Favorite "FOTO" Friday...

Today is Favorite "Foto" Friday at According to Lala...

This is one of my favorite "fotos" ... Lilley-Kate's first Christmas... First visit with Santa... Nick was 14 at the time and even though he was WELL BEYOND the whole "SANTA Thing"... he agreed to being in the picture... I LOVED this Santa... so nice... I remember he actually chatted with Nick and cooed with Lilley-Kate so long one of his "elves" had to remind him there were other kids waiting!!! LOL...

I hope everyone has a WONDERFUL and SAFE HOLIDAY!!!
Merry Christmas Everyone!!!

Tuesday's "TIP"...

Today is "TIP" Day at According to Lala...

When Lilley-Kate was 4 I tried and tried to figure out a way to "teach" patience... teach her that sometimes you have to WAIT for something and not everything happens immediately... I racked my brain to think of a way to "teach" patience...

I finally came up with the "timer" method... a few times a day... whenever Lilley-Kate would ask for something (snack... toy... help) I would tell her "to be patient" and would set the timer for 3 minutes... I told her when the timer "beeped" I would give her what she asked for... once she got use to the 3 minute "delay"... I increased it by 1 minute, until we were at 7 minutes... I would say within the month... she had "learned patience"... so if we had to wait in line... she could wait quietly... if I had to get things together before heading out... she could patiently wait... and even to this day I will occassionally set the timer just as a "reinforcement" of the original lesson...

Try it with your little ones... start with 2 minutes... and work up to what you are comfortable with...

Have a GREAT Tuesday!!!

A Fun Day with Friends...

Yesterday as the snow fell outside it was nothing but FUN inside at our house!!! My friend Mrs. Hardt (Melissa) and her two girls came over (Lilley-Kate and Kylee went to Pre-School together and are BFFs) for a Gingerbread House Decorating Party... it was lots of fun for the girls... Melissa and I pre-constructed the houses using the gingerbread graham crackers and sticks... we had LOTS of fun... we've already decided we are doing it again next year AND Melissa and I will decorate a house too!

Award Worthy...

Well... the weatherman finally got it right!!! We were forecasted for some "major" snow beginning at 3pm this afternoon... at 2:50 I looked outside and said to my husband... here comes the snow (just a few flakes at that time)... BUT... by 3pm as forecasted it was snowing so hard we couldn't see the back fence in our yard! By 7:30 we had a generous 2"... and measured just over 4" at 10:15 with the snow still falling! This storm is suppose to net us 8"... seeing how accurate the weatherman was with its' arrival I'm thinking we'll get that 8"!!! Lilley-Kate was so excited and played outside while Michael did some shoveling!

Merry Christmas Neighbor...

Lilley-Kate and "Daddy" spent the morning making Christmas Cookies (I was out running some errands and getting some final shopping done for the holidays)... This is the first year that Lilley-Kate has really been "into" the whole Christmas "thing"... so cookies it was... LOTS of cookies... so many cookies that I packaged some up for our "immediate neighbors" (the one's on each side and directly across the street) and Lilley-Kate and Michael "delivered" them just as the snow was starting... I watched out the windows as Lilley-Kate PROUDLY held the cookies as she and Michael approached each house... she was so excited and told me that each of the neighbors said "Merry Christmas" when she gave them the cookies!

Full House...

Well... Christmas/Winter break has started for the college kids...we have a full house tonight... Nick's friends are "camping out" here tonight... My husband/Nick will shuttle everyone into the city bright and early tomorrow morning (leaving NLT 3:30AM!!!) to get to the train station and airport in time to catch transportation home for Christmas/Winter break... we will be picking everyone back up as they come in once classes get ready to resume after the New Year...

Right now everyone is piled into the Family Room and they are watching "slasher" movies... (EEEEEEwwwww... NOT my idea of a good movie night)... they have all said they will be staying up until the "bus" pulls out at 3:30AM... LOL... yea... we'll see how many have to be woken up once the alarm goes off!!!

I'm going to make some gnoshing stuff for them and then head up to bed...

IRRITATED...

Well... go figure... second "MAN DAY" in a row (UGH)... and NOW I am IRRITATED... and even more than usual after my 19 yo reminded me that I am ALWAYS irritated to some degree... I acted all offended and hurt when he said it... but truth be told he IS probably right... as the "Holiday" ( I referred to it last night as "HELLiday" and my husband busted out laughing) draws nearer I am starting to feel like I am drowning... nothing "new"... I keep looking at my closet door longingly... OH just to be able to "closet" myself until Jan. 3rd... but alas... I am not really the type to go running into the closet screaming like a banchee... I'll just put on the "happy face" and plow forward... as usual...

Tuesday's "TIP"...

Today is "TIP Day" at According to Lala...

In this day and age I take every opportunity to "exercise the brain"... technology today has enabled us to become "non-thinkers"... and with our children growing up in an age of "exploding technology" sometimes "old school" is the best approach...

It has become time for starting to teach Lilley-Kate (5 1/2) to "tell time"... therefore... the THREE DIGITAL CLOCKS we have in our home have been put away for a bit (the microwave clock is covered with a sticker, the ones in our bedroom replaced with "Baby Ben"s)... and I have purchases 3 inexpensive "basic" ANALOG CLOCKS and placed them in each room that doesn't have a clock... one of them being IN Lilley-Kate's room...

I used this method with Nick (19) when he was little... he learned to ACCURATELY tell time in about a month... a friend recently confessed that her FOURTH GRADER could not tell time on an ANALOG CLOCK... I suggested it to her and it worked great (took about two weeks)

So... put away the digitals... and teach "telling time" the "old school" way!!!

One of THOSE Days...

It's only 9:44am... and I already know I'm having a "MAN DAY" (OK... I REALLY knew at about 7am when I woke up)... yep... for those of you who DON'T know about "MAN DAYS"... you can only imagine... for those of you that DO know... you KNOW what I'm talking about... if I crawled into my closet and didn't come out for a bit do you think ANYONE would notice? Because THAT is becoming a definite possibility...

Favorite "FOTO" Friday...

It's Favorite "FOTO" Friday here at According to Lala...

This is my newest favorite "foto"... taken this past Wednesday... Lilley-Kate was so anxious to get home from kindie and play outside... well... me not being much of an outdoorsie Mommy... Nick offered to go out and play with Lilley-Kate... and NICK suggested the snapshot!!! Big Brother and Little Sister... even though there are 14 years seperating them... they are the best of friends...

Have a nice weekend everyone!!!

SURVIVOR CHINA... Recap

As the snow fell last night here... I was snugglie and warm on the couch... it was SURVIVOR night... for those of you that missed the show... here is the RECAP...

HAE DE FONG... Show opens with the return from Tribal and the blindsiding of James... Everyone is glad that it worked because noone would've wanted to return to camp if it hadn't for fear of James...

RAIN RAIN and more RAIN... everyone is huddled in the little cave... TODD talks about being homesick and his alliance of AMANDA, COURTNEY and DENISE (hoping they stick together and follow the plan)... says they need to get rid of ERIK and PG... BUT... if they were SMART (the other three in the alliance) they would take the opportunity to get rid of HIM (Todd)...

REWARD CHALLENGE... Blindfolded while walking a maze... get to the center with your partner and you win... Partners would be FAMILY MEMBERS!!! All the family memebers were revealed... everyone cried when their family memebers came out... COURTNEY'S Dad is English and "LOOKED" English (pressed trousers and dress shirt)... AMANDA'S sister looked ALOT like her (AMANDA)... DENISE'S HUSBAND was revealed (you could tell they love each other a LOT)... so... then TODD'S sister comes out... they hug... TODD asks about his OTHER SISTER... and TODD'S sister reveals she had a miscarriage and lost the baby... GAMETIME... so everyone starts through the maze... they finally figure out the marco polo method and the game picks up.... AMANDA and her sister were using bird calls to locate each other... HILARIOUS... COURTNEY'S Dad complained a bit... DENISE and her HUSBAND get to the center and WIN REWARD!!!... She gets to pick 2 other SURVIVORS and family to go on the reward... she chooses AMANDA and TODD (PG is livid b/c she chose Denise for a previous reward)... so they go out on a boat for a big meal and some visiting and then get to go back to camp to spend the night...

