Mamarazzi Knows Best

3D Television A Thing of the Present

Suzette Valle — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 10:15:42 -0800

It's coming!

Faster than a speeding HDTV bullet!

In fact, faster than you can say, 3D TV, three times fast!

Family home entertainment is about to get better with the fast-approaching launch of the Sony LCD 3D-Ready Television. Though not the first 3D television on the market, it is highly anticipated to be the best in this category. The new normal-looking Sony LCD television set will have 3D-ready capability to play 3D Blue-ray discs with the ease of a command.

That's right, you and your family may never leave the couch again once you've watched "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs" flying at you in your own living room. The sports fanatic in your home will be holding back from flying across the room trying to catch an out-of-bounds ball during the World Cup this summer. And, the gamer dwelling in the game cave will be immersed in the dungeons of 3D video games to his or her delight.

As a Hollywood observer, I'm personally looking forward to the day when we can watch the Oscars in 3D. I can envision movie stars' gowns slapping my face as I assess their Red Carpet look. Or, having to back-up from the set as Mariah Carey walks by in her revealing one-size-too-small gown. It would make for a far more entertaining Awards TV production.

Admittedly, I'm not your usual gadget-happy gal, but after examining the picture from behind the Sony 3D goggles, I was taken aback by the image quality of the Sony 3D TV; immaculate, crisp and clear, not at all cheesy as I skeptically thought it would be.

Wearing Sony's prototype 3D glasses are required to view the full effect of this TV marvel, and instantly draw you into the picture which you will find hard to abandon once you've tried it. However, it does mean you'll need a new set. (Prices and models are not yet available, but will be published soon. Televisons will become available early summer of 2010!)

If you have time, experience Sony's outstanding 3D-ready television at a Sony Style Store. I'm confident you'll agree this could be a fantastic addition to the family home entertainment collection!

I was not compensated for this review. Only invited by Sony to preview the new television.

Oscars 2010: 'Be Creative, It's Not A Waste of Time'

Suzette Valle — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 10:57:28 -0800

Overall, the 2010 Academy Awards were entertaining, a bit long (but not the longest on Oscar record at 4 hours plus), but still worthy of the show’s reputation as Hollywood’s Biggest Night. The sets, the presenters and summaries were well done, but our sectional wasn't long enough to contain our fidgeting bodies while sitting through the long, and sometimes, dull broadcast. This year's Oscars could have used more creativity and a quicker pace to avoid rushing Tom Hanks to get through his presentation for Best Picture which went to the “Hurt Locker”. It was an abrupt end to a very long-awaited grand finale.

I was a little disappointed with Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin’s banter during the show; it was deadpan, the timing on some of the jokes was off, and evidently some actors failed to see the humor in their bits – George Clooney clearly let the bumbling hosts know they stunk when they referred to him in a gag and Clooney responded with a stern stink eye – whether playing along or not, I too would have tried to send them messages with my looks if I had to sit through their agonizing opening monologue.

I really wanted to see a repeat of last year’s Oscar’s Show format – it was impressive and certainly left an impression on me – having past Oscar winners speak directly to the nominees was a personal touch that made an otherwise lofty program more down to earth. Instead, co-stars spoke to their corresponding nominee and though touching, some were too detached or sappy. Nevertheless, I hope to see this arrangement back next year.

Neil Patrick Harris always blows me away with his multi-talented self, but not last night. Sorry, I just couldn’t keep from staring at the dangling ear piece, it distracted me. But, a showman he is and ignored the listening devise going on with the show.

Traditionally, the most entertaining part of the Academy Awards show is the Red Carpet where celebrities are caught in unrehearsed interviews about their chosen attire and any other off-the-cuff question the correspondents boldly come up with. I'm not a fashion expert (just ask my teenage daughter), so I'll leave this opinion to the "Fashion Experts"- be it the "Fashion Police" or any of the entertainment news panels that will surely be on tonight critiquing the star's gowns, etc.

I, on the other hand, kept flipping channels trying to catch several TV networks at work. E! was fun to watch, but not so much for the dresses chosen by the female correspondents.

The ABC crew, though knowledgeable about the industry, lacked that je ne sais quoi Red Carpet personality. In fact, the entire ABC team (except for Randolph Duke) along with Kathy Ireland was stiff and failed to make me feel relaxed enough to hang out with them.

What was up with Miss Ireland’s right hand? It was awkwardly straightened out as if trying to keep the huge bangles on her wrist from slipping off. Though she looked stunning, she was painfully difficult to watch; nerves, tight dress or aching heels, whatever was hurting her she showed it.

The good part of the show was the winners.

