Overrated List

What's overrated for me might bring pleasure to another... so don't hate me ("because I'm...") for my list:

- Mail
- Shrimp
- Coach bags
- Skiing
- National Junior Honor Society (this one will make enemies)
- Salmon
- DSW
- Rachel Ray
-  iPads (and I LOVE Apple products)
- BBMing!
- "Dancing With The Stars" (Yuck)
- Pottery Barn furniture
- UGGs (for 30+)
- lonnnnng School Vacations
- Droid phone
- BMW and Mercedes SUV's
- Starbucks
- Harry Potter movies
- Antique Reproductions
- Rudeness
- Panini Presses
- Scented Candles
- expensive Broadway Musicals
- Adult evenings discussing 'the kids' and nothing else!

Love to hear from you about what's on your overrated list...
My underrated list is much bigger and probably less offensive too. Stay tuned this week for that one.

Inspiration from Art Basel Miami which took place this past weekend... wish I could have attended!

A Very Fine Plan

They have a TV show the kids really like!

silly funny... kind of a cult (niche) following 

Sometimes the best layed plans really do work, as in last Saturday... My friend Sue and I took five teen boys (14 - 18) into NYC via train to Penn Station to see the comedy team of Tim and Eric at the Best Buy Theater in Times Square.  This was her treating us for her older sons's birthday.  The younger brother got to invite a friend, that's where we come in to the picture.

It was a perfect afternoon/evening:  We took a 3 o'clock train and arrived at 4pm, then we hoofed it 11 blocks to 44th Street to get on line early for general admission.  We did our mothering thing for awhile until they shooed us away.  We killed about a half hour sizing up the situation and offering a myriad of instructions about staying together etc, etc... It wasn't that hard to leave with the thought of a glass of wine and dinner waiting for the Moms!  They had about an hour to stand on line and and an hour to wait inside and the show didn't start until 7pm, ending at about 9:15pm... So we had a comfortable amount of time to dine and even get some shopping in too.

  We dined at a favorite spot,  I wrote about last year,  Gallo Nero Wine Bar and Restaurant, mostly for the atmosphere, small, intimate (not noisy) and beautiful candle lighting, a great place to relax with an amazing wine selection.  The grilled octopus with olives and capers was fantastic and a first for my friend, the rest of the Italian fare was good but a little salty... but boy did we enjoy ourselves!
After a most enjoyable dinner we sauntered back to Times Square with about an hour left to shop.  Since Hannukah was only a few days away (Dec. 1), I had a few little things left to buy the kids which I found at the Billabong Super Store right near the theater at 44th and Broadway... I bought long socks to go with the latest trend of wearing lacrosse shorts in Winter, and a cool hat too.
Then we went into the bustling Levi's Superstore where I spotted some great stuff for me and today I see on their website that there's 40% off on many items, including this sweater I liked...

Fair Isle Sweater, was $89, now 40% 0ff

... great with these black legging jeans

We were back at the theater just in time as they were letting out, but none of our kids came out!  First we were a little panicked, but then we remembered that they were selling merchandise, like posters and T-shirts, and since they're our kids we knew they would be shopping too.
We had to run to make the 9:51 train and we did with only 4 minutes to spare...
I was tired, but a good tired, after hosting Thanksgiving, a cousin sleepover at our house, running the kids around on Friday, and this satisfying Saturday, I knew I would sleep well and rest on Sunday.

Thanks Sue for a great time had by all!

Yo SITStahs!

Welcome to my blog... I roll out the PINK CARPET to you... and thank you for visiting 'Mama Lisha Lifestyle'...

Today is my special day in the spotlight among the thousands of SITStahs, the blogging SITStahs, the FABULOUS community of SITS girls... over 7,000 women bloggers supporting one another in this wild and crazy place called the blogosphere... where we're explorers of sorts...  21st Century explorers!

First... News... 
Did you know that, "More than half of web users will read blogs this year."... says eMarketer in a recent article, "The Continued Rise of Blogging".
Blogs will eventually become invisible...  that's not a bad thing, it just means that blogs are quickly becoming such an integrated part of our global social fabric that they will "become indistinguishable from other media channels".


About Me...

I'm a Mom (50+) and artist (painter), with a wonderful and dedicated (doctah) husband, and two great boys ages 12 and 14, who I love watching grow into (almost) men... and as their 'voices' and 'pits' call out, are BOTH experiencing full-blown puberty. 

  

Why "Yo" in my post title?... because I come to you from "New Yawk", and that's how they tawk around heea... the suburbs of Long Island... where seeking a richer life (as my tag line says) "for my family, myself, and anyone who will listen" is certainly a challenge and I love challenges!


Why Blog?
Having had a wonderfully exciting and fulfilling career (pre-kids and husband), I've had to reinvent myself along the way, using creative outlets that are available to me like painting, raising kids, and now blogging.

"I focus on family life with a creative and cultural bent. I like to write about food, fashion, family fun, art, music, and education."

