Favorite "Foto" Friday...

This is one of my FAVORITE "fotos" of my son Nick... it was taken in 1995 at my Father's Retirement Ceremony from the Coast Guard (30 years)... Nick was 7 years old... We were living in Richmond VA. at the time and saw my parents frequently... Nick and my Dad have always been great "buddies" (Nick was the only grandchild for 14 years)... Nick loved wearing my Dad's hat because it had lots of "scrambled eggs" (oak leaf motifs embroidered in gold) on the brim... I remember on this day Nick was having a ball talking to all the "Army" guys (at this age ANY military person was an "Army Guy" to Nick)... Even though the years have passed and Nick has grown up he and my Father remain great friends!

SURVIVOR: China RECAP

Tonight was SURVIVOR night!!! And what a night it was!!!

Zhan Hu... Spent most of the show making a firepit... well... not all of Zhan Hu... just a few... the others spent their time WHINING about being hungry... Dave (the "reluctant" leader) tried to delegate some "tasks" to the other members of the tribe... but "poor" Ashley (the easily overwhelmed multitask challenged WWE Diva) couldn't even handle breaking up a few sticks... They were totally out of sync at the competition and lost the luxury of winning fishing gear and a fishing boat... although they DID "win" a totally flooded camp... but a totally DRY firepit (Dave was SO PROUD of himself)... what I wondered after the challenge and return to camp is WHY they didn't move up to "dry land"... because it was only a few steps away??? Jamie was "kidnapped" after the challenge and had to go spend time with the Fei Long tribe until the next challenge... she was given a "secret message/clue" to a hidden immunity idol in the Fei Long camp and had to choose someone to give it to before she rejoined Zhan Hu at the Immunity Challenge...

Fei Long... An early alliance was formed between Amanda, Todd the Weasel and Aaron (leader of Fei Long)... "JR" lays around the entire show... and argues with Aaron (who is getting sick of "JR's" laziness)... "JR" reveals that he is a "bad boy" in the "Poker Community" and he is using a "poker bluff strategy" for the time being... James (the gravedigger) continues this episode pushing down the bamboo trees WITH HIS BARE HANDS!!! Leslie (the "not religious" Christian Radio Host) is feeling sick... she misses reading her bible and knows if she could just read it she would feel better... Fei Long wins the 1st challenge (mud wrestling basically) gets fishing gear and a fishing boat... and "kidnaps" Jamie from Zhan Hu until the next challenge... JR and Aaron misbehave like 12 year olds in front of Jamie (although she acts like she's not listening)... Jamie reads the directions in the secret message and decides to give the immunity idol clue to "non religious" Leslie (who then thinks the clue is a gift from God to make her feel better)... SILLY SILLY Leslie decides to share the info with WEASEL TODD because she feels she needs to "share" the info with someone "witty" in the tribe... DUMB DUMB DUMB Leslie...

The Immunity Challenge I think is one of the best yet on SURVIVOR... I loved the "story log" concept and of course Zhan Hu just couldn't pull out a win... although they were ahead for a split second... "Leader" Dave tuckers out and causes them to fall behind and ultimately lose the Challange... Fie Long wins... running like a well oiled machine (lead by James and Aaron)... did you happen to SEE James grab that story log all by himself and crash through the GONG??? FABULOUS!!!

Tribal Council turned into "Tribal Therapy" headed by Jeff... Dave the "Hard Worker" and Ashley the "overwhelmed multitasking challenged WWE Diva" on the block... suprisingly PG kept her mouth shut... Ashley ends up going home...

*** Just a little side note... I KNEW who was going home tonight... quite by accident... one of my husband's coworkers went onto Ashley's website... in it she "messes up" and made a "SPOILER STATEMENT" that she hated being the 2nd person voted off of SURVIVOR... ASHLEY ASHLEY ASHLEY... not a smart thing to do... and Shame on you Mark Burnett for not catching the little spoiler!!! ***

Ashley made a parting statement... calling Dave a "tool"... WTH does THAT mean???

Can't wait for next Thursday... hopefully James will push down some more bamboo trees!!!

"MY" (New) Ringtone...

OK... so I am NOT a cellphone user... I will probably go kicking and screaming into cellphone usership at SOME point... but for today... I am PROUDLY "cell free"... BUT... ALL of my friends... Son... AND Husband are cellphone carriers and users (even my nephew in 8th GRADE carries/uses a cellphone... but that is another story for another time)...

I typically talk to my husband once a day while he is at work... I call his CELLPHONE... since he works in a SECURE LOCATION it is easier to call him on a non-secure line... so the cellphone it is... anyway... so I call him yesterday... dial the number... and that sexy automated voice chick comes on with the shpeel "Please hold while the party you have dialed is being reached"... and the ringtone music comes on... THAT is when I am thinking "WHAT THE HELL IS THIS???"... My husband has FERGIE-BIG GIRLS DON'T CRY as a RINGTONE???!!! THAT is SO GAY... (don't get all righteous... it's what I thought)... anyway... so my husband answers... and I IMMEDIATELY say to him "What the HELL kind of ringtone is THAT?"... he immediately starts laughing... and tells me that every person in his "phonebook" has a different ringtone (that way he knows who is calling by the music)... Hmmmmm... OH... OK... I'm thinking... "but you are a MAN... WHY would you have FERGIE as one of your RINGTONES??? And WHY did you pick THAT for MY RINGTONE???"... After my husband stops laughing again he TRIES to justify why he picked FERGIE for "my ringtone"... and BTW did a HORRIBLE job trying to convince me of his reason... so I say to him "OMG... that is SO LAME... I don't want FERGIE as "my ringtone"... and I hope the guys at work are SO MAKING FUN OF YOU!!! Because if I was a guy... I would so be MAKING FUN OF YOU"... so we have a quick chat like usual and hang up...