Back at camp PG, COURTNEY and ERIK all doubt TODD'S story about his sister... COURTNEY does a less than award worthy immitation of TODD... Reward winners and family return back to camp... PG doesn't want to be around DENISE and is still mad... Guests spend the night and leave the next morning... DENISE pretty much immediately approaches PG and explains that she didn't have a choice on who to pick for reward sharing... PG says she understands but is still mad

IMMUNITY CHALLENGE... Tethered obstacle to raise flag... answer 3 questions right... use the keys to open the locks... raise your flag and win IMMUNITY... game starts out and quickly PG an dTODD are leading.. comes down to PG and TODD... Todd answers a question wrong and PG WINS IMMUNITY (her 2nd inividual immunity win)...

Back at camp after the challenge PG is actually stunned she won and considers herself the underdog in the TRIBE... TODD becomes nervous about AMANDA... AMANDA reveals to ERIK that she (AMANDA) didn't believe TODD's story either... PG tells ERIK that she will vote for TODD but she doesn't think he has much of a chance at staying... DENISE becomes the SEING VOTE and she is confused as to what to do...which makes TODD nervous...

TRIBAL COUNCIL... Jeff asks about the 4 vs. 2 split in the Tribe... PG says someone could change up the game with their vote and possibly go from 4th to 3rd... giving them a better chance to win... TODD says he trusts people but doesn't know how much he trusts them... It is time to vote... ERIK GOES...

*** Jamie fidgeted teh entire TRIBAL COUNCIL and at one point looked like she was laughing... it seemed very distracting...

NEXT WEEK should be GOOD!!!

Tuesday's "TIP"...

It's "TIP" day at According to Lala...

I can remember as a child watching The Carol Burnette Show (Oh I just SO dated myself... LOL) and one of the neatest things was her little "signal" at the end of the show where she would tug on her earlobe... I always wondered what that meant and WHO she was signaling... over the years I have heard a couple of different stories as to the meaning behind the "tug"... anyway... I always thought it was a neat thing...

So... When our son Nick (19) was little I thought it would be nice to have a "signal" with him... and I use the same "signal" with Lilley-Kate... it is the "sign"... I LOVE YOU... we use this at different times... at night before bed... just when she is going into her classroom at school and looks back at me down the hallway... when she is going into Ballet class... when she was up on the stage during her school program... just our little way of saying "Hi" to each other...

When we took Nick to school for his first year of college and left him in his dorm... we looked up at his window as we were leaving and there he was sending me the "signal" that had been "ours" since he was little... a memory I will always treasure...

So "adopt" a little signal between you and your little ones... something simple... it'll be something that continues throughout the years... and maybe someday you'll see the "signal" being sent from a college dorm window...

Have a great day!!!

Today's Weather...

SNOW SNOW and more SNOW!!!

We woke up to a generous 2" this morning... COLD and WINDY...

I'm still not use to these Northern Winters... Nope...

Not our first snowfall of the season... we saw the first snowflakes of the season in these parts on OCTOBER 16th!!!

Just Wondering...

If maybe the big drug companies are working on a vaccine against THIS?... Would it be a ONE-TIME only vaccine?... Or a series of vaccines over time?... Would a BOOSTER be needed later in life?... Would it be seasonal like the flu-shot?... Would there be children more recommended to receive the vaccine than others? I always referred to it as ENTITLEMENT SYNDROME... but I like the "ring" of AFFLUENZA better...

Favorite "FOTO" Friday...

Today is Favorite "Foto" Friday at According to Lala...

This "foto" was taken in 1994... Nick and my Dad had put temporary tattoos on their arms and were playing "Harley Guys" (LOL)... Nick thought he was really "tough" and wanted me to take a "biker picture" of him and my Father... Nick and my Dad have always been great buddies... and to this day remain the best of friends!

HAPPY FRIDAY EVERYONE!!! Have a great weekend!!!

Just How I Feel...

Stupid should be painful...


Would probably wear pretty good on a tee...

SURVIVOR-CHINA... Recap

WOOHOO!!! SURVIVOR NIGHT... after a disappointing RECAP show LAST WEEK... this week was WORTH the wait... for those SURVIVOR FANS that missed tonights episode... here is a RECAP...

The show opens as Jeff informs the remaining tribe members that they will not be leaving to go back to camp but will instead participate in a REWARD CHALLENGE before going back to camp... The REWARD is a trip to an ancient Chinese Temple for an overnight stay... winning is based on questions about the Chinese culture... PG ends up winning the REWARD based on the RED ENVELOPE question and can pick two fellow tribe members to accompany her on the REWARD... she chooses ERIK and DENISE... Everyone returns to camp as the REWARD will start early the next morning...

James wishes "EVE" wouldn't have been tempted to eat the apple (referring to the alliance sticking together and not changing the plan)... Amanda starts to ponder a change in the game...

REWARD CHALLENGE TRIP... PG, Denise and Erik leave for the REWARD... PG wastes no time chatting up possible strategy with the other two... they enjoy pistachios and champagne while listening to PG's proposal... The arrive at the TEMPLE and DENISE (the mullet sporting lunch lady) reveals she is a atudent of KARATE (who would've guessed THAT???) AND that she is preparing to go for her BLACK BELT in KARATE AND has opened her own KARATE SCHOOL!!! THe monks at the TEMPLE give a KUNG FU display to the rewardees and Denise is put on the spot and performs a 1 woman KARATE show for some Chinese kids...

Day 29... RAIN RAIN and MORE RAIN... and it is driving TODD crazy... PG, ERIK, and DENISE return from the REWARD and AMANDA is the only one to greet them... PG immediately starts giving a detailed rundown of the reward and pisses COURTNEY off... DENISE tells TODD of the strategy chat on the reward trip... ERIK tries to get JAMES to flip (to join PG, and himself)... JAMES pretty much says NO WAY

Day 30... COURTNEY and AMANDA find tree mail (Ninja Stars)... Amanda tells Courtney of her (Amanda's) idea to backdoor James

IMMUNITY CHALLENGE... Ninja Star throwing at silohettes for points... 4 way tie after round 1 between AMANDA, JAMES, COURTNEY and ERIK... final round... 1 throw... ERIK (a Southpaw) wins IMMUNITY... Plan is put into motion to blindside James

Back at camp after the Immunity Challenge PG and Erik are talking and PG finds one of the HIDDEN IMMUNITY IDOLS hidden in the roof of the shelter... she then "confronts" AMANDA about knowledge of the HII (Amanda says she is AWARE of the HIIs exsistence)... PG asks Amanda to flip on James... Amanda tells PG to keep quiet and not say anything and that it would be in her best interest to just act like she (PG) is leaving... James becomes a bit suspicious but doesn't feel really threatened...

TRIBAL COUNCIL... Jeff questions the tribe about the level of TRUST they have in each other... DENISE is honest and says she trusts noone... JAMES says as long as people are working towards a common goal then they should/could be trusted... IT IS TIME TO VOTE... Jeff tallies the votes and asks if anyone wants to play the hidden immunity idol... JAMES DOESN'T PLAY A HIDDEN IMMUNITY IDOL... the votes are read... as everyone's smiles emerge... JAMES is voted out... the TRIBE has SPOKEN... and everyone is openly SMILING at his departure (including the JURY!!!)

Noticed the opening shots/credits changed again... they now show the JURY members... My son LOVED this episode... he's into all that NINJA/KUNG FU stuff... so he thought it was totally cool...

Can't wait til next week!!!

Tuesday's "TIP"...

HAPPY TUESDAY EVERYONE!!! It's "TIP DAY" at According to Lala...

When our son Nick (19) was little he LOVED to drop the coins into the "bellringers" pot at this time of year... and Lilley-Kate has picked up the "tradition"... in order to "budget" (and teach the kids about money) I allot a ROLL of coins after Thanksgiving... and each time we happen upon a "bellringer" (or any donation container that is noticed)... a coin is taken from the roll and deposited into the pot... once all the coins are gone from the roll "they" have reached their donation "limit"...

So give each one of your kids a roll of coins... and let them experience the "gift of giving"...

Favorite "Foto" Friday...

Today is Favorite "Foto" Friday here at According to Lala...

This is an extra special picture to me... not only because is it one of only a handful of me with Lilley-Kate (I'm ususally the one TAKING the pics)... but also because it was her first day of KINDERGARTEN (this past August)... she was SO EXCITED to meet her classmates and teacher... and I was excited (albeit a bit sad over the whole "milestone") for her... my "favorite girl" is growing up too quickly... I was really glad my husband insisted on taking MY picture with Lilley-Kate...

Have a nice weekend!!!

HAPPY THANKGIVING!!!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!! I hope everyone has an enjoyable day!!!