I saw the “Hurt Locker” and was taken aback by the potent war scenes which made my heart ache for the troops and the nasty jobs they have to do. I experienced a full range of emotions watching this film: Anger, sadness, despair, laughter and joy. Kathryn Bigelow deserved her award for Best Director simply because I think having a woman capture the male’s angle on war while simultaneously adding the family’s perspective during warfare to the movie was touching.

I’ll confess, I was the only one in my family who just couldn’t muster up the energy to sit through “Avatar”, so I didn’t, and was hoping it didn’t win simply based on the absence of humans in the film. Maybe I’m getting old, but Sci-Fi is difficult for me to swallow.

I was rooting for Sandra Bullock to win Best Actress from the get go. Don’t get me wrong, I adore Meryl Streep, and will watch anything she’s in confidently knowing she’ll make the film worth my time and money. But, I was ready for a fresh face to nab this top award, and obviously wasn’t the only one. I watched “The Blind Side” and was admittedly blindsided by Bullock’s convincing part (and who gets tired of her girl-next-door look?). Can’t get enough of Michel Orr’s true story, it gripped me and pulled me into the film’s inspirational message … still with me today.

I love the yearly pomp and circumstance of the Oscars in Hollywood. It’s also a safe family date-night in front of the television (though it may not be entertaining for every age). I especially like the speeches which include thanking parents for their support or inspiration – they always get to me. I hope the kids get the messages of perseverance and gratitude, too. Listening to these award-winning adults thank their parents, and watching some of them tear up as they do, is a remarkable example of the gratitude children should be aware of towards their parents.

What is your favorite thing about the Oscars? What keeps you in front of the TV set for three or four hours at a time? ( If you inlcude the Red Carpet, then it's over 5 hours!)

Finally, quoting Michael Giacchino, who had just won an Oscar for Achievement in Music written for motion pictures (Original score) for the movie “Up“, and was thanking his parents for supporting him throughout his creative life,

“If you want to be creative, get out there and do it. It’s not a waste of time”

My New Post at The Wrap.com: "Alice" On Display

Suzette Valle — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 16:33:10 -0800

Anxious teenagers don't have to wait much longer for "Alice in Wonderland."

The anticipation for this film has been building among local youngsters since last summer when director Tim Burton and actor Johnny Depp surprised attendees in Hall H where the movie trailer debuted at Comic-Con in San Diego. However, discussions about the tight grip this motion picture has had on eager adolescents, including ours, have been going down the rabbit hole faster than Alice herself.

"Johnny Depp is my age. He's old enough to be your father!" remarks the over-protective dad to his little girl.

"Yeah, but he's way cooler and cute," replies the entranced youngster who won't relent on her zeal for all things Depp.

It looks like the Disney-Burton collaboration has once again been able to captivate the pubescent moviegoing set with innovative formulas to please this finicky age group. For some fathers, it's probably unclear what a 14-year-old could possibly see in a middle-aged actor.

Still, making the prickly chat between father and daughter about the "over-the-hill" star less likely to quickly fade away is the fact that Disney-Burton-Depp endorsed movies seem to have an enigmatic harmless-yet-edgy appeal with teens. Depp's keen ability to adopt an infantile-like demeanor in his roles along with his mature and virile charm is an irresistible combination further fueling teen fantasies.

Bring together this versatile actor's talent with the innocence of a Lewis Carroll story brought to the big screen by the inimitable Tim Burton, and Disney has bottled the magic potion needed to bridge the generation gap -- thus hexing brooding teens looking for burrows to disappear through in their angst-filled lives.

Read the rest at The Wrap.

Family Travel Tips!

Suzette Valle — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 09:10:26 -0800

Did you see me as a guest blogger at SanDiegoBargainMama? Stacey Ross is a San Diego mom dedicated to bringing you San Diego's best deals. If you haven't check out her site, do yourself a favor and take a look -I put together a few travel tips to help you plan your family's next vacation!

The post "Save When Traveling by Planning Ahead" offers some out-of-the-box ideas to get more bang for your buck - or your award miles. I've always found that traveling with mileage award tickets can be a real pain to plan, but not impossible. BOOKING EARLY (or at least doing your research early) is key to saving your cash for other travel-related expenses. (Who wants to pay for airline tickets when you've earned the miles buying essentials to get by in this dismal economy, right?)

After you read the post at SDBM, let me know if you have any tips you'd like to share!

Last Call for 50 Best Moms Essays!

Suzette Valle — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 22:26:43 -0800

Student Essay Contest to Find
the 50 Best Moms in San Diego
*** Essays Accepted February 1 to March 5 ...

Dress, Take Me to The Oscars, Too!

Suzette Valle — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 10:04:55 -0800

Going to the Oscars is near impossible. Unless you're related to one of the nominees or are part of the Academy, you'll probably never see the inside of the Kodak Theater when this mother of all award shows is on. Of course, the next best thing is to have your dress go without you, right?

