Archive for the 'Laptop Television' Category

Back to School = A Time of Firsts

Back to School

Back to School

I’ll be honest, this back-to-school season is extremely overwhelming for this mom. I have crazy-emotions right now, mostly because this is a season of many important firsts for our family:

First day of Kindergarten: My daughter is starting Kindergarten on Monday. You’d think I would be okay with this concept; after all, she has three years of pre-school under her belt. But this time, in my mind, it’s different. Kindergarten is the first step toward graduating high school. The school is big, and there are tons of older kids to influence her. This Mama Bear is nervous. First day of Kindergarten also means…

First day of public school: I mentioned the three years of pre-school, well, they were small private schools. And these schools were small, high-security schools with strict rules. I don’t know enough about the new school to have an opinion, but I’m sure I will in no time. The teachers and parents seem great, so I am very hopeful and positive.  First day of public school also means…

First day of no uniform: Yes, my daughter went back-to-school shopping for the first time. My daughter now has choices and opinions about what she wears to school. While she is excited, I am not. I love school uniforms. I miss school uniforms. I am frightened by some of the clothing options for little girls. I guess I’ll have to create (and enforce) my own rules. The first day of no uniform means…

First day of marketing over-load: I loved the fact that my daughter’s private schools did not allow branded clothing or merchandise in the classroom. No SpongeBob lunch-boxes or iCarly backpacks.  The kids brought bags with solid colors, simple designs and no logos. Luckily, we found an appropriate backpack and lunch box for Kindergarten. Of course, this means I totally over-spent on my kid’s backpack, but it took persuasion for her to select the brightly colored (and pricey) backpack over the “Princess” option. And to top it all off…

First day at a new school in a new city: Yes, we just moved to this state, city and school district. Lots of big changes for my small family. But, I am so proud of my little girl. She is handling all of these changes with grace and tolerance… which is more than her mom can say.

– LTV Mom

This post was inspired by participation with the Yahoo! Mother Board, where 80 amazing women share thoughts on a single topic each month.  While Yahoo! is my client, these thoughts are mine and I did not receive compensation for writing this post.

Photo credit: My Stock Photos via Flickr

Published
by
Stacy Libby
on August 20, 2010
in Family, Laptop Television, The Kid and Yahoo! Mother Board
. 3 Comments

The Next Food Network Star Season 6 Winner: Aarti Sequeira

The Next Food Network Star Aarti Sequeira

The Next Food Network Star Season Six Winner: Aarti Sequeira

This foodie loves Indian cuisine. I can devour a plate of Gobhi Aaloo and butter chicken (with a side of naan, of course), but the thought of actually cooking the meal is down-right frightening. Thanks to the winner of The Next Food Network Star Season Six, I think I found my solution: I will stick to ordering my traditional Indian food at my favorite restaurants, and will simply try infusing some Indian flavors into my everyday cooking at home.

This culinary point-of-view is the vision for chef — and now TV star — Aarti Sequeira, who won Season Six of the competition Sunday night. Aarti was an early fan favorite due to her bubbly personality and infectious smile. But I believe she won because her new show, called Aarti Party, is interesting, unique and inspirational. She can certainly teach wanna-be chefs like me how to enjoy some Indian flavors without tackling full-flown Indian cuisine.

On Monday, I was fortunate to speak with Aarti and discuss her victory. Here are highlights from the call:

Q: What most excites you about making your new show on Food Network? A: Aarti’s answer was both simple and poetic. She said she wants to really live up to her full potentia and “go boldly into [her] future.”

Q: Will you continue your online cooking show and blog? A: Aarti wants to keep blogging and is not sure about her online cooking show. She openly admits that food-blogging “is an art form for sure.” She also added “the blog stays, the blog got me here, and it gave me a sense of who I am.”

Q: At any point during the competition, were you star-struck? A: Aarti gladly admitted she was star-struck when she met Paula Deen because “she’s so relate-able” and overcame her fears to live out her full potential. I liked that about Aarti, but then again I like anyone who stays humble and appreciative of what she has earned.

