Category Archive for ‘Laptop Television’ at Laptop Television Mom

Archive for the 'Laptop Television' Category

I am a Snackoholic.

My arch-nemesis? Late-night snacking.

It’s 10:08 p.m. on a Tuesday. I am working, watching The Voice, drinking red wine and noshing on Pop Chips. Argh, I know I need to stop eating this late at night, so I wrap-up the snacks and remind myself this is an ongoing issue for this mama. In fact, here’s a post I wrote for Silicon Valley Moms Blog more than three years ago:

At the start of the New Year, like many moms, I make a pledge to get healthy both physically and mentally. This means exercising, thinking positive thoughts, attending church, honoring my family, and (oh yes, the biggie) eating right.

It’s amazing. I have been so good at the first four goals. I hit the treadmill 2 times a week (not as often as pre-baby, but more often than in 2007); I try to keep a positive attitude, I attend my wonderful and loving church; I spend time with my husband and daughter; and I eat healthy, home-cooked meals.

And here’s where it gets complex. From 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. I eat like Dr. Sears himself: cottage cheese, fruit and sliced almonds for breakfast, salad with grilled chicken for lunch, and lean meats and roasted veggies for dinner. And lots and lots and lots of water. Oh yes, and vitamins and supplements. Then, around 9 p.m., I put the Kid to bed, toss a load of laundry in the washer, load up the dishwasher, and hit the couch with my laptop for work and television. And then it starts.

The minute (no, the second) my butt hits the couch, the need to eat overwhelms my brain and I raid the pantry. I crave chips and salsa, pretzels, popcorn, edamame, rice crackers, “puffy peas,” or string cheese. And, depending on the time of the month, I’ll toss in a little chocolate to go with that salt. And let’s not forget the constant craving: red wine.

It is so frustrating that I am a dietary rock-star for 21 out of 24 hours a day. But when I reach the magic hours of Laptop Television — from 9 p.m. to midnight where I sit on the couch trying to be a good employee and decent homemaker — I feel the need to eat junk food. Why is that? Am I bored? Stressed? Confused? Overwhelmed?

I think I reached my low point last week when I was butt-on-couch, eating an entire bag of Almond M&Ms, and watching The Biggest Loser on TV. At that point, I decided that I am, in fact, the Biggest Loser.

I not-so-secretly want to talk to Biggest Loser hottie Trainer Bob for answers. In the meantime, can my fellow [Mom-bloggers] offer some cyber-therapy and talk me out of raiding the pantry, and loading up on unnecessary and empty calories, at 10 p.m. each night?

– LTV Mom

This post was written by LTV Mom and published on Silicon Valley Moms Blog in 2008. Sadly, three years later, I still partake in late-night snacking.

Published

Stacy Libby

on June 15, 2011

in Food, Laptop Television and Silicon Valley Moms Group

. 3 Comments

WINOS Pick of the Week: Elk Cove Pinot Noir

Elk Cove Pinot Noir

I don’t consider myself a wine-snob, but I do consider myself a Pinot Noir snob. I think it’s the hardest wine to select on the menu, and I never go “cheap” when ordering a bottle. In my humble opinion, Pinot Noir is an unforgiving wine, and a cheap Pinot usually disappoints. My rule of thumb for selecting the right bottle: look for a Pinot Noir from Willamette Valley in Oregon and order it without hesitation.

Last weekend, my husband and I had guests over for dinner and received a bottle of Elk Cove Vineyards 2008 Pinot Noir as a hostess gift. I hadn’t heard of this winery before, but was so excited when I saw Willamette Valley on the label. I was hoping the wine would be tastey, and this bottle of red did not disappoint.

Tasting notes say the wine has flavors of blackcurrent, cherry pit and rose petals. This novice (but frequent) wine-drinker says it was delicious. It didn’t have the bitter or “overly earthy” taste of some Pinots, rather it was smooth and flavorful and certainly had that distinct Pinot flavors that I really enjoy.

My first glass of Elk Cove was sans food, and I instantly enjoyed the taste, even without much breathing time. My second glass was accompanied by a grilled filet mignon, and I really liked the combined flavors of the wine and the meat. A wine that can stand alone, and stand up to my medium-rare steak, is a true find.

About Elk Cove: According to the winery Web site, Elk Cove Estate vineyards covers more than 220 acres on four separate sites in the Northern Willamette Valley. Elk Cove Vineyards proudly remains a family owned and operated winery.