SMILE OF WEEK

Suzette Valle — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 17:42:04 -0800

Cirque Du Soleil's KOOZA A Tresure Trove of Wonders

Suzette Valle — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 11:44:10 -0800

Returning to the San Diego Fairgrounds under the blue and yellow Big top is Cirque Du Soleil's newest show KOOZA. The word KOOZA means box or chest in old Sanskrit, and is precisely what we got to see at last night's preview show: A treasure trove of wonder-filled acts of daring and elegant human feats.

From the opulent costumes and exquisite make-up, to the live mystical-sounding musical scores, KOOZA had the audience riveted to their seats during the three hour extravaganza showcasing a return to established circus acts like Contortionists, High- wire acrobatic performances and traditional clowns injecting humor between skits using, what else, audience members!

The interactive show supplied laughs from a variety of comedic performances - I especially liked the professional pickpocket who incredibly 'stole' a gentleman's wallet, watch, cell phone and tie while simply talking him through a magic trick on stage. It was astonishing!

Make the time to go see KOOZA, it's is a show the family will enjoy!

(I little word of caution: A few references to body parts may not be suitable for younger children)

Announcing the WINNER of the I Can't Believe It's Not Butter Giveaway Package!!

Suzette Valle — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 11:11:32 -0800

And the winner is ... drum roll, please ...

Chelsea of @somedayIllearn. Congratulations!

How was the winner selected?

I used www.Random.org and did the following:

I assigned numbers to each comment in the posts in order of date and time posted.

This is the list of entrants, the corresponding number to ea. entry and assigned identifier/number used for drawing:

1Lynne

2NJJ, 3NJJ, 4NJJ, 5NJJ, 6NJJ

7Karen

8Lynne, 9Lynne

10Tessie

11Toni

12Chelsea, 13Chelsea, 14Chelsea, 15Chelsea, 16Chelsea, 17Chelsea

18Lynne, 19Lynne, 21Lynne

20Cathy

Enter the case-sensitive identifier in the sidebar widget to find out who won!

Please send me an e-mail to vallesuzette@gmail.com with your mailing address. The company will send your prize directly to you.

Thanks to ICBINotButter for this fun giveaway! Congratulations to Chelsea, and again thanks to everyone for participating!!

Last Day To Enter ICBINB Giveaway!

Suzette Valle — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 08:59:57 -0800

Last day to enter this giveaway! Contest closes tonight at 6 PM. Winner will be announced tomorrow here, on Twitter and Facebook!

Giving Up Facebook For Lent

Suzette Valle — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 23:20:03 -0800

Some friends put together a chocolate Twitter party just in time for Lent. We exchanged recipes, desert ideas and other uses for cacao powder, but the only thing missing from this cyber soiree was the chocolate!

Ash Wednesday marks the start of Lent. Traditionally, people try to make a sacrifice by 'giving up' something they enjoy, a vice or a luxury. Food, alcohol, smoking and chocolate are at the top of people's Lent lists. Others chose more unusual things; a girlfriend gave up coffee for forty days (I can't and wouldn't want to do this!), while another friend gave up shopping which was rather admirable! For kids, it's usually laying off the candy or, with modern technology, discontinue playing video games until Easter. Lately, I've heard rumblings about abandoning Twitter or Facebook to be considered huge sacrifices by some.

However, the period leading up to Easter Sunday doesn't always have to entail a fast or personal sacrifice of the material kind; Lent can also be a time to make a personal change for the better. Setting a personal goal during this religious time can be another way to challenge yourself to transform a particular aspect of your personality you dislike; be positive; be more tolerant; conquer jealousies or be more forgiving. These are difficult traits to change, but well worth the effort and a good opportunity to teach your kids by example.

During this Lent period, take the time to talk to your kids about why Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday, is such a big deal. Why do people celebrate it with excess? It could be viewed as if people were eating and drinking to make up for the 40 days they won't be while observing Lent. Then again, it's not just about the party or the beads, it's the days that follow this festivity that matter.

I recall my parents using this time to challenge us siblings to not fight and to love each other. Other years it was about the candy or keeping our rooms clean - it changed year to year. But, I won't forget the year I came home from Sunday school and asked my mother to help me decide what to give up for Lent and she said: Lent is not only about the extraordinary sacrifice to give up something, it can be about doing something extraordinary for others or for yourself.

This really struck a chord with me, and I realized that chocolate or TV were a lot easier to give up than to try to become a better person ... something I am still trying to do each day.

I Can't Believe These Prizes Are For YOU!

