It's The Little Things- Almost Wordless Wednesday

Well, we do call her Tiny.

It's The Little Things-My New Boyfriend Garmin

My first boyfriend (after becoming a wife and mother) was Tivo. He always looked out for me and whenever I had a bad day he was waiting at home to serve me. He even knew what shows I might like and recorded them for me. He was a real doll.

Move over Tivo, you've been replaced, by my navigation system GARMIN. Maybe you're one of those people who can find their way around town with relative ease. Me not so much. I've been living in Los Angeles since 1996 and I STILL get lost and never can remember how to get to places. The scenario goes like this.

Running late I jump in the car with my mapquested address. I am sitting in traffic fuming. Then when I am close to my destination I realize the directions are wrong. I call The Mr. and angrily try to make him give me directions. He gives me words like North and South, East and West which make no sense. I ask real questions like: is it near the Target we went to when I was really pregnant and melted down in the sippy cup aisle? He doesn't know what I am talking about. I get mad and get off the phone. He calls back and somehow gets me there.

You would think a person like me would just go out and buy a Garmin, but since I put myself last on the list, I never thought if it! Instead my gorgeous Mother gave it to me as a gift. I called to tell her how thrilled I was and she was relieved. She thought I would take it as an insult! Wait. Should I?

Oh who cares. My new boyfriend Garmin and I go everywhere together and love each other to death. He is always right, which astonishingly doesn't bother me at all. If only he would also do the grocery shopping. A girl can dream right?

PS Garmin didn't pay me for this but they should!

It's The Little Things- Ask Someone

I love my local grocery store. Not only is it where I have my best celebrity sightings, but I love the people who work there. My grocery bagger Sal, is my man. I swear I would pay for his college (anonymously of course) if I could. We have deep talks about how he is, how he struggles to stay on course. He's big and tatooed and is like Ferdinand the Bull. Sweet as pie.

Another person I love there is a man I will just call "W". His name is too original to mention. W is the manager. He's funny and always up. W will ask about Landon and Coco, how I am, what my weekend plans are. He is just fun to be with. I look for him in the store every time.

Last week when I was checking out with W, something was different. He looked depressed. He couldn't muster up a smile. He looked like he might cry.


It threw me off.

In all the years I have been coming to the store I had never seen him like this. It scared me. I didn't know what to say. I went into my normal jokey thing I do, tried to make him laugh. I kept it light.

Later that night some words my preacher said earlier in the week rang in my ear.

"People feel invisible. The inoculation to loneliness is asking someone if they're all right."

Why didn't I ask him if he was all right?! See if he needed anything? Give him my attention. My eyes.

This past Sunday at church a friend was sitting across the room. I looked over at her to give her a smile but she didn't see me. She looked really down. Just sad. This time I was not going to shy away. Later after church, I went right up to her. I gave her a hug and whispered:

"Are you okay? You look sad today."


She fell apart in my arms. I mean just sobbed. I felt awful for her. I knew something was wrong! The truth is we need to pay attention to people. Ask them how they are. They could be on the edge of something truly devastating and we don't even know it. It's not important what you say after that. People don't need you to fix them. They need you to be there. To know someone sees the pain their are in.


This week when I go to the grocery store I am going to tell W that last week he looked a little sad. I'm going to ask him if he's all right. Show him he's not alone.


Has this happened to you? Have you stepped in? It may seem like a little thing, to ask someone how they are, but it could save their life.

TGIF! And Next Week's Series "It's The Little Things"

Gooood lord. Is this week over? Between planning two fundraisers, starting a business that has really taken off, and managing my family I am exhausted. I need to relax! Here's a picture of the very tired me and Coco relaxing. We like to hold hands, snuggle and watch Mickey Mouse.

I have been writing this blog for years. Five? From time to time I will do a series I feel you, my darling readers, will enjoy. Next week I will do a series on: "It's The Little Things". Small things that make a big difference in your life. 