Tasting and buying the wine: If you are interested in exploring the wines and visiting the tasting room, information can be found HERE. If you want to simply order some delicious Elk Cove wine, you can click HERE.

Cheers!

– LTV Mom

Published

Stacy Libby

on May 31, 2011

in Laptop Television and WINOS Pick of the Week

. 0 Comments

“Like Mother, Like Daughter”

I was fortunate to attend the Mom 2.0 Summit in April, where I spent time with the wonderful people from the “Milk Mustache” campaign. I’ve always liked the campaign, I think it’s a clever way to engage celebrities to promote a healthy lifestyle that includes vitamin-rich milk.

At the conference in April, I learned of a new initiative from the Why Milk Foundation where they examined role modeling and influencing the next generation of women. The campaign — beautifully called “Like Mother, Like Daughter” — is anchored by a commisioned-study that suggests that mothers have a unique opportunity, and a powerful responsibility, to influence the next generation of women. Research shows a mother’s lifestyle and eating habits have a profound effect on her daughter’s health, weight and self-image. Read the report HERE.

The campaign also powerfully reminds us that the first female role model most of us have in our lives is our mother. I was inspired to reflect on the values, morality and kindness my mother has role-modeled for me. I also acknowledge that it’s now my turn to be that role model for my young daughter.

To promote the “Like Mother, Like Daughter” campaign, a collection of moms attending the Mom 2.0 Summit participated in a video called “Thank you, Mom” to offer thanks and gratitude to the moms who have been inspirational role models in our lives. I was honored to participate in this video. Link can be found HERE.

Find more information on the “Like Mother, Like Daughter” campaign by following @MilkMustache on Twitter or find them on Facebook.

– LTV Mom

Published

Stacy Libby

on May 19, 2011

in Family, Food, Laptop Television and Working Mom

. 1 Comment

Mother’s Day 2011

My daughter's portrait of her mom

It’s hard to believe I just celebrated my seventh Mother’s Day as a mommy! Not only do I absolutely adore hearing my child tell me she loves me, but I also use this day to sit my child down and tell her how much I love being her mom!

Here are highlights from Mother’s Day 2011:

Best Card: I was lucky enough to receive several cards this year. I opened many cards from my daughter, as well as from my husband. My favorite card was a fill-in-the-blank card from my daughter’s school.

Here are the highlights:

My mother is the most wonderful mom in the world. She is a pretty as a “dafdil.” She weighs about “200 pounds” and is about “20 feet tall.” Her favorite food is “strawbarry.” I like it when she makes “my hart fele good.” I think my mom is funny when she “shos me piohrs of wen she has glasis.” (shows me pictures of when she had glasses) I know my mom is really angry when she “tells me to go to my room.” I love her because she “is the best.”

Favorite Tradition: I also am blessed to receive a card from my mom every year, and this tradition started long before I was a mom. My maternal grandmother died when my mom was only five years old, so since she did not have a mother to send cards, she sends Mother’s Day cards to her children every year. The message was simple: I love being your mom.

Best Surprise: My daughter and husband teamed up to decorate the kitchen with streamers, balloons and flowers. It was my daughter’s idea, and my wonderful husband did all the work!

Best Moments: I like the simple moments of being together, and I think my favorites were reading Harry Potter and playing Angry Birds with my daughter. I also loved taking a walk with my child, husband and dog. Happy!

Wishing all my fellow moms out there a very happy Mother’s Day all year long!

– LTV Mom

Published

Stacy Libby

on May 10, 2011

in Family, Laptop Television and The Kid

. 1 Comment

American Idol Season 10: Top 5

Season 10

It’s been a while since I posted one of Dixie’s famous American Idol recaps. BUT, we are down to the wire, and these updates are too good to miss! A lot has happened since I last posted a Dixie-recap. For example, Casey was voted off, Casey was saved, and Casey was voted off again!

Enjoy Dixie’s recap (and commentary) from last night’s show. Whether you agree with Dixie or not, take a read and talk amongst yourselves!