A bit later I get an e-mail from my husband asking me to call him on his cellphone... WHAT??? And have to listen to THAT RINGTONE again... but hey... if my husband wants to be made fun of... then I'll call... so I dial... and that sexy automated voice chick comes on with the shpeel "Please hold while the party you have dialed is being reached"... and MY RINGTONE COMES ON...

She's a very kinky girl... the kind you don't take home to Mother...

OMG... I LOVE "MY NEW RINGTONE" !!!!!!

A MEMORY... And A REMINDER...

It started when I was 15 years old... I was sitting in Ms. Sawyer's Typing Class... we had just done an exercise of typing oral dictation... and were handing our papers forward... and I feel this "tap tap" on my shoulder... I turn around and the girl behind me (who I didn't "Know"... but "knew of") says "Do you know you have GRAY HAIR?"... OH GOD... I KNEW it was coming... sometime in my future... but NOW??? In Typing Class??? So I responded "Um... I have GRAY HAIR?" (trying to act non-chalant) "YEP... I counted FIVE GRAY HAIRS on the back of your head... but they are hardly noticeable"... OH REALLY... well they must have been NOTICEABLE ENOUGH because YOU saw them... I spent the rest of the day at school obsessing about the "hardly noticeable" 5 GRAY HAIRS on the back of my head... and from THAT DAY FORWARD I started "coloring" my hair... PREFERENCE by LOREAL Color 5MB

Last night we were sitting at the kitchen table... and Lilley-Kate says "Mommy... you have WHITE hair"... I looked at her dumbfounded... then looked at my husband and son (Nick)... who are TRYING not to bust out LAUGHING... "I have WHITE HAIR?" I ask her... "Yep... right here (and she proceeds to point to each side of her head around her ears) and right here"... "Thank you for telling Mommy" and we continue dinner and THEN Lilley Kate says "Mommy... don't be sad... it's NOT REALLY WHITE... just A LITTLE WHITE" ( I THINK this was her way of telling me it was NOTICEABLE... but not REALLY NOTICEABLE)... "OH good" (I say sounding relieved) "Because if it was REALLY WHITE I would be worried"... So last night I colored my hair (for probably the millionth time since that afternoon in Typing Class)... PREFERENCE by LOREAL Color 1/2 5MB and 1/2 4 ... I don't have the heart to tell Lilley-Kate that she probably won't be able to "escape" the "white hair"... it runs in the family...

Tuesday's "TIP"...

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

When my son was little it was his "job" to set the table for dinner (and Lilley Kate is currently learning the "art" of table setting)... sometimes it can be confusing to kids (and some adults too) as to WHICH side of the plate to put the silverwear... Here is a little "trick" I came up with...

Placing the plate in front of you on the table... the FORK goes on the LEFT (fork and left both have 4 letters)... The KNIFE goes on the RIGHT (knife and right both have 5 letters) and the SPOON goes on the RIGHT (spoon and right both have 5 letters)... once your kids can remember that they can EASILY set the table!!!

Have a great Tuesday!!!

May I Have This Dance?

Both my husband and I will be watching DANCING WITH THE STARS this season (as we have every season)... Here's one reason why...

One of the most romantic things my husband has EVER done for/with me is taken Ballroom Dancing lessons... now... if you KNEW my husband you'd know why this meant so much to me at the time... (remember Elaine "dancing" at the wedding reception on Sienfeld? Well... picture THAT in a male version... OK... NOW you have an idea... NOT a "natural born dancer")... growing up a "proper Southern young lady" I was taught at COTILLION how to do a proper waltz... one of my FAVORITE ballroom dances... and I had always told my husband of my "desire" to waltz with him... so unbeknownst to me (until he came home one day and "announced" very proudly) he signed us up for Ballroom Dancing Lessons!!! It was fun (and at times funny)... and he tried SO HARD... even taking the time at home to practice... we would move the kitchen table and dance on the linoleum floor (the closest thing to a dance floor in our house at the time)... surprisingly.. he really got "into it" and at one point said to me "This is kinda fun" (OMG... did he just SAY THAT???)... we took Ballroom Dancing Lessons for 2 1/2 years... we learned to waltz together... and occassionally he will still take me in his arms and we will waltz around our kitchen on the linoleum floor... and he will look at me and say "This is STILL KINDA FUN"...

Unfortunately due to his work schedule the lessons had to stop... but hopefully one day soon we can get back to the "Ballroom"... until then... we'll just dance the waltz on the linoleum floor...

Yes! I DO Sew...

I've been asked a couple of few times whether or not I sew (I think it is the result of visiting a few of the FABULOUS sewing blogs out there)... Well... yes... I DO sew thank you for asking... mostly I APPLIQUE on pre-made garments... I have sold my "designs" on eBay... (under the seller ID Lilleybugglane)... and to friends around town... I remember sewing as a little girl... my Mother would give me her scraps from her "Stretch and Sew" projects and I would make clothes for my Barbies and little pillows that I would give away... when my son was little I would sew for him... and when my daughter was born I started sewing again for her... so I thought I would share some of my "designs"... and answer a frequently asked question... "Do you sew?"... I WISH I sewed "better"... and I wish I was a bit more adventerous... but I'm pretty satisfied with what I can do... so yes... I DO sew!!! :o)

Learning "THE Look"...

