Most of you know my shtick buy now. My opinions are conservative regarding certain television shows, teen celebrities, and what I consider to be infractions to our values and social decorum by some Hollywood artists and their parents.

For a little over two years, I've been writing here and at www.TheWrap.com about young Hollywood's outrageous transgressions which hit the media all too regularly. One-time teen A-listers like Lindsay Lohan, Brittney Spears, Chris Brown, and now Miley Cyrus and Alexis Neires of the boorish reality TV show "Pretty Wild" have made headlines with their indecent exposure and entitled behavior. We've all read or seen them on the television gossip shows showing up drunk, jailed, or wearing overly provocative clothes for their age and likely rolled our eyes at them dismissing them as superficial and inconsequential to our common existence.

My take on this is a little different.

Some  messages are obvious like fashion, music, hair styles or cosmetics. Others are subliminal and more difficult to pin point, but famous adolescents do have an effect on the younger set who look up to them because they are prominent.

Simply take a look at five year olds wearing the signature Hannah Montana tutus; or sit at a school assembly where elementary kids are singing and dancing to Lady Gaga songs with inappropriate lyrics and related dance moves.  To me, these are the disconcerting consequences of Hollywood's influence on our kids.

I've pointed out a few of these unpleasant famous teens' behaviors here and on my posts at TheWrap.com.  I've also been keeping track of some of the comments readers have made on the posts where I discuss these topics. I must admit it's reassuring to know others share my opinions, but sometimes I am taken aback by some of them.  Not because I can't take a disparate view, that's always expected, but I am stunned at some of the thoughts and reasons for disagreeing with my evaluation of certain teen celebrity scandals.

The following comment was left on the post titled "Incredible Trifecta of Tarts" at TheWrap.com where I object to the pressing trend to over sexualize our little girls. In this post I discussed the Single Ladies 7- year-old little dancers' YouTube video, Miss USA's pole dancing, and the endless  news about Teen Queen of Skank Miley Cyrus:

 "Actually, Suzette's credibility is mostly undermined by her clear lack of having examined the issues surrounding sex and coming of age. She is just giving us her kneejerk reaction.

Have you asked yourself why the marriage age in the U.S. isn't 13, when biologically girls that age can have babies? Is it that in a technologically advanced society we need kids to put off sex to finish their education? Is it that because our culture celebrates personal choice, it's recognized that kids who are 13 are, on average, not good at making very good long term choices? Is it that most teen marriages end in divorce?

The age of consent in the U.K. is 16 years old. Why is it O.K. for 16 year olds to have sex in the U.K., but in the U.S the government will hunt you down and put you in jail if you do? These are the question that deserve discussion instead of giving kneejerk reactions to what age it's O.K. for Disney princess' to be sexy."

Really?

Before going off on this commenter,  let me qualify my rants blogs as defined on-line: A blog is a personal web log or diary. Blogs by nature are biased personal opinions based on a personal experience or reaction. Unlike a journalist, a blogger is free to express an opinion and  doesn't have to offer both sides of  an issue.

Now, addressing this particular comment I'd like to say that we don't live in Europe nor are we affixed to Latin America or the UK. US social norms are different from theirs for a reason. This country was founded on different viewpoints from theirs, and have been aggregated over time to define our present social conduct and moral fabric. (That our values have become distorted by greed is another issue entirely and one which might merit another post, but I'll leave it at this for now.)

I found this comment downright mortifying and sickening that it's author's most important issue with me is if the legal age of sexual consent should be lowered!

The particular post I'm referring to touched on three different age groups: seven year old dancers dressed in burlesque outfits; a 17 year old nubile temptress, and a (young) adult in her early 20s who was selected as Miss USA, a beauty pageant focused on choosing a role model for young American girls.

All three subjects were splattered all over the media not for their virtues or talent, but because something about their particular actions was not quite up to standard. The standard which prompted the media to bring them to the forefront,  in my view,  was on the low end of it.

Why would they have been newsworthy otherwise?

Since commenter's can post their thoughts anonymously it seems more and more readers are embolden by this, and are expressing their opinions about how minor celebs behaving badly are nothing to worry about. Some simply write to me that the only thing we need to do to keep our kids at a safe distance from imitating those stars' crazy behaviors (dressing, singing, dancing and living like them)  is to turn off the television set and shut down the laptop (all typos and grammar as per original comment):

"Who cares what Miss USA did in her past... It is not like her "talent" that she performed to win the pageant was stripping. So a pretty girl participated in (stupid, sexist) pretty girl contests, including a racy one. Um, so? It isn't as though she was in Penthouse magazine doing so and intended for those photos to be distributed all over the Internet. Participating may not have been the best choice, but look on Facebook and you'll see people doing all sorts of things that they probably shouldn't make public for the sake of their future careers. The Miss America pageant is antiquated anyway- and if anyone really lets those girls serve as role models for their children, it is pretty sad. In my opinion, this is totally a different case than parents tarting up their kids or babies or even a (barely) underage Miley Cyrus having a racy video. Parents need to take responsibility for parenting their own kids in their homes and stop blaming the media for corrupting those kids- get rid of the TV and Internet if you think it is such a dangerous thing. Or, better yet, teach your kids to sort out the trash for themselves and see bad examples as precisely that- a bad example NOT to emulate."

Is it actually this easy?

 I wish it were.  Then I nor anyone else (like Perez Hilton) would have any fodder for the media, right?

Lilly is a teen blogger and writes at www.RachelJSimmons.com. She's keenly aware about young celebrities and how they fail as role models, but how never the less we never fail to turn to them as such:

"I guess that’s the point I’m trying to make. Celebrities mess up, a lot. So really, I’m disappointed in us. I’m disappointed in us for turning to celebrities again and again, hoping to see them say the right things. But they never fail to remind us that an actress or a supermodel, a role model does not make..."

She's absolutely right.