Tuesday's "TIP"...

Now that cold and flu season has started everyone is more "aware" of picking up unwanted "germies" while out and about...

If you need a cart while shopping... take the cart from OUTSIDE the store (grab one out of the cart corral in the parking lot) rather than IN the store... especially if the weather is COLD... Germs can't typically survive in cold temps... and usually the carts stored INSIDE the store are under "blowers" at the entrance (warm air breeding grounds)

Some stores have begun offering sanitizing "wipes" indoors at the cart areas... so be on the lookout for that too!!!

Happy Tuesday Everyone!!!

Stove/Oven "ENVY"...

Eren over at This Vintage Chica posted a picture recently that caught her FABULOUS stove/oven in the shot... and I IMMEDIATELY got the "ENVY" (Along with a few others too!)... It's not that I "hate" MY stove/oven(s)... but I DO wish it was more "updated" and efficient... I'm SURE that mine is from the 70s (late in the decade maybe)... I LOVE the fact that I have 2 ovens (top and bottom)... and a warming drawer under the bottom oven... I love the fact that the knobs are "high" (so little hands can't mess with them)... I don't love the fact that only 3 of the burners work up to par (the back left never seems to reach temperature)... the bottom oven runs about 15-25* off at any given time... the clock and the timer long ago met their maker so they don't work... there is no exhaust fan... and the light is a bare bulb above the stove burners (which I have never turned on)... There are other priorities for now... so a new stove/oven will have to wait... but hey... a girl can dream right?!

Favorite "Foto" Friday...

Happy Friday Everyone!!! Today is "Favortie FOTO Day"...

This is one of my favorite "fotos" of my son Nick... I remember this was on Thanksgiving at my parent's house... they have a tree in their front yard and every time we would visit Nick would try to jump up and hang off the lowest branch (typically my Dad would end up "boosting" him as the tree branch was a bit above his head)... it was kinda how my Dad would guage Nick's height... He'd always say "Let's see if you've grown any" and they would go out and Nick would try to reach the branch... Well... THIS particular day he DID!!! So everyone rushed outside with cameras (before digital... LOL) and took pics of him hanging off the branch!!! He was so proud of himself... My Dad gave him $5... It's a memory that gets mentioned every year around this time...

Have a good weekend everyone!!!

SURVIVOR China... RECAP

WOOHOO... My favoritest night of the week... SURVIVOR NIGHT... here's the recap for those that may have missed it!

Show opens with James reminising about the close vote at Tribal... but realizes he is fairly safe due to the fact that he has BOTH Hidden Immunity Idols... James proceeds to awaken his tribemates with a rowsing "GOOD MORNING" song... COURTNEY relishes in JRs absence... Amanda and Courtney worry about Denise flipping after the vote switch that she (Denise) wasn't aware of... Denise feels betrayed over the vote switch... James tells Denise that the tribe was afraid she would flip if they had told her of the vote switch...

HAE DA FUNG... PG replaces JR as the tribe "Annoyer"... Todd worries about Courtney's relationship with Frosti.... TREE MAIL arrives accompanied with a drum... PG pities herself as the "losingest Survivor" in history (since she has won NOTHING so far)

REWARD CHALLENGE... "Bouncing Ball on Drums Obstacle Course"... Teams of 4 (another school yard pick)... COURTNEY is picked last... team of PG, JAMES, Denise and TODD struggle through the whole challenge... YELLOW TEAM wins (Frosti, Amanda, Erik, and Courtney)... REWARD is a criuse along the LE River, FEAST, and a "good nights sleep"

PG confronts James over losing the challenge... James reinforces with Denise that they need to stick to the plan and not waiver... TODD is feeling left out and says this is the worst day for him (all his "friends" are criusing w/o him)

REWARD CRUISE... Courtney disses on PG... Erik keeps quiet (as long as they aren't talking about him he's happy)... Courtney says Frosti is really cute but YOUNG... Frosti says he likes Courtney but knows she is WAY out of his league (THAT made me laugh)... Erik does this FREAKY impression of a goat and Frosti worries that Erik may "push him (Frosti) out" of the good graces of the tribe... REWARD winners return from the cruise and lie about the food...

IMMUNITY CHALLENGE... PUZZLE SCRAMBLE... Survivors have the option of "opting out" and eating instead of participating... Everyone but PG, Frosti, Amanda and Eric opt to eat... cheeseburgers, fries, cold drinks, and fixins... PG WINS IMMUNITY

Frosti is upset that people sat out to eat... Erick and Frosti both suspect they are on the block... Frosti talks to Todd about Erik... Todd suggests COURTNEY go (due to her growing relationship with Frosti)... Todd talks to Courtney about Frosti going... Courntey won't commit to the vote

TRIBAL COUNCIL... Jeff questions the "eaters" at the immunity challenge.. and their standing in the tribe... Erik suspects he is at the bottom and probably going home... PG keeps the IMMUNITY NECKLACE... Jamie and JR (the jury) are there... JR is rolling his eyes the whole time... TIME TO VOTE... FROSTI GOES... Jeff "warns" Survivors of the ability to adapt to new situations at any moment and says that TRIBAL BUSINESS is not done...

I noticed the opening credits... pictures of the Survivors have changed!!!

Looking forward to next week and the unfinished Tribal Council Business!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Happy Birthday to my "main squeeze"!!!

42 years ago today...

Funny how we had to travel half way around the world to find each other! I have loved you since the first moment I saw you... THANK YOU for making my life more than I could have ever hoped for!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HONEY!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

It has been an anxious day here... My younger sister delivered TWINS today...

Anna Elizabeth was born at approximately 8:15PM weighing 4lbs. 9oz. and 18" long

Alan Russell was born at approximately 9:20PM weighing 5lbs. 15 oz. and is 19" long

Happy Birthday Anna and Alan!!!

Tuesday's "TIP"

Today is "Tip" Day at According to Lala...

I keep a bottle of Hand Sanitizer in one of the center console cup holders in my van... having it "on hand" (no pun intended) makes it super easy to clean our hands when needed... after being in a store... after school... ect. Plus it is a "silent reminder" to the kids to clean their hands...

Happy Tuesday Everyone!!!

It's The Little Things...

Isn't it funny... sometimes it's the LITTLEST things that can make us happy... Well... Finding THIS made me VERY HAPPY!!!

Found at my local "Wallies" at the checkout... TRAVEL SIZE LYSOL... and to top it off... in my FAVORITE LYSOL SCENT (Crisp Linen)... a bit pricey ($2.87)... but worth EVERY PENNY in my book!!!

So if you are as vigilant as I am at this time of year... look for the NEW! TRAVEL SIZE LYSOL TO GO at the checkout!!!

Is it January 2 Yet???...

I've never quite been a fan of the "Holiday Season"... quite honestly I could skip from Halloween to January 2nd and not feel in the least bit like I missed anything... I don't know if I have always felt this way... but I've become accutely aware of it in probably the last 5 years... I KNOW I am NOT ALONE... I have recently heard quite a few others say that they are already ready for the holidays to be over... it's hard to explain really... I'm not totally sure it's the HOLIDAYS itself I'm not a "fan" of... or all that goes along with them...

I mean sitting at a table on Thanksgiving with a bunch of people that you don't even like... PRETENDING to be a "close-knit" family for 3 hours a year? Dancing around all the PINK ELEPHANTS in the room... so many PINK ELEPHANTS that the only place to stand is with your back to the wall?

Spending Christmas Eve Day with said "same close-knit family"... although this time the PINK ELEPHANTS are wearing festive Santa hats and carrying around cups of eggnog... but everyone else is still smashed up against the walls...

I guess it's not that bad... I mean it IS only 2ce a year right? But still... I'm looking forward to January 2...

Favorite "FOTO" Friday...

Lilley-Kate absolutely ADORES her Daddy... and her Daddy absolutely ADORES her!

I love this picture because to me it is a PERFECT example of the meaning of the phrase "DADDY'S LITTLE GIRL"...

Have a nice weekend everyone!!!

SURVIVOR-China... RECAP

WOOHOO... it's SURVIVOR Thursday!!! Here's the recap for those that may have missed the show!!!...

The show opens with the tribe members returning after voting Jamie out... "JR" (Jean-Robert) is "sweating" over the whole "hidden immunity idol" incident at tribal... James reveals that "JR" doesn't know the he (James) has BOTH the hidden immunity idols...

