Why Isn't This in the U.S.?

Glamour's Stiletto Run - in Germany

Seems its been done in Holland also. Why not here? I think this ROCKS!

And not just ANY heels, there are rules.

BUT, seems some crochety old feminists think the race

promotes stereotypes of women "shackled" to awkward footwear that prohibits them from being on an equal footing with men - literally.

Pffffffttt. Oh GEEZ already. Lighten up Lucifer. It's for FUN. A joke. A good time. We're all gonna die someday. And some of us sooner than we'd like. Will you put it on your gravestone that you were too crotchety to enjoy an event that pretty much pokes fun at ourselves???

Hmm. Well, I have an opinion too girlfriends. I think its MEN who are SHACKLED to UGLY flat footwear that has no style. Don't you?????????????????

Cheers! Heidi

Ode to Denis Leary

Oh, Denis. You were robbed at the Emmy Awards! I almost threw something heavy at my television set when Kiefer Sutherland went up to collect YOUR award. Just knowing Rescue Me's season finale was this week sent me into a depression.

And now the third season is over. I have seen every single episode of all three seasons of Rescue Me, so I know how real a cliff hanger this was! If Tommy dies, he will get just as much air time as if he lives. I'll miss you and the gang, and look forward to Season Four.

So from one Massachusetts native to another, thank you, Denis. Thanks for an amazing show that allows me to remember what it was like to live in NYC for 12 years, and for casting such smokin' hot guys on the show, and for getting Susan Sarandon and Marisa Tomei on the show this year, and for the sharpest/funniest dialogue on TV today. I wish Resuce Me was on year-round.

Cheers, Lara

Our Greatest Love

If you see a lot of grown men and women walking down the street sobbing to themselves in these next couple weeks - don't worry - its just the first day of kindergarten for many of us.

Our "baby's" are all grown up.

I intellectually understood how weepy my parents were at high school and college graduation. And my wedding. Now I totally understand the feeling. But I still can't describe it. There is no reason for it. I'm as DAMN HAPPY AS ANYONE CAN BE:

HE IS FINALLY OUT OF "PRE"SCHOOL, AND IN "FREE" SCHOOL!!!!!!!!!!

Yippeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (mamma needs a new couch)

But, I can't explain what is making me sad. I have settled on that "Circle of Life" feeling. The passing of time. Of seasons. We aren't getting any younger. And we better remember to have the BEST DAMN TIME WE CAN while we are here on this earth together.

Bye Bye Boo Boo - Have a wonderful year!!! I love you!!! (that's him in the first seat....)

The song I used to play for him in the car on the way home from daycare every day...you can never describe the love you have for your kids, but this song comes the closest....

Bobby Darin's MORE
More than the greatest love the world has known
This is the love that I give to you alone
More than the simple words I try to say
I only live to love you more each day.

More than you'll ever know
My arms long to hold you so
My life will be in your keeping
Waking, sleeping, laughing, weeping.

Longer than always is a long, long time
But far beyond forever, you'll be mine
I know I never lived before
And my heart is very sure
No one else could love you more.

More than the greatest love the world has known
This is the love that I give to you alone
More than the simple words I try to say
I only live to love you more each day.

More than you'll ever know
My arms got to hold you so
My life will be in your keeping
Waking, sleeping, laughing, weeping.

Longer than always is a long, long, long time
But far beyond forever, you'll be mine
I know I never lived before
And my heart is very sure
No one else could love you more.

Now, on to more important things like how to Win the "War on Frumpiness" at the bus stop!!

Cheers! Heidi

Are you going to watch The Emmy's??

Got your popcorn ready?? Is the champagne chilling?

I can't wait to watch Joan Rivers conduct her 1000th Red Carpet interview this Sunday night. She'll be on the TV Guide Channel for a couple of hours before the Main Event, THE EMMY AWARDS!!!

I made all of my picks back in July (check them out here), so now it's all about the red carpet fashions, weepy acceptance speeches, and upsets (c'mon Denis Leary!!).

I love award shows the way that Heidi loves beauty pageants. I can hardly wait til Sunday - are you going to watch the Emmys? Any favorites?