We look to celebrities as role models  because they are used by the media to send messages directly to the public based on trust - they're placed in spots representing everything from charities, to health products, political views and clothes.

One day we like Sally Fields, the next she's telling us to take Boniva for our bones.

As adults, we know public figures are getting paid to make certain ads and many times Hollywood does put its influence towards very good causes and makes positive use of the worldwide attention it enjoys. But, it gets confusing for kids, and maybe even for some parents, when teen celebs who have TV shows on children's networks hold a concert to raise money for cancer (a very good thing),  but are also blasted in the media for wearing clothes that are too revealing for their age (check out this photo of ex-Hannah Montana Miley and beware!).

My point is clearly spelled out for you in pictures; it's come full circle judging by the Single Ladies little dancers outfits and them imitating their teen counterpart /role model's dance moves.

Getting back to another commenter on my posts about how I get worked up when these types of events hit the news, I guess I'm the minority making noise about these teen icons' impropriety and their parents lack of propriety!

Young Hollywood and their permissible parents keep setting bad examples for kids, teens and their parents who are losing touch with reality because they are watching teen superstar's  omnipresent moves  in the media which gives the impression that it's OK to behave in this manner. Unless we move to the nearest mountain top, being part of mainstream society will keep exposing us and our kids to the over sexualized behaviors of minor celebrities.

So the problem is not with our TV dials or computers as the commenter wrote, it's with the source of the problem; irresponsible parenting in an over indulgent celebrity-driven society.

Showcasing the arts: Music, acting, creating, dancing, and performing in general don't have to include minors in semi-pornographic gear or over the top suggestive gestures to be considered a success. If the focus were on the more valuable aspect of the arts and presenting the beauty and level of talent in a tasteful way, then the creativity in teen or other underage celebrities would be influencing real budding artists, not the Hollywood money-making machine.

So am I overreacting to all this?

I hope not.

In the meantime, I must say I do partially agree with the comment about turning off the TV. Summer is no time to tune into the mindless Hollywood repertoire of shows like "Pretty Wild" or "Downfall." I read too much into these titles and in my view they are a crude reminder of the environment that produces this nonsense.

This year Comic-Con is offering a few added options to help make your attendance at the biggest comic book show in the western hemisphere all that more enjoyable.

ADDITIONAL HOTEL ROOMS:
 
Comic-Con has additional hotels in the Mission Valley area. Please visit https://www.tphousing.com/r/startres.asp?EICode=1878&AttCode=72 to check availability and shuttle access to these hotels.

ADDITIONAL SHUTTLE ROUTE:
The hotel reservation situation this year didn’t go as well as it should have, as a result many people who expected to be closer to the downtown area found themselves in hotels farther away. For this reason we have expanded our shuttle route to help accommodate those who are staying at Mission Valley and Shelter Island hotels. The expanded shuttle route will service hotels in the Mission Valley and Shelter Island areas and is made possible, in part, by a generous contribution from Travel Planners. To provide faster service, the shuttle route for Mission Valley will run from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm from a location near the Omni Hotel (at the foot of L Street in downtown San Diego). Using this drop point during heavy daytime traffic periods will increase the frequency of the shuttles. After 8:00 pm this shuttle route will originate from the Convention Center front driveway.
 
PRE PAID PARKING:
To assist those who choose to drive to the event, Comic-Con has arranged with ACE and Five Star, two of the largest downtown parking companies, to offer advanced purchase of
Pre-Paid parking at many of downtown’s parking areas. As with all parking lots, in and out privileges do not apply. To take advantage of the advanced parking permit option, please visit http://www.thepermitstore.com/comic-con/event/
 
Purchase of Pre-Paid parking guarantees you a spot, though not a specific or particular space.

Comic-Con does not receive any compensation from this program.

One hour and fifty minutes go by as quickly as the adrenaline-charged, computer-generated action sequences in the film "Knight and Day" which opens tomorrow. This light, romantic, action comedy relies heavily on the million dollar grins of the movie's main actors,Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz starring as Roy Miller and June Havens, to get you to invest in them, and you probably will. This film is a summer pleaser which will likely make you smile in the end as well.

Roy (Cruise) is a spy gone rogue who gets trapped in a Bonny and Clyde type duo with June (Diaz), an unsuspecting gal who boards a fateful flight and who manages to make all the wrong decisions to not extricate herself from the inevitable spy tangle. The film is a thriller and romantic comedy rolled into one with plenty of bullets sprayed everywhere in relentless shoot em up sequences, stunt laden scenes with Cruise's ubiquitous sunglasses (I'm certain I caught that same look he won us over with behind those Ray Bans in "Risky Business"!) never out of reach no matter how farfetched or violent the situation he finds himself in is.

There are moments in this film when the action sequences stumble and the viewer catches the unlikeliness of it all; bulls running on the narrow streets of Seville, Spain in a car vs. motorcycle chase; villains crash trough the windows of a moving train in the Swiss Alps; there's a plane crash in a corn field no one seems to really understand or care about, and countless automobiles collide leaving heaps of nameless corpses as collateral damage.

While Diaz and Cruise carry the film nicely and their on-screen chemistry is endearing, absurdly, we actually don't mind that innocent by standards are run over, shot and killed without regard because we're busy laughing at the airhead moves Diaz is putting on while Cruise shows off he's still in top "Mission Impossible" form constantly trying to save this damsel from herself.

"Knight and Day" is rated PG-13 and will likely not be up for any awards, but it is the perfect summer movie to see with your teens when you show up to the theater not knowing what you want to watch. Surprisingly, you'll probably enjoy it as much as we did!

I give it  out of 5.

Our son's graduation is finally behind us!  It was a TWO week-long celebration full of formal award presentations, sports banquets, mass, blessings, parties and lots and lots of family. Our first-born is the fifth in our family to go through the pomp and circumstance of graduating from high school, but the second one going on to a four-year University in the United States.