REWARD CHALLENGE... 2 teams of 4 in a sinking ship competition... they choose teams by "school yard pick"... Denise doesn't get picked... team of AMANDA, "JR", JAMES and TODD win reward... trip to an ancient village for a meal and a "hidden message"... At the village they eat a meal and read the "private message" given to them by Jeff... JR is shocked to learn that he has been out of the loop on the clues to the location of the hidden immunity idol... Todd, James and Amanda sit back trying not to laugh at JR's excitement over the hidden immunities... but decide not to tell him anything...

Denise is upset that she wasn't picked for the challenge... recalling memories of childhood and not being picked in school..."who wants to pick the "fat" girl"... she seems hurt...

James, Todd, Amanda and "JR" return from the reward when everyone is asleep... "Jr" immediately starts looking for the hidden immunity idol

Todd is upset that James has both immunity idols and hasn't even offered to give one of them back to Todd (since Todd "gave" James both idols to begin with)... Todd proposes to Amanda and Frosti that James go next (they would convince James he's safe and then blindside him at tribal council)

IMMUNITY CHALLENGE... Barrel Balance... each tribe member has to balance on a barrel while water drains out of the bottom... COURTNEY WINS (giving her a 1/8 chance at the million)

"JR" reveals to Erik that he (JR) has found a hidden immunity... Erik then shares with "JR" that the info he (Erik) has is that James has BOTH hidden immunity idols and the one that "JR" has is NOT valid... "JR" then confronts James over the idols... James plays dumb... but "JR" warns James that James would benefit by working WITH "JR" rather than against "JR"... James continues to play dumb... "JR" then confronts Todd with the info James has both idols (Todd then plays dumb)... Todd throws a bit of a fit over the fact that other people are getting the credit for HIS ideas)... Todd, Amanda and James decide to get rid of "JR" after consulting with Courtney and Frosti... Courtney's not holding her breath though over "JR" being voted out and refers to him as the SUSAN LUCCI of Survivor

TRIBAL COUNCIL... Jeff points out that there are only 3 original Fei Long members left... PG confesses that they are outnumbered and she is worried... "It is time to vote"... James does NOT play a hidden immunity (he previously said he would roll the dice and take his chances and not play the idol)... Jeff reads the votes... James looks like he is going to puke... "JR" goes by one vote

During TRIBAL COUNCIL Jamie (the first jury member) is brought in... and has to be reminded NOT to interact with the tribe members...

Can't wait till next week!!!

Tuesday's "TIP"...

It's "TIP" day at According To Lala!!!...

Now that the colder (dryer) weather is upon us... the one thing that drives me the craziest is STATIC ELECTRICITY... especially in Lilley-Kate's hair (we do use conditioner on her hair daily)... wearing hats and coat hoods reaks "havoc" on her hair... so... ONE of the ways that I quickly take care of "situational" hair static is to add a bit of moisture... I squirt a bit of handlotion on MY hands... rub it in a bit (not all the way)... and then run my hands over Lilley-Kate's head... viola!!! The static is gone!!!... and YOUR hands are moisturized!

Have a "static free" day!!!

Honoring Those Who Serve...

Last week Lilley-Kate's school presented "A Salute to Our American Heros" program honoring our country's Military... there were Verterans from past wars and current military personnel... it was a wonderful program and the kids did an exceptional job under the direction of the Music Teacher... My husband attended in full dress uniform (and was very popular with the kids and teachers!)... he shook hands with each child in the program and even gave a couple of autographs! The pride that the children showed in themselves, their performance, and country was heartwarming. It was a wonderful day!

Favorite "FOTO" Friday...

It's Favorite "FOTO" Friday here at According to Lala...

The three most important men in my life... My Husband... My Son... and My Dad... this "foto" was taken at my sister's wedding a few years back... one of the reasons I like this "foto" so much is because my son stands between my husband and my Father... the two men that my son admires most in the world... I have always looked up to my Dad... his values... work ethic and just the person he is makes me proud to be his daugther... I have loved my husband since the moment I saw him and couldn't imagine living the last 20+years without him... and My Son... who continues to make me proud to be his Mother...

Have a nice weekend!!!

SURVIVOR-China... RECAP

Well it was SURVIVOR Night... so for all those fans that may have missed the show... here's the RECAP...

The show opened with the FEI LONG tribe and everyone basically telling "JR" and Courtney to make ammends with each other and that none of the other tribe members were going to get involved in the little "tiff" between them... (those nightvision shots that they do really FREAK me out on the show... I hate how everyones eyes look all freaky and possessed)

Zhan Hu... PG "flexes her muscle" with James by telling him what they have done for him (sacrificing a former Zhan Hu member (Sherea) to "save" him)... James doesn't really pay her much mind and tells her that he knows they are trusting to EACH OTHER but does not tell PG that HE trusts any of the ZHAN HU tribe... James is able to grab the hidden immunity idol in camp (which gives him BOTH hidden immunity idols)... Jamie realizes that the piece is gone off of the arch and she and Todd find the "null" idol piece laying on the ground (James did not have time to put it back up on the arch and left it laying in the grass)... Jamie THINKS it is the REAL IMMUNITY IDOL and gets all excited... she and Erik realize that James must've been looking for it and not realized it was the immunity... she snoops in his bag while he (James) and PG are out frog hunting and finds 2 "boards"... of course Jamie THINKS James is holding a "fake" immunity idol and SHE has a "real" one...

MERGE... The tribes show up for the challenge and Jeff tells them to drop their buffs... it's MERGE TIME!!! They all get new black buffs... the "new flag kit"... and a MERGE feast and entertainment... with a "warning" from Jeff that "This game never stops"... Everyone enjoys the food and entertainment... Courtney, PG, and Jamie were loving the alcohol... and the guys were loving the native dancers...

NEW TRIBE NAME... HAE DA FUNG (Black Fighting Wind)

James wastes little time telling Todd and Amanda that he suspects Jamie THINKS she has a hidden immunity idol... Courtney complains that noone will stand up for her and tell JR off... everyone tells her to basically get over herself... Jeff shows up unexpectedly at the new camp (old FEI LONG camp) with the INDIVIDUAL IMMUNITY NECKLACE and announces that it is time for the IMMUNITY CHALLENGE (reminding everyone of his warning that the "game never stops")... It's a "pop quiz" on their MERGE feast and entertainment (everyone is whining and complaining about not paying any attention during the MERGE Feast)... it's a single out challenge so it went fairly quick (one wrong answer and your out of the game)... FROSTI ends up winning individual immunity and is the first to wear the necklace

The politicing begins after the challenge... PG works on James like a bad case of fleas... TRYING to get James to "commit" to her "alliance"... JR "threatens" Todd with a jury lobby if Todd screws JR over... Jamie goes around announcing "secretly" that SHE has a hidden immunity and if she is "spared" will tell who has the other one... Todd and Amanda worry about Courtney "flipping" and writing down JR's name...

TRIBAL COUNCIL... Jeff asks Amanda, PG and JR how the new tribe is working... Amanda keeps things upbeat... PG is into JR bashing and JR says how Courtney has now moved down the "target list"... prompting Courtney to "retaliate" and say JR won't leave her alone... James tells JR he talks too much... Jamie hopes she is more pleasant than JR and they keep her... "It is now time to vote"... Just before Jeff reads the votes Jamie interrupts and asks about the idol (as she pull it out of her bag)... James and Todd almost laugh out loud... JR about wets himself with worry... Jeff reviews the Hidden Immunity Idol rules in the EVENT that a VALID hidden immuntiy idol is played and THEN informs Jamie that her idol is NOT VALID... and throws it into the fire!!! Votes are read and JAMIE IS GONE!!! She is the first member of the jury... Jeff reminds the remaining players that the game is shifting and that they need to be aware of WHO they put into the jury...

There seems to be a bit of a "Crush" going on between FROSTI and Courtney (WHEN did THAT happen?)... Courtney was snuggling all up to Frosti and it didn't escape PG or James' notice... James REALLY had some strong opinions this week and didn't hesitate to say somthing (although I DO miss when he would just push the trees down with his bare hands!!!)

Can't wait for next week!!!

A Happy Halloween...

We hope everyone had a HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!! Lilley-Kate was a "Sparklie Witch" and had a wonderful day (the first year she has really wanted to "participate" in Halloween festivities). She had a fun day at school with a party and Costume Parade... this evening we had some friends join us for Pizza and then ToTing in our neighborhood... it's always makes things extra fun when you can share good times with good friends!

Now... WHAT to do with ALL the candy?!?!!!