Aarti was a total joy. Her telephone persona is as charming and vibrant as her television persona. I would invite her over for dinner (and a few glasses of wine!) without hesitation. Aarti’s new show premieres on Sunday, August 22 at 12 noon EST on the Food Network.

Food Network SVP Susie Fogelson

Food Network SVP Susie Fogelson

Now, let’s talk about my personal highlight of the call: talking to Food Network SVP of Marketing, Creative Services and Brand Strategy Susie Fogelson. In all honesty, Susie is a stud. I want to be her when I grow up. She is smart and just pain cool.

Susie joined the call for a Q&A and spoke about the business decision of hiring Aarti. Here are highlights:

Q: Throughout the competition, what did you see in Aarti to vault her to victory? A: Susie quickly answered that Aarti was “interesting on so many levels right out of the gate.” If you watched the show, you know she had to work on confidence at times, but Susie said it was no surprise, she kept poise and professionalism throughout the competition. She finally added that “her light never dimmed.”

Q: When did you see Aarti break away from the pack? A: Susie quickly quipped that “Aarti had me at hello.” She added that Aarti has “a great spirit” and her “accent and smile are beautiful.” A true story-teller (that is a fancy term for marketer), Susie said she was intrigued by her background and personal story. Susie also spoke broadly about the competition saying “you have to be confident in this job, if you can’t maintain and sustain, it’s the kiss of death.”

I truly loved these conversations. This mom appreciates the opportunity to speak to two wonderfully smart, talented, driven and successful women. I’ll tune-in and watch Aarti Party… and dream of having Susie for dinner some day.

– LTV Mom

Photo Credit for Aarti Sequeira: Food Network

Photo Credit for Susie Fogelson: Food Network

Published
by
Stacy Libby
on August 18, 2010
in Food and Laptop Television
. 0 Comments

From Silicon Valley to Silicon Hills

Austin, Texas

Austin, Texas

Well, it’s official. I am an Austinite. For those of you who you did not hear the news from me, I am so sorry. The whole thing happened quickly and quietly for many reasons. Quickly: we wanted to be somewhat settled before The Kid started Kindergarten in late August. Quietly: the entire process has been extremely emotional and stressful, and I really didn’t want/need the added attention. Plus, I hate goodbyes, and these goodbyes were just too hard.

Jon and I lived in California for 16 years, and they have been some of the happiest years of my life. We finally found where we belonged, built great careers, discovered new hobbies, bought a home, brought our daughter into the world, and met amazing friends… no, built a family… in California.

Since I left with unanswered questions, here is a quick Q&A:

Q: What? You moved?! A: Yes. We moved to Austin, Texas this week.

Q: Um, why? A: Job opportunities and closer to family.

Q: Are you leaving Voce? A: Thankfully, I will continue to work for Voce and service my clients from Austin. My colleagues at Voce have been very supportive of this change, and I am so appreciative. I am also beyond thankful that my clients are so supportive, which is a relief and a joy.

Q: Will you be visiting California? A: I will be in the Bay Area once a month for work. This actually is pretty cool because I will return sans family responsibilities, so I will have time for happy hours in Santana Row, dinners out in Palo Alto, and maybe even karaoke with Glennia.

Q: Was it hard to say good-bye? A: Oh yes. Beyond words. The hardest person to hug good-bye was my beautiful goddaughter. Well, I didn’t actually tell her goodbye, I told her good night. I am a chicken.

Q: How have people responded to the news? A: It’s been a mixed bag but mostly positive. Those who have been to Austin are excited or even jealous. Of course the Silicon Valley loyalists think we are crazy.

Q: Do you know anyone in Austin? A: Thankfully, yes. We have friends there; in fact, our first friends in California are now in Austin. Also, my cousin (and possibly my daughter’s favorite person on Earth) lives not too far away in Dallas.

Q: Who had the most surprising reaction? A: My mom-blogger friends. I was touched and humbled by their support, surprise, sadness and (in one case) tears. You have no idea how much you touched my heart. [Note: second runner-up goes to four-year-old Olivia who cried for 30 minutes when she heard the news. I love that kid!]