AI TOP 5, DIXIE SAYS:

What a screech fest tonight!! Some truly cringe-worthy performances, and unfortunately, they were from my favorites. And what was up with the Wardrobe Department? JLo was dressed for a remake of “Somewhere in Time” audition and Lauren was resurrecting Tammy Wynette on her second number. So much for “Now and Then” night. Here are my reviews:

James Durbin

James “Closer to the Edge” and “Without You”

Dang, James! What was that? I have been a solid James fan all season, and every week, he has made smart song choices which rendered great, creative performances. Tonight, however, was majorly disappointing. His first vocal was an ear-splitting, out of tune, awful mess! How the judges found anything positive to say about it is beyond me. He sounded so much better in rehearsal singing it with Sheryl Crow (whom I thought was an excellent mentor for everyone). And while I appreciate the emotion he put into “Without You“, I am no fan of this song. If you’ve been reading my reviews in years’ past, you know I’ve coined it “The Co-Dependent’s Theme Song”. Regardless of my feelings for the song, it was obvious from the rehearsal footage that James wasn’t going to be able to hold it together for the performance. I suspect he was pushed into it for the “entertainment” factor. So, we get an awful vocal, but American Idol gets the emotional story package. I know that James is a sensitive guy, and I feel for his situation, but really… its not like he’s going off to war in Iraq where his wife and son can’t visit him. He’s in Hollyweird! Even though neither performance was passable, I’m going to give him a pass just this one time and hopefully he will get enough sympathy votes to stay in the game.

Jacob Lusk

Jacob “No Air” and “Love Hurts”

What JLo? What Steven Tyler? That “No Air” performance was easily one of the worst things I’ve heard all season, and of course, only faint criticism. Randy was the only judge giving Jacob good advice, but did he have to throw Jordin Sparks under the bus to do it? And as most of you know, I am no fan of Jordin Barks. Jacob sang about five out of tune words the entire song and thankfully, let the back up singers do the rest. Horrible performance and one of the worst song choices to date on this show. “Love Hurts” was much better and I love that he took a rock song and did his Lusky, gospel thing with it. Still, I think Jacob is in grave danger of going home tomorrow night, but I would have to agree that it might be his time.

Lauren Alaina

Lauren “Flat On The Floor” and ”Unchained Melody”

Thank you Sheryl Crow for bringing up Lauren’s breathing issues. Note to Lauren: Not a bright idea to invite comparisons to Carrie Underwood, especially when you are not even close vocally and sound so out-of-breath. And this particular Carrie Underwood song was especially a bad song choice because its not very well known and its too wordy and fast-paced for Lauren. She was skipping about every fourth word and swallowing great gulps of air just to get through it. While it started out okay, she just doesn’t have the big voice or the big range to finish it off. Lauren’s second performance went horribly awry and it sounded as though she was making up the lyrics as she went along. Besides going badly off-key, delivering a dull performance, and forgetting the lyrics, JLo and Steven Tyler took the “nothing to judge” approach. Nothing to judge? You’ve just declared yourselves officially useless. Lauren, looking more orange than ever, is incapable of delivering a dynamic performance and/or vocal. As usual, I put her in the middle of the pack.

Scotty McCreery

Scotty “Gone” and “You Were Always On My Mind”

LOVED Scotty singing “Gone”! Best Performance of the Night by a million miles!! That song happens to be one of my favorite country songs of all time, and believe it or not, I even find it worthy of a Zumba routine! I’ve kicked around the idea several times, so you never know. Okay- back to Scotty… I thought he had absolutely incredible vocals on both songs tonight. “Gone” was energetic and exciting and “You Were Always On My Mind” had all the tenderness of a typical smooth Scotty ballad. On a night of ear bleeding performances, Scotty took over the stage and blew the first three contestants away. If he keeps this up, I just may become a fan. I always knew he would be in at the finale with James, but after tonight, he may just win this thing.

Haley Reinhart

Haley “You and I” and “House Of The Rising Sun”

What is going on in the universe that I disliked James’ performances and liked Haley’s? Don’t get me wrong- she still bugs me as much as ever, but vocally, I thought she was pretty darn good. So, Jimmy Iovine ‘offers up’ some unreleased Lady Gaga number that no one has ever heard of, Haley sings it perfectly, and then the judges rip her up and down for taking a risk? Is it just me, or was that Gaga critique infuriating? Not a single criticism for James or Jacob or Lauren, yet Haley gets an entire panel of downers? My husband, who is also not a Haley fan, thinks that the judges’ critiques on the first song was a set up so that she could have the big redemption moment at the end in the pimp spot, which she also had last week. As it would be, I also disagree with the judges on the second song. While I think Haley sang it fairly well, it was definitely not Standing Ovation worthy. Siobhan slayed this song last year, and Haley did not. She tried too hard to do all those vocal tricks (growling, runs, etc) and then didn’t nail the basics of singing the song. I’m a little confused about how TPTB feel about Haley; they go from straight up bussing her out to crowing her the winner. For the first time ever this season, I am declaring Haley as safe.