Happy Halloween... and Happy 100th Post here at According to Lala!

Tuesday's "TIP"...

It's "TIP" day at According to Lala!

One of the ways that I "teach" Lilley-Kate things (letters, numbers, days of the week, months, ect.) is to display them all over the house... in preparation for kindergarten, this summer I posted the days of the week on one of our doors in the house... each morning she would get up and we would find the particular day and what we would be doing that day... it became a fun routine and a fun way for her to learn!

The Change...

No... NOT "THE CHANGE"... the change in the weather!!! :o) We had our first frost of the season last night... and woke up this morning to 31* temperatures... it is quite chilly today although the sun is shining brightly...

I always "struggle" during the change of seasons (and the warm to cold change is the hardest)... I'm not sure why... I just feel like I am treading water as fast as I can to keep my head (chin) up... I feel "off balance" in some way... like things aren't quite right... but at the same time... not quite wrong either... OH... maybe it IS "THE Change"?!?!... Naw... I think I have a bit before that happens... I'll just continue to tread until these feelings pass or my arms get so tired they fall off!

Favorite "FOTO" Friday...

Today is Favorite "FOTO" Friday... I'm sure we all have "Spaghetti Face" fotos of our kids... thought I'd share one of MY favorite "Spaghetti Face" fotos of Lilley-Kate... I remember one of the reasons I liked this particular picture so much was that her hair had FINALLY gotten long enough to put TINY little "piggies" in her hair!!!

Have a great weekend!!!

SURVIVOR CHINA... Recap

Well... Tonight was SURVIVOR NIGHT... here's the show recap!

The show opens with the Zhan Hu Tribe... "PG" is banking on the original 2 members (Sherrea and Frosti) still being loyal to the tribe even though they are now Fei Long members... James realizes he is in peril and continues to work like a dog around camp doing just about everything... his explaination is he doesn't want to give them ANY excuse for "throwing" another challenge...

FEI LONG... Todd (the weasel) tells Amanda about the hidden immunity idol... his reasoning is because he has looked all over for it and feels he can't find it on his own... Amanda questions how he knows about it and he explains the whole "private message tube" to her... he then tells her that they have to win the next challenge so they can kidnap James (knowing that James will give the clue to him) and find out the final clue to the immunity idols location...

REWARD CHALLENGE... the tribes had to run through abandon buildings looking for puzzle boards... then assemble a puzzle revealing a phrase... it was a close finish... but FEI LONG won... not only the REWARD (which was a visit to a Chinese Tea House for some R&R and pampering (baths and showers) for the whole tribe) but the opportunity to kidnap a ZHAN HU tribe member... without hesitation they kidnap James... During the REWARD they all bathe and James showers (of course they had to blur out his bum)... Courtney was all "gaga" over James' bum... Todd tells James that he KNOWS what is in the message tube and to give it it him (Todd) and he will save James... James really has no choice and gives the clue to Todd... who in turn shares it with Amanda... they locate the HIDDEN IMMUNITY IDOL... but not without FROSTI's interference... Todd gives James the HIDDEN IMMUNITY IDOL as promised but tells James he MUST throw the next challenge... sending ZHAN HU to Tribal and use the HIDDEN IMMUNITY IDOL and get Jamie sent home... James agrees... the other FEI LONG members are told of the plan and all agree to win the next challenge...

ZHAN HU... "PG" and Jamie "panick" because at the reward challenge neither Sherrea or Frosti would acknowledge them... "PG" tried to talk to Sherrea during the challenge and told her that they threw the last challenge and asked if she (Sherrea) and Frosti were still "with us"... Sherrea didn't respond... with James being kidnapped "PG" becomes a bit paraniod and she and Jamie and Erik (who doesn't have an independent thought of his own) decide that they CANNOT throw the next IMMUNITY CHALLENGE...

IMMUNITY CHALLENGE... ***I KNEW an eating disgusting things was coming... it was about the right time for one*** Eating gross stuff... teams of 4 (FEI LONG had to sit out 3 people) had to compete one on one against each other... It was a close race again... James realizes quickly that they (ZHAN HU) are not going to throw it... Todd becomes nervous when he realizes Zhan Hu is not going to throw it... James and Denise pair against each other... they have to each a chicken fetus... James tries really hard NOT TO WIN... Deinse tries really hard TO WIN... but she just can't stomach the food... James is forced to win their round... Denise apologizes to James... it comes down to FROSTI and ERIK and some 1,000 year old egg... it's CLOSE... but Erik wins... sending FEI LONG to TRIBAL COUNCIL

Todd and Amanda "with" Courtney decide it will be Sherrea that goes... Courtney isn't 100% with that and tells Sherrea... Courtney then suggests "JR"... Todd and Amanda debate it... Todd reasoning that they (Todd and Amanda) have to "do" what others want also and not be "power players"...

TRIBAL COUNCIL... Sherrea and Courtney "attack" "JR" and Courtney kinda mocks him... Courtney reveals that she feels like an outsider in the "cliquey" tribe... Todd takes offense to that... SHERREA ends up leaving

Can't wait for next week!!! OH... and THE AMAZING RACE starts NOVEMBER 4th!!! YIPEE!!!

***Something I "noticed" about half way through the show... COURTNEY didn't look as "boney" as she had at the beginning of the show... or last week... I thought it was just me at first... but then my son came downstairs (he was watching on another TV) and said something... just thought it was something to mention***

Tuesday's "TIP"

Today is "TIP DAY" at According to Lala!

I have this "thing" about sharing "wash/facecloths"... it shouldn't be done... so what I have done is gotten everyone in our family (of 4) their OWN wash/facecloths... in their favorite color... Blue, Green, Pink, and Purple... I bought the suction cup hangers (in the bathroom section at the store) and attached them in the bath/shower on the wall... that way noone ends up "sharing"... they just use their "color" wash/facecloth... this is a great way to avoid arguments if you have little ones that bathe together too!

I got this idea from a SUPER ORGANIZED friend of mine who is the Mother of 5 children and thought I'd share it with you!!!

Have a great Tuesday!

Favorite "FOTO" Friday...

It's time to share a Favorite "Foto" here at According to Lala... This "foto" was take of Lilley-Kate 3 years ago... we typically spend Thanksgiving at my husband's brother's house... and since both my nephews are piano players we always get a little Thanksgiving "concert"... Well... Lilley-Kate has always loved anything musical... and this was a photo op I couldn't resist... I remember standing there for quite a while listening to her "play" the piano... I remember standing there listening and watching her play and wondering to myself what kind of person she would grow up to be... would she be kind... compassionate... friendly... giving... HAPPY?... I didn't know... but I DID know she would grow up with a love of music... which she has

Have a great weekend! :o)

SURVIVOR-CHINA... RECAP

So tonight was SURVIVOR... so for those fellow SURVIVOR fans that may have missed the show... here is the recap...

The show opens with the ZHAN HU tribe and FROSTI feeling sorry for himself (and the tribe) b/c the other tribe (FEI LONG) has JAMES and are well led by Aarron... "PG" tried to "rally" everyone by saying that everyone has to work equally in camp AND challenges...

ZHAN HU- JAMIE and "TAYLOR" (Erik) "flirt" with each other in the water and ERIK confesses to JAMIE that he is a virgin... JAMIE interprets his virginity as a sign of being "trustworthy" and so she tells him that there is a hidden immunity idol in camp and how the clues are gotten...

FEI LONG... JAMES "confesses" that he finds DENISE (the lunch lady) attractive (well... not HER specifically but women LIKE HER) and that is he was 10 years older (or DENISE 10 years younger) that Denise would have to watch out

There was no REWARD CHALLENGE this episode... what they did was a switcheroo and each tribe had to pick 2 tribe members they would want to "kidnap" into their tribes... although ZHAN HU didn't realize that they would LOSE 2 players to GET 2 players... so ZHAN HU chooses JAMES and AARRON (and get ALL excited thinking it will then be 7 on 5)... FEI LONG chooses FROSTI and SHEEREA... so the switch is made... JAMES seems indifferent to the whole thing and says he had no connection to anyone in the FEI LONG tribe (Hmmmmm... not even your "crush" on the lunchlady???)... the new switched members bring goodies to eat... James and Aarron join ZHAN HU and JAMES immediately tried to find out WHO is in charge and rally them to win the next challenge... SHEEREA and FROSTI join FEI LONG... and JR (Jean Robert) becomes nervous that HE may be next to go...