Q: Can we come visit you? A: Absolutely! Please! We will have a small apartment at first, but hope to be in a house by the time SXSW hits (because apparently we will have a houseful, so make your reservations soon!) Just make sure you give me enough warning so I don’t have to cancel playdates with Sandra Bullock’s kid or postpone my regular bike rides with Lance Armstrong.

Q: Are you going to buy a pickup truck? A: No.

Q: Are you going to wear cowboy boots? A: No.

Q: Are you going to start yelling “Hook ‘em Horns?” A: Hell no.

Q: Will you fly your Iowa State flag on game day? A: Hell yes. Even on Oct. 23 when the Cyclones roll into town for their annual slaughter.

Q: Do you blame UT for ruining the Big 12 conference? Q: Well, I would like to actually make friends here in Austin, so I will quickly move to the next question.

Q: When can we see you? A: You can see me every day on Facebook on Twitter or here on Laptop TV Mom. I will post updates and photos as long as you do the same!

Q: Are you excited? A: Actually, we are excited. Change is good. This much change at one time is stressful, but it can be good. But I will only accept change – and be excited – as long as we can continue friendship with the people we love.

- LTV Mom

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

Published
by
Stacy Libby
on August 13, 2010
in Family, Laptop Television, Life in Austin and The Kid
. 15 Comments

From Left to Write: Staying Married and Personal Evolution

Author: Maddie Dawson

Author: Maddie Dawson

Despite the name of my blog, I really do more than work and watch TV. I actually love reading all sorts of books, from Paulo Coehlo to Barbara Kingsolver to Dan Brown. Luckily, I recently was invited to join a virtual book club with some of my favorite people. The newly formed club, called From Left to Write, is a collection of avid readers and writers, and we collectively read and share thoughts on a variety of books. This club is not designed to review books, rather we write about thoughts and feelings inspired by the books.

My first book-reading with this club is “The Stuff that Never Happened” by Maddie Dawson. The book is a reflection of marriage and parenthood, choices and mistakes, and personal evolution. The book explores infidelity, love, and the complexity of marriage.

I’ll be honest with you, I had a hard time getting this post started. Marriage is such a personal thing; no two marriages are the same and every couple handles their challenges and triumphs differently. That said, I am one of the lucky ones. I will proudly say — even at the risk of sounding smug — I might have the best husband ever. And I really mean it.

As I read this book, I felt a variety of emotions, randing from anger to compassion. I guess the constant emotion was my best life-lesson: no matter who you marry, you and your spouse are going to evolve as you age, just try to evolve on a parallel track.

My husband and I were married young. He was 26, and I was 23. Looking back, I would never advocate getting married that young (and will probably freak-out if my daughter wants to marry that young).  But, I was madly in love and I got married.  Sixteen years later, he’s still the love of my life.

As cheesy as that sounds, I have to say that he and I are both very different than when we married. How could we not be? We married so young. And since that time, we experienced a variety life-changing events both together and individually: we moved to the West Coast, built our careers, made new friends, traveled the world, had a child, dealt with deaths in the family and more.

I am a different person than when we met. And so is he.  Honestly, that’s how it should be. I’m glad that I have evolved into a happier (and hopefully) wiser person with experiences and memories shaping who I am. But I am even happier that my evolution was parallel to my husband’s. We both have grown and changed, and luckily, we stayed in-synch and together. The opposite could easily be true, and possibly the norm for people who married at our age.

– LTV Mom

Photo Credit: Maddie Dawson Web Site

Published
by
Stacy Libby
on August 7, 2010
in Books, From Left to Write and Laptop Television
. 2 Comments

I was the perfect mom before I had a child.

Perfect mom... until I had a child.

Perfect mom... until I had a child.

I recently started re-posting some of my favorite articles I wrote for the Silicon Valley Moms Blog over the past years. This one seemed to hit a nerve, and it’s the post closest to my heart. Please enjoy:

Before I became a mom, long before I was pregnant, I knew exactly how I was going to parent. My husband and I would watch other parents, sometimes in wonder and often times in horror. We would discuss what we saw and how we would handle kids when it was our turn to parent.

Luckily, we were on the same page (most of the time) about how we wanted to raise our family. Of course, we also knew we had no idea what we were talking about and would end our conversations in jest saying “it’s a good thing we are such perfect parents” even though we had no kids. (Even then, we kept our sense of humor!)