Suzette Valle — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 19:54:21 -0800

***THE VIDEO VOTING PORTION OF THIS CONTEST HAS CLOSED. THE GIVAWAY CONTEST IS STILL OPEN. READ BELOW TO ENTER! ** To ‘spread’ the fun around, select bloggers were challenged to recreate their own Turn The Tub Around videos and now consumers can watch and vote for their favorites for a chance to meet Megan Mullally in Hollywood and receive the star treatment. (We all got free FLIP Full HD video cameras to record our effort!). People can enter the I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter! Watch, Vote and You Could Win! Sweepstakes by visiting www.turnthetubaround.com January 12- April 30, 2010, viewing the new dance videos each week and voting for their favorites.

Smile of The Week

Suzette Valle — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 19:59:48 -0800

Getting ready for summer?

STIR IT 28 FOR HAITI

Suzette Valle — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 11:06:26 -0800

Bren Herrera and I partipated in a video contest, and is a very entertaining food blooger. She's joined up with other food bloogers to help raise funds for Haiti. Please read and consider helping out any way you can!

No Sheet, Pole or Spikes Required to Win Grammys

Suzette Valle — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 11:15:41 -0800

This year's Grammy Awards had a variety of women who took the majority of the evening's prizes; three winners were Beyonce, Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga - opposites when it comes to performing styles.

But, there's one victor who's quiet triumph made a resounding impression on me.

The young, poised and very talented Taylor Swift won 4 Grammys recognizing her accomplishments thus far - and she did this without much fanfare, props or spiked outfits to help her earn her quartet of gramophones.

Simply commendable.

(AP Photos/Matt Sayles)

However, besides congratulating the country superstar on her achievements in a tough industry, I'd like to note her staunch resolve to not give in to the pressures of growing up too quickly as many famous little divas have done before her, only to end up diving deeper into infamy.

Poised, conservative, classy, genuine and beautiful describe Taylor Swift to a 'T'.

For parents on the lookout for a decent role model, she'd be a safe bet, don't you think?

No bed sheets or stripper poles required in her rise to fame.

Hope Miss Swift continues on a steady, well- guided ascent to success.

What do you think helped Taylor Swift's stay on a 'normal' path to fame?

Ingrid Croce: Our Twee-Up Host!

Suzette Valle — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 12:41:22 -0800

Croce's was the site of this month's Tweet-up organized by Liz Philips @iizliz and Stacy Ross @sdbargainmama (gotta follow them!). Food, music and delightful companionship were the highlight of the evening. About 30 San Diego bloggers congregated at this San Diego Gaslamp Quarter restaurant to chat about life on the WWW.

IT'S TIME FOR TIME WARNER CABLE'S 50 BEST MOMS CONTEST!

Suzette Valle — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 14:06:53 -0800

Every mom is special, but some truly standout and deserve to be recognized for the sacrifices and dedication they've made for their children and their families. Time Warner Cable wants to know who they are. For the ninth straight year, Time Warner Cable is calling students in grades 4 through 12 to write essays of 150 to 500 words telling why their mom should be one of the best in San Diego.

In the past, essays have come in from San Diego kids with moms of all kinds – even a father and grandmother! Who knows what this year will bring? The essays will be judged by a panel of local journalists, politicians and teachers who will select the 50 Best Moms for 2010 based on the children’s explanation of why they believe their mom is the best. The writers of the three best essays will receive a new Sony VAIO laptop computer. There will be a winner from each school level: elementary, middle and high school. In addition, the winning students’ teachers will also each receive a $250 gift card for supplies for their classrooms.

The San Diego’s 50 Best Moms contest, presented by Time Warner Cable, will run from February 1 through March 5, 2010. Essay forms can be downloaded online at www.twcsd.com by clicking on the 50 Best Moms logo or you may go to one of the following locations:
•       All Time Warner Cable payment Centers
•       All Mission Federal Credit Union locations
•       All San Diego County Boys & Girls Club locations
•       All Ultra Star Cinemas in San Diego County

Each winning mom will be honored at a special luncheon on Saturday, May 8 where they will receive an award and gifts generously donated by sponsors throughout San Diego. For more information, visit www.twcsd.com and click on the Best Moms logo. Students and teachers can also call the Best Moms event hotline at (858) 805-6789.

GOT MILK? Will Have Lattes

Suzette Valle — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 13:55:36 -0800

GOT MILK? Nope. I got Lattes! One too many, in fact.

The Family That Burns Together Stays Together?

Suzette Valle — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 10:48:36 -0800

We've heard the slogan, "The Family That Eats Together Stays Together". But, how about "The Family That Burns Together Stays Together?"

If you watched the 'Attention Seekers' episode I appeared on Dr. Phil, you heard what he, I and others had to say to the Dunn Family who want their own reality show, and they'll torch themselves and their three kids to get one.