I hope you have a fabulous weekend! I have a girls night, a date night, an Elmo birthday party, a Kids In The Kitchen meeting, church and a garage sale. Guess I won't be relaxing THAT much!!! What are your plans?

Dr. Andrew Ordon from The Doctors Get's His Own Star!

I was honored to be invited to watch as Dr. Ordon (Drew to me!), my brother in law and currently starring on The Doctors TV show, get his star on the Palm Springs walk of fame. He joins Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope and a slew of other fabulous people.

Later, at Spencers (as is tradition) there was a roast! All the other doctors were there from the show to make fun of him!

Dr. Jim Sears, Dr, Lisa Masterson , and Dr. Travis Stork (Of Bachelor fame) did a great job and had everyone howling!


Such a fabulous day that ran waaaay into the evening!!

Do you recognize the other blonde? Brenda Epperson? Love her. And Mojitos!!

I Have A Dream Today - Martin Luther King Day

"I have a dream today.
I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.

This is our hope. This is the faith with which I return to the South. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.
This will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with a new meaning, "My country, 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim's pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring."

You Say Strata, I Say Strata

With Sister in Law on call (pediatrician) Christmas day, I was on breakfast duty Christmas morning. I like to start the morning with some sort of sticky sweet pastry. This way we can look at the Santa Claus gifts (we don't wrap those).

After we have done Santa Claus and our stockings, we have (because I have made it the night before or when everyone is playing the morning of) strata for our next course.

What is Strata you ask? Let's consult Wikipedia:


Strata

The most common modern variant is a brunch dish, similar to a quiche or frittata, made from a mixture which mainly consists of bread, eggs and cheese. It may also include meat or vegetables. The usual preparation requires the bread to be layered with the filling in order to produce layers (strata).


I like most Williams Sonoma recipes but I LOVE this one:

Strata with Cipollini Onions & Arugula

Get the recipe here!
http://www.williams-sonoma.com/recipe/strata-with-cipollini-onions-and-arugula.html?cm_src=RECIPESEARCH


Why wait for Christmas? Make it this weekend!

One Fabulous Mom Movie Review- Black Swan

I had been told over and over that Black Swan was amazing (kiss of death), that it will be an Oscar contender (gonna make me hate it), and brilliant in every way (what a set up).


I didn't like it.


Yes Natalie Portman was believable as a ballerina, the way she had a certain arrested development and a child like love for ballet. The story was interesting, and it was cast well. The problem was, half way through, it turned into a Lifetime Movie. It became so camp, so over the top, I just couldn't hang on. The red eyes, the swan feathers, the mean girl friend, all just seemed too ridiculous to care about. I also don't love being scared, but that's a whole other issue. I was excited to get a real look into the world of ballet. The cut throat regime, the struggle, the politics. They could have gone further without being a movie of the week. It's a fine line between thriller and SNL sketch. (Jim Carrey was amazing in his parody!!)


I guess I will give it 2 out of 5 Cosmos. 

Wouldn't see it again, but only liked some parts of it. Okay, let the ranting begin. Did you like it? Hate it? Why?

Top 20 Baby Names Of 2010! Oh NOOOOOOOOO!

I am one of those people that when choosing a baby name looked at the most popular name list and said "I'm not picking one from here!" Well too late. Landon has moved into the top 20. So far Coco is safe. LOL.

