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!!!