This One Time? At Band Camp?
by Lela Davidson on January 24, 2012
in Rugrats, Tweens, & Other Offspring
“This one time? At band camp?”
I can’t help myself. It’s one of those stupid things that come out my mouth before I can help myself. I ONLY say it when they wear these t-shirts, which my daughter–the budding xylophonist–came downstairs wearing this morning. The older they get the more it irritates them.
“Mom, it’s not funny because we don’t know what it’s from.”
[snicker snicker]
“Either tell us or stop saying it.”
“No.”
In the carpool to school I might have said it again. The neighbor boy commiserated. “My parents say that, too.”
“It’s probably from Bridesmaids.”
“No way. It’s way older. My parents have been saying that since I was like four.”
“I’m going to google it,” said another neighbor. “There’s probably a YouTube video or something.”
God bless the internet.
Come Watch Funny Book Trailers With Me
by Lela Davidson on January 9, 2012
in Blacklisted from the PTA, It's All About Me
Ever since I created my own book trailer for Blacklisted from the PTA, I’ve been collecting other funny book trailers. Frankly, we need more, because there are a lot of funny books out there, as well as a lot of really boring books that people could be tricked into buying if only they had a humorous–though deceitful–promotional strategy. So far I’ve found six, from Linda Yellin, Jenna McCarthy, Alan Arkin, Sarah Maizes, Maya Banks, and of course yours truly. We need more. Truly.
So, get a snack, check out my collection of funny book trailers page, and let me know when you come across worthy additions. (While you’re at it, bring me something, would you? I’m thinking something in a salty/sweet with magical ass fat burning properties.)
Check Out These Posts, Too, If You Want:
Image: skypax pictures, Flickr
5 Books I’ve Resolved to Read in 2012
by Lela Davidson on January 5, 2012
in It's All About Me
I’m not big on making New Year’s resolutions, per se. However, I love the whole out-with-the-old-and-in-with-the-new attitude. Of course there is the requisite dieting, but only because I don’t fit into a single pair of jeans. Instead of boring you with my oatmeal and egg white regimen, I thought I’d channel my self-improvement enthusiasm into a reading list.
Here are five books I’ll read in 2012:
40 Days to Personal Revolution by Baron Baptiste
I read this one last January and tried to follow the 40-day “transformation” program that included daily yoga and meditation. Daily – that was the kicker.
Read the rest of this post on Modern Mom.
Random Bubbly:
Parenting Trends, and My Too-Tight Sweater
by Lela Davidson on January 2, 2012
in motherhood, Northwest Arkansas
I love doing the ParentingU segment on 5News. I love learning about the cameras and the mics and the when I’m supposed to shut up and when I’m supposed to talk. I even love getting up super early once in a while for the boost it gives the rest of my Monday.
And I LOVE those guys at KFSM. Mitch and Shane and… that other guy. The only thing I wish is that they’d offer up fashion advice when I need it. Like when my holiday cheese intake has been at odds with sweater, so that when I attached the mic (I do that myself, now, because I’m all like, knowledgeable, and stuff), I wish the boys would let me know that my sweater was all bunchy.
Oh, well. It’s not like I was there on a fashion assignment. We were talking parenting trends.
Slow-vaxing, home-birthing, yeah, yeah, whatever. My favorite part of this segment? Mitch’s joke about helicopter parenting. You’ll just have to watch.
Reflections of 2011, aka Holy Crap I Did All That?
by Lela Davidson on December 29, 2011
in It's All About Me, writing
I’ve received a lot of encouragement lately to spend more (okay, SOME) time reflecting on what I have accomplished. This, instead of just charging ahead. So I put it on my to-do list and here I am: Thursday, 10:45 – 11:15, Reflect. And what am I supposed to do, just sit here? No can do. A bullet-pointed list seems in order. We’re coming up on 2012, after all. I wouldn’t want the world to end without a digital record of my accomplishments.
2011, The Recap:
- Started representing Peekaboo magazine on the KFSM 5News ParentingU segment.
- Published in Chicken Soup for the Soul: New Moms.
- Presented a session on using Twitter to create community at SheCon new media conference in Miami.
- Published Blacklisted from the PTA, surpassing every single sales goal I set.
- Became a freelance contributor to the Today Show MOMS website.
- Became a columnist for Brooke Burke’s Modern Mom website.
- Pitched a story to Writer’s Digest about how to have a successful book launch party. To appear in the February 2012 issue.
- Released a video book trailer.
- Recorded my first audio essay and posted to this blog.
- Interviewed Wendy Williams for her “After the Show” website feature. They linked to my book.
- Applied for and was granted one of only ten national licenses to produce Listen To Your Mother in Northwest Arkansas.
- Invited to speak at several venues in 2012, including The Divorce Expo in Detroit, the Ozark Writer’s League annual conference in Branson, and the Oklahoma Writer’s Federation annual conference in Oklahoma City.
Girls Trip, New York City Style
by Lela Davidson on December 14, 2011
in It's All About Me, Reviews
This post is sponsored by Serve from American Express. Sign up for Serve and receive $10 credit towards your first use. Comment below within the next 7 days for your chance to win an extra $100 credit to your account!
A friend of mine is getting married in February, and although we would have loved to humiliate her with half naked men in the City of Sin, she wanted a pre-wedding celebration in New York City. No arguments from me. I combined a little work with a lot of play. Soon we, her friends, were emailing a blur of schemes and plans, trying to fit in all the things Our Girl wanted to do in the city.
Podcast: Holiday Baking Disaster
by Lela Davidson on December 14, 2011
in Blacklisted from the PTA, Susie Homemaker
I tend to think I can do anything. Most days this type of unreasonable confidence serves me well. And then I try to bake. I recorded this essay, which is included in Blacklisted from the PTA, to remind myself of my personal limitations. Thy name is KitchenAid.
