?

Did you consider having an abortion?

4) We know pregnancy takes a long time, and many of us work and continue on with our lives up until the baby is born. It isn't necessary to remind us that we're still pregnant and the baby should be arriving soon. Believe me, we know.

That baby still hasn't come yet?

Be sure your water doesn't break here at work, OK?

Said as you walk in the door each day to work: You're still here?

Said every time you answer the phone: So no baby yet?

I swear you get bigger every time I see you! And I just saw you a few minutes ago.

5) No one likes "just you wait" statements. These were the ones that really put me over the edge. You're already exhausted and uncomfortable and swollen and too hot and your skin is all broken out and itches and your nose is stuffed. Yet lots of people (mostly those who are already parents) like to make sure you know the misery is just beginning with gems like:

You better sleep now. Just you wait until that baby comes. You won't be sleeping at all.

Enjoy your free time now. You won't have any once that baby comes.

If you think your body aches now, just you wait until you give birth. Then you'll feel some real pain!

6) And finally, look but don't touch -- unless you ask. Moms reported to me that they often don't mind sharing their pregnant bellies with the world, and letting someone feel the baby kick or move around can be a great experience. However, not all moms feel that way. You wouldn't randomly touch the belly of anyone else, so ask first. You won't regret it.

So that concludes the list of don'ts. But I wouldn't feel right ending this without sharing one great story that stands out from my pregnancy days.

I was pregnant with my first child, and like most soon-to-be moms, a little nervous, tired and overwhelmed with all that was to come. I was telling a co-worker about all of this in the lunchroom as another co-worker sat at another table nearby. As we got up to leave, the co-worker from the other table, herself a mom of two grown children and about to become a grandma, stopped me and lightly touched my hands. She had overheard what I'd said to my friend.

"It's normal to worry," she said gently. "But don't let worries spoil this time for you. You're making a new life, and that's a miracle! Try to relax and soak it all in. The best is yet to come."

She looked into my eyes with a few tears in hers, smiled, patted my hands and walked away.

Simply stated and to the heart. That was perfect, and that was enough.

I don't know about you, but last winter about put me under. Under nearly 100 inches of snow, if memory serves, and about as cold, miserable and slippy-slidey as I've ever been.

My family spent waaaaay too much time in the house with the heat cranked and the TV blaring. I went into this fall desperate to avoid the dire straights of last winter at any cost, so I started compiling a list of things I'm going to do with my family when the wind is howling.

The kids and I tested out No. 1 on my list the other day, and if you don't get there to see it yourself by Jan. 11, 2009, you are really missing out. We went to the Act/React interactive art exhibit at the Milwaukee Art Museum, and I know we'll be back again before it leaves.

Act/React is an explosion of light, sound, texture, color and movement -- and best of all, you're in control. Upon entering the exhibit, one of the first things you see is a large area sectioned off on the floor, which is artist Scott Snibbe's Boundary Functions. Step upon it, and you are sectioned off by light beams into your own little pod. As more people step on, more pods are divided off until you're looking at a crazy web of lines of light -- each containing one person. As you move, your pod moves with you. Jump, leap, do what you can, but you'll keep your own section. (Believe me, my kids tested this.)

Also in the same room is your chance to act out your own personal iPod commercial. Reflected on the wall are 16 squares, each containing the silhouette of someone else who's visited. You walk in front of a camera, and suddenly your silhouette is added to the screens before you. My kids were doing all sorts of body contortions and little boogie dances to see if it really was their actions showing up, making for a very active (and funny!) display.

We especially enjoyed watching some of the more staid-looking museum visitors drop their inhibitions and do the chicken dance for the screen.

Another room was filled with pieces by Camille Utterback, large paintings projected onto the walls.

As you move in front of the paintings and wave your arms, the image shifts. Colors change, brush strokes change, the whole texture of the work appears to change -- all under the control of your hands.

