Do you make lists?

Today's Wall Street Journal had a whole article about how lists are "the defining organizing principle of the 21st century."

Wow, them's some big words.

Let me save you some time and summarize the article: Lists are HOT - everybody's making them! There are books coming out of other people's lists. There are new products coming out to help us make our lists. I think some people are crazy about their list-making habits - they have a big master weekly list, and then pull items from it to make smaller, daily lists. In the time it takes to manage the lists, couldn't they have done something ON the actual list??

There are lots of lists out there. Your grocery list. Your life list, if you have one (if you don't, check out p228 of September Cosmo, you might want to make one).

The Internet has made us more list-y - now there's FAQs, your Netfilx queue, Craig's List. Now there's something called the Very Short List (check it out here), you sign up and it gives you some arts/culture thing to add to your list.

I was happy to see that the site of lost grocery lists (here) is being made into a book. I like seeing what other people shop for, don't you?

My best friends, mother and boyfriend are all list makers. I used to be. I used list-making as a procrastination technique, so I stopped making them. Now I never remember everything at the grocery store but everything else gets done pretty quickly. Worthwhile trade-off to me!

What do you make lists of?

Cheers, Lara

Should Risque' T shirts be Banned???

Are you appalled by the t-shirts the 'kids' these days are wearing? WHERE are the parents you ask?

I'm not a fan of some of them, BUT PEOPLE, if you are putting your little kids in THIS.............

Or THIS....

YOU are part of the PROBLEM!! : )

And its only a matter of time until your son wears this:

Or your daughter wears this:

or this:

Just sayin'.....

You know, you should be a grown adult - at least 35 years old before you are allowed to consider tshirts w/ a message. Like my latest choice...

Cheers! Heidi

When's the last time you played a game?

Boston Guys' girls were with us last night (they're 13 and 9), and after we ate dinner, I couldn't bear the thought of camping out on the couch for another round of "What Can We Watch That Is Appropriate And/Or Interesting For All Of Us?" Because the answer is nothing - this one doesn't like Project Runway and this one doesn't like Dancing with the Stars and this one doesn't like sports. You get the idea.

So I suggested a game...and the 9-year-old picked Yahtzee, which I have never played. Ever. How sad is that? My family was more about Boggle, Uno, Scrabble, and Trivial Pursuit (in the early 80s, when there was ONE version). Wow, we played a lot of games - there was hardly any tv to watch together anyway - and we had fun, back in the olden days of the 70s!

We had a great time last night! The girls liked teaching me the game and the 13-year-old won. I felt a little bit like Laura Ingalls Wilder all grown up, but it was fun and I'm sure we'll finally put the stack of board games that are collecting dust in the corner to use.

What's your favorite old-school game to play? NO electronics allowed (that means no "scene it," people)!

Cheers, Lara

Katie Called Condi "Girly"

Katie Couric's 60 Minutes interview with Condoleezza Rice was on this past weekend. I saw the 'behind the scenes video" here.

You can find out what Condi cooks, what she thinks about marriage and dating.

But best of all on Katie Couric's blog (WHAT? you don't read Katie's blog? dudes - its a must read) - Katie called Condi "GIRLY" and I LOVE IT.

It's about time we stop hiding all our 'girl' stuff as "weak" or "not powerful." Any ol' hair helmet nightly news old man woulda met the male Sec. of State and broke the ice talking football. No apologies. SO, Katie meeting up with Condi and comparing outfits is fabulous. No other female news person would ever be brave enough to call the Secretary of State "girly." But that is Condi, and that is why so many of us LOVE her. Both Condi and Katie smart, strong women who are not afraid to BE women. You Go Girls!

OH, and got a question for Katie Couric? They are taking them now - on the blog area. Sorry girls, they don't want your really important hair, makeup type questions for her...maybe another time! But ask away!!!

Cheers! Heidi

Happy New Year!

Over the weekend most Jewish people celebrated the New Year. I'm told it's now the year 5767 - but I had to look it up. For the second time in my entire life, I missed going to services (the first time was to be in my friend Kim's wedding).