Also behind us are eighteen years of working with him to memorize everything from the alphabet to multiplication tables; prayers and game rules; from saying please and thank you to being compassionate, sympathetic and empathetic, to teaching him to say I'm sorry and excuse me. 

Eighteen years of hounding, harassing, herding, shepherding, leading, following, talking-till-blue-in-the-face and pounding into his brain as many life lessons as we could, and will now be in his hands to do as he sees fit come August 2010 when he moves into a dorm. All the high school academic requirements are met, plus many more social graces taught and hopefully learned. We'll know very soon how much of these daily lessons are instilled in him as he heads to college on his own.  I know that if he trips and makes a mistake it will come back to us, the parents, but for now I'm content with the job we've done.

To celebrate our son's high school graduation we threw a party for family and close friends who have been part of our son's life over the years. At times it felt like a mini-wedding, as one our guests told me, since I was running around in a mother-of the-groom type frenzy. In fact, I thought it kind of was a celebration of this magnitude, I told him, because goodness knows what'll happen at his real wedding - the bride will probably not let anywhere near the planning so at least I got to choose everything for this proper send off!   

Also, I'm not your DYI type of mom, but have to say that when inspired by love for a child, I found the crafty side of me came shining through for this party. So if you'll indulge me for a moment, I'd like to share the details of the festivities and thank everyone who helped us to celebrate and send off our son to pursue the next stage of his education and personal development.

The Personal Touches

I made a memorabilia table displaying our sons various acamdemic and athletic awards, ceramic class pieces, and photos. I also made two books: a photo book at MyPublisher.com and a scrapbook with newspaper clippings and photos.

I placed rocks with stickers around the centerpieces as table scape.

I made a DVD with baby photos, friends, family, and video clips of some fun times during high school events and family events. I included photos with teachers, mentors and coaches and played it continuously on a rented screen and projector I ran with my laptop.

I made rolled diplomas with napkins and tied them with tassels and rings inscribed with inspirational words.

Rentals

Tablecloths and plate chargers were rented from Elegant Events in Chula Vista (619) 427-7080 (website coming soon). Please ask for Griselda if you call them for your next party. She will give you precious FREE advice to help make your celebration special; from how to save on decor to where to purchase it, she's a wonderful person and resource!

Voice and Video Rentals helped me with the equipment for the slide show. They gave me a tutorial on how to install it and use it - they even have a 24/7 hotline in case you run into technical difficulties!

Food

Mexican food was catered by Lolitas next to PETCO park. The service included delivery and heating boxes. It was awesome and scrumptious too!

We served Miguel's Cocina Jalapeno Cheese Sauce and Ceviche from Northgate Market with chips as appetizers.

I hired two waiters who made Margaritas and Sangria and served all the beverages (and helped with everything from set up to clean up!).

Cupcakes and cake were made by Coronado Cupcakery at the Ferry Landing in Coronado. Rosalina Ascolani is a Coronado High School Alum who also attended Georgetown University and owns this sweet bakery! The ChocoFlan was a gift to my son from a friend.

Entertainment

Instead of a DJ, I organized the mother of all trivia games complete with power point slides and prizes. I included questions ranging from school trivia to World Cup questions and I also had quizzes and prizes for the little ones.

Resources Off The Internet

Invitations and Thank You cards made at Shutterfly.com

Banner and Graduation Party Sign from Shindigz.com

Purdue balloons, tissue boxes and game folders from Purdue.com

Favors from Favoraffair.com

Tassels for napkin rings from Tasseldepot.com

Inspirational word rings and stickers for the rocks from Michaels

(Disclaimer: Items used for this event were not sponsored by anyone. )

This year Father's Day fell during a very hectic month in which three back-to-back celebrations took place over the last three week-ends: a college graduate, a high school graduate, and a middle school graduate. All three milestones from the same side of the family exacted an extraordinary effort from all of us. Needless to say, everyone had to do double duty with travel and overnight stays to fulfill family commitments.

My mother, the consummate family peace keeper, called me earlier this week to let me know that she and dad would like everyone to stay home and spend it with their own families on Father's Day; no traveling, no gathering at the patriarchs' home, nada.

Hmm...

I told her I did not agree, and though I would not have to travel since I'm lucky my parents live in the same city as I do, I was quick with my opinion.

"I think we should all make an effort regardless of the extra work, time and cost it takes for us to get together. We should take advantage of every opportunity we have to spend it with Dad."

"OK then. I'll call everyone and tell them the celebration will be at our house and they can come if they can make it," said mom in a more authoritative voice.

What you don't know about what prompted me to make this statement is that my husband's father passed away at the young age of 48 from a second heart attack - and he was a doctor. My father has been cancer free for five years after surgery to remove a characinoid tumor in his intestine.

Each Father's Day my husband, the eldest of four siblings, is reminded of how he wishes his father were around to see his grandchildren and how fortunate he is to have been able to accomplish everything he has.

At the other end of the spectrum, we've always been able to count on my father and mother to be the ever-present grandparents to our two children; to feel the love and support of family in spite of the occasional bad moments or unavoidable family squabbles. Taking their presence for granted is something I will not allow.

So you see, though it's comfortable to take the easy way out of a family commitment, don't.

And, don't let your kids, especially the teenagers, take this route either. Don't cave to a request to stay home because "we get bored at grandmas" or "there's nothing to do."

Go. Spend the time. Show the kids what it takes to keep the family united and how it gets done.

I understand it really is impossible to attend every family event, so what do you do when these situations arise in your family?

Happy Father's Day and hug your dad if you still have one around. If you don't, hug someone else's.

La Jolla Cove view from Brockton Villa

Brockton Villa is one of the wonderful restaurants gracing our Southern California coast offering spectacular sunset views along with delicious food. It is ideally situated a top a perfect scenic spot overlooking The Cove, in La Jolla, California. The view from this perch is breathtaking, and I was able to personally confirm this at a recent brunch at this landmark eatery generously sponsored by owner Dave Heine for a group of San Diego bloggers.