Going home: Jacob… unfortunately, our preacher man’s time has come. Stay tuned!

Top 11 review HERE.

Top 12 review HERE.

Dixie is a contributor to Laptop TV Mom. The words and opinions are hers and are unedited by me.

Photo credits: American Idol official Web site

Published

Stacy Libby

on May 5, 2011

in American Idol, Dixie and Laptop Television

. 1 Comment

WINOS Pick of the Week: Champagne Vollereaux

Perfect way to celebrate 40!

Earlier this year, I turned the big 4-0. It was an awesome day — actually month — of celebrating. I felt completely loved (and spoiled!) the entire month of February. I was showered with attention, parties, phone calls, emails and gifts. I’m pretty sure the UPS dude had our address memorized after days of delivering bouquets of flowers, chocolate-covered strawberries, jewelry and a very special bottle of champagne.

My sister, who also happens to be one of my best friends, sent me an amazing bottle of champagne that is more than worthy of a “pick of the week.” I don’t know a lot about champagne to offer up a full-blown review, but I can tell you this champagne stands up to some of my favorites including the wonderful Veuve Cliquot and Domaine Carneros. If you are looking for a new champagne to try, I highly recommend Vollereaux champagne, which is from the Champagne region of France. It is absolutely delicious.

The Vollereaux winery has a long and interesting history; in fact, this champagne-making family has been in business for six generations. You can read about their wine-making process HERE.

While explaining the nuances of champagne is not a forte of mine, I can tell you that the champagne was delicious and very easy to drink. It was flavorful, but light. (Is it possible a champagne can taste like citrus and be creamy at the same time… maybe the word is balanced?) I especially liked that it was not too sweet or too bitter; rather, it was flavorful enough to drink without food. Of course, I happened to sip my Vollereaux with some strawberries. And it was divine.

Vollereaux can be found on several online wine shops, including Carlo Lotti and Wine Searcher.

I’m closing with a favorite quote from Pierre Vollereaux, which might be one of my new favorite quotes: “Why drink coffee in the morning when you can drink Champagne!” Suddenly, I am craving a glass of bubbly…

– LTV Mom

Published

Stacy Libby

on April 25, 2011

in Laptop Television and WINOS Pick of the Week

. 0 Comments

My Personal Food Revolution: Phase Two

Food Revolution

About a year ago, I sat down to watch the premiere of celebrity chef Jaime Oliver’s new television show called Food Revolution, where he attempted to dramatically change the eating habits of one American town. Episode after episode, I learned about American eating habits, and more importantly, how we feed our children. I was prepared to end the season with a “holier than thou” opinion about how nutritiously I feed my family compared to the rest of the world.

Well, I did discover how well I feed my family… and how poorly I feed myself. I finally recognized that I was preparing my daughter’s organic sandwiches and fresh fruit for lunch, while grabbing an over-processed breakfast bar for myself on the way out the door. My daughter drank organic, low-fat milk; I was guzzling diet sodas. Was it possible to be absolutely conscientious and a complete wreck at the same time? Well, yes it was.

I detailed my experience in a post for Silicon Valley Moms Blog, which can be found HERE. And with the new season of Jaime Oliver’s Food Revolution underway, I am taking another look at the food in my home, with a focus on how I educate and talk to my six-year-old daughter about food.

Practice what I Preach

I am proud of how I have learned to better incorporate healthy food into our family. I follow Jaime’s advice and ensure are eating whole foods, and remembering foods like “real” potatoes are okay. I have embraced my crock pot for cooking lean meats that are juicy and flavorful. I even made my first Indian dish in a crock pot! (Might be sacrilegious to my Indian friends, but the meal was delicious!) I always serve a fresh vegetable or salad with the meat.

I’m also more aware of snacks and sweets with my daughter. When she says she is hungry and wants a cookie, I ask her if she is really hungry or if she is craving something sweet to eat. I am fine with sweet cravings (we all have them), but want her to know there are bananas for hunger and a small ice cream sandwich when she just wants to satisfy a sweet-tooth.

