Why Do Men Do This?

When guys stick a Naked Woman silhouette sticker on their back window - or a classic mudflap --- what message are they trying to send??

I'm just askin.' I was driving behind one of these trucks on Route 95 in North Carolina. I had lots of time on my hands. So I started thinking (it's very dangerous). What is this saying?

Are these men trying to say: "I like naked women" ??

Wow - that is DEEP dude -- do you REALLY? really? a MAN? Liking a naked woman? WHO KNEW???

I can't help thinking, Ok, you put a naked woman on your truck. I, as a woman, think to myself, huh, that's nice- but I'd rather see a NAKED MAN on your truck. I'd stop and spend more time with you. Naked Women are not attracting me to you..... ( BIG GUY TIP HERE: it's actually a huge red flag and we RUN in the other direction).

IN FACT, a naked woman on your truck is ACTUALLY ATTRACTING OTHER MEN!! Are you gay? If not, good, because you are in fact attracting Straight Men (not gay men - who would like the same stickers I would like!!!)

Us Chicks should be putting the Naked Woman stickers on OUR cars to attract YOU DUDES. Right????

DUDES, if you wanna attract us LADIES -- THIS IS WHAT YOU NEED ON YOUR TRUCK:

THERE IS NOTHING HOTTER THAN A MAN VACUUMING!!

Do ya feel me?

Cheers! Heidi

What's your favorite TV catchphrase??

The first step is admitting you have a problem. I admit it, I have a problem.

I am a TV addict.

Days like today are special - Sarah from iVillage's TV Cocktail is going to hang out in the Cheetah Lounge today at 3 pm ET (click here to either listen live or download the podcast later), I get dizzy with excitement just thinking about talkin' tv with an expert!

Maybe she'll tell us what HER favorite TV catchphrase is.

TV Land has come up with a list of the 100 best TV catch phases - check out the whole list here.

Here are mine - not all of them made TV Land's list, but what the heck:

1. "We are all...HOT NUDE LADIES!!!" - Campus Ladies
2. "He broke up with me on a post-it" - Sex & The City
3. "And hey, let's be careful out there" - Hill Street Blues
4. "Tell me what you don't like about yourself" - Nip/Tuck
5. "Here it is, your moment of Zen" - The Jon Stewart Show
6. “Up your nose with a rubber hose” - Welcome Back Kotter
7. "Oh, Louuuuuuuuuuuu" - Mary Tyler Moore
8. "Now let's see what's happening in YOUR neck of the woods" The Today Show
9. Saturday Night Live 3-way tie:
"That's the news and I AM OUTTA HERE" "Good night, and have a pleasant tomorrow" "Jane, you ignorant slut"
10. (whispers) - Lost

What are some of yours???

Cheers, Lara

Life is a Highway

....and I wanna ride it all night long...

And we did. Virginia to Florida on Route 95 on the eastern seaboard. Along with the rest of at least half of the United States for the Thanksgiving Day weekend.

Here’s what my kids did with the cars on my parents front carpet the next day. They called it “traffic”

What entertained the kids the most? Guess...
1. Food
2. Toys
3. Brand spanking new portable DVD player
4. Truckers

Yup, if you picked #4 - you are RIGHT.

God Bless Truckers. I LUUURRRVVVVE Truckers.

My 'romance' started in the early '70s. Being in a military family, car trips were the way to get to (a) family during holidays or (b) wherever we were moving.

And when you are 5 or so, car trips bite. Boring. So my sister and I would amuse ourselves w/ fellow travellers. We soon found out that anyone in a car was a boring white-bread no fun stick-in-the-mud. AND, we found out that both Bikers and TRUCKERS ROCKED. We "Peace Signed" them all -- and they 'peace-signed' back, and smiled and looked glad to see us.

I came to love anyone fuzzy, rough looking and learned they knew how to have a good time. And they all seemed to have a good heart. Who else could have fun with a 5 year- old and a 9 year-old on the highway????

MMMMWWWAAA - big trucker KISS to all you Truckers. Thanks for entertaining me when I was little, and thanks for carrying on the tradition for my kids.