What fascinates me about this list is how it is driven by pop culture. Is it any surprise that Aiden is the top boy name when we are all obsessed with Aiden from Sex and The City? Jayden wouldn't even be on the list at all if it weren't for one Miss Britney Spears. Emma of course was the name of Jennifer Anistons baby on Friends. Isabella? Let's not forget Bella Swan from Twilight. Of course Jacob will be on forever because of Jake from Sixteen Candles. And you sports fans know Peyton Manning right? Girls' Names Boys' Names 1 Sophia Aiden 2 Isabella Jacob 3 Olivia Jackson 4 Emma Ethan 5 Chloe Jayden 6 Ava Noah 7 Lily Logan 8 Madison Caden 9 Addison Lucas 10 Abigail Liam 11 Madelyn Mason 12 Emily Caleb 13 Zoe Jack 14 Hailey Brayden 15 Riley Connor 16 Ella Ryan 17 Mia Matthew 18 Kaitlyn Michael 19 Kaylee Alexander 20 Peyton Landon

So I guess we will have no problem predicting the future top baby name lists:

Boys:

Taylor (Lautner)

Robert (Pattinson)

Justin (Beiber)

and

Girls:

Demi (Lovato)

Miley (Cyrus)

Or Lady Gaga? Lady Gaga would be tame compared to some of the ridiculous baby names we have out here in LA!

Some of the worst offenders?

1. Rob Morrow- had a baby named Tu Morrow. Cue Orphan Annie music.

2. Penn Gilette has Moxie Crime Fighter. Is that her profession?

3. Jason Lee named his baby Pilot Inspektor. Does the K make it less TAKKY?

4. Nick Cage has a son Kal- El. Oh boy.

5. Jermain Jackson has a son named Jermagesty. I guess that's his official title.

Please parents just stop! And don't name your child Landon either!

A Happy Marriage Is All About Me! I Knew It!!

Just Kidding!!! Or Maybe not? Seems that the happiest marriages are based on self expansion. How much your partner helps you grown and experience things does matter! See? We aren't nagging for date nights for nothing! Here's a little article and quiz to get you started! 

Ps Don't be daunted if you fall way down on the scale, use this to inspire you to do new things!!! 

 

 

The Sustainable-Marriage Quiz

By TARA PARKER-POPE

What does it take to sustain a marriage?
As I report in the latest Week in Review section, researchers are studying how people sustain their relationships by using them to accumulate knowledge and new experiences, a process they call “self-expansion.” Studies show that the more self-expansion a person experiences through their partner, the more satisfied and committed they are to the relationship.
To learn more about the science of sustainable relationships, read the full article, “The Happy Marriage Is the ‘Me’ Marriage.”
And to learn more about your own relationship, take the quiz below to measure how much it expands your knowledge and makes you feel good about yourself. The quiz was developed by Gary W. Lewandowski Jr., associate psychology professor at Monmouth University in New Jersey.
Answer each question according to the way you feel, using the following scale. Answers range from (1) not very much to (7) very much. Then, add up your scores and check the scale below to see how your own relationship ranks.

	Not Very Much…Very Much
How much does being with your partner result in your having new experiences?	1 2 3 4 5 6 7
When you are with your partner, do you feel a greater awareness of things because of him or her?	1 2 3 4 5 6 7
How much does your partner increase your ability to accomplish new things?	1 2 3 4 5 6 7
How much does your partner help to expand your sense of the kind of person you are?	1 2 3 4 5 6 7
How much do you see your partner as a way to expand your own capabilities?	1 2 3 4 5 6 7
How much do your partner’s strengths as a person (skills, abilities, etc.) compensate for some of your own weaknesses as a person?	1 2 3 4 5 6 7
How much do you feel that you have a larger perspective on things because of your partner?	1 2 3 4 5 6 7
How much has being with your partner resulted in your learning new things?	1 2 3 4 5 6 7
How much has knowing your partner made you a better person?	1 2 3 4 5 6 7
How much does your partner increase your knowledge?	1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Scores
60 and above — Highly Expansive. You are gaining a lot of new experiences and reaching new goals as a result of your relationship. Chances are you have a happier, more sustainable relationship as a result.
45 to 60 — Moderately Exciting. Your relationship has led to moderate improvements in your life and some new experiences. But there’s definitely room for improvement.
Below 45 — Low Connection. Your relationship is not creating opportunities that help expand your knowledge and make you feel better about yourself. Make an effort to share new experiences with your partner to improve your relationship.