My next challenge: stopping late-night snacking when the kid is in bed and I am up working. Hand’s down, this is one of my worst habits. I am working on solving this problem as I type…

Finding Inspiration

I love, love, love Jaime Oliver. I think he is witty and smart and driven. I admire his willingness to engage with his supporters on all levels, including a brief conversation with me over Twitter. I also discovered a teen star who has taken on a similar cause, and at the same time, found an external inspiration for my child (one to accompany the ongoing lessons from her mom of course.)

I recently spoke to Reed Alexander, also known as the nasty Neville from Nickelodeon’s iCarly, who recently transformed his diet and exercise program in an effort to increase overall health and energy. After losing 15 pounds and discovering boundless energy, Reed decided to translate his experience for other kids and created his own health and fitness program. Reid explained his experience with big-brands like Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig, and found they were too “adult focused” for his liking, so he created KewlBites for kids. Information and resources can be found HERE.

Reed Alexander

I like what Reed is doing. He message is about empowering kids, getting them into the kitchen to cook and learn about food, and finding time to exercise. His message is similar to Jaime Oliver’s message, so my hope is that Reid can reach millions of teens like Jaime has reached millions of adults.

And for the record, I have to say that Reed was absolutely delightful! He is a polite, gracious and humble 16-year-old star. He even spared a few minutes to talk to my daughter – and uber-iCarly fan – over the phone.

Here’s to healthy cooking and good eating!

- LTV Mom

Photo Credits: Food Revolution, found on ABC 8/7c and ContactMusic.com

Published

Stacy Libby

on April 14, 2011

in Food, Laptop Television and Silicon Valley Moms Group

. 0 Comments

American Idol Season 10: Top 11

AI Season 10: Top 11

Another great show by the “kids” of American Idol, and another great recap by LTV Mom contributor Dixie. I personally think Stefano should go home, Haley needs a standing microphone, and Scotty looks young enough to be my child. I digress, Dixie’s recap is much better than mine.

DIXIE SAYS:

Motown saves the season, once again!! Now that’s what I call a show!! Randy didn’t need to use the word ‘pitchy’ tonight because frankly, nobody was. Even though the contestants were a zillion times better than last week, my dislike of Jimmy Iovine continues to grow. He gets at least four times longer to spout off clichés than the contestants get to sing. And he completely takes out the element of surprise when he summarizes their performances BEFORE we see them; he really robbed Naima of a mini-moment with her African Dance.

On to my reviews:

Casey “Heard It through the Grapevine”

It’s official. I’m over the Werewolf in a suit. His growls just aren’t melodic enough for me, and for whatever reason, he can’t re-create the magic he possessed during Hollywood week. The song did make me want to grab a handful of raisins, but that’s about all it did for me. I was relieved that he actually knows the girl he vocally assaulted in the crowd.

Thia “Heat Wave”

Unfortunately, there’s nothing less credible than a 12 year old singing about a ‘burning flame inside’, but at least she picked up the pace and broke out of her shell a bit more. Thia’s tone is gorgeous and I truly love her voice, but why didn’t the judges call her out on the butchered lyrics? I was happy that she mentioned it in the after clip, but WOW, that was one of the worst fumbles to date on this show. Definite improvement over last week, but if she doesn’t work out her kinks, Thia will not last much longer.

Jacob “You’re All I Need”

When he said he was singing Marvin Gaye and Tammie Terrell, I was so sure he was going to add, “And I’ll be singing both parts.” Now THIS is the Jacob I fell in love with in Hollywood. Perfect pitch, pleasing tone, unbelievable control, and even his skin looked flawless tonight. Motown is definitely Jacob’s lane and this week, he gets my vote for Best of the Night. The only thing wrong with this performance was his ill-fitting jacket. Bravo Lusky Stank!!

Lauren “You Keep Me Hanging On”

Do I see shades of the great one, Kelly Clarkston? That was awesome! Lauren’s confidence is finally back and she nailed her performance tonight. The little twang in her voice sounded great, and the little sashay behind the judges wasn’t bad either. Not very smart to knock the online community; they are voters too, ya know. With her stick straight hair and flowy dress, she looked like Kristy Alley’s younger sister.

Stefano “Hello”

Note to Stefano: You seem like a nice boy, but please step away from the “Hello.” After David Cook’s rendition, it only sets you and anyone else up for failure. Never heard the song before, huh? I thought he’s been an avid watcher of the show for nine years… something isn’t quite adding up. Regardless, all of Stefano’s performances sound the same and look the same and he just cannot connect. I now realize that he is physically incapable of keeping his eyes open when he sings; so much for promises! And does this song really qualify for Motown? Maybe it follows the letter of the theme, but definitely not the spirit of it.