I'm welling up here....

Cheers! Heidi

Are you a Calendar Girl??

So is your Holiday shopping done yet?? Hannukah starts in TWO WEEKS, and I'm starting to freak out! I haven't even STARTED yet!

Ever since that "Calendar Girl" movie, it seems like people are taking their clothes off left and right to make calendars. Let's just say that spirit gets the ChickChat stamp of approval!!

Here are two Holiday Shopping ideas, for those ladies on your list who are hard to shop for...

You can order this calendar here.

According to the website, "100% of the proceeds from the calendar are contributed to our 21,000+ wounded service men, women, and their families." And hello, a different smokin' hot serviceman every month? Yahoo!

Not your cup of tea?

How about this one:

You can order this one here...in fact, there are TWO calendars to choose from! Yay capitalism! Some of the proceeds from these calendars go to fire safety education. Hmm...I don't know so much about fire safety, maybe I need a private tutor???

How's YOUR holiday shopping going??

Cheers, Lara

Yummmm - Turkey!

It's Thanksgiving Week! Turkey Time!

But if you were given only ONE item for Thanksgiving day dinner...what would it be?

1. Sweet Potatoes
2. Turkey
3. Pumpkin Pie
4. Green Bean Casserole
5. Cranberry relish/salad
6. Mashed Potatoes
7.The Wine/Cocktail
8. OR - you have a VERY odd family tradition? What REALLY strange thing does your family traditionally prepare?

Cheers! Heidi

P.S. supposedly, you really can do this to your turkey like the above picture... by covering the parts you don't want 'tanned' with tinfoil -- worth a try, no???????

Is this too much?

How would you like to live next to THIS guy? His name is Dominic Luberto, and this house is in Boston.

Some fun facts:

- Will work up to 250,000 lights, house is 8500 square feet

- Lights automatically switch on at 4:30 pm and off at 1:30 am (will go later as Christmas gets closer)

- Electric bill: $1100/month, TEN times the usual amount

- Started putting lights up 72 days before Christmas: That's OCTOBER, people - OCTOBER!

- Best quote from neighbor-hater: "I'm living next to Las Vegas"

Every day, 47,000 people drive by Dominic's house. A few weeks ago, I was one of them. It is spectacular! I happen to love the over-done houses, and this one is no exception.

Anyway - what do you think? Too much? Is too much ever enough when it comes to decorating your house for the holidays?? I don't celebrate Christmas and I live in an apartment, so for now, I'm just an observer. So I support Dominic and love his holiday spirit!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Cheers, Lara

New Character for Macy's Parade

Did you hear they remade Charlotte's Web? There is a new "live action" film out soon. So of course that means Wilbur the Pig as a new 'balloon' for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

For the new "live action" movie - instead of Debbie Reynolds, we have Julia Roberts as Charlotte. I can't imagine anyone else being as womanly and soothing as Debbie's voice.

But more distressing to me is the fact that we can't have Paul Lynd as my FAVORITE character Templeton. I fancy myself as sorta a Templeton. I LURRRVVVE Templeton. But we have Steve Buscemi's voice for the new film....so we'll see.

BUT, we always knew Paul Lynd was a Cheetah Lounge kinda guy....

So anyway, we'll see how the 'new' Wilbur balloon looks. I'm not sure I'm a fan of any of the freaky balloon things (or the freaky lip-synching either) ... just the Rockettes.

But what is your favorite Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade balloon/character? Or is there another part you like better? (remember people, no Katie Couric this year...we'll be trying Meredith out!!)

Cheers! Heidi

Can you eat your clothes?

Last week was the Chocolate Fashion Show in New York City. What could be better - chocolate and fashion, finally together!

One chocolatier went to Heatherette to design a fabulous chocolate dress. You know, THIS Heatherette:

I guess they did some of the styling for Sex & The City...anyhoo - here's what they came up with:

Isn't it fabulous!?? I love it! Well, unfortunately, it wasn't gonna work as drawn- think hot lights, heavy and melt-y chocolate, and all those starving models hanging out backstage!