I am trying to teach Lilley-Kate my disapproving look... like when she misbehaves... or is "ugly" (not nice) to someone... I give her "THE Look"... you know the one... probably the one very similar to the one we all had growing up... right? Well... there are times when Lilley-Kate can read that look from the next room... and other times when I takes her about 10 minutes to realize I am giving her the look... Just a bit ago she was "ugly" (not nice) to the dog... Abbie was laying in the Living Room... snoring like a buzzsaw (LOL) and Lilley-Kate walked in and said "Abbie... get into your kennel... you are in my way"... so I go into the Living Room (as Abbie is walking OUT of the Living Room) and stand there giving "THE Look" to Lilley-Kate... she looks straight at me and then away... setting up her Barbies... occassionally looking back at me (yes... I haven't moved and I am still giving her "THE Look"...)... she looks back... I'm still there... the Barbie's are ready for tea... she looks back... I'm STILL there with the SAME LOOK ... finally she sighs... gets up... goes into the Family Room (where Abbie is now laying... again snoring like a buzzsaw) and kneels down and whispers "Sorry Abbie" (Abbie responds by thumping her tail twice on the floor... but doesn't even open her eyes!!! )... Lilley-Kate comes back into the Living Room and says "Mommy... I told Abbie I'm Sorry... you can go now"... to which I respond "Thank You" and turn around and leave the room... the Barbie's sound like they are having a fun tea... I think I'll go join in the fun!

Two Steps Behind...

I hate it when I wake up late... UGH... the whole rest of the day I feel "off beat"... kinda like I am two steps behind everyone else... it happened today... my alarm was set for 7AM... as it usually is... well... I "jolt" awake and look at my clock and it read 8:15AM... WHAAAAAAAAT??? I have 45 min. to get showered, dressed, get Lilley-Kate ready for school and get her TO SCHOOL on time... well... I FOCUSED FOCUSED FOCUSED... and got her to school ON TIME!!! But... the whole rest of my day has felt like I have been running to catch up... TGIF!!!

Favorite "Foto" Friday...

Friday's will be "Favorite "Foto" Day" at "According To Lala"... I will share photos that are my personal favorites ...

I love this photo of my daughter Lilley-Kate... she was 2 1/2 at the time and just so sweet... this photo was taken at my In-Laws house on Father's Day... I remember she was trying to peer into the fishpond next to the porch... but couldn't quite see over the railing... I said her name and she looked at me and I snapped the picture... I loved it so much I had little wallet hardcopies made... turned them into magnets and gave them to all the relatives...

SURVIVOR... First Impressions... First Episode

TONIGHT was the night!!! SURVIVOR CHINA premiered!!! WOOHOO!!!! Thougth I would give you MY impressions on the show and some of the SURVIVORS... Please feel free to politely contribute by leaving a comment in the comment section... I will recap after every episode... :o) (Yes... I am a TOTAL SURVIVOR FREAK!!!)

First of all LOVED the opening Images... Glad they didn't change the theme music too much...

Thought the SURVIVORS looked a little "too dressed up" when they were heading to meet Jeff... (we would later find out that one was actually BRALESS... as she "announced" to the group when Jeff told them they wouldn't be taking their luggage... DUH)

Buddhist Ceremony... Jeff ASSURED them that it was NOT a WORSHIP ceremony... but that the CHINESE PEOPLE wanted them to feel WELCOME... so they would INCLUDE them in the ceremony... OF COURSE... COURTNEY... the waitress from NYC was disrespectful and complained the whole time... BUT... the SHOCKER was LESLIE... the CHRISTIAN RADIO HOST who WALKED OUT of the ceremony quoting a Bible Verse... because SHE felt it was a WORSHIP ceremony... when she was questioned about it by Jeff her response (and I quote) ' I am not a religious personn but I do have a realtionship with Jesus Christ and I will not but my face to the floor for anyone but him... I just felt it was worshipping'... OK LESLIE... You're NOT religious??? Then WHY are you a Christian Radio Host... and lets just HOPE your "bosses" at the station weren't watching the show *** Let me say at THIS point... IF you have sound beliefs and are SECURE in what YOU believe... then you should not be afraid of other "religions"... and even if you disagree with someone elses religion... you should still be RESPECTFUL****

Tribe Names... Zhan Hu and Fei Long

Thoughts on some of the SURVIVORS:
Denise... the lunchlady... MULLETS are OUT
Chicken... Chicken farmer from VA... did you NOTICE that he pulled a CELLPHONE from his vest and gave it to Jeff before leaving the temple??? (run it back on your TiVo if you missed it)
James... Gravedigger from Louisianna... did you see him PUSHING down the bamboo trees with his BARE HANDS?
Jean Robert... Professional Poker Player... "HEY JR... HIKE UP YOUR BRITCHES... PLEASE!"
Todd... Flight Attendant... WEASLE
Ashley... WWE Pro-Wrestling Diva (LOL... yea... she looked like a DIVA dry heaving and laying in the dirt)... HUGE boobies (which I think are what saved her from going home tonight)
Frosti... Athlete... YOUNGEST Survivor (age 20)... a bit full of himself (WHO the hell would actually want someone to call them FROSTI???)

I thought it was HILARIOUS how by the challenge they were all pretty much down to their underwear... WHY would you wear FISHNETS... little KITTEN HEELS... and NO BRA coming onto SURVIVOR??? The exchange between JR and Todd was a bit "odd"... when JR questioned Todd's occupation and then JR says he thinks Todd is "fishy"... INTERESTING exchange between James and Leslie... LOVED his response to her question "What do you do?"... "I bury people"... Felt a bit "sorry" for James in the little "interview" when he said he'll have trouble strategizing... thinking that was so far from the truth...

Fei Long ends up going to Tribal... they decide to vote out KNOWLEDGE and AGE and keep the BIG BOOBED PUKING WRESTLING DIVA... DUMB DUMB DUMB... so Chicken is the first to go... and DAVE and PG as leaders??? UM... ok... like THAT is going to work... thinking not so much... IMO... Fei Long is in trouble...

So... there you have it... my notes from the first episode of SURVIVOR:CHINA...

Already looking forward to next week!!!

THURSDAY NIGHT TV...

You KNOW where I'll be EVERY Thursday starting tonight??? On the couch with my stack of magazines watching TV!!!!