I think the 'flames of love' could be doused if these 'wackadoodles' got their heads out of the smoke!

What would you tell Jim and Celia Dunn about their intentions to be on TV?

Dr. Phil Show: Attention Seekers 1/29/2010

Suzette Valle — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 19:53:49 -0800

UPDATE: You can watch a short preview of tomorow's show here. Click on the 'Attention Seekers' link on the home page.

Date: January 29, 2010

Time: 3 PM

CBS/KFMB 8 at 3 PM

Friday - January 29, 2010

Attention Seekers

In the age of Twitter, Facebook and countless reality shows, it’s no surprise that many people require an audience for even the most mundane aspects of their lives. But when does this attention-seeking behavior go too far? Stunt parents Jim and Celia say they lit themselves and their kids on fire to get noticed for a reality show. Jim says that being on the program will bring his family closer together. Suzette Valle, creator of the popular mom blog mamarazziknowsbest.com, has some choice words for these parents! Then, Sarah says she was fresh out of college when she was selected for the reality show Joe Millionaire, but the experience was more than she bargained for. She says she was labeled as a gold digger, and it’s taken her years to get over the backlash. Next, meet a woman who says she went to great lengths to get noticed by Oprah, and the owner of a casting company reveals some of her trade secrets.

How I Got On The Dr. Phil Show

Suzette Valle — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 10:17:19 -0800

I was summoned by Paramount Studios to tape a segment for the Dr. Phil Show in Los Angeles, Ca. Though I can't discuss the topic or details of the show since I signed a Confidentiality Agreement, what I can tell you is that it's related to the "There's Reality, and then There's Junk Reality" Hollyblog I wrote for www.TheWrap.com, you know, the online Hollywood news publication I submit posts to? (Yes, I know you read them all). It's encouraging to know my message/opinion about how Hollywood influences our families and our values matters out there.

After two hours, a few phone calls, two telephone interviews and sending in a written opinion about the topic, they green-lit me and off I went to the airport with a scant two hour notice. Packing a carry-on bag, racing to catch the last flight out of San Diego to LA, and then getting picked-up at LAX in one of those black SUV's to whisk me to the Renaissance Hotel in the heart of Hollywood, felt nothing short of the celebrity treatment. I checked in at 11 PM, and hurried to get to get to bed because a car would be back to get me at 6:45AM to take me to the backlot.

Of course, I didn't sleep a wink!

With only one cup of hotel-room coffee (not Starbucks) powering my brain up, I saw the black Town Car roll up to the Hotel and it was time to go. Hollywood Blvd. is very quiet at this hour of the morning; the stars on the Walk of Fame are not crowded, and there's no sign of the hustle and bustle this section of town is about endure. The best thing about driving through this part of tinsel town early is the absence of traffic.

After the gate check-in, the car stoped at Paramount Studio #30 where Meg was waiting to escort me into the studio. We walked past yards and yards of black curtains, so many lights and long hall ways to get to ... my dressing room! Oh, yeah. My name was on the door; those mercyless big, bright light bulbs sourrounded the mirror, photos of past and current shows were hanging on the walls for inspiration, and the glorious catering table awaited me. Starbucks coffee (is this an oximoron) in sight. What a relief!

Sarah from Joe Millionaire and Suzette Valle

Then the constant stream of assistants dressed in black knocked at the door one after the other: 'Can I get you anything? Please sign here and here. It's time to go to make-up. Wait here. A chair is open so Annette will do your hair. We're going to have to change your sweater. Which one of these (2,000 options!) would you like? You're ready, please wait in your dressing room. Oh, and please no filming or photos beyond this point.'

Got it!

I'm in my dressing room going over the information I had sent in the night before trying to memorize all my points. I was given the bare essentials to go on a show I had a vague idea what it was going to be about, didn't know who else was going to be there, much less why. But, I had a part, and was ready to go with it.

About two hours later, the producer who found me comes in, introduces himself, and quickly goes over my bit. He tells me to stick to my opinion and not waiver. OK, that's easy, I thought. Engange in conversation with Dr. Phil. Who? Me? Wow! OK. And off he went, leaving me to deal with with my thoughts and whacked out nerves - alone again.

Another hour, another knock and I'm told it's time for the last 'touch-up'. Up the stairs I go again, and this time it is buzzing with people. They line us up against a wall and hair and make-up are looking us up and down one by one. Lipgloss, powder, combs are all working their magic on about 10 of us, and we're marched backstage, single file to get 'micked'.

Standing against a Dr. Phil backdrop, I hear the audience getting warmed-up to Michael Jackson's 'Billy Jean', clapping, screaming, and my heart starts to pound. The rest of the guests hardly engage in conversation while we wait, and then we get our first look at the stage. It's HUGE!!