Brockton Villa owner Mike Heine with bloggers Suzette Valle and Jennifer Fox Armour

View from a balcony table at Brockton Villa

Brockton Villa was a beach cottage built in 1894, and while being historically preserved was converted into a restaurant in 1990. Its quaint and charming decor embraces you as you walk up the stone and wood stairs seemingly cut out of the cliff side. The unique abalone shell-inlaid fireplace is estimated to have been built in the 1920s and is the centerpiece of the main dinning area.

If you happen to be in La Jolla, California this summer, don't forget to pop in to this lovely restaurant. "Brockton Villa remains a significant reminder of the architectural past alive in our La Jolla community: simple and lovely, blessed by the sea, the sun and the sand."

Alex Valle (image Shutterfly)

Dear Readers,

As most of you know, my son is graduating from high school tomorrow and I have been terribly busy with the many formal activities this milestone entails. I have been unable to post, but I hope to be back on track next week when all the festivities are over and my head is back in the game.

I hope you'll hang in there with me... school's almost over!

Having a child graduate from high school is an accomplishment itself. However, it's made even more special by the fact that a child can carry an above average course load; be involved in a sport becoming Captain and MVP; receive a memorial scholarship based on both his academic and athletic achievements and also get into a decent college.

Yes, I am so very proud!

If you would like to send me a congratulatory card for MY achievements to get him through all of this and still like him, please do!

Finally, to all my readers with kids also graduating, I would like to congratulate YOU for a job well done!

And now, on with the show...

Lee Dewyz American Idol 2010 winner. Photo Credit Micheal Becker/Fox

American Idol was worth watching last night if anything for the popular retro acts that graced the Nokia's stage and took most of us middle aged (What?)  viewers down memory lane; Alice Cooper, Bee Gees, Hall and Oats, Janet Jackson and Chicago made me get on that time machine and recall freer, less complicated times. William Hung and Pants on the Ground provided the comedy relief we like to see during an otherwise tense show -- plus, they plain have guts to do what they did on national television, again.

The pace and variety of the show were good with one or two blips which could have been better planned or rehearsed: Simon Cowell's lengthy good bye tribute, and Paula Abdul's strange monologue.

It could well be that Simon was the reason many tuned in to watch American Idol; he didn't mince his words and was sometimes brash, curt and publicly insensitive with many of the AI wannabes who dared to face him. Personally,  I think Cowell actually said what many of us sitting on our sofas, mouth agape, were thinking about some of the strange auditions we were subjected to.  Perhaps this would explain why the tribute, which spanned the entire show, was merited.

Paula Abdul's appearance, supposedly a surprise, certainly seemed unrehearsed and unsupervised and could have used some polishing up before she went on stage and confirmed what many already think about her strange personality. I wish she could have come out and spoken more eloquently and avoided any cheap jokes like, "there's a baby in the back with Simon's hair cut..." which in my view lessened others opinion of her -- in spite of this setback, I still love and admire her talent!

As for the contestants, it couldn't have been more obvious that Lee Dewyz was America's, and perhaps the producers, choice due to his mass appeal over Crystal Bowersox -- similar to Adam Lamberts case. Though I've read unconfirmed reports that the difference in votes was only 2%, it still looks like we prefer the clean cut look over a versatile voice.

Overall it was a great production, but the clincher for me was seeing and hearing Bret Michaels whom I hadn't even heard of before his Celebrity Apprentice stint and health issues. Bravo to this courageous performer!

Will I tune into to watch AI now that Paula and Simon are gone? I probably will just out of curiosity. But. It will be up to those who fill the two big empty chairs to keep me coming back.

Drinking more milk is one thing I should do more often. I usually only drink it in my lattes, but lately I've tried to down a glass or two to help my bones and overall appearance. Yes, milk should be a part of our daily nutritional and beauty routine, but it usually isn't.

I'm getting precariously close to an (middle) age where both beauty and health begin to take more effort than a trip to the cosmetic or drug store counters to keep me looking and feeling my best. To help me understand the benefits of milk as part of a regular beauty habit,  I was invited to take part in a new concept to spread the word about including more milk in our diets, and hopefully looking better, too.

"GOT MILK? and TOMA LECHE had a first-ever Milk Beauty Counter outside the Macy’s at Horton Plaza. It’s not something you’d expect to see at a mall: a milk counter.  But it’s precisely what the California Milk Processor Board (CMPB), the creator of GOT MILK? and TOMA LECHE (Drink Milk), introduced to passersby on May 5.  The advertiser wants Californians to know that beauty comes from the inside out and proper nutrition with milk is key to achieving radiant skin and healthy hair and nails. 

The counter provided consumers an interactive experience where they learned about the benefits of the “wonder tonic.”  Beauty consultants were on hand to provide a booklet of tips to keep skin, hair and nails healthy.  Certified Fitness Trainer and Nutrintion Specialist, and current Miss San Diego Cities Saundra Combs, was aslo on hand offering tips on the benefits of milk. Shoppers relaxed at a lounge area while being served milk-based drinks and cookies.  Guests  also experienced a virtual makeover during their free visit."

Bloggers Sondra Santos LeBrie and Suzette Valle with Miss San Diego Cities, Saundra Combs at the Got Milk Beauty counter

It's a fact that taking care of myself now is a greater challenge than just a few years ago, and this includes limiting the negative effects of practically everything I do and consume;  from where I sit (away from the sun), to what I eat (no cheeseburgers!) and drink (Margaritas are still OK, right?).  But, taking a trip down the dairy section at the grocery store to get my own carton of milk (hmmm, wonder if it could come in a nice pink bottle so everyone will know it's mine) is one thing I'll be doing more often -- and know it'll only have positive side effects like strong ankles to be able to wear Miss San Diego Cities, Saundra Combs, shoes!

What an incredible Trifecta of Tarts hit the media outlets recently!