SURVIVOR (CBS) starts tonight!!! WOOOOOOOHOOOOOO!!! I'm anticiapting this season to be THE BEST one yet!!! I think both my husband and son would do fabulous as contestants on SURVIVOR... my Husband because of his military and survival skills... my son because he LOVES to try new things... and both my husband and son are FABULOUS strategists... I wouldn't mind being on SURVIVOR... but I'd want them to build me a little hut like Ginger and MaryAnn had on Gilligan's Island first...

The First 48 (A&E)... I LOVE watching crime shows... and especially the "medical aspects" of crimes... this show can be a bit graphic... I find it very interesting the process of solving crimes and how the clues and leads that are found direct the detectives to solving the crime

Dallas SWAT (A&E)... Again... the whole "men in uniform" thing... LOVE IT... PLUS of course there is RICH EMBERLIN... I love to see how they break down doors (although the Dallas SWAT could use some practice with the 3 point pull... they can never seem to get that right) and go storming in to catch the badguys... I'll tell ya... if I was a criminal... and Dallas SWAT came a callin'... RICH would definitely be the one I'd want stormin' through my front door! TONIGHT will be especially good... because a new SERGEANT is coming into SWAT and Clagget is retiring (I just hope they don't attempt the 3 point pull)...

I've already sent out my "mass e-mail" to all my friends... NO PHONE CALLS... unless of course it is an EMERGENCY (I have an "emergency ring")... then of course I will answer the phone!

My Wednesday Night "Hotties"...

OK... I admit it... I LOVE watching television... typically once Lilley Kate is in bed and the house is straightened up I literally PLANT myself on the couch (usually with a stack of magazines to browse through) and spend the rest of the night "relaxing" (watching television)... and NOW that the new seasons have started... WEDNESDAYs are one of my FAVORITE TV nights...

KITCHEN NIGHTMARES (FOX Network)... LOVE(D) it (first episode aired last night)... I especially LOVE Chef RAMSEY... I'm not only a sucker for a man in uniform (my husband will atest to THAT fact)... I'm also a sucker for a man with a BRITISH accent... I was a faithful Hell's Kitchen watcher last season... Last night was "Classic" Gordon... I LOVE everything about him!

DINNER IMPOSSIBLE (FoodNetwork)... LOVE it... not only because of the whole "James Bond" show format... but because of Chef ROBERT IRVINE... LOVE HIM and the British accent is just the GRAVY on the top! I mean who wouldn't LOVE to have a BUFF Chef cooking for THIER event???

So... Wednesday Night's I have deemed my British "Hottie" night... of course... my husband spent last night walking around the house sporting a "British" accent... but he sounded more like Austin Powers than Chef Ramsey or Irvine!

Does It Make Me "Special"?

I read an interesting article today about the "death" of certain languages... in the article there was a little poll... the question was... How Many Languages Can/Do You Speak? A) 1 B) 2 C) 3 D) 4 or more...

Well... I speak English fluently (the language I grew up speaking)... I "speak" Sign-Language (another language I grew up "speaking" (although I am a much "better" lipreader)... I should say at this point that I am hearing impaired due to inherited deafness in my family)... I also speak fluent Spanish (I started taking Spanish in school in 6th grade)... and I am "fluent" in "conversational" German... I am also "fluent" in "Pig Latin" (although that is only an "official" language to those that know it... mainly parents... LOL)... and I can say these three phrases "I am an American"... "Where is the American Embassy"... and "I Need a Lawyer" in Dutch/Swedish, Italian, Turkish, Portugese and French (I traveled in Europe and was required to know those three phrases in each country I visited)... so... I clicked on "D" and hit submit...

Well... come to find out... that puts my in a very small category... less than 4% of the population of the United States speak 4 or more languages ... if you don' t count ENGLISH it still put me into 16% of the population (that spoke 3 languages)...

Does it make me feel "SPECIAL"?... Um... not particularly... just kinda nerdy (which most of my friends tell me I am)...

Know Your Strengths...

One of my Favorite little sayings is...

"To Be Happy... Don't DO Whatever you Like... LIKE Whatever You Do"

I'm a firm believer in "knowing your strengths"... doing "what you know"... I think the KEY to being TRULY successful and Happy... is finding something you are (really) good at... and enjoy... and building off of that...

If you have a "knack" at having great parties and love all the prep... you'd probably be a GREAT Party/Events Planner... you probably wouldn't make a great heart surgeon

If you LOVE to read and LOVE books... you'd probably make a GREAT Librarian or Literacy Teacher... you probably wouldn't make a great mechanic (unless you had a GREAT book to tell you how to be a mechanic... LOL)

If you LOVE to cook... you'd probably make a great chef... or caterer... you probably wouldn't make a great interpreter

If you have a "knack" for decorating... you'd probably make a great interior designer... you probably wouldn't make a great seal trainer

I know quite a few people that really don't like their jobs... I mean REEEEEEEAAAALLLY don't like their jobs... they hate going to work every day and doing what they do for a living... I have heard MANY of them say (in conversation)... "You know... if I could do ---- and make a living at it I would be totally happy"... I always feel sad when I hear people say that...

I also know some SAHMs that really don't like... and I mean REEEEEEEAAAAALLLY don't like... that they have "given up" their (professional) careers to raise their children... they feel like "second class citizens" amongst their "professional" friends... I always try to tell them that being a stay-at-home Mom is one of the MOST-IMPORTANT JOBS on earth... I mean WHAT could be MORE IMPORTANT than raising GOOD HUMAN BEINGS? And if you really stop to think about it... it's only temporary (if you stay home until your kids are in/start school)... and NOW (during the time that you are a SAHM) is the PERFECT time to "build on your strengths"... find out what you're good at... REALLY LIKE... and make it work for you...

I am Happy... not only because I "do what I like"... but I TRULY "like what I do"...

Tuesday's TIP...

It's another "Tuesday's Tip" at "According to Lala"... here's one for all the Moms of "little ones" (and not so little ones)...

We are all for giving our children choices (me included)... BUT... I am not for giving children unlimited choices... so here is how I approach "choices"...