Cheers, Lara

The Ultimate Husband Test

Imagine the horror. My spousal unit is downstairs - he got up at 5:30 with the 2-year-old. I open my eyes this morning, snuggled up to my 5-year-old "Boo-Boo," and right above us, flying in circles is a HUGE BAT.

Me: "Um, Boo-Boo - honey there is a big moth in the room - please run down and tell daddy ...."

Boo-Boo: "Where? A big moth?? Cool. Lemme see!!!"

Me: "Um, no Boo-Boo - go tell him RIGHT NOW!!!!!!"

My Boo-Boo runs downstairs and I am frozen under the covers in fear. But if I don't move, the bat might crash on top of me or WORSE -- poop on me!!

I tear out of the room to the kitchen - to get my husband.

He makes a FUTILE attempt with SPORTS TOOLS. He looks terrified:

So we're upstairs and crouching at the bedroom door watching the bat circle. My husband is creeping out about it. Claiming he's been attacked by bats in his youth. I make fun of him, and then I take action -- diving in like a trained killing Marine to go open the windows before the sun comes up and we have no hope of the bat flying out.

When I return to hallway safety --I begin making fun of my husband --strutting around the hallway like a chicken. Clucking like a chicken. BAAAAAWK BAWK BAWK BAWK. Chicken!!! BAWK BAWK BAWK.

The open windows don't work -- and it lands on our BAT FRIENDLY CEILING.....
(no, no bat in picture, I was too scared to click a flash when he was there)

My husband decides to make a BAT TRAPPING TOOL....

But neither of us think much beyond how we are doing to get it out from under that contraption. When he gets it trapped, I am supposed to get within one foot of that squeaking fluffy monstrous rabid venomous vampire BAT and actually slide something underneath thinking he won't get out and ATTACK???

Him: "OK, I've got it, come and help me"
Me: whimpering -- "Um how am I supposed to get up there with this piece of cardboard?"
Him: "JUST DO IT"
Me: I slink over to the vanity and get a chair, step up and start shaking and crying because my head is within one foot of the bat
Me: I start wildly crying and leave the room
Him: "HEIDI - GET BACK HER NOW. DAMNIT. HELP ME.
Me: WAIL WAIL CRY --- and run outside
Him: "GOD DAMNIT GET UP HERE AND HELP ME"
Me: inconsolable

Who's the chicken now, huh???

My brave wonderful husband then is left with the bat under the funnel, by himself. No help. After screaming for me for about 15 minutes, he throws down the contraption and runs out of the room. We're downstairs by the back door where I'm whimpering -- and we see the MONSTER fly out of the room, back to the woods.

MY HERO!! MY KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOR!!

I love him now more than I ever have. And a maiden must REWARD her knight. At night however, we gotta get to work!!!!

P.S. Squirrel season in the attic is RIGHT around the corner : )

Cheers! Heidi

UPDATE: I could not muster up the courage to take a picture, but this one I found has an UNCANNY resemblance:

A little eye candy to perk up your day

Every once and awhile we like to give you something pretty to look at ... meet Channing Tatum:

Don't worry ladies, he's 26 years old! He's an up-and-coming movie star, and soooo dreamy, do you agree?

Have a GREAT day!

Cheers, Lara

What's Going on in This Picture?

At first glance, just a 'toast.' But LOOK CLOSER. Click on the image.

This picture was in a huge insert selling real estate. I first stopped on it because of the size of the woman's nose. But then I moved on to her expression. She is not happy. That upper lip is curled in disgust? What up?.....

1. Is she pissed?
2. Is he a jerk?
3. Did he use the wrong fork?
4. That time of the month?
5. Did she just find out what a dog he is and she's waiting for dessert to come to spring all the 'evidence' on him?
6. Both their left hands are out of the scene - can't see marital status -- is she the 'other woman' and she's not happy about the fact that he hasn't left his wife yet?
7. In the next scene, will her red wine be on his head?

[by the way, I LOVE it when women have prominent noses, I think it makes them stronger (Barbra Streisand, Angelica Huston, etc) -- sorry Ashley Simipson, you look much worse]

Cheers! Heidi

Wedding Dresses...from toilet paper??