In first place is the 7 year old “Single Ladies” video of a hip hop dance contest for tender tots which shows them popping and grinding with their best Beyonce impersonation, and clad in Victoria Secret-like underwear.  

Coming in second is the HOrrific Miley Cyrus video showing the 17 year old lap dancing and gyrating on a 40 year old man at a Calabasa’s club dressed in the signature coastal town's standardized outfit of short shots and UGGly boots. (Whoa! This sentence alone is so charged with inappropriate conduct it needs an extra reading lap to grasp the extent of this teenager's unsuitable behavior)

Coming in last place is the 24 year old freshly crowned Miss U.S.A., Rima Fakih, who can now add pole dancing to her assortment of talents which secured her first place finish in the recent pageant. On the other hand, Fakih could be considered an exception in this race because she is an adult and makes her own decisions.

(As far as I can tell, all three of these events came in on a blanket finish in my books)

But. Who is responsible for these outrageous public displays of underage indecency?

Once again Hollywood has a far reaching influence and is even affecting the adults in charge of their young, blinding them from the ability to clearly mark a path of modesty for their kids. The part the entertainment industry plays in inspiring and shaping what our celebrity-driven society considers success is evident by what the young striving Britney Spears or Beyonce wannabes will be put through to rise through the ranks.

But wait. This is far too easy an excuse and explanation for these dreadful sexually charged exhibits now covering the entire spectrum of ages; from tots, to teens to adults Hollywood sets the (low) standard our youth is falling in line to chase. Bearing in on the race are the adult guardians of the glittery track who could put a stop to it. Like trainers leading a horse to water, parents are responsible for pulling on their offspring’s reigns.

Why, then, does it seem they've let go too soon?  Have they pimped out their kids influenced by greed and fame? 

Such is the standard our celebrity-inspired culture understands is the measure of a person's success; fame, fortune, or even 15 minutes of infamy are a fair trade off to secure a place under the spotlight.

Don't get me wrong, I fully understand the need innate performers have to get on stage and give it their all. I am always in awe of the amount of talent out there -- even the little "Single Ladies" dancers 'killed it' on stage -- but at what cost?

There are some out there who think there is nothing wrong with these three scenarios, and that it's all in good fun.  I would tend to agree if the choices to get on the world wide web shaking and shimmying undeveloped boobs and behinds were their own, but they are not.

It's the parents pushing their little innocent girls to become over sexualized much too soon -- and then the same ones who turn around and are offended when some creep comes stalking them online or, God forbid, walking home from school alone.

In the case of the 7 year old dancers, there were several adults who could have stopped and said, Hey, don’t these fresh-out-of-diapers kids look ridiculous in those bras and panties? I mean, they don’t even fill them out properly.  Or, they could have simply noted that the pelvic thrusts were looking a little too awkward on their emergent daughters.

Nope. Instead the girls' instructors and their parents were too busy egging them on to perfect the choreography which they think is the way to make it big -- and, ironically they probably did make it in a big way.

Are the adults surrounding these children wearing blinkers?

I wouldn't be surprised to see the little dancers appear on a host of talk shows or some other late night television programs as the latest celebrated act they have to get in on before the competing network gets a hold of them.

Who will be first?

Cyrus’ behavior is not surprising anymore and not worth examining in detail. It would be great if she would just grow up already so we would not have to hear her father (Hill) Billy Cyrus keep justifying her moves as “just having fun.”

As for Miss U.S.A., our newest hand-picked role model for our budding adolescent ladies, I’m sure the pole slinking and sliding contestant was also just having fun. But the judges, and America, didn't know it wasn't the good, clean, all-American fun we associate with a beauty queen's legacy.

What has happened to behaving and dressing your age?

Actually, where’s Simon Cowel when you need him to tell these girls to dress their age like he told then 16 year old  American Idol contestant Katie Stevens when her outfit seemed too old for her?

“Your outfit should match your age. You’re only 16 once…”

For once, I wholeheartedly agree with this judge's call.

Do you like garage sales like I like garage sales?

Well, the mother of all yard sales is tomorrow, Saturday May 22nd, at D Ave in Coronado, and starts at 7AM!

All proceeds will benefit the Wampler Camp for Children with Disabilities. This organization is headed by Stephen J. Wampler who has dedicated his life to raising awareness about the disease that put him in a wheelchair, Cerebral Palsy, but who also refuses to let himself be taken over by this crippling illness.

In September, Steve Wampler is scheduled to climb El Capitan with a special machine specifically built for this arduous exercise. He also received help getting the word out about this incredible feat from celebrities Ellen DeGeneres and Will Farrell who recorded messages on his behalf to promote his next fund-raising venture.

We got a peek at the stuff in the HUGE garage sale and it looks like it's going to be a real tresure hunt!

All clothing items are $1 and there's some very good items avid 'thrifters' shouldn't miss!

Come out and support this great cause!

Grab your kids and your kids' friends and head to the movies this weekend to watch Shrek Forever After - you'll be glad you did.

I'm showing off my "Who The Shrek Are You" OPI Manicure. Look for the special Shrek colors now available.

The fourth and finall installment in the Shrek franchise is a delightfully scripted comedy for the whole family. While it's quick double entendre wit might be lost on the little tikes, it tickles the mature viewer's fancy with many references to contemporary family situations (kids' excessive birthday party, demanding spoiled child, etc.) much to our delight.

The endearing characters are all back with an even edgier personality and pick up where they left off; the now-married Shrek and Fiona are enjoying home life on the swamp tending to their three little ogres. However, Fiona (Cameron Diaz) and Shrek (Mike Meyers) are stuck in a married-with-kids couple's subdued routine which sends Shrek in search of the old days when he was the scariest lad in the land. He makes a deal with the devil, Rumpelstiltskin, to get his old life back for one day, but instead signs away his cozy world to find himself lossing everything and having to overcome many obstacles to get it back.