Give your child no more than 3 choices... BUT... make those choices choices that YOU would be alright with (nomatter which one they choose)... for example... For snack after school I usually offer her three choices like cut up apple... cinnamon toast... or cheese and crackers... so nomatter which my daughter chooses... I'm ok with any of the three... and my daughter feels good because she got to make a choice as to what she wanted for snack... another example... when we are going to take a little carride... I give my daugther the choice of taking books... coloring book and crayons... or her favorite little Kelly Dolls... see? Any of those three would be fine with me... but SHE GETS TO MAKE THE CHOICE...

I've used this little approach with both my children... revising the choices as they have gotten older (for example... when my son was younger he could either do his homework in his room... or at the kitchen table... he could mow the lawn before OR after dinner... ect.)

Give your children choices... BUT... LIMIT the choices you give... they'll be happy... and so will you!

To Whom It May Concern...

Hello... please let me take a minute of your time to tell you about my day... I went shopping... for my 5 YEAR OLD... and can I tell you that I am DISGUSTED in the selections that YOUR store/YOUR buyers and YOUR designers are offering for my 5 YEAR OLD to wear.... I understand being on the "cutting edge of fashion"... but she is 5 YEARS OLD... NOT 15... NOT 20... NOT 25... 5... she's a LITTLE GIRL... a LITTLE GIRL who should NOT be wearing a shirt that says on the front "I Know Your Boyfriend's Phone Number" (and she won't because I DIDN'T BUY IT)... She also should NOT be wearing terrycloth sweat/trackpants that say "CUTE" across the bum (and she won't because I DIDN'T BUY THOSE EITHER!)... I also DIDN'T BUY the sheer peasant top you offered with the satin camisole underneath... OR the jeans that had the FAUX LEATHER chaps on the front... OR the LOW-CUT jeans (the ONLY ones BTW I could find that had NO EMBELLISHMENTS on them)... OR the brown leather Mary Janes that had a 2" heel on them (and I know b/c I carry one of those little tape measures around with me in my purse...)... OR the little pink top that had a heart that said "Meet Me After School" on the front!!! And just so you know... if any of your employees call you and tell you that there was a "crazy woman" in YOUR store today "bitching" about the clothes you are carrying... THAT WOULD BE ME... because I complained to EACH and EVERY employee in those particular stores... I went to a total of 5 stores today... and THREE of those stores (2 actually being MAJOR DEPARTMENT STORES) had NOTHING I would even CONSIDER putting on my 5 YEAR OLD LITTLE GIRL.... So... The next time you have one of your little "buyers meetings"... you MIGHT want to keep in mind those of us who DO NOT have ANY DESIRE to dress our CHILDREN as prostitots... and until you realize THAT... I WILL NOT be giving you one red cent... although sadly I do not think it will change your selection/styles that you offer... at least I will KNOW I am doing the RIGHT THING... Thank you for your time... Sincerely... "Mrs. Lala"... P.S. OH... and Start carrying MORE PETITES... not everyone has an inseam that is a MILE long!

Happy Birthday Abbie...

We are celebrating "our Abbie's" 10th birthday... Born today in 1997 she was my son's Christmas gift that year... An English Labrador her stature is a bit shorter than a Standard Labrador (breed requirements are that her legs are no longer than 12")... She has been a constant companion... friend to all... and the BEST DOG we ever could've wanted... HAPPY BIRTHDAY ABBIE... WE LOVE YOU!!!

Nipping It In The Bud...

This little note arrived home in my daughter's school folder today...

Dear Parents/Guardians,
If your son/daughter is planning on sending invitations to school for a birthday party please send enough invitations for the ENTIRE class. If every classmate is not invited, invitations will be sent back home with your child. Thank you for your cooperation!
Educationally Yours- Teacher's Name

KUDDOS to my daughter's teacher... for "nipping" a very "sensitive" situation in the bud... I have very strong feelings about this... I DO NOT think that invitations (for ANY event not related to school) should be given out in school PERIOD... whether every student is invited or not... I have been the parent of a child that was the only one in the class NOT to receive an invitation to a party (when my son was in 2nd Grade) and came home totally HEARTBROKEN... was his invitation "lost" in the shuffle? Did he just get "overlooked" for an invite? Did his invitation mistakenly get given to someone else? Nope... come to find out the child having the party "just didn't like" my son... so he wasn't invited...

Last year for my daughter's birthday... I invited 6 little girls from her pre-school class... the 6 little girls that she played with daily in class... knew their names... and had a "social relationship" with (WHY would I invite someone to her party that she didn't even "KNOW") ... I sent the invitations THROUGH THE MAIL... and didn't discuss it at "pick up" (when all the Mom's would stand around and chat waiting for the kids in the afternoon)... I felt that since the event was happening "outside" of school... I would invite who my daughter was comfortable with and that would be alright... and it was... It was an "out of school" event... that stayed "out of school"...

My daughter has been in school a total of 10 days so far... 10 days... I have asked her since day one the name of ANY of her classmates... she has told me 2 (a boy and a girl)...

Am I being a Freak? Is it weird that I would wonder HOW WELL little kids could know each other in 10 days? Is it weird that I would have a "problem" buying a gift for a kid that my daughter may not even "know"? Am I weird to wonder if the "invitations sent home" included one for my daughter or was she one of the excluded ones? Am I weird to be thankful that the teacher had the foresight to "nip this situation in the bud"?

I Believe...

I BELIEVE...

In God...

I am a GOOD PARENT

In being NICE

In PLEASE and THANK YOU

In saying "I'm Sorry"

In admitting mistakes

In Angels

In setting a GOOD EXAMPLE

In making the life of ONE PERSON easier EVERY DAY

In standing up for what you believe in

In Knowing WHEN to speak and when NOT to speak

In Fairytales

In Acknowledging GOOD DEEDS

In Being a Friend

In PARENTING

In America

In Marriage

In Profiling

In knowing WHEN to mind your OWN business and WHEN to mind SOMEONE else's business

In being mindful of words spoken in anger... they MAY be the last words you say or the last words someone else hears

In Saying "I Love You"

In setting Limits

In Family

In LOVE

What's So Wrong About That?...