Haley “You’ve Really Got A Hold On Me”

It’s the American Idol stylists who’ve really got a hold on Haley: perfectly straight hair, 8 inch heels, exposed belly, and Haley Svarnato’s old short-shorts. Someone needs to tell her that the AI audience doesn’t go for sexy; it’s a waste of energy. Haley’s vocals were an improvement from last week, but that isn’t saying much. Stomping about the stage while singing seems so unnatural and lame, but she earns points for not breaking an ankle. Bye-Bye Haley…

Scotty “For Once In My Life”

Tough card to be dealt for Mr. Country, you’d think… but naaaawww… Scotty countrified Motown and did it like a true professional. It’s strange, but I really enjoy the physicality of his performances- the way he moves and throws himself into each song. It’s almost like a cartoon, but highly entertaining. Scotty is in this competition for the long haul.

Pia “All In Love Is Fair”

And she power ballads Motown. Pia has an incredible voice and she looks amazing, but YAWN CITY… her performances are musical Ambien. I also feel she’s edging closer and closer to McPhee Territory. Hopefully next week she will stop being passive aggressive with the ballads and go up-tempo, maybe break free from the robot she has become.

Paul “Tracks of My Tears”

Mad props to Paul’s guitar for keeping him in one spot. The flailing around the stage was cute at first, but I’m so happy I didn’t have to watch it again. Loved the song choice, the arrangement, and the performance. But to be perfectly honest, Paul doesn’t actually sing, so it’s hard to judge what he does. To paraphrase Woody from Toy Story, “He’s not singing. He’s whispering in style.” That would be Paul.

Naima “Dancing In the Streets”

Let’s face it; Naima is in some alternate universe competition and it really has nothing to do with this competition. She just gets up there and does whatever the heck she wants to do, and I love that about her. Pia could take a few lessons from her. Naima’s vocals were SO much better tonight; she really did work on the pitchiness! She really wants to bring that African vibe to the stage and in my opinion, she is successful at it. Once again, Naima may be in danger of going, but hopefully, she gets to stick around to surprise us for one more week.

James “Living For The City”

Finally in the coveted Spot de Pimpage, and he was all kinds of awesome!! Loved the prolonged acknowledgement/encouragement from the crowd. James has incredible stage presence, terrific vocals, and the boy can dance! I do that little ‘rear step ball change’ move in my class, so I appreciate the choreography. When I decided that he was my favorite, I didn’t realize he had such a cute personality, but now he’s bordering on over the top/showoff, which I do not dig. Tone it down, James. Regardless, he is a star and I believe this competition is his to lose. Who would have thought??

Overall, no obvious clunkers tonight, except Haley in those heels. Bottom 3? I’m thinking Stefano, Haley, Naima… with Haley going home. Stay tuned.

Top 12 recap can be found HERE.

Dixie is a contributor to Laptop TV Mom. The words and opinions are hers and are unedited by me.

Photo Credit: American Idol Homepage

Published

Stacy Libby

on March 24, 2011

in American Idol, Dixie and Laptop Television

. 0 Comments

American Idol Season 10: Top 12

Season Ten

I am excited to welcome another “roving reporter” to the LTV Mom family. Everyone, meet Dixie who will be providing weekly American Idol recaps from her living room in Florida. This TV-watching mama loves American Idol, but Dixie is way funnier (and much more clever) than I. You might not always agree with Dixie’s take on the American Idol performances, but I promise you will laugh each and every week!

AI Top 12, DIXIE SAYS:

Tonight, the role of JLo’s hair will be played by Cousin It from The Addams Family. Maybe I am just tired and grumpy, but not one performance wowed me tonight. Just about everyone sounded either off key, screamy, or both. James’ “Another Thing Coming” and Stefano’s Sing for Your Life Wildcard performance are the only performances so far this season that made the hair stand up on my arms.

Also, I’m already so sick of this Iovine guy… and by the way, was he on Seinfield or another sit com? He rubs me the wrong way- he’s weirdly oily, slightly predatory, and he’s certainly giving off the impression that he’s a world class jackel. Anyone? The way he shrinks down into his seat with the baseball hat and glasses makes me think he is hiding something. Besides, he’s not adding anything to the show; in fact, I think he may be making the contestents worse.