These were just some of the highlights of the exhibit, which features a wide variety of pieces to inspire your curiosity and creativity. Others pieces include a table that talks when you touch it (watch out for this one; you might not want your younger kids to hear some of what this table has to say); a floor that changes colors like flowing lava when you walk over it; and a room of light and sound.

All of these pieces encourage you to put your stamp on them and make them your own. 

If you go, plan to spend some time in front of each piece, and don't leave the kids at home. You'll want some partners for dancing around in front of all these cool pieces.

This is a perfect way to break up the "here comes winter" blues, and underground, heated parking at the museum makes it all the more pleasant. 

This morning on "The Morning Blend" we demonstrated some simple Thanksgiving treat ideas you might want to try as a classroom treat or a way to dress up your Turkey Day table. 

Here are the recipes featured:

Marshmallow Pilgrim Hats

24 striped shortbread cookies

12-ounce package of chocolate chips

24 marshmallows

1 tube of yellow decorator frosting

1)       Set the chocolate-striped cookies stripes down on a wax-paper covered tray, spacing them well apart.

2)       Melt the chocolate chips in a microwave or double boiler

3)       One at a time, stick a toothpick into a marshmallow, dip the marshmallow into the melted chocolate, and center it atop the cookie.

4)       Using a second toothpick to lightly hold down the marshmallow, carefully pull out the first toothpick.

5)       Chill the hats until the chocolate sets, then make a yellow decorators’ frosting buckle on the front of each hat.

Thanksgiving Turkey Cookies

1 roll refrigerated sugar cookies

1 container of chocolate frosting

candy corn

orange decorating frosting

black decorating gel

miniature M&Ms

1)       Bake cookies as directed on the roll. Cool completely.

2)       Spoon chocolate frosting into a small plastic sandwich bag and seal it. Cut a small hole in the bottom corner of the bag. On each cookie, pipe frosting on the outer edge half of the cookie. Arrange candy corn over the frosting as the feathers.

3)       Pipe orange icing onto each cookie for the turkey face and feet. Use orange icing to attach M&Ms to the face for eyes. Use black gel for the centers of the eyes.

Cranberry Bog Gorp

¼ cup butter

¼ cup packed light brown sugar

1 tablespoon maple syrup

½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon curry powder

1 ½ cups dried cranberries

1 ½ cups coarsely chopped walnuts

1 ½ cups pretzel nuggets, salted

1)       Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Melt butter, brown sugar and maple syrup in a large pot over medium heat. Stir in cinnamon and curry powder. Add cranberries, walnuts and pretzels and stir to combine.

2)       Spread mixture on a greased jelly roll pan. Bake 15 minutes or until mixture is crunchy and lightly browned.

Here in Milwaukee, we like our traditions. We go to fish fries on Fridays, we like our mayors to be able to carry a tune (at least a little) and, as evidenced by our summer festival schedule, we welcome just about any reason to get together and celebrate.

Add one more tradition to the mix. This one is only in its fourth year, but it's so unusual you just know it's going to become a fixture in our city's holiday celebrations.

I'm talking about the "Lighting of the Whale," which takes place this year at 11:30 a.m. Friday, Nov. 28, at the Milwaukee Public Museum. Two-thousand lights are strung up on the 40-foot humpback whale skeleton that hangs above the museum's grand staircase.

On Friday, museum President Dan Finley will flip the giant switch with the help of any children who want to take part -- and the whale will shine.

Finley said he came up with the idea for the whale lighting shortly after starting at the museum in 2005.

"The whale is the largest skeleton we have in the building, and it just seemed like the thing to do," Finley said with a laugh. "It's fun to do a celebration at the holidays, and this is something special."

Adding to the drama is a big switch that smokes and buzzes when it's flipped. That's a hit with the kids.

Finley said several hundred people come and check out the annual whale lighting, so even though it's kind of odd, it seems to have caught on. Now, he says, there's only one thing missing.

"We want a big, red nose to put on the whale, but we haven't been able to find one yet," he said.

The whale lighting is included in the price of a regular museum admission.