Blogging is the perfect way to 'connect all the dots'... a way to tie your vision of things together, and connect that to people with similar interests, to cross-pollinate or link people and things together.  My post, Turn Off TV... Turn On Stumbleupon is about a great search engine, a tool connecting you to your specific interests.

How about a blog post for those of you who have had careers and are now full-time Moms... In a Former Life or one about the First Day of School.

For those foodies and fashionistas out there or Moms who just need some inspiration, there's Cranberry Compote Like Never Before, It's a Wrap!, or Spanx for Him?!

Epilogue...
After seeing my blog last month an editor of an online newspaper hired me as a freelance writer... so SITStahs, as they say around here, ya nevah know...

Wishing my SITStah bloggers wonderful things now and in the future...

Thanks for visiting!

Yeah SITStahood!

I'm so excited, no not that it's Friday, yes I'm happy it's Friday, but I'm excited about the BIG news I got last night after my husband and I were leaving Back-To-School night at my sons middle school.  Music to my ears...  those three (or is it four) notes that alert me to an incoming email on my phone broke the silence as we were leaving the parking lot.  After reading and rereading the email,  I realized it was a message notifying me that it was finally my turn to be in the mommy blogging spotlight... WOW!

That means that Monday, in just three days, it's my special day to be a featured blogger on The SITS Girls, The Secret is in the Sauce, a wonderfully supportive community of 7,000 women that blog.  They show their support by leaving comments.  I'm nervous and excited and I have work to do to get ready.

So for those of you that read and support my blog but have no idea what this is all about, first of all... THANKS...  and 'stay tuned' for a glimpse into the blogosphere and just how BIG and limitless it is... you may find some women whose voices you relate to and you may want to follow their blogs too!

Thanks Tiffany and Mama Kat!

Have a great weekend and as my Dad would say, "Hurry back y'all!".

If Things Could Speak

It's 2010 and THINGS can speak, now that there are companies like Stickybits, "a fun and social way to attach digital content to objects"...

Stickybits

 In The New York Times Magazine, September 5th issue, Rob Walker wrote a short, but eye-opening article about a technology that will change how we see 'things'...  just scan an object (it's barcode) and you'll get the story of the thing, maybe more data than you cared to know, but it's powerful stuff with many applications...

Itizen is another company, "offering an online service that provides a way to tell, share, and follow the 'life stories' of interesting things".
It's free to sign up with these companies and for instance, Stickybits has teamed up with Zazzle to offer products that make great gifts, or if you're in the job market, you can order a business card where you can attach your resume to it for a potential employer... that would surely impress them!

The Ice Queen Cometh!

Imagine boasting to own the title of "The Ice Queen"... there are plenty of ice queens... I happen to know a few myself... but none that deserve the title more than Dominique Colell from California who carves ice with a chainsaw while donning a white gown in the sub-zero temps of Alaska!  She and her 70-year-old Dad make up 'Team Ice Queens' carving a 50-foot Eiffel Tower...

... competing against 3 other teams including 'Team Texas', a few Bad boys from the Lone Star state carving a delicate spider and scorpion sculpture... the show "Chainsaw Ice Sculptures:Challenge Alaska" airs this Monday on TLC at 10:00pm...

It's fast-paced, it's dangerous... the perfect formula for a show my kids will watch... a great family activity.

Let me know what you think on Monday... leave a comment below.

Have a great weekend!

Across Generations

Mom and kids at a Phish concert, Jones Beach amphitheater...
Tuesday night at 8:00pm there was no more countdown, the long awaited moment all summer was finally here, my 14 year old son, his friend and I were sitting in a naked stadium theater, inexperienced Phish fans that we are, waiting... at a little past 6:30 for a 7:30 concert, which if you're in the know you know rarely starts on time.  They had their concert T-shirts, food in their bellies (which is like filling your gas tank, every hour of everyday throughout puberty), photos to prove we were there (which I already proved by the big dent in the credit card), and then it was just about the wait... tick, tick, tick...

6:30pm... the blonde is mine

just about to start

What most of us were seeing on our phone cameras

Building to a crescendo

Everyone was dripping in sweat from the humidity in the air, but mine was MORE than that...  but how many woman would admit to having a 'hot flash' at a rock concert!... maybe it's this... how many women who have 'hot flashes' go to rock concerts!!!... 

My generation likes Phish because there are 60's influences in their music... they're noted for musical improvisation and extended jams... their music blends genres... with rock, jazz, funk, folk, blues, and classical mixing.  My son who plays guitar is exploring many genres of music himself...

The concert was just great with an explosive light show

Last year he went to see Phish with his dad, so now we're set for awhile... in October we;re planning to see Pat Metheny... hopefully I'll be finished with the hot flashes... probably  NOT!

We got home at 1am... way past my bedtime!

The Digital Bookmobile Came To Town!

A Pleasant Surprise...
Yesterday, my 14 year old son and I just happened upon an eBook 'eVent' at our Long Island, NY library... it's hard to miss an 18 wheeler in the parking lot...