On to my reviews:

Naima “What’s Love Got To Do With It” (The Staccato Stomp Remix)

Even though she has more stage presence than the other girls, Naima’s vocals are shakey at best. And I’m glad they finally addressed her pitch problems. If only her voice was as strong as her charisma. I think she could be in danger of going home, but personally, I hope she gets to stay a little longer.

Paul “I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues”

Tonight Paul looked like a cleaned up homeless man, aimlessly wondering about the stage. He improved from last week and hit most of the notes, but he has a tendency to fall off a bit at the end of each phrase. Perhaps he is out of breath, or maybe he just needs more training. He’s unique if nothing else.

Thia “Colors of the Wind” (Watching the Paint Dry Remix)

Thia was, like, born yesterday. One of my cats is three years older than her. Her parents remark, “We’ve rarely see her cry.” Really? Because we see her cry all the time! This young girl has very impressive pipes and a beautiful tone, but she really, REALLY needs to pick it up. Her performances are too calm and Zen-like… read boring.

James “I’ll Be There For You” (Rock Out with My Tail Remix)

The Tail Returneth!!! A rich inner vein of crazy? Yeah, it’s called Tourettes, and James didn’t chose it… it kind of chose him. What a cute video of his childhood ABC’s- and he did have perfect pitch! James’ vocals were reminiscent of Jon Bon Jovi himself, but even my favorite sounded wobbly tonight. I wasn’t nearly as impressed with James as I normally am. And Steven Tyler was correct: don’t go too poppy! His backstage scream was the most entertaining thing of the entire show for me this week. Sooo Jacob is not in the band, huh? Wonder what that’s all about.

Haley “I’m Your Baby Tonight” (The Baby Voice Edit)

Very jazzy which I like, but very mush mouth which I dislike. Seriously, I couldn’t understand a single word she sang! All I can say is that she got through it and I wouldn’t doubt it if she is hitting the seal. Very cute how Peaches helped her out with the red lipstick on her chin.

Stefano “If You Don’t Know Me By Now” (Forehead Vein Popping Remix)

Best performance of the night? What? If anything, Stefano makes me miss Elliott Yamin! He did a decent job, but his voice isn’t nearly as limber as he thinks it is. Plus, his performances, minus his Wildcard Performance, always remind me of a high school musical where the soloist is trying way too hard.

Pia “Where Do Broken Hearts Go” (Trying to Win This Thang Version)

The only way to calm her down as a child was to video tape her singing? Dad should have dipped her pacifier in NyQuil and called it a night. The grandfather moment was very touching. Pia has a strong voice, but her performances do not have one single ounce of surprise. She seems like a very nice person, but she has zero personality, zero originality. Also, the arrangement kind of stunk; this is supposed to be a sad song, not a dance number. Despite the yawn factor and the lame arrangement, Pia did have the best vocals of the evening.

Scotty “Can I Trust You With My Heart” (Leanin’ Side ta Side Remix)

Daddy and Mommy can sing pruty well, thankyewverramuch. Very good performance and the ending was an awesome surprise! Now even the country kid is glory-noting the ending! Maybe the one trick Pony is learning a few more tricks. Not that he needs to; Scotty is safe for at least 11 more weeks.

Karen “Love Will Lead You Back” (The Bilingual Remix)

Subtitles por Madre? ‘This is the Oscar in my life.’ Sniff, sniff. Te amo too, Madre!! Despite the follicular disaster and looking like an extra in an Austin Powers movie, Karen was WAY better than last week. She hit all the notes, but without a great deal of power. I think she sings too timidly. She says she doesn’t want to be known as the contestant who always sings in Spanish… and then she seques into Spanish. This song sent Mikalah packing in Season 4,and I have a strong feeling that it may do the same for Karen in Season 10.

Casey “Smells Like Teen Spirit”

LOVE his parents; perhaps the reason he is such an old soul is because of his older parents. “I like to take risks,” Casey says. This was the musical version of cutting yourself. Besides the fact that he got many of the lyrics wrong, he just didn’t pull this off. Wish James would have sang this song. Disappointed to say the least.

Lauren “I’m The Only One”

Lauren’s parents look younger than she does! Pretty good performance considering she is sick; maybe the codine is loosening her up a bit. Definitely better than last week’s forgetful number. This song still reminds me of Pickler.