Aarron hangs out with his new tribe members (ZHAN HU) and strategizes by suggesting that JAMES be voted off... PG then plants a seed in JAMIES head to throw the next challenge so they can vote off Aarron (which PG thinks has more "allies" back at FEI LONG)...

IMMUNITY CHALLANGE- Tribe members have to team up... swim out and release puzzle discs by pulling bamboo sticks out... pretty cool challenge... then one person unloads the puzzle discs and then everyone can assemble the puzzle... JAMIE and PG THROW THE CHALLENGE for ZHAN HU!!! It was so blantant and James was getting really mad... so FEI LONG of course wins the IMMUNITY CHALLANGE

Back at the ZHAN HU camp James is fuming and wants answers... Aarron is mad too... so Erik goes to get the 411 and finds out PG and Jamie "threw" the challenge... he's not happy aobut it but decides to "trust" the girls anyway and vote the way they want... James says not to keep him around...

TRIBAL COUNCIL... Jeff questions the challenge and JAMIE ADMITS TO THROWING IT (THAT was DUMB)... Aarron says he's nto worried about going but packed his bags anyway... JAMES says he is expecting to go b/c he can't be in a tribe with people that don't "fight" to win... AARRON ends up going... which totally shocks him... and although he was glad JAMES stayed... he would've rather it been him (as he said in his desparture statement)

GREAT SHOW tonight... BAD STRATEGIZING... OH... the PANDA napping in the tree at the beginning was super cute!!!

Can't wait for next week!!!

Being Spiteful...

Dang that OPRAH... she's been having some good shows on lately... and although I am NOT a fan... I have been able to watch lately... isn't it funny how just ONE LITTLE SENTENCE can sometimes hit ya like a ton of bricks??? So today SUZE ORMAN was on... "counseling" people on how to get their financial lives in order... and she made the comment about being tired of people "blaming" their pasts/childhood/parents for the way they are now (this was in reference to a guest "blaming" her out of control spending on a Mother that was overbearing)... well... this little "thought" came to mind...

SOMETIMES we are not WHO we are BECAUSE of our childhoods... SOMETIMES we are WHO we are IN SPITE of our childhoods...

"Zip Your Lip"...

I was reminded as to WHY my Grammie may have been one of the wisest women I have ever known... and WHY she would tell me CONSTANTLY as a child to "Zip your lip Missy"... so... in memory of you Grammie I will take your advice and "Zip my Lip"...

Tuesday's "TIP"...

Today is "Tip Day" at According to Lala... Here's one from the BAKER in the family (that would be my Husband)...

When you need to check for "doneness" in a cake, pie, bread, custard, brownies, ect. use a piece of UNCOOKED spaghetti! Much safer than a wooden toothpick...

Have a great day!!!

Being A "Bee"... I LOVE the SEINFELDS!!!

I rarely get to watch TV in the afternoons... after picking up Lilley-Kate from school we pretty much have a "set" routine which doesn't include much TV time... BUT... I have been able to catch a bit recently and it has got me to thinking of a few things...

I watched OPRAH last week when JESSICA SEINFELD was on "pimping" her new book "DECEPTIVELY DELICIOUS"... although I am NOT an OPRAH "fan" I did watch the whole show... and can I say... I LOVE JESSICA SEINFELD!!! She's cute... she's a Mom... and she seemed to be genuinely concerned with giving other Moms (who struggle with the "vegetable issue") a great tool (in her cookbook and recipes)... she came across as someone I would LOVE to just sit down with and chat it up... I DO have to give her credit... she ran with something (adding "hidden" ingredients to foods WITHOUT the "family's" knowledge) that LOTS of Moms have been doing for a LONG time (I mean I have been adding mashed bananas or shredded apples to my pancake mix since Nick was little)... I just LOVED the whole show and thought the set was decorated to match the theme very well... and of course you can NEVER have TOO MUCH PINK... :o) ... I DID wonder though if OPRAH was going to eat EVERY SINGLE thing Jessica talked about... and she pretty much did... I bought the cookbook and am EXCITEDLY awaiting it's arrival!!!

So TODAY... again I watched the entire episode of OPRAH... although I am still NOT a "fan"... and JERRY SEINFELD was on "pimping" his movie "BEE MOVIE"... and can I say... I LOVE JERRY SEINFELD too!!! He was his typical witty/hysterical self... talked sweetly about his wife... how he likes things "just so" in his life and home... and his movie also... he told a story of how the whole movie was "born" over a MUCH ANTICIPATED dinner with Mr. Speilberg... during the telling of that story... he made mention of wanting to be AT the resturant BEFORE Speilberg arrived as a sign of RESPECT... later in the show OPRAH asks him what "irritates/bothers" him in life... and in typical "Jerry Fashion" he talks about "technology ettiquette" and "road/driving ettiquette" and the "laziness" of society in general (all done very tounge and cheek... but striking a cord none the less)... and it made me LOVE HIM EVEN MORE... (although I DO think that he may have "stretched" the whole "Seinfeld" sitcom a couple years too long)... We will DEFINITELY be going to see the "BEE MOVIE"... it looks SUPER CUTE!!!

So... I got to thinking... about "BEEing"... and here are some things that I think would help "society" in general... because I agree that in some wierd way "we ALL" (as a society) have gotten away from "BEEing"...

"BEE"...
Loving
Kind
Compassionate
Courteous
Understanding
Tolerant
Respectful
True
Loyal
Patient
Giving
Faithful
Prayerful
Thoughtful
Helpful
Appreciative

Civil

I think as an exercise in "self-improvement" I am going to pick one "BEE" every week to concentrate on... and every day of each week I will do "something" towards that "BEE" (does that make sense??? LOL)... anyway... It probably won't be "easy"... but then I imagine "Being a BEE" isn't easy either!

"Busy Bee"

Well... it's been a fairly "quiet" weekend 'round here... Lilley-Kate caught a "yucky germ" from school and was on the couch most of the weekend (she's feeling better but ended up with a bit of a sniffle)... I've been able to get some Sample Sets done to list on eBay... Nick was away visiting friends at another college in the area... My husband had schoolwork to get done (he will receive a double major in March) in between tending to Lilley-Kate and watching football... the weather has been cooler... our heat "kicked" on twice last night... overall a relaxing weekend... here's a bit of what I've done this weekend... still need to add bows and take auction photos for listing on Wednesday... but wanted to share... in a bit we will settle in for the evening and watch FOODNETWORK The Next IronChef competition... I'm thinking of having my husband build our first fire of the season in the fireplace... but we'll see... :o)

FAVORITE "FOTO" Friday...

This is one of my favorite "fotos"... It was taken on March 2, 2002... I had just came home from the hospital after having Lilley-Kate and Nick had just won 2nd Place in a bowling tournament... our first "family picture" as a family of 4... after the prior couple of days we had had... we were all happy but very tired!

SURVIVOR-China RECAP

So tonight was SURVIVOR night in our household!!! Here's the recap for you SURVIVOR fans out there that may have missed the show tonight!!!

The show opens with the FEI LONG tribe... Courteny is whining about how "JR" (Jean Robert) is always yelling at her and she doesn't like it when people raise their voices at her... She makes the ironic statement that "Jean Robert" "sucks" and he should go... like I said... IRONIC... I am wondering WHEN COURTNEY'S weight (or lack of weight) is going to become an issue... she is a BAG OF BONES!!!

I still LOVE the opening shots for the intro... and those PANDAS frolicking tonight were FABULOUS!!!

ZHAN HU... Poor ZH... they just CANNOT seem to get their act together... most of their rice became moldy (YUCK) and SHEREA and DAVE had a good old shout fest at each other over picking out the good pieces (Um... YUCK AGAIN)... then SHEREA was going to throw away some of the shels that DAVE was saving to take home to "Mommy" and they got all pissy with each other... SHEREA laid around camp and did NOTHING which was making the target on her back grow bigger the longer she "preserved herself for challenges"... Dave started early in the show campaigning against SHEREA (after their fight)...

REWARD CHALLENGE... This was a good one... they had to race with these "chopsticks" carrying a fireball and set off fireworks... first team to set off three fireworks won... the REWARD was a fishing "lesson" and visit from a family... GUESS WHO WON??? Yep... FEI LONG... of course... they sat COURTNEY out of the challenge... they were able to "kidnap" again from the other team and picked DAVE... Jeff gave Dave the "private" clue tube and reminded him to read it in PRIVATE...