The message is easy and clear for kids to understand: You don't know what you've got until it's gone, and it's delivered with irreverent jokes for all ages. I especially enjoyed the fast-paced dialog and had to pay attention so I wouldn't miss the rapid-fire exchanges between Donkey (Eddie Murphy), Puss in Boots (Antonio Banderas) and Shreck!

We were treated to the 3D version of this film and I loved how the use of this innovative cinema effect enveloped my senses without over doing it.

"Do the roar!" and don't miss Shrek Forever After. It would be a cat-as-trophe if you did because this movie is sure to set the bar for the rest of the family summer blockbuster season!

I give it   out of 5!!

What do you think about the 7 year old sexy dancers?

The power of a mother's love is immeasurable; it knows no boundaries and is truly limitless.

I have once again confirmed this not because I am a mother myself, but because I had the honor of being in the presence of Time Warner Cable San Diego's 50 Best Moms and finding out what makes them worthy of having this title bestowed on them.

Humbled, and at times reaching for the tissues on the table to wipe some tears, we listened to excerpts from their children's essays selected by Time Warner Cable and a panel of 24 judges to be deserving of this cherished award.

Retired Juvenile Court Judge Maria Arroyo and Tiffany Lynch of Time Warner Cable's Community Relations

Among the judges this year were Maria Arroyo, retired Juvenile Court Judge, Marti Emerald, Councilmember for the City of San Diego, Jodi Kodesh reporter at NBC 7/39 and Lesa Heebner, Deputy Mayor of City of Solana Beach, and yours truly (see the 2010 list of judges here).

Essay judges Suzette Valle Best Mom 2006 and Jodi Kodesh NBC 7/30

Over 3,500 essays from San Diego County schools were submitted this year, and after reading my lot and listening to the chosen ones, I feel we are lucky to have some extremely dedicated mothers and active community-conscious citizens who are instilling the value of 'giving back' and 'paying it forward' to their kids; and sometimes to others beyond their own family.

Mrs. Shari Hume is one such mother. Her son was diagnosed with a rare life-threatening disease, Juvenile Dermatomyositis (JM), for which there is no known cure. She did not take his diagnosis sitting down; instead she helped raise over $2 million dollars towards the research, and hopefully, discovery of a cure for Parker Hume's illness.

Sally Grab Bidleman adopted Cricket Bidleman, a 5th grader, who wrote: 

"I am a blind eleven year old girl and I believe, with all my heart that my mother is the best in the whole of San Diego County. She has made many sacrifices, and she is an exemplary role model. She adopted my sister and me from China. For this, I will forever be grateful, because if my mom hadn’t adopted us, we may not have had the chance to get a good education. In fact, we may not have been able to get an education at all! My mom has made many sacrifices for me. She had already adopted my sister, and she found out from the agency that there was another child available for adoption. The agency said that I was blind from birth and that I was almost four years old. Mom immediately said yes. Most mothers would not have done what my mother has done for me."

Ashley Queja, a teenager, has been raising her younger sister Sydnee, who is now in middle school, since the age of 5 after their mother passed away.

Sometimes, when life seems to be squeezing a little too hard and I feel I'm about to choke, it will help me to breathe a little easier knowing others are gripped by even worse problems than my own and overcome them.  At times like these, I will re-read these stories of courage and adversity and use them as inspiration to deal with my own, comparatively insignificant problems, and forge ahead.

Time Warner Cable's 50 Best Moms winners, I again tip my hat to you and thank you for inspiring your children (and mine) to be the best they can be.

But, more importantly, for inspiring us mothers to be our children's role models no matter what.  

Promises2Kids Announces Concert with Rock Legends Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo

May 11, 2010 - The Honorable Susan Golding, CEO and president of Promises2Kids announces the foundation's annual outdoor Summer Concert Gala featuring four-time GRAMMY(r) Award-winning artist Pat Benatar accompanied by renowned guitarist Neil Giraldo on Wed., June 2 from 6:30 to 10:00 p.m. at the estate of Joan Waitt, honorary co-chair, in La Jolla, Calif. All proceeds from the event will benefit Promises2Kids, a San Diego-based non-profit dedicated to breaking the cycle of child abuse through prevention, education and advocacy.
 
With six platinum and four gold albums to her credit, singer/songwriter Pat Benatar is one of the country's leading female rock vocalists. Her distinctive vocals, smoldering Ukrainian good looks, and powerful arrangements by band leader/guitarist Neil Giraldo launched a career that has powered on into the present.
 
This will be the first time the duo will perform an acoustic set in San Diego, under the stars and overlooking the Pacific Ocean at the beautiful, private estate of Joan Waitt. The evening will also feature an elegant sit down dinner prepared by the chefs from the Hyatt Regency La Jolla. Guests may bid on a number of one-of-a-kind silent and live auction packages, including beautiful jewelry, a private owner's box at the finish line and overlooking the Winner's Circle at the Del Mar Racetrack, golf and lunch at the San Diego Country Club, and a night out Downtown with a one-night stay in the Presidential Suite of the historic St. James Hotel plus a $200 gift certificate to any of the Cohn Restaurants and four Founder's tickets to a San Diego Padres game.
 
"It is a dream come true to have Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo perform for us on this most unforgettable evening," says Ann Haddad who co-chairs the Summer Concert Gala event with her husband Ben. "Last year's event with Jewel raised nearly $220,000 toward breaking the cycle of child abuse, adds Golding. "Proceeds will help children who have no one else in their lives and desperately need a home, and also help provide for those things that every other child have."
 
Honorary chairs for the Promises2Kids Summer Concert Gala featuring Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo are San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders and Joan Waitt. Donating sponsors for the event include Bridgepoint Education, Cubic Corporation, Redfearn & Associates, San Diego Magazine, and Lorica International.
 
Tickets can be purchased online at www.promises2kids.org for $250 per person for general admission, $475 for the VIP reception, and $2,750 for a table sponsorship. For tickets or more information about the event and sponsorship opportunities, please call Promises2Kids at 858-427-1112.
 