People are constantly telling me with an exasperated *sigh* "Lala" you have such HIGH EXPECTATIONS"... um... not really...

Is EXPECTING my child/children to sit quietly in church during the 30-40 minutes the pastor is preaching too high of a expectation?

Is EXPECTING when I send out invitations that require an RSVP that the invited guest(s) RSVPs too high of a expectation?

Is EXPECTING someone to arrive ON TIME to a function (party/christening/brunch) too high of a expectation? (OK... in my HUSBAND'S family yes... that is why THEIR INVITATIONS are timed a HALF HOUR earlier than everyone elses)

Is EXPECTING a "Thank you" when you do something nice for someone too high of an expectation?

Is EXPECTING that when I ask a question (to a person that is SUPPOSE to be KNOWLEDGEABLE in the subject/field) I get an accurate answer too high of an expectation?

Is EXPECTING that when I am "bumped into" by someone that they say "Excuse me" too high of an expectation?

Is EXPECTING that "you" KNOW what the term "dressy casual" means too high of an expectation?

Um... Noooooo... Not in MY BOOK it's not... BUT... I DO know WHEN my expectations ARE TOO HIGH...

When I would expect that my Father-in-Law would NOT wear a BRIGHT ORANGE t-shirt that says "CLEVELAND SUCKS" on it in BIG BLACK LETTERS to the Christmas Eve Dinner table... (of course I would also expect him NOT to roast the Thanksgiving Turkey SHIRTLESS either... but that has happened too...)

When I would expect that my Sister-In-Law would thank me HERSELF for the little "pamper package" that I sent to her during her pregnancy... (Instead of having to hear how "She's never had anyone do something like that for her... so she doesn't know HOW to respond"... You're JOKING right?)

When I would expect that the employee at WENDY's taking my order UNDERSTOOD the language I was speaking to her in (that would be ENGLISH)... (and she didn't speak Spanish or German either... because I tried those... but I DID get my Jr. Cheeseburger Deluxe thanks to the ENGLISH speaking guy manning the drink machine!)

When I would expect that the person in front of me at the traffic light was paying MORE attention to driving than the conversation they are having on their cellphone... (*BEEP BEEP* Doesn't get any GREENER honey)

Expectations are a funny thing... some people have VERY HIGH expectations for every occassion and event ( and are usually always disappointed in the end)... and some people have NO expectations of anything (and are rarely disappointed)... I have expectations... EXPECTATIONS of MYSELF (my family) and OTHERS... What's so wrong about that?

I Still Remember...

I remember like it was yesterday... the memories SO VIVID in my mind... September 11, 2001... the PERFECT day... the temp was mild... the sky SO BLUE and clear... I was just walking out the door to meet my husband for a much anticipated Drs. appointment... We were anxious to find out if we had finally been successful and were going to welcome another member into our family... I had my keys in hand and was heading toward the door to leave... and the phone rang... I glanced at my watch and decided to answer it (I had almost 45 minutes before my appointment time)... it was my sister... "Hello" I said... "Lala" turn on the TV... turn on the TV" my sister literally screamed into the phone... "Ok... what's going on" I ask heading for the nearest television... by this time my sister was crying "Turn on your television... turn it on... OMG"... just as I turn on the television... the second plane hit and I hear a startled cry on the other end of the phone... "Oh My God... WHAT is happening?" my sister sobbed... I couldn't answer her... I just stood with the phone to my ear... transfixed on the image on the telelvision... not really believing WHAT I had just seen... was it REAL? I remember getting the chills... my WHOLE body tingled... a huge lump in my throat... and intense sadness came over me... I stood staring at the television... not really HEARING what the reports were saying... just STARING... quiet... just intense quiet followed... finally I whispered "WHAT has just happened... WHAT has just happened?"... my sister and I spent the next half hour together on the phone... staring at the televisions we were watching... I could hear my sister crying... and know we just kept whispering "Oh my God"... not really to each other... just because we didn't know what else to say... more horror and sadness would happen within the next hour... but my sister and I would not be connected through the phoneline... I had hung up with her promising to call after my appt.

My husband was not able to make the appointment as planned... he was working in a Federal Building and had been put on alert for recall that morning... when I arrived at the Drs. he had left me a message that he was SAFE and would talk to me later... the receptionist made it a point to tell me that my husband had wanted me to know he loved me very much... She hesitantly handed me a slip of paper... I looked down at it... she had written the date/time and my husband's message WORD for WORD... knowing where he worked and what he did I THINK she thought it was important that I get the message exactly as my husband had given it to her (I still have that slip of paper)...

The waiting room at the Drs. was QUIET... people kept leaving and going out to their cars to listen to the radio... and would come back in and tell everyone what was going on... Another plane went down in PA... the Pentagon has been hit... I sat quietly clutching the message from my husband wondering HOW this could be happening...

We got the news that we had been desperately waiting for... we were in fact going to welcome another member into our family... something we had been waiting many years for... on that day... a day so filled with SADNESS and Horror... I felt a HAPPINESS that could not be described

I remember that day... September 11, 2001... like it was yesterday... and the days that followed... the news reports... the images... the stories... the feelings I felt...

Today it is raining... a gentle rain coming from a gray sky... it is QUIET... in the house... and neighborhood... I have dug out that message from my husband that the receptionist gave me... as I have every year on this day and read it... my husband has called and we have talked about THAT day... the day that not only OUR WORLD changed... but the WHOLE WORLD changed...

I still remember... and will never forget...

Nothing to Fear...