They take us up the stairs, walk through the audience who are staring at us, get on the catwalk to the front row seats marked with our names. We sit down and the producer comes out. She thanks everyone for being here, tells us we won't know the topic until Dr. Phil comes out and starts his intro. Then the clapping starts and Dr. Phil walks on to the stage with his wife in hand. So sweet!

She sits in the back with the audience (men in black are everywhere), and Dr. Phil starts talking non-stop for two hours! He introduces the topic with videos and pre-recorded footage of the guests and tells the audience the topic is about ... can't tell you!

So, how'd they find me?

Well, one way I was contacted (found) to do a short bit on the Dr. Phil Show was via Twitter (see the Tweet below!). I'm glad to find out someone is reading my cyber-chatter, and that some of the topics catch someone's attention. The other must have been a Google keyword search which brought up an old post I had written for the www.TheWrap.com precisely about the topic of this particular episode.

Anyway, after this long and surreal day, I was driven home in another black Town Car all the way to my door step. It was pretty cool! Thanks to the veritable army of people it takes to put on a talk show like this: Anita, Bryan, Casey, Meg and Annette. My apologies to those of you who's names I didn't get, but work hard starting at 6 AM to make the production go so smoothly!

By the way, there's another good thing result I got out of this oddessy, and that's that I won't be hearing my hubs or kids complain about me 'Twittering' or blogging too much, again!

For now, we'll have to wait until I know the exact airing date to watch this episode - just cross your fingers I don't end up on the cutting room floor! I'll be posting the date and time this show will air as soon as I know.

Check back often, Okay?

talkshow2009

@MamarazziKnowsB Hi Suzette, My name is bryan and i work for Dr Phil. Please call me at 323-956-xxxx. Thank you 1:48 PM Jan 11th from web.

College Acceptance: Yaayy! Tuition: Not So Much.

Suzette Valle — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 17:07:39 -0800

The thunderous noise heard throughout the house was not due to the winds howling through bending palm trees during our recent storm, but to my overjoyed son jumping up and down screaming , "I'm gonna be a Boilermaker!!"after reading an acceptance e-mail which landed in his In box at 7:48 PM PST from Purdue University.

Tears of joy, mixed with gratifying emotions of knowing someone likes him as a student and being able to plan where he'll be sleeping in September, all came together at once - and was quite overwhelming. We hugged, we cried, we took deep cleansing breaths knowing the suspense was finally over. The loss of control over our kid's future home is finally back in the driver's seat, and it's a good feeling.

Now, reality hits. Financial reality that is. The joy of possibly attending a Big Ten school is quickly overshadowed by the tuition costs we must resign ourselves to pay for this quality education, whether we like it or not.

College tuition is a hot topic these days, especially in our difficult economic times. According to USA Today, "tuition, fees, and room and board per year at four-year public schools jumped 46%, from an average of $10,440 in 1999-2000 to $15,210 last year, when adjusting for inflation. For private four-year schools, costs rose 28% in that period, from an average of $27,740 to $35,640 (per year). "

Paying for a college education is almost equal to the price tag of an average home in our home state. For many, it's simply impossible to happily part with this kind of money, or risking re-mortgaging the family home when home loans are scarce.

Luckily, I remembered I have the latest press release from The Princeton Review's (TPR) 2010 "Best Value Colleges" survey and I quickly went down the list to find out if Purdue University was listed as a 'Best Value' school among the top 100 colleges in the country.

First, let's define 'Best Value College' according to TPR, shall we?

"The Princeton Review selected these institutions as its "Best Value" choices for 2010 based on its surveys of administrators and students at more than 650 public and private colleges and universities. The selection criteria covered more than 30 factors in three areas: academics, costs of attendance, and financial aid, using the most recently reported data from each institution for its 2008-09 academic year."

Said Robert Franek, Princeton Review SVP-Publisher, "We know many families and students have serious concerns about paying for college in these tough economic times. Among the nearly 16,000 respondents to our 2009 'College Hopes and Worries Survey,' of college applicants and parents, 85% said financial aid would be 'very necessary' for them this year. However there are many first-rate institutions offering outstanding academics at a relatively low cost of attendance and/or generous financial aid, including some that may surprise applicants. We’re pleased to have again teamed up with USA TODAY to identify and commend the 100 colleges that do just that and do it best in the nation."

