Placenta: It’s What’s for Dinner
by Lela Davidson on March 28, 2012
in motherhood
If you’re pregnant there are a million different things to consider: names for your baby, a color scheme for the nursery, whether or not you will breastfeed exclusively, and increasingly—how to prepare the placenta. Yes, my gestating friends, many of your contemporaries are adding “consume placenta” to the list of your maternal duties. Mad Men star January Jones swears by a hearty serving of placenta. She told theTelegraph, “We’re the only mammals who don’t ingest our own placentas.”
Sacramento pediatrician Dr. Melissa Arca says that while there are no reliable studies that prove the maternal benefits of eating one’s placenta, the anecdotal evidence is abundant.
Read the rest of this post on MSNBC Today Show Moms.
iVillage: Sometimes Being Last Pays Off
by Lela Davidson on March 23, 2012
in Northwest Arkansas, Suburban Bliss
Most of you do not know this, because I didn’t tell you, because I was sort of sad and pitiful, but I auditioned to be an iVillage iVoices video correspondent. I was rejected. And then I went and did it all over again. You know what happened, right? Because I am clearly NOT an iVillage iVoice video correspondent. (Because I think we all know how many times I would have mentioned it if I were. So, yeah, two rejections was humbling, but whatever. I’m used to it, and not because I’m being self-deprecating, but because rejection is a huge part of the writing business.
I was sad not to be the next big video star, but the people at iVillage, especially Kelly Wallace, were so kind and generous, that I couldn’t be even a little bit miffed. And I made some new online friends in the process. Love those.
Luckily, almost two years after initially applying for the video gig, iVillage decided to do a special report on the Best and Worst States for Women. I was thrilled when Kelly asked me represent Arkansas and I set out to show the world that we have teeth and are actually quite happy in the Natural State. This video features some of the very best women in Arkansas. And they are my friends, in real life. Love those, too.
I hope you’ll take a look and let me know what you think, about Arkansas, the ranking in general, or that unfortunate outfit choice.
Read more about the bottom 5 states on iVillage
Senior Center Chic: Tattoos?
by Lela Davidson on March 21, 2012
in Suburban Bliss
According to Grandparents.com, 10% of grandparents have a tattoo. One can assume that not all of them are ex-Marines or Hell’s Angels. Tattoos have become mainstream, even for the Golden Girls set. We don’t know when today’s grandparents acquired their body décor, but at a certain age, many of the standard cautions no longer apply. For example, maturity prevents some potentially regrettable design decisions. (Or, at least you live fewer years with “I heart Ron Paul” on your ankle.) A 2008 Harris poll revealed that tattoos make the people feel sexy, rebellious, and strong. I’m not sure what effect this would have on hip fractures, but I’m willing to keep an open mind.
Read the rest of this post on Today Show Moms.
Image: robstephaustralia, Flickr
Listen To Your Mother NWA Has a Cast!
by Lela Davidson on March 20, 2012
in motherhood, Northwest Arkansas
Couldn’t be more excited about our Listen To Your Mother Northwest Arkansas cast. We had to up our line-up from 12 to 14 to accommodate all the amzaing stories we heard. Head on over to the LTYM page to see who will be reading on April 29th, and then order your tickets. We will sell out quickly!
Calling for a Permission Slip Revolution
by Lela Davidson on March 19, 2012
in Rugrats, Tweens, & Other Offspring
My son texted me the other day because he had forgotten a permission slip and the teacher needed my approval to let him to watch a film. It wasn’tSaving Private Ryan or An Inconvenient Truth or even sex education. It wasRoots. Naturally, I was confused because when I was his age, the mini-series aired during primetime, bumping Laverne & Shirley and Three’s Company,if I recall. Why the need for consent? It’s not like the teacher wanted to take my son to Africa, or even to a Confederate state. I texted back that he could watch the movie with my blessing.
Read the rest of this post on Today Show Moms.
Welcome to the Age of the Cocktail Police
by Lela Davidson on March 16, 2012
in Rugrats, Tweens, & Other Offspring
Pouring a drink is legal, healthy and perfectly acceptable adult behavior. (So long as you’re not a Baptist.) And yet, my 6th and 8th grader are increasingly on my case whenever they catch me with a corkscrew in hand. Maybe instead of inundating our children with the dangers of alcohol, we ought to be educating them about its proper and diverse uses, such as celebrating special occasions, getting through uncomfortable family gatherings, or because it is Tuesday.
Read the rest of this post on Today Show Moms.