Instead of celebrating and reflecting over what a great year I've had, I had hives. Big, welty, itchy, stuff-of-horror movie hives. I spent the weekend knocked out cold by benedryl and steroids, or in Aveeno baths.

I only go to temple twice a year as it is, on Rosh Hashanah (New Year) and Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement, which is coming up Oct 1-2). If you want to learn more about these holidays, click here. It's like if you only go to church on Christmas and Easter, and you miss Christmas Mass. Because you can't sit still, you can't stop scratching, clothes feel like fire against your skin, and you feel like a lunatic.

Now, I'm a little hung over from all the medication and I am in mild shock that I MISSED ROSH HASHANAH. Sigh. To make up for missing the weekend, I wanted to let you in on a delicious tradition for the New Year - apples and honey. We eat them together and wish each other a 'sweet new year.' So, if you're looking for a new way to eat apples this autumn - try them dipped in honey!

Cheers, Lara

PS I'd love ANY and ALL advice on how to deal with hives!!!

Do you still read the comics?

For some reason, not many comics 'do it' for me any longer. Until I found Hilary......

Her comics Rhymes with Orange are hilarious!

This is the first one I found- and she had me at "hello"
(Click on picture to see it larger!!)

After all - we all need a little more fun and laughter in our life. Add this to your ChickChat Radio listening, and you are sure to be in a better mood.

Cheers! Heidi

Which is it, ladies - McDreamy or Finn????

Tonight's the night! Grey's Anatomy is back on the air! Actually, so is "The Office" AND "My Name is Earl"... but I digress.

The burning question on everyone's mind today is obvious. If you were Meredith, would you choose Finn....

or McDreamy???

The NY Post took a fan-in-the-street poll which declared Finn the winner. I didn't even remember that his name was Finn, and I finally got around to watching the season finale the day before yesterday. He's sweet and cute (and hello, cute butt!) HOWEVER - he is not my first choice.

If Meredith knew what was good for her long-term, she'd do her best to win George back. I know, it would make for boring tv. But once, just once, I'd like to see a fictional tv star make a smart choice in boyfriends. Second choice - fine, I'll go with Finn, he is cute!!

So...what do YOU think? Finn or McDreamy or....?

Wanna Join the Mile High Club?

They don't call it "HotLanta" for nothin'!

For only $299.00 you will have an hour flight in a Piper Cherokee Six designed exclusively for this purpose. Also included is a bottle of champagne and you get to keep your sheets as a souvenir of this special event.

WHAT? When you touch down, you "get to" strip the sheets off and walk off the tarmac with a pink/purple ball of "used" sheets??? Ummm....with all the airport workers snickering at you??? How romantic!!

"View from the Cockpit with the Curtains Open"

umm, no pun intended? And what??? Curtain? That is all that is between you and some strange man? I understand he wears headphones for your privacy....BUT, what if he gets kicked in the head by a foot? Just sayin...

I applaud the business savvy of these pilots, but I might do things a bit differently....maybe at least one of those folding doors between the lovely couple and the pilot.

And ya know, I'm just not sure I could look him (or anyone else at the airport) in the eye before or after this flight.....

Cheers! Heidi

What's your life-long dream?

I have NO INTEREST whatsoever in visiting the moon, or orbiting the earth, or being all cramped up in a spaceship for an extended period of time. Sometimes I get claustrophobic riding in an elevator!

HOWEVER - I have tons of respect for Anousheh Ansari, the 40-year-old chick who made her life-long dream of visiting outer space come true this week. She is the first woman to be a 'space tourist.' Maybe you've already heard that she was born in Iran, moved to the US when she was a teenager, became a zillionaire entrepreneur, and dreams of inspiring girls (particularly Iranian girls) to pursue their dreams.

I'm so impressed with her - she's FORTY (that seems young to me) and she's IN OUTER SPACE (whatever floats your boat!). She got the engineering degrees, she ponied up the $20 million needed for the trip - and now she's LIVING HER DREAM.

