XiaolinMama

"Xiaolin Mama Reviews" Goes Live

Like many bloggers, on occasion I have been asked to review products, tv shows, alcohol, events and a whole lotta random stuff.  Most of the time, it is stuff for the kids or maybe something I would have never bought - but hey its being offered for free.  There have been a number of times when it confirmed for me that not everything for free is worth it.  NO the luxury milk bottle cover was not in line with my life style and NO strawberry nipple cream is not for me. LOL!  (that is a story to be told over martinins!)  But I have found pleasant surprises along the way, such as great dresses for my daughter, cool video games for my son and a very cute and indestructable purse for me!  Reviewing products has been fun and if you know me, you know that I am more than happy to share my opinion with you. 

So check out my new blog, Xiaolin Mama Reviews, where I am reviewing Estee Lauder's Advanced Night  Repair and Crystal Light this week.

SVMB Dine and Dish: Money, the Holidays and the Good List

Dine and Dish-Nov 2008 @ Yahoo! Video

Santa baby, I wanna yacht,
And really that's not a lot,
Been an angel all year,
Santa baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight.

Santa honey, there's one thing I really do need,
The deed To a platinum mine,
Santa honey, so hurry down the chimney tonight.
-Eartha Kitt, "Santa Baby"

I recently had the honor of hosting Silicon Valley Moms Blog's "Dine and Dish" webisode, where five kick-butt bloggers and I chatted about the economy and the holidays.  We drank wine. We laughed. We commiserated about the pressure to keep up with the Jobs-es (our version of the Jones-es) in Silicon Valley and then we laughed even more at the notion of even trying.  Most of us are just hoping to keep it together this year. 

The economy is affecting all of us - whether it is causing us to worry about what is left of our retirement funds to thinking more strategically about what our kids really need or don't for holiday gifts.    Many of us are going back to holiday traditions, like hosting low-key potlucks, staying close to home and forgoing lavish vacations. For example, at my household, Santa's bag is going to be a lot lighter.  We talked at length about how this season is the perfect time to teach the valuable lessons of generosity, love and community building.  It is the right time to teach our kids about privilege and poverty.  But it's not easy.

My 5YO daughter got the Target gift catalog and promptly circled everything pink, sparkly or anything with Hannah Montana's picture on it.  When I asked her about what she was doing - she replied, "I think I am going to be on Santa's Good list".  With the marker in her left hand and catalog in the right,  I didn't think she was in the right frame of mind to get the whole "you are a lucky kid" conversation.    She didn't completely, but her 9 YO brother did get it and was able to boil his gift list down to just a few items and helped to wrap presents we bought to donate to the Family Giving Tree.  Whew, I'm doing something right.

I learned a lot at dinner.  Beth, Glennia, Jill, Kimberly and Lia each had different approaches to what is going to work for their families.   It was clear that these women love their children fiercely.  Having money or not to spend gifts doesn't change that.  They are brilliant and have an opinion about EVERYTHING.  When times are tough, it is good to have a community of girlfriends who get where you are coming from and love you anyway.

The best presents are the ones that don't cost a cent.  Some inspirational music from one of my favorites, the Beatles, to keep you going this season. 

Can't buy me love, love
Can't buy me love

I'll buy you a diamond ring my friend if it makes you feel alright
I'll get you anything my friend if it makes you feel alright
'Cause I don't care too much for money, money can't buy me love

I'll give you all I got to give if you say you love me too
I may not have a lot to give but what I got I'll give to you
I don't care too much for money, money can't buy me love

Can't buy me love, everybody tells me so
Can't buy me love, no no no, no

This Mama wants Edwards to write us a new song!

Media play up the notion that meeting Barack Obama is like meeting a rock star. I fully admit it. I drank the Kool Aid and was an early Obama supporter.  I was in awe of him hearing him speak at the Democratic Convention. I LOVE his brilliant wife and that she can talk about his dirty socks.  I love that to me he is what America can be again - optimistic, energized and ready to take on the world. I even wrote a check to support him.  I matched someone's gift and even sent emails to encourage others to do the same. I had never done that in my life for a national political campaign.

But as people asked me about why I supported Obama, it soon became clear to me that what I was "in love" with was the "idea" of it all.  The idea of one man breaking down ALL the barriers and changing my/our world for the better.  I had become a "groupie" without checkin' out who else was playin'.

I'm a product of the 80's. I was glued to my TV when Bob Geldoff and other rocker artists sang, "Do they know it's Christmas?" in 1984 at Live Aid.  Remember that?  It put the spotlight worldwide on hunger and poverty in Ethiopia.  They inspired a generation of kids like me to work to make our community a better place. Bono, George Michael and David Bowie were rock stars who were simply part of the collective.  No personality or ego was more important than the collective goal of the song.

I bring you all down memory lane because I think we need a president who can creatively write a whole new book of songs.  More specifically, tangible strategies and plans for health care, taxes and education that is bold, practical and makes you want to download it right onto your itunes now. Barack may be a rock star, but I think we need a movement builder.  I liken John Edwards to Bob Geldoff, the founder/songwriter of "Do they know it's Christmas?", who was the unknowing architect of a movement.  I think an architect rocker is exactly what our country needs today.

Have Cowbell will travel - NOT!

Early sunday mornings are usually set aside for cartoons, pancakes and the newspaper. But this morning, we gathered our cowbell, maracas, soccer drum and other noisemakers to cheer on the 11,000 runners of the San Jose Rock and Roll Marathon. The race course was literally outside our front door, so it was easy to roll out of bed, gather the kids and coffee and catch all the fun.

Here is a picture of the first runners.  Their backs of course, because my crappy camera is not fast enough to capture these Kenyan athletes.  It was like poetry in action to watch them zoom by.  The winner McDonald Ondara finished the race in 1 hour and 1 minute.  Geez, sometimes it takes me that long to make coffee. We also we graced to see Kenyan Magdalene Makunzi, the fastest female finisher.  Wow!  While many of the winners were international, most were local and more than half were women.

The kids from the block gathered their musical instruments and flags. We made up songs to welcome singers like,(sung to the tune of 80's classic Oh Mickey!) "Oh runners, you're so fine. You're so fine you blow our minds - oh runners! oh, oh, oh runners!"   (Really, it sounded better at 8:30 a.m..)   We had a blast and it reminded me of what I LOVE about Silicon Valley.  The neighbors were out to cheer strangers and friends on, all the kids on the block were playing and the runners represented the best and strangest of the Valley.   Here were the "princess" runners and a guy with a rainbow mohawk, while it doesn't come close to the zaniness of the Bay to Breakers, it was a great way to spend the morning. 

I have walked/run a few 1/2 marathons in my time and have thought about running in the race next year, but as I sat in my lawn chair, cowbell in one hand and coffee mug in the other - well, cheering others with my singing seems much saner:) Rock on Runners!  You blew our minds! Oh runners!

This was originally posted on SV Moms Blog.