FIE LONG... So back at camp Dave acted like a total nutjob hugging everyone and running his mouth about a bunch of nothing... James had to "warn" him about the hugging thing... Courtney said he was a "FREAK"... Dave reveals he is on a "spy mission" (for himself) and looking to make a "tribe to tribe" alliance with someone... The fisherman and his family arrive... OMG... "JR" speaks Mandarin Chinese!!! Who would've thought!!! James is impressed but irritated b/c "JR" is barking out orders (translatingfrom the fisherman) and warns "JR" not to be so bossy... Denise (the LUNCHLADY) gave away a "trade secret"... she said all she does is put FROZEN CHICKEN NUGGETS in the oven (FINALLY someone on the "inside" ADMITS WHERE THE LUCHES COME FROM... the FREEZER!!!) and that the food the fisherman's family cooked was "delisable"... had to laugh at that one!!! Dave read the Clue Tube like some caveman in the woods and decides to give it to TODD (the WEASLE)... WHAT is it about TODD that everyone (but JR) seems to be keen on??? Anyway... gives the clue to TODD (who is now the ONLY PERSON to have ALL THREE CLUES...

IMMUNITY CHALLENGE... another FABULOUS challenge... having to throw those "slingy things" and knock over vases... POOR COURTNEY... I thought she was going to collapse with that armor on... LOL... anyway... it was back and forth... SHEREA knocked down TWO vases with one throw but it wasn't enough... FEI LONG won (again)

ZHAN HU heads to TRIBAL COUNCIL... LOTS of eye rolling... Dave again states that he is a "reluctant leader" but was forced into the position... SHEREA can't keep her mouth shut and gets testy with PG... DAVE ends up going... His departure speech was another self-stroking ego trip in which he states that he hopes they realize that his qualities are priceless...

*** Just a note... there is a DJ in our area that every Thursday morning will do a "SURVIVOR" prediction... well... he is 5 for 5... he has guessed EVERY SURVIVOR right to leave so far... my husband thinks that he is getting some "inside" info somehow***

Can't wait for next Thursday!!!

The BIG RED SIGN...

I'm a bit irritated today... so... For those of you who MAY not know or realize this...

The BIG RED SIGN you see when you are driving??? The one that MAY be at the end of your street... OR at the intersection in town... or MAYBE in a place that you would least expect it... you KNOW the one... it's BIG... RED... usually on a pole (usually)... and has the WHITE LETTERS... S... T... O... P emblazoned acrossed it... It's a TRAFFIC SIGN... MORE SPECIFICALLY a STOP SIGN... It means STOP... and STOP means that ALL FOUR TIRES on your car are NOT MOVING/ROLLING FORWARD... so the "California Stop" doesn't "count" as STOPPING... and approaching an interesection and doing the "quick glance" to make sure no cars are coming (or there isn't a hidden little "copper" around) as you BLOW THROUGH the sign doesn't "count" either... I really can't believe anyone doesn't KNOW WHAT THAT SIGN MEANS... So let's review... BIG READ SIGN with WHITE LETTERS... means STOP!

Tuesday's "TIP"...

Tuesday's are "TIP DAY" at According to Lala... so here ya go!!!

I always "play(ed) pretend" with Lilley-Kate (and Nick when he was little)... Lilley-Kate seems to be my "cautious child" and doesn't really "warm up" to unfamiliar events/situations... so we "Play pretend" when an upcoming event is approaching... for example:

First Dentist Visit (which occured this past Summer... She inherited her Mommy's teeth)... About a month before the visit I got a Story book about visiting the dentist... we would read the book and then we would "play dentist"... I would have her lay back on the couch and open her mouth... I got one of my old surgical masks and put it on (I was the "dentist")... I got a napkin and layed it on her chest... then I would "go through" the whole dental thing... looking at teeth... counting teeth... opening wide... sticking out her tounge... Well... when we actually went to visit the dentist... Lilley-Kate was "comfortable" with everything... so it was a PLEASANT EXPERIENCE!

Another example:

We were invited to attend a semi-formal anniversary brunch... so in anticipation of Lilley Kate attending her first "semi-formal" event we would "play Pretend"... We would play "dress up" and have a tea party... I would teach her to sit up straight in her seat (and also taught her dollies)... we practiced saying "Please" and "Thank You"... and "Nice to meet you"... we even practiced dancing (basic boxstep)... so when we attended the Brunch... Lilley-Kate had a basic understanding of "what" would be happening... She was comfortable in the enviornment and it was a PLEASANT EXPERIENCE!

So my "tip"... "Play Pretend" in anticipation of upcoming events... it'll be a fun way to "teach" your children and spend time together!!!

CrAzY 8s...

Well... CAT was tagged for a little "meme"... and tagged STACEY... but STACEY didn't tag anyone specifically... so I tagged myself (pathetic I know)... I told Stacey to come visit me last night for my Crazy 8s... and she did... but I hadn't put my Crazy 8s up yet (no... not lazy... just busy)... ANYWAY... Here are my CRAZY 8s...

CrAzY 8s
8 Things I'm PASSIONATE About...
1. My Children
2. My Husband
3. Well mannered/behaved Children
4. Reading
5. Doing the RIGHT thing
6. Parenting
7. Music
8. Sweet Mesquite Barbeque Pringles

8 Things I Want To Do Before I Die...
1. Spend a Summer on the coast of Maine
2. Feel comfortable in my own skin
3. Take a cross country trip with my husband and the kids
4. Let the people that mean the most to me KNOW how much I value them
5. Live with the knowledge that I WAS strong enough to break the cycle
6. Visit Europe again
7. Renew our wedding vows
8. Hear "You are a Good Mother/Parent" from my Mother

8 Things I Often Say...
1. Are You Kidding Me?
2. What are you 12?
3. Choppy Chop
4. I Love You
5. Thank You
6. Whatever
7. Fabulous
8. Oh... THAT is attractive

8 Books I've Recently Read...
1. Magic Matt and the Cat (Scholastic Reader Level 1)
2. Eat Love Pray (Elizabeth Gilbert)
3. Night Gardening (Anita Shreve)
4. The Crush (Sandra Brown)
5. Ricochet (Sandra Brown)
6. All He Ever Wanted (Anita Shreve)
7. Reunion (Nora Roberts)
8. Little House Series (I read these every Summer)

8 Songs I Could Listen to OVER and OVER...
1. Safety Dance (Men Without Hats)
2. Lady Marmalade
3. Dreamweaver (Gary Wright)
4. I Only Have Eyes For You (The Flamingos)
5. Beautiful In My Eyes (Joshua Kadison)
6. Wind Beneath My Wings (Bette Midler)
7. Amazing Grace (My Father's Favorite Song)
8. God Bless America

8 Things That Attract Me To My Best Friends
1. Their sense of humors
2. Their loyalty
3. Their honesty
4. Their Kindness
5. Their ability to remind me what is TRULY IMPORTANT
6. Their willingness to love me even with MY flaws
7. Their willingness to let me make the plans (it's that whole "control issue" with me)
8. Their willingness to have ME as THEIR friend

8 Things I've Learned This Past Year...
1. That not everything is BLACK or WHITE (there is "gray matter" to be seen)
2. That as much as I may want someone to be different... they are who they are
3. Everyone has at least ONE good quality to be found
4. Sometimes the "ties that bind" can also end up choking you
5. "It" always gets better
6. I'll never hear "You are a good Parent"
7. To count to TEN and take a deep breath before speaking in anger
8. That I AM A GOOD PARENT

8 People I think Should Do Crazy 8s... OK... so I'm going to take my "que" from Stacey... I don't really know 8 other bloggers well enough to "tag" them... so I'll extend an open invitation to participate if ya want!!!

A GOOD REPORT... See You in 2017!!!

OK... so I went to the dentist this past week (on Tuesday)... I'm kinda ashamed to admit (but not too ashamed since I'm going to admit) that it had probably been 10 years (and that is a conservative guess) since I had visited the dentist... I'm not sure WHY... guess just because I brush my teeth fanatically... haven't had a toothache... so what reason was there to go??? But I went... and got a GOOD REPORT... no cavities... and when the hygenist went to do that "scraping thing" she said... "Oh good... I see that you floss"... I do??? Um... NOPE... not a flosser... (the floss always seems to get stuck in between my teeth and then shreds when I try to pull it out)... but I just kinda sat there quietly and nodded my head... LOL... (yea... I'm SO NOT going to admit to her that I'm not a flosser!!!)... so then the DENTIST comes in and gives my teeth the "once over"..."BLAH BLAH BLAH" is basically what I heard him say... and I kinda nodded my head (he was telling me that I shouldn't wait so long in between appts.)... THEN back to the hygenist for a "polish"... THIS is what happened...