Back in June, the founder of Cheap Chic Weddings was a guest on ChickChat. She talked about the annual contest her site runs - whoever makes the best looking wedding dress out of toilet paper wins $500!

Here are two of this year's winners...

Stephanie took first place with this gorgeous creation:

And a very snazzy second place was claimed by Hannah:

To see more of the finalists, click here! They're incredible! There's also tons of great tips for saving money on your wedding.

Could you make anything like this??

Cheers, Lara

Another kind of "MAN BOOBS"

So I'm talking to a very cool friend of mine, and she just had her third baby in about 5 years....and was lamenting the breastfeeding part. She said her husband comes from a family of TWELVE. But, if he really would like to re-create that number with their family -- he'll have to get MAN BOOBS.

Oh, HA HA, I said, I've heard of those. They are like a bra with milk sacks the guy wears. (SNS, supplemental nutrition system). Very funny.

NO, she says, the MAN BOOBS she's talkin' about are the hormones the men take to GET BOOBS, and not just any BOOBS but PRODUCTIVE BOOBS.

BUT, when I did the internet search, seems that some men can do it simply with 'power of the mind.'

Read MORE than you ever wanted to know here.

WOW, this could really be a big thing for us mom-chicks!!

And then maybe you could get him the hottest new nursing-wear:

So, what would it take for you to have another baby????

Cheers! Heidi

Coke? or Pepsi?

Are you a "Coke" ? or a "Pepsi"?

We got a good reason to consider switching to Pepsi.

Indra Nooyi

PepsiCo just named Indra its first Female CEO!!!
Pepsi is winning The War on Frumpiness with Indra!!

3 Extremely Cool things about Indra (besides the fact that she's a girl!!)
1. She fronted an All-Girl Rock Band in college
2. She has busted out in song at company gatherings
3. She's also a MOM

I'm sure we'll learn a LOT more. And watch out Coke, a Chick is IN CHARGE!!!

YOU GO GIRL Indra.

Cheers! Heidi

Is summer over!?!

I just got back from a weekend in the Berkshires (a region of Western Massachusetts), and I can tell you for sure that summer is over. It was beautiful, lush and green with summer trees and flowers like this:

Within weeks, it's going to look like this out there:

By day it was tank top and shorts weather. In the late afternoon and in the early morning, it was see-your-breath cold. The summer-to-autumn transition means you can get away with a t-shirt but you carry around something with sleeves. But that's not why I say summer is over.

It's the smell. It's clear and crisp air. The smell of freshly mowed grass is replaced with burning leaves or campfires. I started noticing it last week in Boston, and now I KNOW it's autumn.

I love living with the four seasons, even though I get a little sad for a minute when one ends and another begins (unless winter is ending). But then I get all excited about wearing different clothes and doing different things outside when the new season starts (uh, unless winter is starting). So when I smelled autumn, I got a little sad about leaving summer (tank tops, blueberries, beach) behind BUT got excited about starting autumn (jeans, apples, woods).

How do you know summer is over where you live?

Cheers, Lara

There Comes a Time in Every Woman's Life

"There comes a time in every woman's life when the only thing that helps is a glass of champagne"

One of the best movie quotes EVER.

NEW OUT ON DVD: Old Acquaintance (1943)

Bette Davis and Miriam Hopkins - BFF!!!

Men come and go...but friends are around forever.

You MUST MUST MUST see this movie if you have boobs.

Cheers! Heidi

What's your favorite t-shirt slogan?

T-shirts with stuff written on them have been back for a while. They were "out" for a solid decade, but now I think they're back - the super-cool kids have been wearing them for years now. I used to have a ton of t's with all kinds of stuff written on them, especially in college. Freshman year, my two best friends and I bought matching shirts:

No money.
No car.
No boyfriend.

I don't know why, but we thought it was hysterical at the time.

I've long since thrown out most of my "slogan" t-shirts. Anything with logos/words/writing on it was ditched many years back, and I turned into a words-on-t-shirt hater. You just cannot be classy AND have something written on your t-shirt at the same time!