Being born and raised in the South I was never "shielded" from Death... when someone in the family "passed on"... we were taken to the funeral home for visitations... to the graveside for burial... and to the bereavment luncheon afterwards... our live's and social calendars took a "backseat" to the events surrounding a Funeral... it was a way of showing respect for the one who had "passed" and for the one's that were left behind...

I have not shielded my children from Death... My son attended his first Funeral at the age of 3... My Maternal Grandfather had passed after a long illness... I remember approaching the casket with my son... to pay our respects... and my son went up on his tiptoes to peer over the edge of the casket... we stood there quietly for a moment... and my son looked up at me and said "Old Grandpa looks happy now"... and I responded "Yes... Old Grandpa is happy now"... he looked back into the casket and said "That's good... because he was sad before" (even at the age of 3 my son "understood" the Peace that his "Old Grandpa" had found)... I never sat my children down and "formally" explained EXACTLY what it means when someone passes on... I think by experiencing the funeral "process" they have come (and came) to understand it... and are not afraid

I understand the desire to "protect" children from "unpleasant" events... to shield them from sadness and pain... but I think sometimes by doing so we may be instilling a fear that WE as adults may harbor ourselves about Death... and WHAT it exactly means...

Although we may not "understand" Death... the reasons... purpose... or circumstances... it shouldn't be something to fear

Being a Friend...

I am a friend... Someone you can lean on in times of trouble sadness and despair... I will laugh with you in the goodtimes... and cry with you when you are sad... I will celebrate your triumphs and help you up when you fail... I will stand by you and give you strength when you feel the weakest... and cheer for you when you are strong... I will share your pain as if it is my own... and feel your joy with you... I will help guide you through the darkness... and stand with you in the light... I will listen when you are angry... and understand... it is just a temporary emotion... you can need me just for a bit... or longer... I'll be here... it's what FRIENDS do... for each other... it's what being a FRIEND means... in good times... or bad... happy or sad... I am a friend...

Too Many Broken Pieces...

STACEY over at JAMEEFOREVER recently posted a lovely entry in her blog about "Broken Pieces" (sorry... I'm not techie enough yet to link you directly to her blog)... This has been my morning so far...

I woke up at 7:30am to a ringing phone... it was my friend "M"... she was crying... her brother had passed away... WHEN noone is really sure (she had gotten the call late last night)... The last time anyone had spoke to him was about a week and a half ago... "PJ" was a sad soul... a failed marriage had sent him into a downward spiral that he was unable to recover from... I had never met "PJ" personally... but "M" had talked a lot about him... how in the BEGINNING the family did everything they could to help "PJ" get is life back on track... but he was "so broken" "M" knew (and was afraid) he wouldn't survive... it was just a matter of time...

I feel sad for "PJ" and his children (13yo and 17yo)... and I feel sad for my friend "M"... because in the end SHE was the only one willing to TRY to put all the 'broken pieces' back together...

I hope "PJ" has found PEACE... and is nolonger hurting... and I hope my friend "M" finds PEACE... and the knowledge that she did everything she could to help her brother... there were just too many 'broken pieces' for one person to fix.


***NOTE- THANK YOU again Stacey (Jameeforever) for posting such an insightful post-I hope you don't mind my references***

You Never Get a Second Chance...

To make a FIRST IMPRESSION...

So every afternoon I stand with the other parents waiting to pick up their children from school... and since I really don't "know" anyone... I just kinda hide behind my sunglasses and observe everyone...

These are SOME of the things I have OBSERVED (keeping in mind these are SOME of the PARENTS picking up their children from school)

A Father who has not ONE of those RIDICULOUS "blue tooth" things but TWO of those RIDICULOUS "blue tooth" things... one in EACH ear

A Mother sporting a particular brand of motorcycle shirt that on the back is emblazoned in BRIGHT ORANGE with the graphic "This BITCH won't fall off"

A Mother wearing SPONGEBOB lounge pants with a big white t-shirt, flip flops and NO BRA (don't ask me how I know she DIDN'T have on a bra... let me just say... she NEEDED ONE)

A Father in a "half shirt", fingerless gloves and sweatshorts and NO UNDERWEAR (don't ask me how I know THAT... trust me... he was going COMMANDO)

A Father wearing a t-shirt with the graphic "CLUB EROTICA" across the back (THAT is the name of a "local place" out by the airport... you KNOW the kinda place I'm referring to)

A Couple (I am ASSUMING is a Mother and Father) leaning against the school... the man has his back against the building legs apart... the woman standing in between his legs leaning INTO him and the man's hands are in the back pockets of the woman's BOOTY SHORTS and they are SMOOCHING (just so you know... I'm not a huge fan of PDAs between adults)

You Never Get A Second Chance To Make A First Impression... My "mantra" for this week...

Picking up my daughter from school every afternoon sure hasn't been boring!

A Double Dose...

I'm SO EXCITED about the DOUBLE EVICTION tonight on BB8!!! IF Dick and Daniele are SMART they will vote out Jessica (who was MY early choice to win)... their odds at winning the next HOH would be better since Zach wouldn't be able to compete (being outgoing HOH) and Jameka can't compete (due to a previous POV competition)... leaving only ERIC to compete... and we ALL know he can't win ANYTHING (except that LAME phonecall from home that he gave to Jessica) And IMO Jessica so needs to go after she ALLOWED Eric to "run" her HOH the week before... I had to laugh when after the NOMINATION CEREMONY she accused Zach of being "gutless" for not nominating Dick or Daniele... UM... HELLO... YOU had the chance TOO!!!

I haven't been watching After Dark the past couple of days... I kinda don't like "knowing" what is going on ahead of time... but I WILL be watching tonight after the DOUBLE EVICTION!!!

This should be good!!!

2 hours until showtime!!!

WHY????....

Sometimes I just ask myself... WHY???...

WHY would you not wear a helmet while riding a motorcycle... you DO KNOW don't you that IF you were to be in an accident (which I'm not hoping you are) the likelihood that you would not survive is pretty good...