Jacob “Alone” (The Idol Magic Maker Remix)

Although it was better than last week’s pitchy performance, Jacob is yet another one who is disappointing me. Where is the guy who sang “God Bless the Child” during Hollywood Week? I think he started out too high and once again encountered pitch problems, just not as severe as last week. I will give him points for being original while singing one of the go-to songs for AI- it was half gospel, half diva, and he certainly knew how to gay it up with the Lusky Stank. I’m not saying he’s gay- I don’t know- I’m just saying that he gayed up the song.

Overall, not a very good night for the contestants. I say get rid of the Iovine guy. Bottom 3? I predict Karen, Haley, and Naima… with Karen going home. Stay tuned!

Dixie is a contributor to Laptop TV Mom. The words and opinions are hers and are unedited by me.

Photo Credit: American Idol

Published

Stacy Libby

on March 17, 2011

in American Idol, Dixie, Laptop Television and Music

. 4 Comments

Five women I want my daughter to know

Five Women I Want My Daughter to Know

The Yahoo! Mother Board is creating a virtual guide-book of women we want our daughters to know; women we find inspiring, intelligent, ground-breaking and positive. I am the mother of a six-year-old girl, so this project is close to my heart. I want my daughter to know her talents are vast and her opportunities are endless. It’s an honor to build a collection of amazing women who can serve as examples for her.

Here is my contribution:

1. Hillary Clinton: I always liked the persona of Hillary Clinton. She appears smart, composed, ground-breaking and glass-shattering. I am inspired by Hillary because, like me, she was raised in the Midwest, is a member of the United Methodist Church, and is the mother of an only child. I like the idea of Hillary Clinton: ballsy, compassionate and uber-smart. Reading her autobiography Living History offered a peek into her personal life, and I was so inspired by her approach to motherhood that I often times take the parenting advice from her book. I want my daughter to know about Hillary Clinton because I want her to know there are smart women who are not afraid to be smart and to pave the way for the rest of us.

2. Tina Fey: It’s no secret I love Tina Fey. I’ve blogged about her more than once. I adore Tina because she is brave, smart and funny. I feel like Tina Fey is the voice of many women of my generation, the working moms who juggle multiple roles. Not only is Tina a player in Hollywood, she dominates it. She is not afraid to be snarky (do you watch 30 Rock?) and witty. I want my daughter to know about Tina Fey because she is not afraid to be smart, engaging and funny… traits I hope my daughter will have.

3. Sally Ride: I learned about Sally Ride in my school history books. After all, she was the first woman to enter space. I always found her inspirational, but I never considered her a role model for me personally. Then I produced a daughter who loves math and science, so Sally Ride needs to be on this list. I probably wouldn’t push my daughter to become a celebrated astronaut (Mommy likes her girl on the ground where I can see her!), but I will absolutely encourage her to follow her love for math and science. I want my child to know about Sally Ride so she can see what can happen if she continues to be excited by math and science.

4. Susan B. Anthony: In my mind, Susan B. Anthony was a trail-blazer before anyone even coined that term. Our family is full of patriotic Americans who embrace its history, cultures and potential. I hope my daughter can appreciate women who were brave enough to speak up during a time when women were expected to be quiet. I want my daughter to vote in her honor; I don’t care how she votes, I just want her to know it’s a privilege. I want my daughter to know about Susan B. Anthony because I want her to appreciate the path she has paved for all women in America.

5. My Mom: I have listed women who have changed the face of the world by tackling giant issues and taking radical action. As I finish my list, I feel it’s important to remember that some women can impact millions of people, and some simply make their mark by impacting a select few. Being the first women in space or having your face on a U.S. coin is amazing, but so are the women who choose to lead a low-profile, yet extremely wonderful, lives. Some women are profound because they have good and loving souls. That is my mom. She is a good mother, sister, community-member and human being. She is caring, respectful, giving and loving. More importantly, I don’t actually know the personal character of Hillary, Tina, Sally or Susan… but I know my mother. And I know she is an amazing role model for her granddaughter. I want my daughter to know my mom because while it is great to change the world, it is equally important and powerful to change just one beautiful life.

Who is on your list?

– 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 Credits: Hillary Clinton, Tina Fey, Sally Ride, Susan B. Anthony

Published

Stacy Libby

on March 15, 2011

in Current Affairs, Family, Laptop Television, Politics and The Kid

. 1 Comment