The Princeton Review "Top 10 Best Value Private Colleges for 2010" are:

1. Swarthmore College (Swarthmore PA)

2. Harvard College (Cambridge MA)

3. Wesleyan College (Macon, GA)

4. Princeton University (Princeton NJ)

5. Yale University (New Haven CT)

6. Williams College (Williamstown, MA)

7. Rice University (Houston TX)

8. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Cambridge, MA)

9. Amherst College (Amherst, MA)

10. Wellesley College (Wellesley, MA)

The "Top 10 Best Value Public Colleges for 2010" are:

1. University of Virginia (Charlottesville VA)

2. City University of New York – Hunter College (New York NY)

3. New College of Florida (Sarasota FL)

4. Florida State University (Tallahassee FL)

5. University of Colorado (Boulder, CO.)

6. State University of New York at Binghamton (Binghamton NY)

7. Univ. of Georgia (Athens GA)

8. Virginia Tech (Blacksburg, VA)

9. Texas A & M University (College Station, TX)

10.University of Oklahoma (Norman, OK)

It turns out Purdue isn't on the list this year, but it was consoling to know it was one of The Princeton Review's "Top 100 Best Value Colleges in the Nation" in 2009, and "The Princeton Review has named Purdue among the top 20 colleges in the nation in a number of categories including best athletics, best college newspaper and best campus food in TPR's "371 Best Colleges".

This bit of information gave us hope that we might be able to send our future Boilermaker to study at his new home in the Midwest after all...without becoming homeless ourselves!

Smile Of The Week. This One's For Stay-At-Home Moms

Suzette Valle — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 10:42:57 -0800

A man was sick and tired of going to work every day while his wife stayed home. He wanted her to see what he went through so he prayed: 'Dear Lord: I go to work every day and put in 8 hours while my wife merely stays at home. I want her to know what I go through. So, please allow her body to switch with mine for a day.'

Julie and Julia: A Delicious Helping Of Life's Travails

Suzette Valle — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 10:07:07 -0800

I saw the movie first, and then had to read the book. The movie Julie and Julia tells the true story of a temp-turned-blogger-turned-best-seller-writer, and was just too good to end with the credits. So, for my birthday my hubs gave me the book and Julia Child's "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" (MTAOFC), quite an imposing tome, too. (I have yet to try cooking with this food bible, but maybe I'll try making something fancy for our anniversary)

Julie Powell seems like the ordinary girl stuck in a rut working as a temp secretary for an agency in charge of selecting the design for the memorial after the 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center in New York. She longs to have a passion for something, a clear direction for her life since she married and moved to a small, cramped apartment in Long Island with her devoted - and very patient - husband Eric. Julie's friends have power jobs, and her mother is on her case about never finishing anything when she picks up her mom's MTAOFC during a visit to her hometown in Texas. She 'borrows' the book, takes it back to her oppressive apartment and peruses the pages one fateful evening as she's having another existential meltdown with her husband. Eric suggests she start a blog where she can put her talents as a writer to work. But, what to write about? The brainstorming gives way to The Project: Cooking 524 recipes in 365 days from Julia Child's epic cooking guide. (Click link for the actual blog).

And so it begins. The blog starts off slowly, but then garners enough readers that Julie feels indebted to them and has to finish this project no matter what. This is where the meat of the book is; she encounters unexpected obstacles, frustrations, cooking disasters and challenges that she wants to give up on the project which was taking over her life.

Have you de-boned a duck before? How about boiled live Lobster after working eight hours? Neither have I, and I have no intentions of doing any of this. Why, for heavens sake, when I can buy these animals cooked and seasoned?

Page after page of her trails and tribulations with cooking and her personal life, start to get attention from 'foodies' and the 'bleeders' as she calls them. Soon, Julie gets noticed for being very open and explicitly descriptive about her encounters with uncoagulated aspic and her marital problems as she tries to stick to her goal of cooking while keeping her marriage together.

The book and the movie are also a delicious tribute to the one and only Julia Child who, in real life, was not amused by Julie's 'Project' or her writing (a few too many expletives, perhaps?), as much as Julia wanted Madam Child's approval. Never the less, Julie gets recognition for own merits, and her story is now out for all of us to enjoy.

I highly recommend both the movie and the book to anyone who is looking for direction, inspiration or confirmation to keep at this thing called a purposeful life. You never know what you'll learn in the process like Julie did; she discovered she had the internal fortitude to grab a knife, stab an innocent animal, dismember it, gut it, cook it and eat it. Then, write about it while having dessert...

Tune Into American Idol Tonight. You Might See Me!

Suzette Valle — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 16:17:31 -0800

Watch American Idol tonight to see if my video made the 60-second spot featuring eight bloggers (out of 16) who were selected as finalists for this ad!

Can You Believe It's Me?

Suzette Valle — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 18:06:55 -0800

Wanna hear me, sing? How about dance? Well, I got an e-mail this week from the good people at "I Can't Believe It's Not Butter" that the gag order has been lifted and I can finally open my mouth and let you in on a top secret project I got myself into.