Flash-forward to today, and our baby is a sassy and beautiful five-year-old girl. Even after five years, we have have finally come to the conclusion that we have *no idea* what we are doing. My husband and I still laugh when we recall how weknew exactly how we were going to behave when we had a kid, and then we look at our reality:

Then: Why do people bring a screaming baby to a restaurant? I am trying to enjoy a meal with my husband. Now: Oh man, I wish I could help that poor mom and rock that baby so mom can try to eat two bites of food.

Then: I am absolutely going to spank my kid when she is naughty. Spare the rod, spoil the child. Now: I could never hit my child in anger, it would break my heart and her spirit.

Then: I cannot believe that mother would let her daughter go out in public wearing that outfit! Now: My daughter is so proud when she dresses herself, and I think she looks beautiful in her pink tutu, sparkly shoes, glittery headband and Princess sunglasses!

Then: I will never use the television as a babysitter! Now: Sigh, I just need 30 minutes to make dinner. Exactly how long is an episode of iCarly?

Then: Ugh, I hate flying coast-to-coast when little kids are on the plane. Why can’t get the parents stop their kid from kicking the back of my seat? Now: Oh, that poor dad looks exhausted. Should I offer to play with that kid for 15 minutes, so he can eat his lunch?

Then: I can’t believe some parents let their kid’s toys take over their house! It’s a home, not a Toys-R-Us. Now: I have toys in every room of my house. Silicon Valley home = no basement = no storage. Oh well, she’s only a kid once (and she is admittedly spoiled and has way too many toys.)

Then: I am shocked by how that mother just spoke to her child! I would never use that tone of voice with my kid. Now: I wonder if that mom is having a really bad day, I hope something terrible didn’t happen. Or maybe she is just exhausted and is heading home to a pile of dirty laundry and an empty refrigerator.

Then: I am going to practice tough-love at bed-time, and my kid will learn to go to sleep by herself. Now: My kids needs to get her sleep before school tomorrow, and I will do whatever it takes. Plus, she is so pretty when she sleeps, and I know one day she will be horrified if I want to cuddle with her at bedtime.

At the end of the day, parenthood made me more understanding and empathetic toward other parents. It’s amazing how I anticipated what I would do as a parent, only to be overwhelmed (and overjoyed) by the reality of it all. I try not to judge or second-guess other parents, rather I try to remember that we are all in the same boat, just trying to raise good kids while keeping our sanity.

– LTV Mom

Photo Credit: Microsoft Clip Art

Published
by
Stacy Libby
on August 5, 2010
in Laptop Television
. 2 Comments

WINOS Pick of the Week: Silver Oak 2005

2005 Silver Oak Napa Valley

2005 Silver Oak Napa Valley

It’s time for another Winos Pick of the Week, and this time I am glorifying a 2005 Silver Oak Cab.  Simply put, I don’t think my words can do this wine justice.

If you are not familiar with Silver Oak Cellars, let me share a bit about their history. The winery was founded in 1972 with the mission to perfect the Cabernet Sauvignon. Well, I think they are darn close to perfection.  The bottle claims “finesse and elegance,” and they are on their way.

Out of respect for the winemaker, I will refer to his/her tasting notes and agree that the wine had a wonderful garnet color with hints of dark cherry, cinnamon, cloves, lavender and licorice. While my palate might not be refined enough to note each flavor this wine has to offer, my palate tells me this wine is fantastic. In layperson’s terms: I loved the deep color and the rich, deep flavor.

My husband and I enjoyed this wine with our traditional Sunday night fare: grilled filet mignon and roasted veggies. We previewed the wine with some Gruyere and Dubliner cheeses.  I believe this wine can stand alone without food, but it certainly made my cheese and steak sing.

As much as I love this wine, the marketer in me adores the Silver Oak tagline: Life is a Cabernet.