You can read a blog written by her admirers here. Now, I may have a PMS issue, but reading notes of support from Iranian girls, Americans, and even a British dude brought tears to my eyes, especially today. Just a reminder that we're all people...anyway, I'm going to have a glass of PMS Escape.

Anousheh, you go girl! Congratulations on making your dreams come true, and on inspiring so many others to do the same.

What's YOUR lifelong dream??

Cheers, Lara

98 Shopping Days Left!

And are you ready for Christmas?

What? You say" it's still summer"???? - but the Christmas catalogs are pouring in my mailbox. And we hear the big blow-up snowmen are on display at Costco!!

Where do we draw the line? At what point is it ok to send catalogs, advertise on TV, and set up the mall display?

I say November 1st is fine. (it gets earlier the older I get). I mean, I've got to get all my shopping done before December 1st. Thats the day that the D.C. Metropolitan area turns into a pumpkin. A MESS of harried holiday frenzied people clogging parking lots, roads and malls. I don't want any part of that. (in fact, I'd like a few of these folks to start a little sooner so they would chill the heck out).

BUT I can start in July just fine, and keep on doing list-making, shopping and planning without seeing Christmas decorations on 90 degree days in August and September. And I like the harvest feel of October to be unfettered by Christmas.

And I'll admit, Thanksgiving and Christmas are just fine all mixed in now. I mean really - aren't you ok with seeing the Rockettes on Thanksgiving day all dolled up in Santa's elf outfits??

What is the CHRISTMAS RETAIL PROMOTION START DATE to you?

Cheers! Heidi

Ann Richards

Ann Richards passed away this week at the all-too-young age of 73. Now, we at ChickChat Radio like to have a good time and we do our best to make you laugh. But when a magnificent woman like Ann passes, we have to pay our respects. Learn more about Ms. Richards here.

Have a great weekend!

Cheers, Lara

Are you a Mad Housewife?

How do you know if you are a Mad Housewife?
1. You are angry
2. You are crazy
3.. You love wine!!!!!!

Yup, its number 3! And it's been billed as the "Chick-Lit of Wine" -- and not only is it that fun. It's that GOOD!!!

Check out Mad Housewife Wines!

Imagine serving this at your next Girls' Night In, Book Club, or Birthday!

ChickChat tested -and approved!

Cheers Girls! Heidi

hello, audrey

Who doesn't love Audrey Hepburn? Sometimes a girl could use a reminder of what an amazing woman she was, and if you've seen the new Gap ad, you know what a great reminder it is. Check it out here. What movie is that from, you're wondering? It's from Funny Face!

When I think, "Audrey Hepburn, ahhh" - that's the image that comes to mind. But thanks to the Gap ad, I remember - she wasn't glamorous ONLY in couture, she raised the bar on every style, even JEANS!! OK I couldn't find any good photos of her in jeans, but certainly no one rocked the skinny black pant like she did.

I may actually get me some of them Audrey Hepburn black pants, even though I feel like a sucker for falling for an ad campaign. And compared to the glam shots above, the pants below are almost frumpy. But I don't care, I want to be able to pull on some clothes that make me feel petite (even though they'll be a size 12), pretty (by association), and like Audrey (I know, I'm dreaming!). Are you in??

Cheers, Lara

Have a Seat on the Cheetah Chaise!

Welcome to the Cheetah Lounge - have a seat on the cheetah couch, and top off your cocktail!

Its finally HERE!

Your Cheetah Chaise:

This is where YOU sit (recline & relax) when you join us every day for ChickChat!

It's a state of mind and we're building the perfect 'hangout' just for YOU.

Your view of studio:

Our view of you:

So, LETS TAKE A VOTE....what do YOU think we should add to the Cheetah Lounge next?

1. Pink Paint
2. Disco Ball
3. Cocktail Bar

??

Cheers! Heidi

What up, Carmex?