Smile of Week

Suzette Valle — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 08:50:44 -0800

I haven't been consistent about keeping up with 'Smile Of The Week'. Here's one I heard yesterday; it's gross, but a propos!

Sleeping Like A Baby

Suzette Valle — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 12:27:49 -0800

It seems babies are born with their clocks turned around; they sleep during the day, and are determined to stay awake all night when WE need to be asleep.

Hooray For Hollywood!

Suzette Valle — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 16:30:19 -0800

Hooray for Hollywood! The score for three movies I watched with my family over the Holidays is a 10!!

Having the opportunity to catch up on a lot of movie going experiences was pure joy, especially when the offerings are of the quality I witnessed in The Blind Side, Invictus and Sherlock Holmes. Though we usually flock to the Cineplex for mindless paid entertainment, these three movies gave us more bang for our typically squandered-on-crap-movie buck.

THE BLIND SIDE

Audience: Middle School

MPAA Rating: Rated PG-13 for one scene involving brief violence, drug and sexual refrences.

Based on sport novelist Michel Lewis' book "The Blind Side", the true story about how the Baltimore Raven's offensive lineman Michael Oher made it through the apparently insurmountable obstacles stacked against him, the movie is a gem of a life changing story and an example of compassionate-person-turned-hero story. The film doesn't rely on sap to pull at our heart strings either.

A homeless black kid is taken in and later adopted by the very wealthy and very white Touhy family, and the parents do this in spite of having two children of their own, a pre-teen son and a teenage daughter about the same age as "Big Mike", without giving it a second thought or charity-work feel to their benevolent actions. I'm not going to retell the details of the movie, but Oher's tale of rags to athletic fame is a great film kids should watch with their parents because I think there are a few valuable lessons to discuss afterward.

First, compassion and grounding. Our kids today enjoy so many spoils it's ridiculous. We parents self-indulge them for the smallest reasons, and then are disappointed when our offspring don't seem to grasp the impact becoming productive, compassionate members of society can have on others. This movie, if watched together and later discussed, can be an eye opener for those who have a life of privilege and lack the connection with the unequal reality others live.

The other reason to watch this film is to see a depiction of how hard work in school and athletics might affect your future college athlete. Not every kid is born with 'Big Mike's' attributes, but a few get to be in his same position should a college athletic scholarship be the goal. The real-life-to-movie depiction of what high school athletes go through is a good lesson about how much talent vs. drive is needed to make it in the big leagues - in this case the Big Ten. (Before watching this movie, I registered my aspiring golfer with the N.C.A.A., but had no idea how grueling and competitive this side of youth sports can be!)

The Blind Side is a splendid feel-good movie for the Holidays!

INVICTUS

Audience: Middle School

MPAA Rating: PG-13 for strong language

Invictus is the title of a Victorian poem by William Ernest Henley which Mandala would find refuge in while in jail, and serves as the title for this great movie. The film not only offers a very brief history lesson about apartheid and Nelson Mandala's (played by Morgan Freeman) journey to become President of his country after 27 seven years of incarceration, it also gives us a glimpse into the character of a leader and the Rugby teams' captain (Matt Damon), a leader in the making.

Leaving the movie's political view aside, the sports theme could be reduced to a micro situation where inspiration for young leaders can be found. There are good lessons in this story about how a national sport, the 1995 Rugby World Cup, united a country in the process of eliminating the barriers years of segregation had divided. But, more importantly the lessons about the charisma, responsibility and nerve it takes to be a leader can be applied to many situations including teens at the high school level who sometimes need inspiration or affirmation about why there's a need for leaders - even at their age.

Parents, though the movie does a good enough job of showing Mandala's situation before he became President, you might have to explain the pre-existing situation of apartheid in South Africa so the kids can understand the hate that was behind the importance of the Springbok's win.

SHERLOCK HOLMES

Audience:	Middle School
MPAA Rating:	Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, some startling images and a scene of suggestive material

Sherlock Holmes was pure delight for the senses. Action, scenery, costumes, adventure, and wit all in one extra-long movie left us wanting more - and the ending indicates there will be a sequel in the future. This movie might be too violent for the little ones, but teens will enjoy the action sequences, London's gray and 'Goth' like sets, and the humorous exchanges between Watson (Jude Law) and Holmes (Robert Downy Jr.), although adapting the ear to both actors' heavy British accents may take a few minutes.

I hope 2010 will bring us more quality films for families who are always looking for activities to do with their older teens, and can enjoy together.

Watch Out 2010 'Cuz Here I Come!

Suzette Valle — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 11:26:17 -0800

Thank you 2009, it was nice knowing you. Overall you were good to me and I’m grateful for that. I ...