HOWEVER - this past weekend I saw a guy riding a bike around Harvard and MIT in Cambridge. He was wearing a maroon t-shirt with white letters that said:

I howled. I might break my no-writing-on-t-shirts rule for this one. It's certainly the best i've seen all summer. It was just the words (no actual math), large enough to read from far away. This guy must be having a blast watching idiots like me read the shirt. First we read it...we don't get it for a second, then finally the light bulb goes off! Ha ha ha !

What's the best thing you've seen written on a t-shirt??

Cheers, Lara

Best Bar Trick EVER

When I was in high school, my English teacher (bless her heart) recommended I go on a creative writing trip to NYC with all the other really smart and actually talented kids. What did I learn?

THIS:

Our high school group went for NYC cheesecake at a place near the theaters after seeing some boring play. I was enthralled by the cute and fun blond waitress. She was IT to me. And she taught our whole table how to TIE A CHERRY STEM IN OUR MOUTH—WITH OUR TONGUE.

Of all my talents. This is the one of which I AM MOST PROUD.

And it makes for a great picture to bring back from our short SANS KIDS 2 day beach vacation during our week off. It’s a cherry from a Pina Colada served on the beach by a waitress and that makes it all the more lovely. Doncha thank?

THIS is what people who have no kids do at the beach. Isn’t is SO much more fun than keeping little heads above water and slathering SPF 50 on tiny wriggling ones?

Learn this talent for yourself, and WIN the “War on Frumpiness” !!

And do you have any special talents YOU'D like to share with the class????

Cheers! Heidi

Do you know how to Chillax?

Unlike Heidi, I managed to get a lot done on my VACATION:
- Slept past 8 every day
- Finished the book I started on last summer's vacation AND read an entire other book
- FROLICKED on the sand and in the water with Boston Guy and his girls
- Didn't watch a single newscast, read a newspaper or magazine, or glance at a computer for an entire week
- Learned what it really means to "Chillax!"

On our last day of vacation, we brought Goldie to the beach with us, bowl and all. I don't think she minded, even when the four of us went for a long walk and left her under the umbrella. It wasn't until we got back that we noticed the seagulls that were circling.

Luckily, the four people + one goldfish made it back home safely.

Cheers, Lara

It's Not a "Vacation" - Its a "TRIP"!

People without kids take "Vacations." People with kids take "TRIPS."

Lara posts pictures of water-skiing chicks and calls the week a 'vacation.' In my mind this is more like it:

Six years ago this summer I traded in my "vacation" card for a "trip" card.

You would think I'd get used to it. Nope, hasn't felt right yet people. Go thank your parents TODAY, RIGHT NOW for all those 'vacations' you took during your childhood. All those 'idyllic' memories you have??? I'll bet your parents tell a MUCH different story.

Don’t get me wrong, I would not trade having a week of a different routine. But oh my God -- its BLISS to be sitting back at work actually drinking HOT coffee and actually getting to eat my breakfast instead of serve two other people like a damn slave.

GONE are the days of umbrella drinks, steel bands and actually lying in the sand.

Because I work at an office all day, spending the ENTIRE week with my kids is WORK to me. Its MORE WORK than WORK WORK. Its more tiring. More harrow-ing. More nerve testing. More hell. And I cannot be alone in the fact that if you stick two kids in the car and drive to another home for 7 days, their entire concept of night/day/sleep and wake is tossed aside. Its all day, all awake.

What have the umbrella drinks and steel drums been replaced by?
1. Sleepless nights - 2 kids playing musical beds
2. A trip to the beach one block away consisting of 2.2 seconds of sand pail and more complaining about gross seaweed
....it took more time to PUT THE BEACH BAG TOGETHER and SUNTAN LOTION ON then we actually spent at the beach!!
3. Moooooom, I have to pee, AGAIN (during the 8 hour car ride to CT a mere 8 minutes after the last rest stop on our route

On a positive note? Only 16 MORE YEARS TO GO UNTIL I GET MY "VACATION" CARD BACK!!!!

Cheers! Heidi