First Look: The royal baby is here!

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These photos have been making the Internet rounds since William and Kate left the hospital yesterday, but I couldn't resist sharing such a little bundle of joy. Isn't the little prince adorable? That face! Those cheeks! Those hands! Congrats, William and Kate! xoxo

P.S. I love how William and Kate are beaming. They're going to be such fantastic parents!! :)

[Photos via Huffington Post, PEOPLE and HELLO]

Sponsor Spotlight: Photo booths capture special memories

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Special events mean special photographs. One of the greatest pleasures of a special event like a wedding, christening, party, anniversary, housewarming, celebration or birthday is taking the pictures to commemorate and mark the occasion. This means being able to look back on it many years later, after lives have changed and things have moved onward and upward, and regain an inkling of how things felt on that day. This is a very special part of creating a memory.

As the saying goes, it's memories that make us. You can do the standard roving photographer with portraits and group shots, but don't forget that there are other ways of doing it. Those other ways include having a photo booth at you event. That means that your guests will be able to direct their own photos, and leave personalized messages for you, and also make them funny, spontaneous, quirky, meaningful and intimate. Event photography is actually an art, and the better it's done, the more worthy the photographs will be. Try and avoid the standard sorts of photography that we see all over Facebook all the time. Get lots of different types of shots so that every element of your event is covered. Happy memory making!

(This post was sponsored by Danielle McAnn from TreasuredMems, the Australia-based brand of customizable photo booth rentals. Thanks so much for continuing to support So About What I Said's wonderful sponsors!)

Behind-the-scenes photos: E.T.

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E.T. -- the movie that helped define childhood for an entire generation -- turns 31 today! My mom always loves to tell the story of the first time I saw the movie. I was fine until the scenes where E.T. and Elliott are captured by the government. Apparently, the whole scene reminded me of the hospital and the operating room because I started crying, so off to the lobby we went. But, "I want to see the movie," I told my mom, so we stayed in the back of the theater for the rest of the movie, right by the door, in case we had to make a quick escape.

Even to this day, I still have a pretty emotional relationship with the film. But, I loved stumbling across these awesome behind-the-scenes photos today. I can't get over how young Drew Barrymore was!

And speaking of young actors, this audition video of Henry Thomas reading for the role of Elliott made the blog rounds a few months ago. "I read a scene from some early version of the script, and then I was asked to do an improvisation," Thomas told Esquire. "I think the gist of the improv was, 'You found someone, and they're going to take them away from you, and it's your friend, and you really don't want your friend to go away.' So I started crying, and really going for it I guess."

How unbelievable is that, friends? xoxo

[Via Huffington Post]

Typography cake

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Newsflash: My birthday is in LESS THAN three months! The countdown has officially begun! In case you haven't figured it out by now, I take my birthdays pretty seriously and start planning and plotting months in advance. I don't think anything will ever be able to top my surprise 30th birthday bash, but this typography cake would be a good start, don't you think?

I love how the words are baked right into the batter and how the words seem to pop out of the cake -- and yes, now I'm craving cake in the middle of the afternoon... #sugaraddict

P.S. A new MEMO TO MEN is coming your way shortly! :)

[Via A Subtle Revelry]

In The Pursuit of Happiness: Susan Sarandon on aging

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We've mused about our favorite age before, and I'm eagerly (and a bit nervously...) anticipating turning the big 3-2 in August. So often, we hear stories from people -- both men and women -- who are deathly afraid of aging and will try everything from Botox to invasive plastic surgery to recapture the fountain of youth. The lesson? Aging is something to be feared. It should be avoided at all costs.

So, it was refreshing to read a recent interview with actress Susan Sarandon in this week's USA Weekend. The 66-year-old, who stars in the new film The Big Wedding, says the best age is definitely well into your 30s...

"It has to be post-30, because you spend your 20s trying to figure out who you are and what your voice is. I was hitting my stride in my 40s. My 60s haven't been too bad."

Thank you, Ms. Sarandon! It's so nice to hear from someone who is so beautifully embracing their age. Isn't she inspiring? Who else do you admire for aging gracefully? What have they taught you, friends? xoxo

Oreo cookies love

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Everyone's favorite cookie celebrates its 101st birthday today. The first cookie was sold in Hoboken, New Jersey, and have won the hearts -- and taste buds -- of millions over the years. In honor of this most delicious day, don't Audra's cookies and cream cupcakes look good?

And, this Ferris wheel contraption will actually separate your Oreo cookie! Can you believe that? Of course, that begs the all-important question: Are you a fan of the cream filling or the cookie? Look for my answer in the comments, friends! xoxo

How common is your birthday?

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It looks like my birthday -- August 4th -- is pretty common. What about you? How common is your birthday, friends? xoxo

P.S. Family photos coming up! :)

[Via The Atlantic's Tumblr]

Happy Birthday, Mom!

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Happy birthday to the best, best Ms. Bear in the entire world. I hope you know how much I love you and appreciate you each and every single day. You have been a wonderful wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, teacher...and the list goes on!

I love you so very much -- today and always!! xoxo