Here's what they came up with instead:

Still fabulous!! You may recognize Nena (the model) from America's Next Top Model. Isn't it cute? It's 23 pounds of chocolate (including some tulle underneath for volume). Doesn't it look fun AND delicious?? I sure wish I had more left over Halloween candy....

Cheers, Lara

Would You Pose Nude at 70?

Ok, slightly clothed maybe?

Don't act so shocked! If Sophia Loren can do it, you can too!!

She is posing for the famous Pirelli Tire Calendar. And really, just like The Rockettes, this is a dream come true for any girl. And now at any age!!

It's Eurpean nudity - which is different than down home American nakedness. It's classier. It's exotic. It's HOT.

And we're not shocked about her choice - she's always been a ChickChat girl....she LOVES her cheetah!!

Sophia, you've WON the War on Frumpiness.

Now girls, tell us, would you pose nude? at any age? (remember, we have airbrushing now : )

Cheers! Heidi

Is a burrito a sandwich??

What's with Massachusetts and sandwiches? First the fluffenutter, now this.

Seems a sandwich shop had a lease that promised no other sandwich shops would open nearby. When a Mexican restaurant opened, the sandwich shop sued the landlord, claiming burritos are sandwiches. They lost. So, according to the long arm of the law in Massachusetts, a burrito is not a sandwich. But hello, they took it to court?? And had EXPERTS on SANDWICHES testify. What a waste of time.

When will the sandwich maddness end in Massachusetts?? Next up: Is Peanut Butter and Jelly really such a good idea??

What do you think -- Are lobster rolls sandwiches? Hot dogs? Calzones? HAMBURGERS???

Cheers, Lara

The Greatest Sacrifice of All....

I am the granddaughter of two Navy Submariners. And the daughter of a Navy Submariner.

ChickChat is all about having fun - but as my grandfather always says - "If it weren't for veterans, you'd be speaking Japanese." (or German).

ChickChat celebrates sharing, and we are your best friends when you can't get together with them. But imagine seeing your best friend die.....

Thank you each an every Veteran who has given for our country.
And especially those who now feel forgotten (young and old).

You are not forgotten. Especially on Veterans Day.

My military family sends a lot of military emails - I got one that was a slide show with a song last year....I transcribed the song. You can find the song/visuals here. I can never make it through w/ dry eyes.

Quietly you’ve all turned grey
You did your job you saved our way
Our life and freedom you’ve preserved
We thank you less than you deserve

You’ve never boasted bragged or asked
For adulation for your past
You did the job you knew was right
And quietly you cry at night

For bodies maimed and comrades lost
For sights beyond our furthest thoughts
For what you lived and felt and seen
For what the cost of freedom means

You leave us blessed w/ every breath
That cost you arms and legs and death
You won the worst and greatest war
We owe you more, we owe you more

Thank you for your wondrous feats
For hope and speech and quiets streets
For worship as we choose to pray
For preservation for our way (chorus)

Before you go we need to show
That in your silence we still know
What accomplished and what you did
For who we are and how we live

So go with love from wives and sons
And daughters for a job well done
For kids who have never seen a tank
We give you thanks we give you thanks

Thank you for your wondrous feats
For hope and speech and quiets streets
For worship as we choose to pray
For preservation for our way (chorus)

For homes and jobs and baseball games
For many colors many names
You saved our lives and we are still free
From shining sea to shining sea

Thank you
Thank you
Thank you go in peace.

Lyrics: Sam Bierstock

Cheers, Heidi

How do you care for a cold?

I have a head cold and I'm souped out. I've eaten nothing but soup for 3 days - chicken vegetable, pumpkin white bean, and mushroom barley. Yes I'm lucky - my boyfriend went to a soup place and got me all kinds of soup when I came down with this pesky bird flu - er, head cold. Today's soup will be eggplant parmesan, and then that's it for me - no more soup for a while!

Don't get me wrong - I love soup! But enough already.

What do you eat when you're sick to feel better? Please help, I'm looking for ideas!

Cheers, Lara

Favorite Quote - Chick Inspiration....