I flew from Boston to Denver for Labor Day weekend. Air travel just flat out sucks these days. There's no snacks and everyone's dehydrated from not bringing water on board. Since we can't bring most of our beauty supplies, most of us chicks look like crap by the end of the flight. I had to take a picture of what had been confiscated when I got to the airport - check out all the lip stuff!!

There are warnings posted all over the airports about how you're not supposed to bring liquids or gels thru security. In the picture, I get that whoever had the Asian toothpaste may not have understood all the signs and didn't know s/he was breaking the law. But whoever tried to smuggle on the Colgate, Purell, and baby sunblock - I just don't get it. Why couldn't the baby sunblock go in the checked bags? When were you/your baby going to be exposed to the evil rays of sun - in the terminal? on the flight? at baggage claim?

And to the larger lady sitting behind me on one of my flights, I have a message:

Screaming into your cellphone that "they took my mascara" made us all turn to check you out. Trust me, all us girls have beauty issues now that we can't bring our makeup and hairspray on board, especially on the longer flights. Your missing mascara is the least of your problems. I hope you contracted the same head cold that I did on that flight because we both looked like crap when we landed (just like every other woman on board), but some of us waited until we got to our blogs to complain in relative silence.

Cheers, Lara

Fall Bus-Stop Fashion

With only a few days of being a 'bus stop mom' (ugh) I have found the perfect way to win the War on Frumpiness at the bus-stop.

Its a cashmere SKULL MINI SKIRT
mmmm - cashmere.....mmmm

Now if I could just find the CASH....hmmmm...If I lived next door to RockStarMommy then we could split it and SHARE! But none of my neighbors fly their freak flag quite in this way... Oh well.

But I LOOOOVE my fellow bus-stop mom. I'm sad that the bus-stop dad who was a big fuzzy guy w/ white hair, white beard and an American flag do-rag is no longer there. But my bus-stop mom is SO COOL. She does flip flops and sweatpants. But she wins the War on Frumpiness in so many other ways.

Me? I'm just a freak. If I wore sweats, I'd lose that war because something inside me says "NO NO NO." I must add style, makeup and my golden rule: NEVER bus-stop without lipstick.

(and ask me how that "rule" is going say in November when the kids are sick and husband is out of town and I'm late for work.....: )

Cheers! Heidi

Hostess with the mostess? NOT!!

I hosted my first-ever grown-up cocktail party last night - what was I waiting for?? I forgot how much fun it is to kick back and have a few pops with the girls!

Of course, since I'm a novice, plenty went wrong. Since I didn't have enough time to set up properly, the party suffered greatly:

- Completely forgot to cook and/or serve the hot food. Frozen pig-in-blanket anyone? How about raw baked brie?
- Same thing with the garnish.
- Forgot to put out the soda, so the bar only had Costco-size bottle of vodka, Rose's Cocktail infusions, and martini glasses. I'm sure my pregnant friends appreciated that.
- Party started and I had NO makeup on and WET hair!
- Party started and I had NO makeup on and DRY FRIZZY hair!
- Forgot to take pictures, but when I remembered, I was so buzzed from the martinis that, well, it's probably better that no pix were taken!

But I know everyone had a good time, here's proof:

Note the well-depleted bottles of mixers. There were only 15 of us, and each drink uses about a shot glass of mixer. Either the girls got good n' tipsy or they were hopped up on the sugary sweet no-booze versions of the cocktails...either way they were drinking, and I hope they didn't notice what a LAME hostess I was!

Here's what else went RIGHT:
- I got to see all of my local girlfriends and at least say hello!
- I have enough leftover veggies for dinner tonight, and tomorrow night, and the night after that.....
- No one at the party knew everyone there - so I think everyone got to make a new girlfriend, and how often does THAT happen?!
- I have discovered my new favorite cocktail- Cranberry Martini, yum!!

Next time (and there WILL BE a next time), I'll get someone to help me prepare. And I won't be shopping at Costco for a cocktail party again, too many leftovers! In the meantime, I am happy to have my first real, grown-up cocktail party under my belt!

Have a great weekend!
Cheers, Lara