(I don’t know if this officially counts as a podcast, but that sounds good so we’ll go with it.)
Things That Could Go Wrong While Baking
Looking for a few laughs for mom this holiday season? Order Blacklisted From The PTA in paperback or Kindle now.
Like This? Try These:
- Video Book Trailer for Blacklisted from the PTA
- My super fantastic recipe for Cheddar Dates
- Drive a Mile in My Minivan
Audio: Lela Davidson
My Wendy Williams Experience
by Lela Davidson on December 13, 2011
in Blacklisted from the PTA
A couple of months ago I was invited to interview Wendy Williams for a web feature she tapes daily called “After the Show.” Sounded cool, but the odds of me going to New York City on my dime for the opportunity were not good. And then a friend decided on New York for her pre-wedding girls trip. If I could multi-task, this just might work. Calls were made, emails flew, and soon I held two VIP passes and an appointment with the Queen of “how you doing?” herself.
In true Lela fashion, I did not get a proper photo with Ms. Williams. Lots of room for improvement in my personal celebrity photo opp department. But that’s okay, because I got fifteen minutes to chat with THE Wendy Williams about work, life, and balance. Here’s the video to prove it. (I start at the 5-minute mark.)
Before the interview, my friend and I watched the taping of the show. We took in the spectacle, the production, the complex process that led to the taping of a one-hour talk show in 30-second to 3-minute segments. There was a sexy dancing crowd warmer-upper, a sound mixer, DJ, a couple dozen producers, assistants, and producers, scores of instructions, and once the cameras started rolling… soap snow.
No joke. It snowed on us. Production VALUE!
If you’re thinking of attending a shoot like this, I suggest a pre-function cocktail. Or three.
My friend and I were fairly excited to find out that Real Housewife of New York / Skinny Girl / Bethenny Ever After Bethenny Frankel was the scheduled celebrity guest. It was fun to check her out at close range. She seemed cool enough in her segment on the couch. But even better…
I bumped Bethenny Frankel!
Okay, maybe not exactly, but I like the sound of it. You see, when the lovely PR contact showed us to the green room to wait for the interview. An attractive young man from Bethenny’s entourage wanted to talk to my PR contact, in private. We were shown into the room and the door was closed. I was sure this spelled the end of my interview, before it began. But those walls in the sound stage building, they don’t go all the way to the ceiling. After some low talking we heard Bethenny.
Apparently Ms. Frankel had been waiting around (at least 45 minutes), hoping to see Wendy Williams again. Our contact patiently — and repeatedly — explained that Ms. Williams didn’t always meet with guests after the show and had something previously scheduled. (That was me!) Eventually we were shown into Wendy Williams hyper-pink office. She was lovely and warm and absolutely professional. It looks glamorous from our side of the screen, and I’m sure it has it’s moments, but hosting a television talk show is a huge amount of work. Huge.
But, anyway… back to me. I gave Wendy a copy of Blacklisted from the PTA and she totally teased me with a money shot–holding the book up for the camera while she talked about how much she liked what the cover image represented.
And then they cut that part. Of course.
Oh, well. I bumped Bethenny. That’s something.
Holiday Hair: Myth or Magic?
by Lela Davidson on December 6, 2011
in It's All About Me
Very disturbing news in the inbox today. I have been invited to write about my “go-to” holiday hairstyle. Upsetting not only because I do not personally possess such a thing, but also because I had no idea this was a thing. So now, in addition to having a) no failsafe holiday hair, and b) zero invitations to impromptu events requiring “holiday hair,” I also have to spend the rest of the season feeling inferior in the knowledge that others have both. Also, I am now obsessed with something called a sock bun. Thanks a lot, BlogHer.
So now I’m supposed to post about my go-to holiday hairstyle.
Um… clean?
My best friend in high school had an older sister who was a hairdresser. When I was sixteen she cut layers into my permed hair and told me about a technique she’d seen demonstrated at a recent hair show. At the end of the cut the stylist rubbed the client’s head around in his crotch and threw her back upright. He called it “the freshly f-cked look, direct from Dallas.”
Theatrical, yes. Perhaps I was unduly influenced, but ever since then I figure the messier the better. No hairstyle survives a good time, anyway. That’s not really a go-to holiday hairstyle, is it? Maybe some tinsel would help?
Surely, you have a better suggestion than mine – you should leave it in the comments here, or just do what the woman in the video does– you know, if you have those horrible long, thick locks. While you’re at it, enter to win $250 in BlogHer’s Life Well Lived sweepstakes. I did. Because mama needs some blowout.
Image Credit: hansvandenberg30, Flickr
Farewell, Beloved Liquid Liner
by Lela Davidson on December 5, 2011
in It's All About Me, Reviews
Thanks to L’Oreal for sponsoring my post about my favorite beauty looks, tips and tricks! Check out Makeup.com for beauty advice from the experts.
I have been enjoying smoky eyes, black eyeshadow, and liquid liner for a while. Maybe too long. It’s time for a change. I never want to be one of those cosmetic tragedies who get stuck in a look far past its time. I’ve seen too many makeover shows, not to mention trips to Walmart. I have always loved makeup.
Milestones in my personal makeup history:
1970: Skipped the Bonnie Belle and practiced with mom’s considerable makeup collection (some of which I guarantee I could find in her bathroom today.)
1984 – Listened to Van Halen and Def Leppard; embraced the look. No 8th grader needs black eyeliner. No two 8th graders need to share eyeliner in the bathroom at school. Try as we did, Pink Eye Chic never caught on at Vista Middle School.