Being at Camp Bombshell reminded me of one of my favorite quotes - and one of the reasons for doing this radio show:

I am only as strong as

the cocktails I drink,

the hairspray I use,

and the friends I have.

And I think the picture from 'Old Acquaintance' has all three (cocktails, lots hairspray, and friends...)

What's your favorite quote??? Share!

Cheers! Heidi

p.s. yes, I know there is a guy in the top photo. But look at him - he's gay. And we all need a gay guy pal don't we????

How do you take care of yourself?

Heidi's already described some of the fun we had at Camp Bombshell, here's more proof!

Here we are at the campfire...

And at the "booth"...

To me, the most inspiring part of the weekend was looking around at all the really busy women who took a weekend off from their lives to meet new friends, play like they were kids again, and relax (except for during Color War, which got quite competitive!). The Bombshells talk about "putting yourself at the top of your to-do list," and that got me thinking...

When's the last time YOU took a bubble bath? Ate popcorn for dinner? Fell asleep cradling the phone as you giggled with your best girlfriend? Went for a walk? Wrote in a journal or read a book that interested you?

We don't take good enough care of ourselves, ladies! Obviously we don't have time, but look ahead. Do you see a time coming up when you'll be less busy? Or if you're like me - you're not even juggling kids and a husband and a job - you're just not paying close enough attention to yourself. Sadly, I think we tend to put ourselves at the bottom of our to-do lists.

Prove me wrong, and tell me this: What do you do on a regular basis to take care of yourself???

Cheers, Lara

What is YOUR Favorite Camp Memory?

You DID go to camp as a kid didn't you???? Don't you MISS it??? And even if you didn't get to camp as a kid-- YOU STILL CAN!

Lara and I are back from Camp Bombshell!!!!

The Miami Bombshells who wrote 'Dish & Tell - Life, Love, and Secrets' put on camps year-round. No men, no kids - just fun!

Lara and I drank wine, ate chocolate, toasted marshmallows (see a theme?), sang camp songs, played color war games and chatted with a lot of Chicks!!!

We'll be putting together some of the audio snippets from some amazing women we met. AND The Today Show was there taping for a segment on women's getaways -- soooo, you might see the video early December.

Here's our portable "Cheetah Lounge" for the event! It seems my camera didn't work when we took pictures of it WITH us sitting there!! duhhhh - you would think with digital I could make sure, but um, nope. We'll share more fun pictures as they get rounded up.

When I was a kid, my favorite part of camp was belting out CRAZY songs around the camp fire, because, well, if you listen to ChickChat you KNOW I can't sing. Lara especially painfully knows it.

One of my FAVORITE things at Camp Bombshell? I chose this time something I'm a little better at --- We learned Zumba!

Lara & I with the AWESOME ZumbaChicks!! (instructors)

um Ladies - can you say NICE ABs????

When was the last time you had a chance to bond and make new "Favorite Memories"? If not recently - take a look back....What is YOUR favorite camp memory?

Cheers! Heidi

Who would you give $1K to?

Oprah gave out $1,000 debit cards to all 300 members of her audience the other day, and told them to give it away to someone who needs it. You get a thousand dollars! And YOU get a thousand dollars! Everyone gets a thousand dollars!

A couple of conditions:

They can't give the money to family members.

They were loaned DVD recorders to tape their experiences, and the recorders have to be returned.

Oprah says that she gets as much happiness from giving as her recipients do from getting - wouldn't you LOVE to find out what that feels like???

This would be a no-brainer for me, even though I have a couple of favorite charities. If I had been in the audience, I would have given the money to a research foundation for ALS (click here), founded by Jamie Heywood. He started ALS TDF when his brother Stephen (who I went to school with, from 1st thru 12th grades) was diagnosed with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.

Stephen and his family are the subjects of an incredible documentary I saw this week, "So Much So Fast." It shows in acute detail what it is like to have a degenerative "orphan" disease. It was an "audience selection" at Sundance this year - for more info click here. It's the kind of movie that makes you wonder what you can do to help.

So, what would you do with the $1k if you'd been in Oprah's audience??

Cheers, Lara