WHY would you not buckle your toddler/child into a safety seat in the BACKSEAT of the car... you DO KNOW don't you that IF you were to be in an accident (which I'm not hoping you are... for the sake of the little one STANDING IN THE FRONT SEAT) that the likelihood that your little one would go FLYING THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD is pretty good...

WHY would you get behind the wheel after drinking so much you can't even stand up straight... you DO KNOW don't you that DRINKING AND DRIVING are illegal... ALTHOUGH if you were to get into an accident (which I'm not hoping you do) the likelihood that you would KILL SOMEONE ELSE is pretty good... Aren't YOU the LUCKY DRUNK!!!...

WHY would you ask us to believe that you DON'T know the meaning/definition of SEX... we (at least MOST of us) all know what "IT" means (and yes... "IT" was SEX)...

WHY would you tell someone a SECRET and then tell them not to tell anyone else... you DO KNOW don't you that "A secret is a secret until it is told"... although if you DID tell someone a secret and it "got out" you would have noone to blame but yourself...

WHY is it that some people seem to "sail" through life never having to confront adversity or hardships yet complain about everything... while other people seem to face adversity and hardships DAILY and NEVER complain...

I ask myself WHY a LOT...

What a "RACKET"...

So today I went shopping... a few groceries... a few "incidentals"... and MEN'S RAZORBLADES... Yea... can I tell you what a RIP-OFF they are? I mean HONESTLY... we (well at least I do) like our men to look nice... and clean shaven... but HOLY COW!!! And OF COURSE you HAVE to get THE razorblades that go WITH the razor (you can't get just "generic blades" that will fit ANY razor) I mean HONESTLY... 8 razorblades for $24+!!! OR you can get 4 razorblades for $12.+... good thing my husband is retiring soon... at least our grocerybill will go down!!!

TUESDAY'S TIP...

Tuesday's will be "Tip Day" here at According to Lala... these will be tips that I have read and am passing on or tips I have come up with on my own... :o)

None of us want our children to get hurt... but it does happen... and when there is blood involved it can become quite an unhinging experience... just the SIGHT of blood can send a lot of people (not just kids)over the edge... Keep a couple of RED kitchen towels (or bathroom handtowels) and washcloths handy... that way... IF there is an injury and blood is involved... the blood will not "show up" on the already red towel/washcloth!

Read this recently in one of my FAVORITE magazines and thought it was such a good tip I would pass it on!

You can call me "MRS."...

Growing up in the South (and being a thoroughly Southern Girl) I would NEVER have called an adult (not related to me) by their FIRST NAME... NEVER... it was something I never would've even have CONSIDERED doing ... My Mother's friends weren't "Betty" "Sally" and "Mimi" to ME... They were (and are to this day) "Mrs. Brown" "Mrs. Tuller" and "Mrs. Smith"... My schoolbus driver wasn't "Twilla"... she was "Mrs. Kemp"... My TEACHER wasn't "Alice"... she was "Miss Childris" (Miss b/c she was not married)... you get the idea...

When my son was little... we lived in the South... and he grew up being "taught" that ADULTS are referred to as "Mrs./Mr."... When I would introduce him to my friends he would meet "Mrs. Beck" "Mrs. Panly" and "Mrs. Newton"... he wouldn't meet "Kristy" "Michelle" and "Cathy" (It's funny because now that he is older he heard me referring to "Kristy" and said "Mom... WHO is Kristy?"... I told him "Kristy" is Mrs. Beck..." "Oh... I never knew her name was Kristy"... I don't think he KNOWS the FIRST NAMES of ANY my friends!) It wasn't anything "unusual" to him... it was "natural"... something "taught" to him by routine and example... it just WAS... as it was to the other kids he grew up around... it's what was DONE... The WAY...

Being a little girl I remember playing "card club" with my little girlie friends... and we would play "grown up"... being "Mrs. White"... "Mrs. Conner" and "Mrs. Stiles"... it was fun... "exciting"... that someday someone (children like we were) would refer to us as "Mrs. ---"...

I CRINGE when a "new" (we have moved to a different area now) friend of mine or people I have just met will introduce me to their CHILD/CHILDREN by my FIRST NAME (until moving to our current location a CHILD had RARELY referred to me by my FIRST NAME)... WHEN did THAT become appropriate? WHEN did I become "Lala" to a FIVE YEAR OLD CHILD or a FOURTEEN YEAR OLD BOY (who BTW won't even look me in the eye when speaking to me?) The last time I checked I was an ADULT... yea... NOT liking this at all... so I have begun quickly introducing MYSELF if/when the opportunity arises "Hello Paxton... I'm MRS. --- Nice to meet you"... SOMETIMES this works... SOMETIMES... When I introduce people to my children as "Mrs. Horn"... "Mrs. Panella" or "Miss Klien" it is quickly followed by "OH... they can call me --- (insert first name)"... UM... no... YOU are an ADULT... they are CHILDREN... WHEN did that become appropriate?

A friend of mine "Mrs. Hardt" asked me about it one day on the phone... ""Lala"... I'm just curious... why you don't want Lk to call me Missy"... WOW I thought... what an opportunity to "explain" myself... "Well... because YOU are an ADULT... and Lk is a CHILD... she is NOT your contemporary... I feel that IF she were to call you by your first name... she would grow up thinking that ADULTS and CHILDREN are on the same "level"... EQUALS... which they are not... " "Oh... I never thought about it like that"... then we proceeded to have a very nice chat on the subject... SHE now has begun to insist that HER CHILDREN refer to ADULTS as "Mrs./Mr."...

I am trying to get use to the "informality" of today's "society" and the area we are living in... TRYING... but MAYBE... just MAYBE if SOME of the things WE practiced and were taught when WE were children were practiced and taught to our children today... the WORLD in general would be a NICER place... MAYBE... but until then... I'll try really hard not to CRINGE