To find out more about winery tours, tastings, wine parings and more, visit SilverOak.com

– LTV Mom

Photo Credit: Silver Oak Web site

Published
by
Stacy Libby
on July 14, 2010
in Laptop Television and WINOS Pick of the Week
. 0 Comments

The Next Food Network Star: Weeks Three-Four

Well, this working mom gig I have has been keeping me from my blogging. Oh well, even I know when to walk away from the laptop (and the TV) and focus on things like dance recitals, summer camp, client meetings, and a load of laundry or two. That said, I am still a loyal watcher of The Next Food Network Star and have been joining the weekly calls to talk to the judges and eliminated contestants. Lets’s get caught up:

Drama and Divas: There’s been some drama in the show, including some fallen stars and some surprise winners. One thing I have noticed is some lost confidence and some uber-divas. So, during one of our weekly conference calls, I asked Food Network’s Vice President of programming and production Bob Tuschman how he can differ confidence from Diva-ness. Bob quickly pointed out that the two are often “flip sides of the same coin” meaning that most stars on TV and film are “charismatic and demanding.” [LTV Mom: You probably need a little of both to reach the top of your game, but appearing cocky turns me off no matter what you do for a living.]

Points for Bravery: A blogger on the call asked Bob if the contestants got “bonus points” for creating a daring dish, even if the dish was a flop. Of course, this question was in reference to the famous “jerk cabbage” that was created during a challenge in Week Three. Bob response was “ultimately not” and the contestants still have to focus on execution. We also asked what saved the chef behind the nasty dish from getting the axe, and Bob quickly replied “there was somebody worse than him.” [LTV Mom: This was the week Dzintra Dzenis went home.]

Learning from Experts: I love it when guest judges appear on the show, and on Week Three, famed chef Guy Fieri joined the cast. One blogger asked Bob what the contestants can learn from someone like Guy, and I appreciated Bob’s response when he said there is “so much to learn from Guy, he’s a model for what you can do in this competition.” Bob also said “Guy is 100 percent unapologetically Guy.” Bob recommends that aspiring celebrity chef should follow Guy’s lead and not try to imitate other people and “don’t do what you THINK a cooking show host should be. Don’t try to become a TV host, that will get you sent home.” Lastly, Bob underscored that “Guy is Guy whether the camera is on or off.” [LTV Mom: Great reminder for all of us, regardless of our profession.]

Good-bye to DAS: Week Four’s eliminated contestant was cutie-pie Darrell (DAS) Smith, who hails from the Great Midwest. As a viewer, I could see a spark of “something” in DAS, but he just couldn’t get past is nerves to shine on camera. During our conversation this week, DAS admitted that he was so stunned by the serving raw chicken to Wolfgang Punk during the first episode that he never recovered. (DAS called Puck “culinary god.” I asked DAS for his signature dish, to which he replied: “A potato crusted halibut over assorted vegetables, what ever is fresh and in-season, and a rosemary beurre-blanc sauce.” I also asked DAS what goes through his mind when he’s in the middle of cooking a dish for an elimination challenge, only to be confronted by Bobby Flay. DAS admitted that the kitchen creates a very high –pressure situation, but the contestants get to the point where we are comfortable with the judges. He added, “We are all chefs, and it’s like talking to a regular chef.” I tell you what, DAS showed more charaisma and charm on the call than he did on the show. He told stories about being on his grandma’s farm, picking fresh tomatoes, and watching her create tomato-basil soup. Now that would have been a charming story on-camera.

Dishing with Dzintra: Week Three’s eliminated contestant was the eccentric Dzintra Dzenis who famously told her challenge partner to “shhhh” while in front of the judges during an elimination challenge. Manners aside, this Texan beauty is (as my mom would say) an odd duck. Even Bob wisely called her “interestingly quirky” but her downfall is that she can appear “dazed and confused.” On the plus side, Dzintra is a great teacher and she truly loves food. Like previously eliminated contestants, I asked her signature dish, to which she replied: “A nice great big piece of beef tenderloin that’s grilled, steak fries, steamed asparagus and hollandaise sauce.” I also asked her for a favorite restaurant in her hometown of Austin, to which she replied: “Chez moi!” She added there are so many good restaurants in the area, but “I really love my cooking, my family loves my cooking, my friends love my cooking. It’s all about here. It’s home.”