So she starts to polish my teeth... there I sit with my mouth WIDE OPEN and her gloved fingers in my mouth... AND SHE IS ASKING ME QUESTIONS... UM... HEEEEEELLLLLOOOO... How in the HELL am I suppose to answer you??? So... after about the 5th question I kinda *wave* my hand and she removes her fingers and instruments and says "Oh... do you need to SPIT?"... to which I reply... "I don't mean to be a BITCH... but can you NOT talk to me because I can't answer you with your fingers in my mouth" (NOW... keep in mind that my "AUNT FLO" was due any minute... so I had very little patience for ANYONE'S YAPPING let alone HER YAPPING)... You should've seen the look on her face... it was like a LIGHT CAME ON... she says "Oh... I never thought of that... I wonder if other people think that when I am talking to them?" (yea honey... I can pretty much guarentee they do)... "Oh... no... I'm sure they don't... but I just feel bad that I can't answer your questions" (I can be a pretty good liar when I "NEED" to be)... so she finished up the "polish" in SERENE SILENCE (thank goodness!!!)

So I go to "check out" at the desk after I'm done... and the office manager says to me... "Mrs. Lala... would you like to make your 6th month appt. now?"... to which I reply... "Oh... no thanks... I'll just see you in 10 years"...

A Little Word of Advice...

From my Husband...

Don't PASS GAS when you are in an elevator... ESPECIALLY if you have to ride 20 floors before getting out...

HE thought that was VERY APPROPRIATE advice to share at the dinner table tonight!!!...

I wasn't as KEEN on his timing though

"Favorite "FOTO" Friday"...

Today is "Favorite "Foto" Friday at According to Lala... SHARON gave us a Halloween Flashback... thought I would share a Halloween memory too!!!

This is my son Nick when he was 12 (his last year of ToTing)... He wanted something fun and his favorite thing (food) at the time was Pepperoni Pizza... so we made him a slice of Pepperoni Pizza as a costume... He entered 2 Halloween contests but didn't win anything... but he still told me this was his favorite costume ever!

SURVIVOR: China RECAP

So last night was SURVIVOR night!!! So for those SURVIVOR FANS out there... here's a RECAP of last nights episode...

The show opened with Fei Long... and JR (John Robert) snoring like a buzzsaw... climbing up on all the chickies in the tribe (which totally was freaking them out)... JR seems to "favor" Courtney and Leslie to "keep him warm"... Leslie is "creeped out" over the fact that JR wears SILK SHIRTS and NO UNDERWEAR (I found that quite interesting actually... that it creeped her out) ... James and Amanda went to check the "crab trap" and caught one crab... back at camp James wanted to make "stock" with the crab... Courtney agreed so they could flavor the rice... Aarron wasn't for it... but James let Aarron know that he caught the crab... he wanted crab stock... and he was making crab stock whether Aarron liked it or not!... (James also let US know that he had went to Barnes and Noble before shooting started and read survival books...)...

REWARD CHALLENGE- Fei Long sat out Courtney and Todd (to even up the tribes)... It was basically hand to hand combat in which each team of three had to knock the other team of three off the docks... Guys on Guys and Girls on Girls... Dave decides to "get Naked"... don't know if that was a strategy move or he just likes to go "al natural"... but it was CREEPY... the WOMEN were vicious with each other... FEI LONG won (their first challenge win)... they "kidnapped" LESLIE from Zhan Hu (I thought it was strange how she was almost giddy over leaving her tribe) Reward was comfort items... pillows, blankets, and a TARP.. Leslie got a "secret message" tube from Jeff and was given instruvtions to open it IN PRIVATE

Back at the ZHAN HU camp they welcome Leslie... she is relieved to be among other "Christians" and reveals that she feels "out of place" in her own tribe... Man oh Man... Zhan Hu played her like a cheap violin... they put on a good act... and got her to talk until I thought she was going to puke... she was SO HAPPY to feel like she belonged... Dave behaved himself and told Leslie he would keep his clothes on for her... she thanked him profusly and gave him a big ol hug... Leslie read the message in the clue tube and decides to give the clue (which includes the clue Leslie as given) to Jamie... as a "thank you/pay back")... of course Jamie is totally stumped as to what the clues mean (as to the location of the immunity idol)

IMMUNITY CHALLENGE- This was pretty cool... the tribes had to chop through wood and release puzzle pieces... the puzzle pieces were then placed on a tower (having to go in a certian order to complete the puzzle)... I honestly think Courtney was trying to throw the challenge... I mean for pete's sake... she wasn't even TRYING... so FEI LONG gets WAY ahead... Courtney finally gets her puzzle pieces... Aarron, James, and Amanda make up the time and the teams are pretty dead even... there is a bit of a "conflict" with Todd and JR doing their puzzle and ZHAN HU wins IMMUNITY

Courtney and Todd "overhear" James and JR talking strategy... I KNEW JR ws a PIG before... but NOW I am sure... he was pretty CRUDE in what he said... I was surprised with James... although I think he got it COMPLETELY RIGHT about LESLIE... Todd starts working the JR angle with the other tribe members... but Aarron is not going for it and wants Leslie out...

TRIBAL COUNCIL- Courtney makes it very clear that she is singled out and always sat out of challenges because she is the "weakest" and doesn't think it is fair... JR feels he may be a target for some of the things he says and his lack of participation in camp... Leslie gives the little speech on how she admires the OTHER TRIBE because they have "heart"... and that is what her tribe is lacking... LESLIE ends up going... Her departing speech was again as baffling as her... she contributed her leaving to God wanting her home... although she didn't understand why...

Can't wait until next week!!!

Awaiting a "Visitor"...

UGH... well... My "Aunt Flo" is scheduled to arrive ANYTIME... and can I TELL YOU I can't wait... I have such a headache that I feel like my head is going to BLOW OFF... I've eaten a whole "tube" of Barbecue PRINGLES (they are the reduced fat... but still... I ATE THE WHOLE TUBE!!!)... I feel like the character "EGGERT" off MIB... last night I SERIOUSLY thought about putting a pillow over my husbands face because his BREATHING was so "LOUD"... and I told him last night IF he kept looking at me out of the corner of his eye I would punch him a GOOD ONE... I have a rumblie tumblie tummy... I've had 2 "man days" in a ROW... I've taken MORE TYLENOL than any responsible adult should admit to taking... and have asked EVERYONE to stay at arms length (it's that "personal space" thing)... and I am TIRED... I don't mind the visit from "Aunt Flo"... usually within a HALF-HOUR of her arrival all is right again in my world... The headache that has been building the past four days dissappears... Although like any "company" I get a bit irritated with her visit after about the 3rd day (but she's usually on her way to her next destination in 5-7 days)... we have a love/hate relationship Aunt "Flo" and I... but hey... probably once I get too old for her to visit anymore I will really end up missing her in some weird way... UGH... I am SO FTS!!!! I just wish "Aunt Flo" would stop dillying and get here quick!!!!

Toying With A Decision...

OK... since the "announcement" the other night that Lilley-Kate made at the dinner table I have been TOYING (and mind you just kinda IMAGINING) with the idea of "going natural"... although I have been coloring my hair for WELL OVER 20 years... it's kinda getting a bit tiring... then TODAY I read THIS on the computer... Hmmmmm... is it a SIGN??? I've read and REREAD the article... UGH... I think I'll TOY AROUND with it a bit longer... maybe another 5 years?... but I am definitely going to read her book!

TAG... I'm "IT"...

STACEY has "tagged" me for "5 Things You Don't Know About Me"... since I'm kinda "new" to this whole "tagging" thing it shouldn't be TOO HARD right???... Let's see...

1. I'm am ambidextris... naturally a "southpaw"... I was raised by right-handed parents who thought it was easier (and it was "back in the day") to just have me learn everything right handed... so I do EVERYTHING RIGHT-HANDED but WRITE

2. I don't easily forgive

3. I'm taller than my FIL (who is 5'1") AND my youngest BIL (who is 5'3" and NO he's not 10 years old... he's 37)

4. I'm not as "thick-skinned" as people think I am

5. My favorite football team is whichever one has the "PRETTIEST" uniform

WHEW... that was harder than I thought it would be... anyway... THANKS Stacey!!! I don't know THAT many other "bloggers" yet... so I'm not quite comfortable tagging anyone else... but I appreciate you choosing me to participate!!!