How Do You Face Fears?
by Lela Davidson on March 15, 2012
in It's All About Me
Honored to be included in guest over on Life After Tampons. Jennifer Boykin wanted to know how I get past fear, to realize my “big dreams.” How do I know? I suppose if the fear is something that can be associated with achieving a big dream, it’s not a real fear anyway. It’s a fakey first world kind of fear like “they might not like me” or “everyone’s going to find out I don’t know WTF I’m doing.” As opposed to your practical fears, such as “wonder if that water will make me shit my guts out” and “wow, that machete looks sharp.”
Head on over to Life After Tampons for mine and many other approaches to the question of fear. (The picture will make sense if you do.)
PS – Just to be clear, I’m not quite old enough for “Life After Tampons,” but I’m taking it as a compliment that I was invited to participate. Like, on account of I’m wise, and stuff.
From Blacklist to A-List! First Literary Award
by Lela Davidson on March 14, 2012
in Blacklisted from the PTA, It's All About Me
Couldn’t be happier to announce that Blacklisted from the PTA has been honored two literary awards from Reader Views.
My humble essay collection took First Place in the Humor category, and–in a huge surprise–also snagged the Reviewers Choice Best Nonfiction Book of the Year!
Many thanks to all who have supported Blacklisted and me.
If you’re interested in how I did it, please vote with your click to see me present at BlogHer12 in “So, You Want to Write a Book.”
Special Event Look: Live from My Bathroom
by Lela Davidson on March 13, 2012
in It's All About Me
Thanks to Walgreens for underwriting this post. I was paid as a member of the Clever Girls Collective, but the content is all mine. Visit http://www.discoverbeautywithin.com/
Let the magic begin
Other girls go to the spa, the salon, maybe the MAC counter. All I need to go from sad to special is a trip to Walgreen’s. Here is my “sad” look. I think the hockey mom shirt enhances the overall housewife milieu. Them are crystals y’all. (That will make sense later, I promise.)
I don’t know if you can see those grey hairs, but there are quite a few. I don’t love them, but I would like to pause for a moment of gratitude that they are not those squiggly kind. They are nice and smooth little previews of my golden years. So far. Still, I prefer a dark and warm tone. Bring on the color. I know, I know, “You color your own hair?” But here’s the thing – I used to have very short hair. Very. I think we can all agree the GI Jane look of 2006 was a severe breakdown in communication between my beloved stylist and myself. Anyway, having kept short hair for many years, I always self-colored. This, on the logic that if I screwed it up, I’d just get it cut off.
When I started to grow the new hair, I kept the old routines. Last time I got my haircut I asked my stylist if I needed to switch to professional coloring. He looked over both shoulders before whispering quickly, “Keep doing what you’re doing.”
Yes, that is the cheap stuff, and yes, it works just fine.
Velcro is the New Hot
I have burnt out my share of hot roller sets. Today’s electric rollers are nothing more than warm and miss the old burning hair scent, and the way hair spray would cake around the edges of the heating elements. [Big Sigh]
But what I love about the velcro rollers is that they are fat. Because for this particular special event, I wanted Texas hair.
I think I got it. what do you say? Very GCB? Y’all?
My Spring Fashion Trend: Carry On Luggage
by Lela Davidson on March 9, 2012
in It's All About Me
Will you take me shopping? Seriously, I hate it. Ask anyone. Very rarely I catch the wardrobe shopping mood and then, watch out! I make up for lost time. Still, I don’t enjoy it and usually end up with some unfortunate choices that may or may not be returnable. What I need is a stylist, and a personal shopper, and my very own tryer-onner.
Except for those shoes. I will try those on any day. And if you want to be my Loubou sponsor, I will buy them, too.
Back here in reality I have a lot of travel scheduled this spring. A girl wants to be cute, especially when one travels with Facebook enthusiasts. Also, I like to travel light, so I need things that work together.
Left to my own fashion sense, I’d stick with the tried and true white t-shirt with black slacks and a cardigan. So I decided to consult Pinterest for the latest fashion trends this spring. Stuff I learned:
- Bright colors are in. Cool.
- Metallics are in. Could be time to pull out the silver bag.
- Jackets over dresses a la Annie Hall and Elaine Benes appear to be making a come back. Tread carefully, Short Girl.
- Wedges still rock. Yes!
- Pattern skinny jeans? Not going to happen.
- Something called peplum is popular. I *think* that’s a waistline, and I *think* I could pull it off.
- Iris Apfel is amazing.