Next Episode: Tune into The Food Network on Sunday night at 9 p.m. PST to watch next week’s episode, and then come back to Laptop TV Mom for another recap!

– LTV Mom

Published
by
Stacy Libby
on June 29, 2010
in Food, Laptop Television and Trying to be Cool
. 2 Comments

Next Food Network Star: Week One

Season six of the popular reality show Next Food Network Star kicked off on Sunday June 6, and from the looks of the premiere episode, we are in for a drama-filled treat.  And the icing on the proverbial cake is that a handful of bloggers have been invited to interview Food Network’s Bob Tuschman, Vice President, Programming and Production; Susie Fogelson, SVP Marketing, Creative Services and Brand Strategy; and a contestant each Monday following the show.  The bloggers, including yours truly, have the opportunity to ask Bob and  Susie about the previous night’s episode, and then we speak to one of the eliminated chefs. We are one week into the process, and I am uber-excited for the show and the experience to interact with the Food Network executives. Let’s dive in:

About The Next Food Network Star: Just in case you are not familiar with the show, The Food Network airs a program each Sunday at 9 p.m. PST featuring 12 aspiring celebrity chefs taking on various cooking tasks with a “will they shine on TV?” slant. Each week, one chef is eliminated, and at the end of the season, the winner is awarded his or her own cooking show on The Food Network. Previous winners can be found HERE and HERE.

Q&A with Bob Tuschman:I tell you what, Bob was a really nice guy and fun to interview. Like on the show, he appeared calm, cool and collected (and perfectly on-message!) Here is a snapshot of the conversation:

Q: What are you looking for in a contestant? A: Bob pointed out that this show is “the toughest cooking show on TV” because the chefs not only have to cook, but they have to learn how to perform on-camera.  Each contestant has to bring the right level of energy, look natural, share a clear “culinary point of view,” and possess star quality.  He reminded us that Food Network receives thousands of pitches a year for new shows, so he needs to find someone who can “consistently deliver great food and great performances.”

Q: Are you worried viewers will lock in on one or two contestants too early? A: This question was top-of-mind because Aria Kagan was a clear stand-out and early favorite on the first episode. Bob said he does worry about viewers favoring a specific contestant early in the show, and then reminds us that no matter what happens in episode one, things can change quickly. Bob continued by saying that the judges need to see constant improvement in order to win, so don’t give up on anyone too early in the series.

Q:What is the biggest challenge contestants face and what is your advice to overcome them? A: Bob reminded us that the contestants really  have to listen to the judges who also are there to mentor them. Bob and Susie — along with Bobby Flay and Giada de Laurentiis — provide tips every time the chefs are in front of the camera.  (In fact, the judges spend at least 8 hours per episode mentoring the contestants.) They are looking for someone with charisma, and Bob added that charisma is like eye color, you either have it or you don’t… but you can learn to shape your charisma into something that works.

Q&A with Alexis Hernandez: Alexis is a farm-grown chef who likes to teach people the science behind food. Not only will he tell people how to make a vinaigrette, but we will teach you why adding salt can balance the acidity of the dressing. I call Alexis the unexpected farmer, because I know a lot of farmers but had never seen one in a paisley button-down before last week! He seems like a sweet guy, but his insecurities and under-cooked dessert made him the first contestant eliminated from this season. Here’s what he had to say:

Q: What would you differently if you could do the show over again? A: Alexis said he would show more personality on-camera, and share better and more-realistic cooking tips during his segments.

Q: What is the biggest difference from being a contestant and being a viewer? A: Alexis summed it up in two words: it’s overwhelming. He added that is hard to adapt when you want something so badly, when you want to win, but you are out of your element (and your kitchen).

Q: What is your signature dish? A: Alexis said his signature dish is braised beef chuck with red reduction and honey, infused with rosemary; carrot ribbons on top; served on a bed of Ramen noodles or puree of parsnips.  (Yes, Ramen noodles like the soup we ate in college!)

Q: What was it like to meet Wolfgang Puck? A: Mr. Puck was a guest judge for one of this week’s challenges, and Alexis called him a “mega-god of food.” He also said that he never in his life expected the opportunity for cook for Puck, and he was so happy to meet his “hero.”