Download digital books, audiobooks, video and music... This FREE download service is available through the library website 24/7... and all you need is a PC, MAC, and many mobile devices too (i.e. Sony Reader, Apple iPod iTouch, MP3, etc.)...

Inside the Bookmobile

 All you do is Browse, Check Out, and Download...  so easy... To learn more about it and to check out the digital collection go to www.suffolkwave.org or go to the library website and look for 'Digital Bookmobile'... Millions of people are already using digital readers!

My only disappointment is that music and video are not available on MACs and it also doesn't work with The Kindle because the books are purchased from Amazon.

So parents, before school starts, now is a good time to check it out... oh, and many libraries throughout the country support this same service so ask at your library.

I'll Be Dancing Today!

I'm not dancing just yet... it's too early... perhaps after my coffee al fresco on this beautiful New York morning... I know it's National Dance Day and I love to dance and I have something to dance about today...
The wonderful blog "Writing Without Periods" has interviewed me today as the "Sensational Woman Saturday"!
OK dancing...
When I was a kid, my dream was to be a dancer on the popular TV show at that time "Hullabaloo"...

I wanted to be that 'Go-Go Girl'...

Today, I'm addicted to watching the Fox TV show "So You Think You Can Dance"...

My 12 and 14 year old boys love to dance too!

Enjoy your weekend and express yourself through dance.

Dance Day!

Tommorrow, Saturday, is a special day... on a national level it's the first ever "National Dance Day" and on a personal level it's my special day to be interviewed as a featured blogger for "Sensational Woman Saturday", on a sensational blog called "Writing Without Periods!".... I hope you'll check out the interview and her blog about life after 40!... of which there is plenty!

Now, about National Dance Day (NDD)... this is an event created by So You Think You Can Dance co-creator Nigel Lythgoe and made official by Congress, to encourage the nation to get healthy through dance!  I love dance, and I love the show because it's a way to see serious dance (modern is my favorite) for FREE!  On NDD most events are happening on the 'left coast'... with a few exceptions, one being The Mall in Washington D.C. , but I say, 'JUST DANCE'... you can even upload your own dance video with instructions from the link above.  Also check out Dizzy Feet for the official dance of the day.

I thought I would start the weekend with a warm up tonight by attending the Huntington Summer Arts Festival at Hecksher Park in Huntington, NY... where Latin guitarist Raul Midon will play his flamenco and jazz-infused music... and I with my own dizzy feet will be 'swagging out' to the beat !  You can picnic there too...

Coke vs. Pepsi

I'm not a soda drinker, but once in a while, say,... on 100 degree days like we've been having this week in NY, I enjoy a cold glass of.................... COKE, sorry PEPSI fans, too sweet (with an after taste too).

My son loves it like his Mom

Of course, we know sugar doesn't really quench ones taste, so for that I stick to water and I do like a good cold beer also, especially with say a 'lobster roll' like the fabulous one I had this July 4th in Mattituck at Love Lane Kitchen!

Menu board at Love Lane Kitchen

July 4th flower arrangement at our table

Are you a COKE or PEPSI fan?

Times Square in Perfect Light

TIME & PLACE: Yesterday in Times Square on the way to a Broadway show...

I used to work on 46th between 6th and 7th Avenues... Times Square... a lot has changed over the years for the better.  In all those years I never stood on line at TKTS for discounted Broadway show tickets. Probably because I'm not a lover of Broadway theater, I prefer off or off off Broadway... I'd rather go to a museum, gallery, or a movie... maybe that's because I'm a visual artist, but that doesn't mean I don't enjoy the Broadway spectacle...
Yesterday I travelled from Long Island into the city with two friends on a mission to see a Broadway show... decisions decisions, that's what we did while waiting on line (about 10:30am) on the most beautiful day (sunny, mid 70's, no humidity) I can remember, we had to have our list of shows (listed on the board) we wanted to see in order of preference before we reached the ticket booth... Fela!, Memphis, South Pacific... Fela! it was (at 50% off) front row mezzanine!

My view of Times Square while waiting on line...

Fela! is a great story (based on Nigerian musician and activist Fela Kuti's life in the late 70's), and actor Sahr Ngaujah IS the show... he's worth the price of admission!

A sneak peak at part of the wonderful set design!

Oh, and when you go, check out the NEW Forever 21 megastore and billboard!!!

Thanks girls for a perfect day!

Red Hot Cyndi!

Last Nights Episode

If you're not a fan of this season's 'Celebrity Apprentice' then you won't want to read this... "How could you 'FIRE' Cyndi Lauper Mr. Trump?!", she and Bret Michaels are the whole reason to watch the show at all... she's totally entertaining, a creative powerhouse and hard worker... and she's right Holly is a "byach"!. 

The reason I like the show is because of the creative challenges each team faces, it's the reason I watch 'Project Runway' too...

Cyndi's Red Hot Celebrity Room from last nights challenge

Cyndi's Exit Interview

Cyndi, you made a classy exit... sorry to see you go...