Promises2Kids 2010 Summer Concert Gala committee members include: Honorary Chairs San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders and Joan Waitt (board member); Event Co-Chairs Ann and Ben Haddad; Andrew Abrams (board member); Steve Bond (board member); Ashley Constans; Larry Donofrio (board member); Steve Elder; Connie Fox; Pamela Hunt; Jane Mack-Baker (board member); Diana Marjip-Chuh (board member); Steve Redfearn; Aunde Rose; and Jay Sheehan.
 
About Promises2Kids
Originally founded as the Child Abuse Prevention Foundation of San Diego County, Promises2Kids is a 29-year-old nonprofit organization. Since 1981, Promises2Kids, also known as the Polinsky Children's Center Foundation, has led the fight against child abuse and neglect in the County of San Diego. No other organization in the area offers such a broad array of support systems, nor does any other organization in the area offer such a wealth of opportunity to connect with a wide variety of resources, programs, and collaborative partners focused on eliminating child abuse. The Chief Executive Officer and President of Promises2Kids is the former two-term Mayor of San Diego Susan Golding. For a complete list of volunteer opportunities or more information, please visit www.promises2kids.org, Facebook or Twitter.

Today, my husband and I join other special couples who have been able to keep it together for 20 years: Rita Wilson and Tom Hanks, Kyra Segdwick and Kevin Bacon, and Jamie Lee Curtis and Christopher Guest among others.

Yes, today is our 20th Wedding Anniversary!!

Twenty years ago a very young, tall, dark and handsome man actually thought I was worth marrying and has taken care of me, very well  I might add, since then.

Before you can also appreciate the weight of these two decades you've got to know a little of the back story. So sit yourself down for a bit, grab your passport and camera because we'll be traveling away from here to the places where our love was born.

London, England September 1989.

A full-fledged executive working in the days of "Greed and Glory on Wall Street" with the now-defunct investment bank Shearson Lehman Brothers, I sat at my opulent, mahogany desk on the third floor overlooking the ice rink in the financial center of London. Unsuspectingly, working away on the trading room floor watching my telephone line indicator lights blink, the far left hand corner light started to shine green so I pressed and answered: "Shearson Lehman Asset Trading, this is Suzette."

"Hello, this is Alejandro, I'm Alberto's friend and I work at PNC in Pennsylvania. Alberto and I have worked together, and he mentioned you are also a debt trader."

This was not the most charming introduction by any means, but the interesting element is that during that initial conversation we found out we were both Mexican living and working abroad in the same industry and in the same sector; both as expatriates, bilingual, with many things in common including our education; we both have Masters Degrees.

After the ice was broken, this faceless man took command of the daily phone calls that came in on the same line and at the same time... and I kept a close eye on that little light each afternoon around 4 o'clock London time because that was about the time Alex would be showing up to start work in America (as the Euros call it).

Every day for about a month, 15 minutes before I would check out of work to hit the next happy hour, Mystery Man and I would chat about the market, trades, acquaintances and work-related stuff at first. After a couple of weeks the conversations slowly shifted to more personal topics; music, plays, travel and our families who were very far away for both of us.

The voice at the other end of the corded phone might as well have been a hypnotist because I couldn't put the phone down (didn't want to) after each call!

We started doing business together as debt traders, but even this was maneuvered by me since  my market consisted of France and Spain. But. I had convinced my bosses we needed a contact on the American side for certain transactions because the cost was less - and this much was true, but with some legwork I could have made the same transactions in Europe (but there was no fun in doing that!).

About a month into this whole business arrangement, my bosses had signed a deal whereby the entire trading unit had been bought by another bank, and according to British law we could not work in the same industry for one month after defecting from a previous employer.

The workaround this resulted in my living at the Plaza Hotel in New York City for exactly one month.

Oh, it was dreadful!

(No, not really)

During the negotiations for our team's defection, I could not tell anyone, but being a girl I had to tell someone and that someone was living clear across the Atlantic; I had never met him, but he was always on time blinking away at 4 PM.

"Hola, como estas?" I said excitedly on this day.

"Guess what? It's my last day here and I'm being flown to New York where I'll be living at the Plaza for a month. You should come visit me over the weekend!" I nervously reveled my secret to him.

I gave him all the details of the move and we agreed I would call him as soon as I was on US soil and installed in my room.

The next day was glorious! I marched into the boss's office and told him "I quit!"

Yep. Just like that.

However, the days prior to me quitting, others in my group had already done so and this raised a big red flag with the suits. Suddenly, I was told not to move, they called security and I was escorted to my desk to gather very few belongings. Then out through the beautiful ceiling-to-floor mahogany doors I went.

Suzette had left the building: #1 Broadgate, London, England...  forever.

New York City, December, 1989

Once I had checked in at the Plaza, I made the call. I couldn't believe what I had just done and was somewhat nervous but very excited about starting a new job where I didn't even have to interview - I was also getting paid double in this new job -- life was good.

Which brings me to the meeting.

In a flurry of telephone calls and messages, I ended up flying to Pittsburgh to meet Mystery Man and celebrate my new job with the only other person who knew what I had just been through.

"Hi, is that you?" he asked rolling down the window to take a peek at the stranger he'd been talking to over the last month.

"Yeah, it's me." I stood up from sitting on my suitcase curbside at the airport and quickly got in his car.

Break for a little clarification.

At this time, I was in my late twenty's, making more money than he was and had the better job title. (I'm purposely leaving out many of the details to this great love story so it's not a book, though I think I've reduced it to a cheap romance novel. Oh, well!)

After that fun weekend meeting Mystery Man, we hit it off rather well. In fact, well enough that we continued our relationship across the Atlantic arranging business meetings in the same cities like Paris, Mexico, and even Ixtapa, Zihuatanejo (What?) for about seven months until it got ridiculously expensive, our respective employers couldn't expense our travels anymore, and the telephone calls got old.

So, what's the next best thing to being there?

You get dumped.