Next Episode: Tune into The Food Network on Sunday night at 9 p.m. PST to watch next week’s episode, and then come back to Laptop TV Mom for another recap!

– LTV Mom

Photo Credit: The Next Food Network Star

Published
by
Stacy Libby
on June 11, 2010
in Food and Laptop Television
. 0 Comments

Celebrities as Role Models (and what to do with iCarly?)

Parents are often asked what we think about celebrities as role models for our kids.  As you can probably guess from the name of my blog, we are not afraid of TV in our house.  While we limit the amount, and the type, of TV shows my five-year-old can watch, we often have the TV on during the evening hours. (I like to watch  Cash Cab when I cook dinner!) So, I have to be mindful of the shows we are watching, especially if my kid is in the room.
That said, I’m one of those parents who will turn off the TV, cover the kid’s eyes, or change the channel if the programming quickly turns inappropriate for a child.  I freak out when a major network plays a Viagra ad in the 8 p.m. timeslot or there is a racy performance on American Idol. My kid does not need to see that type of entertainment, so I simply take action. (After all, that’s my job.)
I have greater concerns about the shows my kid loves to watch, especially when she becomes glued to the TV. She is allowed to watch cartoons when eating her breakfast (when mommy is getting ready for work, packing lunches and running around like a wild woman). The rest of her TV-watching is during the weekend, when I just need 30 minutes to make dinner, wash some clothes or pay some bills. Her favorite show is iCarly, followed by similar shows like Wizards of Waverly Place and The Suite Life of Zach and Cody. At first, I thought the shows were okay for a five-year-old… not great, but okay. And then I realized iCarly kids are more than characters to my kid, she was seeing them as role models. And I didn’t like the effects I seeing.
I realized that if my daughter watched more than two shows in one day, she would quickly start to emulate the characters by copying the word choices, rude actions and snarky facial expressions portrayed by the kids on her shows.  Trying to nip this behavior in the bud, I would sit and watch the show with her and interject commentary like “you do realize that you are never allowed to talk to a parent in that tone or manner, right? You would be in big trouble!” I then struggled with letting her watch the shows and being the super-annoying mom who was barking at her during her TV time.
Finally, I decided to use iCarly and the gang to my advantage. When my kid is busted for back-talk, not listening to her parents or being disrespectful… the iCarly privileges are taken away with the explanation that “you are not allowed to act like that, even if you do see it on TV.”
To explore other thoughts and opinions on celebrities as role models, check out the video above where my fellow Yahoo! Mother Board members from across the country discuss their opinions.
Finally, I’d like to close with my thoughts on celebrity role models for ME. I admittedly get caught in the trap of celebrity beauty, weight and glamor. But then I need to get a grip and remember professional celebrities have access to trainers, chefs and an entourage. Most importantly, I have to remind myself “I need to judge and respect people based on their personal character… not their personal accomplishments.”
– LTV Mom

Published
by
Stacy Libby
on April 4, 2010
in Current Affairs, Family, Laptop Television, Silicon Valley Moms Group and Yahoo! Mother Board
. 7 Comments

Our family loves Sidewalk Chalk!

Finally, we had a Silicon Valley day without rain. (Yeah, I do not pay Silicon Valley housing prices to get Seattle weather!) I was itching to get outside, but the kid wanted to stay inside to play. Desperate, I offered up a bike ride, a walk around the block, even a wagon ride. No dice… until I pulled out the magic idea: let’s decorate the driveway with sidewalk chalk!

The kid and I spent a good hour working on our masterpiece. We drew ourselves holding kites, tall apple trees, pink and purple flowers and a giant yellow and orange sun. It was so much fun to be outside, breathing fresh air, and sharing our creativity. We collaborated on the design and color choices, and laughed a lot! We were very proud of our accomplishment, and this mom will always love sidewalk chalk for outside activity and mother-daughter bonding!

– LTV Mom

Note: the sidewalk chalk was all mine, and Crayola was not part of this post.

Published
by
Stacy Libby
on March 17, 2010
in Family, Laptop Television and The Kid
. 1 Comment