Yup.

Dumped.

"Hold on there amigo. I didn't invest this much time and money in you so you could just disappear and ride into the sunset without me." I thought to myself.

Nope. That's not happening.

So, after the failed attempt at a telephonic Dear Jane, I flew from London to NYC after I told him that if he was gonna dump me he needed to do it face to face... not over 3,000 miles of optical wire.

And to make a long story short, it didn't happen. I got off the plane that fateful evening, and instead he proposed!

There you have it!

Someday I'll tell you the complete story of this transatlantic romance, but for now this will have to suffice so you'll understand how 20 years later, an 8 month intercontinental relationship is still going strong - against many of our own families' predictions.

Twenty years, two decades, two kids, a dog, a mortgage and soon a college tuition later, I'm talking about 20 years of blissful marriage (Who am I kidding? Blissful doesn't even come close, right?) to each other, and our first and only nuptials in our lifetime - not a small feat these days.

How'd you do it?

What's the secret?

These are commonly asked questions of the younger as-yet-to-commit set who might see marriage as an oppressive institution, or the freedom-taker, the kill-joy, etc. Whatever adjective you'd like to attach to marriage the only basis for a long-lasting life together (under the law and God) is...no, not love. How trite is that!

The answer is one word and it's so simple it eludes so many couples:

Patiencetolerancecooperationgivingputupwtihitwashcookcleanraisethekidsgoutwatchmovieseat

drinkwatchtvrelenquishtheremotedoitevenifyoudontwanttohugkisstalklaughyellscreamlethimdriveandshutupohandlove!

Happy Anniversary to my Mystery Man!!

Boy, am I glad you didn't let me go...

Iron man costumes on display at Comic Con 2009, San Diego, CA. Photo by S. Valle

If you expect to be blown away by "Iron Man 2" as you most likely were when you watched "Iron Man", you won't be disappointed! There's enough explosions, electrical charges, and protons and neutrons being displaced per minute of celluloid in this film to create another element for the periodic table.

"Iron Man 2" is sure to be a blockbuster, but what I'm not too sure about is if it's due to Robert Downey Jr. 's lasting impression as the smart, smooth-operating and witty Tony Stark, or if it's the staying power of the Marvel franchise -- we'll have to wait after this weekend to find out.

But. If the applause at the end of last night's screening of "Iron man 2" (IM2) at the Gaslamp Theaters in San Diego, CA is an indicator of how much audiences are in love with the super hero himself or Downey, then hold on to your ticket because IM2 might set a record.

Let me tell you right off the bat that "Iron Man" is by far my favorite contemporary action movie (after classics like "Indiana Jones" and "Star Wars"), so the sequel had a lot to live up to; sharp, unrelenting dialog; an unpredictable course of events based on current events, sustained sexual tension between the main characters, and an action-packed build up to a gratifying ending.

Did it fulfill my expectations?

I'll tell you in a minute.

First, I have to make a disclaimer. Robert Downey Jr. 's  performance in the first IM is tattooed in my brain as an unmatched, unequaled and (insert your favorite adjective for great here) successful comeback for an actor. Having said this, every movie he's been in since then ("Sherlock Holmes, "Tropic Thunder" and "The Soloist") has captivated my full and undivided attention regardless of its quality -- though his acting has been superb as well.

With this is out of the way, let's break down IM2.

Without squelching your obvious excitement (like mine) to be thoroughly entertained by this follow-up film, I'll keep my opinions short and to the point. After all, movies are a matter of personal taste.

The beginning gets off to a slow gritty start with Mickey Rourke playing a Russian physicist who barely utters a few heavily-accented lines throughout the film.

Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark, the much anticipated hero of the previous installment, delivers the same physical substance to the film, BUT, I'm sorry to say, not during the first 15 minutes of his self indulgent, high-kicking, over produced grand entrance. The self-centered arrogance of the movie's central character almost put me over the edge --fortunately Scarlett Johansen appears just in time to keep the focus on the plot.

Gwyneth Paltrow, I thought, was less spicy as Pepper Potts this time around, and the sexual tension between she and her boss wasn't as flagrant.

Samuel L. Jackson's short performance was confusing, and his repetitive references to the "Iron Man" suit had me recalling his voice in "The Incredibles" every time he said the word suit: "Where's my suppa suit?!"

Don Cheadle recaptures his previous character as Stark's best friend and protector, however, at one point between blasts and suit changes, I was confused about whose side he was on! 

Oh, and was that DJ AM as himself? Yes it was. His part was filmed before he died.

Overall, I found there were too many good guys after a few bad guys who were all in collusion to destroy Stark.

The finale left me with an uneasy feeling which I can't quite place my finger on; the battle scenes were prolonged; the gadgets and effects practically the same as the first installment, and as for Potts and Stark... they didn't do it for me this time.

I know there's going to be an "Iron Man 3," but the ending to this sequel didn't quite leave me wanting more... and I was bummed about that.

"Don't Think. Drink," is a line delivered by Stark. 

If you make sure this is your mindset when you go watch "Iron Man 2", then you'll probably love it!

The movie is rated PG-13 for strong and violent action sequences and some language.

I give "Iron Man 2"  (3 1/2) out of 5 smiles. (And Downey gets the rest !)

Lindsay Lohan Careening Towards a Career Dead End

Is it time for Lindsay Lohan to lay low?

I think so, and I tell you why in my latest Hollyblog at www.TheWrap.com.

The as-yet-to-make-any-sense Cinco de Mayo celebration in the United States is this week. And, though I don't celebrate with the same gusto as my 'gringo' friends, this day always reminds me of the many reasons I left my native country in search of the education that could afford me a lifestyle I never knew I could get accustomed to: The American way of life. A life without fear, injustice and with clearly established laws to protect me and my family, and which offers us the security of knowing there's recourse should anything bad happen to us while we inhabit this wonderfully free-spirited nation. (Without going into details, and for the record, I am here legally)